Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With the loss of nearly forty percent of the Senate, the destruction of various facilities, and the mass liberation of innumerable slaves, few were surprised when the Confederation began suing for peace with the Empire. The demonstration of the Sage Dragon Emperor's might made it clear to most that he was against the War, and, though he was currently 'playing nice', the actions he had taken within the Senate demonstrated he would hold those in power accountable rather than the soldiers on the frontline.After witnessing their contemporaries executed with a simple wave of the Sage Dragon Emperor's hand, the surviving Senators weren't in a hurry to paint a target on their backs. They immediately rescinded the bounty placed on both the Sage Dragon Emperor and the Scarlet-Eyed Wolf King. It was clear the two were closely affiliated, so, while there were several private bounties still in effect, the current political stance of the Confederation was in compliance with the Sage Dragon Emperor's demands.Though 'everyone' knew there was more going on behind the scenes, the sudden suing for peace came as a great relief to the nations nearest to the frontlines. It was always these smaller nations that suffered the most during a conflict, as, whenever either side was looking for a vantage point to attack from, they almost always cut through neighboring territories. They would also be ransacked for supplies during a prolonged engagement, and, though there were several accords intended to inhibit such behavior, many small towns and villages became 'playgrounds' for war-weary soldiers looking to relieve some stress.With the Confederation suing for peace so soon after the war began, the common people felt as if a great blessing had descended upon them. As for the various unscrupulous merchants, arms dealers, nationalists, and soldiers on both sides, they couldn't help but feel notably frustrated. This war had been an opportunity for them to either make a considerable profit or elevate their status, so, even if they had seen the Sage Dragon Emperor's might first-hand, there were still people who lamented even the mention of peace talks.Fortunately, at least for the common people often victimized during such conflicts, the leaders of both sides were very self-centered and egotistical. They wouldn't hesitate to send millions to their deaths, shouting nationalistic ideologies and inciting the people to take up arms in the defense of their nation, but, the moment their own lives were on the line, they were exceptionally quick to seek a compromise, emphasizing the value of restraint, virtue, and the need for peaceful coexistence...---Though the Empire had yet to reach a consensus, Arika took advantage of the opportunity created by Vahn to try and mediate between the two superpowers. As a result, she soon found herself in an ornate reception room, silently sipping away at tea whilst waiting for an audience with the Emperor of Hellas. Across from her, wearing attire that wasn't exactly proper for a Princess meeting a foreign dignitary, an ever-vibrant Theo could be seen sitting with her legs crossed, smiling cheekily as she said, "I'm guessing Eva already departed for Mundus Vetus. Asuna must be driving Vahn crazy right now~."Hearing Theo's reminder, Arika couldn't help releasing a small sigh before lightly shaking her head and saying, "That girl is better at handling Vahn than any of us...I just hope she doesn't take things too far..."Amused by Arika's concerns, Theo snickered in her characteristic manner before saying, "Asuna is a good kid. She might be a little precocious, but I can't really condemn her. I have to train my body at least six hours a day just to avoid breaking things. You've also been struggling, right?"Though her expression didn't change much, a rosy hue spread through Arika's face as she averted her eyes and simply intoned, "Nn..."Seeing her kindred sister's reaction, Theo's smile became even more prominent. Though Arika was probably less affected than she and Eva were, Theo knew it couldn't be easy for her. She struggled when it came to being honest with herself, so, without a bit of coaxing, Arika likely had no way to deal with her urges. Theo could even imagine her just curling up in bed, tightly hugging a pillow for a few hours, constantly thinking about taking action but unable to due to her feelings of shame and embarrassment...As that thought crossed her mind, Theo considered giving her best friend a helping hand, a sadistic smile spreading across her face as a result. A desire to dominate everything had been seeded inside of her ever since she awakened as a 'Dragon', and, for reasons she assumed to be related to the Tri-Force of Wisdom contained within Arika's body, Theo felt an increasing urge to push her down. Not to take advantage of her, but to strengthen the bonds she had with her beloved big sister...Feeling a strange sense of panic welling up inside of her, Arika turned her attention back to Theo, a questioning look visible in her eyes. At the same time, she felt a sensation similar to burning in her left hand, and, though it wasn't visible to other people, both she and Theo could see a glimmering golden triangle glowing through her glove. This caused a cool feeling to wash over her mind, and, as if everything had suddenly become clear, Arika's eyes widened slightly as she