Three Hundred And Eighty-Nine *contains status – Asha 1, Rhyming Tree 1*
After calming down Shiro’s mock-outrage, I turned my attention to the hillside. It was a bit of a wreck, with the Rhyming Tree having expanded and grown massively. Fortunately, the hillside itself had also spread sowhat, a feat that would surely be impossible in the Material, so the Ring Gate that was close to the Tree, while now right next to the Tree, had largely escaped damage. It was a similar story for the various Spires and the White Snake Earth Altar. I never thought the growth would be so… destructive. Even so, losing the Ether Spires and Altar temporarily while we rebuilt them would still be totally worth it.
I joined Hyacinth and Asha, whose dress was still rumpled and stained, her body still slling faintly of our passion. They were looking up that the towering Tree, Asha softly running her hands over the now smooth and lustrous bark. “It’s certainly impressive.” I said, an understatent. “Even the tallest ever Material tree was a little under half this height, and was never so massive.” So tree in Australia, I think? I rember seeing a docuntary on it when I was a kid. Of course, that’s not the most important point…
“I can hardly believe it.” Hyacinth giggled happily. “Such a huge Tree. Hyacinth thinks it is impressive. Are yooou happy, Asha?”
Asha nodded, her face flushed, her yellow eyes tender. All around the Tree, ether was shimring into existence, being drawn from the Boundary around us, and likely even from the lower Astral that was congruent with it, both above us and not, beautiful rainbow sparks like multicoloured fireflies forming a great aurora, many tis more intense than anything we had managed before. Just watching it accumulate ether at a visible rate, I held my breath. “Are you happy?” Asha asked , seeing my expression. “Have I done well?”
I pulled her into a hug once more, no more hesitation in our closeness. Just… Daiyu and Hinata to worry about now. As for Kana, we can take that in our own ti, just like she and I want. But… “It’s not about doing well or not, is it? I don’t like you because you can do things for . However… yes, you have done well. Look around us.” I glanced at Shiro then, as the face she was making was just begging for more praise. “Shiro too. Together you’ve created this miracle.” Even just looking at the Silos, more than a thousand ether a minute was accumulating. With this, we can advance our plans significantly, and even get so luxuries in without slowing our pace…
My Eye glowed amber, and I inspected the Rhyming Tree, feeling a deep connection to it and Asha, a rather unique feeling. The Tree has Lovers’ Link… how does that even make sense? And there’s a lot of gaps and nonsense information my Eye presents. Oh well…
Asha's Great Rhyming Tree Of Wood, Water And Earth
Noble Fae Plant
Earth, Water And Wood Aspect
[Material Statistics]
[Intangible Statistics]
Might
Fortune
Fortitude
2308
Majesty
Intellect
Charm
Resilience
League
18
Alacrity
Determination
28
Precision
Foresight
Aether
11087
Fate
10
[Material Skills]
Rank
Class
Type
[Aetheric Skills]
Drawing Wood Chakra Network
Rank 6
Imperious (6)
Rule (5)
Roots Drinking Earth, Water and Wood, Branches Drinking and Growing The Moon
Rank 6
Imperious (6)
Artifice (6)
[Elental Skills]
Trunk And Roots Chakra Of Wood
Rank 6
Noble (5)
Foundation (4)
Trunk Chakra Of Water
Rank 2
Powerful (4)
Foundation (4)
Roots Chakra Of Earth
Rank 2
Powerful (4)
Foundation (4)
Lunar Chakra Of Wood, Water And Earth
Rank 4
Noble (5)
Rule (5)
[Intangible Skills]
[Unique Skills]
Lovers' Link
Rank 4
Noble (5)
Artifice (6)
Branches That Spread Nature Under The Moon
Rank 1
Noble (5)
Artifice (6)
Dryad Bound
Rank 6
Noble (5)
Principle (7)
[Level]
0/56
[Class]
Great Rhyming Tree Of Wood, Water and Earth 14/20
[Mastered Classes]
Rhyming Tree Of Earth 10/10
