Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Around the same time as his arrival in the Hanging Gardens, Vahn's main body was making his daily rounds back in Avalon. Azathoth didn't seem to get particularly lonely, but, if he didn't spend time with Tiamat, the latter might actually come looking for him. This could quickly turn into a dangerous situation, as, despite lacking the desire to harm others, Tiamata's 'curiosity' endangered herself and others.Though it was even less developed than when Fenrir first transformed, the current Tiamat could now vocalize her thoughts and feelings. She had become a lot more expressive as well, often displaying a happy and gentle smile on her face as she haphazardly created various life forms to inhabit her own personal Marble Phantasm.When Vahn arrived to check on her, he found several dozen miniature versions of Tiamat playing with her 'children'. It was actually a little frightening, as, due to her fragmented though process, the vast majority of her creations would be treated as misshapen abominations. There was even a large, anomalous blob of lumpy, fur-covered, meat, so poorly designed that it didn't have an anus, only a mouth and atrophied appendages. It had eaten itself into obesity, kept alive by little more than the 'love' of its mother, the same entity who had designed it so that it would never be able to leave her...Almost immediately after his arrival, Vahn heard a low, delicate, voice softly call out, "Master..." as a phenomenal pressure descended upon him. In the next moment, one of Tiamat's bodies, standing at 160cm tall, completely unbound, appeared next to him. She wasted no time in jumping on his body, clinging to him with a happy smile on her face as she rubbed her cheek against his chest and added, "You have...come back...I'm glad..."Though she still had large double-arched horns and a long, dragon-like tail, Tiamat had been able to completely remove her bindings after a considerable amount of effort. That same day, she spoke her first few words, indicating the chains had done more than bind her powers. They seemed to suppress all of her emotions, leaving only things like fear, uncertainty, and purpose behind. His Source Energy had slowly overwritten this effect, allowing her to experience a diverse range of emotions, that, with time, allowed her to completely remove the shackles that bound her heart and mind.While Tiamat was happily clinging to him, Vahn brought his arms around her body, phasing through her watery hair before tightly embracing her in turn. This resulted in her large horns and dexterous tail wiggling about excitedly, a peculiar yet adorable sight that Vahn had become rather fond of. He had always appreciated those that were more 'honest' with their emotions, so, while she had become a little dangerous compared to her previous self, Vahn was always happy to see Tiamat's progress.Interrupting the affectionate embrace, a rather cold voice echoed in the surroundings, stating, "Do not ignore me."Hearing the voice, Vahn turned his head to the side, a relaxed smile on his face as he replied, "Come now, Alaya, you know better. You shouldn't be envious of your sister. After all, you get to spend most of the day with me. Now, come here..."Though she had a slight pout visible on her face, Alaya still moved as directed, snuggling up next to her Master with her rather sensual body. Unlike Tiamat, her appearance had changed considerably over the years, both as a means to appeal to Vahn and fulfill one of her primary objectives. She had closely observed his relationships, altering her appearance to match what she believed to be Vahn's preferences.The current Alaya stood around 165cm tall, her body appearing more fit than voluptuous due to the excessive number of 'warrior women' around Vahn. She had somewhat modest breasts, slightly over the qualifications for a B-Cup, but, most notably, her thighs and butt were almost disproportionately large. It wasn't to the point of appearing incongruous, especially with a relatively thick tail protruding from her lower back, but it was 'very' noticeable. She still had the same pale blue skin and white hair, but, compared to her relatively short and neat style from before, Alaya's hair cascaded down, nearly reaching the floor when she was standing. As for her remaining features, she had eyes like amethysts and, seemingly for the purpose of petting, two fox-like ears in addition to her usual, elf-like ears...Vahn always had a fondness for women with exotic features, so, in more ways than one, he found Alaya's appearance very appealing. She, like her sister, also had an impossibly soft and smooth body, so, at times, Vahn felt like he could just squeeze and hug the duo for hours without getting bored. In fact, he had done so on several occasions, finding them exceptionally suitable as hug-pillows when he was taking a nap...After embracing the duo for several minutes, Vahn lightly stroked their backs, saying, "Okay, we can hug more later. I came to spend time with Tiamat, but I also want to check the status of the Temple. Once I'm done, we can play to our heart's content."Though both girls were rather spoiled, neither ever opposed his decisions, especially if he gave them in the form of orders. They quickly released his body, both showed varying degrees of reluctance. To appease them, he had to caress both of their heads, stating, "It won't take long," before giving each a kiss. This was generally enough to return Tiamat's, but, due to her 'peculiar' nature, Alaya appeared discontent until he caressed his hand along her abdomen. She would never be