plainly stated, "I'll have to refuse your offer...unless Vahn is with us, I'm not comfortable doing such things..."Arika's calm yet demure tone did little to address Theo's urge to push her down, but, even if the compulsion was several times stronger, she would never force someone against their will. Two of the most important lessons her Master had taught her was about consent and trust. You needed both if you wanted to maintain a healthy relationship, so, while the smile on her face didn't fade, Theo nodded her head in understanding before teasingly commenting, "I'll keep that in mind the next time we're all together, shishishi~."Understanding Theo's meaning, the ruddy glow on Arika's face became even more prominent, but, rather than refuse, she responded with a small nod. She was actually a little interested in the things that Theo and Vahn did together, so, while she didn't really have the courage to participate, part of her had always wanted to watch...Starling both girls, though neither really showed it, a loud knocking could be heard from the ornate metal door that represented the room's primary entrance. In response, Theo was the first to alight from her seat, her movements swift and sure as she appeared next to the door in an instant before using her tail to practically force it open and ask, "Has my Father called for us?"Surprised by how quickly the door had opened, the trio of Maids on the other side couldn't help but take a few steps back. One even fell down, her skirt magically hiking up more than it ought to as she landed hard on her butt, her lips parting on instinct to attempt an apology.Amused by the trio's response, a playful glimmer reflected across Theo's eyes as she bypassed the first two Maids to help the one who had fallen. This caused the Maid in question to feel incredibly flustered, but, before she could say anything, a crimson flush appeared on her face when she heard the Princess state, "Black suits you..." while winking.Though it didn't immediately hit her, the Maid quickly realized what the Princess was talking about when she mentioned the word 'black'. This caused illusory steam to rise from her head, and, though her education trained her to always maintain her bearing and behave respectfully towards members of the Nobility, she couldn't help but lower her head while gripping the front of her skirt.Seeing the Maid's reaction, Theo's smile became wide enough to display her prominent canines. A very strong desire to tease the Maid began to well up inside of her, but, having already dedicated herself to her Master, she managed to restrain the urge. She could make an exception for Arika, as she was another one of her Master's women, but, when it came to others, Theo needed to temper herself. She was unwilling to betray her Master's trust, and, even if it was just 'playing around', she knew it would be inappropriate for her to do such things without his permission.Nodding in approval of her own thoughts, Theo lightly pat the Maid's shoulder a few times before turning to face the leader and stating, "You never answered me."Hearing the Princess' remark, the senior Maid showed an expression of surprise before immediately lowering her head and answering, "Forgive me, Princess Theodora. To answer the Princess' question, yes, His Imperial Majesty is ready to receive Her Highness, Princess Arika Anarchia Entheofushia."Though she already expected such a response, Theo nodded her head a few times before looking toward Arika and saying, "Well, you heard her. Let's get this over with so I can show you around the Capital. There are a ton of things I want your advice on and I know a few interesting places we can visit to have a bit of fun~!"Hearing how their Princess was addressing a Princess of Vespertatia, the trio of Maids and a few nearby Imperial Guardsmen all began to sweat. They had heard the rumors stating that Theo and Arika had become friends during their time in Ariadne, but, as the Ostian Royal Family had always been neutral, it was very strange to hear their Princess speak so casually. After all, the matter they were about to discuss with the Emperor was directly related to the war, not something you just 'got over with' before going off to play.Ignoring the looks from her surroundings, Theo continued to smile radiantly as she exacerbated the matter by grabbing Arika's hand and pulling her along. This was enough to cause even Arika to feel slightly troubled, but, rather than pull her arm free, she just smiled politely towards the trio of Maids as Theo 'guided' her to the Throne Room...---With everything that had been happening recently, Michael had been experiencing hypertension-induced migraines. As a result, he had dismissed nearly the entire Court before removing his crown and asking a very mature-looking woman with a low-cut gown to massage his temples. This earned him a few envious looks from the remaining members of the Court, but, with the exception of Jack, none were bold enough to say anything. As for the man in question, he had left the Capital in order to complete a secret mission, so, with the Emperor cracking down on corruption as of late, nobody was willing to speak out...Just as Michael was thinking about asking the buxom woman to hug his face, a method that greatly aided in relaxing his mind, a thunderous sound echoed through the chamber like an explosion. This startled most of the people present, but, having