Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

As Vahn was exiting Naaza's room, he made his way towards the reception area where he saw Tsubaki powdering a long claymore-like weapon. She looked toward him and smiled slightly before saying, "Next time I see you acting up, don't blame me for bullying you. Try something like that little stunt again and you'll be lucky to walk away the same day." Vahn nodded and made his way toward the exit, but stopped before crossing the threshold.Turning around, Vahn smiled and said in a cheeky manner to Tsubaki who had been following his back as he left, "I'll just become strong enough to get away with it." The moment he finished the words, Vahn lunged forward and rolled along the ground as the claymore that had been in Tsubaki's hand pierced through the place he had previously stood. Bounding to his feet, Vahn ran out of the courtyard while laughing at the raging Cyclops behind him.Tsubaki walked out of her workshop and picked up the claymore that had been lodged into the ground. She knew Vahn was ready to dodge her attack, but she decided to play along with his little 'play'. Looking at the direction he had retreated, Tsubaki smiled before saying, "Kids growing up faster and faster. Hope he doesn't get hurt too badly." Shouldering the claymore, she turned and walked back inside her workshop.Vahn noticed that Tsubaki hadn't chased after him, so he slowed his speed until he came to a complete stop. Teasing Tsubaki, who had tormented him so much in the past, was very fulfilling and Vahn resolved himself to continue doing so in the future. Even if she got very angry with him, Vahn knew that she wouldn't intentionally harm him just for messing around. At this point, it was nearly 3 PM, and Vahn didn't really have anything to do so he decided to walk around the City.Unlike his typical, fast-paced, movements, Vahn leisurely strolls through the City and just 'experienced' the sights and sounds of the people. Though all the people were strangers to him, Vahn noticed that the majority of people had neutral or even positive impressions of him. Unlike when he had first entered the City, people looked at him with smiles instead of intrigue or disgust.There were even several women, both young and old, that would try to call out to him or strike up a conversation with the 'handsome' boy. Vahn found many of them to be very cute, and even some of the mature women were very charming, but he just gave them curt responses and nods as he continued walking through the City. Considering all of the things he had been wrapped up in lately, Vahn couldn't divert his attention to people that had yet to influence his life.Using the opportunity, Vahn decided to map areas of the City he had never visited and started thinking about appropriate places for his upcoming date with Eina. Since Vahn had decided to make an effort, he felt like he owed it to Eina to make the date enjoyable. Though he didn't know much about her, he assumed she would like to stroll around and go shopping like most of the girls he had seen. Vahn visited several scenic locations and marked them on his map while trying various foods from stalls along the paths.Vahn really enjoyed the food in Orario, as there seemed to be an infinite variety to enjoy. Though he still loved the food at the Hostess of Fertility the most, Vahn had yet to find anything that was unpalatable amongst any of the vendors in the City. He especially enjoyed seafood, and the crepes he often ate had quickly become one of his favorite foods. Using his newfound wealth, Vahn tried the food at nearly twenty different places before bringing his journey to an end.Anything that he liked, Vahn had purchased a large amount of it and stowed it away in his inventory when nobody was looking. He could eat the dishes later, or even give it to the children once he returned. Vahn was especially fond of sharing the things he enjoyed with others, and he looked forward to the expressions they would have when he gave them the delicious food.Vahn arrived at his own workshop/house at around 8 PM and made his way through the courtyard and into the foyer. Curiously, the moment he entered, Anubis was patiently waiting to receive him. She smiled and said, "Welcome back, Master." Vahn nodded his head and asked, "Where are the children now?" Anubis raised her brows after seeing how composed was as she responded, "They are waiting in the dining room for your return. As members of your 'pack', they will not eat until you tell them or until you arrive."Imagining the seven kids sitting around and patiently waiting, Vahn felt a strange emotion, but it didn't cause him any discomfort as he had expected. Walking forward, he placed his palm on Anubis's head and stroked her ears a bit before pulling away. Anubis seemed surprised by his actions, but before she spoke, Vahn said, "You were waiting for me to return as well, right?" Walking by her, Vahn called out as he passed into the corridor, "Let's go, I'm not fond of keeping people waiting long."After his exchange with Tsubaki, Vahn now decided to face his matters head-on. If he had to be an 'Alpha' within his household, he would do his best until the children became self-reliant. If Anubis was going to call him 'Master', he would act the role to the best of his ability in order to match her resolve. Moments after he left her behind, Vahn heard a notification in his mind that told him her Loyalty had increased to 91 which brought a smile to his face.As expected, the moment Vahn entered the dining room, the kids were waiting in a semi-circle that