Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

While Vahn was happily going about his life, spending time with his children, making love to beautiful girls and goddesses, and working hard to improve his strength, there were some places where the atmosphere was not so pleasant. One such location was Fokvangr, the main residence of the Freya Familia, located near the richest section of the business district. It was a huge mansion, constructed in the form of a large temple with a solemn atmosphere, even at the best of times. Today, however, this generally solemn atmosphere had turned incredibly tense, almost to the point where the tension was palpable. The weaker members of the Familia, who usually held their heads high with pride, now hung them low, avoiding eye contact with the stronger members to avoid any potential trouble.As for the reason behind this tense atmosphere, it had been because Freya, who rarely visited the main residence, was now at the central region, having gathered all of her Elites. Generally, if she deigned to grace them with her presence, everyone in the Familia would have been beyond ecstatic. Today, however, even the newer members could sense there was something very wrong with the usual Freya, even though there were no visible changes. She still radiated a noble, indomitable aura, and was possessed of an unrivaled beauty that could sway the hearts of both men and women to do her bidding. Unlike her normal self, however, it was like she didn't have any of them in her eyes at all and, though it wasn't as if she had shown them much attention before, it was almost like there was disdain and contempt in her crystal clear, silver eyes...Freya, after gathering all of her Elite members, now sat on her throne as she looked out at all of them neatly gathered in a formation. Ottar, faithful as always, stood at her side radiating an oppressive aura, even without her asking him to do so. There were no servants present so, contrary to her typically behavior, Freya poured a glass of wine for herself. Seeing this, many people became even more tense, especially when Freya turned her eyes towards them. Currently, she didn't quite know what she was feeling but, seeing all of these people that she used to consider interesting, Freya couldn't help but find them...sorely lacking.These were the Elites she had gathered over the years, many of which she had groomed from a very young age into capable Adventurers to serve her will. Just three days ago, Freya would have looked upon these people as her precious treasures, things to be cherished, polished, and displayed proudly. Now, Freya felt like they were all lacking substance, each weaker than the next, severely limited in their potential. All of the effort she put into grooming them now seemed wasted, as if she were a fool blinded by her own restricted view of the world. The only ones that stood out among the two-hundred people she had gathered, other than Ottar at her side, were Allen, Hogni, Hedin, Grer, Afrigg, Dvalinn, Berling, and, the only female holding her waning interest, Helun.Allen Fromel was a Cat Person she had picked up in the past, essentially a stray kitten she had taken pity on after his clan was wiped out. She had high hopes for him as, in order to seek vengeance and protect his sister, he had trained tirelessly to become stronger. As for the Dark Elf, Hogni, he served as a fine counterbalance to Hedin, a handsome Elf she had shown favor to. Freya had originally scouted them both, as she found that pairing them together, even though they hated each other, was very interesting. Then, there were the Gulliver Brothers, each rather unimpressive alone, but having incredible potential when together...at least, that is what Freya used to believe...The last among them, completely ignoring the other one-hundred-ninety-one gathered 'Elites', was Helun, a beautiful Human woman that Freya had raised as her protege after Syr left her care. She was another demigoddess that Freya had stumbled across, though her fate had been inarguably more tragic than the grey-haired beauty she had been fond of in the past. Much like Syr, Helun had been raised as an orphan, even possessing similar attributes with an intrinsic ability to charm other people. Unlike Syr, however, Helun hadn't been so fortunate in her youth, suffering at the hands of the people who were supposed to have cared for her. By the time Freya discovered her existence, Helun had been a very high earning prostitute in a private brothel that served men with more 'deviant' tastes, typically targetted towards younger 'women'Contrasting Syr, once again, Helun had been far more willing to be sculpted, all so that she could get revenge against the people that had wronged her. She willingly embraced everything Freya taught her, learning to manipulate others with the same ease as some people drew breath. At the same time, Helun also worked hard to increase her strength, reaching the peak of Level 4 after only a few years of venturing into the Dungeon. Now, after having completely slaughtered the people that had peddled her as their personal property, Helun had become one of the few females Freya had been interested in grooming. Now, however, much like she was feeling towards all her other Elites, Freya no longer thought she was very interesting...Though it had been more than an hour since everyone gathered, silence continued to dominate the tense atmosphere until Freya finally said, "I have gathered you all here for two reasons. The balance of power within the City has begun to shift in favor of the Alliance and, regardless of what external forces attempt, it is unlikely they would be able to stop the already built momentum. Now, I had