Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

As it was exceptionally rare to have visitors within Elfenhof, the presence of Vahn's group stood out like an artificial sun shining in the evening sky. It was a fearful and confusing event that caused the older Elves to quickly secure the younger generation in a complex network of underground tunnels while the few warriors and mages among their population quickly congregated around the peculiar procession.Though the reaction of the Elves seemed excessively cautious and hostile, Vahn knew they had a very good reason for behaving as such. Their total population had been reduced to fewer than six-thousand, and, without the protection of Yggdrillia, they would have been wiped out long ago. This made them extremely cautious of outsiders, as, throughout history, there were numerous examples of former allies turning into just another group trying to exploit them.Fortunately, as a race that could read memories, intentions, and emotions through touch, there was no need for any complex explanation. It only took the members of the escort party making physical contact with their kin to convey everything that needed to be 'said'. This was an extremely coveted ability, as, not only did it allow them to pass knowledge from one generation to another, it virtually invalidated the need for a complex political system. There was no need for falsehoods, and, as they had always lived in close-knit communities, finding an Elf selfishly pursuing their own interests was 'exceptionally' rare...---While the Elves were busy exchanging information through touch, Vahn had a curious glimmer in his glowing blue eyes. He was trying to identify what made the Elves of the Akamatsuverse different than their counterparts in other Records, but, other than a few subtle differences, there was nothing that particularly stood out. Their ability to read and exchange memories actually seemed to parallel his ability to meld with other people. This actually made it seem even more intimate, but, unless he was overlooking something, it didn't actually seem to be the result of an Innate...Unaware of what was going through Vahn's mind, Eva and Arika had awkward expressions on their faces as they watched the Elves silently communicate with each other. It was very strange to see so many people holding hands, touching each others' faces, and placing their foreheads against each other. This incongruity was exacerbated by the fact that most of the Elves remained silent in spite of the clear excitement that was visible on their faces. It looked like they would happily cry out at any moment, but, rather than do so, they would just smile radiantly while happily embracing their fellow Elves...A stark contrast to Eva and Arika, Asuna and Fenrir had relatively plain expressions. The former had a curious glimmer in her eyes, and, after watching the scene play out for several minutes, she didn't hesitate to approach Vahn and grab his hand. To his surprise, he could feel something similar to her intent invade his body, probing around like an inquisitive traveler who had just entered a city for the first time.Fortunately, Sis was always paying very close attention, so, rather than forcibly repel and potentially injure the mischievous young genius, she allowed Asuna to access the memories directly pertaining to her. At the same time, Vahn recovered from his incredulity, a wry smile on his face as he said, "It isn't polite to peek into someone's memories without permission, Asuna. Everyone has their secrets, and, if you aren't careful, you can experience a terrifying backlash if your target made preparations beforehand..."As it was surprisingly difficult to speak while your intent was perusing something else, Asuna had a dull expression on her face as she nodded mechanically in response. She was doing her best to try and retract her intent, but, as if it was some kind of exceptionally comfortable labyrinth, she found herself lost within the complex network of Vahn's Spiritual Body. Part of her even considered never returning to her body, but, as this wasn't exactly an option, she didn't resist when Vahn's intent, like a reliable adult finding a lost child, guided her return.Seeing the clarity return to Asuna's eyes, Vahn lightly pinched her nose before saying, "Promise me you won't use that ability on anyone that doesn't properly understand it. In the worst-case scenario, you might not even be able to return to your own body. Not everyone has the ability to control and guide their intent, and, more often than not, the mind reacts violently to external probing. We'll add this ability to your future training. Until you have proper control, I don't want you to use it when I'm not around."Feeling uncharacteristically fatigued, Asuna issued a rather adorable yawn before rubbing her right eye and answering, "I promise. I just wanted to try it out and you seemed like the best choice. I'm sorry if I troubled you..."Knowing Asuna didn't have any malicious