Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

After returning to the cottage, Vahn apologized for being late before spending the rest of the day as usual. As for Beryl, he decided to gift it to Jaina, as, from the perspective of everyone else, it was simply regarded as a Pokemon. They had already grown used to such creatures, so, while a part of him was tempted to keep the adorable creature for himself, Vahn ultimately allowed the Princess to look after it.Fortunately, none of the girls, sans Fenrir, Mikoto, and, to a lesser extent, Blossom seemed to suspect there was anything wrong with him. It wasn't unusual for him to return calm and relaxed after long periods of meditation. Rather, by virtue of the fact he had spent several hours meditating, it would have been stranger for him to come back tense and unfocused. This allowed Vahn to pass the rest of the day without anyone questioning whether or not anything was wrong, a question he wasn't quite sure how to answer...---several hours prior---Though he wasn't quite sure what had changed, Vahn could tell that 'something' had happened. His senses seemed sharper than ever before, and, though it wasn't to the extent he had achieved within the illusion, his domain was several times larger than before. He could also feel something he could only describe as the 'will of the land', a vague awareness that could be likened to his ability to sense emotions, just from 'everything'.As strange as it might sound, Vahn felt as though he could now determine the 'purpose' of even the most minute particles of Shinsu. He could sense whether or not something was out of place, and, if he focused his senses, it was like a faint, nearly inaudible, voice recounting the 'history' of whatever he was looking at. This applied to the moss beneath him, and, though it was difficult to imagine, he could even focus his intent on individual particles and recount their journey from the moment they departed their parent stars, eager to experience something more...Feeling a soft yet slightly dry sensation against his cheek, Vahn returned to his senses to find that a rainbow-hued mist had gathered around his outstretched hand. Even stranger was the fact that this mist was comprised of countless individual particles, a massive congregation of constituent matter that, against all rhyme and reason, coexisted alongside other elementary particles without blending together or interfering with each other in the slightest. Instead, it was almost like they were waiting for him to decide what their purpose would be...As a God of Creation, Vahn actually had a fair amount of experience with pulling energy from the void to create things that simply didn't exist before. His [Eyes of Truth] also allowed him to tap into the Law of Oblivion, one of the fundamental concepts that, presumably, gave form and function to everything within the Records.Despite these two things, Vahn had never experienced anything quite like the phenomenon he was currently observing. It was like everything in existence possessed a form of consciousness, but, like every other being within the Records, they were bound to a specific fate that had been determined from the very moment of their creation. Every single particle was exactly where it was supposed to be at the exact moment it was supposed to be there, and, thanks to the existence of Laws touched upon by Quantum Theory, even particles that had been displaced vast distances would simply snap back to their intended position, fulfilling the purpose they had been assigned.Under normal circumstances, it was impossible to change the 'purpose' that had been assigned to individuals particles, as, much like everything else in the Records, their past, present, and future had already been determined. It was only when an 'outside force' acted upon them that their fate could be changed, and, as a result, even elementary particles could eventually grow to become something 'more'...something without limits...As that thought crossed his mind, Vahn realized that the nearly indiscernible voice within his mind was none other than the Mantra of Eternity. It turned out that the sounds he had been hearing all this time were, quite literally, the voice of all things. It was as if the world was telling him its story, and, as a result of their desire to be heard, innumerable voices had been overlapping in such a way that it was impossible to make out what was being said. This was why he always felt at one with the world while he was meditating, and, as he got better at listening, the world around him shifted, not in response to his will, but because it was seeking 'greater purpose' by interacting with the energy emanating from his body...Now that he could hear its voice, the world, like an insatiably curious child, was waiting for him, not to tell it what to do, but to give it permission to act. In this manner, it wasn't all that dissimilar from his past self, as, much like the naive young boy he had been at the start of his journey, it didn't care where it ended up, only that it could choose what to do from there...While it might seem nonsensical to attribute such human sentiments to particles without any Ego of their own, Vahn had literally sired children with conceptual beings, so, while he couldn't help