Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With two days having passed, Vahn greeted the third with a combination of excitement and a fair amount of trepidation. He was looking forward to his reunion with Eva, but, as was often the case in these types of situations, he couldn't shake the feeling something had gone wrong. The longer the third day dragged on, the more worried he became. Each time the clock sounded a new hour, his mood would worsen slightly, and, by the time afternoon had come, he began lamenting his lack of foresight. He was confident he would be able to track down Eva, as Fenrir had memorized her scent for him, but, if he had been smart about it, convincing her to form a Pactio would have saved a lot of time and effort...While contemplating whether or not Eva was going to test him by making him search for her, Vahn heard a light knock at his door. He had already sensed the person on the other side, so, after raising his head from his large wooden desk, he forced a smile to his face, stating, "Enter..." in a relaxed yet firm tone.After a bit of fiddling with the knob, the door opened to reveal a young girl with raven-black hair and bright green, slightly luminescent eyes. She was a bit older than the students in his class, but that wasn't particularly uncommon. Vahn allowed anyone to visit his office when he was inside, so, even if one of the teachers randomly showed up, he would greet them with a smile and ask if there was something troubling them...Seeing the young girl stall at the door's threshold, Vahn's expression softened as he asked, "Won't you come and take a seat? I just finished brewing a pot of tea so your arrival is very timely. If you'd like, I also brought some sugar cookies from home. These ones have a bit of mint mixed in, so they are quite refreshing with tea~."Though she didn't say anything, the raven-haired girl trotted over to the opposing chair with a tiny smile on her face. This wasn't her first time visiting the office so Vahn already knew the best way to coax her into relaxing and opening up to him. She would generally show up every 2-3 days without any real intentions other than to spend a few minutes in his office, but, knowing what she had gone through in the past, Vahn never felt inconvenienced by her behavior.While using telekinesis to fill the girl's cup, Vahn pulled a tray of light green cookies from inside his Inventory, placing them on the opposite side of his desk. She quickly reached for one, and, seeing a smile blossom across her face as she savored the combination of peppermint tea and mint cookies, Vahn pulled out a quill and began writing nothing in particular. It would be a little awkward to just stare at her, so, knowing she could take several minutes just to greet him, he had learned to let her muster up her courage without applying any direct pressure.After around five minutes had passed, the smile on the girl's face gradually fell away as she lowered her head and muttered, "I had another nightmare..."Placing his quill down, Vahn adopted an apologetic expression as he linked his fingers together and lightly asked, "Do you want to talk about it...?"Rather than answer, the girl, named Naomi Karasu, lowered her head even further, clutching tightly at the hem of her skirt as she shook her head. She didn't like talking about her dreams, and, though she had come to trust Vahn more than anyone else, it was difficult to open her heart after what she had experienced; something far worse than a nightmare.Understanding that this was one of the times when Naomi just wanted to feel safe, Vahn increased the amount of calming energy within his domain. At the same time, he gave a small nod toward the young girl, following it by whispering, "You can stay as long as you need...if you ever want to talk, I will be here to listen..."After answer with a small nod of her own, Naomi picked up another cookie, nibbling away at it like a chipmunk with her bangs covering the upper half of her face...---Since he often entertained more than twenty visitors a day, Vahn had modified his office to be able to alter its size and shape with a dial hidden beneath his desk. He could reduce its size to a rather cozy 5x5x3m, complete with an old bookshelf and a persistently crackling fireplace. If he needed to accommodate a larger group, however, the interior could space could be increased to 100x100x8m in an instant. This was regularly used to deal with the periodic raids conducted by his fan club, but, compared to the most important feature of his office, the ability to alter its size was negligible.Stunning even Grandmaster Seras, who had the ability to create weaker dioramas over the period of a few months, Vahn had created a second dial that allowed him to adjust the flow of time. The base rate of flow was 2:1, as it helped him keep track of things happening within the Academy, but, when it was necessary, there were two additional markers that displayed 4:1 and 10:1. This was the benefit of studying the Yokai District for the better part of forty years, and, though it had taken a few weeks to adapt the principles within the Akamatsuverse, a 98% mastery over Time had helped quite a bit...With a bit of help from his calming energy, Naomi was eventually able to fall asleep after curling up in the comfortable chair he had set out prior to her arrival. He knew she had a number of difficulties sleeping, so, whenever she showed up, Vahn allowed her to sleep as long as she needed. As for why he didn't just erase her memories of the trauma that had occurred, well, that was largely due to the fact that 'precision' memory erasure was very difficult.Without an ability related to dreams or perusing memories, Vahn had no way of entering into the young Naomi's mind to erase 'only' the bad things. The only option was to completely erase her memories, but, considering this would also take away the memories of her family and friends, it wouldn't exactly be