Ourning to the ryokae it being early, everyone aing ready for the big day. I was greeted by my father, who surprisingly enough didn’t seem hungover. On seeing my gaze, he looked down, a little embarrassed, which was a surprise.

  “Daughter-in-w Shaeu used her ability to se me of the hangover.” He admitted, but I was just happy that he ting Shaeu as his daughter. I could see her behind him, giviriumphant smile. She was in a kimono rather than a yukata, one we had brought with us, a rather fetg white and pink one, and instead of wearing her hair long it had been expertly pinned up with expensive hair sticks, giving her a rather mature air, despite her delicate appearance.

  As I admired her, my mom and Auntie came out, talking to Marika-san’s mother, and the three of them were dressed up too. “It’s… a bit weird, but… you all look good.” I said, surprised.

  “Well, I’ve always been fasated by the cospy this try has a tradition of.” My mom said, doing a twirl in the shrine maiden outfit she was wearing, though from the cut and the material you could see it was expensive and ade, not merely cospy. “We don’t really do it ba the UK.”

  “I think we are too old for it.” Auntie Hana pined, but she looked good in it, if you asked me. When I said that, she gave me a ft look. “o ftter me, little Aki. Save your fttery for Eri. And I suppose the others.”

  It was then that Marika-san came out, her shrine maiden attire looking great on her, very natural. She was with my sister, Eri and Kana. On seeing me, my sis grinned. “Well, look who’s back. Looks like I got to use your private room after all. We had quite the sleepover didn’t we, and we were all ihs together, Marika-, Keomi- and Kana-’s friends too. You missed out, bro!”

  “irely.” Aliyah observed sourly from behiifling a yawn. “Hey, I know we’re traio stay up all night oion, but seriously, ’t Trey and I grab a few hours? Travis and Manx take over.” She the tere already suited up and standing in the ers, keeping an eye on things.

  “Sure. cve doesn’t start yet, although some of us will be busy before that.” I haven’t had any sleep myself, but I do without due to my stats, and it’s even easier with my Split Thoughts skill, as I rest half of my mind while keeping the other half active. It was a godsend, as I had too much to do and there weren’t enough hours in the day, although sleep was still very satisfying, especially if it was with those I cherished.

  As if reading my mind, Eri giggled. “Well, I did have fun. We didn’t get batil te. Mother and father were upset, but I did point out if aried to harass us, Aiko and I could beat them up. I missed you there though Akio. Not just me, too.”

  At that Kana flushed a little, and ched her fists as if hyping herself up for something. I could see her family, also impeccably dressed in shriire, Nagi-san looking more fortable in it than mom or auntie Hana, and their expressions were mixed. Nagi-san had an amused smile, while her father and grandfather looked troubled.

  “Hey, Akio? I have a minute?” she asked, and I had a bad feeling. Is it… that?

  “Sure.” I said, resigning myself. This is likely all my fault, anyway.

  “Great.” she said, face red. “So, uh… Akio. I’ve been thinking this for a while, and you know, I think.. no, that’s nht. To be ho, I know how I feel now, and so I was hoping… no, asking really, if…” her words were ing out alternatively rapid and sluggish, and she looked incredibly nervous, so I decided to help her out.

  “Sorry Kana. I… well I know what you want to say, and I’m fttered, I really am. You’re a really cute girl, and I like your self-fidence, but right now, I just…” I realised everyone was looking at me, amused expressions on their faces. My sis broke the silence by guffawing loudly, and Eri was shaking her head. Wait, am I wrong?

  Kana took a deep breath to calm herself down, f a smile. “Hey, Akio. You really have some fideo think every girl you meet likes you and wants to go out with you. You’ve ged a lot sihe first time I’ve met you.”

  Oh, so I am wrong? I felt relief, but also a treacherous little thorn of disappoi. Kana’s right. I have ged, despite having so many girls, a part of me still wanted Kana. And why not? I do like her personality. I think she’s the sort irls hate, but she’d be popur with boys… “Oh I see. So then, what…” I began, only for her to cut me off.