grown accustomed to such surprises, as they were one of the causes for his migraines, Emperor Michael just casually waved aside the bronze-skinned servant before donning his crown and musing, "Lively as ever..."Though he had spoken very quietly, Theo's enhanced hearing was able to pick up on her Father's words with considerable ease. Her smile became even more prominent, and, as there were fewer and fewer people bold enough to call her out on not behaving like a Princess, her Father included, Theo no longer bothered with trivialities such as decorum and obeisance. She had always preferred being more direct, and, though she could play the political game well, there was simply no need to when you had uncontested might and popularity.The citizens of the Hellas Empire already considered Theo a 'Princess of the People', so, even if she didn't behave like a Noble, none of them would judge her. As for the rest of the Nobility, she didn't really care about their opinion, as, unless they were willing to commit themselves to the Empire, she had no need for the majority of them. Those that sincerely supported the Empire would never care about trying to 'correct' her behavior, so, by acting out and controlling the pace, Theo could expose potential dissidents by simply annoying them until they exposed themselves.With that in mind, Theo snickered towards a number of Nobles present, earning various reactions as she guided Arika, now less forcibly, towards her Father. Then, without bothering to bow or lower her head, she displayed her most radiant smile as she said, "Hey there, Papa. I wanted to introduce you to one of my friends, shishishishi~"(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'I have always been against such barbaric conflicts...' -Former War Advocate and Arms Dealer','Black suits most people (UwU)...','Theo has really grown...kinda...maybe...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With Xuanwu and Qinglong feeding him information, Vahn was aware of most major events taking place within the Confederation and the Empire. As a result, he didn't really have to leave the island at all, so, while waiting for the arrival of Ala Rubra and the return of Eva, he spent his days helping Asuna train, meditating, relaxing, and testing the capabilities of the Little Garden.Vahn had been aware of the Law of Progression ever since his time in the Nasuverse, but, seeing it in action was, simply put, awe-inspiring. He had caught various types of fish outside, placing them in the waters surrounding the central island to observe their growth. This wasn't an exaggeration, as, due to the abundance of vital energy and the presence of Progression Laws, it was possible to see the growth of some specimens with the naked eye.Though the time dilation was one of the major perks of the Little Garden, that was only the tip of the iceberg when it came to its true power. It greatly increased the rate at which flora and fauna developed, and, though it wasn't really something he could arbitrarily test, Vahn assumed it had a similar effect on people.With the outer edges of the Little Garden having a time dilation of 700x, Vahn tested his theory by creating a small habitat for Cicadas. They were a metamorphic species that, depending on various environmental conditions, developed into adults between fifteen and twenty years. Since this time was spent a nymph, generally requiring between four and five molts to reach maturity, they were a suitable species to conduct experiments with, as, during their nymph period, they generally spent all their time burrowed in the ground.Since animals within the Little Garden didn't need to eat and couldn't die from old age, Vahn spent a fair amount of time simply documenting the growth of various species. To his surprise, the cicada nymphs emerged from the ground after only seventeen months. This implied they developed at a rate ten times faster than normal, which, on top of the effect of 700x time dilation, approximated a 7000x increase in the rate of growth.After observing the adult cicadas in great detail, Vahn determined that they were far more resilient than other members of the same species. Not only that, but, after mating and laying eggs, they did not die as their evolutionary path dictated. Instead, they spent several days idling about, seemingly without a purpose. As for the new eggs, they were between ten and twenty percent larger than the first batch, and, among them, there were several with odd colorations.Surprising Vahn even further, the next generation of Cicadas only took fifteen months to reach their adult state. Among these, there were a number of 'giant' Cicada, but, far more notably, Vahn found more than a dozen derivative species. There was even a kind that had evolved to possess no wings, and, despite having no need to eat, it waited until the other Cicadas began laying their eggs before digging them up and using a stinger of sorts to implant its own eggs within the developing larvae...Unsurprisingly, the third generation of Cicadas was completely dominated by the terrestrial version, as, prior to their adult phase, the other types were also restricted to the ground. This allowed them to quickly eliminate the competition before resorting to cannibalism and territorial disputes. It was a rather disheartening development, but, perhaps as a result of Da Vinci's influence, Vahn continued to observe