satisfied unless she got more than Tiamat, as, for reasons even she couldn't put into words, Alaya felt envious of her far more innocent counterpart.Vahn knew that the root cause of Alaya's envy was the fact that Tiamat, even with her nascent Ego, was far more 'free' than she was. Tiamat was no longer a part of the Counter Force, so, unlike Alaya and Gaia, she was free from Akasha's influence. Rather, her only purpose, prior to the changes he had introduced, was causing destruction and regressing the world to its primordial state. She was the catalyst for an event that would now never take place, freeing her to live however she pleased.Unfortunately, until he enacted his plan, Vahn couldn't free Alaya from her burden. He had come to understand that, while not impossible, breaking free from the authority of the Root System was the same as transcending it. Alaya would either need to pass through the Root, a feat that was all but impossible due to the very restrictions placed upon her. Thus, in the hopes of enacting his plans and 'freeing' everyone, Vahn found himself at the massive Temple located at the very center of Tiamat's Marble Phantasm.Set atop a massive Ziggurat, a rectangular stepped tower, the 'Temple of Gaia' was a structure that easily rivaled the Parthenon in size. The interior walls were covered from floor to ceiling in gem-like tiles, each arranged to depict countless different creatures. At the deepest section of the Temple, a massive black slab, appearing much like an altar, could be found blocking access to a large well of immeasurable depth. Behind these two peculiar facets, lining the furthest wall, three pedestals could be found, two containing 10m tall statues of Tiamat and Alaya. As for the center pedestal, it was left unoccupied, but, near the base, written in ancient Sumerian characters, the words Gaia, Mother of All could be seen.After approaching the pitch-black slab preceding the bottomless well, Vahn ran his hand along the surface, causing millions of ghostly blue runes to light up along its surface. Only the centermost area was left empty, forming a circular void where various offerings could be made in the hopes of luring Gaia out of her self-imposed isolation.Despite sharing the same Origin, even Alaya and Tiamat couldn't make direct contact with Gaia. The former had a 'non-interference' policy imposed upon her very existence, and, though Tiamat should be able to make contact, she simply didn't understand how to go about doing so. She had all of her original memories, but they were a jumbled and indecipherable mess. It was almost like having every book that had ever been written at your disposal, but, rather than any organized structure, they had been shredded to pieces before being thrown into the same pile. It wasn't impossible to find what you were looking for, just exceptionally difficult.If he really wanted to, Vahn knew he could 'meld' with Tiamat, allowing him to trace her existence to the moment she separated from Gaia. However, this wasn't absolutely assured, and, until she had an understanding of the significance behind such acts, Vahn wouldn't have sex with Tiamat. Alaya would also take exception to the fact that her counterpart was able to experience something denied to her, so, rather than step on a landmine capable of destroying continents, Vahn had used the Greater Grail created by Illya to simplify matters.While it was impossible to contact Gaia using the Greater Grail, Vahn was able to learn a variety of different methods to establish a connection. The simplest among them was to construct a sacrificial altar, sacrificing thousands of lives in an ancient ritual. Fortunately, much like the situation between him and Sut-Typhon, Vahn could forgo the use of such a brutal method. This was the main purpose of the 'bottomless' well, a construct that was meant to represent a 'direct link' to the core of Gaia. It was precisely 6,378km deep, and, though it didn't connect to the planet itself, the fact Taimat shared an origin with Gaia meant it should be possible to establish contact through her Marble Phantasm...After waiting for the runes to spread throughout the entire Temple structure, even descending down the well, Vahn pulled out a ceremonial gold dagger, slicing his wrist to the bone. This wasn't entirely necessary, as he could just forcibly eject his blood, but the 'feeling' and 'intent' behind such rituals were often the most important aspects. Thus, without allowing the wound to heal, Vahn watched as his blood was soaked up by the pitch-black slab, almost as if the smooth surface was actually a void with infinite capacity.Once he had discharged approximately a kiloliter of blood, Vahn allowed the wound on his wrist to heal instantaneously. At this point, the runes had changed from pale blue to a vibrant gold color, the result of the stone slab interpreting the energy contained within his blood as Divine. If he pushed it even further, it would begin to shift into a deep magenta color, but, as that had nearly destroyed the Temple in a previous experiment, Vahn opted to play it safe.With his preparations complete, Vahn gave a curt nod toward Tiamat and Alaya before they all knelt down, bringing their hands together in a gesture of prayer. Then, with as much sincerity as he could manage, Vahn chanted, "Oh Goddess, Source of Gods and Mortals, All-Fertile, All-Destroying Gaia, Mother of All, Who brings for the bounteous fruits and all variety of flowers. Sacred Maiden who anchors the eternal World in our own, Immortal, Blessed, Crowned with every Grace. Deep bosomed Earth, filled with sweet plains and fields of