“Here master, mistress. Drinks!” Hyath presented us with a silver tray, upon which sat two gsses, filled with some sweet-smelling juice. I have to wonder where such things even came from? I suppose they could have been included ireasures Shaeraggo gave us. After all, he did send maids…

  Said maids, Velna and Risha, were standing behind us, watg their mistress, but they didn’t fet to take time to gre bitterly at Hyath and I every few moments. It was really quite unfortable. Indulge with those maids? No way, not even if they were geous human girls. I don’t get off on being hated…

  “My thanks.” Shaeu took one gss, sniffing it gingerly. Her expressihtened, and on taking a sip she grinned happily. “This tastes of home-home. These fruits, where did you get them?”

  I followed suit, and the yellow liquid slipped down my throat refreshingly, a taste remi of a mixture of lemon and mango filling my mouth. Yeah, this is good. A blend of sweet and sour, with a crisp tang. I’d pay money for this.

  Surprised by receiving praise from Shaeu, who usually berated her, Hyath shrugged, her expression rapturous. “Praise from the mistress! Unusual, but wele indeed! I have started an orchard, the hills here are sooo bare and drab. I shall feed master my fruits, and he shall taste my forbidden fruits toooo!”

  At that Shaeu only snorted in displeasure, rapidly emptying her gss. Seeing that she wasn’t scolded further, she sidled up to me, gaze impl. “And how doooes master find my fruits? I assure yooou they are sweet and juicy!”

  Ign the innuendo I finished my own drink. “Yes, the juice was very pleasant. Thank you, Hyath. Now if you’ll excuse us, we were in the middle of something.”

  A momentarily pout crossed her features, but she bowed, before retreating with a st burst of her usual nonsense. When she was gone, we returo our work, sitting across from each other, so close s touched. Holding out our arms we csped palms, and began cirg our aether once more. I groped blindly, not having the advantage of Shaeu’s eyes, the Skill stubbornly remaining at Rank 0. I had thought they might have reactivated when we ected our lunar Chakras earlier like before, but the Skill stayed stubbornly quiest within me.

  “A little to the left-left. you feel it there?” Shaeu spoke, guiding me verbally. “My work is infmed, leftover earth energy causing me some-some disfort.”

  “Hmm, yes, I feel it.” I affirmed, sensing the energy through my aether. Damn, this is hard, but I feel my Skills improving. It requires deep tration and a very delicate touch. I drew out some of the ruby energy, while the rest I flushed through her system, allowing Shaeu to exhale it, though when she did so it looked rather grim, like she was coughing blood.

  As I worked on Shaeu, following her instrus, she also returhe favour, making adjustments to my subtle body with her Chirurgery, re-routing blockages and repairing the damages I had sustained from the rampaging flows. I felt I was nearing a breakthrough in my Ether Healing, and I wasn’t the only one.

  “My Chirurgery aher Healing have both grown much-much stronger!” Shaeu crowed, delighted. At Rank 5 her Chirurgery would be far more effective, which was just what we needed before w on the nobles, aher Healing had reached Rank 2 as well, a wele synergy.

  “That’s great!” I decred, just a touch jealous. “Sadly, I don’t think I’m getting your Aetheric Chirurgery Skill.”

  “Poor Akio.” She chortled, tickled by my envy. “I am sure-sure you shall master it iime.”

  As we tio banter and work on each other, time passed quickly. I finally received a dispy of silver letters announg a power-up, but it was not the Skill I was expeg. Damn, I guess we have been in the Boundary for well over a day now…

  A Vassal Territory has reached Rank 1. Your Css, queror, has increased from Level Five to Level Six.

  Notig my surprise, Shaeu asked me what had happened, so I expined.

  “I see-see.” she mused. “That must be the priest then. He has kept his word.”

  “He didn’t really have much choice. If he wants to be safe and also have the moo clear the debts of his shrihus giving his son and daughter a better life, standing with us is the best option. Hell, it’s probably the only real option he has. Still, I’m curious…” I use Self-Examinatioory, on it?

  trating, I discovered that I could, though there wasn’t maails.