always prided my Familia as the strongest, hand picking each member and helping you develop your potential...Unfortunately, with fewer exceptions than fingers on my two hands, I have been left largely disappointed..."Hearing Freya's words, nobody within the formation moved at all, even though the majority of those gathered began to feel as if they had suddenly lost all their value. There were some, however, that could barely contain the smiles that were trying to creep onto their faces. This was especially so when Freya continued, saying, "I do not owe you an explanation, but know that the quality and potential of the next generation is already slated to far exceed the vast majority of you. Within the next few years, I intend to slim down the Familia until it is filled with only those I deem worthy...if you wish to stay, you will have to prove your worth to me. Those that show they have value will be groomed to become even stronger in the future...those that fail to meet my expectations, however...ufufufu~."Everyone present knew exactly what happened to the people that didn't meet Freya's expectations. It didn't matter if they were in her Familia, in other Familias, or even normal civilians. If Freya took an interest in you, and you failed to meet her expectations, it almost exclusively ended in death. It was either that, or you would be forced to flee the City, never returning lest you face your death at the hands of others willing the prove themselves where you failed. Even so, without exception, be they men or women, everyone present wanted to show their worth to this goddess before them, having long given their hearts to her in exchange for power.At this point, Freya's silver eyes were glowing with a violet light as she smiled towards the formation before saying, "Simply put, I will have the two-hundred of you gathered here challenge each other. What kind of challenge you wish to conduct, I will leave that to each of you...however, know that I will only be keeping the top twenty of you. For rules...lets see, I'll make it so that nobody is able to refuse a challenge after they have thrown their nomination into the mix. For those that fail to earn a position after one hour, you will be relegated to logistics until you are able to prove you are worth the effort I've put into grooming you. However...well, I'm sure I don't need to explain myself~."Though there were some that had been thrown into the logistics groups in the past, they typically ended up stuck there indefinitely. After all, everyone within the support troops of the Freya Familia had very clearly defined roles, many of which never offered you a chance for rising above your position. The only thing that could change your fate was to earn some kind of achievement or impress Freya during one of the times when she decided to promote people. After all, Freya considered it troublesome to update the Status Boards of those that hadn't 'earned' the right to receive her attention. However, there were times when she would look for suitable people to serve as replacements for former Elites that had died, meaning it wasn't impossible to rise up again...The first to rise to the challenge was none other than Allen, currently bereft of his spear, who turned to the rest of the Elites and shouted, "Come at me you fuckers! It doesn't matter how many of you weak shits try to step up. Now that Lady Freya had decided to cull the pack, I'll be the first to take the lead and rid her of you mongrels!" However, the moment Allen issued his challenge, a deep voice rose to accept. His ears twitched, as the deep baritone voice had come from behind him, while he had previously been facing the rest of the formation. Turning his head slowly, Allen saw Ottar removing all of his equipment, revealing a simple black, form-fitting shirt that clearly displayed all of his muscles for others to bear witness to.Repeating his previous statement, Ottar matched gazes with Allen and said, "I, Ottar, will challenge you, Allen Fromel. Come." Allen felt like every bit of rationale that had remained inside of him had been broken, as if a powerful and unbridled rage had consumed him. However, his instincts kept him from immediately moving to attack Ottar, knowing exactly how he would end up as a result. If not for the fact that Freya had laid out the rule of not giving up a challenge, Allen would have simply dismissed Ottar's blatant provocation. Now, having already thrown out his name in such an overbearing manner, Allen had no choice but to face against the man known as the King. The fact they were both unarmed seemingly put him at a disadvantage but, after witnessing what Ottar was capable of with a sword, Allen knew it wouldn't have made any significant difference.Seeing things play out as she had expected, Freya smiled and said, "Ara~? How interesting...I didn't think two of the favorites to win the first seat would fight each other in the first round. This is exactly the type of motivation I wish to see in my Elites...ufufufufu~." Freya's words were the final nail in the proverbial coffin, at least that was how people felt as they watched Ottar and Allen get into their positions at the center of the arena they had gathered in. Everyone knew Ottar would come out ahead but they were still interested to see how far Allen could go before he had to swallow his pride and back out.Facing Ottar, who was standing nearly 50m from his position, Allen had a scowl on his face as he cursed, "You big bastard...those at the top shouldn't be fighting against each other. Why do you have to try and fuck me over from the very beginning!?" Without responding to Allen's statement, Ottar got into a stance, arms raised, legs spread, which gave him