their progress into the fourth generation before burning them all when the larvae began to develop jaws in order to cannibalize each other.Fortunately, despite the experiments taking around fifty-nine months, the actual passage of time, at least outside, was less than three days. The only time Vahn had to check on them was when one of the World Trees sent him what amounted to a telepathic message, as, even without a name, each of the majestic trees had a nascent Ego. They had formed a network with all of their roots intertwining, so, whenever something 'peculiar' happened within the Little Garden, they would not hesitate to let him know.Though he would periodically venture into the outer rings, most of Vahn's time within the Little Garden was spent beneath the canopy of the largest World Tree, the one located on the central island. It was 'technically' the youngest of the World Trees, but, due to the others feeding it their vitality, it easily towered over those furthest from the center.Despite being the centermost region of the Little Garden, the energy concentration on the central island was many times greater than normal. This made it an exceptionally comfortable place to be, and, whenever he wasn't busy doing other things, Vahn generally kept a version of himself meditating on the inside of the Little Garden. This greatly increased the replenishment of his internal energy, and, so long as he didn't go overboard, it even offset the consumption of his mental and spiritual energies.Accompanying Vahn in his meditation, Fenrir had started to spend a considerable amount of time in the Little Garden. It wasn't as productive for her cultivation of Yin, Ice, and Darkness Elemental Laws, but, after taking a single deep breath of the energy inside the Little Garden, Fenrir firmly stated she would be training inside from now on. She stated that she could feel herself growing strong just by being inside, so, whenever she wasn't busy doing something 'outside', Fenrir spent most of her time just meditating or napping alongside the version of himself Vahn kept within the Little Garden.With Fenrir setting a precedent, it wasn't long before Medusa insisted that she also move inside the Little Garden. It was even safer than the Garden of Avalon, and, though Vahn was worried about the growth of Stheno and Euryale, she managed to convince him such concerns were pointless. Stheno was maturing extremely quickly, steadily closing the distance with her own mother, so, rather than worry about their physical development, she told him to be more concerned about their education and mental development.Since the energy within the Little Garden was extremely pure and refreshing, it had a calming effect on the mind. The fact it was governed by the Laws of Progression also meant it a significantly easier to comprehend new subjects, and, so long as you put in a concerted effort, it even had an effect on the time taken to master a skill. These things made it the 'ideal' place to train and learn new things, so, after a bit of convincing, Vahn built a cozy cabin within the Little Garden to house Medusa and his daughters.Of course, with even Euryale residing in the Little Garden, Vahn inevitably had to allow Asuna inside. She was even better at arguing than Medusa, so, on the grounds that it was the best place to both keep her safe and advance her training, Vahn ended up expanding the residence to include both a bathhouse and a training dojo. From then onwards, it became the place where he conducted all of his training with Asuna, and, even though she only spent a few hours inside each day, it was 'very' easy to see the gardens influence on her development...Asuna had already been in the midst of puberty, so, while not unexpected, her growth had been accelerated exponentially. It was like she had hit a growth spurt, and, by the time three weeks had passed in the outside world, she went from looking like a girl in her first year of middle school to a young lady in the midst of adolescence. Most people would approximate her age to be around 14 or 15 years old, and, though she still gave off the distinct impression of someone very young, her physique had already developed to the point that she could rival Irisviel.Though she appeared very lean and athletic, Asuna's bust, waist, and hips had developed to 83cm, 57cm, and 84cm respectively. When Vahn had first created Iris' new body, her dimensions, starting with height, bust, waist, and hips were 158cm, 85cm, 56cm, and 84cm. Since Asuna had also grown to a height of 158cm, the only thing she had lost out in was the size of her bust, but, with less than a one-centimeter difference, it was easy to imagine her growing up to rival Eva's adult form at her current pace...Fortunately, though he could tell she was definitely up to something, Asuna seemed to shift her focus, dedicating herself wholly to her training within the Little Garden. When she was outside, she spent a fair amount of time learning to cook, clean, and perform various household chores without the use of magic. Most of these things were taught to her by the Chacha sisters, but, whenever she was learning how to cook, Asuna always dragged him into the kitchen to teach her. She seemed to really enjoy cooking, and, though there were a few moments when she would lightly bump into him with her shoulder, that was the limit of her antics within the kitchen.The only time