fragrant grasses, kissed by the purifying rain. Around you fly the beauteous stars, eternal and divine. Come, Blessed Goddess, and hear the prayers of your lost children..."As Vahn incanted his prayer, the runes lining every surface began to shine with such resplendence that it was impossible to see anything else. This made it appear as though Space had been distorted into a realm of pure gold, a realm filled with endless warmth and, to those sensitive to its presence, longing. From the very center of the golden space, a tiny green light emerged from nothingness, its own radiance increasing in intensity, appearing much like a growing star. This light approached to within a few centimeters of Vahn before sending out wispy green tendrils of energy, some caressing his face while others poked and prodded other areas of his body.Vahn had experienced this phenomenon before, so, while it seemed like he would be able to finally contact Gaia, he knew better than to move even a single muscle. The last few times he had tried, she 'instantly' retreated, taking the golden light with her. Afterward, she would not respond to his call for several days, the shortest period of time being six. Thus, in the hopes of compelling her to stay, he had been generating calm and gentle energy through his domain, allowing her to entangle with it like a curious child...After several minutes had passed, Vahn was considering whether or not he should take a chance when a soft, sad-sounding, voice stated, "You are not one of mine...you are...different...you are...my Master...?"Rather than immediately answer, Vahn slowly raised his head to stare directly at the green light, causing it to quickly retract. This time, however, it didn't completely disappear, almost as if it was waiting for his response. Thus, with the calmest and most gentle tone he could manage, Vahn said, "I want to save you..."Though he could have tried to 'order' Gaia, preventing her from running away, Vahn felt it would be cruel to do so. She seemed afraid and uncertain, a far cry from how taciturn and cold Alaya had been during their first meeting. In fact, given how 'fervently' Gaia had tried to destroy her own creations, it wasn't an exaggeration to say she was the most emotional of the trio. It was difficult to even imagine how terrified she must be, knowing the creatures she both hated and loved were slowly tearing her apart, harvesting her for resources, not to preserve their lives, but for selfish gain...Sensing the subtle change in Vahn's aura, Gaia shrunk back, wavering like a flame on the verge of burning out. She could sense his anger, and, though it wasn't directed toward her, it made her feel sad and frightened. His aura had been calm and pleasant before, so, in the hopes of returning him to normal, her voice softly stated, "Please...don't be angry...I'm sorry..."Hearing Gaia's words, Vahn couldn't help feeling guilty, forcing him to relax his mind and focus on restoring his aura to a calm and peaceful state. She seemed sensitive to even subtle changes in the emotional state of others so he would need to take that into consideration in the future. For now, he focused on calming down before saying, "I would like to talk with you more...there are many things I need to tell you. I don't want you to live in fear. I want to save you, preventing others from harming you..."Vahn was hoping his sincerity was able to reach her, but, surprising him, Gaia actually answered, "I am aware...Master is kind...I'm scared..."Though he couldn't be certain, Vahn got the impression that Gaia was telling him she was afraid to come out. She had already been hurt by her own children, and, to make matters even worse, her love manifested in the form of Alaya, an existence that protected the very people killing her. He couldn't blame her for being afraid, as, due to the restrictions on her body, Gaia would even be susceptible to normal human beings, forbidden from even trying to protect herself...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Commenters be like, "Where is Semiramis!?"','Alaya is persistent','There are few greater tragedies than a child turning against a loving parent...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After anticipating this encounter for years, Vahn had already put a lot of thought into how he would convince Gaia. More than that, however, he really did just want to protect her, finding her existence to be one of the greatest tragedies he had ever encountered. Nobody deserved to be isolated from everything, and, while it might make her feel safe, Gaia would never be happy if she never broke out of her shell and experienced new things.In the hopes of ensuring a better future for them all, Vahn adopted an apologetic smile as he said, "I promise you...I will never allow harm to befall you. Please, trust me. Nobody should be forced to live alone...afraid of the very world they represent..."Since Gaia seemed sensitive to even the most subtle change in emotions, Vahn allowed her to feel the sadness in his heart. He wanted her to know that she wasn't alone, that someone understood the things she had gone through, even a little. He had felt this way even before seeing the awe-inspiring form of CHALDEAS and his encounter with Tiamat...Though she didn't understand why Vahn was sad, Gaia felt her own sadness increase seeing him in such a state. He had such a pure and comforting aura, so it didn't seem right for him to be sad. Thus, albeit with extreme reluctance, she muttered, "I will trust...Master..."Following the soft, almost inaudible words, the green mass of energy began to rapidly contract. This