fair. Doing so would also require him to take responsibility for her well being, as, without memories, even remembering how to read and write would be impossible. She would have to start her education from scratch, oblivious to her situation until she developed enough to understand what exactly had happened to her.Though erasing memories was always an option, it was something Vahn wanted to avoid. In many ways, it was even worse than death, as, unless you had no friends or family, losing your memories placed a heavy burden on everyone you cared about, not just yourself. You would also reach a point where you wanted to know why your memories had been erased, seeking the truth and lashing out at the very people who wanted to protect you. This could quickly turn into despair once you finally obtained what you were searching for, so, unless he was willing to take responsibility for the person afflicted, Vahn wouldn't erase someone's memory. If they had reached a point where they could no longer see hope, he would rather give them the mercy of death than see them suffer for the rest of their natural lives.Seeing the raven-haired girl curled up with a relaxed smile on her face, Vahn's own became slightly pained as he shook his head and released a sigh. He would never understand why people did such terrible things to children, and, after experiencing this kind of thing so often, Vahn had reached the point where he simply didn't want to know. Though some people had good reasons for becoming a monster, Eva being a good example, there were far too many people that performed vile deeds just because they thought themselves above others. This could largely be blamed on their parents and upbringing, but, regardless of the circumstances, Vahn generally felt it was better to kill such people and be done with it. Returning them to the cycle of reincarnation was infinitely better than trying to redeem them, as, at any point in time, they could quickly relapse into an even worse monster than before.After shaking his head to clear negative thoughts, Vahn closed his eyes and began to focus more on the Academy. He was constantly paying attention to his surroundings but there was a big difference between doing so passively and actively. If he focused hard enough, he could envision everything in crystal clarity, and, while it placed a heavy strain on his mind, he could perceive individual strands of grass and the literal composition of the soil. It was a phenomenon very close to omniscience, and, if he really wanted to, Vahn could even 'spy' on people by looking into his own memories.Just by having his domain active, Vahn was basically 'recording' everything in the surrounding 10km in ultra-high definition. If he wanted to, he could peruse his memories like an unrestricted camera, moving through walls and entering places he had never directly observed. He could even sneak into secure areas and 'listen' in on the conversations of people he had never met prior to recalling them in his memory. This was exceptionally useful when he was conducting investigations, and, not that he would ever use it for such a thing, it would even allow him to spy on people changing or bathing whenever he wanted.Chuckling lightly at his own thoughts, Vahn began to guide his intent around the Academy, closely observing anyone, or anything, that seemed even remotely suspicious. If he ever found something that felt 'off' to him, he could basically play his memories in reverse, tracing the suspicious person's movements from the time they entered the premises. Fortunately, most of the people that gave him a strange feeling either turned out to be his fans or people who had experienced an awkward event earlier in the day. He had even seen a teacher acting cold and apathetic throughout the entire day just because she had tripped rather earlier that morning, her robe rolling up to reveal a surprisingly childish pair of panties. She had been so embarrassed after the event that it turned her into an ice queen for the remainder of the day, followed by a subsequent change in wardrobe...---After a little over four hours had passed, equating to less than thirty minutes outside his office, the sleeping Naomi slowly peeled open her vibrant green eyes. She noticed a snug blanket was draped over her body, and, as always, a warm and comfortable feeling had pervaded her entire being. This was the main reason she kept coming back to Vahn's office, as, even compared to the short period where she had returned home, this was the only place where she felt completely safe.As if he only just noticed her awakening after she had been staring at him for nearly a minute, Vahn showed a pleasantly surprised expression before adopting a kind smile as he softly asked, "Feeling better...?"Hearing Vahn's question, Naomi nodded slowly before turning her eyes up at him and sheepishly muttering, "Thank you..."Smiling radiantly in response, a technique that dealt critical damage to people who viewed him in a favorable light, Vahn nodded his head and said, "I'm glad to hear that. Now, I think it is about time you run along and return to class. The lunch break will end shortly and I wouldn't want you to miss out on any important lessons. Just remember, if you ever want to talk, I'll be here to listen..."Though she didn't really feel like returning to class, Naomi didn't want to inconvenience Vahn too much, so, after neatly folding up the blanket, she gave a steep bow before turning to leave. It felt a little lonely to depart, but, compared to before, she now felt relaxed, and, though it was only slight, a bit of happiness and color had returned to her monochromatic world.Opening the door, Naomi was surprised to find someone standing on the opposite side, feathers popping out from her head due to her surprise. Her mother was a member of the Karasu tribe, so, whenever she was startled, the feathers she kept concealed would pop out against her will. These actually made her