Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

After what felt like an unbelievably long period of time, the darkness clouding Vahn's mind faded away, replaced by the appearance of the curious Artemis looking back at him. She was still wearing only the cloak he had wrapped around her body, causing Vahn to blink a few times to collect himself before saying, "You have gone through a lot, Artemis...I..." It was always very difficult to experience the [Hearts Desire] of a goddess and Vahn could still feel the echoes of her pain and anxiety. He was accustomed to the feeling of loneliness that gods would experience but this was the first time, even from his own perspective, where he had felt genuine loss...it was one of the most painful things he had ever experienced...Just as he lowered his head in thought, Vahn found a pair of pristine white arms wrap around his head before two inordinately soft and warm cushions enveloped his face. He didn't need to open he eyes to know that Artemis had hugged him into her breasts and, though he had tried to keep a sense of propriety between them earlier, Vahn didn't care about that right now. For the time being, the comfort of another person was almost enough to bring him to tears and, knowing that Artemis had been experiencing the same thing, Vahn tightly wrapped his arms around her in return...Back in the Dungeon, Vahn had been sitting in the area above the encampment, watching over the construction efforts with Fenrir sitting in his lap. Her ears had twitched the moment he exited the [Hearts Desire] and he was now hugging her body as well, wanting to ease the feeling of intense loss that still existed within his mind. She didn't offer any complaints and instead altered her body to be fluffier as she began lightly patting his head, saying, "There, there, everything will be okay, Master..." Vahn nodded his head, knowing this to be the truth but still saying, "For now, I just want to stay like this..." In response, Fenrir released a quiet 'Nn' before whispering, "As long as it takes...Fenrir will be here with Master..."For the better part of an hour, Vahn found comfort in the two girls and did his best to return that same comfort to them. This was especially the case for Artemis, who he knew must be suffering a great deal since it was her pain that had influenced him so greatly. Their positions slowly reversed as the time had passed, now with Artemis resting her head on his shoulder as Vahn slowly and gently combed his fingers through her hair while lightly stroking her back. At one point, she had started crying very silently so Vahn had started humming the same tune that Tiona often hummed in the past. He had 'stolen' the tune from her, often using it when he was cradling his children and spending time within the maternity ward...Vahn always felt the tune had a calming effect and, combined with his [Grooming], hoped it was enough to ease the burden on Artemis' heart, at least a little. At the same time, he wondered what exactly he could do to make her 'desire' a reality. There were obvious things, such as defeating Antares and freeing her, but Vahn felt like the thing she genuinely sought, at least for the time being, was salvation for her children. With the [Tears of the Moon Goddess], it might be possible to resurrect one of them...if so much time hadn't already passed. The soul in a person's body, and the attached ego, wouldn't linger for long around their corpse. Though there could be something anchoring them there for a few hours, it was extremely unlikely that any soul's attachment to the world would persist for several days...Since he couldn't save her former family, Vahn felt that incorporating Artemis into his own would be the next best thing. Even if he couldn't heal her heart on his own, existences like Hestia and Hephaestus would undoubtedly help Artemis regain her happiness. As a goddess, Artemis knew how the cycle of souls worked and she would eventually be able to move on from the loss she had suffered. By interacting with the children around the Manor, or perhaps having one of her own, Vahn believed her smile would return in full one day...as they already had a promise of 10,000 years of love, Vahn swore to make those years happy...As if she could feel his resolve, Artemis raised her face, crystalline green eyes still moist with her tears as she said, "Hestia was right...it is a very liberating thing, knowing there is at least one person in the world that can truly empathize with you...thank you, Vahn, for being sad on my behalf..." Artemis wasn't sure exactly how much Vahn had seen in the [Hearts Desire], but she knew it was supposed to be all of the significant events from her past. There weren't many memories she kept close at heart but those that left the deepest impression were undoubtedly very lonely. Knowing that he had shared those painful memories with her, fully understanding of what she had gone through, Artemis suddenly felt much