had a space reserved for him. He complained to himself that he should have purchased a low table for everyone to sit at, as sitting on the floor seemed a bit strange after he had adapted to living at Tsubaki's manor. Without a word, Vahn sat down at his designated position and waiting for Anubis to take her spot to his left.Seeing that she sat outside of the circle, Vahn turned to the kids and said, "Open the circle a bit; make room for Anubis." The kids had been paying attention to Vahn ever since he entered, and the moment his words fell they made enough space so that Anubis could sit within the circle. Vahn looked toward Anubis and she matched his gaze before rising and reseating herself next to him.Once she sat down, Vahn spoke, "From now on, we eat together unless the situation prevents us from doing so. Anubis is the Goddess of your Familia, and though you may have a reverence toward her, you should treat her as a family member from now on. As long as you recognize me as the 'Alpha', you will continue to abide by this simple rule, understood?" His voice was firm, and Vahn wanted them to know he was absolutely serious.Rasui was the first to speak out and loudly responded, "Yes, Master Vahn!" Moments after his voice fell, all the other kids repeated the words in concert. Vahn nodded his head before removing one of the dishes he had stored into his inventory. First passing it to Anubis, she began distributing food to everyone in the circle. Vahn thought her act was very motherly, and he wanted her to get closer to the children if possible. Seeing the melancholy on her face earlier, made him slightly uncomfortable.Vahn continued conjuring more food, with each new dish bringing a surprised expression to each of the children. In their eyes, Vahn was essentially pulling delicious food out of thin air, and any inhibitions they may have had toward him seemed to quickly diminish within their minds. Each person received a dish from Anubis, who presented them with a cheerful smile on her face. Once everyone had food in front of them, Vahn realized he hadn't actually stored any beverages.Seeing the anticipatory looks for the kids, he felt like he was going to end up in an embarrassing predicament before Anubis spoke out from his left. "Now that everyone has received food, I'll go ahead and prepare tea. You all should converse with our Master and patient await my return, okay?"The kids nodded after hearing Anubis's words, and she slightly bowed towards Vahn with a bemused expression before heading into the kitchen.Vahn realized that it wasn't just him paying attention to Anubis, but she was also taking into consideration his thoughts and actions. The moment she noticed he hadn't prepared anything to drink, she immediately stepped in and drew the attention away from him. Afterward, she excused herself to cover for his mistake and even opened the floor so the kids would converse with him openly. Vahn laughed to himself as he marveled at the awareness and adaptability of a goddess that had lived in the mortal world for three-hundred years.He began making casual conversation with the children, and they seemed to appreciate the opportunity. Though they still spoke in a deferential manner, Vahn noticed they were making an effort to meet both his and Anubis's expectations. He realized they were a lot like he was, how he was always trying to please those he cared about. This recognition made Vahn feel more self-aware and he swore in his own mind to match their expectations as well as he was able.The only ones that seemed to have any major inhibitions were the two sitting the furthest from his current position, the two young girls named Maat and Nanu. Vahn felt guilty every time he saw them because it always brought back memories of when he had shot the two with arrows. He knew he didn't have any room to apologize, so he just promised to treat them well in the future.After a few minutes, Anubis returned with a tray for of empty cups and a large kettle of tea. Resuming her position next to Vahn, she poured each cup individually before passing them around the circle. Once everyone had a cup, the entire group looked toward Vahn with expectations in their eyes. Seeing their expressions, he smiled before raising a portion of the chicken that comprised his meal. He wasn't that hungry, as he had eaten plenty throughout the day, but he still prepared to take a bit before saying, "Let's eat." The moment he finished his words, he took a bit of the crispy meat and watched as the kids started politely eating away at their meals.Seeing their manners, Vahn actually felt a little embarrassed since he had picked up the good with his bare hands before confidently taking a bite. He never expected such young children to be so disciplined when it came to eating. To his left, he heard a slight laugh and looked over to see Anubis staring at him with a smile as she slowly picked away at the food on her plate. Vahn felt even more embarrassed after seeing her actions and immediately understood where the kids' table manners came from.After the meal, Vahn had the kids do some stretching exercises before telling them to prepare for the bath. He went ahead and led the exercise, and the kids seemed to really enjoy the repetitive routine as the mimicked his actions with smiles while their tails wagged back and forth. Once everyone had burned some energy, she told the girls they could take a bath first and that the boys would enter later.The entire group stared at him like he had something strange, so Vahn looked toward Anubis and she explained, "They are all