Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though he had already made up his mind even before coming to the North, Vahn would be lying if he said Sandora's words weren't compelling. He still felt that she deserved a normal childhood, but, instead of looking down on her convictions and telling her she wasn't old enough to be doing the things she had already been doing for more than four years, he answered, "Sure thing. There are a few specifics we'll need to work out but I have absolutely no issues with accepting you as one of my wives."
Feeling the tensions drain from her body, a sigh beyond her years escaped Sandora's throat along with the words, "Thank the Gods..." in a profoundly relieved tone. Immediately afterward, however, a faint blush colored her cheeks as she looked up at Vahn and added, "Though I suppose it would be more befitting to thank you...?"
Shaking his head, a wry smile developed across Vahn's face as he extended his left hand, palm up, towards Sandora. She was a little confused by his actions, but, after a moment of silence, the color of her cheeks became noticeably ruddier as she tentatively overlapped her hand with his.
"This is entirely the result of your convictions. You have worked hard to reach this point in your life, Sandora. From the moment onward, allow me to help carry your burden..."
Using his free hand, Vahn traced the base of Sandora's ring finger. The moment he did so, a golden band that radiated a distinct red hue manifested into existence. The most eye-catching thing about it, however, was the brilliant red gemstone embedded in what appeared to be a coiling Salamander. Not only was it mesmerizing to look at, but, gazing deep into the gem's structure, you would find a slit-like pupil staring back at you, as, rather than a simple ring, the band wrapped around Sandora's finger was the prototype for an artificial Zanpakuto Spirit.
Though her body began trembling when she saw the ring manifest around her finger, it wasn't fear that Sandora was feeling. Instead, an exhilaration unlike anything she had ever experienced surged through her body as her Spirit Energy had increased by a factor of ten in an instant.
"Incredible..."
Guiding Sandora's chin so that she was staring at him rather than the ring on her finger, Vahn's expression softened as he teased, "A paltry trinket compared to the person wearing it..."
Blushing a luminous shade of crimson that extended all the way to the tips of her pointed ears, it was Sandora's turn to catch Vahn by surprise as she suddenly closed her eyes and puckered her lips. She had interpreted his act of touching her chin as an indication that he was about to plant a kiss on her lips. As a result, Vahn suddenly found himself in a rather precarious position as he was just about to broach the subject of letting Sandora spend a few years in one of his Actualized Worlds...
(*Just get it over with. It will be a lot easier to reason with her once she is convinced of your mutual affection. If you pull back now, needless doubts will permeate her mind. She may be a capable ruler but she is still a child. She is bound to read too much into things if you hesitate over something as trivial as a kiss.*)
Though he smiled wryly within his mind, Vahn didn't attempt to argue with Sis's words. Sandora may be able to conceal it from others but he could sense the loneliness she kept hidden within the deepest recesses of her heart and mind. The only person she truly trusted was herself, but, due to her age, she wasn't nearly as confident as she pretended to be.&nbsp;
People who presented themselves as 'perfect' were often the most afraid of making even minor mistakes...
After a long period of deliberation, at least from Vahn's extremely skewed perspective of time, he finally lowered his head to plant a very chaste kiss on Sandora's lips. Her aura practically exploded, but, before she could reciprocate, Vahn pulled away with an apologetic smile on his face as he said, "We still need to discuss a few of the specifics regarding our engagement..."
Opening her eyes, a mixture of confusion, doubt, and mild disappointment could be seen reflected in Sandora's dark-blue irises. The crimson hue that had spread through the entirety of her face took mere seconds to recede fully as the serious expression she had worn during their initial introduction promptly returned.
"..."
Understanding that he had actually made things worse, Vahn caught Sandora off guard by exhaling a clearly exasperated sigh. Before she could read further into it, however, he earned a surprisingly adorable yelp from the too-serious Princess as he snaked his hand around her back and placed it on her exposed side. This was already far beyond Sandora's expectations, but, instead of stopping there, Vahn pulled her onto his lap in a single, smooth, remarkably practiced motion.
