Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With Eva holding his hand and Asuna riding on his shoulders, Vahn leisurely made his way back to the estate that had been appropriated for Arika's and Theo's shared usage. It was the former estate allocated to the Arch-Dean so there were plenty of rooms available after most of the vile man's belongings had been discarded. Now, much like the Sun Palace, it was a rather empty and desolate-feeling place, as, even with Theo's attendants insisting they take care of her, there were no servants or staff anywhere within the vicinity.After making his way to the estate, Vahn waved down one of the Ariadne Mage Knights that guarded the exterior of the premises, explaining that 'Katherine' would be staying inside from now on. They wouldn't exactly be able to bar her passage into the estate, but, to prevent any kind of misunderstands, her picture was taken so it could be disseminated throughout the two contingents of guards assigned to protect the property.With the formalities out of the way, Vahn escorted the duo inside before setting Asuna on her own two feet, saying, "Theo has already returned so go and play with her for a bit. I'll give Eva a quick tour and we'll all head inside the diorama after your cousin returns."Contrary to expectations, Asuna shook her head, stating, "You should introduce Eva to Theo. We're all going to be living together, so it is better for us to spend time with each other. If the two of you are always alone, it will slowly drive us apart. I like the way things are...I don't want them to suddenly change."Asuna was well-aware of the fact that Vahn prioritized Eva over her cousin and Theo. Because of this, she was afraid everything would change now that Eva had arrived, ruining the peculiar happiness they had all found together. Thus, rather than let Vahn immediately wander off with Eva again, she insisted they all spend time together.Seeing the 'serious' look on Asuna's face, Vahn was at a momentary loss for words. As for Eva, she seemed to find the pig-tailed girls' antics amusing, chuckling lightly before saying, "Don't force yourself, Vahn. I already know the layout of this place and I'm not afraid to meet the two brats you've been doting upon."Shaking her head, Asuna preempted Vahn's response, saying, "You shouldn't insult others like that, Eva. Everyone will be happier if we are kind and considerate to each other. Come, let me show you the way."Without waiting for her response, Asuna grabbed Eva's wrist, surprising the latter quite a bit due to how strong she was. Asuna had grown quite a bit since the time she started attending the Imperial Academy, increasing from 85cm to 91cm, but she was still very tiny. Despite this, she had several times the physical strength of an average adult, even without using Magic to amplify her power. As a result, Eva found herself being pulled along with an incredulous look on her face, her instincts telling her to pull free by her pride preventing her from yanking her hand away from a child...---Due to Asuna's insistence, it wasn't long before the group found themselves within one of the more highly decorated rooms within the estate. Rather than extravagant pieces of artwork and luxurious furnishings, however, the interior was styled more like a modern gym than anything else. There was a bed located on the furthest side of the room, but, other than when she was lounging about, Theo never actually put it to proper use. Instead, she spent most of her free time training her body and cultivating, the former allowing her to increase the density of her pink muscles while the latter allowed her to remain slim and flexible.Hearing the door open, Theo, who had been supporting herself upside down with just the tips of her fingers, instantly opened her eyes. Seeing Vahn and Asuna brought an immediate smile to her face, but, seeing the mystery woman accompanying them, she couldn't help but scrunch her brows slightly as she quickly flipped upright. Then, while wiping away her sweat, she languidly approached the trio, putting a little more emphasis into the swaying of her hips without realizing it.Seeing the bronze-skinned woman wearing a form-fitting black top and bottoms, Eva couldn't help but furrow her own brows slightly. She knew this 'horny woman' was one of the girls who had been pining after Vahn, and, though she had made mental preparations for meeting the two women, it apparently hadn't been enough. Before she even realized it, Eva found herself smiling coldly as she venomously asked, "Is this one of the little girls who has been clinging to you...?"Though Vahn frowned slightly, it was Theo who answered, her voice as chipper and friendly as always, "You must be Evangeline. Vahn has told us a lot about you. You're even more beautiful than he mentioned~."Being weak to compliments, Eva found herself at a momentary loss, her expression becoming slightly conflicted. This allowed Theo to keep the momentum in her favor, smiling radiantly as she added, "Though this is our first time meeting, I feel like we will become good friends. You are the reason Vahn came to this world, so I'm very grateful. If not for you, things would have played out a lot differently, so, while it might not be my place, please accept my gratitude on behalf of the world~."Having been made aware of future events, Theo knew things would have been rather dreary if not for Vahn's intervention. She had even read her own biography, so, despite feeling slightly frustrated, Theo was genuinely grateful for Eva's presence. Were it not for her, Vahn would not have come to this world, and, as a result, she would have unwittingly walked the path that had been decided for her. Now, she had the opportunity to grow much stronger, and, with Vahn's support, she even had the power to seize her own destiny...In order to properly convey her gratitude, Theo performed a courteous bow at the waist, a gesture, which, due to