“I see. I can’t determine the Might, Intellect or much else of the Tree, if it even has them.” I said, and the girls looked at curiously, especially Asha, who was hearing about her other half. “The Tree is massively durable though, and has a huge amount of Aether circulating within, even without Shiro’s buffs. It’s got a powerful League too.” I wonder if the high Determination cos from Asha’s will to survive at any cost, it’s clearly abnormally high…
“My Tree… it no longer rely radiates and thrives on the rich elent of earth.” Asha said tenderly. “Much as I, it has changed. Such should be impossible, but…”
“Nooot impossible.” Hyacinth disagreed, before her expression turned to one of pain. I pulled her into the hug too, and her contorted expression relaxed, and she continued. “Sooo much is not as it was. Hyacinth rembers before. Not well, it all seems like a bad dream nooowdays.” She sniffed, her eyes damp. “Besides, I dooo not care to rember. The past is dead, Hyacinth is here nooow. Not who I used to be. But before… before the foolish, sad little daughter of the King and Queen threw her tantrum and broooke the Seelie, all had the potential to grooow. Many more transcended their elents, even such as yooou, Asha. The Great Dryads. Though nooow…”
Asha blinked, shocked to hear Hyacinth speak that way about the Dark Queen of the Unseelie, and so familiarly about the oldest of days. “Just… Hyacinth, who are you?” she managed, almost afraid of the answer.
“?” Hyacinth cocked her head. “I am Hyacinth. That is all I knooow. Before… I dooo not rember, nor do I wish too, nooot anymore. Is this not a happier place to dwell, a life tooo live? Are you nooot happy here, Asha?”
“I am.” Asha agreed. “How could I not be. So, a Great Dryad. Yes… our essences are not rely our own, but shared with our Tree, so the change is many tis more difficult. But…”
“But the proof is in the pudding, as they say. I don’t know who says it, it’s a stupid saying I picked up from you, Aki. But from where Tan and I stand, you’ve definitely changed.” Shiro said. “Hyacinth, I agree. If the past is worthless, toss it in the trash. You’re here and now.”
She nodded vigorously. “Yes. Thooough one day… the Dark Maidens… Akio prooomised Hyacinth she will have her justice. Until then… I made a box in my head, I think, and I dooo not have the key. All Hyacinth knows is… I must try harder. I dooo not want to be left behind!”
“Little chance of that.” I shook my head. “You helped too, Hyacinth. This was our great work. Even those that aren’t here did their part. We all pulled together, and now it’s ti to truly stake our claim as a prospective Astral Emperor.” I looked at Shiro. “Sorry Tan, looks like I have a head start. But I’m not heartless. Your Territory, I’ll obviously protect it.”
Shiro’s eyes flashed red, her hair bursting into fla, her beautiful face twisting into a slightly bitter frown. “Do not grow arrogant. I would hate you to drag the princess into your troubles. And troubles will co. The Tree alone is powerful and belongs in a Territory of the lower Astral. When stoked to heights like this…” she shrugged. “… it will shine like a beacon. It might draw trouble you are not prepared for, so do not grow careless and neglect your defences.”
“I won’t. We’ve already made that mistake.” I promised.
“Good.” Tan nodded, her ruby flas fading. “As for my assistance, I will expect paynt. In due course…”
“She’s such a tsundere.” Shiro sniggered. “You know, she can feel everything I do and hear my thoughts. I can’t do the sa to her, she’s far stronger than I am, but I do understand more of how she feels each day. Maybe things here on Earth didn’t go the way she thought, but she’s still opti…”
Her words were cut off by Tan. “Silence. Do not speak of matters they have no need to know.”
There was laughter, and I shook my head. “All right. The warning was received though. But before that…” my gaze turned to Asha. “I might as well fill you in on your changes, your rewards.”