  “Still, you aren’t wrong. I do like you Akio. A lot.” She said, and I stopped, stunned. Wait, what?

  “Yes, I like you.” Kaed, her face crimson, but her expression was resolved. “But… well, I’m no beggar, no weak-willed girl who o ask for crumbs from your table, Akio. I’m not going to ask you to date me, or anything like that.” She took a deep breath, resolving herself. “I’m Izumi Kana! I’m the most beautiful girl in our whole neighbourhood! At least until you others turned up, but I still don’t lose!” Shaeu and Eri snickered at that. “I have my pride. And I want to be doted on, loved, cherished. I could live with having Eri-, Shaeu and the others as my rivals. In fact, they are the only girls worthy enough to match me!”

  “What about us, Kana-?” Mio-san said, earning a gre from Kana and miggles from the irls.

  “Ask him out if you think you are worthy. I’ll ugh when he shoots you down though.” Kana said to her, before turning bae. “What I ’t accept is having to beg for scraps and force you into it, using yuilt and the fact you are a total pushover to pretty girls. I totally could.” She bent over, appealing to me with her body ed in red and white hakama, and I swallowed. Yeah, Kana is already beautiful, and judging by her mother, she’ll only grow more so as she matures.

  “I’m not saying that’s wrong. I know you were being dense as hell when it came to Eri- and Shaeu, so they had to take drastic measures. As for the noble girls, well, what ce did they have? From talking to them I see they don’t know anything about men or dating. This way robably better, and I’m sure they’ll be happy.” She smiled. “You’ll make sure of it, right? I get that. Damn, it’s one reason I like you. Ordinary guys, posers, they say stuff like I’ll look after you or leave it to me but you actually do it. Against anything.” Her smile was genuine and wistful. “Ever since I first saw you with my useless gift I hated, my life has been a rollercoaster, but… it’s always going upwards.”

  I wasn’t sure what to say to that, but I knew I shouldn’t interrupt, as Kana was genuinely speaking from the heart here. As she tinued, I fot everyone else around us was watg, and I was drawn into her speech.

  “I like you. I do. But I have trouble liking myself at times, you know? At first I was jealous of Eri-. Apparently we are simir.” Miggles at that from my sis. “But…” Kana tinued. “… she had everything I wanted. Now I realise she actually did earn it. With her owermination. Even if she did rely on you being uo say no to her!” she smirked, but I could see a hint of bitterhere still. “That’s not for me though. Even if you were single, I think… I think I’d want, no need you to be the one chasing me. My pride won’t stand for less. So, Akio…”

  “…yes?” I said, overwhelmed by her iy.

  “… I do like you. Hell, who am I kidding? I think… no, I know it’s more than like. But that isn’t what’s important. What is… is I’ve decided. I’m going to take over Shirohebizumi shrine, and bee a true shrine maiden, oh power and who is able to stand by your side in the new world that’s ing. I’m tired of just being a pretty girl who has nothing but her looks. I’m not that shallow! So Akio, please…” she bowed to me then. “… train me. I’ll learn, no matter what it takes. So take me with you today!”

  So, uh… that was a fession, but it sort of sounded like she was als me down, too? I’m a bit fused. Still, training, huh… “Kana. Are you sure? I think learning how to be strong is good, and I mean to train everyo the school. But going beyond that, to the level of Eri or my sis… it’s gruelling. It’s painful. And when I ihat much effort in you, I ’t let you go, afterwards.”

  “Was that you aski?” she joked, before shaking her head. “No, I know it wasn’t. Seriously, fuy as smart as you, you be incredibly dumb at times. I said it. I’ll stand by your side. So train me. I don’t like hard work and I’m scared of pain. But I’m scared of being a loser, a nobody, even more…”

  “Fihen.” I reached out a hand, and she took it. “Wele to the team. I’m gd to have you here.”