the appearance of an immovable mountain. There was a serious expression on his face with an unwavering, resolute look in his eyes. Seeing this, Allen felt even more pissed off and, using his superior speed, tried to get in close enough to land at least one hit on Ottar's smug face.Though they had expected Ottar to win in the end, nobody was expecting to witness the sight happening before their eyes. Allen's speed made him famously the 'fastest' Adventurer in all of Orario, to the point that there weren't even any contenders for the spot, as many had already died at the tip of his spear. Before Ottar, however, this speed didn't seem to phase him at all as, in one fell swoop, Ottar managed to grab Allen's leg with the precision of a hawk. Though Allen shifted his weight, making use of his incredible flexibility in the process, and tried to smash Ottar's wrist, he wasn't even afforded the opportunity as Ottar suddenly moved with a tyrannical momentum.As if Allen were a sledgehammer that was used to drive a stake into the ground, Ottar flung the lithe Cat Person over his hand, slamming him into the ground below with enough force to actually collapse the floor of the arena. There had been a storage area underneath, but it had been separated from the surface by three meters of reinforced marble, which had now crumbled like a flaky stroodle. Everyone that had witnessed the scene was completely gobsmacked, never expected that Ottar would be so...decisive. That type of attack could have easily killed another Adventurer, terrifying those that had witnessed it to the core.Without any change in her expression, Freya watched the event she had constructed play out along with the rest of her Familia. Currently, there was a cloud of dust obscuring everyone's vision but, after a few seconds had passed, it began to clear. Moments after that, a shadow could be seen climbing out of the smoke, far too big to be Allen, not that he wasn't present. As if he had performed a very simple feat, such as throwing a cloth into a hamper, Ottar walked out of the marbled debris, still clinging to Allen's horribly twisted leg as he dragged the limp Cat Person behind him. After coming to a stop, Ottar 'lightly' threw Allen's mangled body towards a woman with cropped green hair, standing on the periphery of the group of Elites. She was someone that had proficiency with healing magic, though not nearly appropriate for repairing the damage Allen had sustained. Looking at him, it was hard to believe he was still even alive...Turning his head away from the woman, as if he weren't at all concerned about the matter of Allen's survival, Ottar looked towards everyone else and plainly said, "Do not overestimate yourselves. If you lack the confidence to rise into the top twenty, do not waste Lady Freya's time with your half-hearted resolution. Come with the intent that, if you fail, you will die...now, stay or leave, this will be your last opportunity to consider. After one minute, I will begin choosing who is able to leave by their own efforts..."(A/N: 18,827/30,000...I think I'm getting an ulcer from drinking too many energy drinks xD...)(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Look at all these people who aren't Vahn...','Yare yare...','Ottar ain't fucking around O_O...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Unaware of the restructuring of power that was going on throughout the City, not just within the Freya Familia, Vahn had returned to his daily lifestyle. Eirene now came around the Manor far more often, generally just to chat with the other goddesses and interact with the Vanir, while Demeter would sometimes come along with her. She was another goddess Vahn had to take into consideration for the future, though that matter could be delayed for a while, as she was currently more focused on some of the developments in the Plains Region to the west. Thus, with that matter set aside for the future, the only things Vahn really had to worry about was Riveria's impending delivery, which shouldn't be far from the opening of the School.Both of these events were very 'major', so Vahn had been working to smooth things over while also following up with Rufina, who had actually been a little annoyed he hadn't stopped by sooner. It had been nearly eight months since he had left her at the Ganesha Familia, only stopping by twice since then, both times within the first week after he had left her there. Her Affection, which had been hovering in the mid-eighties, had dropped all the way down to 49, even though she strangely still had the (Trust) bracket parameter.This had been the result of Shakti often explaining to her the things that were occurring in the Alliance, with the majority of her news centering around Vahn and the matters within the Hearth Manor. Rufina couldn't truly blame him for wanting to spend time with his newborn children and, considering her situation would inconvenience anyone, she had tried just focusing on her new life without worrying about what Vahn was up to. Her impression of him was that he was an honest boy so she knew, one day, he would eventually come around and make good on her promise.As she had expected, though much later than she would have liked, Vahn did eventually show up, carrying with him several different files. Each contained a woman that loosely resemble Rufina in appearance, all possessing similarly red hair and having disappeared in the Dungeon. The unfortunate thing was, none of them had been reputed for having any rare skills, especially ones related to taming. Also, the strongest among them was only Level 3 and, though Rufina might have become stronger while under Enyo's influence, the woman in the file would have made her a great