  Vassal Territory: Rank 1

  structed Buildings: None

  Build Queue: Empty

  Tithe Rate: 25%

  Status: Active – Untested – Barrier 100%

  “Iing. It looks like I see what he’s building and has built. Currently there isn’t anything queued, but hopefully he start w oher Spires or his equivalent.” Cheg my own queue for the Anchor, I could see we were down to a bit under six Astral days remaining. It was hard not to get excited at all the new options we’d have.

  The tithe rate is iing. It’s what I asked for. I wonder how he mao set it? There’s a lot I o discuss with Shuta-san, but it wait. I have other meetings this week. Most of them should be fine, but one of them… Just thinking about meeting with Haru-san’s father made me feel a little sick. Putting that aside, I threw myself bato flushing the earth energy out of Shaeu, until we were both too tired to tinue auro the Material…

  ***

  “That Boggart is quite the troublemaker.” Shaeu pouted, stuffing her face with some lunchtime rice balls. “If she was still-still a Brownie, I would have no objes if you wished to indulge. I uand she swore Oaths to you, but even so, it is hard-hard to trust an Unseelie, even one so pitiful.”

  “Yeah, not happening. Eri would be really upset, and there’s no way I’d ever hurt her that way.” I said for the third or fourth time. “Still, trust be earned, right? Just give her a ce. I feel sorry for her.”

  “You are indeed-ioo soft-hearted. But that is ohing I do love about you.” Shaeu ceded. “So, do we have any pns for this-this day?”

  “Nothing major.” Which is a wele ge. The st couple of weeks have been packed. “I probably should go see Karen- though, I’ve dumped way too much work oely.”

  “In that case, I shall-shall catch up on my games and anime.” Shaeu stood, finishing off the st of the food. “Perhaps ter I shall study more-more about the elements. Seeing you succeed has lit a fire within me.”

  “Okay, there’s a lot of information on my puter that I’ve pulled. If not you use Wikipedia and other online resources. Have fun!”

  She waved me off and I headed out into the afternoon sun. It was still warm, but the days were starting to get colder. Oh yeah, it’ll be autumn at the weekend. It’s always the day before Eri’s birthday. Speaking of… what am I going to get her fift? I knew she’d be happy enough just seeing me, she was a good girl like that, but I wouldn’t feel right ning her something. Two somethings actually. She should get a present for the Material and the Boundary.

  It wasn’t far to the outbuilding that we had remodelled into Karen-’s office, so upon arrival I let myself in, only to find Karen- slumped at her desk, a bottle of energy drink in hand, the famous Lipovitan D11. On seeing me, she looked up, dark circles under her eyes. “Oh, it’s you. Good afternoon.” she sighed.

  “Uh, yeah, good afternoon.” I answered back cautiously. “You look… a bit tired.” I said diplomatically, only to get a rusty ugh iurn.

  “Yeah, and whose fault is that? Arson attacks, pig up a hotel , needing data on various matters. You’ve got me running ragged!”

  I wi that, uo deny it. Yeah, my bad. “Still, you should have had time to rest. I’m not making you do overtime, right?”

  “It’s hard to switch off. I’m too used to my shitty old boss… so… yeah, I ended up w some back at home. Sorry.” She let out aired breath, shaking her head.

  “Seriously, that’s no good. Get some more staff to assist you. We afford it. Grab a couple of assistants as soon as you . I’ll even give you a pay rise to mahem.” With that ten million dolrs, we should be fine for a while, and I’m fident we make more mooo. Hell, Shaeu is probably gambling again while pying her games, and her Fortune is higher than ever.

  “I’d love someoo look after the hotel side of things, and someone else to do the research.” Karen- admitted. “Still, it isn’t easy recruiting these days. If I get anyone older they won’t respect me, and the young… they tend to find work like this beh them.”

  “I’m more ied in loyalty.” I emphasised. “Just like with you I’d rather you get someone who’ll be grateful to us for the work. If you are struggling I probably see if the hotel spare anyone from their HR department.” Not an option I’m keen on, sidering the secrets we handle, but…

  “Well, I might have an idea or two.” Karen- sighed once more, downing the rest of the energy drink, making a face as if the taste was unpleasant. “I’d like to get someone in soon, else I’ll have to travel around Japan to the other hotels. Leave it with me.”