closer to him...Without putting much thought into the action, Artemis brought her left hand to the side of Vahn's face and leaned in, overlapping their lips once again. This time, she wasn't as flustered as before so they ended up in a gentle and loving embrace with Vahn slowly taking the lead and guiding her tongue with his own. Artemis' heart began to beat very rapidly but, at the same time, there was a sense of peace with her heart that hadn't been present before. She felt incredible comfort in Vahn's arms as the inhibitions that had been present within her mind for eons slowly faded away...replaced by feelings of warmth and security. Artemis knew that Vahn would never hurt her, nor would he take advantage of the memories they now shared...it was a very freeing realization.Vahn knew that, though she would likely agree if he asked, Artemis wasn't ready for something like sex. Until he could make her happy naturally, Vahn swore he wouldn't push Artemis to do something she wasn't wholly prepared for. At the same time, however, he knew that she sought a greater sense of closeness and, perhaps for the first time in her life, genuinely wanted to be desired by another person. As a result, Vahn let his hands roam while gently peppering her neck collarbone, and shoulders with his kisses. He made sure to moderate his actions but, until the time that Fafnir sent a small whisper into his mind, Vahn continued to shorten the distance between himself and Artemis...When Fafnir gently touched down on the ground, Artemis didn't seem to notice they had arrived at all, neck craned to the side as she released a hot sigh. Her left hand was clutching Vahn's hair as he kissed around the connective tissue between her left breast and shoulder. Their intimate act had gone on for well over four hours and Artemis' aura was now a deep red that clung to his body like a shroud. During that entire time, Vahn never did anything more than holding her in his embrace, touching her back and sides without once deviating to attend her breasts and the sacred wellspring below. Now, when he brought his head up, peering into her dazed expression, Vahn saw a very different kind of hope in Artemis' eyes that brought a smile to his face as he said, "We've arrived..."Artemis blinked slowly, clearly confused as she looked around at the surroundings and saw wild trees and various other types of flora in the surroundings. Realizing where they were, she released a long and hot sigh before resting her head against Vahn's chest and saying, "I never knew...is this why people are so drawn to love...?" Though she wasn't looking at his face, Vahn shook his head and tightly embraced Artemis' body as he said, "This is intimacy...something that you should only share with those you love and have a physical attraction to. As for 'love' itself...it is a very complex emotion that can have as many different forms as there are people and gods in the world...only you can answer the question of what love means to you...for me, love is the sincere desire to protect others and ensure they can live happy lives. Even if I had to shoulder the weight of Heaven itself, I would do so if it could make the lives of my loved ones easier..."Vahn knew that Artemis' form of love actually matched his own a great deal, as she had always lived to protect others and had always been drawn to the close kinship of Beast People. He had experienced the long periods of time when she watched over the ancient beast tribes, longing for the same closeness members of the same tribe generally shared with each other. Gods in Heaven didn't have this same level of closeness and the only true companion she had ever found within Heaven was Hestia, a Goddess of Family...in a way, Artemis was very similar to him, desiring a family of her own and simply lacking an understanding of how to obtain it after the trauma she had experienced during her creation...For several minutes, Artemis rested against Vahn's chest as her aura slowly stabilized, becoming a sunny yellow with small strands of purple and dark blue mixed in. She knew that Vahn's fight with Antares was going to take place much sooner than expected and, though her trust in him had already reached an extreme, Artemis was still worried. If possible, she would like to spend the next week with him so they could become even closer...then, even if he wasn't able to save her, the feelings they shared may be strong enough to significantly reduce the amount of time it takes her to reform...Though he wasn't trying to rush Artemis, Vahn knew he needed time to come up with a solution so he gently separated her from his body, a soft smile on his face as he whispered, "We must go, Artemis...your children are still waiting for us...I don't want to leave them there with that monster for even a moment longer..." Because of how important they were to her, Vahn had experienced several years worth of Artemis' memories with her Familia. He felt close with all