Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though the Little Garden was abuzz with rumors and speculation regarding the Sage Dragon's Hearth and their unscrupulous methods, the leaders of Kotoamatsukami couldn't help feeling nervous.While most Communities would be in damage control, the members of the Sage Dragon's hearth, or, more specifically, Vahn demonstrated little regard for the rumors circulating about him and his Community. Instead, he continued to operate his business in the same manner as before, leisurely and however he pleased.When approached by Communities specializing in news and journalism, Vahn's only response was that the Sage Dragon's Hearth was a neutral party that treated all who approached them in a fair and just manner. It didn't matter if they were good, evil, or somewhere in between. So long as they were willing to compromise and reach an agreement, the Sage Dragon's Hearth was willing to help any and all who sought their aid.It was this statement that caused the leaders of Kotoamatsukami to begin sweating, as, rather than attempting to absolve himself of wrongdoing, Vahn's words and actions made it seem as though he simply didn't care. This wouldn't earn him any favors with the general public, but, so long as he kept minding his own business, the people would soon lose interest. The only reason most people even paid attention to such matters was because they enjoyed watching the drama unfold between rival organizations. Watching one group throw around accusations while the other simply ignored them wasn't very interesting........."Master. A delegation from the Nine Dragons Sword Association has arrived."Nodding his head in response to the petite Vampire Princess's declaration, a smile developed across Vahn's face as he sat down his cup of tea and replied, "Thank you, Leticia. They have my permission to enter."Returning a courteous bow, Leticia softly muttered, "As you will..." before raising her head and going to retrieve her Master's 'guests'."I told you things were about to get interesting..."Shifting his focus from the direction Leticia had departed, Vahn met the mesmerizing gaze of the buxom beauty seated next to him. In response, a remarkably predatory smile developed across the woman's face as she replied, "We'll see about that..."Arriving shortly after Leticia's departure, three girls, each with very distinct features, made their way into the room.The first, appearing as the leader of the group, was a petite woman around 158cm tall. She had long brown hair fastened into a neat ponytail, fiery-red eyes, and, despite her small stature, a fierce aura radiated from her body. As for her attire, she wore a two-layered kimono that was purple on the inside and reddish-orange on the outside. This was accompanied by a dark brown hakama, a pair of wooden geta, and a blue-green haori with the kanji for 'Dragon' and 'Echigo' sewn into the shoulders in golden print. On the back, pulsating with sword intent, were even larger kanji denoting the words 'Peerless' and 'Heaven'.Dragging her feet lazily behind the prim and proper samurai beauty was, in Vahn's opinion, an even more remarkable woman with healthy brown skin, somewhat unkempt black hair, and paradoxically lazy-looking eyes that threatened to 'cut' anyone that stared directly at them. She was much taller than the first woman, standing approximately 182cm even whilst barefoot. As for her clothing, she wore a grey tunic, matching trousers, a tattered-looking obi fastened with red cord, and a peculiar poncho that seemed to be lined with the feathers of an owl. She also had a modified amigasa, a circular straw hat covering her back, and, most notably, three different katanas, two at her hip and one, much larger blade resting in a sling on her back.Following closely behind the second woman was a relatively normal-looking girl, who, at a glance, resembled any other girl you might encounter on the street. She was average height, possessed medium-length brown hair, brown eyes, and, though she was far from ugly, she wasn't going to be winning any beauty contests in the near future.In spite of this description, the girl managed to stand out even more than the others due to the sheer 'normalcy' exuding from her body. She seemed so out of place, yet, at the same time, gave off the impression that it was absolutely normal for her to be here. As for her clothes, they gave off an equally disconcerting impression as they seemed perfectly normal at first glance, but, the longer you looked at them, the more questions entered your mind...Noticing Vahn's gaze, a marginally surprised expression appeared on the relatively normal-looking girl's face before she promptly tilted her head to the side and stuck out her tongue. Then, for a very brief moment, Vahn completely lost track of her until he noticed her standing in the corner with her hands in the front pockets of her oversized hoodie...Interrupting before Vahn could ask what the mysterious girl was up to, the presumed leader of the group said, "Thank you for agreeing to meet with us, Vahn-dono. My name is Uesugi Kenshin. This is my compatriot, Miyamoto Musashi-dono. We are pleased to make your acquaintance."Speaking before Vahn could return his greeting, the buxom beauty at his side promptly chimed in, asking, "Oh? You're 'the' Miyamoto Musashi...?"Though Kenshin adopted a disproving