children, and we rarely had access to anything like an actual bath. Usually, they would help each other bathe with a bucket of water and a damp cloth." Vahn realized that his sensibilities had changed a bit recently. Even he wasn't concerned with bathing with the opposite gender just recently, but now he was paying more attention to matters and tried to segregate the two groups.While he was lost in thoughts, Anubis spoke out at his side, "The bath is plenty large to accommodate everyone. You shouldn't worry too much and just enter with them. If you start treating them like adults before they mature, they might develop strange thoughts about the hierarchy." Her words were incredibly low, and Vahn noticed that the children made an effort to ignore what she was saying. As they had sensitive ears, Vahn knew they would be able to hear her if they made an effort.Vahn realized he underestimated the hierarchal relationship that Anubis kept bringing up. Resolving his mind, he turned to the kids and said, "Okay, we'll enter together. Work together and make sure everyone is properly clean." Finishing his words, Vahn let the way into the bath and began undressing. He noticed that, even when the children entered after him, as long as he remembered his role as the 'Alpha', he was able to keep his calm easily. Vahn never cared about being seen naked, to begin with, and realized there was no reason to concern himself with others either.The problem came shortly after when Vahn had undressed completely and was making his way to the bath. Other than the children, Anubis also entered and began undressing in a casual manner. Though Vahn typically didn't care and had even bathed with women often, his interactions with Anubis today had left an impression on his mind.Vahn noticed there was exotic quality to her body compared to the other women he had seen. Her olive-brown skin seemed to have a slightly golden hue as it reflected the light. She had a slim and tight figure with almost no fat on her body at all, and Vahn could see the muscles of her body stretch and contract with her movements. It was one of the few times Vahn had ever proactively watched a woman undress, and each garment that she removed seemed to increase the tensions building in his body.Eventually, Anubis had discarded all of her clothes and turned toward Vahn and the bath. The moment she turned, Vahn got a full glimpse of her figure as she too stared at him. Both of their eyes opened wide as they viewed the other. Vahn could tell that Anubis was around 166cm tall and he found every aspect of her body to be nearly flawless. She had medium sized breasts, probably around 82cm, a thin and exotic curve to her 58cm wide hips, and a pert and full waistline that balanced out her figure at 84cm. The most surprising thing to Vahn was, unlike the majority of girls he had seen, Anubis had no hair on her body other than her hair, ears, brows, and tail.As Vahn had been taking in the sight of her body with an undisguised intrigue, Anubis was simply shocked at the sight around his waist. Though she considered Vahn an adult, she still thought he was similar to a child in some aspects. However, there was no way she could consider Vahn a 'child' after seeing how 'mature' his body was. Though she had some experience with other gods in Heaven, Anubis had never seen anything comparable to Vahn. Because of her pride, she had avoided interactions with mortal men, but Vahn actually made her heart begin to beat at a marginally faster pace.Suddenly, as if not sure what else to say, Vahn asked, "You're going to join as well?" Anubis snapped awake and matched his eyes as she responded, "You are my Master, if you are going to bathe with the children, I need to be present. If I take a bath on my own later, it will interfere with the hierarchy..." Anubis spoke the words slowly, but she couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive after realizing the current situation.Vahn seemed to accept her explanation as he turned toward the bath where the other kids were already helping clean each other. "Very well, lets go..." Though Vahn tried to say the words with 'conviction', he couldn't help but let his statement trail at the end. Taking a deep breath, he moved forward and entered the bath with the other seven. Moments later, Anubis also entered and sat to his left as she said, "I will wash your back, Master."Vahn had thought he was becoming used to the form of address, but this time he seemed to take a critical damage to his mind. He blanked out for a moment before he could feel a warm sponge touch his shoulder. Anubis had already begun washing his back, and Vahn decided to just go with the flow. He noticed that the kids would give them looks periodically, and Vahn felt he needed to maintain his image. Taking slow breaths, he calmed himself and just enjoyed the comfort brought by the warm water.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The beast appears','Exploration, Discovery','A Delicious Meal')