  “Great.” Kana shook my hand. “By the way, I like you. I’m not lying. But I’m not an easy girl. I’m not going to sit here pining for you, wasting away. If somebody catches my eye, you might find even if you ask me out down the li’ll be too te.” She grinned fiendishly. “After all, I’m a beauty, and when I’m one of your disciples, I’ll be even more desirable a catch. You might hate it, as if I’m by your side and all over anuy, you’ll surely regret it.” She winked.

  Maybe I will, but… I liked Kana a lot, but I didn’t love her, and I had enough on my pte. Fht now… “Well, maybe I’d deserve that. Anyway, better get your things together then Kana. We have work to do before cve.”

  Kana clicked her tongue, irritated. “You know, with that momentum, I was sure you’d fess your feelings for me. Oh well, I hate beien. Fine.” With that she hurried off, her friends following, alternatively gratuting and iserating, leaving me in an aosition.

  “Well, my daughter is certainly stubborn.” Nagi-san observed. “But… well, you’ll tio take care of her, right Akio-kun?”

  “I will. Even if it’s only as a trusted friend and ally.” I answered, earning an amused look iurn.

  “Only, huh? Well, Kana be quite stubborn as you see, but I think she knows how to get what she wants from boys.” Nagi-san gave a little giggle. “Though for now… I’d appreciate it if you made sure Kana was strong, like the irls.” She looked at Eri and Shaeu. “My daughter is right. The world has ged.”

  “It has.” I decred, gd the drama was over. “And to that extent, cve.”

  We went through the details with everybody. The first day lit into two sessions. Each shrine and temple would have one representative in the main hall of Kyoto Imperial Pace, where the fa leaders, Kudou-san, Uchida-san, Saionji-san and Bankei-san would be, along with Takakura-san representing the nobility, and Princess Mikasa the Imperial family. Another princess huh? And it feels a bit more real than Shaeu, not that I’d ever tell her that. The Diviner will be there too, Matsumuro Tsukiko. Perhaps… I’ll be able to find out more. But first, light element…

  I and Haru-san would be allowed as guests, and some rare shrines were allowed a sed entry. Those with kami brought to this world, or where their didate wasn’t the main person in charge. I would be taking Shaeu, while Haru-san was bringing along Eri. The two kami, Shirohebi and the jade beetle, they were also going to attend this session, and were richly dressed and an impressive sight, currently.

  There was a series of sedary sessions, where other shrine personnel aed parties would be attending, for w and fa politig, and this is where Aiko, my family and the other trainees would be mingling. With Grulgor and Hyath to prevent problems, it should be safe for them, and we could expand our influend make new allies.

  As I expihis, my father frowned. “So, read news of this Chirurgery safely, and talk about daughter-in-w Hyath and the others?”

  At his words of acceptance, Hyath giggled madly, and I was once more struck at how my father was being far more accepting than I had expected, or even hoped for. Correctly interpreting my thoughts, father sighed. “It is not the time to talk about family matters here, but… I know you are serious, son. I may not approve, but I know you are doing your best, and even the w will reise that in due course. Besides…” he looked at Kana’s family, who he had e to know. “… even their daughter uands. So leaving that aside, you are sure?”

  “Yes. This is one reason why we developed the training school, to show what we do and how we be people. As fing spiritual beings here, the kami will be revealed, and others know how to do it already. So we o show we have more and do it better.” I grinned proudly. I had two Thro Rank 2, which I doubted anyone else could boast yet. “So go out there, mingle and win people over. I io offer some Chirurgery as examples to Kudou-san’s fa, the ral shrines under Bankei-san, and possibly the others, if they py ball. But if you see anyone we want to make alliah, feel free to sweeten the deal. A bit of bribery greases the wheels.”

  “Oshiro-san…” Kikuchi Shuta-san said diffidently. “You have not fotten you are to meet with Saionji-sama before the cve begins?”