look cute, but, considering they were one of the reasons she had suffered in the past, Naomi had been keeping them hidden as much as possible...While not as extreme as the half-crow girl, the woman on the opposite side of the door showed an expression of surprise before adopting a gentle smile as she said, "I didn't expect the door to open so suddenly. If I startled you, please forgive me."During the interval when Karasu was frozen stock-still, the woman, wearing the characteristic white robes and white cloak of an Assistant Professor, performed a polite bow. She held this posture until Naomi returned to her senses, her feathers slowly retracting until, like magic, they seemed to blend seamlessly into her hair and body. Then, with a reddened face, she performed a slight bow of her own before sheepishly exclaiming, "No...it's fine...I should be going...!"Without waiting for the teacher's response, Naomi ran past her like a bolt of lightning, her bangs obscuring the upper half of her face as she quickly alighted from the room. This left the teacher with a wry smile on her face, but, after watching Naomi's round a corner, she turned her attention towards the man staring at her with a deadpan expression from within the confines of the room. Her smile immediately blossomed like a rare flower as her pale-green eyes squinted in a subtly seductive manner as she asked, "May I enter...?"Before answering, Vahn briefly looked towards the two large ears that angled backward slightly at the top of her head. She seemed to sense his gaze, causing them to twitch before angling further back as if trying to hide from his view. Then, without waiting for his response, she stepped into the office before closing the door behind her and deftly turning the lock in a single swift movement. It was an extremely skilled maneuver, and, if not for his enhanced senses, Vahn might have missed the moment when she used a chantless magic circle to completely nullify the sound...The moment the door was closed, the woman showed a somewhat bashful smile, her rabbit-like twitching slightly as she clutched the hem of her robe and muttered, "I heard about what you did for the children...I know you probably don't think much of me, but I have always felt like we had a connection ever since I saw you at the bar...if...if you aren't against it...I would like to thank you for everything you did for us..."Without waiting for Vahn's response, the woman began to lift up the hem of her skirt, revealing a pair of black panties that perfectly complimented her bronzed skin. This wasn't what stood out the most, however, as, rather than a complete pair of panties, hers had a distinct lack of fabric around the crotch...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn is finally thinking about Pactios~!','Stay strong, little birb','Vahn is about to learn how to multiply o_o...')(A/N: I want to thank everyone that wished me a happy birthday. I appreciate it more than I can put into words &lt;3.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Seeing the rather tantalizing sight, Vahn raised his brows slightly before stroking his chin with an appreciative look in his eyes. She might lack the refinement of someone like Arika but she was still one of the most beautiful women he had seen in the Akamatsuverse. Her inordinately long legs and plump thighs were just two of her most noteworthy features, but, compared to her perfectly shaped backside and the healthy glow of her brown skin, even those lost out. Her sandy-golden hair, rabbit ears, and flawlessly sculpted breasts served to further enhance her beauty, but, the thing that made her appear almost irresistible was the seductive look in her pale-green eyes as she slowly licked her lips...Having observed Vahn's gaze, the rabbit-eared woman seemed to interpret his silence as consent, her hands releasing her skirt as she walked over with a longer-than-average gait. She stopped just opposite of Vahn's side of the desk before taking a seat on the edge, smiling as she asked, "Do you find my appearance to your tastes...?"Without hesitation, Vahn nodded in a sagely manner, but, when he opened his mouth to answer, he surprised the woman by saying, "I prefer your true form, but, if you want to keep playing around, I'd be a fool to refuse...is this the disguise you decided upon?"Hearing Vahn's words, the woman scrunched up her nose in an admittedly adorable manner before turning her head to the side and haughtily stating, "I have no idea what you're talking about..."Rather than argue, Vahn slowly rose to his feet, walking around the desk until he was standing next to the rabbit-eared woman. Then, without showing any inhibitions at all, he pulled her waist closer to his to initiate a very passionate kiss. To his surprise, her weight had actually increased to around 44kg, but, after a detailed scan with his senses, he realized she was just using a relatively advanced magical formation to artificially increase her weight...Leaving no time for the woman to adapt to his pace, Vahn ran his left dexterously hand along her right flank, passing over her perfectly plump buttocks before running it down her smooth thigh. At the same time, he leaned into her slightly, forcing her to arch backward as he lifted up her right leg using his left hand. Then, using his right hand as a support, he guided her to lay against the top of the desk before she fully realized what was happening. Her eyes widened in response to the sudden change in orientation, but, without letting up, Vahn continued to entangle his tongue with hers as his right hand caressed along the interior of her thighs, invading the humid confines before gently probing something smooth, hot, and moist...Though she had been patting his chest in a vain attempt to get him to pull back, the woman's eyes widened even further at the sudden stimulation. In response, her aura surged outwards, and, if not for the protective barriers he had erected during