Asha
Noble Fae
Great Dryad
Earth, Water And Wood Aspect
[Material Statistics]
[Intangible Statistics]
Might
106
Fortune
2
Fortitude
145
Majesty
14
Intellect
103
Charm
10
Resilience
299
League
18
Alacrity
101
Determination
28
Precision
103
Foresight
2
Aether
3032
Fate
10
[Material Skills]
Rank
Class
Type
[Aetheric Skills]
Eight Moons Chakra Network
Rank 6
Imperious (6)
Rule (5)
Aether Manipulation
Rank 2
Powerful (4)
Foundation (4)
Adherence Manipulation
Rank 3
Noble (5)
Law (8)
[Elental Skills]
Wood Manipulation
Rank 4
Powerful (4)
Foundation (4)
Root And Sacral Chakras Of Wood
Rank 2
Powerful (4)
Foundation (4)
Water Manipulation
Rank 4
Powerful (4)
Foundation (4)
Sacral Chakra Of Water
Rank 2
Powerful (4)
Foundation (4)
Earth Manipulation
Rank 6
Noble (5)
Foundation (4)
Root Chakra Of Earth
Rank 6
Noble (5)
Foundation (4)
Lunar Chakra Of Wood, Water And Earth
Rank 4
Noble (5)
Rule (5)
[Intangible Skills]
[Unique Skills]
Lovers' Link
Rank 4
Noble (5)
Artifice (6)
Inspire Growth
Rank 6
Noble (5)
Rule (5)
Mistress Of Fertility
Rank 4
Powerful (4)
Foundation (4)
The Given Kiss Of A Dryad
Rank 4
Powerful (4)
Rule (5)
Tree Bound
Rank 6
Noble (5)
Principle (7)
[Level]
0/56
[Class]
True Earth, Water and Wood Fae 2/30 Nature’s Chosen 3/20 Maiden Of Prayer 1/10
[Mastered Classes]
Earth Fae 10/10 Great Earth Fae 20/20 Purified One 10/10
“I see. Yes, you’re unquestionably a Great Dryad.” I said, and Asha shed more tears.
“So many Dryads have died. We cannot leave our Trees, so when lands fall, or wars occur…” her voice was soft. “… we are often the first to perish. There is no other way.”
“That’s then. It’s sad, certainly, and I grieve for your losses, your fallen older sisters. But that won’t happen again. Tan was right. While it’s likely impossible to not be attacked again, we still have to deal with that toad bastard at the least, we’ll make it so that our Territory is able to stand tall and proud, just like your Tree, which is sheltering us all with its mighty branches. You and your Tree won’t be left alone to suffer again.”
“He’s right. If this is an RTS, then we’ve just hacked in a resource cheat. Ti to spend it all!” Shiro said, excited despite the exhausting efforts she’d be having to perform in the future.
“Arr Tee Ess?” Asha asked, and Hyacinth answered proudly.
“I knooow this one! Mistress Shaeula sotis plays those gas on her toooy. It is where you make armies fight.” She nodded sagely, not quite understanding, but getting the gist of it.
“Yeah, though the general idea is… gather resources, convert resources to buildings and troops, then fight and win. And your Tree is gathering vast quantities of ether for us. Elental energy too.” The Elental Silos were also filling up rapidly with earth elent, so extra water elent, and wood elent, which opened new possibilities. With a bit of expansion of those Silos, which I had considered too expensive, the White Snake Earth Altar to Rank 3, or even Rank 4 seems possible… which will only further increase the elental density here, and really improve the strength of the trainees that mastered earth elent…
“Look, there’s a man thinking of spending his sudden windfall.” Shiro said theatrically. “Aki can be such a boy sotis. It’s kind of endearing though.” her lips quirked into a smile. “So, might as well fill us in on all the relevant descriptions, Aki. I’m curious.”
“You’re a gar too, after all.” I laughed. “But yeah, we need to know what we’re working with, and if there’s any other combinations we can put together.” I started going through them. “Firstly, Tree Bound and Dryad Bound are similar, opposite sides of the sa coin, I’d say.”
Tree Bound Rank 6 – The Dryad and her Tree are both one and the sa, their other halves. Damage dealt to one afflicts the other, and if one dies, so shall the other, with only rare exceptions. Their Chakras and elents will be synchronised, and growth of one is growth of the other.
“I see. No wonder you have a stupid amount of aether then, Asha.” Shiro pointed out. “Your Tree is massive and constantly pulling it in, so…” she shrugged. “… seems to a blind spot there. All that power, and it’s going to waste, without a high Rank skill to use it effectively.”