  “No.” I promised. “I’ll have a little time so I’ll do it. But… before that.” I looked at Eri and my sis, as well as Marika-san. “It’s time to get training.” I gri Kana who had emerged from her room, and I tried not to notice she had washed her face, her eyes looking puffy. “Kana, I hope you are ready. It's time for the Kyoto training camp!”

  ********

  “So, what are you doing here, Yamato-san?” I asked. “Shouldn’t you be preparing for cve?”

  “I could ask you the same question.” He replied, a little irritated. “My father is head of our fa, so of course as the glorious Chosen of Kannon I o show my support and power. But… I had promised you aid for your wele assista night, so here I am.”

  “Me, like… I don’t have much to do at all.” Mine-san said, her partly-shaved blonde hair and numerous piergs making her look totally inappropriate for the uping cve. “So I thought I’d tag along, and like… show my support for Yamato-sama!”

  “Also… you are quite cautious around us, aren’t you?” Yamato-san eyed Hyath, Shaeu and Grulgor, who had apanied us. There was also a nervous-looking Ren-san and the twins, who were seemingly overawed by the exalted pany. “I ot in good sce allow you entry to my Territory unapanied. It would be extremely foolish. Though you would struggle to enter without my assistance.”

  “Well, I ’t argue with that.” Yeah, Shaeu and I could break in, I’d imagine, but the others… “Taking precautions is wise. That’s fine, just… we’ll be busy doing some tough training, so don’t interrupt unnecessarily, all right? We o get this done so we focus on cve.”

  I saw a gleam of curiosity in his eyes, but he nodded. “Very well then. I have prepared a somewhat nicer room for you to venture in from.”

  “reciate it.” I thanked him, before we ehe room with more beddi up. “All right. Grulgor, you stand watch first, and I might have you ge with Hyath if this drags on. Anyway, in we all go.”

  Once we were all ihe impressive Territory of Kiyomizu-dera, with the shimmering azure energies of light element dang all around us, the air thick with it, I gathered everyone up. Ren-san and the twins were looking around in wo the fantastically splendid architecture, Marika-san too.

  As Yamato-san and Mine-san joined us, watg over us from a distanot interfering, I gathered everyoo a circle. “All right. This is an opportunity for everyone. We want to try and gain access to the light element, as well as try out some ideas I’ve been having on how I improve our ability to learn skills. So, before I begin…”

  “Hey bro.” my sis interrupted me. “ I ask for something?”

  “Sure, go ahead.” I sighed.

  “Don’t be like that bro, I know you love sg points with me.” She smiled. “I… well, I want to learn Chirurgery. You think you help with that?”

  “Really? But without Eyes it’s going to be hard to use well.” I crified, but she was resolute.

  “I know. But bro… Kana- isn’t the only one who knows what she wants.” She teased Kana, who looked down, blushing a little. “I want to be someone who deals with the body, both physical and magical. I’m going to be the foremost physical and magical personal trainer in the world!” she boasted.

  Really? Well, that’s… quite the goal. “All right. I’ll see what I do.”

  My sis leapt over and hugged me. “Cheers bro, you are the best!”

  “I know, I know.” I ughed. “Now, off you get. We have work to do.” As I disentangled myself from my gy sister, I looked over to Ren-san. “So, you’ve been w on filling the mirror with sunlight, right?”

  At my words, Ren-san looked exhausted, but he nodded. “I’ve been w hard, I promise. It’s bee a little easier.”

  “Ren-sama has been putting in the effort, Akio-sama.” Owin said. Chiasa, I think.

  “Yes, Ren-sama knows he shouldn’t disappoint you, Akio-sama.” The reed.

  “Great. well, you two are integral to this pn as well. But for now… everyone, just try and pull in the smallest amounts of light element you , and see how it feels. You, Ren-san, you guzzle in as much as you are able and fill the mirror with sunlight for now. Haru-san, you’re with me.”