the restructuring of his office, Vahn's body would have been sent flying through the walls after she blasted him away in panic. Then, with a beet-red face, she glared at him while hugging her robe, exclaiming, "You...you...you beast...!"Hearing the usual insult, Vahn just chuckled lightly before rising to his feet and asking, "You don't want to play anymore? You even went out of your way to prepare a garment like that...I'd hate to waste your preparations and leave you disappointed, Eva..."As if she was an actual bunny girl, Eva's ears twitched in frustration, her expression a perfect blend of anger, embarrassment, and bashfulness. Fortunately, the other two emotions eclipsed her anger, so, after glaring at him for a tense twenty seconds, Eva released a pouty 'hmph' before crossing her arms and saying, "If you were convinced it was me, you should have been more resolute in trying to refuse my advances. Like this, it's like you don't care about appearances at all...you stupid pervert..."Rather than answer directly, Vahn surprised Eva by causing his body to rapidly transition between several different forms. It was almost like waves were passing across his body, each one changing everything from his height, weight, build, facial features, and race. She already knew he could freely change forms, but, seeing how skilled he had gotten at it, Eva had a reasonably incredulous look on her face.After settling on a form that looked completely different than any Eva had ever seen him in, Vahn made his point by asking, "If this was my true form, would you suddenly hate me...?"Hearing Vahn's question, Eva frowned deeply as she began to scrutinize his form with her now icy blue eyes. Her transformation hadn't completely broken, but, due to her previous flustering, her size had shrunken slightly as her eye reverted back to their natural color. It actually made her even more beautiful, but, rather than vocalize this, Vahn waited silently as she examined his current, relatively plain, appearance...Though Vahn was nowhere near as handsome as he usually was, giving her an urge to make a few biting remarks, Eva found herself unable to vocalize her thoughts. Every time she tried, the words would get stuck in her throat, and, though it was subtle, a pang of guilt would well up inside of her whenever she thought about insulting him. It was very difficult to proactively insult the people you cared about, a realization that caused Eva to release a melancholic sigh as she answered, "It doesn't matter what you look like...I..."Unable to finish her words, Eva hung her head slightly, but, without prominent bangs to cover her eyes, her expression was still completely visible. As a result, Vahn deliberately made his way to her side before pulling her into a hug, his form reverting back to 'normal' as he held her head close to his chest. She had always enjoyed listening to his heartbeat, so, while combing his fingers through her slowly growing hair, Vahn held her shrinking body close to his, whispering, "I'm glad you came back, Eva...thank you..."---After reverting back to her 'true' form, Eva was curled up in Vahn's lap as the two reclined in a sofa the latter had pulled out of his Inventory. Neither had said anything for more than half an hour as Eva continued to straddle his hips, her head resting against his chest. They were both aware of the fact she was still wearing crotchless panties, but, as if it didn't cause his heart to itch, Vahn focused his gaze on the crackling fire while gently caressing Eva's body. He had a feeling she wouldn't mind if he took a few liberties, but, after several weeks apart, at least from his perspective, Vahn was more than content with just being together like this...Breaking the silence, Eva surprised Vahn quite a bit when she suddenly murmured, "Don't let it go to your head...but I also missed you...specifically your cooking. Now that my biological processes have returned, I seem to get hungry all the time...you have to take responsibility..."Chuckling lightly in response to Eva's words, Vahn hugged her a little tighter as he whispered, "I am always ready and willing to take responsibility..."Though she snorted through her nose, Eva didn't issue one of her usual biting remarks. Instead, she buried her face into his chest while hooking her arms around his body. She could hear the sincerity in his words, and, after isolating herself in a diorama for several months, Eva had come to miss Vahn greatly. His cooking was one of the reasons, but, more than any other, it was his warmth that finally convinced her to return. It was a potent warmth that seemed to pervade her entire body, but, rather than feel oppressive and stifling, it brought her an unmatched sense of comfort and security...Before she realized it, Eva had fallen asleep within Vahn's embrace. A contented smile had spread across her face, and, seeing it, Vahn's became especially affectionate as he held her gently cradled her body in his arms. Though it was a very different kind of suffering, Eva was even more tragic than girls like Naomi.Eva desperately needed someone else to rely on, but, as a result of her monstrous strength, others ended up relying on her instead. This placed even more burdens on her, as, despite the facade she maintained, Eva was actually a very kind girl at heart. She was the type that would do everything in her power to help those she cared about, but, fearing they would suffer as a result of the powerful enemies she had made, Eva always did her best to keep them at an arm's length. She would rather isolate herself and face her enemies alone, refusing to let other people help her for fear of having to bear responsibility for their deaths for all eternity...Vahn knew that Eva had done some terrible things throughout her lifetime, but, at no point did she ever proactively target the innocent. Though she was responsible for events like the Fire of London, burning nearly ninety-percent of the city to the ground, only six people out of the 80,000 residents had died in the resultant blaze. This was an extraordinarily low amount, showing just how much Eva cared about preserving the lives of the innocent. She might consider herself 'irredeemably evil', but, from Vahn's perspective, she was one of the most caring and noble people he had ever met...After picking a few strands of golden hair from her face, Vahn raised her bangs before planting a gentle kiss on her forehead. This caused her brows to furrow slightly, but, after a few seconds had passed, a happy smile spread across her face as she nestled closer to him. She was an unbelievably adorable girl, and, if it was to protect her smile, Vahn reasoned that he wouldn't mind being labeled as a Demon King, or, perhaps, a Demon Dragon Emperor...