After we had fun pnning out our expansion, which took lohan it should have, I decided to seek out Ulfuric. Even though time ran faster here, I didn’t have too much to waste today, being as Kana- was having her friends over ter. And I have an importaing.

  I found Ulfuric at the tre of the shrine, as he was in charge of the defend direg the ether sging teams while Shaeu and I were absent. Grulgor had pined bitterly about that, thinking he should be in charge, as he had been with us far longer, but… yeah, who in their right mind would put him in and? When it es to battle, sure, he’s a beast, but in terms of leadership… no way.

  As I approached, I also saw Haru-san, h in the shadows of the shriill looking dissote and dowed. On seeing me looking at her, she turned away, chewing on her lip nervously. Still, while I uood her fear of men, she had asked me a difficult favour, as had colleagues of her father, so… might as well bite the bullet a over with. There was something I wao talk to her about as well, so now is as good a time as any.

  “Haru-san, do you mind if we talk?” I asked and she froze, looking around uainly, before she finally nodded.

  “All right.” she muttered.

  “You may as well rest-rest easy.” Shaeu sighed. “Akio will not-not harm you. In fact, he may be able to help you take back much of what you have lost.”

  At that Haru-san shook her head. “It’s too te. I’m dead. Stu this straerlife, all alone. I miss… I just want to go home. I want to see daddy again…” Spectral, silvery tears poured dowransparent face, shimmering into mist before hitting the floor.

  “I wao talk about that.” I said, gesturing to the inside of the shrine. She looked fearful at the thought of being aloh us, but this was best discussed in private, so after some gentle cajoling, she finally drifted into the main shrine building. Onside I offered her a seat, and she sank into it, quite a strange sight as I could see the marble below through her transparent flesh and clothing.

  “Haru-san… about your request to tell your father you still exist…” I began, and at my words she bowed her head, sullen.

  “I know, you’ve said you ’t do it. I don’t bme you… it’s… impossible, I get it…” More tears, which moved my heart as I had shared her gruesome end under her empathic light. “It’s.. just… he must be suffering so… I’m all he had…”

  “Yes, you weren’t alone in tellihat.” I agreed. “I met the Prime Minister, and we ended up discussing it.” Not that it went well at all… Remembering how angry he got when I made mention of resources I forced myself not to grimace. “Now, unbelievable as it is, they know about things that should be impossible, including that you died, but still persist.”

  At my words, she looked up, shocked. Seeing that, I revealed a further surprise. “You know Kiku, the one who turned you into this, she was able to walk the Earth, right? Shaeu too. So… I don’t think it is impossible for you to be able to as well. It wouldn’t be livily, but… you could spend time with your father, take up your job again if you wanted, live a reasonably normal life…”

  “I could do that?” Haru-san asked, hope warring with fear and wariness. “But… what would… why…” she stammered, uo articute her thoughts. Beside me, Shaeu clicked her tongue in annoyance.

  “Akio is nothing like the fiend who tormented you.” She scowled. “Though to use-use a precious limited gift like a blessing from a Throne Of Heroes… you will-will of course have to pensate him. And do not-not think what you are sidering…” she tinued, further a Haru-san’s pin distrust of my motives. “…my Akio does not-not seek the pany of unwilling females. He has many worthy ones eager to offer themselves, myself included.”

  Haru-san fli her strong tone, but mao nod. “So, what… what do you want? If I could go home, I‘d be so happy…”

  “First I have to crify it wouldn’t be immediately. It takes time to gather ether and build Thrones. And to be ho, I have other didates who could help me a lot more if they were chosen. But…” You have ohing going that they don’t have. “Tell me, when you gained your power, what happened, and what were you told?” Just based on her light, she must be a didate for Astral Emperor too. No wonder Kiku made sure t her back.

  “I… I don’t like to remember. I thought I was going mad.” She sighed, a long, bitter sound. “But I wasn’t, uhis is all a dream, and I’m sedated in some asylum somewhere. If that’s the case… I’d like my dream to take me back to daddy and the life I onew. Though at least here… I ’t hear so many voices. Yours, hers. I don’t hear them. Sometimes when I go out, the voices of those animal people, I hear them, but… only a few.”

