Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

After Hermes finished his explanation, Vahn wasn't entirely convinced but decided the only way to ascertain the truth was to see it for himself. He didn't understand how any god could end up in a situation where they were devoured as it would have made more sense for them to activate their Arcanum to eliminate the threat outright. The fact Artemis had not only been eaten, but the monster was able to 'seal' and freely use her Divinity made absolutely no sense to him. If it wasn't a Tier 4 entity, how could any creature conceivably restrain and use the full potential of a higher being?Even with The Path, given him fundamentally not limits, Vahn was unable to emulate such a feat as it simply went against the established 'law' of the world. After all, why would a monster be able to use an Arcanum without restriction in the first place? How would it have the knowledge to make use of it? Even if it had some Innate that would give it the power to seal a Goddess, why did it require Artemis' death to destroy the monster itself?There were so many things that didn't make sense about this situation that, even if Hermes had explained the matter for several hours, Vahn wouldn't have been able to treat any revelations 'seriously'. After all, just the fact that Artemis had been able to create a spear, split off a fragment of her Divinity, and then created a secondary Avatar...these were things no other god could do, or had ever done...none of this made sense at all...if she had such leniency to perform such feats, what stopped her from using her Arcanum to kill Antares...?Vahn agreed to meet up with Hermes early the next morning though, instead of using the prepared mounts to make the trip, he would be taking along Fafnir and cutting the time down exponentially. It was even possible for him to 'blink' over to the continent and have Hermes show him the location of Antares outright but, as a precaution, Vahn wanted to make sure Artemis' 'fragment' was present since he fully intended to save her. He didn't buy the bullshit about her death being the only solution as there would undoubtedly be ways to split her away from Antares with their souls being two fundamentally separate things. Of course, this was assuming Antares even had a soul to begin with...Vahn didn't know what kind of creature could have 'devoured' a god but it had immediately jumped to the top of his 'list'.After arriving at the Manor, Vahn found Loki, Hephaestus, Eina, Syr, Riveria, and Terra all waiting for him. Before he even asked, though he had already sensed her location, Loki explained, "Hestia and Artemis are doing some catching up within her room. You should have seen Artemis' face when she met the Vanir...kukukuku~." Hephaestus, with a smile of her own, added, "It wasn't quite as extreme as when she learned that Hestia was no longer a virgin...I've never seen Artemis scream in such an amusing tone of voice before...ufufufu~." In general, the atmosphere in the room was very jovial and, as Vahn had been regulating the 'ocean' inside of himself, even Hephaestus hadn't noticed the abnormality of the situation.For a brief moment, Vahn wondered if he should keep the fact that the current Artemis wasn't real a secret, as it was very possible for him to resolve the situation on his own. In fact, so as to expedite things, the only 'person' he had planned to take along was Artemis herself. Fafnir would carry them over to the Dark Continent and, if he needed backup, it was possible to summon Fenrir, Khaos, Gros, Lyd, Gryuu, and, in extreme circumstances, Terra to his side. He didn't think this would really be necessary, however, as he intended to 'decimate' whatever the hell Antares was supposed to be with the combination of [Magia Erebea] and [Enkidu]. If it was so powerful that his 'Lightning Emperor' form wasn't able to do the job, most of the girls wouldn't really be able to help out...instead, he would be compromising Orario, the Manor, and Haven if he brought them along...This momentary hesitation didn't go unnoticed by Loki, who parted her eyes slightly as she asked, "So, you finally managed to get your hands on that slippery bastard, Hermes...what did the two of you talk about, Vahn?" Though she may not have intended it in such a way, Loki had left him a means to talk around the issue so Vahn walked over, sitting down between her and Hephaestus as he explained, "There is a powerful monster on the Dark Continent that Artemis needs help dealing with. She staged an event near Babel Plaza to find a suitable 'hero' by sealing a spear into a crystal and finding someone 'pure' to remove it." Vahn pulled out the spear as he was speaking, handing it over to Hephaestus so she could inspect it.Hephaestus immediately noticed something 'off' about the spear, chiefly that her eyes were unable to see through the techniques used in its construction. This meant it had to be an 'artifact' and, given the shape, she intuited that it wasn't actually a spear, but an arrow. As she was inspecting it, Vahn went on to explain, "It seems our guess about Hermes being a 'patsy' in a larger scheme was on the nose, though I don't believe he was the 'enemy' that Enyo alluded to. He agreed to have a meeting with you once the matter with Artemis was dealt with so I'll leave it to you when the time comes..."Loki had been watching Vahn 'very' close as he was speaking, her Divinity allowing her to 'know' he was keeping something from them. However, instead of pressing him for information, she nodded her head and said, "Don't worry, I won't let that feathery fool get away without spilling his guts completely this time...so, you plan to go to the Dark Continent...? How long will you be gone?" Vahn gave Loki a gratified smile, understanding she had seen through him but decided to 'trust' his judgment without prying. He then answered in the most casual manner he could manage, "The longest part of the journey will be the trip to the Dark