intent, just childish curiosity, Vahn adopted a gentle look in his eyes as he affectionately rubbed her head. He also had a bad habit of trying out new abilities without properly considering the consequences, so, rather than rebuke her, he promptly decided he would help her master the ability. It would further enhance her already ridiculous capabilities, and, if used without malicious intent, it was one of the most 'honest' forms of communication imaginable.With the combination of her mental exhaustion and Vahn's petting, it didn't take long for Asuna to succumb to the Sandman's call. Fortunately, she was still very petite, and, though the black mesh on her body increased her weight by 300kg, Vahn had no trouble holding her in a koala-carry. She had matured to the point where she didn't like being carried like a 'child', but, as she couldn't complain while asleep, Vahn defaulted to the most convenient hold.Having witnessed the incident from start to finish, Eva couldn't help but remark, "That brat can be pretty terrifying at times..."Hearing the remark, Vahn issued a light chuckle, gently patting Asuna's back as he answered, "The capabilities of a person should not determine how they are treated. There is nothing even remotely terrifying about such an adorable little creature...please remember that."As children could be extremely perceptive of how others viewed them, Vahn couldn't help but feel a little worried about Asuna's future. She had an outgoing personality, but, as a result of her peerless capabilities, others were bound to feel suppressed by her existence. He knew this quite well, as, due to his own capabilities, it was almost impossible for him to have any close male friends. The best he could hope for was a master-protege relationship, as, even if he went to a place like Naruto or One Piece, it would be impossible for him to go at the pace of the main characters he once admired...Though it would undoubtedly be enjoyable to just go with the flow, Vahn's character and mentality made it impossible for him to ignore wrongdoings taking place right in front of him. He would not be able to ignore the actions of the Celestial Dragons, and, if he went to a place like Naruto, there was even a chance he would outright 'adopt' the titular main character. He would then spend years bringing reform to the ninja world, removing elements like Danzo and Orochimaru long before they reached the pinnacle of their power. This would change the story on a fundamental level, and, while not exactly a 'bad' thing, Vahn's thoughts on the Records had changed quite a bit since his journey began...When he first set out in the Western Forest nearly 260 years prior, Vahn had aspirations of visiting countless Records. He had always dreamed of being a character within the various stories he had read, and, though it was a little selfish, he wanted to use his knowledge of said stories to improve upon the plot. He wanted to save various characters, grow stronger, and, as he didn't understand the complexities of an actual relationship, there were even a number of female characters he had been crushing on. He even thought about using his knowledge to make them like him, ignoring the fact he would essentially be grooming them by directly manipulating their circumstances and taking advantage of their vulnerabilities.Now that he had matured a bit, Vahn knew it was actually very selfish of him to enter into a Record. As a result, he had an obligation to either make the world a better place or empower those with the ability to do so. His power was quickly reaching a point where he was more involved with the forces keeping the Record together than the characters involved in the actual plot. Though this could be circumvented by entering a version of the Record with a higher tier, this would either fundamentally change the plot and its characters, or, far more likely, result in a world where the original plot took place in just one small part of a much larger multiverse.After having ample time to prepare for the Akamatsuverse, Vahn had started to realize that it would become progressively harder to increase his Soul Tier if he knew what to expect from a Record. He needed to get out of his comfort zone, and, though it would undoubtedly cause him to experience a few hardships, he needed to contend against unknown danger rather than arbitrarily plan around variables he was already aware of.Though it was currently a matter for the far future, Vahn had already decided that his next Record would be a variable world ranging between Tiers 1-6. Sis had informed him of the impossibility of overcoming a Tier 7 entity, as they could literally 'imagine' your existence away, so, in order to reach Tier 7 himself, he would need to overcome beings at the peak of Tier 6. This would require those at Tier 6 to be 'evil' entities, so, rather than enter a more structured world, he would have to enter one where even a normal person could conceivably rise to the pinnacle.The downside to entering a Record