twenty members, knowing each of their quirks and names by heart. Knowing they were laying on that cold stone floor, surrounded by darkness without having a proper burial...it was unacceptable.His words were enough to make Artemis' aura flare up, a light of conviction within her eyes as she nodded in agreement, saying, "You're right, Vahn. We can't leave them with that monster...!" In an effort to increase the bond between her and Vahn, Artemis had been trying her best not to think about anything other than the present moment. However, Vahn's words had reminded her of the reality of the situation and, imagining her children laying on the ground within the presence of that monster filled her with indignation. They were all great girls who deserved much better than how they had been treated...they should have been able to live free and happy lives, just as Vahn wanted for everyone...she should have supported their love and allowed them to stretch their wings...Sensing that Artemis was starting to lose herself in negativity, Vahn plopped his hand onto her head and reminded, "Change into your raiment, Artemis...you'll need to direct Fafnir towards the location of the Elsos Ruins..." Though Vahn had a map of the Dark Continent, the Elsos Ruins simply weren't listed anywhere, even after purchasing one-hundred different maps. It was possible that maps were an advancement that hadn't existed during the time of its construction and, considering that it would probably be destroyed after Antares' awakening, not being listed on generic maps wasn't that difficult to rationalize...Artemis looked down at her figure, noticing several red marks where Vahn had kissed her bare skin. Her face immediately felt hot and she quickly brought her hands together, manifesting her raiment as Vahn watched with unconcealed intrigue. The raiment of a god was something he still hadn't been able to comprehend as each goddess had a different way of manifesting theirs. Hestia's took on the form of petals, Hephaestus' would have flames snake across her body before taking shape, and Loki's had an inky liquid that would cover her body before solidifying. Though there were examples like Freya, who had a very similar mechanism to Hestia, the ways in which a raiment would manifest were distinct and, for the moment, indecipherable...Once Artemis was fully clothed, it was as if the atmosphere around her body had changed entirely. While naked, though she was incredibly mature and alluring, Artemis felt very frail and stirred up Vahn's desire to protect. Now that she was wearing her raiment, Artemis had the aura of a warrior and her disposition turned calm and stoic. Vahn knew that clothes could really change a person, as he had experienced it himself multiple times in the past, so this wasn't too surprising. He did, however, wonder what kind of 'feeling' Artemis would give off if she were to wear elegant or cute clothing...both seemed very suitable for her.Unaware of what Vahn was thinking, Artemis walked over to where her dagger was located and gingerly picked it up after Fafnir's scales moved aside. After fixing it to her belt, she smiled gently and stroked Fafnir's back, saying, "Thank you for keeping it safe...this dagger is very precious to me..." A thunderous rumble emerged from Fafnir's throat as it was very pleased by Artemis' praise, telepathically exclaiming, "You are very welcome, Artemis~!" These words caused Artemis' smile to broaden but Vahn hadn't missed the fluctuation in her aura that indicated she was a little embarrassed. As for the reason, Artemis had turned her head to the side where she and Vahn had been sitting previously...Having already arrived at her side, Vahn placed his hand naturally around Artemis' waist and said, "You'll have to guide Fafnir from here onwards...you know the way, correct...?" Though there was a very subtle blush on her cheeks, Artemis leaned into Vahn and said, "Yes...it is on the north-western end of the Dark Continent...as we get closer, I'm certain the route will become clear..." Vahn nodded his head and put a bit of strength in the hand around Artemis' waist as he said, "Do not waver, Artemis...remember Lante's words and believe in the power of love...as for everything else...you can leave that to me..."(A/N: The sad little trolls with nothing better to do with their lives have added even more tags to the novel xD. It's always interesting to see how willingly people undermine their own integrity over such petty things on the internet. Also, 2 hours between chapters today. I got a 4.5-hour late start because of rolling blackouts that have been happening near me in the early hours of the morning.)(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Loss...','Intimacy...','The Power of Love...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