was similar to the times when Gaia ran away, taking the golden light with her. This time, however, a strange feather remained behind, suspended in the air.Seeing the pure white feather surrounded by an incomparable mass of Holy Energy, Vahn felt like his body would disintegrate just bey remaining in its presence. A hazy black mist had even started rising from various parts of his body, the purity in her aura so great that even Spenta, an entity that existed to purify virtually all evils, couldn't compare in presence and magnitude.Despite a strange sense of 'unworthiness', Vahn stretched out his hands, allowing the feather, less than 10cm in length, to rest in his palms. He noticed it was surprisingly heavy, but, before he could get an accurate grasp on its weight, light burst from within the calamus, blinding him in the process. At the same time, the weight of the feather seemed to disappear entirely, replaced by a soft, downy, feeling...Once his eyes regenerated, Vahn found a thin, seemingly weightless, young woman curled up in his arms. She had skin fairer than white jade, rivaling polished porcelain in quality. Though she was very thin, almost painfully so, her overall height was around 160cm. She was clothed in a pure white dress that was so smooth to the touch that it almost felt ephemeral, giving the impression she would slip through his grasp without a moment's notice...Though her dress was otherworldy, Gaia's appearance dwarfed it by quite a bit. To compliment her fair skin, she had free-flowing, pure-white hair. It cascaded from the top of her head in a graceful yet uninhibited manner. What surprised Vahn the most, however, was that she had several ahoge, three of which were greater than 15cm in length. This gave her a peculiar charm, but, having a rough idea of what ahoges represented, Vahn couldn't help but clench his teeth slightly...Almost immediately after his jaw tightened, Vahn felt a soft voice echo through his mind, whispering, "Master...do not be mad...hatred is bad...it is like poison..."Despite the words clearly coming from Gaia, the 'person' themselves didn't so much as twitch her brows, much less move her lips. She remained unmoving, seemingly lifeless, in his arms. If not for the fact she was radiating more vitality than he had ever seen, it would have been easy to mistake her for a lifeless doll...albeit one carved by the greatest craftsman that had ever lived...After recovering his senses, Vahn held Gaia a little closer, asking, "Are you unable to move?" in a soft tone of voice.Surprisingly, Gaia quickly answered, alleviating his concerns as she stated, "I do not remember how...I will try harder..." while twitching her brows.Though it wasn't all that surprising, especially given Gaia's pure white hair, Vahn was stunned when he saw her eyelids part to reveal ruby-red eyes. Their interior even possessed a faceted quality, much like an actual gemstone. This was undoubtedly the result of some incomprehensibly powerful Mystic Eyes, as, just by looking into them for a brief moment, Vahn felt his consciousness being drawn into them. There were even mysterious runes dancing about within her pupil, but, in spite of his curiosity, Vahn dared not look too closely.Like someone waking from a coma, or a very long dream, Gaia had a distant look in her eyes, unable to focus on anything. She had been using her 'perception' to sense the world around her for a very long time so it was strange to be seeing for the first time in millennia. Everything was simultaneously clear and blurry at the same time, giving her a spaced-out appearance as her pupils expanded and contracted in a peculiar, somewhat eerie, manner.Understanding she was trying very hard, Vahn made no effort to rush Gaia. Instead, he organized his thoughts, wondering how he should proceed now that he had his hands on one of the final pieces of the puzzle. His short-term plans would have to change drastically, as, in her current state, Gaia would require a significant amount of attention. This didn't necessarily need to come from him, but, based on the impression he got, she wouldn't want to be apart from him after he promised to protect her.Fortunately, while Gaia had relatively youthful facial features, her body was relatively mature. Though it looked like she hadn't eaten anything in a very long time, this wasn't necessarily an issue as all Tier 5 beings were able to alter their appearance. Her powers might be restricted, but that shouldn't stop her from being able to slowly change her appearance over the course of a few days. She might even be able to reach a similar degree of development as Tiamat, her original body...Though she was vaguely aware of what her Master was thinking, Gaia was more focused on trying to control her vision and move parts of her body. It was like trying to flex muscles she didn't even know she had, and, if not for the comforting presence of her Master, Gaia wasn't sure she would ever try to master the body that had been given to her by Akasha. It seemed like a great hassle, and, after what she had experienced in the past, she wasn't in a particular hurry to walk amongst the 'residents' that treated her true body negligently...After nearly half an hour, Gaia had reached the point of being able to focus on an object. She was also able to raise her hands slightly, opening and closing them in an awkward, almost mechanical fashion.Unfortunately, while she was making some progress, Vahn got the answer to whether or not she would be able to transform a lot earlier than expected. Her skin became increasingly white as plumes of feathers started to emerge from