---After sleeping comfortably for more than ten hours, Eva's eyelids slowly peeled open, her stomach loudly protesting its emptiness. This would normally cause her to blush madly, but, the moment she opened her eyes, Eva could see Vahn deftly forking up a piece of cheesecake before presenting it to her with an affectionate smile on his face. This also caused her to flush quite a bit, but, rather than a palpable feeling of embarrassment, it was more so the result of her bashfulness. She could feel her heartbeat gradually begin to accelerate, and, after tasting the rich and creamy taste, her expression instantly morphed into one of gleeful satiation as Vahn continued to feed her...Once the slice of cheesecake had vanished into thin air, Vahn produced a cup of chamomile mint tea to help clean Eva's palate and satiate her thirst. It was a little awkward, as she was still nestled pretty close to his chest, her pert bottom resting against his lap, but Eva didn't seem to mind it too much. She straightened her back, suddenly appearing more elegant than usual as she gracefully emptied the contents of her teacup. Then, after releasing a contented sigh, she smiled back at him and mused, "It seems there is still some hope for you. Thanks for the cake and tea~."Though her words were a little roundabout, Vahn didn't particularly mind. He was quite fond of how headstrong Eva could be, as, once she let down her guard, she became one of the most affectionate women he had ever known. Rather, once she had started to open her heart, she quickly became the type of person you needed to be careful of, as, after hundreds of years, there were countless things that Eva was eager to try...As if reading his mind, Eva attempted to toss a tiny red pill into her mouth, but, before she was able to, Vahn caught her wrist, smiling as he whispered, "There is no need to rely on such things in order to feel confident. You are a beautiful woman, Eva...never force yourself on my behalf..."Punctuating his words, Vahn prevented Eva's response by sealing her lips with his own, guiding her right hand away from her face and deftly removing the [Age-Deceiving Pill] hidden within. He knew she felt infinitely more confident in her adult form, but, if she continued relying on such things just to express herself, it would become yet another burden on her heart and mind. She had only just started to take steps in the right direction, so, unless it caused her significant stress, he wouldn't let her rely on such crutches when they were alone together...Eva felt a small amount of indignation in response to Vahn's actions, but, after a few seconds had passed, she was more focused on the fluttery feeling in her body as she reciprocated his kiss. She didn't exactly have a large sample size to draw from, but Eva was pretty sure that Vahn was better at kissing than the vast majority of people. Not only was his tongue skilled at guiding hers, but his saliva was unnaturally sweet, possessing similar qualities to his blood. Every time she swallowed a bit of it, Eva felt her giddiness increase as a tiny flame was lit in her body...Feeling a familiar ache, Eva separated her mouth from Vahn's, tucking her head close to his chest so he couldn't steal another kiss while she was trying to calm down. Any thoughts of running away had faded during the time they had nestled together in silence. She was no longer willing to give up his warmth, as, during the latter half of their separation, she fell into a depressive state that made both eating and sleeping difficult.Eva's original intention had been to have Vahn search for her, but, after realizing even her favorite cake was lacking in flavor, it wasn't long before she found herself in Ariadne. She wanted to return to Vahn immediately after arrival, but, unable to muster up the courage for such a direct approach, she spent much of the morning spying on the bunny girl he had previously stalked. She wanted to test him to determine whether he was truly loyal to her, but, perhaps due to her inability to discover the source of the smell Vahn had mentioned, he had seen through her in an instant...Remembering how 'bold' Vahn's previous actions were, Eva could feel the fire in her body growing in intensity. She became hyper-aware of her lower body, and, though Vahn's dragon was peacefully slumbering, she could still feel its outline. Her breathing gradually became more ragged, and, after a few seconds had passed, Eva could feel a light trickle that caused her face to become beet red. At the same time, however, Vahn firmly embraced her body, and, like a benevolent rain passing over a forest fire, the heat in her body gradually subsided as a gentle stream of calming energy pervaded her entire existence before pooling in her heart...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn does not fear the bun's buns (UwU)~!','A much-needed warmth','There is no need to rush...