glower, the lazy-looking woman at her side maintained a completely neutral expression as she cooly answered, "Somethin' like that..."Adopting a massive grin, the woman sitting at Vahn's side, possessing pale-pink hair and eyes that glimmered with a different color depending on the angle you viewed them from, rose to her feet as she said, "What a coincidence...I just so happen to have the same-"Reacting before Musashi could finish speaking, the raven-haired Musashi immediately drew one of the swords at her waist. At the exact same moment, almost as if her sword had always been drawn, the pink-haired Musashi charged forward with one of the most battle-hungry expressions Vahn had ever seen. Unfortunately, despite no time passing since the moment they drew their swords, Vahn managed to appear between the two Musashi(s), his hands closing around their respective blades as he said, "Not inside..."Though he was pretty confident in the durability of the Sage Dragon's Hearth, Vahn knew better than to underestimate one Musashi, much less two. The duo had the power to cut through all of creation, so, even if they were in a closed-off space, there was a non-negligible chance that their attacks could pierce through the protective barriers of the Sage Dragon's Hearth and affect their surroundings. Hell, the duo were still holding back yet their blades had managed to pierce nearly a centimeter into the near-indestructible flesh of his palms...Surprised by Vahn's ability to stop her sword with his bare hand, Musashi Black opened her mouth to speak even as her hand slipped towards the second katana at her waist. Fortunately, before she could draw it, the blade appeared in Kenshin's hand as the latter said, "Musashi-dono...s, I implore you to remain calm. We didn't come here to start a war."With Musashi Pink already backing down, the raven-haired Musashi gradually retracted her intent, muttering, "Whatever..." as she freed her sword from Vahn's hand. Then, rather than returning the blade to its sheath, she stabbed it into the ground, explaining, "Let's hurry this along. Now that my Kagero has been drawn, it won't return to its sheathe before shedding blood..."Surprising the bronze-skinned beauty, Vahn grasped the hilt of her sword before her eyes could widen so much as a single micron. A reddish-black haze immediately erupted from the blade, but, nearly as soon as it had appeared, the silvery edge had returned to normal as Vahn handed it back to her, saying, "That should have calmed it down a bit."With her mouth hanging open, Musashi Black accepted her sword with a look of utter disbelief on her face. The Kagero was one of the Immortal Blacksmith's, Sengo Muramasa's masterpieces. It was a sword that would consume the souls of the slain and unworthy to increase its strength, so, seeing Vahn both handle it and pacify it with ease, Musashi found it difficult to believe this was the same sword that had caused her countless headaches...Amused by the befuddled swordswoman's expression, Vahn explained, "I may not be the greatest Blacksmith in all of creation but I'm pretty confident in my understanding of the heart and soul of weapons. I'm also pretty handy with a sword so it would be pretty strange if I was unable to wield something like a Muramasa..."Emphasizing his point, Vahn manifested his own Muramasa, a Zanpakuto by the name of Tokiwatari. It possessed the unique ability to sever time, but, more importantly, it clearly radiated the aura of a Muramasa blade.As Muramasa was a close friend of hers, Musashi Black was intimately familiar with every blade her drinking buddy had forged. The Tokiwatari was not among them, so, after a moment of remarkably awkward silence, she met Vahn's gaze, asking, "Do you share an origin with Muramasa...?"Smiling wryly in response to the unsurprising inquiry, Vahn returned Tokiwatari to his Soul Palace before returning to his seat and answering, "My origin is my own. Let's just say I drew inspiration from Muramasa-dono's work when I was forging that particular sword. Now, care to explain why the three of you have ventured all the way from the Nine Dragons Sword Association."Though Musashi Black seemed genuinely confused by Vahn's words, Kenshin's expression briefly hardened as her grip on Musashi's second Muramasa tightened. Fortunately, she wasn't given the opportunity to draw it as the unremarkably mysterious girl chimed in to say, "I knew it. You really can see me, can't you?"Showing just as much surprise as her raven-haired counterpart, Musashi Pink asked, "Who the hell? When did you get behind me...?"Answering in the girl's stead, Vahn explained, "Nanashi no Hanako, the Demon Lord of the Lost and Forgotten. She is a Greater Demon representing lost children. Unless you are specifically looking for her, she can slip from your mind the moment you get distracted..."Surprised by Vahn's words, Hanako's eyes lit up as she remarked, "How curious...tell me, what do I look like to you...?"Though he was somewhat confused by Hanako's words, Vahn answered, "You look like a young girl between the age of 14-16 years old. You have brown hair, brown eyes, and relatively plain features that range between cute and unremarkable..."With her eyes glowing with even greater intensity, Hanako took a few steps forward, asking, "And? What about my clothes~?"Keeping the overly excited girl at bay with a weak