deal older than she appeared. Thus, though the investigation had gone on for a full eight months, there hadn't been any major breakthroughs in discovering Rufina's original identity.Vahn did, however, impart unto her one of the pieces of information Loki had told him, being that Rufina's disappearance may have been covered up. During the investigation, which had included going through the records maintained by the Guild, and several infamous information brokers, Loki noticed there were a few Adventurers who had gone missing that weren't documented by the Guild, even though they had been properly registered.Though it could just be a clerical error, the number was far too great to be a simple coincidence, especially since every member had belonged to a Familia that had disbanded, with their gods no longer being present to give a proper accounting. This meant that their disappearance had been effectively erased and it had taken Loki a great deal of effort just to send and receive messages from Heaven, trying to verify if her instincts proved accurate. In more than half the cases, she had been able to discover that several Adventurers, generally around Level 3-4, had simply been 'removed' from the Guilds records, dating back nearly a thousand years...When she had heard this, Rufina had very decisively stated, "You should stop trying to investigate my past. I have a bad feeling about this and I've learned to always trust my instincts...I've already started building a new life here, none of that matters anymore. Besides, I wouldn't even know how to deal with people I don't even remember...it would be too awkward..." However, though she had said this, Vahn could clearly see that Rufina wanted to know, even if her fears were also just as visible. There were few people who would simply be okay with not knowing who they were, especially if they might have had some important family members who had been worrying about them. Yes, it would probably be awkward, but that was just how life was at times...Instead of agreeing to drop the matter, Vahn became even more determined to find the truth, smiling to Rufina as he said, "Sorry, Rufina, but I can be pretty obstinate at times. I made you a promise and, even if it ends up leading me into a sticky situation, I'm confident enough to walk out of it just fine. I might not look like it, but I'm pretty strong...after all, I even managed to defeat you, right~?" At the same time that Rufina's Affection jumped back up to 61, her fist also came flying towards his face with a great deal of force behind it. Vahn, transitioning into his Xuánwǔ form in an instant, just caught her fist in his palm, completely negating the attack and 'storing' it in the scales on his forearm.As he had been seriously training his [Rakshasa Body] again, Vahn had slowly been learning some of the secrets he had overlooked in the past, the ability to store kinetic energy being one of them. Though there was a limit to how much he could hold, which constantly drained his energy to keep contained, Vahn found that this particular ability was exceptionally suited for physical fighters. It had become the bane of Tiona's existence, giving Vahn a slight edge of her, even though things usually ended up with him being pummeled, regardless of his efforts.Rufina's eyes widened in shock, both as a result of watching Vahn transform and seeing how easily he dealt with her attack. She had been very annoyed by his words and hadn't held anything back, assuming he would dodge, not take on the attack directly. For a brief moment, when he smiled at her, Rufina felt her heart pulse with a giddy feeling sensation spreading through her stomach. She jerked her fist free of his hand, snorting as she said, "Do whatever the fuck you want. It's not like I can do shit when you leave this place again..." Without another word, Rufina stormed off in a huff, refusing to look back as Vahn watched her with a mild incredulity on his face.Shaking his head, Vahn turned his attention to the other person that had been sitting in on their conversation, Shakti. As the Captain of the Ganesha Familia, she had been given permission to hear about all the details relating to the investigation of Rufina's background. Over the last eight months, she had actually grown very fond of the free-spirited, though admittedly brash, redhead. Since anyone with amnesia had a reason to be high-strung, Shakti had always been very patient with Rufina and, after witnessing the monstrous talent the latter had, it was her hope to one day groom her into the next Captain of the Familia.Producing a wry smile of her own, Shakti rose to her feet and bowed politely before saying, "She means well, that woman...don't let her barbed tongue get to you. And, though she didn't say it, I'm sure she is grateful for everything you're doing, Vahn. The only thing I think would make her happier is if you stopped by more often...after all, she isn't that good at making friends, though a few of us have been able to tolerate her long enough to at least be considered close acquaintances..." Shakti nearly laughed at her own words but managed to cover it up by coughing into her hand.Vahn, however, didn't mind laughing and did so willingly, causing Shaki to frown slightly as the image of a loud-mouthed elephant appeared in her head. Bowing one last time, Shakti said, "If you'll excuse me, I should be going. I need to make sure Rufina didn't run off and start smashing a poor inanimate object out of frustration..." There were more than a few target dummies, stones, and even metal poles that had become victims of Rufina's wrath. Her physical strength was the only thing more monstrous than her talent with taming, making her the one woman