her body. This wasn't a particular issue, as it actually enhanced her appearance quite a bit. Rather, it was the fact that several wing-like appendages had started to grow from her back. They possessed an amorphous quality that allowed them to gradually pile up, but, most surprisingly, her weight never increased in the slightest...By the time another ten minutes had passed, enough 'wings' had flowed out of Gaia to fill much of the standing room. She seemed pretty embarrassed by this, as, despite her inability to control her body, she managed an almost imperceptible blush as she said, for the umpteenth time, "Sor...ry..."Rather than rebuke her in the slightest, Vahn continued to hold Gaia in his embrace, a gentle smile on his face as he whispered, "It's okay...you're doing your best. Don't give up..."After weakly nodding her head, Gaia did her best to try and get the phenomenon under control. This had the effect of gradually slowing down the increase of wings, but, despite her best efforts, it didn't stop completely.Fortunately, while it was a rather strange sight to behold, the amorphous wings had an unbelievably soft texture. They also radiated a gentle warmth, so, while he was already buried to his waist, Vahn didn't particularly mind. Instead, he continued to encourage Gaia to do her best while Tiamat and Alaya watched silently from the side.Alaya would generally be annoyed by this kind of situation, as it interfered with their time together, but, perhaps due to the fact Gaia was her, literal, other half, she was showing a considerable amount of patience. As for Tiamat, she just playfully dangled her legs while sitting on the edge of the black stone slab. She seemed to be enjoying the incident quite a bit, a large smile that revealed her shark-like teeth visible on her face...---Vahn generally tried to limit his usage to just two vessels, but, if he was moving at the same flow of time, managing up to five could be achieved without too much trouble. Thus, while his secondary body was off being pampered by Semiramis, something he couldn't easily walk away from, Vahn had to create a third body from the Quest Board located in the Knight's Training Field.Establishing contact with Gaia was a major event, so, in order to avoid any hiccups, Vahn needed to inform everyone about what was going on. He would also need to make use of one of their Marble Phantasms, as, despite the significance of the event, Vahn had no intention of altering his schedule. He had promised to take the children to the Yokai District that evening, so, even if he had to spend a few months inside a Marble Phantasm, it was better than lying to his children.As if by divine providence, Vahn spread his senses through the Ivory Castle, finding Artoria, Arcueid, Illya, Iris, and Gray all within the same location. They seemed to be having a tea party, and, based on the seating arrangement, it was easy to see that Artoria was hosting.With the exception of Iris, everyone else in the room sensed the fact that Vahn was 'looking' at them. They hadn't reached the same level as Fenrir, but Artoria, Arcueid, and Gray were extremely sensitive to his intent. As for Illya, her ears immediately perked up as she hopped out of her seat, an expectant smile on her face. She had the most attuned senses of the entire group, and, despite having become more 'tame' over time, Illya became like an excited puppy whenever he spontaneously appeared.Even before he had completed his teleportation, Illya had already leaped through the air, arms open as she shouted, "Master~!" before happily snuggling into his embrace. This had become a common occurrence these days, to the point Iris didn't even bother to tease him. Instead, she giggled in her usual elegant manner before adopting a mature smile that always seemed to possess a seductive undertone.Before explaining his business, Vahn hugged Illya's body firmly, lifting her off her feet slightly as their tongues intertwined. This caused her body to tense up excitedly, her ears drooping lazily as her tail began to flicker happily behind her. This, too, was part of their ritual, as, more than most of the other women, Illya's emotional state required her to express her affection. She would get stressed out if he didn't take a few liberties with her, causing her to go on the 'offensive' as a result.As this thought crossed his mind, Vahn realized the number of aggressive women in his life had been on the rise. With the recent addition of Musashi, he had to worry about Tiamat, Ishtar, Illya, Arcueid, Aoko, and, whenever she was feeling bold, Nobunaga. Artoria had also become a bit of a problem, but, as she always considered the time, place, and occasion, she and Aoko were the most stable. The latter was only ever a problem after she lost a fight or got into an argument with her sister, incidents that were, fortunately, very rare.After a 'longer-than-necessary' kiss, Vahn released the panting Illya, smiling as he said, "It's good to see you, too..."Finding his words amusing, Illya giggled in a girlish manner before giving Vahn another firm hug and saying, "You should come and visit us more often. It has only been a few days, but I get lonely when its just mother and me."Without making a verbal promise, Vahn just nodded his head in affirmation before gently stroking her back so she would release him. He didn't mind spending time with Illya, not in the slightest, but there were other matters to attend. He also wanted to keep it a surprise that he needed to use one of their Marble Phantasms, as, if she learned about it too soon, Illya would insist he uses hers before they can even