feeling a little perturbed, that didn't stop him from saying, "Go...be free..." in recognition of the yearning he could sense from the world around him. In response, the rainbow-hued mist immediately vanished, and, perhaps as a result of his statement's ambiguity, so too did a large portion of the environment.With the exception of some organic matter, most of the rocks, minerals, and metals within earshot of Vahn's statement had simply vanished into thin air. This produced a vacuum in his surroundings, but, thanks to his domain, Vahn was able to prevent an implosion by willfully manipulating the flow of Shinsu until the atmospheric pressure had returned to normal. Then, with Beryl perched upon his shoulder, tail wrapped around his neck for stability, Vahn corrected his posture and asked, "Is there something you want to tell me...?" towards no one in particular.Understanding he was addressing her, Sis, sounding uncharacteristically tired, meekly replied, (*You know I would never harm you...please don't ask me to explain...I...I...*)Shaking his head, a relaxed smile developed across Vahn's face as he sincerely stated, "I trust you. If it were something I needed to know, I have no doubt you would inform me. Your unwillingness tells me this is something related to The Path...something I'm either unprepared to learn or incapable of comprehending at my current level..."Though he had his suspicions, Vahn didn't directly ask Sis to confirm any of them. Instead, he let his words trail off for a moment before proceeding to add, "I will become stronger...strong enough that you won't have to worry about me...strong enough to reclaim what's mine..."As those final few words left his lips, Vahn couldn't help but adopt an even bigger smile, right hand slowly clenching into a fist as he punctuated his previous declaration with a heartfelt, "Thanks...even if it was only for a short while...seeing everyone, even as illusions, has lifted a heavy weight from my shoulders...I know you can feel it, but, even so, I want you to know how grateful I am. Thus, from the bottom of my heart...thanks for always looking out for me, Sis...I love you..."---back to the present---While it had been quite some time since he required sleep, Vahn found himself in a state where he couldn't rest even if he wanted to. He had always been a curious fellow, so, now that he could hear the voice of all things, it was difficult to simply ignore.When he wasn't focusing on anything, Vahn could now hear a chorus of countless whispers in the back of his mind. These weren't coming from the world around him, however, but from within his own body. After all, while he was comprised of Source Energy, his body still emulated the form and function of the creatures he presented himself as. He still had blood flowing through his veins, and, though they would dissipate the moment they were cast from his body, there were trillions of cells making up his physical vessel.Compared to the voices he heard from his surroundings, the chorus of voices emanating from his own cells were nigh-impossible to drone out. After all, they had been given purpose by him, so, like children eager to please their father, they worked excitedly to fulfill the duty that had been assigned to them. It was like his body had become a macrocosm, and, should he so desire, Vahn imagined he could actually grant his cells sapience, much like the anthropomorphic microorganisms found in the anime 'Cells at Work'.Since there were literal metaverses existing within his Internalized Realm, it wasn't all that difficult to imagine converting his body into a Realm of its own. This would undoubtedly make the voices even louder, but, more importantly, there was a chance he could create Template cells to greatly increase his understanding of Source Energy. After all, every cell in his body was comprised of the enigmatic energy, so, by virtue of simply doing their job, his understanding would increase exponentially. They would also be Tier 5 entities, so, if push came to shove, they could provide support in combat using the various Innates he assigned them.Imagining a literal army of trillions emerging from within him, a wry smile developed across Vahn's face as he realized the way he viewed himself was beginning to change. In essence, he was closer to something like Azathoth than a simple True Dragon. If he hadn't become accustomed to his human form, he could even give Gluttony a run for his money in regards to eldritch appearances. Inversely, he could exist without form entirely, wandering the cosmos as little more than a mass of intent that, depending on the circumstances, could inhabit the vessel of another.Though he would like to say he would never do such a thing, Vahn knew well the kind of monster he could become if he didn't care about his methods. Possession, encroachment, and absorption were surprisingly common themes in fiction, and, thanks to the experiences he had received from Rimuru, he had a substantial amount of experience with absorbing the traits of other creatures. He had also willfully subsumed Gaia prior to his departure from the Nasuverse, so, while he had never acted with malicious intent, he couldn't deny that he had already skirted the boundary separating him and his more monstrous aspects.Fortunately, while