After the bath, everyone got dressed together in the changing area and Vahn couldn't help but stare forward into space. He had made a gross overestimation of his own resolve, as even when he had decided to maintain his calm and reasoning, he couldn't prevent his eyes from wandering when he was taking the bath. As the 'hounds' were all similar in age to him, he couldn't help but inspect their figures to satiate his own curiosity.Each of the girls, similar to Anubis, but on a much smaller scale, were very lithe without almost any fat on their bodies. They were very similar to Tiona in a way, except their breasts were marginally larger. The most distracting thing was the bush black tails that splashed around the water while they helped clean each other. They even seemed to notice his gaze but made no attempts to conceal themselves which just made matters worse for Vahn. Vahn noticed that, from the moment he entered, they too had taken glances at his penis with expressions of mild shock before quickly averting their eyes.As he had never compared himself to another boy before, Vahn now had the opportunity to do so and looked toward Rasui, Nour, Akil, and Ata. Ever since he had entered, Vahn noticed they seemed to be keeping a bit of distance from him. He noticed their gazes had wandered and their brows furrowed as they compared between each other. Vahn, too, was doing the same, and noticed that he wasn't just marginally larger than the similarly aged boys.Though they had various sizes, except for the twins, they weren't that dissimilar from each other. Vahn inspected himself and tried estimated his penis to be nearly 18cm long, which was a striking sight for anyone that saw his 156cm height. Though he had never thought of it before, he began to realize that he was strange, but after remembering the reactions of the more mature women than had seen him, Vahn didn't understand it if was a bad thing.Unable to resist his own doubts, Vahn quietly asked Anubis, "Is it a bad thing to have a bigger penis?" Anubis, who had been focusing her efforts on Vahn's back, immediately froze at his question. Everyone else in the bath also looked at him in a strange manner, and Vahn felt like he just asked something he should have kept to himself. Anubis, after a brief pause, looked around at the other children and they began busying themselves cleaning each other.Once everyone was 'distracted' she spoke quietly to Vahn, "It may be a problem in certain aspects, but it isn't necessarily a bad thing. There are several women that prefer a larger size, as long as you have the proper technique and show adequate care." Though he knew she was just explaining things, Vahn felt like the words were very heavy in his mind, as he began to think about the context of her explanation.The moment Vahn started thinking about sex, an unexpected event occurred which brought silence to the room. His previously intimidating dragon seemed to be awakened from a long slumber and proudly raised it head as though it was about to soar into the sky and pierce the heavens. Vahn was incredibly surprised by the reaction of his own body, but the surprise wasn't just his alone. The eyes of everyone in the room seemed to be pulled towards the sight, almost as if they were unable to avoid watching the unstoppable ascension of the fierce beast.Vahn heard a gulping sound from behind him as he inspected the phenomenon that was occurring to his own body. Turning his head, he saw Anubis's gaze drawn to the awakened dragon and he could even see a bit of fear in her eyes as she said, "That...could be a problem." The moment her words hit his ears, Vahn felt a fear of his own build up in his mind which seemed to seal the dragon away and return it to its slumber.Looking around, Vahn could see the boys staring at him like he was a monster, while the girls had actually moved to the other side of the bath like their lives were on the line. They each had pale faces, and even Maat, the eldest of the trio, who always had a confident expression on her face, seemed like she had encountered an unconquerable foe. Vahn was suddenly concerned about the future and recalled the words spoken by Tiona previously, "I won't be defeated so easily...". He wondered if she would be able to repeat that phrase in the current situation...---After Vahn was dressed, he sent the children off to be before making his way to his own quarters. Anubis followed closely behind him, and the atmosphere was incredibly awkward for the duration of their short trip. Standing outside his door, Vahn turned his head toward Anubis and said, "Good night, Anubis." He turned the handle of the door and began to step through, but stopped when Anubis spoke out to him.Though she hesitated to speak at first, Anubis wasn't able to allow Vahn to walk about in such a 'lifeless' manner. Ever since the incident in the bath, he lost his presence as the 'Alpha' and it seemed like his confidence had taken a big hit. To help him, she swallowed her own fears and called out to him as the tried entering his room. "Master...If you lack confidence, I am willing to help you."Vahn looked toward the beautiful and exotic chienthrope goddess and he could see her aura was fluctuating even though she was trying to keep a calm expression on her face. He knew she was just worried about him and wanted to help him, but Vahn wasn't willing to have someone make such a 'sacrifice' just to ease his mind. Her intent was clearly felt by him, and it had brought back some of his motivation even without her having to do anything to appease him.With a genuine smile on his face, Vahn reached out and stroked Anubis's head gently as he said, "Thank you, Anubis, but your concern is more than enough for me. I am proud to have such a faithful attendant, but I'll never ask you to bear the burdens of my mentality with your body."Anubis, after Vahn had reached out to her, actually clenched her teeth a bit until Vahn started speaking. Seeing his smile and the concern in his eyes, Anubis felt both relieved and a bit sad. Even she had no confidence in being able to properly tend to Vahn, and she was glad he seemed to be able to recover a bit on his own. However, since