Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Thanks to handy-dandy time shenanigans, very little time had passed by the time Vahn emerged with Jin in tow. In fact, the others had yet to even sit down when he teleported them just outside the dining room, saying, "It's okay to make mistakes. You'll regret it a lot more if you never even try."With a resolute expression on his face, Jin looked like he was about to say something when Vahn gave him a gentle yet firm smack on the back. As a result, he was sent stumbling into the dining room as Vahn emerged behind him with a massive grin spread across his face.After quickly recovering his balance, Jin sent a pouty look in Vahn's direction before ultimately shaking his head and approaching Lily. The latter appeared a little confused by his actions, but, as usual, she had the same considerate smile on her face."Lily...can we talk somewhere private...?"Though there was a hint of helplessness contained within, Lily's smile became even more radiant than usual as she answered, "Of course, Jin." Then, under the watchful eyes of everyone present, the duo departed the dining room for one of the many empty rooms within the Sage Dragon's Hearth.Waiting until the duo had disappeared completely, a smile developed across Izayoi's face as he said, "Let's hope he doesn't mess this one up. That last "confession" of his dealt collateral damage to my soul."Shrugging his shoulders in mock helplessness, Vahn replied, "I did everything I could. Fortunately, Lily is too kind to outright reject him. She'll most likely give him a chance. Whether or not they stay together is up to him."Since he didn't want to spend too much time talking about Jin's love life, Vahn punctuated his words with a casual wave of his hand. This caused various food items to populate the table as he sat down and stated, "I'm more interested in what the three of you were up to during your stay in the Game Board. Even without relying on my Gifts, I can tell you've grown quite a bit...some more than others..."Though Vahn's final words were intended for Izayoi, it was Yo who reacted with a rather potent blush. This caused the gazes of everyone present to shift to her as she cupped her fiery cheeks and explained, "I don't know what happened. I tried dieting, but, no matter how much I starved myself, it was like everything I ate went straight to my thighs...""..."Taken aback by the sudden shift in topic, Vahn found himself at a loss for words as Izayoi burst out laughing. This earned him a glare from Asuka, but, before she could say anything to rein the young hero in, Yo exacerbated the situation by asking, "Vahn, you do tailoring work, right?"Blinking back to awareness, Vahn's gaze shifted to the golden bracelet on Yo's wrist as he answered, "Indeed. However, I believe your [REquip] system renders such services obsolete. There is also the matter of your Companion. They should be able to transform into virtually any outfit you can think of."Though she nodded her head to show she understood, Yo left Asuka massaging her temples as she explained, "I am well aware of that. It's just that, even with the [REquip] system, my pants and shorts always feel tight around the inseam. It wasn't an issue when I still had my Aegis but they ended up dissolving away when I encountered a Black Slime. Speaking of which...you really could have warned us about those, you know?"As it had literally been hundreds of years since he last encountered a slime, a wry smile developed across Vahn's face as he resisted the temptation to say he had simply forgotten. After all, he was the one who created the Game Board, and, as a byproduct, every single monster within. In other words, he was the one who had bestowed the Black Slime with the ability to melt clothing and armaments."Sorry about that. Truth be told, I never expected anyone venturing into the Game Board to get that far. Those with the ability to descend that deep generally wouldn't be inhibited by such an effect so I never thought to remove it..."Though she didn't snort and cross her arms like she used to, Asuka responded to Vahn's apology with a pointed look as she retorted, "Oh, really? Are you sure you didn't just want to see us naked? Why else would such a monster exist?"Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Vahn adopted a deadpan expression as he flatly replied, "Every monster within the Dungeon is something I encountered during my own journey. Also, has your time in the Game Board dulled your memory? So long as you're within range of my perception, I can sense the very molecules that comprise your body. You could layer yourself in thousands upon thousands of layers of clothing and it wouldn't make a difference. From my perspective, you may as well be walking around in your birthday suit."Blushing furiously in response to Vahn's words, Asuka looked like she was a hairpin trigger away from exploding. As for Yo, she simply averted her eyes with a bashful smile on her face. She had already been blushing even