many would attempt to deny him his humanity, Vahn was confident he had not deviated too far from the path of his kin. He had simply expanded upon the definition, and, thanks to his ability to emulate the traits of other organisms, he had become something 'more' than what most humans could aspire to. That didn't mean others couldn't reach the same point, however, so, at least for the time being, Vahn came to the conclusion there was no meaning in worrying about such things. The only things that truly mattered were that he was exactly who he wanted to be, and, more importantly, he was well on his way to reaching the place he 'needed' to be...As that thought crossed his mind, so too did the memories he had accumulated within the illusion created by Sis. There was a fair chance she had something to do with this, but, rather than fretting over the particulars, a smile spread across Vahn's face as his consciousness began to gradually fade away. Then, after lying awake for the better part of six hours, he was finally able to get some sleep...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Awash in an endless sea of voices...','Some things are important to say out loud...','Slumbering God...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Despite a relatively short two-hour nap, Vahn awoke feeling refreshed, reinvigorated, and ready to start a new day. Rather than immediately get out of bed, however, he created a second version of himself to prepare everyone's breakfast while his main body enjoyed the gentle chorus of nearly a dozen women peacefully slumbering.With the exception of Fenrir and Mikoto, both waking at nearly the exact same moment as him, the other girls were still asleep. This gave Vahn the urge to silently watch over them, so, with no one but himself to dictate how his time was spent, that is exactly what he did.The previous day, while strange in many ways, had reminded Vahn of the importance of living life to the fullest. It had also revealed a fundamental truth about creation, so, while he would undoubtedly remain a busybody, he was slowly starting to understand that the only thing that truly mattered was that he was doing 'something'. His presence within the Records was something the Records seemed to long for, as, without an outside force to influence change, everything, even the most rudimentary particles of the universe, had no choice but to fulfill the role they had been given.Simply put, it didn't really matter whether he was good or evil, only that he existed. He was basically the key liberating the Records from a fixed fate, and, though he might only interact with a relatively small subsection of each Record's inhabitants, that was more than enough to incite comprehensive change. After all, the beings he interacted with were often among the most powerful in the Record, and, depending on the decisions he made, his actions in the present had consequences that would ultimately spread throughout countless timelines.As egotistical as it might sound, Vahn was beginning to feel as though he was seeing the pieces of a complex yet paradoxically simple puzzle being brought together. At the center of everything was Source Energy, but, thanks to his [Universal Mind] and [Actualization] Innates, he was already at a level where he could influence entire realities. This was the reason he had felt smothered within the Tower, as, even if Jahad were to muster all of his power, it would ultimately amount to nothing. His fate had been decided from the moment he became Vahn's enemy, as, no matter how powerful the opponent, there was very little they could do against a being whose every action shaped the fate of the entire Record.Though there were times when his concern for others caused him to make questionable decisions, the one thing Vahn was absolutely certain of was that Source Energy eclipsed everything within the Records. As the sole conduit of said energy, anyone unfortunate enough to become his enemy, no matter how powerful, would ultimately find themselves on the receiving end of an often one-sided beating. This had always been the case, and, were it not for his fear and naivete, even Tiamat would have been forced to kneel once he finally gained the confidence to confront her.In essence, Vahn didn't really need to concern himself with the matters of the world around him. He could also skip training, as, much like Ureko had pointed out, there was nothing hindering him from stopping time and simply becoming stronger as needed. His growth had always been influenced by perceived threats, so, even if he trained every single day to increase his power, comprehension, and mastery, the end result was either becoming too powerful or 'power leveling' at the last moment to overcome whatever threat he was facing.Despite realizing these things long ago, Vahn was only now beginning to accept that his power had never really mattered. The most important thing, at least from the perspective of creation itself, was that he existed. The path he chose was entirely his to decide, and, even if he spent millions of years cuddling with Fenrir, there was nothing intrinsically wrong with that. This was the 'freedom' that had been granted to him by The Path, and, though he possessed an earnest desire to earn the power he