discuss things. It was important that he didn't show too much favoritism, so, even if there was a good chance he ended up using her Marble Phantasm, it would be after the entire group agreed to it...Unaware of Vahn's thoughts, but sensing he had a 'surprise' in store, Illya decided to remain patient as she hopped into his lap and nestled against him. She was happy just to be able to spend even an additional second with Vahn, as, over the years, her love for him had only grown. It had gotten to the point that she couldn't even sleep alone any longer, as, without someone at her side, she would feel a strong urge to track him down.Fortunately, there were a lot of 'comrades' who understood this kind of emotion, including her very own mother. As a result, Illya never had to feel lonely. Rather, the last few years had been far greater than she expected. The only thing that could have made her happier was getting pregnant, but, as she had made a promise with both her mother and 'rival', Illya decided to wait until she was older.As tempting as it was, becoming a mother, Illya wanted to be able to fight alongside Vahn before worrying about the well-being of their child. She, alongside Fenrir, Medusa, and a few others, had all made a promise to protect their Master, no matter the cost. Having a baby would divert her focus for a considerable amount of time, and, though she had a functionally infinite amount inside her Marble Phantasm, it wasn't exactly a suitable environment to raise a child...Unaware of Illya's machinations, Vahn just absentmindedly stroked her fluffy hair and tail, explaining the situation regarding Gaia. He rarely concerned himself with the 'schemes' and 'private affairs' of his lovers, trusting them with all his heart. No matter what they decided, he would do his best to try and support them, doing whatever it took to make them happy. In turn, they always considered how he would react, altering their plans and working together to achieve collective happiness. Thus, even if Illya sometimes gave off a scary vibe, he continued to smile all the same...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'A life that must be protected','*slowly drowns in fluffy white wings*','Fenrir is the true mastermind o_o...!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Several hours after entering the portable Japanese cottage, Vahn and Musashi could both be found relaxing in a large bathtub filled with hazy-green water. The former had a content smile on his face, arm hooking around Musashi's shoulders as the latter reclined against him with the look of someone who had survived a dangerous battlefield. She had a somewhat distant look in her eyes, but, despite a lack of focus, there was a considerable amount of satisfaction visible in her countenance.While letting her mind wander, Musashi absentmindedly traced her finger along the various lines of Vahn's body, lazily asking, "Is it always like this with you? I can see how you are able to keep so many women loyal to you...you're a beast..."With his ego successfully stroked, Vahn couldn't help but laugh in response to Musashi's musings. It always made him feel slightly vindicated whenever he heard such claims, bringing a large smile to his face before he answered, "I pace myself based on my partner. You're pretty amazing to have lasted for thirteen hours..."Punctuating his statement, Vahn lightly pinched Musashi's still-erect nipple, causing a hushed moan to escape her throat. In the next moment, however, she dexterously extended her hand beneath the surface of the water, gripping the most delicate part of Vahn's body while turning her eyes up at him with a threatening smile.Amused by Musashi's silent threat, Vahn returned a smile of his own as he stared into her eyes and let him sleeping dragon speak for itself. This caused her hand to instinctually squeeze, but, refusing to succumb, it wasn't long before his dragon surfaced menacingly. As a result, Musashi issued an awkward laugh, quickly retracting her hand before resting her head against his shoulder and closing her eyes, seemingly intent on pretending she had done no wrong...Vahn could have let her off, but, despite appearances, he could sense Musashi's expectations quickly rising. Less than two hours had passed in the real world so he still had over half a day to stay inside the cottage without endangering his schedule. Though he wanted to go and spend some time with Semiramis, as she would undoubtedly be expecting him, he could still spare a few minutes to lightly punish Musashi's 'impertinence'...With this thought crossing his mind, Vahn ran his fingers up Musashi's neck before gently guiding her chin to tilt toward him. This caused her to open her eyes, a slight glaze already spreading across their surface as she stared back at him. Then, with an affectionate smile on his face, Vahn brought his lips close enough to brush against Musashi's as he said, "Point your butt toward me..." before lightly licking her lips...