her status, was typically reserved for her father. She really was grateful to the golden-haired beauty staring back at her with a mildly incredulous look, and, knowing how powerful Eva was supposed to be, bowing respectfully felt appropriate.Realizing that none of the people around Vahn were ever normal, Eva shifted her gaze away from Theo, glaring at the smiling man to her right. His wry smile gave her a palpable urge to punch him, but, after restraining herself, she looked back at Theo, her voice lacking sincerity as she said, "Thanks..."Hearing Eva's words, Theo raised her head to reveal a wide smile on her face as she eagerly asked, "Would you like to train together with me? I have all kinds of neat equipment we can use. Vahn says you're one of the strongest people in the world, but it never hurts to do a bit of physical training~!"Though she was working to become a mid-range Magic Knight, Theo had an inclination for getting up close and personal during battle. Her people had an instinctual hunger for battle, so, despite possessing monstrous internal reserves, Theo felt that bombarding her opponent from afar was simply 'boring'. Instead, she wanted to be like Vahn and Rakan, strong enough to instantly close the gap between her and her opponents, shattering their barriers with her bare fists and darting around the battlefield like a flash.As someone who had never worked out, as her muscles simply couldn't develop, Eva felt apprehensive about accepting Theo's proposal. She was also a little worried that her body would turn into a lump of muscle if she started exercising while she was still developing, so, after a moment of looking around at the various pieces of exercise equipment, she shook her head and said, "I understand the merits of exercising your body, but, even without that, it is possible to possess incredible physical might. If they had proper control, even a ten-year-old could lift several tons without issue. During our future training, I won't be teaching you how to get strong. Instead, I'll be showing you how powerful you already are..."Despite being one of the strongest people in the Akamatsuverse, Eva's reserves only gave her a Base Power of around 300. Though this had been steadily increasing ever since she had her vampiric nature sealed, the thing that made her so terrifying was the fact she had near-perfect control over the magical energy in her surroundings. Her comprehension elevated her to the point that she was able to subtly influence the Laws, and, when it came to controlling Ice and Darkness, she was, virtually, without equal.Seeing the slight doubt within Theo's eyes, Eva used telekinesis to pull over a rack of weights, some of which denoted a value of 500kg. Then, after stacking them atop each other, she used the very tip of her finger to balance the entire stack. Her actual physical strength was only that of a ten-year-old girl, but, in spite of that, Eva was able to balance several thousand kilograms without showing any signs of exertion. Theo wasn't aware of Eva's 'true' power, but, seeing how easily she could support the weights without any fluctuations of magic power, the young Hellasian's eyes had rounded in shock.While continuing to casually support the stack of weights, Eva explained, "Raw power is often meaningless without proper control. Even if you find a Ki user lifting massive boulders in the middle of the mountains, they usually aren't training their bodies. Instead, they are refining their control by putting themselves into situations where failure could mean death. One of the basic training methods to practice precision Ki control even has the user balancing on the tip of a metal spike using a single finger. If muscle training was the key to strength, you wouldn't see so many Masters with seemingly frail bodies. Proper control, technique, and willpower are the keys to becoming strong."Hearing Eva's words, Theo was growing progressively more excited. Vahn had told her many of the same things, but, due to how ridiculously powerful he was, it was difficult to take his words at face value. Even when she became much stronger, it felt like the distance between them was rapidly increasing. It was almost like, the stronger she became, the better she was able to comprehend the vast and insurmountable gulf that existed between them.Seeing how eager Theo was, an amused smile spread across Eva's face as she was preparing to magnanimously offer the girl some advice. Before she could, however, Asuna stunned the entire room by gesturing toward one of the few weights she hadn't picked up. It lazily floated over to her finger, and, after a few seconds, she was able to balance it on the tip without too much trouble. Though it was only 50kg, this was still an impressive feat, one that most adults, skilled Mages included, wouldn't be able to emulate.Seemingly satisfied with her feat, Asuna's face blossomed into a smile as she looked toward Vahn for validation. This caused the latter to chuckle in amusement as he ruffled her hair and said, "Asuna is always amazing..." before using his own telekinesis to guide the weight back to its rack...Though it wasn't the first time she had seen Asuna perform such a feat, Theo still felt slightly envious after seeing how easily she emulated Eva's actions. This didn't cause her smile to fade away, however. Instead, she smiled even more radiantly as she exclaimed, "That was amazing, Asuna! Now I know who to come to when Vahn and Evangeline are busy~."As if it was a matter of course, Asuna nodded her head, returning a smile of her own as she said, "I'm not qualified to teach others, but I can give you advice."Following Asuna's response, Theo quickly snatched her up, hugging the frowning girl tightly as she rubbed their cheeks together and exclaimed, "So cute! I'll be relying on you a lot in the future, ehehehe~!"