wielded, the truth of the matter was that the proverbial deck had not only been stacked in his favor, he was allowed as many mulligans as he pleased...As that thought crossed his mind, Vahn skillfully flipped pancakes with both hands, a relaxed smile on his face. He had no intentions of giving up The Path, so, while he would undoubtedly continue his training, it was a relief knowing he didn't have to force himself. Instead, much like when he was just a kid, he could focus on whatever he wanted without having to worry about whether or not his power would stagnate.The only thing Vahn needed to worry about was what might happen to his family and friends, but, so long as their indestructible souls remained, there was a very real chance he could simply recall them using his Unit Management. Constructing a new physical vessel was child's play at this point, and, even if they were somehow transported to a different Realm, the simple fact of the matter was that Vahn's true body existed outside of the Record. This allowed his system to function outside of the Record's laws, and, as a result, even the most comprehensive restrictions could not prevent him from freely exploiting his Unit Management.Though he would do everything in his power to preserve the lives of his family, friends, and loved ones, Vahn was gradually beginning to accept that death was simply another part of life. There was nothing wrong with wanting to protect them, but, just as he was allowed to venture out and make mistakes, he needed to be willing to let them experience setbacks of their own. Death was the best teacher in this regard, as, depending on the circumstances of your demise, it would drastically alter the way you viewed and interacted with the world.With his expertise, there was nothing preventing Vahn from creating an artifact that could store the memories contained within a person's Ego. This meant, even if their Ego was severely damaged and found themselves forced into the cycle of reincarnation, they would still able to retain their sense of self and identity. In other words, death would simply mean transmigrating to a different world, and, thanks to the experiences he had accumulated in the Toaruverse, he could even arrange a scenario where the artifact acted as a system to allow them to return of their own accord.The more he thought about it, the more Vahn believed this was the solution he had been searching for. He still had mixed feelings regarding the decision everyone would make once they reached the top of the Tower, so, rather than forcing the matter, the simpler solution seemed to be developing countermeasures to prevent a worst-case scenario from occurring. This would allow them to make their own decisions, and, by networking their systems with his own, he could always recall them to his side even if they ended up losing their lives. There was no need to wait until he had reached the Divine Realm, and, from the perspective of the Record, they would be performing a great service by simply interacting with the world around them.Smiling at this notion, Vahn reduced the heat of the stove as he mused, "I wonder if this is how the Gods responsible for reincarnation feel whenever they select people to isekai..."Imagining people like Artoria and Mordred being born into a cultivation world, the smile on Vahn's face became even more prominent. They would no doubt experience setbacks, but, knowing them, it wouldn't be long before they rose to the pinnacle of their verse. Artoria would most likely extend the Aldrnari Empire's influence into her world, and, due to her nature, Mordred was bound to 'slap' quite a number of young masters' faces before securing her position as the 'strongest'.Though this might not seem all that different from letting the girls reincarnate once they reach the top of the Tower, the end result was quite a bit different. After all, the relative nature of space and time meant that it flowed differently depending on the world you were in. In other words, the girls could effectively spend tens, hundreds, or even thousands of years in a new world without a single second passing in whichever world he ended up. This meant they would have as much time as they needed to increase their strength, and, so long as he included a stasis function, they could basically exit the world whenever they got bored or fed up with it.With a bit of effort, Vahn was relatively certain he could link the worlds the girls ended up in with the Little Garden. He could theoretically use World Tree Seeds to power the artifacts he produced, so, as long as Rose and her sisters existed, travel between various multi and metaverses should be possible. The only downside was that 'outsiders' might be able to force their way in, but, so long as the Little Garden remained a part of himself, Vahn was confident he could simply seal them away or erase them entirely. The Little Garden was basically an extension of his Realm, so, unless they were a higher tier, they would effectively be at his mercy the moment they trespassed within.Confident he had found the 'answer', Vahn waved his hand over the food, and, as a result, the total amount increased to a point that it could easily serve more than a hundred people. Then, while his main body was rousing the members of the