Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

After seeing off Minerva and Praxis, Vahn spent about forty minutes with Loki because he had free time and he felt like he didn't get to see her that often. After the previous meeting almost a week prior, Loki had been taking care of business all over the City so Vahn had asked Fafnir to look after her on occasion. She typically had the escort of someone like Finn, Gareth, or Bete, along with a few other members of her Familia, but Vahn wanted to keep her safe. As Vahn had been spending a lot of time with individual girls, he strangely found himself thinking about Loki more often since he had more time to think. His interactions with the girls during the evening had become a lot tamer and Vahn felt like he had grown much closer to them during those intimate moments.He had already expected it to be the case, but the girls behaved very differently when they were alone with him compared to when they were together. It was far more emotional and there was less of a 'rush' to get things done, especially from Vahn's perspective. Throughout the week, Vahn had spent time with Milan, Haruhime, Hestia, Lunoire, and had even spent his first period of time alone with Arnya. Vahn had never realized that she was actually a little 'possessive' because he had always been with her when other girls were involved. She typically 'competed' with him to make things last a bit longer, but this was just her way of monopolizing him for a marginally longer period of time. When they were alone, however, she became a lot more affectionate and was easily one of the 'loudest' girls he associated with...Loki reached up and poked his cheek with her index finger as she playfully asked, "Who are you thinking about~?" Vahn had been hugging her from behind and caressing her belly for a while and had gotten lost in his thoughts. He found he had become somewhat more reflective with his free time so he showed an apologetic smile and explained, "I was actually thinking about a lot of different things...including a certain mischevious goddess. This week has been a big shift for me and I was thinking if there was something I could do to express my gratitude..." Loki had started caressing his face as she sighed and said, "You shouldn't always be thinking about what you can do to 'thank' people around you, Vahn...you're already doing your best, that is enough. Just think about being a good father to our daughter and try to make sure things don't get out of control in your daily life..."Hearing that Vahn was once again thinking about how to express his 'gratitude' once again, Loki released a long sigh and slouched against his body, holding his hands with her own. It was difficult for her to understand how someone can be so selfless at times that, just being happy made him think he 'needed' to do something. Vahn didn't seem to be capable of accepting that he was 'allowed' to be happy without having to 'earn' it and it was starting to make Loki feel a bit depressed at times. She had been thinking that their daughter might have a similar disposition to herself and was worried the two wouldn't get along. Unlike her, their daughter wouldn't have had millions of years to adapt to various different people and Loki was worried she might oppose Vahn at some point...Vahn could sense the fluctuations in Loki's aura and saw the subtle negativity that had spread throughout the generally chaotic flow. He squinted his eyes thinking about what was concerning her before deciding to ask, "Is there something wrong, Loki? Please tell me..." Loki craned her head and had a much softer expression than normal as she said, "I'm worried that your children will think they need to 'earn' their happiness from watching how you act...kids can be very impressionable, Vahn, so please try to become a more stable existence for them. I don't expect you can change so quickly, especially after having such a messed up past...but I want you to become someone our daughter can look up to and respect..."Realizing what she was saying, Loki was somewhat surprised because she felt compelled to be 'honest' instead of trying to skirt around the issue. This had been happening more often recently and it was both scary and exciting since 'change' was something she craved more than anything else. She hated the monotony of life in Heaven and had 'fled' to the mortal world to experience new stimulus. However, the one thing she could never change was herself and this meant her nature caused Loki a great deal of frustration. For the first time in millions of years, this seemed to be changing and it made Loki want to 'protect' the thing that had introduced such variety to her life. She began to feel that Vahn, and the baby in her belly, were actually more important to her than the 'pathetic' life she had preserved for so long...Seeing the strange fluctuations in Loki's aura, Vahn tilted her head up and gave her a kiss on the lips while infusing a gentle stream of energy into her stomach to help her relax. She began laughing in response to his concern and playfully nibbled on his lip when he pulled back his head. Her eyes were slightly parted and Vahn could feel a gentleness contained within her ruby-like pupils that made him feel a strange pang in his heart. He didn't understand why, but her gaze reminded him a lot of that single memory of his mother and the infinite love she had for him before their parting. It made his body tremble, but it was a very pleasant feeling that made the anguish he felt tolerable...---After sending Loki off at the gate, Vahn watched her departing figure alongside the always sour-looking Bete. He sent a signal to Fafnir asking him to protect her before turning away and heading toward the Manor to get some coffee to calm his mind. His date with Ryuu was supposed to be taking place pretty soon so Vahn felt the need to refresh himself before meeting up with her. He found Syr sitting in the study wearing a simple dark blue collared dress that had a white apron-like attachment, very similar to the clothes she often wore at the Hostess of Fertility. She was uncharacteristically barefoot and Vahn could see she had taken her brown boots off and set them at the side of the sofa before curling her feet up on the cushions.Seeing Vahn's arrival, Syr showed an elegant smile and said, "Good morning, Vahn. Did things go well at the Guest Residence~?" Vahn nodded his head as he walked over and sat down next to Syr on the sofa and set out some coffee for himself. One of the things that had changed in the last week is that Vahn didn't try so hard to think about his actions and simply