before his comment. Now, the crimson glow was gradually spreading to her ears, but, unlike Asuka, she didn't seem particularly bothered by revelation. Instead, she just picked up a simmering leg of lamb before using her inordinately large canines to tear away a rather sizeable chunk of the perfectly braised meat...Amused by Yo's reaction, Vahn's smile promptly returned. This seemed to be the proverbial straw the broke the camel's back, as, from Asuka's perspective, Yo was someone she needed to protect.Slamming the table as she bounced to her feet, Asuka's expression turned fierce as she exclaimed, "That's it! I challenge you to a Gift Game...!"Raising his brows, Vahn's smile turned wry as he asked, "Have you lost your mind? It would seem I was a little too hopeful when I thought you would mature during your stay in the Game Board..."Gritting her teeth, Asuka attempted to remove one of her white gloves until Vahn released a bit of his aura and said, "Don't do something you'll regret...I have been tolerant of your behavior thus far. Do not mistake my clemency for weakness and timidity. If you continue down this path, there is no turning back. I will have no choice but to teach you a lesson..."Recalling the previous times Vahn had embarrassed her, Asuka's body became rigid and tense. She tried to tell herself not to be afraid, but, seeing the solemn look on Vahn's face as his eyes pierced straight through her, she would be a fool not to feel even a hint of trepidation."Sounds fun. Count me in."After sitting in silence for several minutes, Izayoi decided to toss Asuka a metaphorical life preserver by chiming in. Sure, she could be pretty annoying at times but Asuka was still his friend. He wasn't just going to let her face off against Vahn on her own, so, with the intention of easing tensions and having a bit of fun, he began popping his knuckles with a cheeky smile on his face.Feeling the tensions drain from her body, a faint smile developed across Asuka's face as she sent the blond-haired hero a sidelong glance. She felt a lot more confident having his support, so, while the serious expression on Vahn's face was no less intimidating, she managed to adopt a challenging smile as she said, "I may have spoken out of turn earlier. For that, I apologize. However, since I have already issued a challenge, it would be cowardly of me to retract my statement. I'm also interested in learning just how far I am from the top. I didn't spend the last six years training just to back down in the face of a challenge."Though he maintained the serious look on his face, most of Vahn's anger had already disappeared. Asuka was far too weak to truly rile him up, so, even if she did remove her glove and challenge him to a duel, he would have just allowed her to tire herself out before giving her a spanking."Very well, then. I accept your challenge. I've been meaning to teach you a lesson and this is a good opportunity to see how far you've grown."Without waiting for the trio to respond, Vahn sent a telepathic message to Will that resulted in their surroundings spontaneously disappearing. This caused the smile to fade from Yo's face, but, before she could pout, he tossed her a peculiar fruit called a Meat Apple before explaining, "Now that you have accumulated experience in a fantasy setting, I imagine you'll be a lot more active in the Divine Realm. Before that, there are a couple of things you'll need to be made aware of..."Raising his hand, Vahn waited for the tensions to increase before snapping his fingers to produce a literal big bang. Were it not for the nigh-indestructible shields he had erected around their bodies, Izayoi, Asuka, and Yo would have immediately been reduced to dust as an explosion far beyond the comprehension of mortals spread through the surrounding void."First of all...so long as their actions do not adversely affect their surroundings, conflicts between Communities need not revolve around Gift Games. In other words, if you had truly antagonized me, I could kill, imprison, torture, or even erase you from existence without so much as a warning from the Central Network. Keep that in mind if you ever visit the territory of an unaffiliated organization or alliance..."With the surrounding space rapidly stabilizing under his influence, Vahn manipulated a tremendous volume of space dust and debris to form a barren and lifeless planet. Then, with a wave of his hand, a planet-wide barrier manifested high above its surface before a tempestuous wind spread from his body. Soon after that, a breathable atmosphere had manifested as he dismissed the glowing green barriers protecting the trio's body, explaining, "Secondly...this is no illusion. What you see around you is an authentic universe. Were it not for those barriers separating you from the Standard Axis of Time, you would have witnessed its formation and the billions of years it took to reach this stage of development. In other words, were it not for the barriers I provided, your bodies would have aged