telepathic push, Vahn's expression revealed a modicum of incredulity as he dutifully answered, "You're wearing an oversized, dark-grey hoodie with matching stockings..."Seemingly surprised by Vahn's response, Hanako looked down at her body before pulling at the collar of her hoodie to get a better look at its contents. Then, with a slight pout on her face, she looked up at Vahn and remarked, "You must have experienced something pretty messed up if you imagined me without underwear..."Confused by Hanako's words, Vahn shifted his gaze towards Loi-chan, the person who had revealed her identity. In response, she placed her finger on her chin, seemingly in deep thought before finally answering, "It seems her appearance and outfit change based on the perception of people viewing her? She was happy because you were able to see her true self. Now she's bothered by the fact you didn't imagine what her underwear would look like...?"Realizing where the issue lie, a wry smile developed across Vahn's face as he asked, "How about now?"Blinking in surprise, Hanako lifted her hoodie to find a pair of denim shorts and a comfortable, pristine-white blouse with red ribbons on the side. The shorts were a little tight, but, feeling the comfortable fabric beneath them, a radiant smile developed across her face as she asserted, "You really care about children, don't you? I can't even remember the last time I had clothes this warm and cozy..."With Loi-chan promptly informing him that Hanako was telling the truth, the expression on Vahn's face gradually morphed into a fatherly smile. Before he could offer any comforting words, however, Hanako surprised everyone present by asking, "Can I stay here from now on? I don't think I need to explain this but being the Demon Lord of the Lost and Forgotten gets pretty lonely. Even if it's only for a short while, I would be happy if at least one kind person remembered me...most of the people who can see me aren't exactly pleasant-"Seeing the indescribable melancholy in the depths of Hanako's hazel-brown eyes, Vahn didn't wait for her to finish speaking. Instead, he took a knee before wrapping his arms around her inordinately thin and frail body. Rather than a fifteen-year-old, she suddenly had the stature of a girl around ten. Thus, even though there was currently a knife sticking out of his abdomen, he embraced the young Demoness, answering, "Of course you can stay..."......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'People love drama...','Vahn never misses a chance to show off...','Uh...bro...you kind of have a...you know what? Nevermind...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though it was pretty common for her victims to simply ignore things like being stabbed, Hanako could tell Vahn was aware of it due to the fact he wasn't bleeding. Her powers allowed her to ignore conventional durability, and, thanks to the Law of the Assumed Form, even the most powerful Gods in existence were vulnerable whilst appearing as humans.Under normal circumstances, the people stabbed by Hanako would simply ignore the injury even as they bled out. The closest they would get to being aware of their plight is feeling weak or nauseous. It didn't matter if they were alone or surrounded by a group of people. Unless they possessed some form of extra causal sense, they shouldn't be aware of her actions. Such was the fate of the Lost and Forgotten."You knew I was going to stab you...?"Hearing Hanako's question, Musashi Pink's brows perked up as she looked towards Musashi Black and Kenshin, asking, "Are you for real? Did you actually believe you could just walk into the Sage Dragon's Hearth and assassinate Vahn? And I thought I was rash..."Recalling how she had once attempted to battle against Vahn head-on, a wry yet reminiscent smile developed across Musashi Pink's face...Confused by her counterpart's lack of hostility, Musashi Black sent Kenshin an accusatory look out of the corner of her eye as she coldly replied, "Someone neglected to inform me of this particular aspect of our plan..."Shaking her head, Kenshin did her best to appear calm as she explained, "You're mistaken...we did not come here with the intention to kill or cause harm. Our mission was to ascertain the true nature of Vahn Mason and the Sage Dragon's Hearth. If your Community is truly as neutral as you purport it to be, there is no reason for you to refuse your services to the Nine Dragons Sword Association..."Rising to his feet, Vahn removed Hanako's pitch-black dagger from his stomach before ruffling her hair and handing it back to her. Then, with a marginally more serious expression on his face, he met Kenshin's gaze, stating, "That isn't the only reason you were sent here. Hanako is unable to trespass the domain of another unless someone enters with the intention of seeking lost children. You must be aware of her existence, or, at the very least, aware of the possibility of her existence in order for her to manifest...""