Tensing to the point that she could humble a statue, Sandora dared not look directly into Vahn's face. The blush she had previously suppressed came back with a vengeance. Instead of stopping at the tips of her ears, however, it spread down into her neck before gradually permeating through the rest of her body like a potent flame.
Further exacerbating Sandora's condition, Vahn placed his hand on her exposed, surprisingly taut abdomen. Sandora may have the appearance of a young girl but she was still descended from a Pure Blooded Dragon. Her skin was remarkably soft but the muscles concealed beneath were as firm and flexible as augmented graphene fibers.&nbsp;
Internally shaking his head, Vahn channeled calming energy into Sandora's body as he said, "Don't misunderstand. I'm not trying to be contrary or deceitful. I just have a set of principles that prohibit me from engaging in salacious or inappropriate acts with those I perceive as minors. You are a very mature young lady, but, as much as I respect and admire what you've been able to accomplish over your eleven short years of existence, you are simply too young. Wait a couple of years, and, even if your features remain exactly the same, I will be more than willing to meet each and every single one of your expectations..."
Punctuating his words, Vahn lowered his hand ever so slightly to Sandora's lower abdomen. He was still channeling calming energy into her body, but, understanding the implication behind his words, Sandora swallowed so hard it produced an audible gulping sound.&nbsp;
"I...I understand what you're trying to say...but...but I..."
Though her expression appeared remarkably calm, Sandora's mental and emotional states were a complete mess. She had absolutely no words to describe what she was currently feeling, so, after failing to assemble something more profound, she just lowered her head and asked, "How long is a couple of years? As one of the last Salamanders, everyone is anxious to see me produce offspring. I would like to put their hearts and minds at ease...not just for them, but for my own sake..."
In response to Sandora's words, Vahn surprised her yet again by pulling her into his embrace and simply holding her for the better part of three minutes. It broke his heart that Sandora genuinely believed the things she was saying. Nearly everything she did was for the sake of others, yet, much like his past self, she had convinced herself that it was necessary for her own happiness. Unlike him, however, she had been shouldering everything on her own. She was completely miserable, but, for the sake of 'everyone else', she maintained a smile and kept telling herself that everything would be okay so long as she kept trying her hardest...
Confused by Vahn's actions, Sandora didn't immediately respond to his embrace. This was actually the first time she had ever received a hug. She may have received one when she was an infant, but, as great as her memory was, she couldn't recall events that had taken place before she was seven months old. Since her mother had died shortly after birthing her, Sandora's only memory of being held was when she was being breastfed by her Nursemaid.
Realizing that Vahn may be the first person that held her in such a caring and tender manner, a hint of moisture developed across Sandora's eyes before she closed them and snuggled a little closer to his warmth. Her crown and horns ended up poking into him more than a few times, but, instead of complaining or admonishing her, Vahn just wrapped his arms around her even more firmly until the only thought in Sandora's mind was how comfortable it was to be held. That and one other thing...
Noticing Sandora was beginning to nuzzle against his chest, a wry smile developed across Vahn's face as he slowly released her from his embrace. When she looked up and noticed this, a look of shame immediately marred Sandora's countenance until Vahn affirmed, "You have done absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. I just didn't want things to get out of hand before we had the chance to talk..."
Though she was still incredibly embarrassed after being caught burying her face into Vahn's chest and inhaling his aroma, Sandora managed to adopt her characteristically serious expression as she said, "I understand. Though I may need to discuss it with my brother and the Elders of Salamandra, know I will do everything in my power to abide by your conditions. Tell me what I must do."