  “All right then. By the way, did you get the bottle I left you?”

  Karen- smiled, her gloomy expression lifting a little. “Yes, I was surprised to see it on my desk, that’s a really expensive brand. I had a few gsses, it was great.”

  “It was just a token of my appreciation. Keep up the good work and it won’t be the st reward…”

  We passed a little time catg up before I left her to it. After all, she had a lot to do, which was totally my fault. Taking in the pleasant sun, I strolled over to the stru site, where the building was going up rapidly, modur stru being an excellent, if expensive choice. It was then my ph, so I raced away from the noisy building site to a quieter er. Cheg my phone I was surprised at the caller.

  Hayato-san, huh? Iing. “Hey there Hayato-san, what’s up?”

  “Oh, hey there Akio-kun, long time no speak. Thanks again for doing that work for me, you really rattled it out.” Hearing his familiar voice was nostalgic. We had exged emails a fair bit, but… yeah, siniversity ended, we’ve all drifted out of touch. I should have made more of an effort to keep in tact. It was just the same as I did with my sister and Eri. Damn, I be a moron at times. Still, at least I know where I was going wrong now. I’m busy, but I make time for old friends.

  “No problem. It came at a good time for me.” I assured him. “So, what’s the occasion? You haven’t called in ages. Not another ch at work you need my help with?” I asked brightly.

  “I wouldn’t call it a ch but there’s always more to do. You made some det money a while ago, but I bet you could use a bit more, right?”

  “Sorry to disappoint, but I’ve got my money worries covered.” It felt good to say. Yeah, teically I’m a billionaire. “I’ve got a new gig, I’m afraid.” At that I paused though, my new resolve to reect pressio offer my support. “Still, if you really get stud need some work pushed out, I do it as a favour for the basic rate.” I don’t he money, but no way Hayato-san would let me do it for free, he’s a man who values fairness.

  “Really? Well, I think we manage. I’ve got some of the old crew helping too, so… anyway, that’s iing, Akio-kun. Shiro did say that you had some o share, big news. So I guess it’s your new job, eh? Must be a good one if Shiro was so excited. You know how she is.”

  Yeah, I sure do. Still, you are misuanding the situation. I guess Shiro did keep it to herself. “Yeah, the work be challenging, but the remuion is sweet. I finally moved out of my crappy apartment to somewhere nicer. Anyway, so if the call wasn’t about work, what do you need?”

  “You know what it's about, Akio-kun!" Hayato-san chuckled wryly. "You skipped out st time, and Shiro retty pissed. Hina- and the rest of the gang were a bit sad too. So I was w, how are you fixed for this weekend? We get together in Akihabara, just like old times. Maybe hit up Shinjuku too if everyone is still able to walk by then.”

  This weekend, huh? I’m heading home Saturday m, but I don’t need much sleep anymore… “I do Friday evening, if that works?”

  “Friday huh? Yeah, that shouldn’t be a problem for me or Hina-. Shiro is… well, Shiro is always free, right?”

  Yeah, ‘me or Hina-’? Not keeping your secret that well. Before I might have missed the hint, but now I am wise in the way of retionships, so no fooling me! “Yeah, she’s never doing anything but annoying us or w on her game. How about the others?”

  “Everyone said that any time this weekend would be fine, so there shouldn’t be a problem, but I’ll drop them a lio make sure. So, great. I’m looking forward to cutting loose with the whole gang. It’s been a while, Akio-kun.”

  “That it has, Hayato-san.” I replied, feeling a little emotional.

  “So, six thirty at Bar Sekirei, just like old times?”

  “Sounds good to me!” I agreed. “It’ll be great to get the whole gang together again. It’s been far too long.”

  “Damn right.” Hayato-san agreed. “Though I never had you pegged for the seal type, Akio-kun!”

  As we ughed and joked, our talk turo more light-hearted matters, and I found myself having a lot of fun. Yeah, it really will be good to see my old friends again. I wonder if they’ll be shocked at how much I’ve ged?