Continent, but I don't imagine it would take more than three days total for me to resolve everything. If need be, I can always call Terra to my side and then we can teleport back if there is an emergency situation."There were actually various chaotic spaces separated the various continents within Danmachi, making 'direct' routes somewhat difficult, but Vahn could bypass them all by flying through the stratosphere with Fafnir or Khaos. At a 'cruising speed', Fafnir would be able to make the journey in under ten hours but, depending on the circumstances once they had arrived, Vahn knew it might take some time before he was able to return. He didn't buy the 'bullshit' solution that Hermes and Artemis herself seemed to believe in and, even if Antares was actually able to use her Arcanum, Vahn knew it would be possible to restrain it with his [Enkidu]. Even if it took him several days, or even weeks, to come up with a solution, he wouldn't give up and let Hestia lose one of her only friends...His conviction may have leaked out a little as both Loki and Syr gave him 'knowing' looks, even though they kept quiet about it. Hephaestus had finished her evaluation of the 'spear', handing it back to Vahn as she stated confidently, "That weapon is most certainly not a spear, Vahn, but an arrow. Given the fact that my eyes are unable to discern its composition, it could only be an Artifact that Artemis had produced with her Divinity. Whatever monster you're doing to be fighting against must be pretty powerful for Artemis to bestow her 'arrow' to you...hmmm..." Since Artemis was known as the most powerful archer in all of Heaven, with her 'arrow' being one of the most destructive weapons to ever exist, Hephaestus knew any Artifact based on that concept was extremely powerful.Vahn wasn't surprised by Hephaestus' words as, after storing the 'spear' into his Inventory, the name was listed as [Arrow of the Orion]. It was a 'Unique' grade item, the first he had ever seen without obtaining it from The Path, so Vahn was very aware of how powerful it was. After all, when he had inspected the actual descriptive, Vahn nearly dropped the arrow and had to immediately toss it away into his Inventory for safe keeping...----------------------------------------------------------------------[Arrow of the Orion]Rank: UniqueUse: A Divine Artifact possessing a fragment of Divinity belonging to Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt. Upon activation, this arrow can break through all restrictions, striking forth with enough power to instantly kill any enemy. It is said that only those who have received the blessing and favor of Artemis herself can use the true power of this arrow. Target Restriction: Tier 4 or LowerRestriction: Vahn Mason(???)----------------------------------------------------------------------Since it was intended to 'kill' Artemis herself, Vahn wasn't surprised by the fact that the arrow was strong enough to kill gods. However, the fact that it was an 'instant kill' to anything in the record made him want to study it in greater detail. Hopefully, after he managed to save Artemis, she would either give him a second arrow or, depending on how things develop, give him insight into its production. After all, ever since he had arrived in this world, Vahn had leaned more towards the usage of a bow than almost any other weapon. Though he relied on his Innates and [Magia Erebea] quite a bit, the use of a bow had always come rather natural to him, likely as a result of his high perception and his ocular Innate...---For the better part of an hour, Vahn talked about various subjects with the girls, mostly pertaining to the ongoing matters in the City and how Loki's investigations were going. She had discovered several exploitable 'gaps' within the Alliance, mostly related to weaker Familia that were often run by rather 'eccentric' gods, but they had been closed up. As for the 'enemy' mentioned by Enyo, it was seeming more likely to be Ouranos as the day passed, even though the odds of his actually 'doing' were infinitesimally small. If not for this fact, his involvement with Enyo would more or less be confirmed but, at the very least, he knew far more than he was letting on.Other than Ouranos, the only other candidates were those working under him, making it appear that he is involved through the actions they took on his 'behalf'. This placed a spotlight on the man named 'Fels', who Vahn had actually been able to find out a great deal of information on through the system shop. He was a mortal man who had come into prominence more than 800 years ago within a small port city named Altena. Though he couldn't be compared to the gods themselves, Fels had been the 'father' of Alchemy, paving the way forward for all those to follow since the gods typically didn't teach the 'secrets' of such techniques. Within the texts, it was recorded that he had actually created the first [Philospher's Stone], earning the title of 'Sage' from the Elves, making him the only person besides Vahn himself to earn the title outside of the Elven Kingdom.The fact that Fels was still alive, and Vahn could even purchase his research notes and journals through the system shop, also verified the claims that the man had obtained an immortal body. History recorded that he had vanished while trying to perform human transmutation, attempting to revive his dead sister, but rumors of his existence had persisted for decades after the fact. Since the [Philospher's Stone] he had created was never found in any of his labs, people assumed that Fels had instead fled after successfully reviving his sister. Since 'immortality' and 'resurrection' were two things most greedy and affluent Nobles would do anything to obtain such capabilities, it wouldn't have been a stretch to imagine this was the case...For the time being, Fels became the 'priority' suspect the be the traitor working with Enyo, especially since he was the one serving as both Ouranos' 'voice' and 