Resisting the urge to sigh and comment on Sandora's sudden change in demeanor, Vahn planted a kiss atop the too-serious redhead's crown before proceeding to explain her options. He advised her that the 'correct' choice was to continue living as she had been. He explained his ability to change a person's race and even revealed that he had removed the tumors from her brother's lungs. In other words, there was no need for her to bear the burden of her entire species. Even if she waited tens of thousands of years to have children, there was absolutely no chance that her species and bloodline would be wiped out.
As surprised as she was by the revelations about her brother and Vahn's abilities, Sandora insisted that he explain the rest of her options. She actually knew about Sarina and Nono, so, even if Vahn failed to broach the subject himself, Sandora was prepared to mention it. If he refused, she would simply enter a different Game Board. Her age had always been a point of controversy so now was as good a time as any to do something about it.
Fortunately, the very next option Vahn brought up was using his personal Game Board to both accumulate experience and increase her strength. The third option was entering into one of his Actualized Worlds but that was easier said than done. It was also the least expedient method to achieve her goal, so, while Sandora could appreciate Vahn's desire to let her experience a normal childhood, she ultimately chose the second option. The only caveat was that she wanted to enter alongside him so they could get to know each other better. She didn't particularly care about the Dungeon or joining any Guilds. Even if they spent the entire time isolating themselves somewhere in the mountains, she wouldn't mind.
Though Vahn agreed to allow Sandora to make use of the Game Board, the notion of spending five-to-six years in complete isolation with a promiscuous Dragon girl didn't exactly bring him peace of mind. He knew exactly how persistent a girl like Sandora could be, so, while he was willing to enter alongside her, he insisted they either join separate Familia or invite a few others to enter the Game Board with them. This caused a rather adorable pout to develop across Sandora's face, but, after a long period of deliberation, she eventually accepted. So long as she didn't have to enter the Game Board alone, she was satisfied with any arrangement Vahn could think of. She just didn't want to be alone...not again...
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn be like, "Well, well, well...if it isn't the consequences of my own actions. It's been a long time..."','You better keep giving that girl hugs...','Lots and lots of hugs...')

Deciding she would enter the Game Board after the Coronation Ceremony had concluded, Sandora was prepared to wish Vahn a good night only to find out mere minutes had passed since her arrival.
"Given how serious you are, I figured you would feel guilty about skipping a full day of work just to keep me company. If you're feeling tired, you are more than welcome to rest here for a while. I can also prepare something to eat if you're hungry."
Hearing Vahn mention food, Sandora suddenly recalled that she had prepared the chefs to prepare a banquet. It would have been fine if they missed it, but, now that she knew they could still make it in time, her nervousness began to build as she explained the situation and asked, "Would it be okay if I informed the others about our engagement? I think it would put a lot of people at ease knowing things have gone smoothly."
Having already presented her with an engagement ring, Vahn saw no reason to refuse Sandora's request. It was only a matter of time before people found out, so, even if she elected to announce it to the entire Little Garden, he wouldn't particularly mind. The most important thing was that it was something she wanted to do, not something she felt compelled to do.
"Of course. In fact, I'll be there right alongside you when you make the announcement. Now that we're engaged, it's only natural that we stand united at times like this."
Feeling reassured by Vahn's words, the fatigue Sandora had been staving off impacted her mind and body like a tidal wave. Under normal circumstances, she would have politely declined Vahn's offer to rest, but, recalling how tenderly he had treated her, she found herself averting her eyes as she meekly inquired, "At the risk of sound impertinent...can I request that you hold me until I fall asleep...?"
Though he was somewhat taken aback by Sandora's request, Vahn didn't have to contemplate his answer. He had practically forced her to sit on his lap just to get her to calm down, so, in response to Sandora's request, he simply smiled and answered, "I'll be there when you wake up as well..."
Feeling even more reassured, Sandora lightly headbutted Vahn's chest, her arms wrapping around his body as she closed her eyes. It would take her quite a while to actually fall asleep, but, when she did, it was inarguably the best sleep she ever had...
Compared to what followed, however, it was difficult to describe which was better. Her dream or the reality she woke up to...