“Hardly a waste.” I disagreed. “But Fae don’t generally manipulate aether, as it’s a part of their very being. But they can learn to improve their control, just like Shaeula did. So yes, Shiro’s right. You could be a powerful combatant if you could harness that potential, Asha. Oh, and gain a pile of levels too. Your basic physical stats are nothing special, I’d feel worried about you being involved until we push them up.”
“She’s got no Silver Cord, either.” Shiro continued. “I guess it makes sense, unlike Shaeula and Hyacinth, she doesn’t have a Material body. For now, right?”
“Yes, the Throne upgrade is within easy reach now. Damn, thinking sothing with a total cost of ten million ether is easy… I feel so rich.” After more laughter and joking, I continued. “Kiss Of A Dryad I’ve had the description of before. I feel a bit embarrassed that the skill’s changed to Given Kiss, but then…”
“There is no need to be shy, as we have exchanged far more than a kiss.” Asha said affectionately, stroking her stomach tenderly, the gesture strangely erotic, and also a little worriso. I’m almost scared to check Mistress Of Fertility, but…
Mistress Of Fertility Rank 4 – Dryads are intimately connected with nature and the growing land. Trees, grasses, fruits and other plants around a Dryad and their Tree will grow healthy and strong, resistant to disease and pests, and will have their attributes enhanced. Earth, Water and Wood elents further increase the effect of this. Dryads born of a Dryad and saplings born from her Tree will rarely suffer from illness or misfortune, and the chance of such a germination of life significantly increases, should the Dryad wish it.
Shiro and I exchanged a look, before looking at Asha, and back at each other again. Shiro was grinning, but it was a complicated expression, with amusent, envy and happiness all mixed up. Yeah, I called it. “Asha… do you want children?” I asked, and she raised an eyebrow.
“Why, do you not? I know you worry, but…”
“It’s not that.” I denied it. Wow, my parents and my sis are going to be shocked. Mom always wanted grandkids, but… no, that’s not the issue. “I’m concerned about how being incarnated by a Throne might affect you. I don’t know a lot about Fae pregnancy. Damn, am I really talking about this?”
She shrugged. “I am not sure myself. Perhaps in the olden days, where Fae still walked the mortal world on occasion, there might be precedent.”
“I see. Yeah, that makes sense. I suppose asking the Elves might work. Not that I want to have that conversation. I’ll definitely not be asking Moira.” Prince Aethelathrion was said to be ancient, Primal Forest and Princess Estalian too. One of them might know. But which to ask?
“So, just to be clear… Asha, are you pregnant?” Shiro pressed. “For us humans, it takes a while to be sure…”
Asha shrugged. “I too cannot be certain. Though I feel this was all ant to be, so I would not be surprised if I kindle, germinate.” She stroked her Tree once more. “I would not wish our daughters to be afflicted though. Please do research whether it is safe for to use your Throne. For if not now, it will be a concern one day, no?” Her smile was pure and bright, and stopped my breath for a mont. Shaking my head to clear the daze, I nodded.
“All right. Let’s move on. Inspire Growth is similar to Mistress Of Fertility, but it seems a more targeted skill, that actually accelerates growth.”
Inspire Growth Rank 6 – This skill allows a Dryad to enhance the potential and growth of a plant, hastening maturity and ripening. Fae plants such as Rhyming Trees, including their own, are significantly harder to Inspire, but with practise and a great amount of aether and elental essence it is possible.
“I suspect that’s the skill you used with the adherence we took from the Tower.” I mused. “And it’s also been used on your orchards, right?”
Asha agreed, and I continued. “Right, then next is…”
Roots Drinking Earth, Water and Wood, Branches Drinking and Growing The Moon Rank 6 - This skill is the innate ability of a Rhyming Tree that has transford, along with its paired Dryad, to a more perfect form, to pull ether from the surrounding world, strengthening the ether density around it, and also absorbing and fortifying the Earth elent it requires to survive and grow. It also uses mighty deep roots and high branches to draw up Water elent and spread Wood elent.