'hand' within Orario. The problem was trying to pin down his location and trying to prove a connection between the two without flaring up tensions between the Alliance and the Guild. Ultimately, it would come down to either catching him in the act or, if Vahn ever met the man personally, capturing and interrogating him. If he didn't have any connection with Enyo, things could be settled with an apology, reparations, and other means. However, should there be a verifiable connection between the two, Fels would suffer the same fate Vahn planned to bestow upon Enyo in the 'near' future...Once their discussion was coming to a close, Hephaestus had released a long yawn before lazily rising from the table and saying, "I think I'll spend the night with Hestia and Artemis. It's been a few hundred years since I've seen her and it would be nice to catch up before you run off to the Dark Continent together..." There was a teasing undertone to Hephaestus' voice as she fully expected things to 'develop' between Vahn and Artemis in the future. Hestia had already made remarks about Artemis 'throwing' herself at Vahn during their first meeting and, considering they would be 'alone' for a few days, odds were rather high that Vahn would end up squeezing his way into yet another goddess' heart. (A/N: Quite literally...? xD...)Vahn, understanding what Hephaestus was implying, briefly recalled the inexplicably soft sensation of Artemis' body, wondering if her 'real' body would be the same. If she was currently fully manifested in the real world, one of the things he would likely have to resolve is 'sealing' her Arcanum into a vessel to prevent it from being destroyed by the world's laws. However, if he used [Enkidu] in a similar way as when he 'melded' with Freya...just thinking about this made Vahn's body react slightly, causing a 'ripple' to emanate from his body that made Eina, Riveria, and Syr blush while Loki began cackling like a hyena.His [Charm]'s rank hadn't simply increased after he bonded with Freya, it had instead evolved into a Development Ability never possessed by a 'mortal', [Allure]. If he didn't restrain it, Freya had explained that he could, quite literally, 'conquer' almost any woman that didn't outright have resistance to such skills...combined with his appearance, aura, and various other factors, it was a very 'dangerous' ability in his repertoire...Knowing she was in a 'dangerous' phase of her pregnancy, Syr looked towards Terra, the only one 'unaffected' by Vahn's [Allure], with a slight plea in her gaze. Terra giggled, tapping her tail against the floor once as she said, "Master, I will take Syr to safety...but, I expect a reward later, okay~? It may not be tonight, but I want a lot of your affection when you return~." Terra was actually just as riled up as the other girls, if not more so, but she had been 'tempering' Alexa's mentality over the last month and it wasn't the best time for her to partake of her Master's affections. Still, when she found a good opportunity to divert her daughter's attention away, Terra intended to fully capitalize on the moment...With Terra whisking away Syr, Hephaestus going to stay with Hestia and Artemis, and Loki needing to look into a few things, the only two remaining within the room were Eina and Riveria. Neither girl would be willing to stay with Vahn at the same time, resulting in a rather strange scenario where they simultaneously made the excuse they needed to look after the children. For what felt like the first time, Vahn found himself in the mood but without a companion for the evening, at least among those who had initially gathered. It was still too early for any of the new Maids and everyone in the Dungeon had already gone to bed...("Ah...").Vahn realized he had been thinking too much about the coming morning and resolving the matters on the Dark Continent. There were still more than seven hours until he even needed to prepare for the journey, meaning he had nearly two whole days within the orb. Presently, the only girls inside would be Nanu, Risna, Asfi, and Preasia. It was still too early for Asfi and Nanu had been endeavoring to become a [Master Smith] as soon as possible. This meant Vahn's options were narrowed down to a very soft and fluffy Sheep Person or a somewhat erotic and outgoing Half-Elf...or perhaps both? He had time...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Seriously, so much shit that makes no sense...','Vahn keeping secrets o_o...','In Spero Village, several female Xenos rolled over in frustration...their instincts 'raging' at the injustice of the world xD...' Well, this was the third chapter I completed after I had calmed down a bit. I'm very tired and intend to take another nap after this and hopefully finish up the Artemis 'mini-arc' within the next 5-7 chapters.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

After around thirty hours of catching up with the girls in the orb, Vahn felt refreshed and ready to head out to the Dark Continent at a moment's notice. With the additional time to think of possible solutions, Vahn came up with a few theories that could be put into play in order to save Artemis. However, before he could start to implement any of them, he needed a better understanding of the situation. Hearing about it was one thing but once he had seen Antares himself, Vahn was confident in coming up with the proper solution. After all, he would likely be able to 'see' and intuit more about the scenario than Hermes and Artemis had been able to.With that thought in mind, Vahn was sitting on the third-floor balcony with Fafnir seated on a low stool in front of him. Since the flight would be rather long, Vahn was helping Fafnir groom its wings, both as a means to help it relax and to simply spend time together. Vahn knew that, because Fafnir and Khaos hadn't been 'female', his treatment towards them hadn't always been the best. There was just something about Fafnir being a giant dragon that gave Vahn confidence