she had resolved herself, she was somewhat unwilling to step back just because he was worried about her.Anubis tried to speak out, but Vahn used his index finger and poked the middle of her forehead and interrupted her words. "That is my decision, Anubis. If you truly consider me to be your Master, you will respect my will." Vahn didn't leave any room for discussion as he gave her another gentle smile before closing the door behind him. Anubis just stared at the closed door for a few seconds and mulled over his words and actions in her mind. Eventually, she sighed and made her way toward her own room next door.After Vahn closed the door, he got a notification that Anubis's Loyalty had reached 95, which was a bit surprising to him. He wondered what would happen if he was able to raise it to 100, and his intrigue in the subject pushed away his other concerns. Looking through his system, Vahn noticed there was something strange within his 'View Affection' so he asked Sis, ("Sis, why is there no affection displayed for Anubis?") He had clearly touched her several times, and he could even see her aura, but she wasn't displayed on the affection list for some reason.Sis responded in his mind, (*Loyalty is a higher functioning parameter than affection within 'The Path'. To those that have subordinated themselves to you, they functionally have maximum Affection and Intrigue. It is typically impossible for someone to immediately become your subordinate without either being suppressed by you or possessing very higher values for affection, to begin with. Anubis seems to have realized something after you revealed your soul, so she managed to circumvent the process of developing affection entirely and became your subordinate.*)Vahn was surprised at the information and couldn't help but ask, ("Does that mean, when I fulfill someone's 'heart's desire', I'll be able to subordinate them?") If that was true, Vahn was worried that his functions may not be inherently good-natured. As if to drive away his concerns, Sis responded, (*That isn't always the case. Loyalty is only one of the 'hidden parameters' that can be obtained through the system. Loyalty is only for those that desire to follow you as a subordinate, and not those that want to grow closer to your personally.*)Vahn was relieved after hearing Sis's clarification. It turned out there was much more to his system functions than he had discovered, and it was fortunate he didn't seem to be able to accidentally subordinate others. He wanted to help fulfill the 'hearts' desires' of those that were affectionate toward him, so he would have had inhibitions if the ultimate result put them under him. With that thought in mind, Vahn remembered that he had obtained one [Heart's Desire: Tiona] that he had yet to use.Laying down on the bed, Vahn was somewhat distracted by the fragrance, but he did his best to keep it from his mind as he used the item. Similar to his previous experiences, the air seemed to freeze around him as time seemed to come to a stop. Unable to move, Vahn just lay powerlessly on the large bed as the vision entered his mind.---Vahn was alone in the darkness, outside of a place that filled him with despair and sadness. The only thing that brought him comfort was the presence of the young girl next to him. Upon closer inspection, he realized the girl looked very similar to Tione and Tiona, but she was much younger, probably around ages 5-6. She was wearing next to no clothing and was prevented from being fully nude by two small cloths wrapped around her chest and waist. Inspecting 'his' own body, Vahn noticed he was also attired in a similar garb, and his body had now become that of a small girl as well.Though Vahn felt the situation to be strange, he understood that he was currently experiencing things from Tiona's perspective. He could feel a powerful sadness in her heart as she resisted the cold night by seeking warmth from her twin sister. As one of the only pairs of twins to ever be born among the Amazons, they were ostracized and beaten by the other children and even avoided by the adults. Everyone treated them like a jinx, all except for their Goddess Kali, who seemed to take an interest in the two.Unfortunately, her interest manifested itself in the form of various trials which pitted the two identical girls against others. Tiona was forced to spend her days fighting against various opponents, and she hated the feeling of being beaten, so the only thing she could do was beat them instead. She often spent the latter half of her days wiping away the blood from her body with a sick feeling in her stomach. She wanted nothing more than to escape this cruel way of life, these people that didn't care about her, and this endless cycle of pain and cruelty.Unable to free herself from the torment, the only thing that brought solace to her mental state was the belief that, if she never gave up, a hero would one day show up and free her from this prison. She imagined a dashing man would show up any minute and rescue her and her sister, but as the years passed, this belief slowly faded away. As she grew stronger, she lost a lot fewer fights until she eventually got to the point where she was unbeatable amongst her peers. Eventually, without a hero every appearing, she and her sister managed to earn their freedom through their own efforts.However, even when she was allowed to wander the world, it always felt like something was missing in her heart. Unlike other Amazons, that was just drawn to seeking powerful males to sire their children, Tiona wanted something different. She