  I exged a knowing look with Shaeu, and her eyes bzed amber, peering at Haru-san. “Indeed, as I suspected. You have a great-great talent. Though it looks to me as if it was not-not earned fairly, but forced upon you. Your Chakra work is detly strong, but strangely deformed.” Clig her tongue once more she tio exami. “Your third eye Chakra is stantly drawing iher from those-those weaker than you. I suspect that the voices you hear are pulled along with the aether, for aether is of the mind-mind. You simply do not-not have the strength to draw from our much more powerful works, thus you hear nothing.”

  For a long moment Haru-san sidered that, before her face fell. “Then even if I could go home, I’d still… still be in hell. At least here I am aloh my own thoughts…” Spectral tears welled up again and I felt bad for her. Beside me, Shaeu nodded, uanding what I was thinking.

  “Nonsense.” Shaeu disagreed. “You have an ability, and abilities - be trained. I assist you to adjust your malformed work and trol your talents. I believe you should-should be able to use it at will.” Turning bae Shaeu tinued. “I shall-shall remain here for a while. But first, ask your questions.”

  “Rex. Shaeu is extremely talented. If she says she help you, she .” As Shaeu blushed at my praise, Haru-san wiped at her transparent tears. She nodded, unsure, but her eyes met mine, and I saw a brief spark of light within. Hopefully she shake off her maise. I know she’s suffered, but… I have a responsibility too, to myself and the people I support. If she’s not going to be of help, I ’t use a Throne slot on her…

  “So, this being that gave you power in a dream, do you remember them?” I asked, and she shook her head.

  “No, I thought it was just a silly dream.” she answered, shivering as Shaeu was trig a little aether inthostly body. “I don’t even remember the name, I ’t remember if it was even Japanese. I’m not really very pious.” she admitted, and I uood, as other than the bare minimum, I never used to go to shrines or temples much either.

  “Oh, well if you do remember anything, please let me know. Do you remember any other details, like how to build your Territory?”

  She shook her head once more. “I didn’t pay attention, and the time afterwards… I’ve not been well, I was on medication that messed with my head too. Sorry.”

  As she looked so downcast, I felt a little bad. Still, information was important. Perhaps I should have pumped that bastard Kondou for what he knows, but… fuck, I hate him so much, I don’t want to ever see him again. Besides, I have other options… “Don’t worry about it. So… you see your own status? How strong you are?”

  “Status? I don’t get it…” she muttered. clearly fused. I tried to talk her through all the ways she might be able to access her status s, but nothing worked, whi itself was iing. It could mean that status and Self-Examination are my special abilities, the standard isekai appraisal cheat, but… sadly Haru-san isn’t really a good way to firm it. Of course ter today, I have another, better ce.

  After that, I gathered up a lot of information that only Haru-san and her father would know, to hopefully vince him that the impossible story I was going to tell him was true. Leaving Shaeu behind to start adjusting Haru-san’s Chakras, I moved on to training with Ulfuri hour ter I was lying on the ground, staring up at the sky, my body covered in bruises, Ether Healing gradually treating the many cuts and abrasions I had suffered.

  “Your movements were stiff today.” Ulfuric rumbled, droplets of silver sweat glittering on his bd white fur. He was leaning on the hilt of his greatsword, looking down at me. “Your mind is clouded. A true warrior keeps a clear mind at all times.”

  “I get it, I do.” I nodded, exhausted. “You are certainly strong, Master Ulfuric. Even though I feel I’m faster than you, my attaever seem to reach you.”

  “Of course not. Relying on pure speed and power will rump skill. Of course, without speed and strength, one ever be truly strong. But a warrior with experieraining and talent defeat a far stronger, faster oppo.”

  “Oh well… that’s why I’m training.” I hauled myself to my feet, just as Shaeu returned, Haru-san following behind her. On seeing me looking like I had been run through the wringer, Shaeu snickered.

  “So, Master Ulfuric, how is Akiressing? I see you have not-not gone easy on him again.”

  “Training is only of value if it pushes one’s limits.” Ulfuric decred grandly. “Today was not his fi work, he seemed distracted, but even so, piling up training will gradually increase one’s power.” He fixed Shaeu with a stern gaze. “In fact, princess, you should learn self-defence as well. Your skills with the elements have bee signifitly more impressive, but being able to fight in close bat may save your life one day if an assassin strikes.”

  Shaeu looked away awkwardly, her eyes swimming, before she ceded with a sigh. “Very well-well. I am seeking strength, after all. When we have more time, I shall-shall seek your instru.”