The hour-long ascent into the sky had been relatively silent as Artemis didn't know quite what to say and Vahn was currently back on the 50th Floor of the Dungeon helping the chefs in the mess hall prepare breakfast for the current construction crew rotation. Maemi and Emiru were both helping out and it had been eating up a fair amount of his attention, at least until Artemis wriggled about suddenly. Without thinking about it too much, Vahn casually picked up Artemis by her pits and asked, "Is your butt getting numb from sitting down? Fafnir's barrier will block the wind and you don't have to worry about falling off now that we're already at cruising speed. Feel free to walk around and stretch if your legs are falling asleep..."Artemis had turned statuesque when Vahn suddenly lifted up her body like she didn't have any weight whatsoever. It was also the first time she had ever been 'handled' before and she didn't know exactly what the chaotic feelings inside of her meant. When Vahn set her back down, it felt like her cheeks were on fire and, instead of getting up to move around, Artemis buried her face into her hands out of instinct. Now Vahn was paying closer attention to her and realized his words and actions were indeed a little embarrassing for such a 'mature' woman. However, he had noticed how Artemis' aura had been flaring with a variety of different colors during the flight so it was very likely she wanted to say or do something to break the silence.Thinking about what they could talk about to let her relax, Vahn tightened his grip around Artemis' waist, just a little, before asking, "What kind of place is the Dark Continent, Artemis? Why did you decide to stay there instead of around Orario with the majority of the other gods...?" Though he could always use the [Heart's Desire: Artemis], Vahn wanted to hear Artemis' own recounting of things before he broached the subject and asked permission to view her past. The amount of information he could obtain from a goddess' [Heart's Desire] was more than a little extreme and it would expose a great deal of personal information about them that they didn't necessarily want to be known...Though she had flinched when Vahn tightened his embrace, Artemis relaxed a little when she heard his question, deciding to regulate her breathing before answering, "I stay there precisely because other gods have abandoned that place. Without protection, those who have sought shelter and peace within that inhospitable place would one day be wiped out completely...I pray that they are able to tide through this calamity safely..." Knowing that her failure may have already resulted in the deaths of thousands of people, Artemis felt a heavy burden on her heart...made lighter by the comforting embrace of the boy behind her...Artemis went on to explain that the majority of people residing on the Dark Continent were those who had either been exiled from their people or sought to escape persecution from the troubled societies of Eden. Most of them were Beast People, with the other largest groups belonging to Half-Races and Amazonesses. There was an entirely separate tribe of Amazons on the Dark Continent, having broken away from the influence of the mainland hundreds of years ago to build a more progressive society for themselves. To avoid being hunted down by some of the more zealous Amazons from the mainland, they had adopted a nomadic society that was constantly on the move...Vahn continued to listen to Artemis talk about the Dark Continent for quite a while, asking questions to guide the conversation along so that she wouldn't fall into another bout of melancholy. At the same time, she had started holding his hands around her waist, fiddling with his fingers absentmindedly as she told him all about the hardy people of the Dark Continent. He noticed she avoided talking about her Familia and, based on his understanding of the situation, Vahn knew better than to ask about it. For Artemis to have been in a situation where Antares was able to devour her, it was very likely her Familia had also been nearby. Unless they were very powerful, the odds that they had been wiped out after Antares' awakening were very high...Eventually, Artemis wrapped up her explanation by talking about how the Dark Continent had two seasons, a temperate Summer and a six month long Winter. The reason why it was known as the Dark Continent was that, during those long winter months, there would be thick cloud coverage that would obstruct the sun for weeks at a time. Fortunately for the residents of the Dark Continent, there were a variety of caves and ruins where communities would seek shelter from the extreme weather. This also meant they had to rely heavily on hunting and preparing supplies in advance to avoid having people starve and die due to exposure...Vahn was impressed that people would actually 'willingly' live in such a harsh environment but, considering how messed up some of the countries back in Eden were, he could see their reasoning. Hopefully, by the time he was finished with bringing reforms, such individuals would be able to migrate