Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

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

After discussing the matter at length, it was decided that, once she was willing to accept others, Arcueid would become Gaia's primary caretaker. They would also be using her Marble Phantasm in order to aid in Gaia's physical rehabilitation. As for her mental rehabilitation, that would require a concerted effort from everyone in the Ivory Castle, but, until she was ready to face a large number of people, Spenta would be asked to accompany her.Though Illya had made a case for using her Marble Phantasm for Gaia's rehab, she quickly perished the thought when Vahn coaxed her by saying he would stay with her after everyone returned from the Yokai District. As a result, she started considering who she should invite along with them, chiefly focusing on members of the Menagerie and her own mother. If she could convince the right people, they could even turn it into an extended vacation, albeit one filled with indulgence, debauchery, and a fair amount of training...Once everyone was on the same page, Vahn left it to them to inform the rest of the Inner Sanctum's residents. Gaia would become one of the Empire's greatest secrets, as, if her presence was known, it exponentially increased the danger to her, and, by proxy, the planet. Though almost nothing could outright kill Gaia, her death would mean the effective death of all Spirits, plants, animals, and even microbial life forms. Though it wouldn't be an instantaneous process, wind erosion and other factors would make the surface of the planet inhospitable to life, forcing its inhabitants to flee the fate they had wrought themselves.It would be a mild inconvenience, but Vahn had already resolved himself to accompany Gaia in order to facilitate communication and meaningful interactions with others. The sooner she could open her heart to others, the happier she would become. This would also guarantee the success of his future plans, so, even if it took months, or, even years, he would help break Gaia out of her shell. Then, for the first time in her long existence, she would, hopefully, be able to experience what it was like to be free...---While his main and tertiary bodies were busy dealing with the emergence of Gaia, Vahn's second body was enjoying Semiramis' soft and supple thighs as she used a cotton swab to gingerly clean his ears. She was still wearing the same outfit from before, leaving her upper and lower body completely exposed, but, as that only made the experience more enjoyable, Vahn had a contented smile on his face as he split his focus on what was happening in Avalon.Taking advantage of her Master's relaxed state, Semiramis set aside the cotton swab, gently stroking his hair with her right hand as she deftly pulled out a vial of pitch-black liquid. Then, with a curious smile on her face, she began to pour it into his ear canal. This caused a sudden and intense burning sensation in Vahn's ear, but, in spite of the pain, he just lightly chuckled, allowing the poison to fizzle out after momentarily perforating his eardrum.Once the poison was inert, Vahn rolled so that he could see Semiramis' twin peaks, her glimmering golden eyes, and her slightly sadistic smile. As strange as it might seem, her attempting to suddenly poison him was the same as saying she was in the mood. It was impossible for her to be honest with her feelings, so, rather than vocalizing her desires, she would rather give him liberties after failing in her attempts. The more potent the poison used, the more eager she was for attention, a dangerous, yet strangely adorable, quirk...With the edges of his smile curling up, Vahn held out his hand, eliciting a 'Hmm?' from Semiramis as she gingerly placed her own against his. She still had golden stakes running through her hand, but, with his ability to freely shape his body, Vahn was able to facilitate them. This made him one of the few people actually able to hold hands with Semiramis, but, more importantly, it was a method that allowed him to 'lock' her hand in place.Despite knowing it was a trap, Semiramis willingly allowed Vahn to capture her hand. She also made no attempt to escape when pulled her body to the side, uttering a seductive, "Brute..." while lazing languidly against his firm body. She was actually in a pretty uncomfortable position, but, rather than make things easier for Vahn, she began tracing the stake in her free hand across his body, eliciting a sound similar to metal scraping across metal...Semiramis only ever used the term 'brute' when she basically wanted him to do everything. This was a 'positive' outcome, but, as he knew she was trying to 'train' him, Vahn lightly rolled his eyes while she was fixated on his body. Her personality didn't allow her to be the one being manipulated, to the point she had invested several months just to create the 'illusion' that she was in control.Whenever they were alone, most of the communication between Vahn and Semiramis was based on verbal cues and properly interpreting body language. These were things he was 'forced' to pay close attention to, as, depending on her mood, she would spontaneously 'forbid' him from doing more. It was a little frustrating at times, but, as it was a unique experience, Vahn didn't mind playing her little game. Rather, it made visiting her pretty enjoyable, as, unless he used his ability to read the Flow of Fate, it was like solving a complex puzzle, one that promised ample rewards if he was successful...Following Semiramis' cue, Vahn freed her left hand before quickly adjusting her hips so that she was effectively straddling his face. He could see a very small amount of glistening moisture between her pale white thighs, accompanied by a slight smell of fruit. There was an approximately one-hundred percent chance she had applied some kind of poison, but, without minding that face, Vahn held her hips rather firmly before gingerly tracing his tongue around her sensitive bead.Before proceeding any further herself, Semiramis sat back, shamelessly using Vahn's face as a seat in order to fix her long hair. Even if it wasn't exactly the case, she enjoyed the thought of being able to smother him, pretending her body wasn't quickly heating up as she 'casually' collected her massive volume of hair, binding it several metallic clamps. This was a long and arduous process, but, due to how much hair she had, it was necessary if she wanted to avoid getting it caught and entangled...After nearly half an hour, Semiramis' complexion had become suffused with a ruddy and sensual glow. Her body was also covered in a very thin layer of sweat, causing her to glisten slightly in the low light of the room. As for Vahn, he had 'dutifully' paced himself so that she would be able to fix her hair without 'interruption'. This always made Semiramis feel like he