  With that cluded, Ulfuric turned his attention bae. “Your skills with the spear are passable, and with your speed, it suits your style. However, you need a longer shaft, spears are meant to keep your e a distance. In addition, as for swords… a greatsword is not suited for you.”

  Damn, and I wao be a badass, swinging a massive hunk of metal like Guts from Berserk. But, I get the feeling he is right. Sshing around with heavy swords in training wasn’t a problem in terms of strength, but while I was tall for a Japanese man, I wasn’t massive, and the momentum of the heavy bde kept throwing me off-bance, f me to pensate stantly.

  Seeing I uood, Ulfuriodded gravely. “Of course, there are times spears are useless, in close quarters or limited space. So swords are still necessary. You have good speed, strength and awareness so shorter bdes suit you. I believe something along the lines of these…” He produced a pair of curved swords, simir to a katana, but with heavier, thicker bdes. “Normally wielding two swords at once is undesirable, as it reduces power and divides one’s attention. However, I believe you have the ability to learn this.”

  Duel-wielding huh? I guess that’s as badass as a single heavier sword. It’d be harder to learn, but if I could bee fully ambidextrous, that would help in lots of ways…

  tinuing on, as Shaeu snickered behind me, Ulfuric gave his final verdict. “Close bat, like for the princess, is another must, as well as short bdes such as daggers. A skill with archery is also desirable, but sidering the ons of the mortal world yht, I suspeay wish to learn those instead, making the bow obsolete. I shall speak to Bjarki and he shall fe you some suitable ons for training and bat.”

  The bow obsolete, huh? Aiko would cry hearing that, and Tsumura-san too, most likely. She seemed very passionate about her family's heritage. But, huh, ons for me? I’m curious to see what a professional e up with…

  “Oh well. Thank you again for your instru.” I bowed to Ulfurid Shaeu ey thanks. He waved away my praise, and I advised him of the remaining time before our Territory would bee secure again, as well as suggestiake this time t in as much ether as possible so that we could hit the ground running. Ulfuric agreed to make the preparations, while, siime was wasting, I headed for my st port of call.

  Behind the shrine where earth energies were plentiful, I once more tried to master the earth element. It was easier than before, the increased affinity to earth I had gaihrough healing the dust element damage to the Trolls making a noticeable difference, but it was still impossible for me to bahe push and pull of earth.

  When I learned fire, all I had to worry about was fme ing wind, which was tough enough. Now, the earth is opposite to air, while it tries to drink in the fire… at the same time, adding a third element into the mix reighe war between fme and wind, even if that is merely a shadow of the former csh.

  My Chakra work burned with effort, and once more I was forced to admit defeat, Ether Heali the damage I caused to my subtle body. As I stood, Shaeu handed me a cloth to wipe my sweat.

  “Yetting closer.” she observed, having watched as usual, trying to prepare for the iable effort she would make to learn it, though when she approached earth energies she shuddered unfortably, her inal ins as a Fae of wind perhaps making her fear earth more than she should. “You have nearly banced earth and wind-wind, a task I would have deemed impossible. But the fme still throws off the alig.”

  “Yeah, and it hurts like hell when it burns through my work.” I admitted. “Still, I am going to get it sooner or ter. Oh well, onto the st task.”

  The Rhyming Tree in the graveyard was still produg darkness energy, and I attempted to master that once more. Unlike earth element, darkness cshed with nothing, yet even so, I felt very far away from mastery. I still didn’t uand what darkness was, what it represented. “Seriously, Eri has a talent for this? I wish she’d tell me how…” I muttered, and Shaeu snorted.

  “It is-is talent, so I doubt she would even know how. You should ask-ask the Unseelie. She has an aptitude.”

  “Yeah, but her mind seems to work in a strange way, I doubt I’d uand it. Oh well, no luck again today. I think I’ve hit a wall on this, and we don’t have a lot of time.”

  “Indeed.” Shaeu urning to Haru-san, who had started following her around, she reassured her. “Worry not-not. I shall return and tinue my efforts. Trust in Akio and agree to be useful to him, and he shall wash away your pain.”

  Uh, sure, I help her, but… I’m not a Kami od, Shaeu. I ’t erase the past.

  “The past is cruel. But the future… it - still be magnifit.” Shaeu promised her, and I stopped what I was about to say, appuding the se. I do want to help her and her father find peace. So if she agrees to help me…

  With those thoughts in mind I returo the Material, cursing as my ag, bruised body protested. Damn, I wonder if I have time for a hot bath to soak my tired muscles…