Branches That Spread Nature Under The Moon Rank 1 – This Great Rhyming Tree is able to spread natural energies such as Wood elent widely around it, creating an area of fertility, good harvests and gentle healing. Those who spend ti around the Rhyming Tree will be resistant to disease, poisons, curses and misfortune, and minor injuries will recover.
“Yeah, Rhyming Trees are powerful. No wonder the Seelie Court is strong, if they have many of them. The only downside, if you can even call it that, is that unlike Ether Spires, it doesn’t pull in adherence, or any of whatever the mystery third thing I can’t identify yet is. But that’s what the Spires are for, we shouldn’t put them out of a job.” I laughed, pleased at yet another benefit of the Tree.
“So, I’m guessing that the Tree has a different Chakra network?” Shiro asked, and I agreed.
“Yes, it’s not entirely dissimilar, but as you can see, they have different nas, and obviously, trees don’t have the sa structure as us, or even Fae who have a humanoid appearance. No heart, solar plexus, crown or the like. But it’s functionally similar. Except that other than the roots chakra…” I chuckled at the pun my Eye gave. “… which literally is distributed over the roots of the Tree, the other chakras seem to circulate through the trunk of the Tree. It’s pretty.”
“Of course. It is my Tree.” Asha said happily. “I am too, no?”
“It’s true, won who are experienced get more confident.” Shiro said to Hyacinth, who grinned.
“Yooou were the sa, no?”
“I knew I was gorgeous beforehand.” Shiro disagreed, before sighing. “But yeah, I’ve changed. It’s not a bad thing though. So, all that’s left are the classes, right?”
“Yeah, the Fae classes and the Tree classes are nothing new. Hyacinth and Shaeula have the sa classes, just with different elents. They offer nice boosts to Aether and elental generation, League and so on. But the other couple…
Purified One – This class is given to a being corrupted by curse, plague or other outside influence, and forced to perform acts both degrading to the spirit and against the will of the being so corrupted. Such a being only faces doom, devoured by the corruption, ending their life in an attempt to atone or a tide of guilt, or becoming a monster that revels in evil. Few ever return from such a state, but those that do are often blessed with a Resilience few others possess, and great Determination. This class increases those statistics, and also increases resistance against further corruptive influences.
Nature’s Chosen – This class is gained by those who are involved in great feats of growth and restoration, returning life to dead areas, and cultivating the natural environnt, as well as possessing Earth, Water and Nature elents. This class strengthens those elents, increasing generation and boosting the effect of these elents when used to protect and enhance nature and life. Plants, animals and spiritual beings with an aspect of Nature will respect, and if hostile, fear the possessor of this class.
Maiden of Prayer – After wielding a jumbled Adherence made of conflicting yet complintary powers and achieving a great feat, the flavour of that Adherence has been poured into her very spirit. The maiden of the Grail, the mourning won at the foot of the Cross, the Fae who dance around the Cauldron, the Blood within, all of these threads of Adherence will be tangled, granting her a tiny fragnt of power. The ability to utilise Adherence increases, and League increases.
“That class… Maiden of Prayer, it’s dangerous.” I said, frowning. Shiro shrugged.
“It’s also misleading, she’s no maiden, not anymore. We were there, right Hyacinth?”
As Asha blushed and Hyacinth chuckled, I sighed. “Yeah, very funny. Seriously though, Mary Stuart was angry that Britain was keeping their false Grail, as she called it, and the adherence she felt belonged to them. If her Church ever finds out that Asha is taking so of it now, even if only a tiny fragnt… it’ll be trouble.”
“I am not afraid. I am grateful to have any chance at further power. Being weak only led to suffering and despair. Being strong allows to walk beside you all.” Asha said stoutly.
“We’ll have to face them anyway. I doubt you can reason with fanatics.” Shiro protested. “Besides, it’s not like they’ll find out any ti soon, right? Won’t they assu it’s just all going to the false Grail?”
“I don’t know. But you’re right, I guess.” I admitted. “I just worry. Well, we’ll take precautions.” Putting that aside, I considered the implications. I doubt she’ll accumulate as much as she took before any ti soon, but even a little might be helpful.