back to Eden and live their lives in relative peace. Since she had asked about it, Vahn spent the better part of two hours explaining to Artemis all of the changes he had been trying to introduce in the world. Much like he had when she was speaking, Artemis was relatively quiet during Vahn's rather idealistic speech, only asking questions when she was curious about something in particular.Like this, more than three hours of the flight had passed and now Artemis was reclining against Vahn as she listened to the rather fantastical vision he had of the future. She already knew about the Alliance, and many of Vahn's greater feats, through Hestia, but having the details laid out made everything seem simultaneously more 'real' yet still unbelievable at the same time. When he finished talking about his plans with Haven, Artemis released a sad sigh and said, "Vahn...I wish we had met sooner...I would have liked to help you create such a wonderful world..." Though she wasn't fond of living in highly populated areas, Artemis felt that it wouldn't be that bad to spend her days working towards Vahn's dream...together with him, Hestia, Hephaestus, and the other interesting girls he had mentioned...With Artemis laying against him, Vahn had one of his palms resting on her abdomen while his other hand had its finger interlocked with those of Artemis'. Hearing her words, Vahn gently moved his left hand in a calming motion while putting strength into his right hand as he stated in a very serious tone, "One thing you'll learn about me, Artemis...I don't give up on the things I've set my sights on. I have already decided to save you...even if you give up on yourself, I'll pull you back from the abyss against your will if I have to...I'd rather you resent me for eternity than see Hestia cry when I return..."Artemis had felt a little giddy when Vahn began moving his left hand but, hearing his words, she couldn't help curling up in an insecure display as she muttered, "I know my current state better than anyone, Vahn...but..." Now, Artemis twisted her body around so that she was facing him as she smiled somewhat sadly and added, "I won't give up...I want to keep my promise to Hestia but, even more than that, I want to believe in the power of love that my children believed it...!" During her words, Artemis had grabbed the sides of Vahn's face, the smallest spark of hope contained within her crystalline green eyes that reflected nothing by his own face within their depths...Vahn brought his own hand up, caressing Artemis' cheek and wiping away a stray tear that had marred her impeccably beautiful face. With unshakable resolve contained within his voice, Vahn stated with utmost sincerity, "That is more than enough, Artemis...so long as you believe in love...no, even if you never truly loved me, I would never betray the hope you placed in me. No matter what happens, I promise you that this story will have a happy ending...!" Vahn was feeling fired up, even if his words caused Sis to giggle within the recesses of his mind...Hearing Vahn's words, Artemis felt like the tiny flame in her heart had ignited into a bonfire, causing her body to heat up as her breathing accelerated slightly. She didn't know what else to say so, whilst still holding her hands to his face, Artemis smiled as she explained, "You know, even though it has been less than a thousand years since gods descended upon this world...it is a popular belief that those gods who choose to live amongst mortals are guaranteed ten-thousand years of love...I never believed in such things before...but...I...I don't think I'd mind...if it was ten-thousand years with someone like you..."By the end of her words, Artemis' face had gained a ruddy hue that made her delicate and mature appearance look truly divine. Vahn felt his own heart racing upon hearing her confession and a natural smile had spread across his lips as he said, "Then it's a promise, Artemis...ten-thousand years..." With his words falling upon her ears, Artemis' eyes widened in slow motion as she deeply inhaled through her nose before, for the first time in more than 439 million years, she kissed a member of the opposite sex. Her face turned beet red in an instant as Vahn fell back against Fafnir's back with the rather awkward goddess falling against him, bumping their teeth somewhat painfully in the process...Artemis flinched, holding her hand to her mouth as she muttered, "I'm sorry, I..." Before she was able to finish, however, Vahn had already sat back up and started caressing the side of Artemis' face, easing the pain as he smiled radiantly and said, "There is no rush, Artemis...thank you, though...your lips are strangely sweet...and very soft...hahahaha-." Artemis' blush had deepened at first but, after a few seconds had passed, her smile blossomed like a beautiful flower as she said, "I'm glad...I was a little worried."Vahn continued to smile, stroking Artemis' cheek long after she was completely healed. The