---After a considerable stint within the bath, Vahn and Musashi were sitting side-by-side outside the cottage, enjoying a few drinks before his departure. She forced him to hand over more than a dozen premium sake, pointedly reminding him that her time was an expensive commodity. Despite this, she poured him a considerable number of drinks, rarely filling her own cup. This was uncharacteristic for her, but, after everything that had happened over the last couple of hours, Musashi's usual cravings had been completely pacified.Accepting yet another cup poured by Musashi, Vahn swirled around the contents as he asked, "What are you going to do from now on?"Hearing his question, Musashi knew it wouldn't be long before Vahn departed to handle his other affairs. This made her feel strangely lonely, causing her to release a small sigh before answering, "I'd like to say I will just follow you back to the Empire...but I can't just up and leave the Heroes Faction. I might not care about their mission all that much, but I would feel guilty if I left without at least trying to explain things. I don't want Alice and Abigail to hate me...besides, I still owe that damned monkey for stealing my reserve stash..."As her answer wasn't outside of his expectations, Vahn gave an understanding nod before downing the contents of his cup and saying, "After my actions today, I think the goal of the Heroes Faction is going to change. Once things start to settle down, know that you always have a place in Avalon. I'll tell the others what has happened...Artoria might be a little aggressive during your next battle, but she is a good woman. As for Wukong...give her a few smacks for me..."Amused by Vahn's words, Musashi giggled in an uncharacteristically feminine manner before, once against, resting her head against his shoulder. She had let her hair flow freely, so, contrasting her usual 'wild' ponytail, her pale-pink locks fell gracefully around her shoulders. It gave her a delicate and demure appearance, something she 'very' rarely showed others. Vahn, however, had become a unique existence in her heart, as, not only did he satisfy her in ways she never even thought possible, he allowed her strength to grow further than her efforts alone would allow...---As was the case with all good things, Vahn's time with Musashi eventually came to an end. He didn't actually have to leave so abruptly, but, knowing Semiramis would be upset if he wasn't considerably early, it was better to end things on a high note. With this in mind, Vahn decided to spend what remained of their time combing and styling her hair.Musashi actually wanted him to pick a new style for her, so, after imagining how she would look with various styles, Vahn settled on a modified version of her original. He actually preferred her wild and untamed look quite a bit, so, rather than making a drastic change, he opted to braid the few loose strands she normally allowed to flow freely. This gave her a slightly more 'tidy' appearance, but, at a glance, there wasn't much of a change from before. His intent was to emphasize that, while he had made his mark upon her, he still respected the person she had been before their tryst...Seeing the braid that now fed into her usual ponytail, Musashi had a satisfied smile on her face as she slowly ran her fingers along its length. It was very subtle, but, as she hadn't changed her style in several centuries, it left quite an impact. She half-expected Vahn to tie her hair up like Artoria's, as, from what she had seen, it seemed to be a 'very' popular style in the Empire. Even a considerable number of female students had started to style their hair similarly, emulating the Empress they had come to fear and respect.After staring at herself for a full minute, Musashi returned the hand mirror to Vahn, saying, "Thanks for today. It might sound a little strange, but I really needed something like this. I'll be relying on you from time to time, so give me a way to contact you. After what you've done to me, I'm expecting you to take full responsibility. If you try and shirk your responsibilities, don't blame me for charging into Avalon to punish you."Despite the joking tone she used, Vahn knew Musashi was actually very serious about charging into Avalon. She was, in many ways, like a humanoid typhoon. It was impossible to completely tame her, so, if you neglected her, she had the capacity to become a living natural disaster. While her rampage might not harm anyone, the amount of damage she could cause to buildings and obstacles in her path wasn't something that could be ignored...As he had already prepared for situations like this, Vahn pulled out a pale-purple ring formed from an enriched version of Jadeite. Besides functioning as an interspatial ring, it also served as a direct line of communication with the paired accessory, the pendant Vahn often wore outside of battle, an exact replica of the one he had crafted to match Lili's. Since the real pendant would turn to dust if he tried to remove it from his Inventory, Vahn had made a copy to serve as one of the many reminders of the home he needed to return to.After handing over the ring and explaining its functions, Vahn couldn't help but release a sigh, as, despite nodding her head, Musashi didn't seem to be listening. She was too busy admiring the ring after 'forcing' him to quickly place it upon her ring finger. It wasn't the first time someone had tried giving her such a gift, but, as she never had any real interest in the people making the offer, she had refused each and every one of them. This was the first real accessory she had received from another person, bringing a smile to her face as it made things seem more 'official' between her and Vahn.While Musashi was distracted by her ring, Vahn sneakily reached his hand around to her backside, lightly pinching the exposed flesh as he said, "I won't force you, but you should start wearing panties in the future. If it bothers you too much, I can also enchant your skirt so that it automatically blocks any attempts to peek..."As it was strangely satisfying to hear Vahn fret over such things, Musashi exaggeratedly nodded her head in approval, patting him on the shoulder as she said, "Now that we're together, it is natural