  As everyoarted following my instrus, Shaeu watg over them to perform Ether Healing if their works started suffering damage from rampant light energies, I brought Haru-san off to one side. “All right. you’ve been practising. Use your Blessing of Sharing Light and Telepathy to link with me. Without showing me anything troubling, all right?” I smiled gently.

  “I… all right.” She swallowed nervously, before extending a gold and blue glow outwards and into me The experience was awkward, my body trying to fight against the intrusion, but I rexed and allowed it in.

  How is it? you hear me?

  To the voice eg a bit fuzzily in my brain, I responded. “Yes, I . Good job. But you show me what you see?”

  That’s a little harder, but.. give me a mihere were a series of strange sounds and fshing lights in my vision, before I found myself seeing myself as if in a mirror, overid on what I could already observe. It was extremely disf, but as I separated out my thought streams with Split Thoughts it became much easier. “Okay, that’s good. Now I’ll send to you, is that all right?”

  I asked for sent, knowing that Haru-san had suffered greatly with the fear her gifts meant she was going mad. Still, she gave it, and after a short while we could pass images bad forth. “Great, now… for the hard part. This… is going to be tough on you, but it’ll be great training. I’m asking again, are you willing to do this?”

  I’m your vassal and yht me home. Of course I am.

  “Yeah, but you’re a vassal, not a sve. If it ever gets too tough…”

  No, I want to be strong and brave, like you, like the others. Seeing a girl youhan me be so bold… I’d be ashamed if I couldn’t match up. I have a dream too. One day I’ll head the entire new Ministry!

  That’s a great dream. I know she’ll make it happen.

  … … …

  “Oh, you could hear that? Oops…”

  Yes. I’m not a child, I am as old as you. Looking down on me in your thoughts, I find it somehow very annoying…

  “My bad. well then… time to put the twins to use.” I approached the tere trating on pulling in the surrounding energies. “All right, you two. I’ve expined what I want, but… you do it?”

  They exged gnces, before nodding. “Yes, I believe we , Akio-sama.” “Even if we ’t, we’ll somehow manage, Akio-sama.” They said together.

  “Good girls.” I approved. “Well then, it’s time to begin.” Haru-saended her awareo the two girls, light energy flowing into them. It was as if multiple people were talking at once, but that quickly settled down, as the twins were experienced with their own telepathid.

  Akio-sama, Haru-sama, I hear you both.

  Yes, I too, sister. It’s stra was always just us before, but now…

  As we talked bad forth with our minds, we started sharing images and our vision, and a few mier we were ready. I cpped my hands, and everyohered around. Yamato-san and Mine-san were watg curiously as we huddled up.

  “All right then.” I said. “Time t you all into the link. It’ll be fusing and stressful at first, but when all our minds and thoughts are ected, we use each other’s experiences and knowledge to train each other.” I dropped my voice to a barest whisper. “Yamato-san hasn’t been using the light energy here properly. This’ll be our only ce to drain dry all that’s built up over time.” My smile was wicked, and several people ughed. “In addition to learning light element, we may have some time to improve a few other skills, though we ’t linger, as cve is ter today. So, is everyone ready?”

  At their nods, Haru-san began to extend out feelers of her empathic light, bringing people into the circle. At first some panicked, while others shared thoughts that perhaps they shouldn’t have. Careful sis, I don’t o know about what you lot talked about st night…

  As more and more voices were talking in wohe strain on Haru-san and the twins was starting to tell, but I took more and more of the weight onto my Split Thoughts, ag as a sort of trol tower for them. Eventually, the st, Ren-san was brought into the circle, and now no words were necessary, only thoughts.

  Wow, this is crazy!

  My sis had got used to the telepathy quickly after her initial embarrassment.

  Calm down, Aiko! You should be used te things now! Eri chided her.

  Yes, you should not-not be shocked. Though I must say, this does feel a little like the Fae way of bonding, though… less-less intimate. That does remind me… Shaeu shut her thoughts down, though Kana, my sis and some others seemed to be hearing her, because they looked excited.

  Trust Shaeu to master it quickly.