..."Realizing there was some truth to the rumors regarding Vahn's deductive omniscience, the tensions in Kenshin's body began to relax as a paradoxically oppressive yet serene aura began to exude from her body. The turquoise haori on her body, starkly contrasting the rest of her outfit, wasn't worn out of a sense of pride or braggadociousness. She was, at the present moment, the greatest among all mortal swordsmen, women, and everything in between. Her Origin also ascribed her with the ability to break through encirclements and shatter the ranks of her enemies, so, even if she was trapped in an inescapable prison, she could break free so long as the people within identified her as an enemy.Amused by the overly serious woman before him, a teasing smile developed across Vahn's face until he heard Musashi Pink muttered, "There he goes again..."Promptly deciding against teasing the fiery-eyed brunette, Vahn motioned towards the cushions he had prepared before returning to his seat, manifesting tea, and asking, "So? What, specifically, does the Nine Dragons Sword Association seek from my humble enterprise...?"Taken aback by Vahn's behavior, Kenshin found herself at a loss for how to respond. It didn't help that Musashi Black immediately followed Pink's example by taking a seat. As for Hanako, the only person still aware of her was Vahn. Kenshin knew she had to be around, but, unlike Vahn, she had very little affinity with beings possessing non-existent or acausal physiologies. Hanako wouldn't be able to kill her due to the differences in their Origins, but, unless the Demoness went out of her way to draw attention to herself, even omniscient deities would find it difficult to sense her. (A/N: Simply put, a Lost/Forgotten Child could never defeat a swordsman recognized as Peerless Under Heaven.)Deciding it was for the best if she continues with her mission, Kenshin returned Musashi's sword in an effort to remove the temptation from her heart before taking a seat and answering, "According to the rumors, the Sage Dragon's Hearth specializes in the production of Gifts. Similar stories credit you with the ability to awaken a person's hidden potential. We have unearthed substantial evidence to back these allegations, but, no matter how deep we dig, we have been unable to ascertain what, exactly, you expect in return. How does the Sage Dragon's Hearth benefit from empowering others? What is your aim?"Though they had conducted a thorough investigation into the Communities affiliated with the Sage Dragon's Hearth through the Burgeoning Communities Accord, the subsidiaries of Kotoamatsukami had failed to ascertain the reason behind Vahn's actions. It would have made sense if he was trying to build a rapport with the people of the Little Garden, but, looking at his most recent actions, that didn't seem to be the case. He also didn't actively communicate with or demand tributes from the Communities he assisted, so, while there was a possibility he would call upon them in the future, all evidence pointed to the fact that Vahn had helped them simply because he felt like it.Reinforcing this sentiment, Vahn just shrugged his shoulders, answering, "Everyone, be they good or evil, deserves the right to pursue strength if they're willing to work for it. The reason I don't care about benefits is that I have no need for them. As for my aims, well, I don't see how they are any of your concerns. Even if you did accept my offer, it wouldn't have anything to do with my penultimate goal, much less my final aspiration."Furrowing her brows, Kenshin asked, "You would empower the wicked in their pursuit of strength? Do you have no conscience?"Rolling his eyes, Vahn's expression became a mocking deadpan as he asked, "Really? You're going to lecture others on conscience when you willfully brought a Demon Lord that specializes in making children disappear into the home of someone who's never wronged you? It always amazes me how truly hypocritical you 'justice' types can be..."Unable to refute Vahn's words, Kenshin could only lower her head in shame, hands clenching into fists. She didn't like the thought of employing Hanako any more than Musashi did. It simply wasn't her decision to make...Resisting the urge to snort, Vahn briefly cast his gaze towards Hanako. A smile immediately spread across her face, as, despite trying to kill him, she didn't have any actual enmity toward Vahn. Killing people was just the most 'convenient' method to ensure there was always at least one person who remembered her. There were a number of other reasons as well, but, as those were significantly less pleasant, she did her best not to even think about them.Ruffling the marginally more mature-looking girl's hair, Vahn's expression gradually relaxed into a smile as he said, "Besides, you're mistaken about one thing. More specifically, I haven't explained to you the 'cost' of receiving my aid..."Retracing his hand from Hanako's head, Vahn met Kenshin's gaze, adding, "Anyone who signs one of my contracts accepts the inevitability of being wiped out the moment they come anywhere near my bottom line. Trying to eliminate 'evil' is a fruitless endeavor as even people such as yourself are capable of making exceptionally foolish decisions. Thus, rather than arbitrarily killing people I don't like, I place restrictions on them to make them act more in line with my principles. I provide them the means and opportunity to change. If they violate the terms of our contract after the fact, they only have themselves to blame for the consequences of their actions..."Tensing at the word 'consequences', the fiery glow in Kenshin's eyes became more prominent as she asked, "And what, exactly, are these consequences you speak of...?"Shrugging his