acted how he felt. Since she was the only one here, Vahn felt like being close to Syr and she seemed pleased by the opportunity as she shifted on the sofa and leaned against him with a peal of bell-like laughter escaping from her impeccably beautiful lips.Vahn had a thought as he looked at Syr's almost flawless appearance and asked, "I've never really spoiled you in the past, have I?" Syr showed a moment of confusion in her eyes, even though her expression didn't really change. She wanted to say that Vahn had spoiled her plentily when they were together but realized he was talking about something slightly different than the thoughts that crossed her mind. Realizing this, Syr blushed because she felt like her mind had become a bit dirty as of late and her heart fluttered when Vahn pat against his thighs and said, "How about you lay down and I'll pamper you, though not for too long. I'll be going on a date with Ryuu in a bit..."Syr's eyes glittered slightly and, even though it made her feel strangely giddy, laid down across Vahn's lap and looked up into his face. It made her feel weird to be looking up at Vahn like this because it was typically her that gave a lap pillow to him. However, she couldn't deny that the change was nice because Vahn's body was always very warm and he looked handsome even from this angle. As he had noticed the change in her aura and the subtle fluctuations in her expression, Vahn smiled and began gently caressing Syr's head with his left hand while resting his right palm against her abdomen. She wasn't pregnant, but Vahn had built a strange habit of caressing the girls' stomaches lately as they all seemed to enjoy it.As was often the case, Syr rested her hands atop his much like the other girls and closed her eyes to enjoy the comfortable stream of energy entering through her head and abdomen. Vahn activated his [Eyes of Truth] briefly to make sure there were no abnormalities in her body and watched as his own energy slowly coursed along her own mana circuits. One of the benefits of inserting his energy through their navel was that it was very close to the source of their mana and he could nourish their bodies with his source energy. He wasn't sure about the long-term effects, but it would undoubtedly be beneficial for them. Syr was a demigoddess, meaning her aura and the flow of energy in her body was much purer than normal, but there were still noticeable changes in her mana circuits as they reacted to the presence of his foreign energy in a strangely hospitable manner...Reminded of Ash momentarily, Vahn blinked and asked, "Syr, have you ever considered joining the Hestia Familia...?" Hearing his voice, Syr opened her eyes slightly and there was a glimmer of light that passed across her pale grey pupils. Vahn naturally resisted the spontaneous charming effect she emitted as she said, "I have indeed considered it...but I've never been fond of fighting and I feel a strange incongruity whenever I think about bringing it up. It's like a part of me refuses to be bound in such a way...I'm not quite sure myself. If you think it's for the best, I'll go ahead and undergo the ceremony though. I know it would help track me down in an emergency situation, but I rarely leave the Manor and I'm not sure it is entirely necessary..."Vahn squinted his eyes slightly which caused Syr to laugh as she asked, "You're interested in knowing if it's because of my origins, aren't you? I heard about Ash and that you were able to see he had the blessing of Ares...if I have something similar, I feel like it would be both a good and a bad thing to know. Strangely, I feel that my past should be left behind because I'm far more interested in the present and our shared future. Knowing who my father is likely wouldn't make me happy and it would just add another burden to you..." Syr knew that, even though she didn't really care for the god that allowed her to become an orphan, she would still resent them greatly. If given the chance, she might even machinate to have them returned to Heaven just to feel some amount of vindication for the life she had been forced to live before meeting Vahn...Realizing what Syr must be thinking, Vahn released a small sigh and said, "Sorry, I should be more considerate of others instead of allowing my own curiosity to guide my decisions. You have already been doing a lot for everyone, and I'm especially grateful for all you have done to make sure things are running smoothly within that Manor. Don't worry about joining the Familia, as you're already an important member of my family even without that..." Vahn leaned down slightly while lifting up Syr's head so that he could kiss her to allay any concerns she might have. However, after pulling away from her lips Vahn realized something and smiled before saying, "If you think it would be beneficial for emergencies, I could always carve my own crest on your body..."Syr's complexion turned slightly ruddy after hearing his words and she even showed a slightly pouting expression before saying, "That sounds very embarrassing..." Though she said it was embarrassing, which she genuinely believed, Syr was also feeling a great deal of excitement at the idea of having a mark on her body personally put there by Vahn. She felt like it would be a good luck charm that would increase her own chances of getting pregnant in the future. After making the decision to let nature take its course, Syr had constantly been wondering when she might get pregnant and was a little worried about it after her time with Vahn was cut down with the schedule changes. She wasn't in a particular hurry, but she also didn't want to be one of the last girls in the bunch to have a child as the thought was somewhat frustrating to think about.Vahn nodded his head but showed a somewhat sly smile because he could feel the changes in Syr's aura and it was very apparent she wasn't against the idea. He gripped her hand firmly with his own and said, "I'll be doing salon treatments this evening...stop by and I'll give you the crest and pamper you for a bit." Syr's complexion became beet red and she bit her lower lip for several seconds before nodding her head and saying, "Yes, I'll make sure to be there..." Though she didn't have any inhibitions about it, Syr felt like Vahn bringing it up in a situation where she was laying against his lap was a little unfair. She could tell he wasn't doing it on purpose, but it felt like he was bullying her by putting her in such a 'compromising' position. The fact that he continued to insert energy into her belly made Syr feel especially giddy and she just wanted to run off and hide away