where everyone had the potential of reaching the peak was that they were usually founded on a hierarchal structure. Though there would be 'infinite' exceptions to this rule, these would typically be governed by 'good' T6 entities, so, for his purposes, Vahn needed to choose a Record that was 'fundamentally' flawed. This virtually guaranteed the existence of a strength-based social hierarchy, and, as was often the case in such scenarios, it meant there would be a considerable number of people suffering from tyranny and corruption.Vahn knew he grew the fastest when there were powerful enemies using their power to suppress others. Thus, if he entered a Record where even the Gods proactively suppressed people, his growth would be truly monstrous. He would fight his way all the way to the top of the Record, and, though it would be impossible to completely eliminate 'evil', reaching T7 should allow him to, quite literally, alter the Laws of the omniverse. He could create a system that rewarded the virtuous more than the wicked, and, though this was bound to have problems of its own, he would have a literal eternity to address them...---Seeing Vahn fall into one of his characteristic ruminations, Eva couldn't help but roll her eyes before looking between Arika and Fenrir. She didn't bother to comment on Vahn's remark about how she should treat Asuna, as, even without him telling her, she had no intention of treating the young girl poorly. Rather, she was quite fond of the twin-tailed 'monster', and, though there were times when she was annoyed by Asuna's behavior, she generally just used it as an opportunity to tease Vahn.Noticing Eva's gaze, Arika offered an uncharacteristically wry smile before crossing her arms and lightly shrugging. They were both aware of the fact that Vahn had ambitions far beyond their world, but, at least for the time being, he couldn't tell them about it. Despite this, they placed a great deal of trust in him, as, even without an explanation, they knew he would always do his best to make the world a better place and help as many people as possible. This was a sentiment they all shared, so, even if Vahn could be a bit awkward at times, neither of the golden-haired beauties faulted him for it...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Touching intensifies...','Asuna would make a great Uchiha...','Vahn about to show some cultivators the breadth of the Heavens...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After more than an hour of awkward greetings, Vahn was finally guided to the base of Yggdrillia by all seven of the High Elves that governed Elfenhof. They weren't necessarily the most senior of their species, but, as even the weakest among them was contracted to a High Elemental Spirit, they were, by a wide margin, the most powerful members of their race.Though it was possible for more to exist, most High Elves were recognized as such after successfully contracting a High Spirit. Since it was almost impossible for two High Elemental Spirits of the same Element to occupy the same region, the maximum number of High Elves that existed within a given territory rarely exceeded nine. As for why there were only seven, this was due to the fact that two of the High Spirits that were traditionally passed down through successive generations had been killed during the previous war. It was very difficult to cultivate a new High Spirit, and, with only older Elves ever leaving Elfenhof, it could take several hundred years to nourish an Intermediate Spirit into their far-more-powerful High variant...After guiding Vahn's party to the base of the massive 343m tall tree that represented the true body of Yggdrillia, the leader of the procession, a High Elf named Ruvyn, turned to the group and politely inclined his head before saying, "Welcome to our most sacred grounds, the base of the World Tree's descendent, our Ancestral Mother, Asha Yggdrillia..."Though there was a lot more he wanted to say, Ruvyn's words gradually trailed off when a rather petite figure, standing only 154cm tall, dropped right in front of Vahn. It was a seemingly naked woman with healthy brown skin, long brown hair, pale-blue eyes, and pointed ears. What stood out the most, however, were the glowing runes that covered much of her body. They didn't appear to have much meaning at first glance, but, with his ability to interpret the structure and meaning of anything that could be converted into language, Vahn instantly knew the woman looking up at him with a mixture of incredulity and curiosity was none other than Yggdrillia herself...With upturned eyes and slightly raised brows, Yggdrillia stared directly into Vahn's eyes for several seconds before slowly extending her rune-covered hand to touch his face. This was rather awkward, but, knowing the traditions of the Elves, Vahn managed to avoid smiling wryly as her surprisingly warm hand caressed his cheek. He couldn't completely conceal his thoughts, however, so, almost immediately after she made