  So, what do we do now, Akio-sama? That was Marika-san, the you here and still quite nervous, though pride at her being chosen for this was also present.

  “Right, yes.” I said out loud, as Yamato-san was gettiless, watg us in our silent, eerie circle. “Haru-san and Ren-san will lead. Draw in light element and show us how it’s accumuted and used. Ren-san will also show us how he verts it into his mutated element, sunlight. Then… then I’ll give it a try. Hopefully between us all sharing our thoughts and feelings we learn how to use it.”

  “Really, that works?” Mine-san asked. “Yamato-sama, like… I give it a try?”

  He nodded, sourly, and Mine-san shut her eyes, drawing in a little of the light. I hope she doesn’t hurt herself too badly. Oh well, we heal her if we o, and she already owes me a favour, so…

  Haru-san and Ren-san were pulling in the light around them, and their thoughts were flowing into our minds. I opened my Eye, as did Shaeu with hers, and we shared our vision of what was happening ihem. The strain on people’s minds was harsh, so I started releasiher Healing to everyone, soothing their pain and stabilising them.

  Thank you. That wasn’t nice. Marika-san spoke for everyone. Even so, it was fasating seeing the light energies pool around the Third Eye, when suddenly my sister spoke.

  “You know what, I think… I get it! Seeing a success, feeling a success! Your sis has this, bro! Watd learn!”

  She suddenly started pulling in a rge amount of light, while not fetting to share her emotions and senses. I could see the flow with my eyes, moving past her chakras, some of the energy pulled away as it passed the heart, swirling around her lunar chakra. The main flow passed the throat, where suddenly we felt a spike of emotion. Dark jealousy flooded the bond for a moment, before my sis cmped down on her mind. Wow, sorry about that. It just leaked out. I’m totally not jealous of Eri, or Shaeu, no way! I’m stuck at a piddly level nine, and… ugh, fet it. So embarrassing. I’d better succeed now or this totally won’t be worth the shame…

  As the flow reached her third eye, it began to coalesce, although a little tinued up towards her . Suddenly the emotions over the bond ged, love, joy, passion… all these straions were geed, and my sister was turning red with embarrassment at having her emotions interpreted by us all. Though within the positive, there’s also…

  Yes, Hyath feels it toooooo. In light, there is sooome darkness, and in the darkness, light. Hyath… I uand as well! She also began to draw in rge quantities of light, though as the light reached her throat it began to csh with the blue darkhere, aions cascaded through the telepathid, fragmentary and dark. Hatred. Yet hatred is not always bad, as one hate evil and injustice. Anger. Righteous anger is a thing. Jealousy and envy. Yes, Hyath was jealous and envious of the life she lost, those who had the life she wanted, but… it gave her the opportunity to ge.

  I knooow… light and dark, two sides of the same coooin. Aiko told me, Hyath was not Seelie or Unseelie, Hyath is simply me! Poison be used tooo save, like we did at the Spring, and looove lead to great evil, like the Dark Queen!

  Yes, love turn to a o dominate and possess. Pride es before a fall. Charity quickly turn to superiority. Good emotions taken to excess cause just as much harm as those we sider bad. Darkness and light, yin and yang… I too started drawing in the light energy around us. It was fortunate so much had built up around the shrine over time, but Yamato-san sure was going to be pissed off when we plu all… well, he owes me. And it isn’t like it won’t recharge eventually. There’s a ton of sources here…

  This is hard… I… I’m… no, I’m not just a jealous, wicked woman! I like you, Akio! I… I like you Shaeu! And you Hyath! You’re a good girl, Marika-san. As for you, Kana-… I… I don’t hate you.

  Eri’s emotions were scattering wildly, her work starting to corrode as light and darkness cshed, as she had started drawing it in after I made my move. Shaeu used her owher Healing, soothing and repairing the torn capilries, siphoning off the excess light element into herself.

  I should hope not. Last night… well, Aiko- tried to give it all away to Akio, but… we talked and became real friends, right?