in having it deal with problems for him, contrary to how he felt 'protective' towards Fenrir. Now that Fafnir had the ability to take on a humanoid appearance, Vahn had grown closer to it, even if it was a little strange to have a True Dragon version of himself running around...Slowly but surely, the sun began to crest over the horizon and it was around time for his rendezvous with Hermes. Vahn had been keeping tabs on the three goddesses within Hestia's room and noticed that Artemis either didn't sleep or had woken up before he exited the orb. He suspected it was the former as, at least for the time being, Artemis likely had to 'focus' on her existence, even if it was a subconscious process on her end. Vahn didn't yet know if Artemis herself was completely aware of what kind of existence she was but, considering how she had 'covered' up matters to divert Hestia's attention, it was very likely...Ruffling Fafnir's onyx-black hair, Vahn softly muttered, "I'll go get Artemis. We'll be out in a few minutes..." Fafnir answered with a long yawn and stretched its wings before saying, "Okay, Master, I'm ready to go whenever you are~." Vahn gave a curt nod, turning towards the balcony's entrance and making his way down the hall where Hestia's room was located. Though he would normally enter without knocking, Vahn lightly rattled on the door out of consideration for Artemis. He was certain the outfit she had manifested in was her raiment and, given the complexity of the garment, it was highly likely she went to bed wearing one of Hestia's or Hephaestus' nightgowns. She didn't seem like the type of woman to have much, if any, experience with men and Vahn didn't want to make things awkward when he was currently trying to 'save' her...Vahn could sense that Hephaestus woke up almost immediately after he knocked and, though she wasn't much of a morning person, Hestia also stirred awake much faster than normal. There was a bit of movement within before the presence Vahn knew to be Artemis' made its way toward the door. He sensed Hestia practically fall out of the bed but, with the soundproof wards installed on every room, no sound actually reached him. Vahn harbored a slight suspicion about what was going to happen and inhaled through his nose to stay calm as Artemis, wearing nothing but a silk-lace nightgown opened up the door, smiling radiantly as she said, "Good morning, Orion..." Hestia was nursing a bump on her forehead, wearing a cream-colored nightgown as she complained, "Artemis, where did your sense of propriety go? Aren't you supposed to be really bad around men...?"Contrary to expectations, Artemis nodded her head in agreement with Hestia but, with the same radiant smile on her face, stated, "Orion...no, Vahn, is different...in a way, we are fated to be with each other. Though I may be a Goddess of Purity, it doesn't mean I can't learn to love...after all, love is the most powerful force in the entire world..." As she spoke, Artemis brought her right hand over Vahn's heart and, by the time she had finished her words, nestled her forehead into his chest. Hestia and Hephaestus had somewhat dull expressions at first but, after processing Artemis' words, the former released a sigh while the latter began to laugh in amusement.Hestia climbed to her feet and looked toward Artemis' figure for a short while, the exasperation in her expression turning into a happy smile as she muttered, "If it's Vahn, I believe anything is possible..." After speaking these words, Hestia's smile became rather vibrant as she looked into Vahn's eyes and stated, "Vahn, make sure you take proper care of Artemis, okay? She and I have been friends for a very long time...don't make her cry..." Hearing this, Vahn gave a confident nod, lightly embracing Artemis' body and startling her slightly as he said, "No matter what it takes, I'll make sure everyone has a happy ending..."Though similar words had been heard by Hestia and Hephaestus hundreds of times at this point, they had quite the impact on Artemis. She knew her situation better than anyone else and didn't have much hope for a truly 'happy ending'. By not giving up on life, she would eventually reform after enough time had passed but that could take thousands of years since her Arcanum had manifested in the mortal world. It was rather tragic, learning about the 'power' of love, only to have to use it as a weapon to take her own life while placing a heavy burden on a pure-hearted individual like her 'Orion'...At least, that was how she felt before Vahn grabbed her arrow and used his incredibly pure energy to do several things that should have been outright impossible. He wasn't the Orion she had expected, but something far more unique...utterly beyond her imagination. When she learned about all of the things he had accomplished over the last few years, even after having such a tragic background, Artemis felt even closer to him than before. Now that he was promising her a 'happy ending', a small flame of hope had ignited itself within her...----------------------------------------------------------------------//Artemis Affection Has Reached Maximum Affection////Quest Completed: [The Hearts Desire:C-SS]//Completion Grade: SRewards: 10,000 OP, [Bow Mastery:S] Replaced by [Archery Goddess' Blessing:B], 1x[Hearts Desire: Artemis]Grade Rewards: 1x[Tears of the Moon Goddess], 20,000 OP[Archery Goddess' Blessing]Rank: BUse: So long as the bond between the user and the Goddess of Archery remains, it is said possessors of this skill cannot miss their target when using any form of marksmanship. Greatly enhances critical strike potential of attacks made with a bow.[Tears of the Moon Goddess]Rank: UniqueUse: So long as the ego has not completely vanished, can be used to resurrect a target that has received the Blessing of the Moon Goddess.