that even the bold and unrestrained men in her Familia couldn't easily approach...excluding herself, which her annoying god kept harping over...Understanding that his welcome had run out, Vahn rose to his feet and return a polite bow to Shakti before saying, "I look forward to the exhibition..." Shakti nodded her head in response, saying, "Yes, I'm certain it will be quite the sight. It does annoy me a little, however, knowing that you'll be stealing the spotlight once again...try not to go overboard, Vahn Mason." With her words finished, Shakti made her way out of the room while Vahn rubbed the back of his head. Truthfully, stealing the show from the Ganesha Familia wasn't really his intention, it simply...couldn't be helped?In order to increase the popularity of the School, Vahn had arranged things with Ganesha to do a public display of some of the things they would be teaching, especially magic. They would also have members of the Terpsichore Familia doing performances, mainly focused on music and dance, while the girls would be demonstrating sports like Volleyball and Soccer, two things Vahn expected to be a big hit with the crowds. His memory fragment had been working on uniforms for them to wear, which would be both easy on the eyes, but also enough to protect the girls' dignity. Vahn wasn't really comfortable with other men eyeing the girls but, as they were all fine with putting on the performance, he wasn't going to make a big deal out of it...as long as nobody in the stands took things too far.While making his way back to the Manor, using the direct route by going through the sky, Vahn decided it wouldn't be a bad idea to stop by Maria's Orphanage. Many of the children there had wanted to attend the School and, as he had been very busy, it had been nearly eight months since he last visited. Realizing this, Vahn felt a little sick to his stomach and quickly made his way over without minding the stares and pointing from pedestrians below. It was already known that he could fly through the sky, one of the many things he was famous for, so Vahn didn't bother with trying to keep it concealed. If anything, it would make the popularity of the School skyrocket, especially since only graduates would even have the chance to learn skills like [Shundo] by attending the Academy.After a short flight, Vahn dropped down in front of the Orphanage, startling two children who had been playing with one of the rubber balls he had left them in the past. Though momentarily spooked by his sudden appearance, the two had vibrant smiles on their faces once they realized who had dropped in on them. Without showing any restraint, the two young boys ran over, almost as if they were trying to tackle him to the ground, shouting, "Vahn! It's been so long since you last came by! Everyone, Vahn's back! Heeeeeeeeey~!" Moments later, Vahn found himself hounded by a group of more than twenty children, aging between four and nine years old. The only ten-year-old among them, while also being the eldest, was Rye, standing at the back with his arms crossed and a face full of accusation.Vahn, after pacifying the horde of children with sweets, made his way over to the young boy, showing an apologetic expression as he said, "Sorry for now stopping by. How had everyone been, Rye...?" As he was already aware, based on Rye's body language and the color of his aura, the boy hadn't actually been angry. The moment Vahn apologized, he gave a curt nod before smiling vibrantly and saying, "Everyone has been great! Some people even got lucky enough to get adopted, though most of us still wanted to stick around to attend your School. Isn't it supposed to be opening very soon!? I can't wait to learn how to be an awesome swordsman!"Nodding his head, Vahn smiled, explaining, "Yes, it'll be opening right after the end of the Spring Harvest and the next Monster Feria. I'll talk to Maria about getting all of you tickets, after all, you were a big help last time around." Hearing this, not only Rye, but all the children present began to get very riled up, screaming and squealing happily as they made their way into the interior of the Orphanage. Along the way, though he could sense them, Vahn still turned to Rye and asked, "So, where are Fina and Roux? I don't see them anywhere..."Rye began rubbing his index finger under his nose, smiling in an awkward manner as he said, "Well, that...you shouldn't really ask...yeah." Vahn blinked, slightly surprised by Rye's words and, as the boy had suggested, he decided not to pry any further. He could easily come up with a few different ideas that were likely very close to the truth, many of which weren't really appropriate to talk about. Since he could sense that both girls were safe, even if they were off in one of the side rooms for privacy, Vahn decided to just focus on the children around him. After all, they would eventually show up and, being the sensible Papa he had become, Vahn knew it was important for young girls to have privacy.Unsurprisingly, the two concerned parties showed up a few minutes into one of the stories he had been telling. Vahn had to halt mid-sentence as a cream-colored projectile shot towards his chest, shouting, "Vaaaaaahn~!" before nuzzling against him happily. This was none other than Finna, tail wagging happily while she 'discreetly' tried to sneak a few deep breaths of his aroma. Vahn knew the young Chienthrope had a crush on him and, as his [Grooming] would only exacerbate the situation, he just gave her a normal head pat as she happily giggled under his touch.With decidedly less motivation, Roux also walked over, appearing just as quiet and reserved as normal. One 'massive' change, however, was the fact that, though it wasn't