  Right. But… is now the time? Eri was struggling. Her affinity was definitely for darkness, so the light blinded and fought her. But I know it is sometimes easier to bance opposing forces. I found it much easier to learn water because with it, earth, wind, fme… everything banced in perfect opposition…

  That sort of thinking is not-not the way of the Fae. We fear our opposites, loathe them. Yet… Shaeu was drawing in light element from Eri, as well as the surroundings. Lightning and Nature oppose, yet the Queen and King embody these aspects… perhaps… perhaps we were simply quite-quite foolish, not-not seeing the truth.

  It's just like a mag, I think. We used them in css the other day. North and South.

  Aren’t you clever, Marika-? I wish Keomi- was smart like you. If I gave her a mag, she’d try to eat it, I bet… at Kana’s joke we all ughed, and one by one everyoarted pulling in the light energy, a dizzying indigo halo surrounding our circle.

  Your bance is slipping there a bit, Chiasa-san. Oh, Kana, you o reroute the flow down here… yes, Marika-san, good. But you are letting it scatter, no wo hurts…

  As I multi-tasked frantically, making adjustments with Ether Healing and Chirurgery as needed, my Split Thoughts skill Ranked up, easing the strain. With my newfound leeway, I switched tration bay own struggles, trying to bahe elements.

  Hyath is grey, her light nooor darkness! Only me! I am just like mistress Shaeu nooow, Hyath ge herself, remake herself! She was the first to succeed, her light and darkness in flux, bang perfectly. With her heaving breaths, silvery sweat dripping from her, she extended her thoughts to Eri and I, as we struggled through the same trial she did. Mistress Eri. You are trying toooooo hard to be the light. Accept the jealousy, the envy, the desire tooo possess. They are you, and Akio loooves you despite that. Light is possessive too, it wants. Happiness. Kindness. Yet Looove is both light and dark. Let your love enpass both, like Akio does fooor us. And Akio… you… nooo, I think you uand. But you have sooo much to bance. Dooo your best!

  Uh, that’s barely advice, but I’d rather she does help Eri…

  “I see now!” Eri spoke out loud, fetting the link for a moment. “Enpass everything! No, be everything. For without light, darkness is meaningless, and without darkness, light is blinding and uniform. Both… we need both!”

  That’s… well, yes, the missing thing I he primary elements, they seem strange. After all, fire is a process, earth and wind are affectively mixtures of elements, and water is a uniform pound. They really don’t make much sense as a system. It’s almost as if someone decided on them… but light and darkness… well, light is obvious, but darkness… I couldn’t tame it, as I didn’t uand it. But… it makes sense now…

  This is incredible. So this is what a is like? I would say I don’t have to be jealous of you anymore, Eri-, but looks like you beat me to it. Kana was delighted as her own third eye was bzing. She was drenched i, her chest heaving in pain from her ragged, battered work, which I immediately started to repair, but she had succeeded, with my Eye I could see that. Eri had too, surprising me. I thought she’d struggle the most…

  We don’t have darkness, Chiasa, but our brother, Ren-sama, he has the light, so why should we be different?

  That’s right Chiaki. I’ve always thought it strange. But… we do it. I see inside you, and you see inside me.

  Yes, together we see through Akio-sama’s eyes, what we o do. And if it’s hard…

  We each be half of the whole!

  The twins, something strange was happening there. Their third eye chakras had gathered the light, but the light was also crossiween them, linking them further, and some strange awakening seemed to be taking pce within them. It seemed something that wouldn’t harm them, so I trated on my own struggle, just as Shaeu let out a cry of triumph, her body glittering with light.

  I have-have evolved again. Now I am a Fae of light too! Akio, the water… the water within us tains the light, draon it!

  Heeding her words I delved within. I didn’t have muergy, I had recovered some over time, but having given most of it away, there were merely trickles. Even so, she was right. The spirt water tairapped moonlight, so I already tained light, in harmony with my body! Pulling ier I let it flow through me, soothing the raging mess of my throat and third eye chakras, and as it settled, I felt something clito pce.