to the point of being cosmic dust in less time than it took to blink..."Spreading his arms, Vahn's clothes began to dissolve away as ivory white and resplendent golden scales began to manifest across his body. At the same time, a dharmic wheel appeared behind his body as six sets of wings unfurled from his back. Most of this was simple theatrics, but, as a literal God of Creation, they were as functional as he intended them to be."Lastly...as powerful as you have become, you are ultimately inconsequential when compared to the beings at the absolute pinnacle of creation. All it would take to defeat you at this point is to simply fly away. At your current level, there is absolutely nothing you could do. As for me, I could wave my hand and erase every star from the sky. I could grasp this very planet in my palm and crush it into dust while the three of you watch on in horror. That is the kind of power I possess, and, should you continue down this path, it is the power your enemies will invariably possess..."With a muscular figure, arms in powerful draconic claws, twelve angelic wings, and a long, whip-like tail, Vahn truly resembled a God. His aura was so powerful and majestic that even Izayoi was forced to bend a knee while Asuka and Yo could barely even raise their heads from the pillowy cushions he had thoughtfully laid out for them..."Now...since you foolishly decided to challenge me...show me what you've got. You have five hours to either destroy this planet or force me to move. After that...it's my turn..."Punctuating his words, Vahn raised his hand towards the sky. This caused a fiery red magic circle to cover the sky. In reality, the spell circle was actually tens of thousands of kilometers away. It was just so large that it seemed to encompass the heavens. As for its purpose? That was a bit of a surprise.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Yo is primed and ready to save lives...!','Young Mistress Asuka...!','Vahn, this isn't even my final form, Mason...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

"Well, if you're sending out invitations...it would be rude of me to refuse...!"With a high-pitched sound echoing through the void, Izayoi managed to break free from the pressure weighing him down like a man freeing himself from chains. Then, with a battle-hungry expression on his face, he managed to take a single step forward before falling face-first into the dirt."Not bad. Unfortunately, the relative gravity between us doubles every ten centimeters. While the distance between us is a mere three meters, the effective gravity near the base of my feet is more than one billion times Earth's gravity. Good luck."Hearing Vahn's explanation, the smile faded from Izayoi's face as he forced himself to a kneeling position and muttered, "You really are a monster...no...I guess you're a God, huh...?"Tossing a stone he had picked up during his tumble, Izayoi's expression paled as it arced sharply towards the ground before becoming one with the flat terrain. Upon closer inspection, he noticed a series of concentric circles around Vahn's body..."How thoughtful of you..."Since going forward clearly wasn't an option, Izayoi took a step back before picking up Asuka and Yo by their waists and leaping backward. He was hoping to open up some distance so they could come up with a plan. What he didn't expect was for the relative gravity to decrease as he moved further away from Vahn's position.If the relative gravity had simply decreased to zero, Izayoi wouldn't have been bothered by the unexpected development. Unfortunately, he eventually reached a point where gravity suddenly inversed. As a result, the three of them began falling toward the sky at an ever-increasing speed.Seeing the trio rocket off like a group with a similar name, Vahn's smile gradually faded away as he silently cast protective charms on each of them. The barrier he had erected around the planet was around 50k above its surface. If they were unlucky, they would end up crashing into it at relativistic speeds. While this wasn't much for someone like him, he was worried that Asuka and Yo would turn into meat paste on contact. He could easily resurrect them, but, unless he mucked around with their memory, the trauma associated with their death would linger.Though he didn't mind teaching the trio a lesson, Vahn didn't want to traumatize them. Thus, as an extra precaution, he also modified the planetary barrier to absorb the momentum of anything that impacted it. Then, he waited........."Sakamaki Izayoi! If you don't unhand me this instant, you...you better not come looking for me in the future...!"With a crimson blush developing across her face, Asuka ignored the fact she was falling into the sky as she struggled in Izayoi's embrace. She wouldn't have cared if he had held her like a princess or a bride. Instead, Izayoi had chosen to carry her underarm like a sack of potatoes. She would rather die than suffer such indignity, so, after several seconds of him ignoring her, Asuka