shoulders, a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes spread across Vahn's face as he answered, "As I stated previously, I don't help people while expecting anything substantial return. If they violate our contract before the term expires, I will kill them without hesitation. I don't believe in imprisoning people, and, unless they committed some kind of heinous act against children, I see no merit in forcing people to suffer. I would rather just kill them and let the systems in place sort them out. Simple as that."Though Vahn's words might sound extreme, they were actually relatively tame in regards to the way most Gods dealt with their enemies. Nearly every major 4-Digit Faction had its own version of Hell, a place where their enemies and people who refused to abide by their will would be made to suffer for all of eternity. In that regard, killing was a mercy, as, more often than not, it simply meant being reincarnated or descending into a lower realm. This often meant losing your memories, but, unless the person who killed you went out of their way to remove your inborn powers or Gifts, they would persist even after reincarnation."I see...it would appear our Master may have misjudged you..."Following her words, Kenshin attempted to perform an apologetic dogeza but found herself barred by an invisible force. This briefly improved her impression of Vahn until he, in a tone reminiscent of Musashi Black, stated, "Mistaken as she was regarding the Sage Dragon's Hearth, Amaterasu is right to fear me. Soon enough, my Empire, the Aldrnari Empire, will span the entirety of the Divine Realm. I'm not particularly fond of the current state of affairs, so, unless they are willing to join me, Factions such as the Kotoamatsukami are bound to be shattered and subsumed. Thus, while I can appreciate your willingness to apologize, rest easy knowing there is no need. The moment she tasked you with inviting Hanako into my home, Amaterasu had already crossed my bottom line..."Though his tone and expression gave off the impression he was completely disinterested in the words coming out of his mouth, the aura exuding from Vahn's body caused even Musashi Pink to freeze in place. He might not have any enmity towards Hanako, quite the opposite, but Loi-chan had made him very aware of her powers and abilities.As the Demon Lord of the Lost and Forgotten, Hanako didn't even need to take personal action in order to make children simply spirit away. The only prerequisite was for a child to be neglected for even a moment. Then, unless the parent or guardian proactively searched for them, it would only take a few hours for them to forget they even existed.The most terrifying thing about Hanako's ability was that it wouldn't actually take the children away. Rather, from the perspective of the child, everyone would simply be ignoring them. They would still be able to interact with the world around them, but, even if they threw objects or violently attacked people in an effort to garner their attention, nothing would work. They would be lost and forgotten in a world filled with people. To make matters exponentially worse, the only people who could see them were Demons, Evil Spirits, and those who willfully predated on children. In their eyes, the Lost and Forgotten were a rare treat, as, even if they committed all manner of heinous acts right in front of other people, no one would notice...Though the odds of his children being spirited away were precisely 0%, Amaterasu had no way of knowing that. She knew it was a possibility, but, for the sole purpose of obtaining information, she sent Hanako into his home without regard for the consequences. After all, if the Lost and Forgotten couldn't be remembered, what consequences could there possibly be?She would learn the answer to that question very, very soon.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'SCP-1504 had a daughter...','Vahn almost had a relapse xD...','To be Lost and Forgotten is a fate worse than death...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

"Are you serious?"Though she nodded her head in response to Vahn's question, Shiroyasha adopted a slight pout as she asked, "What reason could I possibly have to lie to you? I entrusted one of my Sun Authorities to that foxy maid of yours. If that isn't enough evidence to prove I'm all-in, why, I don't know what else to say..."Taking advantage of the fact she was lounging with her head in his lap, Vahn poked Shiroyasha's inflated cheeks as he remarked, "You know I wasn't calling into question your loyalty. I just find it difficult to believe that Kotoamatsukami would muster their forces without greater provocation..."As he had spent the past week coming up with methods to bait Kotoamatsukami into action, Vahn couldn't help feeling something was amiss when Shiroyasha suddenly informed him that his efforts were unnecessary. Kotoamtsukami had seized the initiative by nominating several of their lesser 4-Digit Communities to participate in the Sage Dragon's Hearth's promotional Gift Game. At the same time, they began spreading rumors that the Sage Dragon's Hearth was attempting to purchase a 4-Digit Gate rather than earning it through their own strength and merits.Those unfamiliar with how the Divine Realm worked might misconstrue Kotoamatsukami's actions as petty. While this was certainly the case, there were a number of