  Your Css, Fae-Souled, has increased from level 28 to level 30. Your Css is now at its maximum strength. Charm, Fortune and Fht have increased by four. Majesty, League, Determination and Fate have increased by three. You ow survive with only an Astral body. Damage shared between your Material and Astral forms is dramatically reduced. Your Aether has increased by 150.

  You have gained a skill, Third Eye Chakra Of Light Rank 3. Your Third Eye Chakra will gee Light energy. [Css: Powerful] [Type: Foundation]

  You have gained a skill, Light Manipution Rank 5. Your ability to manipute and trol Light energy has dramatically increased. Your uanding of Light has signifitly increased, and you handle Light with less wastage and greater efficy, and are more able to adapt to and trol unique Lights. [Css: Powerful] [Type: Foundation]

  I guess my study of the physics of light paid off big-time. And while I don’t get all the spiritual aspects, from experieng what Ren-san and Haru-san have, and having moonlight within me… as well as the insights everyone has shared… I think I get it a bit… so, that’s everyone, right? This went way better than I could have ever expected… The twins and Haru-san, using them as a way to link our shared experiences and senses proved an incredible learning tool. Coupling that with our Eyes, and a difficult process was made seemingly smooth… although I’m having to do an awful lot of repairing damage to works. I think if not for that, there might be perma side effects. We’ll have to do this carefully in…

  No, this isn’t enough. I do better. If I’m going to do this, I to be perfect! I don’t want to disappoint big bro, and more importantly, I don’t want to disappoint myself!

  Wait, that’s Aiko? She… she’s the only one who hasn’t learhat seems… We could all feel the frustration oozing from her. Eri and Kana, Shaeu and Hyath, they all seheir support, and my sister let out a r cry, which startled Mine-san, making her fall over, opening her eyes, the light energy she ulling in scattering. Yamato-san was only looking on, a troubled expression on his face as the light around us was rapidly diminishing.

  Hey, Ren-san, fork it over. I all. Be a good boy, okay?

  Wait, what? Ren had been sharing the feelings of trolling light with us, and stantly pulling in energy and verting it. He was noticeably smoother, the mirror an invaluable tool to him, so had accumuted a det amount inside, but now it was being pulled out of the mirror, indigo and gold, flooding into Aiko, overwriting the gathered light energy she had accumuted.

  Not enough. Got to have more. I feel it, and I know I master light, but that’s not what I want! Hey, Ren-san, sorry, but… I’ll buy you an apology gift! Before anyone could respond my sister was drawing sunlight energy from Ren-san too. He groaned, as the forcible extra was causing pain and minor damage to his work, so Shaeu and I leapt io heal Ren-san, Shaeu to use her Chirurgery to guide the flow into Aiko, and heal her rapidly shredding third eye chakra. Pain was fring from Aiko, and only hard work from Haru-san, who was struggling, was keeping it from afflig everyone else.

  Nearly. I … it’s warm ale, like a spring sun, harsh and oppressive, like a summer sun, soothing and calm, like an autumn sun, and nostalgid wan, like a winter sun. Light… light is just a refle of the source, so if I am the source… obey me! Even that kami said I was light element! “Do it, ge! Bee the sun!”

  As my sister roared out her st words, the mirror radiated a brilliant glow, falling from Ren-san’s hands as he dropped it in shock. My sister was enveloped in a simir aura, the st of the light energy around us pulled in, ahird eye glowed a brilliant azure and gold. Damn, she’s do! That looks like a mutated element to me! Like Ren-san…

  With that, the link we had established shattered, ing apart, everyo by the recoil of our own thoughts, and as we slumped to the ground, draihe mirror struck, boung away. And as it rolled across the ground, before I could pliment everyone on their hard work, my Fht started screaming at me, that a sudden danger was on the horizon, hanging not over me, but those close to me…

  ShipTeaser