---While waiting for Arika and Fenrir to arrive, each escorted by a version of Vahn, Theo did her best to try and apply Eva's teachings. Unfortunately, while she was able to balance a few tens of kilograms on her finger, the straining of her muscles indicated that she was still relying on her raw power. As a result, Eva began walking her through some basic exercises to improve her control, while, at the side, Asuna was steadily increasing the amount of weight she could balance on one finger...Fortunately, before Theo's pride as a 'big sis' could be destroyed completely, another version of Vahn arrived alongside Fenrir. The latter was already aware of Eva's arrival, but, despite her mental preparations, she still tensed up slightly. She had come to respect Eva during the time she had spent within the orb, but, even after a hundred years had passed, she still had a slight trauma regarding Eva's neglect and attempts to bathe her...After performing a little wiggle to remove the tensions from her body, Fenrir adopted a happy smile as she flickered next to Eva, ignoring the latter's warning look as she wrapped her arms around her and said, "I missed you, Eva~!"Though she had quite a few memories regarding Fenrir, Eva still felt awkward being hugged by the surprisingly soft Vanargandr. It annoyed her that the former ignored the fact she didn't want to be hugged, pulling her into an over-affectionate embrace that gradually caused her face to redden. She wasn't used to such acts of familiarity, but, despite a strong desire to toss Fenrir aside, she tolerated the latter's antics with a wry smile, stating, "It is good to see you as well..."Hearing Eva's response, Fenrir laughed mischievously before hugging her tightly one more time, whispering, "Master really did miss you a lot. Please don't be too mean to him. He might put up with it, but it will hurt his heart if you take things too far..."After saying what she wanted to say, Fenrir released Eva's from her clutches, a radiant smile on her face as her scarlet red eyes met the latter's icy blues. Though it wasn't discernible to most, Eva was able to read a lot in the former's gaze, and, after recalling how she had been treating Vahn, she began to feel a little uncomfortable. He treated her like a princess, waiting on her hand and foot while constantly paying attention to her needs, yet, in spite of this, she often used harsh words to rebuke him. There were even times when she was the one to rile him up, constantly testing him as if trying to expose his true nature...Before Eva could begin feeling too guilty, Fenrir issued a slight giggle before saying, "Master is happy, so there is no need to feel guilty. Besides, he loves you just the way you are. I'm just being a little selfish since I don't like it when people are mean to Master. A little bit is fine, just don't take it too far, okay...?"Without waiting for Eva's response, Fenrir looked toward the version of her Master that was teaching Asuna, her ears perking up as she quickly made her way over to them. As for Eva, she was left contemplating Fenrir's words, only coming back to her senses when Theo asked, "What was that about?"Though she was slightly startled by the unexpected question, Eva showed a relaxed smile on her face as she explained, "Fenrir is another one of my students. We had a few disagreements in the past, but there is no bad blood between us. Now, focus on your training. If I feel you aren't making a proper effort, don't blame me if I forbid you from sharing a bath and bed with Vahn in the future."Hearing Eva's words, Theo showed an expression of abject shock, disbelief visible in her eyes as she failed to find words of her own. She wanted to say that it wasn't up to Eva, but, knowing she was the reason Vahn had come to this world, Theo couldn't bring herself to vocalize her thoughts. Instead, she became even more serious than before, fully focusing on her training until Arika arrival twenty minutes later...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Asuna is very wise...','Fenrir will protect her Master (o,...,o)~!','Theo and Arika just hit a wall xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Seeing Eva for the first time, Arika couldn't help but make comparisons between herself and the infamous Demon Queen. She wanted to understand what made Eva so special that Vahn would even traverse between worlds and through time just to 'save' her...Realizing the direction of her thoughts, Arika internally rebuked herself before forcing a polite smile onto her face. She was actually very grateful toward Eva, as, without her, Vahn might not have ever come to this world. Without him, her mother would have died, her Kingdom would have fallen, and, up until the moment of her disappearance, she would have been compelled to make countless compromises. Thus, despite a feeling of perturbation in her heart, Arika did her best to maintain a polite smile as she bowed toward Eva and said, "It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Evangeline Athanasia Katherine McDowell."Though she hadn't missed the momentary glower that flashed across Arika's eyes, Eva offered an amused smile of her own as she said, "You must be the current Queen of Vespertatia. Vahn has told me about your ambitions...I won't tell you to give up, but, at your current level, saying you have even a one-percent chance of success is a stretch. Are you going to just keep relying on Vahn to solve all your problems...?"Hearing Eva's words, Arika's smiled melted away into a neutral expression as she instinctually replied, "Are you...?" before realizing what she was saying.The moment Arika retorted Eva, a palpable tension spread throughout the room. Eva's smile faded away in an instant, but, before she could lash out and do something regrettable, Vahn stepped between them, saying, "It is normal for some awkwardness to exist in the beginning, but, regardless of what happens, I want the two of you to remember that you are allies. Even if you don't see eye-to-eye on some things, your