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Cradling the sleeping Sandora in his arms, Vahn was about to shift his attention elsewhere when he noticed an abnormality in the young Dragoness. Her body began to heat up at a startling rate, but, instead of causing her any harm, it appeared to be promoting her growth.
"I'm an idiot..."
(*You certainly have your moments...*)
Similar to Black Rabbit, Lily, and pretty much every race that depended on spiritual energy for their development, Sandora's body began to experience rapid changes the moment her mind descended into a deep state of unconsciousness. The engagement ring Vahn had gifted her provided the same standard increase as a Shikai, the first stage of an awakened Zanpakuto. It had effectively multiplied Sandora's spiritual energy by a factor of ten, and, as a result, her body was evolving from its second stage to its third...
Though he could probably manage it if he really tried, Vahn had been told that it was exceptionally dangerous to interrupt someone's evolution. Thus, even Sandora practically inflated in his arms, the dimensions of her body threatening the integrity of her already revealing outfit, he remained silent and patient as the image of Shiroyasha appeared in his mind.
("She planned this from the start, didn't she...?")
(*Hmmm...it's hard to say. I'm certain that Sandora had factored into her plan from the start but her reaction during your previous conversation would indicate she hadn't really considered this kind of development. Given the nature of her existence, I would question whether or not Shiroyasha even concerns herself with factors such as age. In her mind, the value of a person is probably decided by how competent and capable they are.*)
"..."
Unable to refute Sis's words, Vahn remained silent as he redirected and absorbed the heat radiating from Sandora's body into his own. He also dispersed the flames that would periodically erupt from her body, and, for the sake of preventing things from becoming too awkward once she woke up, he spread his senses through her clothes and manually adjusted the spacing between the constituent molecules. The incredibly expensive and durable fabric was designed to have a reasonable amount of elasticity, but, due to the prevalence of Gag Laws, Vahn knew that 'something' was bound to give if he simply ignored it...
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Feeling a pervasive and indescribably comfortable warmth encompassing the entirety of her being, Sandora opened her eyes to find herself lying in the center of a massive, canopied bed. Confusion appeared in the depths of her eyes, but, upon looking to her right, it was immediately replaced by a hint of panic as she found a seemingly naked version of Vahn lying next to her. More accurately, he was lying on his back while she was using his chest and shoulder as a pillow...
Recoiling from Vahn's body, Sandora was unsurprised yet flummoxed to find that she was just as naked as Vahn. Her mind began racing for answers, but, before she could find them, two muscular arms suddenly wrapped around her shoulders. The Vahn that had been 'sleeping' on the bed was now nowhere to be seen. Instead, he had appeared behind her in an instant, his left hand reaching to her lower belly as his right forced her to stare up at him as he said, "I changed my mind...seeing you sleeping in such a defenseless manner...how could I not want to eat you up?"
Though her body trembled in Vahn's embrace, Sandora neither struggled nor made any attempts to break free. She had already noticed a number of irregularities with her present situation. Vahn was the most obvious but the most significant was the fact she was currently bereft of her crown. It was an artifact that could only be removed when the wearer willed it. If someone else tried to remove it, they may as well be trying to remove a part of her head. There was a chance Vahn could circumvent this, but, with their surroundings being a poor reflection of the interior of her room, it barely took a single second for Sandora to realize what was going on.&nbsp;
Sandora was, once again, dreaming about Vahn. This time, however, she wasn't imagining the scene of him tearing Amaterasu apart or breaking into her palace to whisk her away someplace no one in her Community could ever hope to reach. Instead, it was the version of Vahn she had spent the last few hours with. More accurately, it was the version of Vahn that Sandora wished she had met...
Despite feeling as though she was doing something very, very wrong, Sandora completely ignored the tiny voice in the back of her mind telling her she should wake up. Vahn had added a bit of light to her world, but, as far as she was concerned, the outside world was an unpleasant and lonesome place. She was constantly pushing herself beyond her limits to make everyone else happy, so, just this once, couldn't she be just a little selfish? Didn't she deserve to be happy?