for a few minutes. Thinking this, her eyes opened wide before she released a sigh of relief and said, "You should be heading off to meet Ryuu soon. It's rude to keep a lady waiting."With Syr's reminder, Vahn showed a wry smile and gave her another quick peck on the lips before helping her right herself on the sofa. Syr used her hands to smoothen out the wrinkles in her dress before patting her chest and returning to her characteristically kind expression. She sent him a smile and said, "Run along, Vahn. I'll see you this evening...fufufu~." Vahn shook his head with a smile and sent her a playful wink as he headed toward the door and made his way to the rendezvous to meet up with Ryuu. Given her personality, she had probably already shown up even though it was nearly a half hour until they were supposed to begin. He also believed in showing up early but knew it would just create a strange phenomenon where they showed up progressively earlier just to beat the other person to the location...As expected, Vahn found Ryuu wearing a pale vanilla colored sweater with green shoulder straps revealed around the wide brim of her collar. She had on a soft purple pleated skirt, which was very uncommon for her, and pure white stockings covering her fair white legs. Instead of green boots, she wore a pair of neat red designer half-boots that came up slightly past her ankles. The most notable change in her casual attire was the fact that Ryuu had actually curled the ends of her hair a bit more than normal and there were two very small pigtails on her head. Her hair wasn't that long, as she kept it very short so it didn't interfere with her movements, so it was somewhat strange to see such a 'childish' hairstyle on the cool and taciturn girl.Seeing Vahn's surprised expression, Ryuu hung her head slightly with a blush touching her cheeks and asked, "Does it look...strange...?" Vahn immediately shook his head as a large smile appeared on his face and he said, "Ryuu, you look amazing. Casual clothes suit you well...I was honestly just surprised by all the changes and couldn't process them fast enough to compliment you properly, hahaha~." Ryuu's complexion became somewhat rosy as a small smile appeared on her face as a result of Vahn's words. She had talked with several of the other girls about how to properly dress for a date and it took her a lot of effort to finally pick out these clothes. Since she didn't usually wear 'cute' outfits, Ryuu had been somewhat worried Vahn, especially after Syr pinned her hair up with small ribbon-like clasps...Vahn extended his arm to Ryuu and she gingerly linked her arm with his and leaned against his shoulder as naturally as possible. It was very strange that she felt more bashful at a moment like this than when they were together at night, but Ryuu couldn't stop her heart rate from increasing. She had accompanied Vahn on 'outings' with other girls in the past, but this would be their first 'date', even though it was in a region they had been alone together previously. In fact, the first time this forest had been created she and Vahn had already shared a rather intimate moment with each other. Thinking this made Ryuu's blush deepen further as she hung her head and allowed Vahn to escort her into the illusory forest ahead...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Maternal Instincts','Syr's Convictions','Elves are quick to recognize lewdness (UwU)')https://www.*******.com/user?u=14397149paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though things had been tense for a short while, it wasn't long before Ryuu had managed to calm down as they slowly made their way through the small forested area in the center of the Hearth Manor. Just as he had realized in the past, Vahn felt very relaxed around Ryuu because she was one of the few girls that had never placed too many expectations on his shoulders. Other than the times when they had shared a few passionate moments, the rest of the time he was with Ryuu was very peaceful and he was very grateful for her presence in his life. In the hopes that she would feel a similar comfort from him, Vahn dispersed a gentle stream of energy into his domain and tried to emulate the feeling of nature and the warmth of spring.Even without his attempts to please her, Ryuu was enjoying their quiet walk a great deal and already felt very comfortable at his side. She was aware of the energy permeating through the air and it brought a small smile to her face knowing Vahn was trying to make her happy. She cast him a glance with her sky blue eyes before resting her head against his shoulder as she commented, "This is very pleasant..." Vahn kissed the top her head and noticed her hair had a smell reminiscent of the warm rays of the sun, almost like she was blooming alongside the buds marking the beginning of Spring.Though it was very subtle, Ryuu's ears waggled slightly when he kissed her head and Vahn had to bite his lips to prevent himself from teasing her. He greatly enjoyed the affectionate nature of Beast Human girls, but there was just something about teasing the elegant, cool, and taciturn Elves that tickled Vahn's fancy. However, he didn't really want to spoil the mood and wanted Ryuu to enjoy the date as she pleased without him forcing her into anything. Things were already very pleasant and Vahn didn't mind if things continued like this for the entire date.After a few minutes of aimless wandering, simply enjoying each other's company, Vahn and Ryuu found themselves at the clearing where Mikoto usually trained. Perhaps she had taken their date into consideration and avoided the area today since Vahn couldn't see any signs that she had been here recently. As for Ryuu, she showed a slight blush on her face when they stepped into the clearing because her mind had wandered to their previous moment together in the clearing. She also remembered how 'quickly' she had run to Vahn during their small game of hide-and-seek, a memory that made her feel especially embarrassed because Syr, Chloe, and Arnya teased her about it quite a bit.Vahn set out a blanket on the grass and pulled out a picnic basket he had prepared previously, full of food he knew Ryuu was fond of. Though she still ate meat, Ryuu was fond of vegetables, fruits, and small snacks like nuts and berries. He had lightly salted some almonds with crystalized honey that gave them a salty and sweet taste that was very popular amongst the Elven girls. There were also chilled apple slices, lightly seasoned rice, and small bite-sized fruits like strawberries and blackberries. Vahn made sure to pick foods that could easily be fed to people