ultimate goals are similar. If you are honest and forthright, I know you will be able to reach an understanding..."With Vahn's intervention, Arika was predisposed to back down. She had come to place a lot of value in his words, and, though it wasn't at the level of calling him Master, she greatly respected him as a Mentor. Eva, however, didn't back down so easily, her expression turning slightly severe as she said, "I understand what you're trying to say, but your way of doing things isn't exactly forthright, Vahn. If you put your foot down and properly considered the responsibilities you assign-"Shaking his head, Vahn adopted a somewhat pained smile as he said, "Eva...please, think about your next words properly. This isn't the real you. You're letting Arika's words affect you too much..."Eva didn't appreciate being interrupted by Vahn, but, with everyone focused on her, including three versions of Vahn, she ultimately succeeded in calming herself down enough to say, "Fine...just don't forget what you promised me..."Though it wasn't the best answer, Vahn nodded his head in understanding, adding, "You're a good person, Eva...I believe in you..."Hearing Vahn's 'heartfelt' words, Eva just snorted as she crossed her arms and asked, "Are we going inside or are we just going to idle around here all day? We have a lot to talk about, so don't dawdle for too long."With her words finished, Eva took the initiative to enter the diorama, not out of a particular sense of urgency, but in an effort to calm down. She knew she was just being petty, but, knowing there were two other golden-haired girls eyeing her man, she couldn't help but feel a little annoyed. Vahn was, in many ways, the first person she had ever thought about spending the rest of her life with. Even if it was only until they defeated the Mage of the Beginning, she wanted to at least keep a version of him to herself...Understanding Eva needed time to cool down, Vahn prevented the others from following after her too soon, saying, "I know it won't be easy, but please try and consider the type of life Eva has been forced to live. She has been suffering for nearly six-hundred years, unable to form bonds for fear of having to watch everyone she cares about dying from old age. She was forced to bear unspeakable pain and hardship, denied the opportunity to even take her own life. I understand Eva's pain better than most, so, while it might be unfair of me...I must prioritize her happiness and mental well-being over others...I refuse to become another source for her suffering..."Hearing Vahn's words, Arika and Theo felt extremely conflicted, but, in the end, neither tried to say anything to change his mind. Asuna, however, tightly gripped his sleeve, unwillingness visible in her gaze as she said, "I don't want things to change. Will you make other people sad for the happiness of one person? Don't you care about us, Vahn?"Seeing the look in Asuna's eyes, a pang of guilt spread through Vahn's heart as he kneeled down and gave her a firm hug, answering, "Of course. No matter what happens, I will keep my promises to everyone. I just can't be responsible for everyone's happiness, Asuna. Eva needs me a lot more than most people...don't worry, once she begins to open her heart, I'm certain we can all find our happiness together. Besides, you don't have to worry about things changing too much...it will just be a little more complicated than it was before...I'm not going to leave you behind and disappear, okay...?"Though there were still some visible misgivings in her eyes, Asuna ultimately nodded her head as she returned Vahn's embrace. She knew how important promises were to him, so, hearing him say he wouldn't leave her behind, she felt a little better. Her biggest fear these days was waking up to suddenly discover his familiar warmth nowhere to be found. She might not have cared if he never appeared, but, now that she had spent more than three-hundred days alongside him, she couldn't even comprehend how devastated she would feel. He had become her most important person, and, after talking with her mother, Asuna had already decided to spend the rest of her life with him...Feeling Asuna's unwillingness to let go, Vahn released a silent sigh as he picked her up into a koala hold, lightly patting her back as she clung to his neck. A lot of her 'selfishness' had faded away after she began attending the Academy, but, at times like this, she was the same spoiled princess he had promised to protect nearly seven years prior. He couldn't even imagine actually abandoning her, as, more so than Arika and Theo, combined, the adorable pig-tailed girl had really grown on him...While lightly bouncing Asuna in his embrace, Vahn turned towards everyone else, his other selves included, saying, "It's already been a few minutes. Eva has had a few hours to calm down by now, so it should be safe to enter. Please keep my words in mind...I know it won't be easy, but you are both strong, kind, and capable...I believe in you..."Though Arika merely combed her fingers through her hair without responding, Theo seemed quite taken with Vahn's words. A wide smile had spread across her face as she puffed out her chest and boldly declared, "Leave it to me, Vahn. I'll show you just how quickly I can melt the ice around Eva's heart. When I do, you'll have to give me plenty of rewards, okay~?"Toward the end of her words, Theo pounced on the closest Vahn, her modest breasts pressing into him as she rested her cheek against his chest and added, "Just let me recharge real quick...mmm..."As skinship wasn't exactly uncommon between him and Theo, Vahn didn't mind her behavior too much. She was a very hard-working girl, and, though it would probably earn him a few needlessly harsh words from Eva, he still stroked her head with a smile on his face. He didn't have to heart to suddenly start shunning her, so, while certain changes would undoubtedly have to be made, things like