Prompted by the thought she generally kept locked away in the deepest recesses of her heart and mind, Sandora placed her hand over her imagined version of Vahn before practically forcing it to go lower. It was surprisingly difficult, almost as though she was like trying to press a mountain flat, but, unwilling to lose yet another chance at happiness, she persisted until the end...
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(*It's almost like she's trying to pull herself into you...*)
("Yeah, I kind of noticed...")
Though Sandora's evolution had stabilized nearly an hour prior, she showed no signs of waking up. Rather, based on the electrical impulses of her brain and the fluctuations in her aura, he was pretty sure she was willing herself to remain asleep. At the same time, she was adhering to him with such tenacity and vigor that, had he been a piece of coal, she may have compressed him into a diamond.
(*I wonder what she's dreaming about...?*)
("Don't tempt me...")
(*Nyahahaha~*)
Ignoring the playfully mischievous voice in the back of his mind, Vahn spread his senses throughout Sandora's body to make sure everything was okay. He already knew there wasn't but concentrating on the more minute aspects of her body made it easier to ignore the pillowy softness pressing into his chest, the equally soft sensation weighing him down, and the far more troublesome elements of his present situation.
("I think I understand Shiroyasha's frustration now. Her age hasn't changed, yet, had this been the version of Sandora I encountered, I doubt I would have even considered making use of the Game Board. In hindsight, I experienced something very similar with Lily...")
Shrugging her shoulders within the comfort of Vahn's mind, Sis replied, (*It doesn't really matter in the end. Even if some people view you as a hypocrite, you were only acting in accordance with your principles and Sandora's own interests. She really does need to mature a bit before she goes on to start a family. As for Lily...that girl has always been something of an exception. I would be surprised if she awakens a Divinity related to motherhood or something similar in the near future. That girl is far too 'stable' for someone in her situation.*)
With Sis pulling up the memories for him, Vahn's expression became pensive as he reflected on the situation with Lily's mother. She had yet to petition him for help, but, ever since the night Lily had confessed to him, Vahn had been looking into details regarding her mother's fate.
Though it had been a little difficult as even Lily could no longer recall her mother's name, Vahn was able to piece together the pieces of the puzzle using the same method he had abused in the Tower. He had Loi-chan continually transform into people affiliated with the destruction of the No Names until she landed on one that knew both the name of Lily's mother and her present location.
At first, Vahn had been ecstatic about the discovery, but, before he could approach Jin and give the boy a push in the right direction, he asked Loi-chan to ascertain the condition of Lily's mother, Yuki. She turned out to be completely healthy, but, the moment Loi-chan transformed into her, Vahn was stunned beyond compare when he noticed Yuki's swelling belly. Shortly after that, his anger built at an incredible rate until Loi-chain clarified that Yuki wasn't being forced against her will. Instead, she seemed to have fallen in love with the man originally assigned to watch over her...
Upon pressing Loi-chan for more details, Vahn genuinely didn't know how he was supposed to feel about the situation. Yuki still cared deeply about Lily, but, upon reaching the place that had become her new home, she quickly became absorbed in her new duties and responsibilities. The Community that had purchased her never once treated her as a slave. Instead, they respected her greatly whilst the children of said Community began to view Yuki as a surrogate mother.
Mere months after she had been purchased, Yuki began to fall deeply in love with the Leader of her new Community. One thing led to another, and, ten months later, a brand new kitsune had entered the world. A few months after that, Yuki ended up getting pregnant a second, and, by the time Loi-chan had emulated her, a third time.
Though Vahn had initially suspected that Yuki was being fooled into producing offspring for the sake of future profits, this was quickly disproven when Loi-chan transformed into her husband and every significant member of his Community. There was a very high probability that members of the Ouroboros Demon Lord Alliance were keeping tabs on her, but, at least within her Community, Yuki was inarguably one of their more cherished members. If not for the contract forcing her to remain a slave, the man she had married would have released her shortly after her purchase.