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though it was inarguably beneficial, the downside to using time dilation was that a relatively short three days could, very easily, turn into months. This was especially true with Theo's Resort, as, with a time dilation of 24:1, seventy-two hours was, quite literally, seventy-two days of training. Though the girls were not using the diorama 'efficiently', each having daily lives and duties to live, they still used it for about ten hours each day. This equated to an average of 254 hours a day, so, by the time three days would have passed in 'reality', Vahn would have been waiting for his reunion with Eva for an entire month...Fortunately, even with Theo's antics and Arika's growing boldness, most of Vahn's stress had simply evaporated into thin air. He had already achieved his primary goal of finding Eva, so, even if it took a few years to completely 'save' her, Vahn was confident she would open her heart to him. It would likely take the death of the Mage of the Beginning before she was truly liberated from her fate, but, with Asuna, Arika, and Theo at his side, that, too, was an inevitability. Asuna, in particular, had more potential than Arika and Theo combined, so, if they made proper use of the diorama, she might be able to defeat the Mage of the Beginning on her own...Due to the unique structure of the Akamatsuverse's Magic System, it was possible for even children to become monstrously powerful in a very short period of time. It was a world where talent, affinity, and control could easily compensate for years of experience. Nagi was one of the best examples of this, as, despite being between thirteen and fifteen-years-old during the events of the Great Magic War, he was known as the 'Invincible Thousand Master'. His son, Negi, would also go on to save the world when he was around ten-years-old, so, compared to most Records, the Akamatsuverse was a veritable 'paradise' for anyone with innate magical talent.Vahn had yet to meet Nagi, but, based on the difference between Arika's and Asuna's fates, it was safe to assume the latter had the capacity to surpass them both in a short period of time. Rather, if she really wanted to focus on becoming stronger, Asuna could, very easily, reach the pinnacle of the verse before the Great Magic War even began. This was the scariest thing about artifacts like Theo's Resort, as, if they were exploited to their fullest potential, you could accumulate twenty-four-years of experience over the span of a single year in the outside world.Truthfully, Vahn didn't understand why such dioramas weren't exploited more during the 'original' timeline. He suspected they were actually being used, but, despite going up against a threat against the entire solar system, it seemed like the heroes lacked the conviction to fully commit to exploiting one of their greatest assets. After all, if Nagi or Negi spent just a few months inside a diorama, they would have become monstrously powerful in a very 'short' period of time. There was, quite literally, no sense in sending children between the ages of ten and fifteen to fight against solar-system level threats when they could have easily accumulated more experience and power within a diorama...The only reason Vahn could think of was that the heroes simply didn't want Nagi and Negi to waste their youths away training, but, for such concerns to be relevant, they wouldn't be charged with the literal fate of the world. It was extremely hypocritical to expect children to fight against the enemies of the entire world, yet, in the original history, Negi, a ten-year-old boy, was charged with leading a literal class of middle-schoolers into a climactic battle to save everyone. There were even a number of historical accounts that mentioned some of the students becoming slaves, all while the so-called Heroes, who could have easily secured their freedom, seemingly ignored them. They let a group of fourteen and fifteen-year-old girls, many of which had no ties to the Magical World, become victims of a system they had more than enough power to change...Though Vahn understood hardships were necessary to allow people to grow, he would beat the hell out of anyone who tried to convince him it was necessary for young teenagers to experience slavery and sexual harassment in order to 'grow'. He might even cripple them on the spot, forcing them to watch from the sidelines as he proved just how ridiculous their claims were. After all, what need did they have for power if they were literally rearing children to fight their battles for them?---Realizing he was letting Arika's words get to him, a wry smile appeared on Vahn's face as he stood with his hands behind his back, watching silently as his thirty-three adorable students did their best to try and hit the center of a target 15m away. Though they were only between two and three years of age, going by the Mundus Magicus system, even the youngest was able to, at the very least, hit the target. This was actually very impressive, as, prior to Vahn's arrival, most children weren't even able to use the Beginner's Incantation until they were around four years old. The students under his care, however, were already able to manifest their elements, something even prodigies weren't able to achieve without careful guidance.Needless to say, Vahn's prestige as an Advisor had rapidly increased in a very short period of time, to the point that the Grandmaster had even asked for advice on rewriting the basic curriculum that was taught in all Academies. Unfortunately, while there was a qualitative increase in the results of every Academy, there were no repeats of the 'miracle' Vahn had performed. He had basically turned his entire class into a group of prodigies, and, by offering advice to other teachers, the cause of him being solicited so often, the quality of education within the Junior Division of the Imperial Academy had increased by a startling amount.Though he had hosted a number of private seminars, some attended by the Grandmaster herself, the main reason his students grew so quickly was, simply put, Vahn, himself. Not only was he very patient in guiding the children, but, as a result of