Why build cities around mother crystals?

So it's been established that the mother crystals can cause aether floods which turn people Akashic and are dangerous for normal people to be even around. So then at that point why are people full building cities and fortresses around the mother crystals? Doesn't it seem counterintuitive when the threat of a sudden Akashic outbreak in the center of your nation can essentially devastate a country? The Empire, Waloed, and the Dominion straight up built their capitals around them. The Iron Kingdom has a pretty important structure within Drake's Breath.

The only ones that seem to make sense are Kupka building his castle within Drake's Fang. It would be the last place an army would try to besiege and since he's immune to becoming Akashic, it's a perfect fortress for him.