Simply put, though the situation was far from simple, Yuki was currently living a free and unfettered life in her new home. She still cared deeply for Lily, but, fearing the Demon Lords may take action if she showed even a hint of resistance, she buried her feelings deep in her heart as she embraced her new family. This wasn't really a bad thing, but, imagining how Lily would react if she discovered that the mother she had been yearning for was off living happily with a brand new family, Vahn couldn't bring himself to reveal the truth. He would tell her if she asked, but, until then, he would keep tabs on Yuki's situation and make sure her new Community didn't suffer the same fate as the No Names. Lily would probably be upset when she learned her mother had started a new family but she would be absolutely devasted if her half-siblings suffered the same fate...
Sensing Sandora's grip loosening, Vahn shook his head free of wayward thoughts before shifting his attention to the diminutive yet markedly more mature redhead seated on his lap. Her height hadn't changed all that much, increasing from 142cm to 153cm, but every other aspect of her appearance had changed rather drastically. If the previous her resembled a young girl between the ages of 10-12, the current her resembled a breathtakingly beautiful young woman between the ages of 16-20.
Even Sandora's previously petite horns, the symbol of a Salamander's strength, had grown from around the width of a palm, 8.5cm, to a commendable 13.4cm in length. Considering her brothers were only around 11.3cm despite being well over a hundred years old, it wasn't an exaggeration to say her growth was staggering...
"Mmm...?"
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Sandora wants huggies (O w O)...','Oh no...','There are times when having access to the truth is a curse...')

*tok* *tok* *tok*
"Come on in, Princess."
Similar to before, Vahn didn't rise from his seated position to answer the door. He did, however, rise to his feet as Sandora entered into the room, lowered her head, and asserted, "It is a great honor to stand in the presence of the Sage Dragon Emperor. I hope my belated arrival has not offended you. As important as this meeting is, I did not want to present myself in less than perfect form..."
"Hmmm..."
Looking at Sandora from the top of her fiery head to her pure and perfect feet, the first thought that crossed Vahn's mind was, ("She's even shorter than expected...")
"Considering I neither announced my arrival nor my intention to visit, I would argue that I'm rather fortunate to be given time out of your busy schedule. Though I understand your reasons, there is really no need for you to hold me in such...high esteem..."
Though his original intent was to ease tensions, Vahn's words seemed to have the opposite effect as Sandora raised her head and, very seriously, stated, "You're wrong. As the Leader of the Aldrnari Empire, the Community occupying the 1002nd Gate, your status far exceeds my own. On principle, it should have been my responsibility to venture to the East and pay my respects. The fact you are here at all honors my Community beyond all possible words of gratitude..."
Punctuating her words, Sandora attempted to bow in a manner similar to a servant. The moment she looked down, however, she found Vahn squatting down and staring up at her, a wry smile on his face as he said, "You're way too serious for an eleven-year-old..."
Not expecting Vahn to appear so close to her, Sandora's body became statuesque as she stared down at him with an unreadable expression on her face. It was only when Vahn waved his hand in front of her that she came back to her senses, stepping back as she said, "I can assure you, my age has nothing to do with it. As the Leader of Salamandra and Crown Princess of the Salamandra Royal Family, I have a duty to act in accordance with my status. Countless people rely on me to lead them through hardship and many more look to me as an example for them to follow. Please do not look down on me for my age...I am not a child..."
"So it would seem..."
Rising to his feet, Vahn compelled Sandora to take another step back to the rather drastic height difference between them. In truth, he was around the same height as her brother, but, due to the overwhelming difference in status and authority, Vahn gave off a larger-than-life impression. For a brief moment, Sandora was even gripped by the notion that the ceiling 5m above was too low for Vahn to walk around comfortably...