Vahn had any trouble with Asuna over the three weeks was whenever she wanted to take a bath, watch his memories together, or sleep. She pretended to be unaware of the changes in her body, but, whenever they slept together, Asuna tended to nestle up as close as possible to him, her breasts pressing into his arm and side. During their baths, her breasts would 'accidentally' come into contact with his back whenever she was helping to wash his hair, and, most notably, whenever they relaxed together, her butt was almost always perfectly positioned in a dangerous area.Vahn was aware that Asuna was emulating the behaviors she had observed from Arika, Theo, and even Eva, except, rather than make the same mistakes, she skillfully measured how she behaved at every moment. This actually reminded him a lot of his past self in Danmachi, back when he relied on his View Affection to determine how he should behave, but, rather than rely on observing the color of his aura and the rise and fall of his Affection, Asuna closely observed everything from his facial twitches to the rhythm of his heart.The fact such a young girl had 'figured him out' filled Vahn with various concerns, but, considering how prodigious Asuna was in everything she did, it wasn't that unbelievable. She was moving closer to the level of a Grandmaster with each passing day, and, though she had footed around the issue when they discussed it, Vahn was pretty sure she had already awakened her Bankai. In fact, he even suspected she had awakened her Bankai the moment she first called the name of her Zanpakuto, as, from that moment onward, it had always been in an unsealed state.Asuna had even been able to 'see' a draconic version of Laev-tan that Vahn himself wasn't aware of until after she mentioned it. All of his communication with the rambunctious Zanpakuto Spirit was in his head or within the Realm so it was quite a surprise to learn that Asuna could 'literally' see her using some special sense. She had even assisted Arika, Theo, Eva, and even Fenrir in the awakening of their Spirits by describing the features of their Zanpakuto, so, even if she was surprisingly evasive about the matter, it wasn't difficult to imagine that Asuna had already awakened her Bankai.At her current rate of growth, Vahn suspected that Asuna might even eclipse his own strength after a few more years. Though this would only really apply in the Akamatsuverse, the fact she could ever rival him demonstrated just how ridiculous Asuna's potential as a natural-born Tier 5 was. She likely at the greatest potential in the entire Record, and, so long as her perception continued to influence the Fate around her, even the Gods wouldn't be able to prevent her meteoric rise to the pinnacle.All Vahn could really do at this point was continue guiding Asuna along the path she had decided for herself. Though this path invariably led directly to him, pretty much everyone around, including Eva, had been aware of the inevitability from the start. In fact, the moment he first met Asuna, it was like her Fate had latched onto him, and, unless he forcibly severed it, Vahn knew the world itself was supporting her pursuit. The most he could do was delay the inevitable, but, even without having to put his foot down, Asuna was very aware of her limits. She always retreated just when it seemed like his patience was wearing thin, and, over time, she was gradually chipping away at his defenses until there was absolutely nothing left...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The legendary Chimera Cicadas...','(O w O)...','Thanos could learn a lot from Asuna')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After consoling the crying woman for the better part of twenty minutes, Eva was sitting across from Karin as the latter explained what she had been up to over the last three-hundred-and-fifty years. It turns out, in preparation for their reunion, Karin had been working hard to gather magical artifacts, hard to acquire resources, and material wealth. She didn't care about such things, but, in the hopes of being 'useful' to Eva, the woman had pushed herself through various dangerous situations, even going so far as to participate in both world wars.Hearing Karin's recounting, Eva couldn't help but feel a pang of palpable guilt. She knew what kind of person Karin was, but, due to her own selfishness, she had 'neglected' the fiercely loyal woman in the hopes of preventing her from being hunted down alongside her. Karin didn't seem to blame her for this, but, with nearly two-hundred-years passing since the time of her liberation from the World Tree, Eva felt like she could have at least met the woman in secret...With regrets surging from the back of her mind, Eva fell into a ruminating daze, failing to hear the woman's repeated questions until Karin raised her voice, exclaiming, "Evangeline-sama!?"Snapping back to attention, Eva stared across the table separating her from the concerned woman on the other side. An apologetic smile made its way to her face, and, even though Karin didn't seem to blame her, she couldn't help but repeat, "I should have been there when you awoke...I'm sorry...I truly am..."Deeply troubled by her Master's words, Karin showed a conflicted expression on her face as this was the seventh time Eva had apologized to her. She had insisted numerous times that she didn't blame her for what had happened, but, regardless