“You should be able to pick up Nature’s Chosen if you get earth and water elent, Hyacinth.” Shiro pointed out while I was thinking, and I agreed, setting aside my doubts for now.
“Yes, you’ve done a lot of good work bringing nature to my Territory.” I agreed. “The class is a bit plain, but anything that boosts elental abilities is high priority, especially if it boosts your nature elent, which is your best weapon.” I said.
“I will try.” She promised, nodding. “I was goooing to, I wanted to learn to be more helpful. But nooow Hyacinth is more motivated!” Her laugh was happy.
“I’m sure you are.” Soone said, and we turned, to see Eri, an ornate axe leaning over one shoulder, looking at us, her tail lashing and her cat-ears twitching. She looked at the surrounding hillside and up at the massive Tree. “That sure is sothing. It’s like looking up at a skyscraper.”
“That’s what I said.” I smiled, observing Eri, and the axe. On seeing that, she looked down, flushing adorably, a touch of sha in her face.
“I haven’t given up your axe.” She said earnestly. “It was a present from you, so I’ll always cherish it. But this one… it called to , I wanted it. No, needed it.” She paused. “That doesn’t matter now. I ca to see if it was safe to let others in. Princess Eleanor and the others are here, but the weaselkin have been keeping them away from the Tree.” She looked at Asha, still in my arms, and her expression changed. “I see. So, how was it?”
“All that I dread of. I am now complete.” Asha crowed.
“Lucky you. But I get it. Akio doesn’t have an exhibitionist streak, so no way he’d want an audience for that. But… you might want to clean up.” Eri wrinkled her nose.
“There is no need. I am not ashad.” Asha shook her head. “It is the fruit of our love.”
“Fine. I’m not going to argue.” Eri reddened, perhaps rembering so of the embarrassing tis we had endured, like when her darkness elent drove her wild. “But… no. It’s fine.” She turned, and as I looked at her axe, the amber letters lighting up my vision, she called out. “it’s all right. It’s safe to co in, Akio’s given permission.”
The Beheading Axe Of Trials - Item Class [Imperious] Item Type [Artifice]
This crescent moon axe, the blade enalled in erald, the shaft carved with elegant holly engravings, was once wielded by the Green Knight, and the edge is brutally keen, and can cut through armour and bone with equal ease. The bearer of this axe will be strengthened, their blows mighty, but any challenge or wager offered by the wielder must be honoured, lest the axe turn on the faithless bearer.
So it’s much better than the axe I made her, no question, but it has a downside. She’ll have to be careful. Like most people, I knew so of the stories of Arthurian myth, but other than the little I’d heard about the Green Knight from Eleanor, I didn’t know the details. Sothing else I need to research. It seems that no matter how much I gain, I always end up having less ti to spare…
“So, you were here.” Eleanor said, coming in, followed by David and Raidre. Raidre had shrunk in on himself, casting sideways glances at Ulfuric, who was also accompanying them. “I have to admit, even from the brief look around, your Territory is very impressive.” She looked up at the colossal Tree, before glancing over at Asha. “You’re fine, I hope? I had worried that the force of what lies beneath the Tower would harm you. It is very potent and unruly.”
“Fine?” David snorted. “She’s better than fine. Take a good look at her. She’s been having a whale of a ti while you worried, Princess.”
Eleanor paused, looking at Asha, whose dress was stained with grass and other fluids, her dishevelled hair and changed attitude, and she blushed, going red even to the tips of her ears. “How rude.” She exclaid, shocked. “And to think we were worried. I’m almost offended!”
As Eleanor writhed in embarrassnt, while David egged her on mockingly, I scratched at my head, confused. I suppose this is better than worrying about potential trouble I can do nothing about. As the rest of the girls returned, all carrying new treasures happily, I glanced up at the massive Tree. Oh well, we’ll clear this ss up. And I suppose I do owe Eleanor. I can spare her a downpaynt on getting her Territory back on track, delaying my plans half a day or so won’t be a big deal…
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