convincing, perfectly reasonable justifications to pursue such a course of action.Just as Caulifla and Kale had learned, reputation and status were of paramount importance outside the 1-3-Digit Gates. If you could convince the general public that your enemy was weak and relied on underhanded methods to achieve victory, their power would, quite literally, be reduced. This was a common tactic employed by Communities at every level. After all, if you could weaken your foes while simultaneously strengthening your allies, why wouldn't you?The reason Vahn was confused was that such tactics were typically reserved for Communities that were at war with one another. Manipulating the public was a double-edged sword. People didn't like being fooled, so, if your opponent possessed the means to prove their innocence or sway the public in their favor, spreading rumors could have the exact opposite effect. This was how a group such as the Buddhist Faction was able to rise to prominence, as, even if their opponents attempted to slander them, the vast majority of people would simply assume they were lying.With rumors regarding Mikoto's and Fenrir's strength quickly circulating throughout the East Side, it wasn't too surprising that someone would either attempt to quash or downplay them. Such was par for the course when a new Community was building strength.The difference between this situation and the norm was that the members of Kotoamatsukami were being very public about their accusations. From the perspective of the common people, this made it seem as though they were on the side of righteousness. This would give them a substantial amount of leverage moving forward, as, even if their clearly sacrificial Community lost in the upcoming Gift Game, they could orchestrate a scenario that made the Sage Dragon's Hearth appear guilty."What a farce..."Snickering in response to Vahn's words, Shiroyasha rolled onto her side before curling up in a fetal position and muttering, "That's just the way things are. Why do you think the powers that be allow so many 'normal' people to reside in the Divine Realm? If strength was the only qualifier for power and authority, all of creation would just be a never-ended cycle of war. Systems such as this need to be in place so that those who are clever and opportunistic have the opportunity to claw their way to the top..."Though his hand habitually moved to scratch near the base of Shiroyasha's obsidian-black horns, Vahn found himself at a loss for words as a wave of realization washed over him. He had actually been intending to expel the vast majority of people from the Divine Realm via transmigration. The notion that those with power were given a choice while those without were forced to submit and obey had never sat well with him.By allowing people to transmigrate into worlds of their choosing, Vahn was hoping to make it up to the trillions who had been forced to suffer as a result of games they had no hand in. Now, however, he was-"Are you this impressionable every time you return from one of your Actualized Worlds...?"Blinking back to awareness, a wry smile developed across Vahn's face as he looked down to meet Shiroyasha's cat-like eyes, answering, "It's a little ironic, isn't it? I have all the time in the world to think yet still end up making decisions based on spur of the moment shifts in perspective...""Mmm...I wouldn't say it's ironic. Many of the Primordial Gods refused to change even after the destruction of the original Little Garden. It's one of the reasons Poets were created. Without them, existence would have been erased long ago as the only driving forces of change were the demons representing war, disaster, and chaos..."With a reminiscent look in her eyes and a melancholic smile on her face, Shiroyasha used the tip of her inordinately sharp nail to casually cut a line down Vahn's pant leg. This caused the latter's brow to twitch, but, instead of interrupting the mischievous demoness's reverie, he tenderly combed his fingers through her silvery-white, indescribably silky hair...Understanding that Vahn wouldn't complain even if she took a bite out of his calf, the smile on Shiroyasha's face became slightly predatory as she traced her tongue along the skin her 'careless' actions had exposed. She hadn't been particularly fond of blood in the past, but, ever since getting to know Vahn, suckling the remarkably sweet extract from his body had become one of her favorite pastimes...Realizing where things were head, a wry smile developed across Vahn's face. Before she bit into him, however, Shiroyasha continued from where she left off, explaining, "The ability to change our mind and adapt to external stimuli is a relatively recent addition to the repertoire of Gods. Before, even the most powerful among us were little more than slaves to our Divinities. We had very little freedom, only purpose..."Rising to a seated position, Shiroyasha positioned herself in Vahn's lap, willfully guiding his hands to her stomach before adding, "It was the creation of Gifts that allowed a few of us to break free from the chains that had bound us since time immemorial. As for the rest, they went on to form the very foundation atop which the current Little Garden was established..."Leaning her head back, Shiroyasha's dagger-like horns poked Vahn in the chest as she met his gaze, concluding her tangential