Eurasia Family, he manipulated space within the dining room to drastically increase its size before recalling the majority of the explorer group. This caught a number of people by surprise, but, rather than complain, most promptly decided to take a seat as Artoria, Eva, Arika, Asuna, and Theo, the aptly named 'Council of Wives', came over to question why he had summoned them.Before answering their questions, Vahn proceeding to embrace each of them in turn before going on to outline everything that had transpired in the last twenty-four hours. This included his sudden urge to train, and, though he skipped the parts about Sis being responsible, he told them about the illusion he had been trapped in for the better part of three months. This allowed him to put a lot of things into perspective, and, though he was confident in the 'answer' he had found, he wanted their input before committing to any specific course of action.Needless to say, the girls were somewhat taken aback by the revelation he had spent three months trapped in an illusion, but, seeing how calm he was, they didn't pressure him to reveal the details. It was enough knowing he was okay, and, hearing the solution he had come up with, they actually felt relieved. It might not be an ideal solution, but, compared to what he had come up with during their previous meeting, there were significantly fewer flaws. The only thing they didn't agree with was his apparent lack of regard for what might happen in the worlds they visited. They knew this wasn't the case, but it was almost like he didn't care what they might do when the only people they could rely upon were themselves and the allies they made along the way.Though it wasn't particularly likely that any of them would become despots or tyrants, one of the most important factors preventing this was Vahn's view of the world. If he suddenly stopped caring and simply allowed them to do whatever they wanted, it was only a matter of time before someone experienced something that caused them to go off the deep end. Things would become even more troublesome if he empowered people that began earnestly seeking strength, as, when death was no longer a consequence, people gradually stopped caring about how they lived.Vahn's proposition would effectively convert the Little Garden into a 'Realm of the Gods', as, with the exception of select individuals, everyone within was a God. In other words, it would become a version of Heaven akin to what could be seen in Records such as Danmachi. Everyone within would effectively become immortal, and, thanks to the artifacts provided by Vahn, the mortal world would basically become their playground. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing if their desire was to punish injustice and help people, but, the moment they viewed reincarnation as little more than a means to have fun, it was only a matter of time before someone deviated down a dark path...after all, not all Gods were benevolent creatures...(A/N: No alternate titles this time around. Instead, I want to ask for everyone's opinion. Would you rather see Vahn venturing forward as a confident and self-assured deity that basically slow rolls the worlds he traverses or would you rather he encounter legitimate, albeit temporary, struggles? We're coming up on the end of the ToG arc, so, while it won't change much in the end game, the tone of the story will change drastically depending on Vahn's attitude towards the world around him. In the first instance, he would become supremely confident, rarely questioning whether or not he is doing the right thing. In the latter, he would effectively become a goofball/troll, who, rather than forcing his ideals onto people, simply goes with the flow while smacking down anyone unfortunate enough to earn his ire. For a baseline, you could compare the former's behavior to people such as Sephiroth and Wise King Gilgamesh. For the latter, imagine someone like Ace from One Piece of Spike Spiegel from Cowboy Bebop. He would become serious when he needs to, but, most of the time, he would basically just be messing around or trolling the people around him.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

While Vahn was attempting to make sense of his situation, the control room within his mind was in a state of disarray. Catgirls of various shapes and sizes were running around in a panic, and, though she was doing her best to maintain control, even Sis was feeling more than a little anxious.Somehow, against all rhyme and reason, Vahn had managed to peel back a substantial number of the protective layers guarding his greatest secret. This was very-nearly a worst-case scenario, as, if he accessed that information before he was ready, the consequences would be both unimaginable and irreversible.Though she hated keeping things from him, The Path had determined that Vahn needed to be very near the pinnacle of Tier 6 before the seals placed on him could be removed. At the present, he was still meandering through the shallow end of what it meant to be an 'unrestrained' Tier 5, so, while it was only a matter of time before he uncovered the truth, he was grossly unprepared to cope with it.Seeing the seals surrounding the sphere representing Vahn's soul slowly dissolve away, Sis couldn't help clicking