this were simply a matter of course.Understanding that every minute outside equated to twenty-four within the diorama, Theo released Vahn a little earlier than she would have liked. The fact he still allowed her to hug him already made her feel greatly relieved, so, with a smile on her face, she sent him a playful wink before making her way over to the diorama and disappearing in a flash of light. This left Vahn with a wry smile, shaking his head before looking towards Arika and asking, "Do you also need to recharge...?"Though the thought had certainly crossed her mind, Arika quickly shook her head before making her way over to the diorama without offering a verbal response. This left the three Vahn alone with Asuna and Fenrir, the latter taking the opportunity to say, "Don't worry too much, Master. Just like her Memory Fragment, Eva is a 'good girl' at heart. She just feels like her happiness is threatened by people who haven't had to experience real suffering. Once she sees them making an earnest effort to grow stronger, she will slowly open up to them. Stay strong, okay...?"Finished with her words, Fenrir offered her best smile by using her fingers to comically push up the edges. This caused tensions Vahn hadn't even been fully aware of to slowly melt away, his shoulders relaxing slightly as a sincere and appreciative smile spread across his face. Then, with an approving nod, Fenrir flickered next to the diorama, placing her palm against its surface and vanishing in much the same way as Theo and Arika.Seeing Fenrir vanish, Vahn repressed a sigh as he gave Asuna a few firm pats on the back, his voice gentle as he said, "It's time for us to head inside. We still have much to discuss..."---With a time dilation of 24:1, the five-minute interval preceding Theo's arrival was experienced as the passage of two-hours from Eva's perspective. This gave her plenty of time to explore the interior of the diorama, her expression turning from anger to intrigue as she inspected the resort-like facilities that had been constructed within. Not only was there a fully furnished beach house, but, for reasons likely related to pure recreation, a short pier had even been constructed. There were several smaller vessels moored at the side, similar in structure to jet skis, but, what really caught her attention was the fishing vessel moored on the opposite side.Though it wasn't impossible to trap living creatures inside a Sub-Space Orb, the majority would die off relatively quickly unless they had inordinately high vitality. Even growing plants was exceedingly difficult, as, without a proper catalyst to maintain their growth, even the most resilient forms of flora would quickly decay. This was the main reason countries didn't use Sub-Space Orbs to compensate for a lack of arable land, as, in the most extreme cases, even people would begin to fall grievously ill after staying inside for long periods of time.She had already noticed 'something' was different about the diorama during her preliminary search, but, after seeing the fishing vessel, Eva finally realized the source of the incongruity. She suddenly became aware of the sounds of nature in her surroundings, complete with the chirping of birds and the rustling of small fauna going about their daily lives. Kicking aside the upper layer of dirt even revealed several types of soil creatures, fragile creatures that were virtually never found within Sub-Space Orbs.After absentmindedly staring at the thriving sub-surface ecosystem, Eva began to 'recall' all of the effects Vahn had on the lifeless space he had shared with her Memory Fragment. She had forgotten just how ridiculous his capacity for nourishing life was, turning a place where life shouldn't be able to exist into an area rich in flora and fauna. This had originally confounded her Memory Fragment, but, after hundreds of years, she had slowly grown desensitized to the abnormality.Now that she was seeing the changes to a diorama she had constructed, Eva couldn't help but feel a little shaken. Vahn had already told her that he was close to becoming a God of Creation, but, as it was difficult to truly comprehend what that meant, it hadn't really resonated with her. Now, sensing the utopian levels of vitality present within the diorama, she began to seriously consider what kind of impact he would have on the Magical World as a whole...Sensing a fluctuation in the surrounding space, Eva teleported to the location of Theo's entry into the diorama. The small smile that had appeared on her face quickly faded away when she realized it wasn't Vahn, but, by the time Theo had noticed her presence, Eva had adopted a lazy smile as she casually remarked, "You certainly took your time...I trust the others are on their way?"Hearing Eva's question, Theo returned a vibrant smile as she spiritedly exclaimed, "Don't worry, the others shouldn't be too far behind. Vahn will be a little late, though. Asuna was pouting a little bit, so he'll probably spend a few minutes calming her down. She was worried you were going to take Vahn away from her; she is quite attached to him, ehehehe~."Furrowing her brows slightly, Eva couldn't stop herself from asking, "And you're not...?"With an even larger smile on her face, displaying most of her pearly whites, Theo rather shamelessly stated, "I'm actually super attached, you know? I just decided to prove to both of you how serious I am, so get ready. Even if you are mean to me, I'm determined to become your friend so that we can all be happy together, shishishishi~."Not expecting Theo to say something so bold, Eva was at a momentary loss for words, waiting until Theo stopped snickering to ask, "Are you an idiot...?"As if she had just been given the highest form of compliment, Theo's already massive grin seemed to reach its maximum size as she unhesitantly exclaimed, "Isn't it normal to act like an idiot when you're in love? Doesn't Vahn just make you want to try all