explanation by stating, "Change is inevitable. Those who cannot or refuse to change are fated to become the stepping stones of others. Your impressionability may result in a number of...disadvantageous situations in the future. Even then, you should never doubt yourself. It is our ability to make mistakes and learn from them that allows us to grow. If you were perfect from the start, nothing would ever change..."As a being that had existed since before the dawn of time, Shiroyasha was something of an expert when it came to the subject at hand. It wasn't all that long ago that she had descended to the Little Garden. Almost immediately thereafter, she made a number of poor decisions, experienced what it was like to be exploited, and even had her very existence profaned beyond repair.In spite of all the hardships she had been forced to endure, Shiroyasha had never once thought to go back and change things. Sure, there were a number of events that haunted her to this very day, but, prior to those happenings, all she had was the experiences of others.Shiroyasha had witnessed the formation and decay of countless cosmological structures, the birth of creation, and, within it, the lives of a functionally infinite number of creatures. In spite of this, if anyone were to ask her which she would prefer, Shiroyasha would choose even the memories from the very worst day of her life over every experience she had accumulated watching others...With that in mind, Shiroyasha's kimono gradually dispersed into a pale, lavender-colored mist. She may be content with choosing her worst memories, but, as there was currently no one forcing her to make such decisions, she would rather focus on creating new, happier ones. The time she spent with Vahn was among the most memorable, so, while she may have suppressed the urge to follow the current 'trend', that wasn't going to stop her from having as much fun as she desired.........Armed with the knowledge of Kotoamatsukami's scheme, Vahn informed the leaders of each of his affiliate Communities before taking a back seat on the issue. This may seem negligible on his part, but, in actuality, he just wanted to give everyone else the chance to act. They needed a platform to build their legend upon, and, as contrived as it might seem, ignoring such rumors would ultimately work in their favor once people realized they were completely unaffected.If Vahn really wanted to, he could actually grant the people 'beneath' him a portion of his Authority via his Familia Crest or something as simple as an emblem on their armor. Instead, the only benefit he granted them was complete immunity to the formative effects of a Poet. In other words, even if a famous Poet attempted to alter that nature of their existence, the System Templates he had granted each of them would intervene. Then, once it became known that they were immune to the effects of a Poet, their legend and identities would quickly take shape as 'only the strongest' were impervious to the influence of a Poet.Simply put, letting the girls do whatever they wanted was the best way to ensure they were able to develop or seize Fragments of Origin for themselves. If he took proactive action, they would always be seen as beneath him. While there was nothing intrinsically wrong with this, Vahn had never once viewed his wives and lovers in such a manner. They may not be his equals in power or status but he would continue to regard them as such until the sentiment was firmly planted in the minds of every single person in existence.To this end, Vahn passed his days by lounging about, spending time with the people visiting the Sage Dragon's Hearth, and watching over his kids. Xysteria got along remarkably well with Usalia and her kittens, and, ever since they were given the opportunity to venture outside, many of Vahn's children were eager to try creating Communities of their own.Though he did place quite a number of restrictions on them, Vahn didn't have any issues with his children wanting to venture out on their own. The only caveats were that they would need to stay in groups of three, and, for the most part, rely on themselves to ascend through the ranks of the Little Garden. They would have access to the Quest Board, but, unless they were in danger of being taken advantage of by a far more powerful organization, Vahn had no intention of stepping in to resolve problems they had created for themselves.In actuality, Vahn wouldn't hesitate to step in if his children, specifically his daughters, were truly in danger. However, if it was something as base as their lives being on the line, he didn't mind letting them experience a minor trauma or two if it was the result of their own actions. Their actual bodies were safely stowed away within his personalized Little Garden, so, unless they encountered a being capable of detecting and destroying the ostensibly indestructible System Templates, death simply meant returning and having to 'reincarnate' into a new vessel.As for the fate of anyone who tried to exploit or take advantage of his children...death would be a reprieve.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'What is this, High School...?','System Templates are busted...','Vahn isn't a helicopter papa. He's the weapons platform watching from high orbit xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 2182: Cognitive Dissonance