of what she said, it didn't seem to be getting through. This was a part of Eva that she both respected and was extremely troubled by, as, unlike Mages who misused their power for selfish gain, her Master had always forced herself to bear the burden of her past...Noticing the conflict visible in Karin's face, Eva did her best to put on a sincere smile by recalling the image of a certain idiot within her mind. This actually caught the black-haired woman by surprise, as, rather than appear forced, her smile was genuine as she said, "I'll try not to keep apologizing over and over...truth be told, a lot has changed over the last few years...I..."Feeling a strange sense of 'danger' well up inside her, Karin preceded Eva's words, her expression turning serious as she asked, "Did you...meet someone you love? Was it a man...?"Not expecting the sudden questions, Eva's mind stalled for a brief moment as she stared back at the black-haired maiden's serious gaze. She could feel a warmth gradually crawling up her neck and spreading into her cheeks, a reaction that didn't escape Karin's notice. As a result, she slapped the table between them hard enough to crack the glossy surface as she asked, "What is their name!? I want to meet them!"Recovering her sensibilities, Eva issued a sigh in response to Karin's words before answering, "His name is Vahn. If you keep track of what was going on in the Magical World, you would know him as the Sage Dragon Emperor. A lot of things happened, and, though it is currently a secret, we ended up getting engaged to each other after that idiot proposed to me like a thousand times..."Though she had started off serious, even Eva could detect the happiness in her tone, a small smile spreading across her lips as she called Vahn an idiot. As for Karin, she deflated in a rather comical manner, falling to her hands and knees in what some referred to as the 'orz' position. Her bangs cast a dark shadow over her eyes, and, though it was likely meant to be inaudible, Eva could hear her muttering, "Unforgiveable..." in a low tone.Since Karin was someone who had followed her for more than a hundred-and-fifty-years, combined with the fact she spent the last three-hundred-and-fifty working on her behalf, Eva could only smile wryly in response to the woman's reaction. She was the closest thing Eva had ever had to an actual companion, and, towards the end of their journey together, Karin had even wanted to form a Pactio with her. The woman was committed to following her into the vast stream of eternity, so, even if she had a few misgivings about the situation, Eva didn't have the heart to prevent the inevitable. After all, Karin had been suffering for more than two-thousand-years at this point...she deserved a chance at happiness...Suppressing a sigh, Eva rose from her position on the sofa, helping to raise Karin from the floor before surprising the woman with a sudden embrace. They were actually very close in height now, with Karin being a petite 152cm, so Eva was able to hold her with significant ease compared to the past. This was a stark contrast to the past, something that passed through both women's minds as they linked their arms around each other for several minutes in absolute silence.After helping Karin calm down an adequate amount, Eva began to lightly stroke her back, her voice taking on a guiding tone as she said, "I want you to return with me. Vahn is a good man, so, even if you hate him for a while, I'm certain you will come to adulate and respect him in the future. It might be difficult for you to believe right now, but I'm confident that he could even remove that curse on your body, given enough time..."Hearing her Master's words, Karin couldn't quite bring herself to believe them, but, as if anticipating this, Eva went on to explain, "He could even remove my curse with considerable ease. Though I will likely live on for thousands of years, I now walk the path of an immortal willingly. I'm sure you have noticed, but I'm even able to grow and mature...freed from the curse of having to inhabit the body of a child who can never fully experience the benefits of being an adult woman..."Though she didn't expressly state it, a ruddy hue spread across Eva's face that caused Karin to feel a small amount of indignation as she tentatively asked, "Did you...already do it...?"Since she had a disposition similar to Vahn, Eva was unable to stop a crimson glow from coloring her face and cheeks. There were very few people she could trust and open up to, so, whenever she was around certain people, it was a lot harder to control her thoughts and emotions. Fortunately, before Karin could misunderstand her reaction, Eva waved her hands in a dismissive manner as she quickly explained, "No, no, no, no! You are misunderstanding! Vahn and I are engaged, yes, but we decided to wait until our wedding to consummate our relationship...!"Though it wasn't enough to erase the burgeoning hatred rising within her heart, Karin breathed a sigh of relief when she heard Eva's words. Her opinion of Vahn also improved slightly, but, until she had determined his worth for herself, she was unable to fully accept the man her Master had come to love. Rather, part of her felt like something precious had been stolen from her, and, though she would never claim ownership over her Master, Karin's life had been given purpose by being allowed to follow and support