kinds of new and fun things? Even if you told me you haven't done anything, I wouldn't believe you, you know~?"Recalling some of the things she had done with Vahn, Eva couldn't stop her face from becoming slightly ruddy, further fueling Theo's laughter. This made her feel extremely annoyed, especially since she couldn't easily refute the shameless woman's words. Thus, instead of trying, she adopted a provoking smile as she stated, "I'm not an idiot because I am actually able to do whatever I want with the man I love. You're just a brat pining after something-"Before Eva could finish her words, a small ripple occurred in the surrounding space as Arika's figure came into view. Immediately thereafter, Theo preempted Eva's attempt to continue, plainly stating, "You should remember those words. Vahn cares about you a great deal, so it is a little annoying to see how you behave. Arika and I have been trying hard to slowly win Vahn's affection...you have no right to look down on our emotions when you can't even be honest with yourself..."Not expecting Theo to suddenly turn serious, Eva experienced another momentary loss for words, her mouth parting slightly as if she wanted to say something but simply couldn't. Then, despite not understanding the situation completely, Arika gave a small nod, her expression turning serious as she resolutely added, "Don't underestimate us..." in a decisive tone of voice.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'This ain't no cold war','Vesperina is the mastermind!?','Theo ain't playing...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With the school day nearing its end, Vahn was helping Eva choose outfits while she made subtle adjustments to her physical appearance in front of a standing mirror. She was wearing little more than lacy black lingerie, and, after more than two hours in front of the mirror, she had become a rather striking beauty.Vahn had tried to convince Eva to remain in her base form, but, despite his efforts to convince her, she insisted on wearing a disguise. She pointed out that, while it might not bother him, it bothered her to be seen as a child by others. She had already agreed to help him train the girls in preparation for the coming battles, so, until her physical body matured adequately, Eva was determined to keep up appearances when teaching them.Though Vahn wanted to convince her otherwise, Eva won the argument by plainly stating she didn't want to be associated with someone who others believed had a preference for children. It made her happy knowing he appreciated her true form, but, knowing others would view their relationship in a different light, Eva wanted to preserve both their reputations. Thus, unless he was willing to stay in the diorama with her for a few months, allowing her to quickly mature, she would need a form that allowed her to walk around in the outside world.Truth be told, Vahn was more than willing to spend a few years living alongside Eva in the diorama, but, due to the drastic difference in the flow of time, it would make it a lot harder to protect Asuna. The only way he could guarantee her safety was to allow her to stay in the diorama as well, but, as this was the trigger for 'everyone' staying inside for a few months, he was apprehensive about it.Asuna, Arika, and Theo were already spending between 240~300 hours within the diorama with each passing day, so, unless they quit using it altogether, they would age ten years for every year that passed in the outside world. On Earth, this would equate to around nineteen years, so, if they just idled in Ariadne for a few more months, Asuna might very well start looking like a young lady in a very short period of time. As for Theo and Arika, they were already in the midst of blooming into world-class beauties, and, if he spent such a long period of time with them, Vahn knew 'something' was bound to happen...In the end, Vahn agreed with Eva's decision, so, when he wasn't helping to 'test' the modifications she had made, he was helping choose her outfits. She was able to manifest clothes on her own, but, as magically created garments were 'exceptionally' rare, it would stand out if she wore them around people who were sensitive to such things. They were also extremely susceptible to disarming magic, so, with the option of wearing high-quality clothes provided by Vahn, many of which would cause a stir within the magical community, her choice was simple.---By the time Eva was satisfied with her appearance, nearly five hours had passed. Her final form was that of a beautiful woman with stylish golden hair, a mature figure, and, after trying on more than a hundred outfits, she ended up choosing an outfit that made her look similar to a secretary. This was infinitely better than her original outfit, giving her an appearance similar to a dominatrix, but it was still a little surprising to see her settle on something so simple.Doing away with her usual gothic-style garments, Eva decided upon a simple white blouse, a black pencil skirt, a thin white belt, black pantyhose, and a pair of black heels. These might look plain on other people, but, due to the alterations she had made to her body, Eva was strikingly beautiful. She also hadn't changed her style of lingerie, so, if you looked closely, it was possible to see the outline of her black bra beneath the white blouse. This, combined with her 'sleepy' expression, casual smile, and striking blue eyes, gave Eva what could only be described as a sultry appearance, causing Vahn to audible swallow when she looked towards him and lightly combed through her fringe bangs...After experiencing a momentary lapse in mental acuity, clarity returned to Vahn's gaze as he smiled appreciatively and said, "Remarkable. Though I feel inclined to mention I prefer the 'real' you, I can't help but admire the effort you put into your appearance. It really is breathtaking, Eva...unbelievably so...."Though she lazily