----------------------------------------------------------------------Vahn's eyes widened slightly when he saw the system notification, not just because Artemis' Affection had instantly hit the 100 threshold in an instant, but because of the ridiculous Unique item he had obtained. He knew Unique items were existed outside of the restriction of laws, bound only by the restriction and use of the item itself, so they were capable of pretty much anything. Having a 'resurrection' item was beyond expectations, however, as the 'ego' would diminish very quickly after the death of most people. Even so, depending on the state it would restore their body to, this [Tears of the Moon Goddess] was truly a miracle contained within a small tear-shaped vial...Though he was momentarily distracted by the system notification, Vahn didn't allow it to show on his face as he gently stroked Artemis' back and said, "You should get ready, Artemis...we need to resolve things as quickly as possible..." As much as he enjoyed Artemis' soft body in his embrace, Vahn felt that it was better if they deal with Antares sooner, rather than later. Once Antares was able to use Artemis' Arcanum, things would become extremely problematic. Though his [Magia Erebea] should still be able to contend against a Tier 4 entity, that didn't translate to him being able to deal any meaningful damage to such an existence...Artemis nodded her head in agreement but, instead of changing into her raiment, grabbed the sides of Vahn's face with her hands and smiled for a few seconds before giggling. He wasn't sure how to interpret her behavior until Hestia plainly stated, "Unless you're intending to watch her change, you need to leave, Vahn..." These words caused a very subtle blush to reach Artemis' cheeks as she released Vahn's, turning her face to the side while casting a shy glance towards Vahn. Though he found this reaction of her's rather adorable, Vahn returned a polite smile and said, "I'll wait in the hallway..." before stepping back through the door and closing it behind him.Once Vahn was out of the room, Artemis brought her hand to her chest, feeling the rapid pulsation of her own heart as she turned to the other two goddesses and asked, "Is this how the two of you feel all the time...?" This caused Hephaestus to laugh, amused by Artemis' words, while Hestia puffed out her well-endowed breasts and bragged, "Though I won't say what you're feeling isn't love, it can't quite match up to our feelings just yet, Artemis~! My bond with Vahn is stronger than anyone else's, ehehehe~." Hephaestus gave a wry smile when she heard this, rubbing the ring on her finger as she muttered, "Vahn and I share a very powerful bond as well...it isn't just my own heartbeat that I can feel, but I am always able to sense his as well. It is a very comfortable and pleasant sensation...even if it can be distracting at times..."Knowing Hestia and Hephaestus for hundreds-of-millions of years, Artemis didn't discredit their words, even a little. Just the fact that Hestia gave up her virginity to Vahn was something that had completely shaken Artemis to the core. The fact that Hephaestus now had children, while also committing herself to an Eternal Vow, were equally as impactful, even though it should have also been 'impossible'. It seemed like that was a completely foreign concept to Vahn, however, as these two things were just a fraction of the other 'impossible' feats he had performed...Artemis found her heart beating even faster as she wondered what miracles he would perform before her eyes...it was very exciting...After peeling off the nightgown she had borrowed from Hestia, Artemis brought her hands together as though she were praying. Illusory beams of moonlight began to shine within the room as the internal lighting dulled in comparison. Wherever these moonbeams touched, clothing would form on Artemis' body and, after a few seconds had passed, she was completely clothed in the same outfit she had manifested in previously. The only 'real' part of her garb was the dagger that she kept in the back of her belt, a gift she had received from Rethusa, the former Captain of her Familia...Thinking about the tragic fate of her Familia, Artemis' excitement was tempered in an instant and she couldn't help but tightly squeeze the dagger for a few seconds before fastening it to her belt. Hephaestus and Hestia had witnessed this, with the later showing a concerned expression as she said, "Artemis...I don't know exactly what happened...but I believe in Vahn. Even if something truly terrible has happened, know that your friends will always be waiting for you here...one thing I have learned from watching over mortals is that, by working together to support each other's happiness, burdens that are too big for one person to carry become much easier to bear..."Hephaestus, agreeing with Hestia's statement, nodded her head, adding, "It's the thing we gods have always desired, ever since the first mortals began walking the world long ago...the feeling of having a family...people that can replace the feeling of loneliness with warmth, compassion, and love..." Even now, Hephaestus could vividly remember the long loneliness she had tolerated before opening her heart to Vahn. She knew most gods felt something similar, bound by the compulsion of their Divinities and never truly being able to confide in each other. Vahn had stepped into her heart and filled a void she thought would persist for all eternity...not only that, but he had never stopped adding more of himself, giving her children, and making her happier than she ever thought possible...Artemis was awed by the behavior of Hephaestus and Hestia, feeling the sincerity in their words and the concern they had for her. It was different than the affections they would show in the past, that which had made them friends...now, the amount of sincerity contained within those words felt meaningful. Artemis herself knew exactly how much a god could change after being exposed to their 'children' for long periods of time, as she had also changed a great deal, so she was able to empathize and truly understand the