grit her teeth before shouting, "Unhand me this instant...!"Though it was only for a brief moment, a mind-numbing chill ran through Izayoi's body. By the time he realized what happened, Asuka was already falling, upwards, away from him."This prideful idiot...!"Too far away to hear Izayoi's remark, Asuka brought her hands together as if she were praying. The vertigo was intense, but, after six years of meditation training and experience, she managed to stay calm as a ghostly blue flame began to appear between her palms. When she finally separated them, an object resembling an urn emerged from her chest before bursting into a phantom-like creature with features resembling a jackal and a dragon."Abyssinian...!"Reacting to its partner's cry, the elegant black, gold, and blue Companion promptly coiled around Asuka's body before overlapping its head with her own. This was a transformation method the two of them had come up with after a mishap that resulted in Asuka being exposed in front of half the Ganesha Familia. It took her months to get over that incident, so, instead of having Abyssinian turn into a mask, the two of them had practiced a more fluid and direct fusion...Emerging from a plume of ghostly blue flames, Asuka, now wearing an elegant black, gold, and blue gown took advantage of Abyssinian's immaterial form to negate the effects of gravity. She couldn't hold it indefinitely, but, so long as she remained focused, she could effectively negate her mass and freely move through objects.Seeing Asuka's transformed state, a look of realization flashed across Izayoi's face as he looked down at Yo with a wry smile and asked, "Can you also fly...?"Nodding her head, Yo explained, "I befriended a Pegasus, numerous Harpies, and several Lesser Dragons. I also learned how to use Wind Magic and Koku Shundo from Jin..."Realizing he may have jumped the gun a bit, Izayoi released Yo from his grasp before flipping upside down and kicking off the air as if it were solid ground. If the two of them could fly, he no longer had to worry about them. At the same time, he was also feeling a little embarrassed, so, while it would have been smarter to retreat and come up with a plan, it could wait until he had vented some of his frustrations.........Catching a twinkle out of the corner of his eye, Vahn shifted his gaze just in time to see a rather beautiful-looking spear hurtling toward him at a speed rapidly approaching the speed of light. It had a leafy-green body, and, thanks to his ability to perceive everything within the universe he had created, Vahn noticed that this wasn't just an aesthetic. It was literally formed from a crystallized plant that had been whittled into the shape of a spear.("A spear carved from the core and crystallized amber of a World Tree? Looks like someone became pretty close with the High Elves...")Not wanting to destroy such a magnificent weapon, Vahn promptly willed it to be indestructible as he raised his hand to catch it out of the air. Before he could inspect it further, however, the six leaf-like protrusions around the head of the spear promptly branched outward to form emerald green vines that could give Madara's Mokuton a run for its money.Though he remained unmoved, Vahn was 'technically' bound as a lance formed from red crystal immediately followed the first."What the heck? Did this kid become a Lancer when I wasn't looking...?"(*Given the fact he keeps throwing them, I would argue he has become an Archer...*)Rolling his eyes, Vahn made the flaming spear indestructible before intercepting it with a spatial rift. This caused it to reappear behind Izayoi, who, against his better judgment, attempted to grab it out of the air. As a result, he was sent smashing into the ground at nearly a third the speed of light..."Is it just me or is that kid's durability abnormal...?"(*He seems to possess an ability similar to your internalized realm. Most of the damage he sustains is absorbed within, converted to energy, and then weaponized against his opponents. It's quite the potent ability...*)Though he had reached a similar conclusion after sensing the energy of the spear simply disappear, Vahn still nodded his head in response to Sis's explanation. Then, with a notably mischievous smile on his face, he mused, "He's basically the ultimate Shonen protagonist. Someone who gets stronger the harder his foes hit him. He would make an excellent punching bag..."(*...*)(*Well...you're not wrong...