since he had intended to pamper Ryuu using the rather rare opportunity they had.Before he was able to take the initiative, Vahn quickly lost the opportunity when Ryuu sat with her legs underneath her and pat her thighs, saying, "Relax your head here, Vahn..." She had seen the items in the picnic basket and quickly understood what Vahn likely intended. Just imagining lazily laying against his lap and having him feed her almost caused Ryuu's brain to short circuit and she adamantly refused to let things go in that direction. Since she wouldn't 'easily' be able to refuse his offer, Ryuu seized the initiative while Vahn was setting things up. She wouldn't truly be able to relax if he was pampering her and Ryuu didn't want things to escalate so early just because her tensions reached a critical level.Never one to pass up an opportunity to experience a lap pillow, Vahn laid his head against Ryuu thighs after laying down in front of her. He would normally lay from the side, but it seemed more interesting to stare up at her from a different angle since he had the opportunity. Seeing her blushing face from below was a very satisfying experience and Vahn also noticed that her modest breasts were somewhat concealed by the thin sweater she was wearing. He wondered if she had worn something like that intentionally for reasons like this or if it was just something she considered to be 'cute'. If the latter was the case, this would mean that Ryuu's sense of what it meant to be 'cute' was somewhat childish and Vahn found this strangely comforting.Ryuu began picking things out of the picnic basket and feeding them to the 'lazy' Vahn who had quickly relaxed his body after laying against her thighs. Seeing his calm expression helped her relax greatly and she preferred seeing Vahn like this even more than when they were together at night. She had never been good around other people and it was always somewhat 'difficult' when they had sex with other people around. Without Syr, and other people she trusted, Ryuu wouldn't be able to go through with it and was one of the people truly grateful for the change in scheduling. Though she would like to experience 'exciting' events again in the future, it was preferable to her that things were slow and relaxed like this. After all, they put their lives on the line in the Dungeon and there were enemies all around them...relaxing when they had the opportunity was for the best.Staring down at Vahn's face from above, Ryuu placed a chilled blackberry against his lips and saw him open his mouth, taking both the blackberry and the tips of her fingers inside. A bit of warmth touched her cheeks when she took a strawberry from the basket and placed it in her own mouth, noticing it was strangely sweeter than expected. Turning her eyes back to Vahn's relaxed expression, Ryuu found herself entering a momentary daze as she once again realized he was very handsome. He still had the looks of a young boy that was just transitioning into manhood, but his features were flawless and, even though his skin was a healthy tan, it was completely unblemished almost like a god. She knew he could even become 'beautiful' by turning into an Elf or a High Elf and this thought made a small pressure expand in the bridge of her nose...Vahn noticed the strange fluctuation in Ryuu's aura and opened his eyes just as a single drop of blood fell and landed against his forehead. Ryuu's face turned crimson red as she reached her hand up to make sure there wasn't any more blood coming out at Vahn began laughing heartily even as he sat up to help make sure she was okay. He didn't know what she had been thinking about but seeing this type of reaction from Ryuu made Vahn feel strangely pleased with himself. Even when she gave him a bit of a fierce look, Vahn couldn't stop himself from showing a large grin until he eventually ended up embracing her from behind when she tried to bashfully avoid his gaze.After tumbling around for a bit, Ryuu ended up calming down as Vahn's warm embrace and the soothing energy from his hands helped ease her tensions. She was sweating a bit from moving around and the cool morning air against her thighs was especially noticeable right now. Ryuu very rarely ever wore skirts and she was somewhat regretting it now that she could feel a breeze against the relatively thin pair of panties she was wearing. This made the warmth coming from Vahn feel even more pleasant, however, so Ryuu eventually just relaxed and let the tensions drain from her body. Vahn kissed her neck, making her heart begin to race, but Ryuu didn't mind it too much as anticipation began to sprout within its depths.He could sense that Ryuu was getting in the mood, but Vahn didn't want to put Ryuu in a disheveled state when she put in so much effort to dress up cutely for him. Instead, he just nibbled at her ear for a bit before tucking his head into her neck and simply holding her from behind as if they were going to sleep. Ryuu's heart was beating like a spooked rabbit, but Vahn just held her tightly for several minutes until she eventually calmed down. Her breathing, which had started to accelerate as a result of his teasing, turned into a gentle flow that escaped through her nose almost soundlessly. After a while, Ryuu eventually ended up asking, "Vahn...would you be happy if I also got pregnant...?"Vahn inhaled a bit of Ryuu's scent when he inhaled and said, "Ryuu, I'm already very happy with how things are going...but I would undoubtedly be even happier if you had my child. Just make sure you're ready before taking that step...I don't want you to push yourself just to appeal to me." Ryuu parted her eyes and stared off into space with a thoughtful glint in her eyes as she said, "I have been thinking about it ever since the discussion about the Divination...I don't want to die without having the opportunity to leave behind a part of myself in this world...something that will represent the love we have shared with each other..." Ryuu still struggled with knowing her death had been at the early age of twenty years old. She had always expected to have plenty of time to have children, but that didn't seem to be something that could be guaranteed...Hearing Ryuu's words, Vahn was also pulled back to the Divination and the feelings that had threatened to tear him apart knowing what had transpired. He also felt a bit of pressure to make the girls from the Divination happier, now that he had the chance, so the thought of starting a family with Ryuu wasn't something he was against. In fact, just imagining a smaller version of Ryuu running around in girly clothes made Vahn enter a small