contact, Yggdrillia showed an apologetic expression as she withdrew her hand and muttered, "I'm sorry...I..."Shaking his head, Vahn earned a pointed look from Eva, Arika, and even Asuna as he caught the demure young woman's wrist. This amount of contact was more than enough to establish a stable connection, but, following the initial flow of events, he returned her hand to his cheek and allowed her to peer into his mind. Things would go a lot smoother once she understood his intentions, and, as time was rather limited, he wanted to use the most direct means to achieve his goal.Rather than appear startled, Yggdrillia showed more anxiousness than anything else in response to Vahn grabbing her wrist. She could sense a phenomenal aura lingering within his body, and, though it seemed impossible, she couldn't shake the impression that his energy was even purer than the original Yggdrasil she was modeled after. It had an almost irresistible pull to it, and, after her hand came into contact with his face, Yggdrillia felt as though her mind had been broadened to concepts far beyond the original scope of her abilities...Since there was a fair chance Yggdrillia and her children would be accompanying him even after he departed the Record, Vahn decided to let her see and experience far more than what he had shown the rest of the Elves. He didn't reveal anything he shouldn't, but, at the very least, he implanted the methods to greatly improve the strength of the Elves in her mind. Even if he didn't take them with him, the methods he had provided would allow future generations of Elves to greatly exceed the average strength of their contemporaries...Without realizing it, Yggdrillia had placed her remaining hand over Vahn's heart, her eyes seeming to stare off into eternity as vital energy leaked from her body. This caused various different types of flora to spontaneously erupt into existence, but, with Vahn regulating most of it back into the base of the mighty tree, nothing too drastic had occurred by the time he peeled Yggdrillia's hands away from him.Feeling her connection 'severed', a rather pitiable expression spread across Yggdrillia's face as she turned her pale blue eyes up at Vahn. Though she didn't say anything, it was clear that she wanted to continue touching him. Rather, had he not taken the necessary measures to seal off his draconic aura, there was a fair chance she would want to do a lot more than just touch his face...Offering an apologetic smile, Vahn brought Yggdrillia's hands together before releasing them as he said, "Though I find your form of communication novel and straightforward, there are many things I cannot afford to reveal. Be content with what I have provided..."Following his words, Vahn ruffled Yggrillia's dark brown hair. It was incredibly smooth to the touch, and, as was often the case when it came to such beings, it cascaded down to her ankles. This greatly enhanced her charm, and, if he wasn't already involved with so many women, Vahn had the distinct impression she would have smitten him with her cute and vulnerable appearance. Everything about her screamed, 'please help me', and, if not for the vast ocean of energy surging through her body, it would be easy to mistake her as a completely helpless maiden...Though he wasn't exactly complaining, far from it, Vahn had a number of draconic women in his harem. Even Fenrir had reawakened a mysterious draconic bloodline, so, if at all possible, he wanted to avoid adding too many from the outside. Theo was already a ticking time bomb, and, though Eva had been opening up to the idea of him having multiple lovers, he didn't want to arbitrarily increase the number by adding every powerful and exotic female he met into the mix...With this in mind, Vahn resisted his almost instinctual urge to tease the pouting Yggdrillia. Instead, he gently caressed her head, skipping all other formalities by asking, "So, what is your decision? The war between Megalomesembria and Hellas draws nearer with each passing day. Moving everyone is a simple matter, but, if you want to transplant the entire forest, it will take a few days."Recalling the expansive paradise Vahn had created for them, including images of what seemed to be an actual World Tree, Yggdrillia didn't have to think about her decision. She had virtually given up all hope that her children would be able to avoid destruction, yet, just when things had started to turn grim, Vahn showed up out of thin air. There was still a chance he was trying to deceive them, but, believing it was impossible for someone with malicious intentions to have such a pure aura, she readily chose to believe in him.The only thing Yggdrillia was confused about was 'why' Vahn had chosen to help them. Thus, before agreeing to move the entire population of Elfenhof, she asked, "Why do you want from us? There is nothing we can give someone with so much to give others..."Shaking his head, Vahn adopted the sincerest smile he could manage as he said, "The only thing I want from