two spent several minutes just staring at each other, Vahn wondering if he should 'push' her a little while Artemis was wondering if she should ask him to teach her how to kiss. She knew he must have had a lot of practice, as the number of girls that had come up in the conversation was actually a little extreme...just before she was able to muster up her courage, however, Vahn suddenly said, "Artemis...I..." Vahn was thinking about broaching the subject of the [Heart's Desire] as it would make some of his plans to resolve this situation easier to implement with more information at his disposal...Seeing the 'serious' expression on Vahn's face, Artemis swallowed audibly, placing her hands over her rapidly beating heart as she interrupted him, saying words she never thought would leave her lips, "It's fine...since it may weaken Antares...and because I wanted us to be closer...if...if you really want to...I...I...I..." By the end of her words, Artemis had both eyes closed tightly as she clenched her fist, overcoming the seemingly insurmountable hesitation in her heart as her clothing vanished like an illusion. The dagger in her belt fell to Fafnir's back, black scales deforming to 'catch' it while Vahn just stared with the widest-eyed expression he may have ever produced since arriving in the record...Fortunately, this state only lasted for around two seconds before Vahn came to his senses and pulled out a cloak for Artemis to cover herself, tightly embracing her so she didn't misunderstand as he took a few deep breaths and explained, "Don't misunderstand, Artemis, I am 'extremely' interested in you...if the circumstances were more appropriate, I wouldn't even hesitate to eat you up right here and now. However, what you're going through right now could be heavily affecting your mentality...don't be rash...remember, I already promised you ten-thousand years of love..." Though his 'instincts' had been screaming at him to accept the situation as it was, Vahn didn't want the guilt of taking advantage of Artemis when she wasn't exactly in a stable condition. There was also a chance she may try and rationalize their moment together and use it as the justification for doing something extreme if things went south faster than he could control...Artemis felt like her heart was going to burst when she discarded her raiment but, after Vahn embraced her tightly with a warm cloak, this feeling changed to relief in an instant. Her heart was still beating rapidly and she almost couldn't believe what had just happened, including the fact that Vahn didn't act how she had expected. Part of her was happy that his character was strong enough that he wouldn't immediately make love to someone without consideration for time, place, and occasion. Truthfully, if they did one day have sex, Artemis didn't think that doing it on the back of a True Dragon was the best place...Vahn waited for Artemis to calm down, stroking her back gently as he held her in his embrace, 'ignoring' the fact that her body heat was transferring into his. When her breathing had calmed down, he explained, "For those I share a close bond with, I'm able to create items that embody our relationship...at the same time, I'm able to produce an item called [Heart's Desire], which allows me to experience the significant memories of a person, giving me insight into what their true heart's desire is...I wanted your permission to use it..."Artemis had been very quiet from the moment he wrapped the cloak around her but, now that Vahn had explained the situation better, a sigh of relief escaped her lips. Her complexion quickly reverted back to normal as a gentle smile bloomed on her face as she said, "Hestia actually told me about the [Hearts Desire] previously...if it's you, Vahn, I don't mind sharing my everything..." It was actually the existence of the [Hearts Desire] that emboldened Artemis to try and push their relationship forward even faster. Hestia and Hephaestus had described it as an item that allowed Vahn to empathize greatly with anyone and, as all of the other goddesses had trusted him with their [Hearts Desire], Artemis wasn't afraid he would misuse the information...With her permission, Vahn adjusted the cloak so that Artemis' body was properly covered before pulling out a beautiful green orb. It was identical to the color of Artemis' eyes and he actually felt like it was a bit of a waste to destroy something so beautiful. Of course, such sentiment wouldn't prevent him from doing what was necessary so, without any outward displays of hesitation, Vahn crushed the orb and embraced the phenomenon of time slowing to a crawl as his mind faded into darkness. The next time Vahn opened 'his' eyes, a massive crescent moon dominated his vision, sparkling with a dull and beautiful blue...(A/N: Alternate Titles: '*Casual Flex*...','Vahn actually resisted!?','Blue Moon~')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Chapter 853: Heart's Desire: Artemis