became determined to find the hero that failed to appear in her childhood, and she would do so by her own efforts. She wanted to meet that fated person so she could understand why they had failed to save her when she so desperately sought freedom.Over time, her efforts to find the 'hero' became slightly warped, and she simply wanted to meet anyone that met the qualifications in her mind. Even when she lost fights or came across valiant and powerful men, she was never satisfied. Tiona began to hate the men that thought she could be courted so easily, just because she was an Amazon and they were stronger than she was. To escape their pursuit, she once again worked hard to increase her strength until the point there was no-one around that harbored those intentions.Eventually, both she and her sister, now stood at the pinnacle most people were never able to reach. But, no matter how far she had traveled and how strong the became, Tiona never met the hero she was looking for. She began to feel an emptiness build up inside her, and she tried filling the void by acting playful and dismissive. When her sister found someone that she wanted to pursue, Tiona was happy for her, but it made the void in her heart grow much larger in size. It got to the point where, when she wasn't looking, Tiona began to resent her sister. Especially since, after she fell in love, Tione's breasts began to grow and they were no longer identical.Now Tiona felt like the only person that had understood her suffering and would always be at her side was now leaving her behind. The only solace she found to ease her suffering was battle, and she became so proficient in it that she developed skills like [Berserker] and even earned the alias 'Amazon' as a testament to her accomplishments. She was now considered one of the idols for all Amazons and had a new burden to bear atop the emptiness in her heart.Just as she was beginning to give up, Tiona found something that tore her from the darkness. In the time when she needed it the most, a hero finally appeared before her. She heard rumors of his exploits and couldn't wait to meet the boy people were calling the 'Vulcan'. After she discovered where he resided, she convinced Gareth to allow her to accompany him so she could meet the boy she had been waiting for.As she had hoped, the boy was very kind and trustworthy. He had an aura that made her feel both calm and excited, and for some reason, he was even willing to fight against her. Tiona was very excited because she would get to experience her hero's capabilities first hand. Though he was much weaker than she expected, he was incredibly powerful for a Level 2, and she noticed that he had been concealing his strength. She looked forward to the opportunity to see his full potential in the future.Fortunately, not even a week later she got to see her hero go all out against an opponent he should have had no hopes against. But, no matter how many times he was knocked down, just as Tiona expected, he always got back up. Not only that, he became stronger and was slowly overcoming the insurmountable foe. There was even a point where it looked like he was going to be defeated, and she nearly jumped in to save the young hero. But, against everyone's expectations, he made another breakthrough and instantly defeated the giant beast that was just about to crush him moments before.Unable to contain her excitement, Tiona rushed the boy and tackled him to the ground. She knew that the boy named Vahn was the person she had been looking for all this time. The reason he had been unable to save her, was because he was also very young. She could see he had his own hidden tragedy and was likely too busy saving himself to help others. Any resentment she had towards the hero she had in her mind vanished without a trace and replaced with the image of the boy before her.Her emotions overwhelmed her, and she was unable to contain them as she looked at the boy she had pressed to the ground and said, "I want to have your baby!"---Time returned to normal, and Vahn just lay in his bed in a dazed state. It felt like he had experienced Tiona's entire life, all of her pain and suffering, and he felt pity for the young girl that was forced to become stronger against her own will. Though he had already resolved himself to be with her in the future, now Vahn was determined to make the girl's dream come true. No matter how many she wanted, Vahn would give her as many children as it took to satisfy her heart.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Tiona's Heart','Everyone has a tragic backstory',Anubis's failed attempt')

Vahn awoke nearly three hours later, fully recovered, but still bandaged up as he raised his body. He recognized the surroundings as Naaza's workshop and understood she had treated his body after Tsubaki's ruthless counterattack. Remembering her blushing face, Vahn felt a bit of pride well up inside him.Naaza, who had been mixing a solution at her work table, heard the noise and looked toward Vahn with a relieved expression as she said, "I really don't understand how you're able to recover so quickly. From the time I started treating you, you had multiple fractures and bruisers signifying internal bleeding, but before I even applied the medicine, the bruises slowly started fading away. It was a strange sight you know, watching a wound heal visibly without any magic being used..."Toward the end of her words, Naaza began to trail off as she recalled the fact she had watched Vahn's naked body for nearly an hour as his wounds healed. She began to blush, and Vahn realized