significance of their words...With a gratified smile blooming across her face, Artemis nodded her head, saying, "I have already placed my trust in Vahn...now, I will see with my own eyes what kind of man he is...I want to be able to understand...more and more...this feeling inside my heart..." Both goddesses smiled in response to Artemis' words but Hestia also added, "If you truly open your heart to Vahn, you need to be prepared for the consequences...he won't force you, Artemis, but you have to seriously consider how you want your relationship to develop. Vahn has a lot of people that can fulfill his 'needs' but, for a goddess with your beauty and purity, you may never get a chance to find a more suitable partner..."Understanding Hestia's words, Artemis blushed slightly and averted her eyes, stating, "I'm only now learning how to love...things like that...I..." Hestia had bounded over to Artemis while the latter was talking, grabbing the bashful goddess' hands as she sternly exclaimed, "Artemis, listen to me very closely, okay...even if you're a goddess presiding over chastity, you have to be more open-minded. Without sex, procreation would be fundamentally impossible...the very creature we gods have protected since the dawn of time wouldn't even exist in any meaningful way...it is not a bad thing, especially if you do it with the person you love...!" Being, formerly, the oldest virgin within Heaven, Hestia's words carried a great deal of weight and Artemis was slightly taken aback by the diminutive goddess' seriousness...Out in the hallway, Vahn was wondering what the three were doing to get so riled up, especially with how chaotic Artemis' aura had become. It kept fluctuating with a rainbow cascade of colors, with a few pinks and reds intermixed that made his heart palpitate slightly...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Fafnir needs some TLC too~!','Artemis is surprisingly affectionate...','Vahn's self-propagating Harem...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Though he had more than a few questions for Hermes, Vahn didn't want to cause a scene in front of so many people, especially since this was an 'official' event. Every action he took had potentially far-reaching repercussions and, as this was supposed to be a festive celebration for the people, Vahn didn't want to ruin the atmosphere. Thus, after lightly patting Hestia's shoulder and earning a small nod, Vahn made his way up to the stage. Hermes' orange eyes looked slightly troubled and, without Vahn having to say anything, quietly, "I know you've been looking for me...don't worry, I will explain things later..." Then, changing gears in an instant, Hermes gestured grandly and said, "Everyone, give it up for the Sage Aldrnari, Vahn Mason! Let's show him our support and see if he can't release the legendary spear from its crystallized prison~!"As Hermes was riling up the crowd, Vahn was trying to analyze the spear but couldn't even identify a single one of its properties, nor its composition. The inside of the spear seemed to contain 'nothing', almost like it was an illusion, even though it was very clearly a physical object. On the other side of the spear, Hestia was looking up at him with her clear blue eyes, a look of support and confidence in her unwavering gaze. Vahn returned a smile to her and, amidst the cheering of the crowd, placed his hand on the spear's handle. A thread of energy that would have been indiscernible to normal people tried to enter through his palm, causing Vahn's eyes to squint slightly as he felt it 'collide' against the membrane protecting his soul.The spear, similar to the [Saint's Halberd]s wielded by Maemi and Emiru, had tried to inspect his soul, perhaps trying to test its purity, but was ultimately unable to influence it, even a little. When this thread tried to 'escape', Vahn caused his Source Energy to restrict around it as his [Eyes of Truth] tried to make sense of the thread's identity. There was a subtle 'intent' contained within it and, having experienced it several times, Vahn knew there was also Divinity present, even though he wasn't able to discern what kind. Since it had also tried to 'siphon' some of his Source Energy, ultimately being unsuccessful, Vahn decided to turn the tables and used [Yggdrasil's Blessing] to insert his energy directly into the spear.As if it was truly alive, the 'thread' began to wriggle around in a panic as it tried to return to the spear, which now began to peel away its muted grey exterior and gain a golden hue reminiscent of [Enkidu]. Vahn found this interesting and was about to break the spear away from the crystals until a feminine voice, not belonging to Sis, appeared in his head, exclaiming, ("Ano...please let me go...!") Since there was a great deal of anxiety contained within the voice, Vahn stopped restraining the thread of Divinity and allowed it to retreat back into the spear. As it did so, runes began to light up along its length as a relieved sigh sounded in his mind, followed by, ("I'm not sure if you are my Orion, but the purity of your energy is unlike anything I have ever seen...I will place my trust in you...")Following these words, Vahn felt the 'intent' leave the spear as the sealing formation contained within the crystals shattered, destroying them in the process. He was left holding onto the spear, which was slowly regaining its dull luster, while the crowd went wild. Hermes had a slightly confused expression on his face but, after a few seconds passed, managed to come to his senses as he shouted, "As expected of the strongest Adventurer! It looks like the winner of today's prize is none other than Vahn Mason! Now, to bestow him the promised prize, allow me to introduce the sponsor of today's event, the Goddess of Purity, Artemis~!"Hermes gestured towards the back of the crowd, drawing everyone's attention to an inordinately beautiful goddess long blue hair, styled ornately with two pointed bangs framing her face, fringe extending