daze as he said, "I think our children will be adorable..." Ryuu laughed at Vahn's remark and shifted around in his arms until her body was turned to his and they could see each other's expressions.Ryuu couldn't sense auras as he could, but she still felt the love Vahn had for her and it made her feel very safe and secure. However, there was one last thing she had been worried about so Ryuu said, "I'm not sure how things work with your transformation ability...but...I'd like...to be impregnated by an Elf...or maybe a High Elf...I'm sorry, Vahn...I-" Before Ryuu could continue apologizing, Vahn sealed her ruby-red lips that had become much darker than normal as a result of the fierce blush she had on her face. He also wasn't quite sure what would happen if he impregnated a girl as a different race, though he assumed it wouldn't really be an issue at all. Vahn knew he was 'compatible' with almost any race and it shouldn't actually create a hybrid, but something akin to a stronger version of his partner's race. However, if Ryuu felt more comfortable thinking their child would benefit from him being in the form of a High Elf, he would give her that small comfort.Using [Thria*Mimos] in conjunction with his imaging ability, Vahn's hair grew marginally longer as the dark brown color faded until it became a golden color. He was emulating Ryuu's energy flow to supplement his transformation but his focus had been on becoming a High Elf. A cold sensation reached the tips of his ears before a heat flowed through them as their length increased greatly. His healthy brown skin became a pearl-white with a healthy glow to it as Vahn's facial features softened greatly. He knew he would probably look very feminine but it didn't really matter that much since his basic appearance shouldn't change too much based on the image he was holding. As for Ryuu, her body had started to tremble slightly as she observed the changes, clearly not expecting that he would act on her words almost immediately after she brought up the subject...Vahn released soft laughter as he stroked Ryuu's cheek and said, "I imagine our children will be even more adorable if I'm in this form...what do you think~?" Ryuu titled her head to the side to avoid his gaze before bringing her hand up to her face once again as a thin line of blood escaped her left nostril. Furrowing his brows slightly, Vahn infused healing energy through his palms to help Ryuu calm down because the blood was clearly rushing to her head faster than she could deal with it. Though it was very adorable, Vahn couldn't help but feel a little concerned since Ryuu typically didn't behave like this. She was probably very tense from her change in attire, having her hair styled, and being alone with him in the middle of a scenic illusory forest.Ryuu buried her face into Vahn's chest to hide her expression as she did her best to calm down in his embrace. She realized now that her words were taken very seriously by Vahn and she probably should have chosen a more 'opportune' moment to bring it up. The very thing she had worried about ended up happening and her tensions had reached a critical level causing her a great deal of embarrassment. She had only mentioned it to Syr, but her nose had been bleeding periodically whenever she got too excited. Ryuu had wanted to avoid exposing this small secret so early because it was a very embarrassing thing that she didn't have much control over.To make sure there weren't any issues, Vahn had been staring into Ryuu with his [Eyes of Truth] active and was inspecting the area around her nose to see if there were any problems with the blood vessels in the area. He could see that some of them had expanded slightly, but that could just be a result of her increased blood flow through the area and was actually common when there were large temperature changes between the seasons. Though it wouldn't really be a problem if left untreated, Vahn stroked the back of Ryuu's head and said, "Ryuu, look up at me for a moment..." She was a bit hesitant at first, but Ryuu eventually looked up at Vahn with slightly moist eyes that clearly showed that the vibrant pinks and passionate reds in her aura weren't imaginary.Vahn reached out and pinched Ryuu's nose, something she didn't seem to expect as she pulled her head back slightly, and used [Hands of Nirvana] to repair the slightly damaged blood vessels and reduce their swelling. Ryuu seemed to realize what he was doing and, even though it felt like there was a strange 'sinking' feeling in her nose, she allowed Vahn to treat her. The pressure that had been building up in the bridge of her nose faded away almost entirely so Ryuu released a sigh of relief before burying her face back into Vahn's chest and saying, "Thank you...I'm ready now..."Almost as if her aura had been incited by her words, a hazy red completely filled Vahn's vision and there was a strange scent of fruit and honey accompanying it. He deeply inhaled the fragrance without inhibitions as he stroked Ryuu's back in a small circle and said, "I'll never be able to thank you enough, Ryuu...but I still feel like I need to express it...so thank you...I love you." Ryuu's ears waggled a bit and she peeked up at Vahn with her watery sky blue eyes before gripping his tunic tightly and saying, "I love you too, Vahn...more than I ever thought possible..."If someone would have told her six months ago that she would be laying with a boy in the middle of a clearing, Ryuu would have looked at them as if they were mad. Now, however, Ryuu felt like any other outcome than what she was currently experiencing was...unacceptable. Without waiting for him to initiate things, Ryuu pulled herself closer to his face and began kissing Vahn with more passion than any of their previous exchanges. She may not have realized it herself, but this was also the first time Ryuu proactively initiated a kiss like this with Vahn and it was the first real step they both took towards their shared future...and the culmination of their happiness.With practiced movements, Vahn caressed Ryuu's body as they 'eagerly' began undressing each other. When Ryuu pulled her vanilla-colored sweater free from her body, Vahn saw the thin green halter top she had been wearing and quickly reached for the strings to free it from her body. Ryuu grabbed his hands and pulled them down, however, saying, "Leave it...I know you like it more when girls wear a bit of clothing...since you changed for me, I want to do something for you as well..." Vahn felt his heart itch when he heard Ryuu's words, causing his own tensions to rapidly begin increasing as he rolled over and 