you and your people is for you to be happy. What you have been forced to experience simply isn't right. Since the world has failed you, I will create a world where you can live without the fear of being hunted down for the sake of profit and politics. If you want to repay me, work hard to prevent Elves from following in the same path as the other races. I will be sending other victims to reside in that world, so, when the time comes, I hope your people will be able to guide them to live a better life than the one that had been decided for them here..."Though she had doubts about other races cohabitating with Elves, Yggdrillia didn't think it would be a problem so long as Vahn continued to watch over them. At the very least, she could groom a few powerful children to become the protectors and guardians of the Elven people so that a repeat incident will never occur. She would never allow her children to suffer again, so, while she would do her best to adhere to Vahn's request, her foremost priority would always be the Elven people.After forming her resolution, Yggdrillia gave an understanding nod before adopting a demure smile as she said, "My children have always pursued peace and coexistence. So long as they are willing to peacefully cohabitate with us, we will never be the first to draw blood. I will treat all the children of your Realm as my own...so long as they never forget the reason why they were allowed there in the first place..."Sensing the resentment contained within Yggdrillia's words, Vahn couldn't help but release a small sigh. He couldn't actually blame her for harboring a bit of negativity towards the people that had persecuted her children for thousands of years. Mothers could be extremely overprotective, and, if he had been forced into a similar situation, Vahn knew he would have gone on a rampage if his own children had suffered a similar fate. Thus, rather than offer words of reproach to try and 'correct' her point of view, he expressed understanding as he said, "I will never allow what you are worried about to happen."Since she could sense his intentions through the palm of his hand, Yggdrillia knew Vahn wasn't just offering false promises. He might not be able to truly guarantee nothing would happen, but, for the time being, he was serious about preventing a repeat of the same tragedy. This was more than she could have ever hoped for just hours prior, so, in a heart-wrenchingly adorable manner, Yggdrillia demurely peered up at Vahn as she said, "Thank you...I choose to believe in your words. Please, call me Asha from now on. You will be the Guardian God of the Elven people from now on...though you seem to have some inhibitions towards me, it would put my heart at ease if you permitted me to serve you..."Hearing a familiar ping in his mind, Vahn did his best to maintain a sincere smile as he said, "Very well. Henceforth, you will bear the title of Dragon Priestess. It might be redundant considering you are an Ancient Dragon but that is the title traditionally bequeathed to my most fervent believers..."Though it was indeed a little redundant, Asha didn't mind being labeled as Vahn's Dragon Priestess. It was a common term that had existed since the Age of the Gods, and, though she had abandoned the practice a few hundred years ago, there had been a time when the title of Dragon Priestess had been passed down just like the title of High Elves. They had always been the spiritual leader of the Elven people, and, much like how Theo was able to summon Vrixho, her Priestess had been able to freely manifest both her physical form and power...With a bit of hope visible in her pale blue eyes, Asha nervously combed through her bangs as she asked, "Does that mean you will be marking me...?"Understanding what Asha was talking about, Vahn lightly chuckled before nodding his head and saying, "Sure. After we transplant your True Body into the World Tree, I will place my mark upon your back. For now, it is more important for us to gather your people and transport them into the world I have prepared. I don't doubt there are many eyes and ears keeping tabs on Elfenhof, so, before anyone can react to what we are doing, I want to complete transferring everyone over."Though she felt a surprising amount of disappointment, Asha decided to abide by Vahn's words. Her people were far more important than the fulfillment of her desires, so, rather than insist he inscribe his mark upon her, she was willing to wait. She wasn't quite sure what compelled her to desire his mark so badly, but, the longer she spent around him, the more Asha felt like it was her place to remain at Vahn's side...Doing her best to prevent a pout from showing on her face, Asha nodded her head in agreement before turning to Ruvyn, wordlessly extending her hand. He understood her intentions perfectly, so, with as much reverence as he could muster, Ruvyn approached Asha and allowed her to place her hand upon his face. Immediately after that, he shared what he had learned with everyone else, and, like a ripple spreading through a pond, each of the Elves began touching each other to convey the intentions of both their Ancestral Mother and Guardian God...