past her collarbone, and a partial braid in the back that was tied together by a white ribbon and fastened with golden accessories. She also possessed beautiful green eyes that, much like Hestia's glimmered like 'pristine' gemstones that felt like they could ensnare anyone that gazed into them for too long. As for her outfit, it consisted of a pale blue and white outfit that exposed the shoulders and snaked around her neck in a loop. Around her waist, she had a white sash folded over a brown belt that was adorned with metal plating on the side. Completing this outfit, Artemis had long brown boots that had crisscrossing straps extending to the middle of her thighs...Everyone was stunned by her appearance but, having followed the 'intent' from the spear, Vahn had witnessed the moment when Artemis 'appeared'. Previously, the spot she now stood at had been empty and, until the intent had escaped the spear, the only gods present were Hestia and Hermes. However, even with Artemis' appearance, this fact hadn't changed and Vahn was able to identify that, whatever was standing before him, was certainly not Artemis. Even so, Hestia's eyes widened when she saw her companion goddess, shouting, "Artemis...!" as she began running towards her friend.As if she were responding to Hestia's exclamation, Artemis also moved forward with a hurried pace, a 'longing' gaze in her pristine green eyes as she completely bypassed Hestia's charge and leaped towards the stage. Hestia's arms closed on empty air, a face that could serve as the textbook example of sublime confusion as she looked back to see Artemis now resting in Vahn's left arm. He had caught her out of the air and now held the 'goddess' rather ridiculously soft body against his. Though they weren't nearly as large as Hestia's, Artemis had two full breasts that could actually rival Hestia's own softness. Presently, Artemis was pressing the two shapely mounds against his chest as she tightly embraced his body and said, "I'm glad to have finally met you...my Orion..."The crowd, which had been stunned by the presence of Artemis, now began catcalling and cheering for Vahn, some even stating, 'another goddess has fallen' while Hestia continued to stare blankly at the stage. Hermes stepped in at this point, gathering the attention of the crowd as he said, "That concludes this evening's event! I pray that everyone enjoys the rest of the Holy Moon Festival to the fullest. As a consolation prize to those who feel as though they lost their opportunity to shine, the adjacent shops have all been informed to provide free alcohol for the remainder of the evening! Make sure to toast our young hero, Vahn Mason, and the beautiful Goddesses, Artemis and Hestia~!"Hermes' words caused more than just those who had gathered around the stage to begin cheering, the majority of them dispersing towards the already prepared stalls who had hundreds of disposable glasses prepared to hand out. At the same time, Hestia ran up on the stage with a face of extreme confusion, concern, and moderate relief as she separated Vahn and Artemis, turning to the latter to say, "Artemis, what are you doing here? How do you know Vahn? Why didn't you tell me you were in Orario? I was very worried, you know!?" As if she had just noticed Hestia for the first time, Artemis showed a face of surprise before it turned into a warm smile, followed by her embracing Hestia as she said, "Hestia, it is good to see you...I'm sorry to have worried you..."Hestia, being much shorter than Artemis, found her face pressed into the latter's breasts as she tightly hugged her companion goddess. Vahn, however, had slightly furrowed brows until Hermes stepped close to his side and whispered, "I will explain the situation in detail later. Even if you have noticed it, please do not tell Hestia...it will devastate her..." With Hermes' words, Vahn's suspicions were immediately answered and he was barely able to restrain his aura from exploding outward. He had been wondering what exactly this 'Artemis' in front of him was supposed to be but, after hearing Hermes' words, was able to infer the likely answer...this Artemis wasn't her real self, just a fragment of her intent that manifested itself from the remnant Divinity contained within the spear...Though he didn't say anything, Hestia had sensed the changes in Vahn and tears had started to build in her eyes, even as her face showed confusion. She muttered an 'Eh...?' before wiping away her tears and asking, "Why am I crying...? Vahn...?" Hermes moved forward like he was going to smooth over things but Artemis beat him to it, hugging Hestia even tighter as she asked, "Hestia, how do you know my Orion? You said his name was Vahn...are the two of you close?" This seemed to be enough of a distraction for Hestia who, upon being asked such a question, immediately smiled radiantly with a blush on her face as she said, "There are so many things I have to tell you, Artemis! Come, you can stay at the Hearth Manor tonight and I'll introduce you to everyone. We can talk-"This time, Hermes did step forward, breaking into the conversation as he said, "It's fine if the two of you play catch up for the evening, but there is a pretty tight schedule we need-" Placing his hand rather firmly on Hermes' shoulder, bringing a halt to the god's words, Vahn smiled toward Artemis and Hestia, saying, "I'll send you two back to the Hearth Manor and hear about the details from Hermes before making my way back as well. I know you have some catching up to do, but please inform the others to gather so I can catch them up to speed when I arrive..." Before his words had even finished, Terra appeared at Vahn's side with a curious glint in her eyes as she asked, "You called me, Master~?"Vahn nodded his head, indicating towards the two goddesses as he said, "Take Hestia and Artemis back to the Manor, please, Terra..." As she could sense the 'urgency' in her Master's voice, Terra gave a curt nod and, before Hestia and the