rolled her eyes at Vahn's comment about preferring her true form, Eva's offered an even more sultry smile as she played with her bangs and mused, "Just this once, I'll allow you to do whatever you want to me...show me your appreciation through your actions..."Seeing Eva's hand move towards the top button of her blouse, Vahn felt the urge to tug as his own while resisting the urge to swallow. The stability of her aura and the look in her eyes indicated how serious she was, so, for a brief moment, he nearly discarded all propriety and inhibitions. Instead, he made his way over to her side, staring directly into her icy blue eyes as he extended his hand and tenderly caressed her head. Her Memory Fragment had once confided in him that, more than any other display of affection, she enjoyed having her head pat, so, despite earning a momentary glare, Vahn continued to stroke her head with an affectionate smile on his face...After a few seconds had passed, Eva's angry facade slowly melted away as she muttered, "You are a real idiot..."Despite her words, Eva stepped a little closer to him, gently wrapping her arms around his body as she nestled her face into the nook of his neck. She planted a single light kiss on the exposed skin before nuzzling against him for a few moments as he continued to stroke and caress her head and hair...---Completing her outfit, Eva wore a stylish trenchcoat that did little to conceal the impressive figure hidden beneath. She also carried herself with confidence and dignity, cowing anyone who tried to make eye contact with her as she walked alongside Vahn. Since the latter was so popular, she drew a considerable amount of attention from both staff and students, a fact she seemed to enjoy quite a bit considering the amused smile on her face as she loosely linked her arm with his.Though Vahn wasn't particularly fond of standing out in such a manner, he didn't bother to correct Eva's behavior. Rather, if anyone were to ask what their relationship was, he would unhesitantly say they were lovers. This was proven when their path was blocked by a group of thirteen well-dressed young ladies, each rather fervent members of his fan club.Earning himself a pointed nail to the side, Vahn shamelessly introduced Eva as his fiancee, a rather silly smile on his face as he said as he explained, "This is Katherine, my fiancee. There is a chance she will become an Advisor in the future, so make sure you get along properly~."Hearing Vahn introduce the mystery woman as his fiancee, the group of girls showed incredulous expressions on their faces. Some even glared toward Eva as if she had taken something precious from them, their fervor enough to even cow the outwardly confident ice queen. Fortunately, before her facade was seen through by the group of young girls, Vahn adopted a serious expression as he asked, "Is this how we treat other people? I had thought you were all kind and hardworking young ladies, but it seems I was mistaken..."Emphasizing his disappointment, Vahn went ahead and addressed each of the young girls by name, a disheartened and slightly pained look on his face that caused each of them to lower their heads in shame. People quickly broke down when you singled them out within a group, and, due to the fact he had always treated them well, they felt exceptionally guilty for behaving selfishly. As a result, all thirteen girls quickly apologized, and, as a show of gratitude, Vahn adopted his usual smile before giving each of the girls a light head pat and a few cookies to share amongst themselves.After passing the blockade, Vahn guided Eva for a few meters before she pointedly stated, "I don't remember agreeing to marry you..."Hearing the slightly chilly remark, Vahn just smiled as he softly answered, "You underestimate just how important you are to me, Eva. Unless you fall in love with someone else, I will continue to do everything in my power to convince you to marry me. Even then, I will support your happiness to the best of my ability...consider it my selfishness, but I'm completely serious..."Without minding the fact there were a considerable number of eyes focused on them, Vahn caused Eva's eyes to widen completely as he stole a quick kiss from her lips. This earned them a few girlish squeals from the surrounding, while, at the entrance to various classrooms, a few of the Professors were eyeing Eva with a deadpan stare. They could all see the blush she was trying to conceal on her face; envy and longing appearing in their expressions as they wondered what was so special about her to be chosen by Vahn...Resisting the urge to bury Vahn into the floor, Eva hung her head in silence for a few seconds as she did her best to ignore their surroundings. She was normally very confident while assuming an adult form, but, ever since her vampiric nature had been sealed away, her split personalities had gradually started to fuse together. Though it would probably take years for them to reconcile completely, the current Eva felt extremely bashful despite the fact most of their audience was children younger than ten years of age. (A/N: Eva goes by Earth time.)Though he might have to suffer a bit later on, Vahn was proud to have Eva at his side. He knew the only reason she cared about the opinions of the young students was that some of them were pretty close to her 'apparent' age. This was also the primary reason she had wanted a disguise, as, if they saw her walking with him in her true form, some of the students might get strange ideas. After all, if Vahn was seen with someone around their own age, there was a non-negligible chance they would mistake their own chances. As for the teachers, they might assume he was an actual lolicon, ruining the reputation he had built after exposing the trafficking ring run by the former Arch-Dean...Now that he thought about it, Vahn realized that Eva's foresight was greater than his own. He was a little too confident that things