'pinned' Ryuu against the colorful picnic blanket. Seeing the light layer of sweat against her fair, yet slightly ruddy, complexion made his heart begin beating marginally faster than normal.The green halter top made her seem even more beautiful and tantalizing than normal because Vahn could see two concealed buds poking against the fabric almost as if they refused to go unnoticed. Knowing that she was very sensitive in her breasts, Vahn began massaging Ryuu's left breast with his right hand while his left quickly removed Ryuu's pure-white silk panties and 'discarded' them into his inventory. He left the thin belt around her waist and the purple pleated skirt in place as he began kissing around her neck and collar bone. Ryuu was always somewhat hesitant at this point but this time Vahn found that she didn't put any strength into keeping legs closed at all. This caused the tensions that had been rising up inside of his body to break free like a flood gate as an endless tide of warmth and love flowed from his heart, directed toward the blushing Elf that looked at him with a passionate and inviting light deep in her sky blue eyes...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Calm before the storm...','Doki Doki Ryuu-chan','I wonder if Vahn packed Lemons in the picnic basket...')https://www.*******.com/user?u=14397149paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Having completed Ais' armor, Vahn could no move on to the next subject of his research while Ais was busily field-testing the armor to test its functionality. Unfortunately, he had taken the better part of the week to complete the task which meant he had transitioned into the weekend where he wasn't 'supposed' to be doing work in his workshop. He had been spending time with the girls, especially in the afternoons and evenings, but making himself open on the weekends was good for everyone, Vahn included. It was also the time when the girls took a break from the Dungeon, so it was the best opportunity for things like picnics, salon time, dates, or simply playing around.Vahn had a forest excursion planned during the late morning and early afternoon, while his evening would be spent doing salon treatments with some of the girls that he didn't get to treat often. Preasia would be using her hour-long massage tab, while the interesting inclusion of Misha had been allowed by Eina. She had been pestering Eina about the changes in her body ever since she underwent 'Nirvana' and got to know of Vahn's beauty treatments and massage techniques. Since she was considered 'safe' as a result of her disposition, she had been given the chance to partake of the salon treatments. Unlike everyone else, however, she had to pay a pretty hefty fee of 20,000 Valis, making her one of the first paid clients Vahn ever had to treat.Before all of that started, however, there was 'business' that had to be taken care of so Vahn was currently waiting at the Guest Residence for Loki's Arrival. Things had gotten a bit awkward with Chris and Holda previously so it was agreed that Loki would bring them directly to the Guest Residence instead of having Vahn meet them at the gate. She had unrestricted access to the Manor, with the exception of the workshop area and a few other key locations, so Loki could bring in guests much like he had been able to escort Arnya.Today he would be helping a goddess named Minerva, who possessed the Divinities of War, Wisdom, and Mercantilism. He had missed their previously scheduled meeting last week, so Vahn felt a little guilty and calmed his mind to behave as professionally as possible. With the extra time to prepare, Loki had given him a document related to Minerva, including her picture and a small section outlining her personality and the reasons why she had been 'approved' by the Alliance. With the incident involving Alosrin, Loki expected there would be conflicts in the future and they would benefit from having a good relationship with goddesses that had Divinities similar to Minerva.Vahn felt that it was a bit exploitative in a sense, but it wasn't incorrect to say that the goddesses that came to them were receiving great benefits without too great a cost to themselves. Minerva wasn't being forced to join the Alliance, it was just noted that she could be a source of wise counsel during trying times as her specific focus had always been on strategy, tactical negotiations, and trade agreements. She was currently the leader of a C-Rank Familia, but this was primarily due to her focus on trading and business than actually sending her members into the Dungeon. Instead of an Expedition type Familia, they were officially classified as a Merchant Familia that also accepted commissions for things like escorting merchant caravans.A few short minutes after they were expected to arrive, Vahn heard the door of the Guest Residence open but he had long sensed their arrival through his domain. He came to his feet to greet his guests and only sent a cursory glance at Minerva before sighing in his mind and sending a smile to her fortunate companion. His name was Praxis and he was the current Captain of the Minerva Familia at Level 4. He stood around 183cm tall and had a very sturdy build and a somewhat sly looking face with a gaze that looked like he could see through people. His skin was somewhat tanned as a result of exposure and he had short black hair and pale-brown eyes that glimmered with an intelligent light.As for Minerva, she was somewhat short at 158cm and had hazelnut brown hair and reddish-brown eyes. She wore her hair up in two loose twin-tails and showed off a fair amount of skin, much like many goddesses seemed inclined to do. Her top looked closer to a sports bra than an actual piece of clothing and there was a bluish-grey mantle around her neck like a scarf. Her midriff was completely exposed, showing off her lithe and fit body, while her waist had a sash much like what Tiona and Tione wore, except that it was black with bluish-grey accents. Her wrists and ankles were adorned with golden bands conformed like cloth but had a metallic luster to them while a golden band held up her parted bangs. As for what Vahn had 'confirmed' with his earlier gaze, she had moderately developed breasts and Vahn could tell from the curve leading into her hips that she likely had a toned and fleshy butt as well.Though it had been incredibly brief, Vahn noticed that Praxis' eyes became marginally more serious after his glance while Minerva simply showed a large grin on her face. As people that made their living as merchants, they were very perceptive and could read other merchants relatively