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Other races: Spend hundreds of years to produce a High Spirit. Vahn: Exist for a few years, casually producing several...','Asha be like, "Well hello there..."','Vahn's has a lot of 'luck' when it comes to Dragon xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though they had arrived on a mission of peace, Vahn had Arika moor the Custos Rosea a few kilometers outside the Forest of Penance. It wouldn't take much effort for him to charge into the heart of Elven territory, but, as a gesture of goodwill, he decided to approach from the front. He also wanted to inspect the infamous forest personally, as, depending on the circumstances, there was a fair chance he would be burning it down in the near future.Vahn could understand the reasoning behind sealing people into trees, but, as it seemed a little excessive to imprison people for more than fifteen times their average lifespan, he wouldn't just ignore them. They might have wronged many people throughout their life, but, with reincarnation being a very real thing, it was always 'fairer' for them to simply return to the cycle anew. The weight of their Karma would determine the quality of their next life, so, rather than force them to atone in the present, allowing them to reincarnate was the juster outcome.With this thought in mind, Vahn slowly roamed through the gloomy, fog-filled, Forest of Penance with Eva, Arika, Asuna, and Fenrir in tow. The forest was filled with a depressive aura that lingered in the surroundings like the atmosphere of a funeral wake. It was incredibly eerie, and, with several unique magical barriers present, most trespassers would experience a host of nightmarish illusions while passing through.Fortunately, even without Vahn taking action, Asuna's ability to negate magic caused a bubble just under five meters in diameter to form around her. Though it was generally impossible to use magic within the boundary of this field, it allowed them to pass through the forest with impunity. Even an unexpected attack would have little effect on them, as, unless it was purely physical, it would never be able to penetrate the wispy, invisible, field.The only weaknesses of Asuna's magic cancelation was that it had no effect on internal magic, ki, and illusions that directly affected reality. This meant someone like Merlin would be able to easily deal with Asuna, and, though your barriers wouldn't work, using physical attacks against her were highly effective. Though this assumed you had some way to deal with her State of Nothingness, a truly skilled individual would be able to work around the gaps in Asuna's defense.Though she had gotten the better of him in a few situations, largely thanks to her powerful fate, Vahn served as a perpetual reminder that you could never underestimate your foes. Higher forms of energy could often ignore even Innates, and, if your comprehension of the Laws was higher than your opponent, even 'indestructible' foes could be cut. He often caught Asuna by surprise when he used magic within her field of cancelation, so, rather than become dependent on the skill, she had learned to treat it as an auxiliary ability.The most amazing thing about Innates was their ability to adapt and evolve with their user. They had unlimited potential for growth, but, if you became dependent on them, you were bound to experience some suffering. Rather, the best way to develop an Innate was simply to use it while making an earnest attempt to grow stronger. Trying to develop the Innate directly actually limited its growth, as, much like the description stated, they were impossible to identify. Their penultimate form and function were based on the capabilities and character of their user, so, even when he had made an earnest effort to try and develop them, Vahn's progress had been limited until he made a concerted effort to improve himself, rather than the Innate...---While walking through the Forest of Penance, Vahn would periodically place his hand upon the twisted trunk of a dead-looking tree. It was said that the color and vitality of the tree was based on the nature of the person it was grown from, so, while many looked relatively normal, some were as twisted and blackened as could be imagined.Though he had experienced it with several prior trees, Vahn felt a little perturbed by the lukewarm feeling transmitted through his palm whenever he placed his hand against a tree. It was similar to touching the driest and most craggy skin imaginable, and, after spreading his senses throughout the tree, Vahn could detect a phenomenal amount of negative energy as the twisted and atrophied nerves continuously pulsated in agonizing pain. Near the very center of the tree, there were even modified organs and the remnant of a skeletal system that had been stretched and