her tongue before biting her nail with a vexed expression on her face. The degradation rate was only at 8.03219%, but, from the moment he had become one with The Path, the amount of power Vahn could access was limited to 1% of his Soul's potential. Even that required him going 'all out', so, now that his limiter had been breached, there was no way of calculating just how powerful he had become.The Path was literally connected to the source of all energy within what Vahn described as the Tier System. It was one of the foundational pillars of reality itself, so, even if he had only ever been able to access a single percentage of its power, it was only a matter of time before he stood at the very pinnacle of power within the Records. The only thing preventing him from reaching that point in an instant was his desire to see and experience the world around him rather than simply lording over it like some kind of untouchable existence.Vahn was the type of person who could be totally engrossed in the structure of a single atom, so, while he could easily obtain even greater power, his curiosity and his sincere desire to interact with the residents of each Record prevented him from advancing too quickly. In even simpler terms, this meant his power increased in direct proportion to the perceived strength of whatever threat he was facing. There were no limits to this, as, unlike the beings restricted to their respective Records, Vahn was an existence that, on the most fundamental level, transcended everything else entirely.Suppressing a sigh, Sis ordered her sisters to do everything in their power to prevent the seal from degrading even further. It was beyond her power and authority to even attempt reapplying the seal, as, from the very beginning, it was always intended to be destroyed when Vahn began searching for answers about himself. Right now, he was too distracted by events happening around him to really care, but, once he was nearing the pinnacle of Tier 6, he would have had no choice but to reflect, as, from the moment he ascended to Tier 7, reality would essentially become a representation of how he and his counterpart viewed themselves in respect to one another. In essence, it would become a compromise shared between them, so, without having an absolute understanding of himself, Vahn's path towards Tier 7 was blocked...---Unaware of the turmoil his minor breakthrough into comprehending the Mantra of Eternity had caused, Vahn began experimenting with ways to break through the 'illusion' that had been cast on him. He had convinced himself that his current situation was the result of someone with an intimate understanding of his thoughts and memories pulling a prank, so, rather than get all flustered about it, he decided to use it as an opportunity to practice breaking free from techniques that intercepted his consciousness.Though there were a number of differences, Vahn likened his current situation to a 'full dive' into the Virtual World. Simply put, someone had used a technique to fool his own mind into creating a world based on his own thoughts and memories. In other words, everything he was currently seeing and experiencing was a construct of his own mind, so, when he imagined the sky turning pink, there wasn't even a delay before the pitch-black void above became a vibrant pink hue. He could extend his hand to grasp mountain-sized Shinheuh in the distance, and, due to the Law of Perspective, they would become the size of insects within the palm of his hand.Seeing the miniature monstrosities panicking within the invisible bounds of his grasp, Vahn decided to test the limits of this Phantasmagoria-like illusion by expanding his domain far beyond its natural limits. His domain allowed him to grasp the position of even the most minute particles within range of his senses, so, if the world was being generated based on his thoughts and memories, he should be able to 'break' it by pushing his perception to the absolute limits.Unsurprisingly, Vahn was able to extend his domain far beyond the maximum range he was able to achieve in the outside world. Infinitely more surprising was the fact he couldn't detect even a single anomaly within its 8,991km range. This indicated that his mind was either filling in the blanks, or, far more frightening, drawing from his memories to generate the entire Tower all at once. In Layman's Terms, there was a very real possibility he was currently trapped within a fully fabricated yet illusory Realm...Rubbing his temples, both as a result of frustration and the sheer amount of information his brain was trying to process, Vahn habitually retracted his domain before 'teleporting' back to the cottage he shared with the girls. His domain had allowed him to sense that each and every one of them was being generated, but, while they emulated natural thoughts and movements, it hadn't escaped him that they were 'exactly' where he expected them to be. In other words, everything within the illusion was moving, perfectly, in accordance with his expectations.Emphasizing this point, Vahn found Fenrir lying face-down in their bed, butt raised and face pressed into the spot where he typically lay. This was a marking behavior she had developed years ago, and, though he was fully aware of it, Vahn had never