easily, meaning a naive boy like Vahn was well within their capacity to see through completely. Minerva squeezed her breasts together with her arms and turned to Loki, asking, "This is the boy you fell in love with, Loki? He seems to prefer girls with a bigger bust~?" Minerva had a playful tone to her voice but it still made Loki's brow twitch as she slightly parted her eyes and gave Minerva a glance that immediately caused the goddesses' smile to freeze up.Vahn released a loud sigh and said, "Forgive me, as I still haven't matured to the point where I can simply ignore a beautiful woman that enters my sight. However, you should avoid trying to compare yourself to the women I'm in love with as you'll find I'm quite fond of pandering to them, even if it is at the expense of my relationships with 'outsiders'." Loki 'cackled' a bit as she walked over and leaned against Vahn's body while Minerva watched Vahn with a look of intrigue in her eyes.Like all gods, she was very interested in the boy that was changing history and she could see from how he treated Loki that it wouldn't be a good idea to tease her too much. Praxis also understood this and decided to use the opportunity to smooth things over as he said in a surprisingly amicable tone, "We're grateful to the Alliance for providing us with such an opportunity. Though I can't claim Minerva's love for myself, I am honored to have been the one selected to sire her child." Toward the end of his words, Praxis bowed at a low angle because he heard from Loki that Vahn was fond of the etiquette of the Far East. It wasn't just Vahn who had received a bit of a briefing before this meeting began, which was the main reason neither he nor Minerva had minded Vahn's evaluating gaze.Vahn returned Praxis' bow and invited the 'couple' to sit down as they made the pertinent agreements and discussed the procedure. Minerva didn't seem to mind being exposed at all while Praxis' expression seemed infallible like it had been carved from stone. Even his aura remained very stable and Vahn was very impressed with the man's emotional control and mental stability. It was very obvious there wasn't a lot of love between him and Minerva, almost like they were 'partners' more than lovers, but Minvera would make a good mother even if she raised her child on her own. As a goddess of Wisdom, she would raise her son or daughter to be a very capable person that would likely become the future Captain of her Familia.Once their discussion had come to an end, they went to the room where Vahn bound Minerva up in [Enkidu] before leaving the two behind to take care of the deed. She seemed very interested in the chains but didn't ask for the details as it was one of the things she was unable to discuss. [Enkidu] was the most closely guarded secret of the Alliance and the vows that goddesses were made to take forced them to protect any information related to it for a period of no less than 1,000 years unless Vahn himself revoked the oath. As for Praxis, his vow bound him until death which meant that he would be keeping the secret all the way to his grave, something he was already very familiar with as the Captain of a Merchant Familia.Surprisingly, Vahn only had around eight minutes to pamper Loki before Praxis came back up the elevator with a very business-like appearance and said, "It is done, please see that the procedure is carried out without error. Minerva-sama has desired children of her own for many years and had even adopted several, myself included. Please grant her wish, Sage Aldrnari." Though he was a bit perplexed about the 'swiftness' of the event, Vahn let the matter slide and showed a serious expression on his face as he said, "I guarantee there won't be any issues whatsoever. Though I'm lacking in maturity, I will not compromise when it comes to things like this." Praxis had a small light of admiration in his eyes before nodding his head and leading the way to the elevator.Minerva was strung up with a somewhat 'bored' look on her face when Vahn first entered the room but it quickly turned into a teasing smile as she said, "Don't get too carried away when you're playing around with my body, Vahn Mason. I don't mind if you admire my figure, or even if you touch my body, but if you cross the line even Loki won't be able to protect you from my grasp, fufufu~." Vahn stalled near the elevator and just stared at Minerva, who currently had her butt sticking out without the sash protecting her rather plump butt. He wasn't sure how to react to her words until Loki went up and said, "You're rather bold, aren't you Minerva~?" as she loudly smacked the flawless white butt cheek of Minerva.Unable to move around much under the binding of [Enkidu], as Vahn had left them somewhat loose so as not to cause discomfort, Minerva just wiggled her butt and said, "Ah, Loki, I was just playing around! If you think I'll let you spank my butt without compensation, you've got another thing coming you sneaky little trickster~!" Vahn watched their interaction with a blank expression as Praxis released an almost inaudible sigh from the side and explained, "This was one of the reasons why I wanted you to carry out the procedure quickly. Minerva-sama and Loki have had...conflicts in the past since their Divinities are in opposition to each other. It would be best to bring this matter to an end as quickly as possible before they start doing foolish things..."Vahn suddenly understood the situation and walked over as he sent Loki, who had been 'teasing' the defenseless Minerva, a look that made her startle slightly as she pulled her hands away. As much as she might try to resist it, Loki couldn't always resist her compulsions and she was prone to stirring up trouble with gods that were related to Order, Peace, and Wisdom. Vahn had never seen it, but she was very fond of teasing the very serious Eirene and was one of the primary reasons Eirene always talked about him when she was with her Familia. With Loki's 'harassment', the relatively taciturn and serious Eirene couldn't easily get Vahn out of her thoughts and they had been having tea and corresponding with each other ever since she joined the Alliance.After standing behind Minerva, Vahn resisted the urge to grab her butt and just placed his hands around her hips as he began the delicate process of transplanting the egg and ensuring it was properly fertilized so that it would be protected by her Divinity later on. Before his [Eyes of Truth] penetrated through her body, however, Vahn remarked in his mind that Minerva's underwear was far tamer than he expected from the goddess. They were a simple white and were big