exactly girly, Roux wasn't wearing baggy boy's clothing. Instead, she had on a pair of shorts that had a skirt attachment and, similar to Fina, whom she had likely borrowed the clothes from, Roux was wearing a white sleeveless tunic. It was a bit worn, having a few visible stains, but it was very apparent that Roux had tried to dress up a bit, presumably as a result of his arrival. Vahn didn't miss the few strands of pink that were spreading through her aura, clear evidence that she had also developed a bit of a crush on him.Feeling Rye pinch his side, while Fina gave him a look that said, 'say something nice', Vahn smiled to Roux and said, "You look very cute today, Roux. That kind of clothing suits you very well..." Hearing this, Roux tightly gripped the hem of her skirt, clearly unaccustomed with wearing such clothing as she began to blush a deep red. For several seconds, the entire room became silent, the tension thick enough that it could be cut with a knife. Eventually, however, Roux raised her large eyes, uttering, "Thank you..." in a quiet voice...before running away. Fina hopped up out of his lap immediately after, chasing after the retreating Roux while shouting, "Ah, Roux, now is the moment to strike! Don't run away~!"From the side, Maria watched this entire scene play out, chuckling lightly to herself before returning to the kitchen to prepare lunch. She wasn't even remotely surprised when a stack of fresh ingredients was already waiting for her arrival when she got there...(A/N: 21,622/30,000...my brain is melting xD...oh, and I'm going to straight up clarify that Fina and Roux aren't harem candidates. Vahn's got more than a few things to resolve in this world, ain't nobody got time fo dat~! Also, I've personally been noticing a lot of typos in my writing this time around and, while I'm trying to catch them all, know that I'm very tired right now xD...)(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Tsufina goes doki-doki~?','Deeper Mysteries...','Vahn is good at coaxing young girls...NANI!?')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Making his way over to her side, Vahn pulled Eirene into his embrace, allowing their bare bodies to touch against each other before gently kissing his lips. He kept things relatively tame, as it was obvious that Eirene wasn't used to anything more 'advanced', but still enjoyed the feeling of her breasts pressing against his chest. Though they weren't quite as soft as Hestia's, who seemed to possess an Innate giving her the softest breasts among both gods and mortals, but they were still very pleasant and deformed nicely while he held her close. The fact she made no efforts to resist him at all, simply allowing him to do as he pleased, made Vahn feel a strange desire to not betray the trust she had placed in him...Guiding Eirene to the bed, which had been completely replaced since the time he had been with Freya, Vahn slowly lowered her to its surface. Eirene's 'complacency' actually unnerved him a little, especially since she was watching him with an unwavering gaze filled with trust and undisguised infatuation. Then, when she had been laid against the bed through his efforts, Eirene smiled lovingly and opened her arms, clearly inviting him into her embrace. Vahn blinked, somewhat confused about how things were developing but, never one to refuse the embrace of a woman, he leaned over of her body and allowed her to pull him close.The resulting embrace last for a few minutes, during which time Vahn just absentmindedly enjoyed Eirene's comforting touch while she hugged his face into the cleavage of her breasts. She didn't seem to mind his weight against her body at all and, even though there was a startlingly hot object pressed against her abdomen, Eirene continued to hold him closely before framing his face and saying, "You're a good man, Vahn...thank you for letting me prepare my heart...I'm ready now." After saying her piece, Eirene gave him a very brief kiss before relaxing against the bed and slightly parting her legs. It was looking like, true to the rumors involving her, Eirene wanted to keep things very simple, something Vahn actually found rather refreshing.Since Eirene was actually 'more' than ready, contrary to her rather demure behavior, Vahn deftly found the correct angle, marveling at how Eirene's flesh seemed to simultaneously envelop him with both a gentle, yet snug, pressure. When he inserted himself inside of her, Eirene released a small sigh before producing a smile and musing, "I'm glad I took Loki's advice. Without the medicine, I'm not sure if my body would actually be suitable to receive you...haaaaa..." Hearing this, Vahn felt that same strange sense of pride dance around in his chest, bringing a smile to his face as he said, "You're doing well, Eirene, just leave everything else to me..."Nodding her head, Eirene then wrapped her arms around his back and loosely held onto his body without making many movements of her own. It was just him, slowly pistoning his hips without stressing Eirene's body too much, as she gave Vahn a feeling as though she were very delicate and fragile. She didn't seem to derive too much pleasure and enjoyment from sex, instead focusing on his reactions and 'supporting' him with random compliments. It was a little strange, especially considering he wasn't doing much at the moment, so Vahn eventually slowly his already slow movements, asking, "Eirene, do you not enjoy having sex...?"Eirene gave a simple smile in response before explaining, "Well, it certainly feels good, but I don't think its that healthy for people to seek excessive pleasure. There are many things in the world that can give your life greater meaning than simply indulging