*)Demonstrating just how ludicrous Izayoi's ability was, the ground for dozens of kilometers cracked as he erupted from the giant crater caused by his landing. A bluish-gold aura had surrounded his body, and, while there was blood dripping from his forehead and smoke rising from the palms of his hands, he somehow managed to appear heroic as he rested the fiery spear on his shoulder and asked, "Is that all you got...?"Though there was a significant amount of distance between them, Vahn was still able to hear the brash youth's remark. This gave him the urge to roll his eyes. Instead, he swept his free hand to the side in a manner resembling a backhand. To the shock of Izayoi, this caused a massive golden hand that was more than fifty kilometers long and twenty-five wide to sweep across the land like a giant golden tidal wave."Oh, shi-"Unable to complete his exclamation, Izayoi and a large part of the terrain were swept away in the wake of Vahn's backhand. This wasn't an exaggeration. A large swath of land had effectively been erased from existence, as, despite its size, the hand had been moving at near-light speeds. Izayoi was able to tank the blow, but, due to the energy contained within the blow, the terrain where he had been standing was vaporized as the youth was sent careening into the barrier surrounding the planet. After that, he skid across its surface for several thousand kilometers, nearly enough to circle the planet before finally slowing to a stop."Incredible. He barely took any damage and his energy signature has practically skyrocketed. And I thought my abilities were broken..."(*You say that despite having an infinite number of methods to defeat him...*)Raising his brows, Vahn's smile gradually faded as he remarked, "You're uncharacteristically testy today. Did something happen...?"(*...*)......Though she didn't actually sweat, Sis felt as though numerous beads were forming across her body as she heard Vahn's concerned inquiry. At the same time, each of her sister-selves fell silent as they all looked toward her with slightly panicked looks on their faces.Gesturing for them to calm down, Sis's tone became a whisper as she stated, "Don't worry...even if he senses something is amiss, he isn't going to try and sneak a peek. Just try and be on your best behavior..."Nodding their heads in concert, the countless iterations of Sis immediately went back to what they were doing prior to the interruption. This included cuddling, making out with each other, and some pretty intense petting. The few that were still 'working' were either naked or wearing nothing but lingerie, as, every time Vahn used his power and decided to show off, the excitement they felt made it impossible to remain calm. For them, seeing Vahn demonstrate his power was like going into heat and being bathed in catnip at the same time.........(*It's fine...it's just that your power is a little intoxicating. This is one of the reasons I never wanted to possess an Ego. I feel my body burning up every time you decide to show off...*)Since she didn't want to lie to him, Sis decided to respond with a convenient version of the truth. It was much easier than trying to explain to him that there were currently several thousand versions of her fawning over his projected form...Raising his brows even further, a fairly cheeky smile developed across Vahn's face as he teasingly replied, "Is that so? I knew you were my number one fan but I never expected you to have such an extreme reaction to me showing off. You're making me blush."(*Don't tempt me...*)Though he was tempted to do exactly that, Vahn's thoughts were interrupted as the ritual spell that Asuka and Yo had been working on was finally completed. A series of purple rings manifested in the air above him, and, though it seemed nonsensical to rely on a gravity-based attack, Vahn had to commend them for being able to recreate a spell he had only ever seen used by Mikoto...Seeing the massive purple sword descending toward his head, Vahn couldn't help smiling as he muttered, "How nostalgic..."......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Tripping at the starting line xD...','Asuka and Yo aren't your average damsels in distress...','I feel it as well...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Expecting at least one of the four to get ejected before the time limit, Vahn was quite surprised when the entire two hours passed. Immediately after that, four flashes of light emerged from the planar diorama as far more mature versions of Izayoi, Asuka, Yo, and Jin appeared."Yo, long time no see."Seizing the opportunity to break the awkward tensions that had built between him and Lily, Vahn rose to his feet and greeted the group. It took them a while, but, after several seconds of stunned silence, Asuka was the one to answer, "Indeed...it really has been..."Though she had started out by speaking towards Vahn, Asuka's gaze shifted to Izayoi toward the latter half of her words. Then, with an indignant pout on her markedly more mature face, she asked, "And where, might I ask, have you been? We really could have used your help during the war. Some hero you turned out to be."Without missing a beat, Izayoi, hand on his hip, retorted, "Jeez. Just bite my head off, why don'tcha? What, did you miss me?"Surprising the blond-haired young man quite a bit, Asuka's pout became more pronounced as she asked, "Is that such a bad thing? We were the only real people in that world. We should have stuck together. Why did you have to run off and play hero somewhere we couldn't follow?"While she was