was a loyal puppy, but, as their positions could reverse very quickly, she never dared to vocalize such thoughts.With her hair neatly braided and bound, Semiramis breathed a sigh of relief. Immediately afterward, she felt a jolt run through her body as Vahn's tongue pressed into one of her most sensitive spots. It wasn't enough to make her immediately climax, but she had to bite her finger in order to suppress it. Then, before he could push her over the edge, she pulled her hips forward, quickly extricating herself from his assault. This left Vahn on the bed, looking like a man who had just been pulled from the sea as his face and hair were completely matted with love juices.Semiramis knew better than to look directly at Vahn during moments like this, so, pretending she was unaffected by his tirelessly assault, she ran her fingers through her fringe bangs, saying, "You did well...I suppose a reward is in order, wouldn't you agree~?"Due to her impassioned state, Semiramis' voice sounded even more seductive than normal. Instead of answering her, however, Vahn just let his dragon speak for itself, causing it to twitch 'impatiently' in response to her words. If he tried to make a verbal 'plea', she would just tease him at both of their expense. Thus, without saying a single word, he grabbed her hips, using his thumbs to separate her slightly swollen vulva, extending his tongue towards her palpitating entrance.With another wave of pleasure flooding her body with endorphins, Semiramis released a sonorous, yet subdued, sigh. Then, with a gratified smile on her face, one she never allowed others to see, she brought her face closer to Vahn's member, running the tip of her golden stake across its length. She was always surprised by how large it was, but, as her body was somehow able to accommodate its full length, she also felt a strange sense of pride when seeing it up close...Though she was tempted to tease her Master even longer, Semiramis knew he was very capable of 'denying' her release. Her body had already started to ache, the tingling sensation quickly becoming an unbearable itch. Thus, rather than meander about excessively, Semiramis lightly kissed the tip of Vahn's penis, her black lipstick leaving a small imprint on the glistening protrusion. This was another form of poison, but, rather than one intended to cause seizures or cardiac arrest, it was designed to increase blood flow to the penis, preventing it from flowing back.Under 'normal' circumstances, Semiramis' poison was effectively a death sentence, as, after a few hours, the blood would begin to stagnate, causing it to rapidly turn gangrenous before ultimately 'falling off'. For this reason, it was called [Succubus' Kiss], allowing the victim to experience great pleasure prior to their death. Against Vahn, however, the poison had virtually no effect, causing his glans to briefly swell before returning to normal in less than a second.Rather than be annoyed, Semiramis had become fond of Vahn's resilience against her poisons. In the past, it had troubled her a great deal, but, with long periods of time between each of their meetings, she had a lot of time to think. She knew Vahn treated her better than she actually deserved, so, while she could never admit it, Semiramis was very thankful to him. He accepted her selfishness without a single sign of perturbance, and, though she knew her efforts were futile, Semiramis appreciated the fact he at least pretended to be tamed by her...As this thought crossed her mind, Semiramis used one hand to pull aside her bangs before grabbing the base of Vahn's penis with the tips of her fingers. The golden stake in her hand was inconvenient at times like this, but, if she tried her best, it wasn't really an issue. Vahn would never complain about her relatively inexperienced actions, giving her as much leeway as she needed to improve at her own pace. This was another thing she appreciated about his character, as, before meeting him, Semiramis had always felt men were selfish beings who thought more with their lower body than their brains...Emboldened by her own thoughts, Semiramis began to tracer her tongue around the tip of Vahn's glans, her perpetually gloved hands awkwardly stimulating his length. It was always surprising how 'sweet' Vahn's bodily fluids were, but, as it was infinitely better than what most experienced women would expect, Semiramis felt a strange attraction to the startlingly hot meat rod. Thus, after licking the tip for a few seconds, she tried to mentally prepare herself before parting her lips and lowering her head...---Things with Semiramis always progressed very slowly, so, by the time things actually started to heat up, more than seven hours had passed back in Avalon. In that time, Gaia had made a decent amount of progress in controlling her body, reversing the flow of 'wings' that had erupted from her back. She even managed to reabsorb the vast majority, but, as if they were 'supposed' to be there, she still had three pairs, each wrapping around her body as if to protect it from harm.Unlike normal wings, Gaia's were amorphous in quality, allowing them to smoothly curve around her body as if they were completely bereft of bones. As for the feathers themselves, they were smoother than even the softest downy feathers Vahn had ever experienced, sharing the same quality as Gaia's body itself. He, honestly, didn't know how he was able to keep ahold of her for so long as, from the moment she first appeared, Vahn felt like he was going to drop her. He even speculated that, if not for Gaia 'wanting' to be held, it would be completely impossible to hold onto her...As she felt guilty about not being able to control her body properly, Gaia had a fretful look on her face, almost like a child that was admitting to her parent that she had done something wrong. This transition hadn't been missed by Vahn, so, before she could say anything, he held her a little tighter and said, "You did well. Those wings of yours are very cute, not something you should be ashamed of..."Despite her Master's words, Gaia still felt guilty, causing her to lightly cling to his shirt as she softly stated, "Master is kind...I will continue doing my best..."Now it was Vahn's turn to feel guilty, an apologetic smile on his face as he hugged her close and said, "I know you will...I believe in you, Gaia. Now, take as much time as you need...I'll be here with you..."Though it was weak, a very small smile returned to Gaia's face as she leaned her head against her Master's chest and intoned a delicate 'Nn...'.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The Room of Spirit and Time has nothing on Marble Phantasms','Relationships take on various forms...','You can do it, Gaia! Fight-o!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

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

Chapter 1493: Contact (2/2)