in sexual pleasures. I'm sure you've experienced such things, especially after your children were born, yes...?"When he heard her explain it like this, Vahn fell into thought for a moment before nodding his head in affirmation. However, he knew there was something 'wrong' about Eirene's words so he then said, "That may be true. In fact, the time I spend with my daughters...I can't really imagine anything more fulfilling. However, during moments like this, when two people are coming together to form a singular bond...I believe it is important to enjoy it. Even if you don't place much emphasis on the act, ignoring anything complex like plays, the emotional connection is very important...you see, it makes me happy when I'm able to make the women I'm with happy. In many cases, seeing me happy, also makes the girls even happier, effectively creating a loop where we can share each other's happiness. I'm not really sure if that makes sense...it just feels right...?"Hearing Vahn's explanation, Eirene chuckled lightly, bringing her hands to his face with a loving smile on her's as she said, "Vahn, know that I am already very happy. However, if you want to try to make me happier...who am I to stop you...? Please, do whatever you like...I may be inexperienced, but I will do my best to make you happy as well..." Eirene had already decided to let Vahn do as he pleased, even before they began. Seeing him so concerned for her made a gentle warmth spread through her heart and, though she couldn't exactly agree with everything he said, she knew he meant well.Vahn could tell that Eirene wasn't really convinced by his words so he decided to try and show her through his actions. Knowing she might not enjoy anything too intense, Vahn decided to slowly ease her into things but using his [Grooming] to begin stroking various parts of her body. So she would be able to focus on each sensation, he didn't begin kissing her and, very gently, began kissing around her neck, shoulders, and collarbone. He noticed the Eirene's body twitched slightly whenever his hands would pass over her soft and delicate skin. It was strange, especially since he knew she often fought and captured criminals, that Eirene's body seemed so frail...It took a bit longer than he expected, but Eirene eventually released a much hotter sigh than before, making the demure and soft sighs from earlier seem exceptionally tame. Realizing it herself, Eirene lightly chuckled and said, "If it's like this, I can understand a little what you mean...you're so gentle, yet everything you do is effective...I've never really experienced anything like this before..." It was at this moment that Vahn gave Eirene a short kiss, still keeping things tame for the moment, before he pulled away to say, "Things can go much further than this...one day, when you are truly open to the idea, I will show you...the bonds between people that love each other are what give moments like this their significance. It isn't the sexual act itself, but what we give to each other that matters...just as you're allowing me to do as I please...while I'm trying to make you comfortable and satisfied...if we didn't both want to give the other something, this would be nothing more than a means to an end...serving no greater purpose at all..."This time, Eirene's eyes opened a little wider, slightly taken aback by the content of Vahn's words. They were much more convincing than what he had said previously and, though she couldn't completely agree with each part, Eirene knew there was a great deal of truth to his words. If one side simply gave to the other, without an exchange of emotions, the party giving would be nothing more than a glorified prostitute. Even if that wasn't the case, they both had a reason to be here, at this specific moment, which was so that she could conceive a child. If she simply allowed Vahn to do as he pleased, without taking any more proactive measures, it would almost be like she was letting him do what he wanted in exchange for a child...which was an awful thought to have.Keying in on a few select words Vahn had stated, Eirene mustered up her courage, just like she would do before leading a raid into a den of criminals, saying, "As I said, Vahn, I'm not very experienced with things like this...however...I want you to show me how far things can go. I have already given you my trust and, even if things get a little out of hand, I believe you will not stray from the path you have chosen to walk...so show me, the strength of the bond between two people...I want to know how strong it can become."As if they had traded places once again, Vahn's eyes widened at Eirene's words, thoughts racing through his mind as he tried to process their meaning. Just like her comment about 'doing it from behind', Vahn wasn't sure if the meaning behind her words matched with his understanding of them. The one thing he knew was, by simply looking at Eirene's calm and determined gaze, she had completely entrusted things to him. How far he pushed her, what they experienced together, it was up to him to decide when things would come to an end. Depending on his choices, he could completely reshape how Eirene treated the relationship between men and women...Suddenly realization hit Vahn's mind, causing a smile to appear on his face as he reached out his hand to gently stroke Eirene's aqua-blue hair. He leaned down, kissing her exposed forehead before saying, "Since you've given me your trust, I will give you my everything...it might be a little scary, though, as it would require you to do the same..." This time, Eirene's chuckle turned into a light laugh as she said, "Very well, Vahn...I know I'm not the first goddess whose heart you've managed to reach...I