somewhat startled Artemis could react, all three of them vanished from the stage. At the same time, Vahn put even more pressure into his grip on Hermes' shoulder as he said, "You and I have a lot to talk about, Hermes...as for your schedule, I assure you that the mode of travel at my disposal is much faster than anything you could prepare. Now tell me...is the real Artemis still alive...?"Though he didn't much appreciate the vice-like grip that felt like it was going to crush his shoulder, Hermes' expression didn't change much as he said, "I honestly never expected that the spear would choose you, though, considering you are in Hestia's Familia...perhaps it is fate...?" Vahn squinted his eyes, a very real threat contained within them that caused Hermes' smile to break slightly before he answered, "Artemis is still alive...which is part of the issue we are facing right now...you see, she is currently in a state much worse than death itself, Vahn...Artemis has been devoured. We are not sure how, but her Arcanum had manifested itself after a monster named Antares consumed her...if we do not kill Artemis, liberating her from that monstrosity, there may not be any force in the mortal world that could stop all life from being wiped out...!"Upon hearing Hermes' words, Vahn's mind had turned completely calm since he didn't want to stress out Hestia, even though part of him wanted to rip Hermes to shreds. With a dull monotone sounding from his throat, Vahn said, "Explain to me how such a thing could have happened...how were you involved? Why did you conveniently leave the City right after I purchased the Hermes Familia...? And...what is your connection to Enyo...?" Hermes' expression didn't change during the first two questions, nor did it change during the last, but Vahn saw the slightest of fluctuations in the god's aura. This time, his hand squeezed with a bit too much force and a very loud cracking sound emanated from Hermes' shoulder as he drew in a cold breath, a slight aura of Divinity radiating off of his body.Jerking his shoulder free of Vahn's grasp, Hermes' expression had turned extremely serious as he stated, "Damnit, Vahn, I'm not your enemy...! I thought you had more sense then this....tsk...!" Hermes couldn't even lift his left arm right now and there was an incredibly sharp pain radiating from his crushed shoulder as he clenched his teeth, explaining, "I don't have any connection with Enyo, outside of the fact I had been investigating her on behalf of the Guild. You should know that I'm a neutral party that simply collects information before selling it to the highest bidder. What would I have to gain from partnering up with a crazy goddess who is dead set on destroying the City? I don't know what you think of me, but you should at least be able to see that I have a vested interest in mortal affairs...damn...your power is starting to affect your rationality...!"The entire time Hermes was 'complaining', Vahn was looking for any signs that the god had been lying. He knew Hermes was the type that was almost impossible to read and, though his words made a lot of sense, Vahn also knew he was extremely manipulative as well. However, considering what Hermes said in greater detail, Vahn did agree that Hermes was the type that enjoyed the 'games' and none of his Divinities would point towards him wanting to destroy the City. From the brief contact they had made, Vahn could even see that Hermes' Affection towards him had been 93(Trust), though it had fallen to 88 after having his shoulder crushed.Realizing he had been steadily adapting to 'violent solutions' as of late, Vahn felt slightly guilty but didn't allow it to show on his face. Instead, he extended out his palm and sent healing energy through his domain while saying, "Explain how you ended up becoming involved in this event with Artemis..." Hermes released a sigh, his serious expression turning into one of mild exasperation as he said, "Artemis was the one to contact the Guild and requested help in conducting an investigation. Her Familia had been noticing a large influx in the number of powerful monsters around her territory and they suspected that Antares' seal was weakening. I was already scheduled to go an investigate before you even purchased my Familia...essentially, it was just a rather unfortunate coincidence..."With his shoulder now healed, Hermes rolled it a few times before adopting a somewhat 'sad' smile as he added, "This is a major incident that none of us have any experience dealing with. The Guild wanted to keep it under wraps while Artemis herself desires a pure-hearted Hero to save her...we're fortunate that you are the one to have taken up that spear, Vahn, as the chances of success have gone up exponentially. You must journey to where Antares is located and use that spear to end the tragic existence that Artemis has become...if we are unable to act before it is able to fully use her Arcanum, even the combined effort of every god in the mortal world would be powerless to act..."Though a god could activate their Arcanum in the real world, it would eject them long before they were able to achieve full activation. At best, they would only be able to manifest around 5% of their power before the world itself rejected them, making it functionally impossible to defeat a monster that was able to use the full power of a god's Arcanum. Nothing like this had ever happened since the gods had started descending into the mortal world and Hermes had already confirmed that Artemis' statue in Heaven had cracked. Her Arcanum was currently fully manifested and nobody knew what would happen if a monster was able to master its use...if they didn't kill Artemis and severe the connection between her and Antares, the mortal world itself would fall to ruin...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'You ain't sneaky...!','Hestia, don't cry (T ^ T)...!','Before the fall...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Chapter 849: Questions