his growing 'popularity', his [Will of the Emperor] had a subtle influence on their minds. They gradually became more studious and hard-working, all in an effort to try and earn his recognition. As a result, he would reward them with a few words of praise, a periodic pat on the head, or some treats that helped to strengthen their foundation. This, combined with the fact they were constantly baptized by the energy within his domain, had allowed even his least talented student to surpass those nearly twice her age.So long as he was nearby, Vahn could help replenish his students' reserves and prevent the onset of fatigue. This allowed them to focus and persist for longer periods of time, greatly accelerating their growth and gradually increasing their confidence. Though it also had the side-effect of making each of his students 'hyper-aware' of his presence, as they would feel more at ease when he was around, Vahn didn't really have to worry about them growing 'too' attached to him. Their affection was very innocent, and, though a number of his students became even more excitable than puppies when he was around, this was actually relatively normal.Even back on Earth, the education of young children was often left to female teachers, as, during their developmental period, children imprinted on authority figures quite a bit. Thus, it was simply 'safer' for children to be taught by female teachers, as, depending on their racial traits, young boys could be cowed by competent male teachers, becoming hyper-aggressive during their adolescence to compensate for how passive they were in their youth. As for young girls, their first crush could be a powerful influence on their preferences for the rest of their lives, often leading them to choose a partner that was similar to their fathers or the first male authority figure they had imprinted upon.Fortunately, despite an ever-growing fanbase, Vahn's status was so high that even the more fervent children understood the 'futility' of their affections. Though they might have grandiose delusions of romance, the difference in status created an insurmountable gulf. They understood that, unless he was the one to take an interest in them, the chances of their affections bearing fruit was negligible, at best. As a result, they banded together with like-minded people, sharing their hopes and dreams with others in order to lessen their burden and make the most of their burgeoning emotions while they had the opportunity to do so...With the same wry smile on his face, Vahn watched as one of his students 'accidentally' lost control over her magic. The magical energy began to swirl around her outstretched palms, and, though it wouldn't cause too much damage, Vahn appeared at her side in an instant, dissipating the spell and pulling her back behind his body in the same motion. This earned the attention of the entire class, but, before they could begin to group out of curiosity, Vahn just smiled toward them, saying, "There are no problems. Please, continue your practice."Though they were still curious, everyone, with the exception of Asuna, replied with cheerful voices of compliance before immediately returning to their practice. As for Asuna, she scampered over, her twin-tails bouncing adorably until she reached his side and asked, "Is everything okay?"Lightly ruffling Asuna's hair, Vahn answered, "Estelle just had a bit of an accident. As I told everyone else, there is nothing to worry about..."Hearing Vahn's words, Asuna gave a small nod before looking behind him, finding a girl with neatly trimmed white hair, fur-covered ears that drooped downward, and a dog-like tail that was currently curled between her legs. She was clinging to the overcoat Vahn wore while teaching, seemingly very afraid. If you listened closely, however, there was a barely-audible sound of breathing that could be heard as she buried her face into the fabric of Vahn's coat...After scrunching up her nose slightly, Asuna gave one last look at Vahn before running back to her own spot. This left the latter chuckling silently to himself, understanding what Asuna wanted to say even without her vocalizing it. Despite this, he still lightly pat Estelle's head, calmly stating, "There is no need to be afraid. Come, I'll watch over you for a little bit and give you some advice. I know you have a lot of talent, Estelle. Will you show it to me...?"The moment she heard his words, Estelle's ears perked up, her tail regaining its vigor as she happily exclaimed, "Okay~!" before finally releasing his coat and returning to her spot. Then, earning a few envious looks from the nearest girls, she began displaying her relatively rare lightning magic. Vahn, of course, noticed the looks from his other students, offering them a slight smile that caused them to eagerly return to their own training...---Noticing the subtle change in Vahn's expression, Grandmaster Sidra raised her brows in curiosity, asking, "Oh? Did something interesting happen~?"Lightly chuckling in response, Vahn nodded his head, stating, "My students are always very spirited. I'm certain their futures will be filled with color and excitement."Reading more into Vahn's words than he intended, Grandmaster Sidra replied with a light chuckle of her own before saying, "They are blessed with the Sage Dragon Emperor's grace. How could they not enjoy a brighter future? I'm already pulling strings to try and convince some of your students to become future teachers within the Academy. At their current rate of growth, most of your students will be ready for the standard graduation by the time they are five. They have all become monstrous talents within the Academy...it is actually rather terrifying, you know~?"Seemingly agreeing with Sidra, albeit for very different reasons, Arika and Seras both nodded their heads. The only one who didn't seem to agree with Theo, who, after snickering in her usual manner, said, "Unless you're a bad guy, Vahn isn't scary at