for you to start worrying about me. Still, I really don't like how restrictive underwear feels. I'll wear them if you want, but I'd rather go with that enchantment. To be honest, though, it doesn't really matter if others sneak a peak. I'm not ashamed of my body and it's not like they would be able to do anything to me. Rather, if someone tried to desperately see up my skirt, that seems like a pretty good reason to test my blade, doesn't it?"Musashi was born in an era where undergarments had yet to become widespread. In fact, before western imperialism became the trend, it was heavily frowned upon to wear undergarments that might be visible through a kimono. Many had considered it unnatural, nothing more than a scheme to sell unnecessary garments for additional profit. After all, what was the point of wearing expensive clothing that nobody was supposed to see? Thus, much like Gozen and Tamamo, Musashi elected to go commando, not caring about the wayward eyes of others.Since he wasn't going to force her, especially after saying he wouldn't, Vahn spent a few moments enchanting Musashi's clothing with Circe's unique 'Enchantment of Modesty'. It manipulated cloth in such a way that, no matter what angle you tried to view from, it would always obscure your vision. It also protected from most forms of clairvoyance, so, even if someone tried to be a voyeur using the relatively common technique, their attempts would end in failure.Noticing how her clothes shifted slightly when she moved around, Musashi was mildly intrigued by the enchantment, adopting a teasing smile as she said, "Give it a try. I want to see the effect with my own eyes."Shaking his head, Vahn explained, "If you want to be seen, the enchantment doesn't work. I wouldn't mind taking a look if you insist..."Though she was tempted to take him up on the offer, Musashi felt like things might go the same way as they had in the bath. This was an enticing thought, but, fearing she might become a pervert if she spent too much time with Vahn, Musashi ultimately shook her head, saying, "Maybe next time. I should get back to headquarters and I know you already have someplace else to be. I already have a method to contact you, so get going. When we both have some free time, let's meet up and enjoy a few more drinks together."As he really did need to get going, Vahn didn't refute Musashi's words. Before he left, however, he pulled her closer to him, allowing her breasts to rest against his chest as he sealed her lips with his own. Their current relationship was a little peculiar, but it was still a relationship. This made Musashi his woman, so, following the tradition he had established long ago, Vahn dutifully said his farewells before resting his head against hers and promising to meet again soon. Then, with an affectionate smile on his face, his figure slowly faded from existence as Alaya teleported him away...Seeing Vahn's figure disappear, Musashi maintained her smile, holding it for several seconds after he had completely vanished. Then, like a marionette with its strings cut, she plopped down onto the cold stone tiling, letting her body sprawl out as she stared towards the vast ocean of stars above. It had been a long time since she felt this tired, but, rather than exhaustion derived from exertion and fatigue, pure contentedness had pervaded her entire being. Even now, she could feel the echoes of pleasure that Vahn had left inside her body, almost as if they had never separated. Thus, rather than return to the Heroes Faction Headquarters, she decided to make use of the cottage Vahn had left behind, calming the fire in her body by soaking in an icy bath...---Almost immediately after his separation from Musashi, Vahn found himself within the Throne Room of the Hanging Gardens. Semiramis was nowhere to be seen, but, leading from the Throne to the bed-chamber behind, a trail of black rose petals had been meticulously strewn about. This caused a smile to spread across Vahn's face, as, internally, he remarked, ("It seems today is going to be one of those days...")Using composite magic to make sure there was no trace of Musashi's scent on his body, Vahn began following the trail of rose petals, peeling off his top in the process. He could have easily unequipped it, but, with several pieces of black and gold fabric strewn about, discarding his own seemed like the proper thing to do.Stopping just outside of Semiramis' bed-chamber, Vahn noticed the pair of black-lace panties that were hanging from the door handle. He doubted she would actually let him have sex with her, as she absolutely abhorred relinquishing control, but, at the very least, her defenses were lowered. If he let her take the lead, there was a chance he would get to experience her charms for a short while. They had only had sex three times, each session lasting fewer than fifteen minutes, but, knowing it was only a matter of time before she relented, Vahn hadn't lost hope...After opening the door, Vahn found Semiramis admiring herself in her standing mirror near the corner of her room. It was difficult to see through her raven-black hair, as it covered most of her body from behind, but she seemed to be wearing nothing but a topless bodice, stockings, and a garter belt. Though she would probably lash out at him for 'surprising' her so suddenly, seeing Semiramis in her battle attire brought a large smile to Vahn's face.(A/N: Alternate Titles: '*Stares menacingly with its one eye*','When a woman changes hairstyle, it is an important moment o3o...','A never-ending cycle...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1492: Contact (1/?)