trust you. Come, if you want my everything, take it..." As she spoke, Eirene opened her arms in a gesture as if she were offering herself up to him, no hesitation at all present in her expression and actions.Refusing to let down a woman who had placed her trust in him, goddess or not, Vahn threw away his own hesitation and began expanding his domain before contracting it to surround the bed. Then, just as he had done with Hephaestus and Loki in the past, Vahn began allowing his domain to mix with Eirene's aura, drawing out her divine power as the energies between their bodies began to meld together. For a brief moment, there was an unbridled surprise on Eirene's face until, much like Vahn, such thought seemed completely irrelevant. Just as he could feel her everything, Eirene could feel Vahn's entire existence, simultaneously small, frail, and weak, while also being insurmountably large, indomitable, and mighty. It wasn't the presence of a mortal and, though it wasn't as powerful as a god, Eirene couldn't help but feel like Vahn was far beyond any gods she had ever met before...Without any regards for time, Vahn melded with Eirene as a rainbow hue, intermixed with an ocean-blue radiated from their bodies. They were so taken by the passion shared between them, which seemed to infinitely compound upon itself, that, by the time the light began to fade away, nearly eight hours had passed, with them changing positions more than a hundred times. When everything was said and done, Eirene just lay there in a daze while Vahn held her body from behind, gingerly kissing her neck while the now familiar presence spread her insides to their maximum capacity.Eirene didn't know what to think right now, as the experience she just shared with Vahn was far beyond her expectations. She actually felt like her existence itself had 'expanded' slightly, in a way she couldn't even begin to comprehend. The mortal boy holding her, his warmth, his scent, his presence itself, seemed to be permanently embedded in her thoughts, heart, and even her soul. Strangely, though this should have filled her with confusion and insecurities, Eirene knew Vahn hadn't kept anything from her, just as she had been unable to keep anything from him. They had given themselves to each other completely, something she hadn't even thought possible earlier, even when the words had originally left her mouth...Feeling Vahn slip out of her, Eirene experienced a sudden sense of loss, instinctually uttering, "Ah, no..." before realizing what she just said. Vahn just rolled her over to face him, an action she couldn't bring herself to resist at all. When she saw his face in close proximity to her's, Eirene felt her cheeks become hot, especially when she saw his gentle and 'knowing' smile. As he came in to take a kiss from her, Eirene absentmindedly opened her mouth to receive him, feeling her mind start to numb when his tongue invaded, caressed, and intertwined with her own. Just as she had done during the previous eight hours, Eirene found herself reciprocating his kiss, even escalating things slightly when she tightly clung to his head with her hands.When Vahn pulled away, he saw Eirene's red face and smiled once again, asking, "So, I know my words might not be very convincing, but I believe you should understand now...how about it, Eirene, can you feel the love I have for you now...?" He might not have had much before, as Eirene was more like someone he had respected as a friend, even while appreciating her beauty and fully intending to impregnate her. After melding with her Divinity, however, Vahn felt like there was no part of Eirene he didn't know, even some parts she herself hadn't be aware of before. At the time their existences seemed to have fused together, even though he lost his senses, Vahn felt his feelings intertwine with her's, bringing them to an absolute zero distance where nothing wasn't shared between them.Hearing his words, Eirene found herself breathing heavily and, inexplicably, the heat on her face continued to rise as she sheepishly muttered, "I...I under...I understand...I...I...I..." Reaching out his index finger, Vahn placed it against Eirene's lips, smiling in the most loving manner he could manage as he confidently stated, "I know..." At this moment, Vahn felt like he knew 'everything' about Eirene, at least on an emotional level. She would probably struggle with her thoughts on what happened for a while after today but, once she came to accept the reality, Vahn 'knew' she would be happier for it. He had felt how happy she could be, something Eirene didn't seem to be aware of herself, and she wouldn't be able to ignore that feeling anymore.During the moment when Eirene had entered a daze, Vahn gently lifted her right leg and, bringing her back to reality, slowly inserted himself into her again. Unlike the past, where she simply released a sigh of relief, Eirene released a throaty moan, writhing around slightly in his embrace with a flushed expression on her face. She immediately began breathing faster before locking eyes with him when he brought his hand back to her face, saying, "It's time..." Then, to answer Eirene's unasked question, golden chains began to appear from the void as they slowly snaked around her body. This time, Eirene's breathing became loud, labored, and excited. Even though she could feel the restrictive force coming from [Enkidu], Eirene managed to smile, tracing her palms across his chest as she said, "Vahn...I love you..."(A/N: 16,265/30,000...I ain't gonna make it out of this one alive xD...)(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vanilla...','Less Talking, More Fluff (o`^ 'o)...','Just according to keikaku...?')

Chapter 746: Tension