the implication behind her words as he noticed he was nude under the covers. Seeing the clothes at the side, he was tempted to tease her by pretending to not notice them. Naaza seemed to sense some though, as she looked at him with and said, "Wear the clothes properly, or I'll see to it that you spend the rest of the night in that bed..." Though she started off with a firm tone, Naaza blanked after hearing her own words.Seeing the fierce blush cover her face, Vahn began to laugh out loud as he started dressing. He had never been shy in front of Tsubaki, Naaza, and Lili, so he made no efforts to cover himself which caused Naaza to gave him sidewards glances from time to time. After properly wearing the clothes, Vahn walked over to her work table and she turned around and started fumbling for her tools. Coming to a stop at her side, Vahn asked, "What are you working on now?"Naaza released a sigh before she explained, "My mixing skills have improved immensely with your help. I even showed my results to Miach-sama, and he was really surprised to see how innovative your ideas were. With a bit of refinement, he said they would be able to easily produce higher quality medicines in the future with less effort."Vahn nodded his head and started looking at the ingredients she had been mixing. From what he could tell, Naaza was attempting to make a high-potion, someone that only veterans with decades of experience could confidently make. As Vahn had previously purchased Alchemy, Chemistry, and Potion Making manuals from his shop, he had helped her make several changes to the recipe. Now, even though she wasn't as skilled as a master, Naaza was able to produce high-potions with nearly 40% efficacy.As he started helping her prepare the ingredients, Vahn said, "You have made a lot of progress, Naaza. It won't be long before you become a master or learn the [Alchemist] development ability." Naaza slowly nodded her head after stopping herself from preventing him handling the ingredients. Even though she had stopped him time and again, he never seemed to listen for long and always tried to help her. Naaza was frustrated with how casually he did the actions, as Vahn was even more adept at the process than she was...at least before the mana infusing stage.They both continued preparing the ingredients, but Naaza was somewhat distracted by Vahn's presence. She always felt guilty when he helped her because she was never really able to help him with anything. Even though she tried to teach him mixing, and watched him perform all the necessary steps, he always ended up failing in the end. It had been a hit to Naaza's confidence, and she felt like she was a useless teacher. Even Miach wasn't able to help her understand the reason behind Vahn's inability to mix potions.After their months together, Naaza had long become aware of how she felt about Vahn, and she could even see that he cared about her as well. But, before his sudden 'awakening', as Lili called it, he never acted like he was interested in her as a woman. He always showed her kindness and affection, but Naaza felt more like a companion or colleague to Vahn instead of a potential love interest. Even now, although he acted somewhat promiscuous, he made no efforts to approach her in that manner.Naaza had seen all the girls that visited him in the ward, and was aware that he had also confessed to Hephaestus. When Lili and Tsubaki had returned earlier, Lili began complaining to her about the development and talking about how it would be difficult to stay around Vahn unless they increased their 'efforts'. Naaza knew what she meant by 'efforts', but she couldn't find any confidence to approach Vahn. In her mind, he was someone with infinite potential who always tried his best, while she spent most of her time cooped up in her workshop.Ever since she had been attacked in the dungeon, Naaza had a fierce trauma within her mind and refused to put any real effort into training. Now, other than a bit of archery practice, she proactively tried to avoid conflict. She just focused on her research and trying to apply Vahn's theories to the knowledge and experience she had obtained since entering the Miach Familia. Comparing herself against Vahn, Naaza felt incredibly inferior...While she was stuck in her own thoughts, Vahn had noticed her hands stopped moving and saw the sad expression in her eyes. Vahn frowned and felt a bit frustrated since it seemed like all the girls around him were prone to sudden and spontaneous bouts of sadness. He really wished they would always be happy, so he reached out and started patting her head like he had done so several hundred times before.Naaza felt the familiar feeling but noticed there was now a warmth coming from Vahn's palm that seemed intent on driving away all the negative feelings inside of her. It was a very calming and relaxing sensation, and it made the experience she had already grown fond of in the past even more impactful. While she had her eyes closed and began losing herself in the comforting warmth, Naaza heard a gentle voice ask, "Tell me, Naaza, why are you sad?"Shocked that Vahn would ask the question so directly, Naaza paused for several seconds before releasing a sigh. The hand on her head brought her a lot of comforts, and it made the surprise and inhibitions she had melted away. In a dull voice, Naaza said, "I was thinking that...I am unworthy to be at your side. You have done so much for me, including saving my life...restoring my arm...so many things. And, no matter how hard I try to repay you favor, I am unable to do so."Naaza heard