far from tears, a thin layer of moisture began to spread across Asuka's aqua blue eyes. The last two and a half years within the Game Board had been especially difficult for her, as, despite knowing the people inside didn't exist, she couldn't just ignore them. Thus, she had spent nearly half the duration of her stay trying to guarantee the rights of the Xenos while simultaneously brokering peace between Orario and the surrounding countries. It hadn't been easy. Not at all.Not expecting the mature Japanese beauty to suddenly tear up, Iazyoi's smile promptly faded away as he scratched the back of his head. In truth, he felt she was being unreasonable. After all, it's not like he had just disappeared without an explanation. He told her exactly what he was up to and that he might not be able to return before their expulsion from the Game Board. It wasn't exactly fair for her to try and pin blame, but, rather than point that out, he just shook his head, exhaled a sigh, and muttered, "Sorry..." in an apologetic tone.Biting back her tears with a sniffle, Asuka was about to lay into the blond-haired youth even further when Vahn interjected, suggesting, "Let's shift this discussion to the dining room. I've prepared a feast to welcome you back. I'm sure you'll feel better once you've filled your bellies with delicious food."Though everyone else appeared relatively unaffected by their time within the Game Board, Vahn made sure to address the entire group as he was speaking. Asuka, despite her numerous character flaws, had a very strong sense of responsibility. Even in her previous life, she had primarily used her powers to help people. Thus, even without inquiring into the specifics, Vahn knew she had probably worked herself to the bone trying to 'fix' the underlying issues of Orario...Hearing mention of food, the stomaches of everyone present felt empty while Yo's outright growled its response. This caused the youthful-looking brunette to blush, but, instead of remaining silent or averting her eyes, a voracious smile developed across her face as she wiped away a bit of drool and said, "Finally...I've been dreaming of this day for the past six years...!"Seemingly unsurprised by Yo's reaction, Asuka, Jin, and even Izayoi exhaled moderately exasperated sighs as the source of their exasperation pumped her fists in excitement. Yo had matured quite a bit in the physical department, but, due to possessing a strong desire to befriend others, her previously taciturn nature had given way for a far more outgoing and bubbly personality. She had even cut her hair in a manner reminiscent of Tiona, so, even without asking, Vahn could surmise the two had met and gotten along very well...As that thought crossed his mind, Vahn briefly shifted his attention to Jin, who, since the moment of his return, had been staring at Lily. The once-girlish youth had matured quite a bit, and, though he still possessed a few androgynous features, his perpetually concerned expression had given way for a remarkably calm and calculating look. This, combined with the fact their hairstyles were virtually identical, reminded Vahn of when Merlin was serious...Noticing Vahn's gaze, Jin briefly shifted his own to match. A slight smile then developed across his face as he said, "It's good to see you again, Vahn..."Nodding his head in affirmation, Vahn was about to return the young mage's greeting when Jin's smile promptly faded away, followed by an accusatory, "I really wish you would have mentioned Hestia-sama's quirks in advance..."Restraining the urge to burst out laughing, Vahn just issued a light chuckle before asking, "Why? Do you regret joining her Familia?"Without a moment's hesitation, Jin immediately shook his head, stating, "No. I'm just a little jaded, that's all. Given how highly you spoke of her, my expectations during our first encounter may have been a little too high. At first, I couldn't help wondering why you sent me to her. It was only during the events of the second year that I began to understand. Hestia-sama's regard for the people she considers her family is beyond praiseworthy. She never stopped supporting us, and, no matter how difficult things became, she was always there to pick us up and give us the push we needed to keep fighting. If I possessed even a fraction of the trust Hestia-sama demonstrated toward the people in her Familia, I have no doubt I would have been a much better Community Leader..."Feeling gratified by Jin's words, an appreciative smile developed across Vahn's face. When the boy was finished speaking, he was half tempted to just walk over and give him a pat on the head. Before he could, however, Jin shifted his attention back to Lily, a resolute glimmer flashing across his eyes as he added, "I promised myself that, upon my return, I would no longer hesitate..."As Asuka and Yo became visibly excited, Jin walked over to the increasingly befuddled-looking Lily before bending down and taking a knee. Even Vahn was surprised by this development, but, thanks