would go his way, as, for the last couple of decades, that had always been the case. He even had a massive karmic boon to ensure things would go smoothly, so, unless he did something extreme, the odds of anything going wrong were slim. Still, this didn't mean that everything would always go his way, so, prior to reaching Asuna's classroom, he lightly squeezed Eva's hand and muttered, "Sorry...I'm just a little too happy right now...please don't be too mad at me..."Hearing Vahn's words, Eva released an audible sigh, her shoulders slouching briefly before she lifted her head and quickly regained her composure. His words actually resonated quite deeply within her heart, but, as everything was happening so quickly, she still felt a bit of trepidation. She had actually decided to stay at his side for the foreseeable future, but, until they had spent more time together, she simply couldn't vocalize the truth. Instead, she adopted a slightly accusatory look in her eyes as she muttered, "I know you didn't mean to upset me...you're just an idiot...don't worry, I'm beginning to get used to it..."Understanding Eva's words amounted to forgiveness, Vahn's mood quickly recovered, the edges of his smile curling up as she squeezed his hand in turn. There was still a light blush on her face, and, though she was looking away from him, Vahn was still able to sense it. This made him feel greatly vindicated, but, having learned his lesson, he decided not to push his luck by pointing out the red coloration at the tips of her ears...---Though she would normally spend an hour or so playing with her friends after class, Asuna could currently be seen dangling her feet from one of the benches that were interspaced throughout the Academy. Since she wasn't interacting with anyone, she had defaulted to her neutral expression, a listless look in her eyes as she absentmindedly observed a few students riding brooms of various different shapes and sizes.Asuna had always been a very curious and introspective girl, so, whenever she saw something new, she couldn't help but wonder how it worked. She would also contemplate on the nature of things, wondering what drove people to make certain decisions and institute certain policies. Thus, with a blank look on her face, she couldn't help but wonder what the Grandmaster was thinking when she made the age for wearing skirts the same age that students were allowed to fly on brooms...While others might not have the visual acuity to see clearly, Asuna was able to discern the pattern and make of every pair of panties that flashed overhead. Most were rather plain, but, every now and then, a pair of very 'adult' panties would flash across her vision. She couldn't help but wonder what compelled some students to wear such risque undergarments at a young age. They were obviously trying to appear more mature than they actually were, but, while Asuna could empathize with this mentality, she didn't understand why they would focus more on appearance rather than improving their comprehension and fixing their behavior...Thinking about girls who didn't quite act their age, Asuna recalled the changes that had occurred in her cousin and Theo. They slept in the same bed so she had noticed the change in Arika's choice of sleepwear from the very beginning, understanding it was a paradoxically direct yet roundabout way to appeal to Vahn. As for Theo, she was even more direct, often forgoing everything but her panties when she got the chance to sleep next to Vahn...After seeing the changes in Arika and Theo, Asuna began wondering whether or not panties held some kind of secret that had simply escaped her. She had even asked Fenrir for advice, but, rather than give her a pair of 'adult' panties, she had been given a simple pair with a tiny paw print on the front. She later showed these to Vahn, and, matching what Fenrir had said, he complimented her on how cute they were. Even now, the memory of his smile made her heart palpitate irregularly, so, for the last couple of days, Asuna had been ruminating over the mystery of panties, wondering whether or not it was better to be cute or mature...Before her senses had detected the abnormality, Asuna noticed the clump of hair that Vahn referred to as an ahoge twitch. This caused a smile to spread across her lips, and, after spreading her senses through the area, she instantly pinpointed Vahn's location. Immediately after she saw him, however, a tiny frown spread across her face as she saw the woman clinging to his arm. It was only for a brief moment, however, as she quickly recalled everything Vahn had told her about Eva's tragic existence.Hopping off of the bench, Asuna approached Vahn and the presumed Eva, giving the former a firm hug before turning to the latter, extending her hand as she said, "My name is Asuna. Vahn has told me a lot about you. I hope we can be friends."Seeing the young girl masterfully shift through emotional states, Eva was slightly taken aback, but, as Vahn had already told her a lot about Asuna, she quickly accepted the latter's outstretched hand, offering a smile of her own as she said, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Asuna. Vahn praises you often during our talks so I've been looking forward to meeting you. I'm not sure about becoming friends, but I will do my best to answer your questions during training. I taught Vahn and Fenrir everything they know about Magic, so I'm quite confident in being able to guide you as well..."Though she took note of Eva's noncommital remark about becoming friends, Asuna didn't take it to heart. Instead, she offered an even bigger smile than before, squinting her eyes happily as she said, "I'm looking forward to it~!" in an excited tone.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The dangers of a diorama...','Eva's already falling hard xD...','Asuna has the makings of a great Scholar...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1579: Focus