called her out on it since her aroma actually helped him to relax. She was also pretty careful about not getting caught, so, the moment that thought his mind, Vahn was unsurprised to see Fenrir simply vanish before reappearing in the kitchen alongside Yuri and Enne.Though he wasn't nearly as shameless as his faithful companion, Vahn allowed himself to fall face-first onto the bed, Fenrir's aroma soaking through his olfactory system as he did his best to remain calm. After all, this was actually quite the opportunity, and, so long as he suspended his disbelief a bit, he could experience a wondrous dream dictated by his expectations...As that thought crossed his mind, Vahn's heart seized as a very subtle vibration transmitted to him, a tell-tale sign that someone had just sat on the edge of the bed. Then, as his mind made itself up, he was able to sense a heart-wrenchingly familiar aura. Were it not for the fact his face was buried against the bedding, he might not have been able to prevent himself from tearing up, as, moments later, a concerned and slightly husky voice asked, "Is something the matter...?"Though Fenrir's scent remained, the moment Vahn heard the voice, the world around him seemed to undergo a shift. He no longer found himself on the upper floor of a demure cottage situated on the 199th Floor of the Tower. Instead, in the blink of an eye, he was lying in bed back at the Hearth Manor, and, despite an extreme amount of guilt swelling from within, he couldn't resist the urge to turn his head and face the red-headed beauty staring down at him with her slightly mismatched red and crimson eyes.Before Vahn could find the words the express himself, the woman, Hephaestus, adopted the most gentle smile he could imagine as she reached out to caress the side of his face and say, "You must have had it rough...come, even if this is ultimately just an illusion, I can still be here for you..."Not expecting her to call attention to the fact they were currently trapped within an illusion, Vahn found himself at a complete loss for words. This elicited an amused chuckle from the Goddess, who, with a confident smile on her face, carefully moved aside a few strands of his hair as she asked, "Did you forget? We are connected in a way that no one else can emulate. Your thoughts, memories, and even your emotions are all transmitted to me. Besides, you're a hundred-million-years too young to think you can keep secrets from a Goddess as intuitive as myself..."Though her words had been directed towards him, Hephaestus' eyes briefly shifted away from Vahn as a second red-headed beauty appeared out of thin air. Her casual mention of intuitive Goddesses had caused him to think about Loki, and, as a result, the Goddess in question appeared to ask, "Oh? What's going on here~? Is our little boy toy feeling lonely~?"Without waiting for a reply, Loki caused Vahn to become a statue as she raised her hand to the side of her mouth and shouted, "Hey! Everyone! Get your butts in here! Vahn's back~!"The moment Loki's words fell, the door connecting Vahn's room to the rest of the manor shattered into countless pieces as Tiona, followed by a veritable horde of women, burst into the room. Before she could leap towards him, however, Hestia appeared out of thin air, her godly aura active as she adopted an almost comical martial arts stance and threatened, "Don't even think about swarming him before I get a chance to welcome him home...!"Completely ignoring the petite Goddess' words, Tiona attempted to slip past Hestia only to find an impenetrable barrier blocking her path. This wasn't in the form of any godly magic, however, it was due to the presence of numerous child-like individuals manifesting around Vahn the moment he sat up. These were none other than his children, and, the moment they appeared, understanding smiles appeared across the faces of everyone present as Hestia led them all to say, "Welcome home..."---After what felt like an inordinately long and painfully short length of time, Vahn opened his eyes to find himself seated atop the same moss-covered boulder he had chosen to meditate on. This time, however, there were far more animals, several of which were mammalian in nature, lingering around him. This included a remarkably adorable creature that looked like a mix between an emerald-green fox, a moth, and some kind of ivy. It also had watery blue eyes, and, the moment he looked down at it, Vahn could swear it smiled back at him.Undoubtedly as a result of this perception, the peculiar creature did not immediately dissolve when the rest of its kin disappeared into nothingness. Instead, it tentatively approached Vahn, cautiously sniffing his extended hand before nimbly climbing up to his shoulder and rubbing against him in a manner reminiscent of a cat. This caused a fine green powder to cover the left side of his face, but, after what he had experienced, there was very little that could perturb Vahn's mental state. Instead, a smile developed across his face, and, though he wasn't sure it would work, that didn't prevent him from picking up the creature and musing, "I think I'll call you...Beryl..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: '...','...','...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 2018: Skirting the Edge