enough to almost qualify as a small pair of shorts than actual panties. There weren't any embellishments like frills or ribbons, almost like she was showing through her selection of clothing that she had no other intentions and was simply here to complete a 'transaction'.Vahn completed the important part of the procedure after a few short minutes before he began carving the crest into Minerva's lower back. Throughout the entire process, she just relaxed her body against [Enkidu] and the entire room had become silent as a result. When he finished with the crest, however, Minerva opened her eyes suddenly and said, "You don't have to conceal it, as I'm not ashamed to bear the crest of the Sage Aldrnari on my body. Until my body begins showing the physical signs of pregnancy, I'd like people to be able to see it so you can skip that part." Though he was a bit surprised, Vahn nodded his head and just loosened up [Enkidu] slowly so Minerva could recover and stand on her feet.Minerva really was a beautiful goddess with a great figure, which was easy to see as she was wearing nothing but simple white underwear. She hadn't even removed her mantle or the thin black top she had on her upper body when she and Praxis had sex, not that it had done much to conceal her strangely petite yet very mature body. Vahn could understand Loki's reasons for not getting along that great with Minerva as one of the main reason she had been a 'nemesis' to Hestia was related to her envy regarding Hestia's diminutive size in relation to her large breasts. When this thought crossed his mind, Minerva tilted her head and asked, "You're thinking about another girl when you're admiring my body? Is it Loki~? Oh, and someone else?"Loki stepped in at this point and stood between Vahn and Minerva as she said, "Minerva, you should know better than anyone that 'information' and 'access' are two valuable commodities. Unless you have other 'business' to discuss, you shouldn't tarry around here for too long." Minerva scrunched up her nose at Loki's remark before picking up her waist cloth and wrapping it around her hips in a very casual manner as she commented, "It was the fortune of the Alliance that they got their hands on the Sage Aldrnari before anyone else...hahaha~." Loki seemed like she wanted to say something, but Vahn lightly squeezed her shoulder and said, "You are mistaken, Minerva..."Hearing Vahn's rebuttal, Minerva turned to give him a curious gaze before an elegant smile appeared on her face and she said, "Yes, that indeed seems to be the case...make sure you treasure your time properly, Vahn Mason. Don't let other people take advantage of your kindness...ufufufu~." Minerva could tell what Vahn wanted to say even without him verbalizing it at all. Deep within his aquamarine eyes, she could see the gratitude and 'devotion' he had toward the girls around him. She didn't really know about his past, but it must have been very difficult given his peculiar behavior. Hephaestus, Loki, Hestia, and Anubis, must have found him when he was hurting greatly and worked hard to help him become the person he is today. She could see that Vahn considered himself to be the fortunate one and it would be a very dangerous thing if she wanted to tease Loki about the matter.After fixing her clothing, Minerva gave Vahn another look and said, "Depending on how the future plays out, I wouldn't mind enjoying your company on occasion, Vahn Mason. I imagine you will have a very long life and I would cherish the opportunity to be a part of it, at least once or twice." Minerva sent him a playful wink before locking arms with Praxis and saying, "Ufufu, looks like you'll get to brag to the others for a while after this, ne, Praxis~?" As if he was very used to dealing with Minerva, Praxis nodded his head with a stoic expression on his face and said, "Indeed...I imagine the others will never let me hear the end of this once we return. I suppose I'll have to treat them all to a few rounds to pacify them every now and then..."Though she was in no way a 'promiscuous' woman, Minerva had five people that she commonly 'associated' with and they had long-term relationships with the shortest spanning eight years. This meant there was a bit of internal competition to see who would get the right to sire her child, with Praxis gaining the ultimate victory. He was the Captain of her Familia for a reason and had managed to earn more than 30% of the combined profits of the other four on his own, even with some restrictions placed on his means. Her interest in Vahn was a bit 'unique', as there was no way a goddess that had lived for such a long period of time could easily overlook such an anomaly once it had presented itself...Hearing their discussion, Vahn had a thought cross his mind and he pulled out what looked like a bottle of wine but it was wrapped in bamboo slats. He had been thinking about alcohols that would be suitable for the Clubhouse and came across this relatively delicious wine called [Emperor's Lifeblood]. It cost a total of 14,000OP for a single bottle but it could be diluted at a ratio of 1:100 with water and still have a strong flavor and 'effective' alcohol content. Vahn offered the bottle to Praxis, including a note on how to consume it, saying, "Take this, I'm certain your companions will enjoy it greatly." Praxis gave Vahn an appraising look and there was a small glint in Minerva's eyes as they glowed with a strange light while she looked at the bottle he had presented.Praxis waited for Minerva's valuation of the bottle and was surprised when she had a rather fervent look mixed with a bit of confusion as she asked, "Where did you obtain this bottle? Other than understanding it is ridiculously valuable, I can't determine anything else about its origins at all." Vahn smiled and explained, "It is something I personally created and have decided to gift you as a form of congratulations." Minerva nodded her head in understanding but she didn't miss the subtle undertones in Vahn's voice and knew he wanted them to 'sample' the wine before potentially making an agreement with them in the future for distributions rights. Without considering the matter in great detail, Minerva smiled and took the bottle of wine from Praxis as if it was a great treasure and said, "Thank you...Vahn Mason...I look forward to our future interactions~."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Busy, Busy, Busy','Fickle Goddess? : Business Mentality','Chaos and Trickery vs. Order and Wisdom','The Spirit Of Cooperation')https://www.*******.com/user?u=14397149paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 564: Intimacy