all. You should see him whenever Asuna is trying a difficult technique for the first time. One time, he even used High-Grade healing magic just to treat a scrape on her knee. So long as you don't do anything bad, you don't even need to be intimidated by him. He's really just a big old softie~."Even if her words weren't exactly wrong, Vahn gave Theo a deadpan stare, effectively adding fuel to the fire if her laughter was any indicator. Then, deciding to ignore her, he looked back to find Sidra and Seras with an amused glimmer in their eyes. Seras had enough wherewithal to cover it up the moment he stared back at her, but, unlike her daughter, Sidra behaved far more casually, smiling in amusement as she said, "It's no wonder your popularity has grown so quickly. I have even received a report saying that you gave out a sizeable donation to one of our poorer Academies. Ariadne is truly blessed to have such a kind and caring individual watching over it..."Hearing the insinuation and hope contained within Sidra's words, Vahn lightly shook his head, but it was Arika who stated, "Vahn is the Guardian of Mundus Magicus. Unlike the Nine Great Spirits and the Four Sacred Dragons, he cannot become the guarantor for a specific country. The moment Vahn becomes affiliated with any specific country, that country becomes a weakness that can be targeted by others. By spreading his influence globally, his power can serve as a deterrent to keep those who would harm others in check. It is our responsibility to lead and guide our people, not Vahn's."As it was something they had discussed quite a bit, Theo also took the opportunity to add, "Arika is correct. Vahn might protect and empower certain people, but he can never become tied to a nation that already exists. If he had publically affiliated himself with Ariadne, it would have been difficult to prevent a war from breaking out."Well aware of the truth contained within Arika's and Theo's words, Sidra showed a sad smile, but, in the depths of her light-purple eyes, a mischievous glimmer could be seen as she muttered, "That is truly unfortunate...I'm certain the people of Ariadne would have been ecstatic if someone like Vahn had become the new Arch-Dean. I suppose I should just be grateful for the altruism you displayed by helping remove so many detrimental elements within the administration. I only hope your efforts are not undermined the moment you depart the city...perhaps his Imperial Majesty will properly rein in the other members of the Nobility this time around..."Hearing Sidra's words, Theo's usual smile faded away, a serious expression marring her face as she said, "You need not concern yourself with such things, Grandmaster Sidra. Once the war has come to an end, I will personally help lay the groundwork for Ariadne's independence. I hope that, when the time comes, you will work alongside me; not for our mutual benefit, but for the benefits of all people within Mundus Magicus. Ariadne has the best teachers in the world, but, due to its limited size, it can only accommodate so many people. I would like to build schools and academies within the Empire's territory, providing an education to the young and underprivileged so that the entire nation will prosper..."Not expecting Theo's words, Sidra raised her brows before smiling as she said, "Had you said these things a few months prior, I probably wouldn't have believed them. Now, however, I feel hopeful for the future of Mundus Magicus..."Seeing Sidra look toward him, Vahn returned a smile of his own as he said, "If those in power unite, it won't just be the Magical World that prospers. Magic has been kept a secret for too long, limiting its development for no better reason than consolidating power and maintaining the status between the rich and the poor. My main priority is protecting the world itself, so, soon enough, rapid change in the status quo will occur. Ariadne is in a unique position, but, compared to Ostia, the standard of education is still lacking. If you wish to remain relevant in the changing world, you must be ready to make the necessary changes to ensure the prosperity of all peoples, not just yourselves..."Though Ariadne prided itself as a place that would accept even Death itself as a student, that didn't mean they waived tuition fees. They were against polluting the natural beauty of the land by trying to convert it into farmland, so, compared to most nations, they were extremely reliant on imports. If not for the Hellas Empire, they would have been forced to compromise on their ancestor's beliefs a long time ago.If Ariadne wanted to remain relevant in the future, they had no choice but to expand beyond their borders and establish schools in other countries. They could still consolidate their brightest within the ancestral city, but, with an ever-growing population and an extremely limited amount of space, it was impossible for them to remain independent without compromise. The Founders of Ariadne had been well-aware of this fact, so, before it became a problem, they implemented numerous laws to prevent population growth before ultimately forging an alliance with the Hellas Empire.As the principal successor of the founders, Sidra understood the impossibility of true independence, so, hearing Vahn's words, she took them to heart, smiling as she looked at Theo and said, "I believe Ariadne stands to benefit much from continued association with the Empire~."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Time-Dilation is OP','*sniffing intensifies*','At this point, I'm surprised Sidra isn't trying to hitch her daughter with Vahn xD...')(A/N: I forgot to mention it, but I'm taking a short break atm for birthdays. My brother's birthday was on the 24th and mine is on the 27th, so I've been a little preoccupied xD. I will always release at least one chapter a day though, so long as I'm not in a coma or something.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1576: Relax