Liberated from her reverie the moment Vahn turned his back to her, Sandora was briefly at a loss. She didn't know if she should fall into step behind him or if he was wordlessly dismissing her from the room. As a result, she ended up standing stock still until Vahn turned around, a far more casual smile on his face as he asked, "Would you like to join me for tea? I believe there are a few important matters for us to discuss..."
As there was only a single matter of importance in Sandora's mind, a faint blush colored her cheeks as she instinctually folded her hands over her lap and replied, "It would be my ple-...it would be my greatest honor."
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While Vahn was in the midst of his 'marriage interview' with Sandora, a young boy garbed almost entirely in pure white had a rare expression of frustration on his face. At his side, an equally young girl garbed in predominately black garments asked, "What should we do, Highness? At this rate, it is only a matter of time before our plot is uncovered. Should we pull back and plan a new strategy...?"
Exhaling a contemptuous sigh, the young boy known as Highness remarked, "If that fool's words are to be believed, we only have a few years before the Sage Dragon Emperor's influence spans the entire Little Garden. If my theory is correct, his ability to ascertain information is directly associated with his territory. By the time he expands his influence through the North and South, it will already be too late to act."
Paling in response to Highness's words, the young girl, better known as Rin, asked, "Can you not use your Another Cosmology against him? What about the Void Star...?"
Squinting his brilliant golden eyes, Highness gave Rin one of the nastier looks he had ever shown on his face. This caused the young girl's body to tense until Highness's expression promptly eased into an apologetic look as he explained, "Things are no longer that simple...that man was unaffected by Indra's lightning and managed to return even after being forcibly expelled from a Game Board. If we try and face him without a better understanding of his powers, the only thing we will accomplish is exposing our hands and placing a target on our backs..."
Though he was about to say he didn't want to lose anyone, Highness allowed his words to trail off as a sudden influx of hot and cold air permeated the storage room where he and Rin were having their discussion. Shortly thereafter, a tall and lean man with an appearance reminiscent of a Count stepped out of the void, his right eye gleaming with a fiery red light while his left exuded a biting chill that threatened to freeze any and all who found themselves in his line of sight.
"Maxwell..."
Smiling in response to Highness's aggressive issuance of his name, Maxwell swept aside the pale-brown bangs covering his left eye as he mused, "Oh? Does my presence cause you some form of discomfort, my esteemed Leader...?"
"..."
"..."
Undaunted by the child-like duo's silence, Maxwell's smile grew as he explained, "Orders from the top. Regardless of the dangers involved, we are to press forward. As you so accurately pointed out, this may very well be the last chance we have to take action in the North. If we fail here, there is no way of knowing how many centuries it would take to try again."
Speaking up as the Strategist of their little terrorist cell, Rin's expression hardened as she said, "Even if our plans are setback a thousand years, it would still be better than opposing an existence like the Sage Dragon Emperor without a plan. Had you done your duty and gained information on the Sage Dragon's Hearth prior to their ascent as a 4-Digit Community, the Salamandra Community may not have reached out to him. What happened?"
Squinting his eyes, a clearly unamused expression marred Maxwell's otherwise handsome face as he answered, "I have submitted my reports without obfuscating even the most minute of details. I tried gaining access to the Sage Dragon's Hearth and their affiliate Communities hundreds of times over the past three months. With the exception of Communities that existed prior to the founding of the Sage Dragon's Hearth, each and every one of their properties is virtually impenetrable. If you don't believe me, just as the tens of thousands of Communities that failed to gather so much as a single thread of information that wasn't personally propagated by the Sage Dragon Emperor. Every single thing we know about that man is something he 'allowed' us to know."
Though she couldn't help adopting a pout in response to Maxwell's words, Rin didn't try to refute him. She had also attempted to infiltrate the Sage Dragon's Hearth, but, the moment she stepped into their reception room, she got the distinct feeling that someone or something had seen through every aspect of her being. Her intuition was derived from one of her most powerful Gifts, so, before she could further jeopardize their mission, she departed the Sage Dragon's Hearth without looking back.