twisted into a form that guaranteed the greatest amount of suffering.Even if it was the result of their own actions, Vahn couldn't help but sigh every time he investigated one of the blackened trees. Some were hundreds of years old, but, due to the nature of the 'curse', they were unable to adapt to the pain. Even if they truly wanted to repent, they were not given the option. Instead, they were forced to live on for centuries, their bodies wracked in pain without any hope for relief. Some, perhaps the perpetrators of heinous crimes, had even been vandalized, and, though it was different than normal blood, a brackish-red liquid slowly oozed from scars that had been left behind by hatchets, swords, daggers, and arrows...While shaking his head in mild exasperation, Vahn sent a powerful ripple of Source Energy through the tree he was investigating. This resulted in a spontaneous collapse of the nervous system, and, though it would be unimaginably painful, the process was so quick that they wouldn't even have the time to process it before they were dead.After destroying the eleventh tree, Vahn turned to look back at Arika and Asuna, his expression solemn and serious as he stated, "Punishments like these are unjust. No matter how heinous their crime, forcing people to suffer is never justified. I am not without flaws in this regard, but, if at all possible, I would like you to avoid repeating my mistakes. If you do not provide people a means to repent, you are simply being cruel, self-righteous, and vindictive..."Hearing Vahn's words, both Arika and Asuna nodded their heads in understanding. They were well aware of the mistakes Vahn had made, as, rather than try to cover them up, he was always open and forthright about them. He had taught them that mistakes weren't something you should be ashamed of. Rather, it was important to openly acknowledge the mistake, as, the harder you tried to conceal it, the more it would haunt your future decisions.Seeing both girls nod, Vahn's mood improved marginally. Before moving on, however, he offered a silent prayer for the departed, as, despite the misdeeds of the person during their lifetime, the Soul was without sin. Event he most vile criminal could be reborn as a saint under the right conditions, so, rather than pray for the deceased, Vahn offered a prayer for the new life that would result from a Soul's departure...---Perhaps as a result of Asuna's magic cancellation, it took more than two hours for the first group of Elves to encounter Vahn's group. Even then, they were genuinely shocked by the group's arrival, to the point the leader of the group stared slack-jawed at them for several seconds before nocking an arrow and shouting, "You are trespassing upon protected grounds! Set aside your weapons or we will be forced to fire upon you!"In response to the androgenous man's shout, the four Elves accompanying him all nocked arrows of their own. Each had blonde hair and deep green eyes, and, unless you looked closely, it was very difficult to determine their actual gender. The only tell-tale sign was that the females had rounder ears, as, with very few exceptions, even the bustier Elves within the Akamatsuverse rarely exceeded a B-Cup. As for the males, they never grew facial hair, and, unless they achieved the status of High Elf, they appeared just as fair and feminine as the females of their species...Fortunately, Vahn could even discern the differences between identical twins without any difficulty, so, when it came to determining gender, he had no trouble at all. Thus, even though all five of the Elves look exceptionally similar to each other, he could discern that three were male and two were female at a glance. This wasn't particularly important, as there was virtually no separation between genders in Elven society, but it made things a little easier when conversing.Rather than comply with the man's demands, Vahn remained calm and casual, a gentle smile on his face as he said, "If we arrived with malicious intentions, the Elementals would have informed you of our arrival. Please, lower your weapons and hear our reason before jumping to conclusions..."Though he was speaking softly, Vahn's words carried a considerable amount of weight, as, during the brief period when he was speaking, hundreds of nascent Elementals readily prepared to defend him. These weren't visible to most Elves, but, as one of the more sensitive races, every member of the patrol party was able to sense their presence. They could sense the natural aura around Vahn, and, though they instinctually refused to believe it, they couldn't shake the feeling his affinity was even greater than their Ancestral Mother's...After several tense moments, the supposed leader of the group slowly lowered his bow, but, even after pointing it toward the ground, he kept the arrow nocked. There were no limits to the number of tricks humanity could come up with in the pursuit of their ambitions, so, even if his instincts told him Vahn could be trusted, his