to his inhuman speed, he was able to give the two childhood friends an adequate amount of space as Jin grasped Lily's hand and said, "Lily...even if you never regard me in a similar light, I want you to know how I feel...how I've always felt..."Though she appeared slightly troubled by Jin's words and actions, Lily would be lying if she said her heart wasn't racing. She had actually been expecting Jin to confess for quite some time, but, due to his lack of self-confidence, he never got past telling her there was something he wanted to say. This was a marked improvement, but, after indirectly confessing to Vahn and spending the better part of two hours flirting, it also felt extremely awkward...After taking a deep breath to steady his heart and mind, Jin stared directly into Lily's emerald green eyes as he said, "I...I...I think you should be the Leader of the No Names...!"While everyone else looked like they wanted to slap their foreheads, Lily just tilted her head to the side in response to Jin's unexpected 'confession'. The smile on her face didn't fade in the slightest, but, after getting all worked up, a part of her wanted to ask if there was something wrong with his head. If he had been more direct, she might have given him a chance. After all, she did love him. It was more of a motherly type of love, but, with time, she was certain it could grow into something more substantial. Now, she wasn't so sure.........In an effort to salvage some of Jin's dignity, Vahn ended up interrupting the youth's explanation by reminding everyone about the feast he had prepared. This left the young magus feeling a little taken aback, but, with everyone else eager to eat, he reluctantly agreed to the change of location. Before they could reach it, however, Vahn pulled him off to the side, asking, "What's this all about, kiddo?"Though he was briefly confused by Vahn's words, a look of understanding flashed across Jin's face as he lowered his head and answered, "After spending so much time in the Hestia Familia, I've come to realize that the best person to lead isn't necessarily the strongest or the smartest. Lily has always been there for everyone, myself included. Most importantly, no matter how difficult things became, she never stopped smiling...""Kid...you know that isn't what I'm asking about..."With a self-deprecating smile spreading across his face, Jin nodded his head in affirmation, adding, "I know...if I'm being completely honest, I fell in love with Lily a long time ago. The problem is...I'm not the only one. Most of the boys around our age feel the exact same way. After all, Lily has been our emotional and spiritual anchor for the past three years. Every single member of the Community looks up to her and she has acted as a surrogate mother of sorts for all of us. Even if she was willing to give me a chance, Lily's smile belongs to everyone...I have no right to monopolize it...""Kid..."Placing his right hand on Jin's shoulder, Vahn prevented him from moving as his left hand formed into a fist. Then, far faster than Jin could react, he gave the seventeen-year-old youth a firm smack on the head, asking, "Are you an idiot!?" in an incredulous tone.Though it had been six years, Jin immediately recalled all the times Vahn had knocked him on the head. This caused tears to build in the corners of his eyes as he rubbed the knot atop his head and asked, "Why did you hit me!?" like a wronged child.Resisting the urge to give the teal-haired youth another smack, Vahn inhaled a deep breath through his nose before gesturing to the large red sofa he had manifested out of thin air. This earned him a severe pout from the young magus, but, understanding he didn't really have a choice, it wasn't long before Jin sat down with a defiant look on his face.Feeling slightly exasperated, Vahn shook his head before sitting next to the youth and placing his hand on Jin's shoulder. Then, like a father talking to his son, he adopted a stern yet gentle tone as he began to explain his personal thoughts on the matter.In hindsight, Vahn realized that the thing Jin truly lacked was parental insight from a father figure. Hestia had helped him to build the confidence necessary to pursue his dreams, but, as a maternal figure, she couldn't really guide him through the process of transitioning from a young boy to a young man. Jin needed a father figure to teach him how to be selfish or else he would spend his entire life serving the interests of others. This was a flaw Vahn was intimately familiar with, so, with the hope of correcting some of the youth's misunderstandings, he spent the better part of six-and-a-half hours explaining to him the intricacies of a woman's heart and mind.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Asuka is a very responsible young woman...','There isn't an OOF setting high enough for this level of cringe...','There is still hope, Jin! Listen to the wisdom of the Sage Dragon Emperor...!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 2137: Lesson