her...Remembering her Master's previous words, a determination seeded itself in Karin's heart as she nodded her head and said, "That's good. If it turned out you had been taken advantage of by that man, I'm not sure what I would have done. Still, I'd like to meet him, and, since Evangeline-sama has already suggested it, I propose we make haste for Mundus Magicus. I want to see with my own two eyes what kind of man has corrupted...I mean, professed his love for my Master..."Issuing an awkward chuckle in response to Karin's words, Eva couldn't help but internally remark, ("Now I'm kind of interested in seeing how things develop...you have no idea what you're getting yourself into, Karin...")Shaking her head, both in response to Karin's words and her own thoughts, Eva went on to explain, "I have already contacted Jinbei and asked him to reach out to the others. Before we return, I intend to meet with everyone and propose something. You seem to be unaware, but there is a massive war happening between the Hellas Empire and the Megalomesembrian Confederation. My most hated enemy is one of the people backing the war, so, while it might be selfish of me, I intend to gather a force to wipe them out completely. I'm certain Vahn has already done something extreme after our separation, but I refuse to leave everything in his hands...will you help me, Karin?"Though various thoughts were going through her mind during the explanation, Karin dismissed all of them when she heard her Master ask for help. A resolute glimmer flashed across her onyx-black eyes she clapped her hands around Eva's and spiritedly answered, "Of course! I swore to follow you to the ends of the earth and even beyond the stars! No matter what kind of enemy you are facing, I will stand at your side and do everything within my power to support you!"Even if she already expected such a response, Eva felt a considerable amount of relief when she heard Karin's words. This woman had her quirks, but, with the exception of Vahn, she was the one person Eva believed she could trust wholeheartedly. Karin had learned a hard lesson after betraying another person she trusted, so, when it came to upholding her vows, there were no limits she would no go to. It didn't matter if the path was jumbled with corpses and carved with rivers of blood; so long as it was for the person she had dedicated herself to, she would never hesitate to uphold her vows.Feeling a tenderness that had been seeded in her due to prolonged exposure to Vahn, a natural smile spread across Eva's face as she lightly cupped Karin's cheek. This was enough to make the woman blush, and, though neither of them was particularly attracted to members of the same sex, the steely-eyed woman was unable to stop herself from swallowing audibly. This caused the smile on Eva's face to become more prominent, and, though it probably wasn't her best idea, she didn't shy away when Karin brought her face progressively closer...Before their lips could meet, a smell similar to ozone spread through the room as the fine hairs on Eva's and Karin's bodies began to stand on end. There was even a staticky crackle in the air, and, as the distance between them shrunk even further, a palpable sense of danger descended on both of them as they simultaneously used Shundo to backstep. At nearly the exact same moment, a bolt of pure white lightning phased through the ceiling without causing any damage, striking the location they had been standing in. Though it didn't even leave a mark on the ground, both women could feel the power contained within the lighting bolt, especially Eva.Understanding the origin of the lightning, Karin's expression became pale, but, before she could think to apologize, Eva interrupted her thoughts by saying, "Don't worry. As I said previously, you can trust Vahn with finding a solution. It might be difficult for you to believe, but he is also a God of Space, Time, and Creation. When it comes to that idiot, I've learned to be more surprised when he can't do something than when he can. Even then, it is only a matter of time until he comes up with a solution so you can rest assured..."Since it felt like she was trying to convince Karin that they would be able to kiss in the future, Eva felt uncharacteristically bashful. She even emulated Arika's habit of combing through her hair when she was feeling awkward or embarrassed, something Karin took notice of as she nodded her head and answered, "I understand, Evangeline-sama. Since you trust that man, I will do the same. Even if he isn't as capable as you say, I will continue to place my faith in him until your words have become the truth."Seeing the conviction in Karin's gaze, Eva felt even more awkward since it almost sounded like the woman was anticipating the day when their lips would lock. This caused various thoughts to run through Eva's mind, but, while several involved just her and Karin, the vast majority had additional participants...Before she realized it, a tiny trickle of blood had started to run from Eva's nose, startling both girls and sending Karin into a concerned frenzy that involved bombarding her Master with several high-ranking healing spells...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Yandere mode activate (* - *)...!','Karin is a very devoted woman','Karin is not prepared...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1661: Changes, Both Subtle and Drastic