wisdom and experience prevented him from lowering his guard.Instead of reproaching the man for his behavior, Vahn gave an approving nod as he, very slowly, raised his hand. His gesture caused the five to tense up at first, but, after another long period of silence, they seemed to understand his intentions. They were a species that communicated more with body language and physical contact rather than speaking, so, seeing Vahn's relaxed posture and outstretched hand, it didn't take a leap in logic to realize what he was trying to say...As the natural aura around Vahn was only growing stronger with the passage of time, the leader of the Elven patrol ultimately nodded toward his companions before quivering his arrow and slinging his ornate wooden bow. Then, exhibiting the meticulousness and grace associated with his race, he trepidatiously approached the group, his footsteps leaving absolutely no traces upon the grass and soil below...Without hurrying the process, Vahn just continued to smile disarmingly with his hand outstretched. It didn't matter if it took ten minutes or ten hours, as, from the moment the man touched his palm, everything would become clear. He was the furthest thing from an enemy they could imagine, and, depending on the circumstances, he would become the greatest benefactor of the Elven people.Unaware of the significance of his action, the leader of the patrol group gingerly placed the tips of his fingers against Vahn's. Immediately thereafter, a phenomenal amount of information began to enter into his mind. This not only conveyed Vahn's intentions in Elfenhof, but, most importantly, it showed the paradise he had prepared for them in a short four years. Better still was the fact that it was all shown from the perspective of Vahn, so, in the mind of the patrol leader, it was like viewing the world from the perspective of a God...Like someone that had placed their hand on a hot stove, the elven man retracted his hand with a start. This alerted his comrades, but, before they could misunderstand the situation, he gestured for them to stand down, exclaiming, "Lay down your arms! This man is not our enemy! Come, see what I have seen...!"Similar to a child that had just discovered something incredible, the man was eager to share what he had experienced with everyone else. He quickly approached his companions, and, though they showed a bit of trepidation at first, their eyes rounded when they made contact with the man. Even indirectly, the memories inherited from Vahn were unlike anything they had ever experienced, and, while it wasn't impossible to fabricate such things, the aura permeating through the surroundings now made a lot more sense.Finding the reactions of the Elves rather humorous, Vahn couldn't help but lightly chuckle as he pulled out a few rather large crystals. He had already conveyed his intention to the Spirits within the Diorama, so, with the exception of the Aspidochelone, he brought all of the evolved Elemental Spirits with him. This included the Lucky Cat received from Nyon Utu and the Nether Panther that had imprinted upon Eva, so, with the exception of an Intermediate Lightning Elemental Spirit, Vahn had the makings for his own entourage of Great Spirits.Though they were already convinced, seeing the myriad Spirits surrounding Vahn was enough to change the excitement visible in the Elves' countenance to reverence. They had already heard the rumors of the Sage Dragon Emperor, and, at several points over the last few months, the Council of High Elves had even considered sending out an envoy to make contact with him. The fact Vahn had arrived on his own volition made a deep impact on each of them, and, though they didn't have the tradition of bowing, all fives Elves lowered bowed respectfully towards the gently smiling man standing before them...Waving his hand, Vahn manipulated the wind elemental energy within his domain in order to have the group raise their heads. This surprised them quite a bit, but, before they could say anything, he preempted their response by saying, "I believe there are more pertinent matters to attend. I would like to meet with your Ancestral Mother. Please, lead the way..."As they were well aware of his intentions at this point, the leader of the patrol group didn't hesitate to nod his head, signaling to his comrades before saying, "It is an honor to escort the Sage Dragon Emperor and his companions."Following the man's words, the other Elves formed a protective formation around Vahn's group. It wasn't really necessary, but, as a courtesy, they wanted to properly escort the man that might very well save their race. They didn't know what they would have to exchange for his protection, but, after seeing the World Tree within his memories, they had exceptionally high hopes for the future...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Unnecessary Cruelty','Mistakes are the tools used to shape the future','One Touch Man...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1610: Intent