a loud sigh come from Vahn, and she looked toward him with a scared expression, afraid that her answer had upset him. Vahn saw her expression and pulled the back of her head until her face became nestled in his chest. In a somewhat tired manner, Vahn laughed as he said, "I can kind of understand why Tusbaki was mad at me earlier. Seeing people worry about things can be very frustrating."Hearing his words, Naaza felt like crying a bit but was distracted by all the other emotions she was feeling. Vahn continued to gently stroke her hair as he said, "I don't know why people seem to treat me like I'm some special existence...the only thing I care about is that the people around me are happy. All I've ever wanted to do since arriving in this place is protect those near me, and help to ensure their happiness. Seeing you sad because you feel unworthy to be around me...well, it is a very painful thing."Naaza was greatly affected by his words as she remembered the 'spar' from earlier. She had seen how Tsubaki pushed Vahn to have his own realizations, and now she was suffering just like how he was at the time. Like Vahn, before the fight, she was lost in her own thoughts and had stopped moving forward when the only thing she actually had to worry about is doing her best. There was nothing stopping her except her own worries...Suddenly, Naaza felt her chin lifted and she started at Vahn in a confused expression as he leaned forward and kissed her lips. She was very surprised by his sudden action but didn't have an adverse reaction to the intimate contact. Instead, Naaza closed her eyes and a single tear rolled down her cheek as she accepted the kiss.After a few seconds, Vahn pulled his face away while still holding Naaza's between his two hands. She had a dazed and happy expression, and Vahn found it much more appealing than her previous sadness. Vahn smiled and said gently, "Have confidence in yourself. You are very cute, and already someone that I can't imagine my life without. Even if we never became lovers, I would never be ashamed to have you at my side."Naaza, as if all her earlier concerns had been a joke, began laughing while covering Vahn's hands with her own. However, the laughter didn't last long, as Naaza leaned her head forward and began crying into Vahn's chest after hugging his waist. As he had been standing while Naaza sat in a chair, Vahn was now stuck accepting her embrace while she held his body at an awkward angle. The only thing he could do was use his [Hands of Nirvana] to pat her back while she let out her pent-up emotions.After she finished crying, Naaza continued to hold Vahn's waist for several minutes, and he began to feel like his body was going to cramp up if he had to hold his awkward position for much longer. Curious as to why Naaza was still holding onto him, Vahn was about to ask but his words froze in his throat. From above, he could see Naaza with her eyes closed slowly breathing in his scent without trying to draw attention to herself.Vahn wanted to laugh out after seeing her 'sneaky' actions. Since he was able to transform and experience what it was like to have enhanced senses, Vahn was keenly aware of how sensitive chienthropes and cat people were to the scent of others. To Naaza, it was likely that his scent brought her comfort and security, and her current actions were probably the most natural way she could express herself at the moment.Pretending he hadn't noticed, Vahn continued to pat her back until she finally released him nearly ten minutes later. The moment she let him go, Vahn felt like he had been freed from a heavy burden and he couldn't prevent himself from leaking a relieved sigh. Naaza stood up from her chair, and Vahn noticed for the first time that their heights weren't too different from each other. Naaza was now only a few cms taller than he was, and it brought their faces very close to each other when they stood so close.Before Vahn could say anything, Naaza grabbed his face and returned a kiss of her own upon his lips. Out of 'practice' or 'instinct', Vahn reached his hands around her waist and pulled her body close. It was a curious feeling because he could feel her tail brushing against his wrists as it flailed back and forth. Naaza continued kissing Vahn for nealy a minute before she pulled away in an embarrassed manner.Immediately resuming her seat, Naaza picked up her tools as she said to Vahn with a hint of excitement still in her voice, "You shouldn't stay here for too long. There are other things you need to attend to, and I need to focus on my work." Naaza seemed to be focused on anything but her work, and Vahn wanted to comment, but she continued, "I...will learn to move forward. At that time, I want you to give me a chance. I feel like, if you accept me now, I will have failed myself as a woman..."Vahn hummed an affirmation before he gently kissed the top of her head. Before he left the room, he said over his shoulder, "I believe in you, Naaza." With those parting words, he exited her workshop. Naaza waited for his footsteps to disappear before turning toward the door with a glaze covering her eyes. "Just make sure you have a place for me when the time comes...you idiot." She then took a deep breath and began focusing on her work. Naaza was determined to increase her own qualifications. Even if Vahn was willing to accept her as she was, Naaza herself was dissatisfied and wanted to prove herself.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Smell is a powerful sense','God-hand strikes again','Naaza's conviction')

Chapter 119: Restless Night (1/2)