Speaking in Rin's stead, Highness stated, "Telling us to act is meaningless without providing the means to achieve our objective. With our current forces, even stalling the Sage Dragon Emperor would be impossible. If death is the only outcome we can expect, I would rather pit my life against those old goats hiding away in their castles than a Pure Blooded Dragon whose power has already exceeded the standard of the Outer Gates."
"You..."
As the agent that had been tasked with watching over Highness and ensuring the latter's group didn't betray them, Maxwell was the furthest thing from amused when he heard the white-haired youth's treacherous words.&nbsp;
In an effort to prevent things from getting out of hand, Rin inserted herself between Highness and Maxwell, hands raised as she said, "Now, now, no need to get excited. It's not like we're refusing to do our job. Highness is just concerned we lack the means to complete it. For now, why don't you go back and petition for reinforcements? Fighting amongst ourselves when the Sage Dragon Emperor is barely a stone's throw away accomplishes neither of our goals."
Though he didn't tear his eyes away from Highness, Maxwell would be lying if he said he didn't see the logic in Rin's words. He also wasn't particularly enthused by the notion of fighting against Vahn, so, after a prolonged and tense period of silence, he begrudgingly nodded his head and answered, "Very well. I will pass on your words to the Elders. For now, you should focus on completing the first phase of the mission. Without the key, it won't matter how much support the Elders send."
Without waiting for the duo's response, Maxwell created a rift in the void using a simple wave of his hand. One half of the room was filled with extreme heat while the other was spontaneously covered in a layer of permafrost. In spite of this, neither Highness nor Rin showed any signs of discomfort as they watched Maxwell disappear between the boundaries of hot and cold...
"I really hate that guy..."
"..."
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Though she had been extremely nervous at first, hours ended up passing in the blink of an eye as Sandora gradually came to realize that Vahn wasn't some unapproachable Dragon God that existed far beyond her reach. His status and authority didn't seem to have any meaningful influence on his character. Rather, based on what Vahn had told her about his time in a place called the Nasuverse, it was pretty obvious he had absolutely no desire to rule. He merely shouldered the burden so that other, more tyrannical individuals couldn't seize power.
By the time Sandora started to feel as though she may be neglecting her duties, seven hours had passed. During those seven hours, she had somehow found herself sitting mere centimeters away from Vahn as he introduced her to a number of anime he thought she would enjoy. A few of them did seem pretty interesting, but, due to her shrinking proximity with Vahn, Sandora wasn't focused on the screen. Instead, her thoughts were plagued by concerns regarding her aroma and whether or not Vahn would be offended by the scent of her shampoo...
Noticing Sandora's gaze fixating on him for a prolonged period of time, Vahn ceased pretending he didn't notice, asking, "Is there something you would like to say?" as he paused the anime neither of them had been paying attention to.
"It may be imprudent of me...but I would like to hear your answer. There are those among us that view a union with the Aldrnari Empire as nothing more than a means to an end but I see it as an opportunity to strengthen the ties between the North and the East. While that may sound a little insincere, I just...I wanted you to know that I don't view our potential union as a means of restoring Salamandra's past glory. It is something I decided for myself. Something I yearn for from the very depths of my soul..."
Placing her hand on her chest, Sandora was startled by just how quickly her heart was beating. In spite of this, her expression remained a perfect mask of calm. She wanted Vahn to know just how serious she was, so, even though she wanted nothing more than to bury her face into a pillow and scream at the top of her lungs, she matched his gaze without so much as a single sign of hesitation in her own...
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'This loli is hella serious...','Vahn: Exists, His Enemies: How the hell are we supposed to accomplish anything with this literal cheat walking around!?','Time to exercise that grip strength xD...')

Chapter 2254: Deliberation : Warmth