Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

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

Entering the diorama, Vahn found Eva acting standoffish toward Arika and Theo while Fenrir observed silently from the side. Fortunately, the moment they noticed his arrival, they acted as if everything was perfectly normal, Eva adopting a lazy smile as she mused, "I was starting to think you got lost."Deciding it wasn't the best time for banter, Vahn just smiled wryly in response to Eva's words before saying, "Let's move to the beach house. I'm sure everyone is starting to get hungry, so I'll cook something up while everyone else prepares for dinner. Fenrir, help Asuna wash up for me, okay?"Asuna didn't really want to separate from Vahn right now, but, when he passed her over to the waiting arms of Fenrir, she reluctantly let go. As for Arika and Theo, they naturally intended to share the same bath, so, while Vahn and Eva moved towards the beach house, they moved as a group towards the onsen located further up the mountain.The moment the other girls were out of earshot, Eva broke the tense silence, saying, "Those brats practically declared war on me...you really have a way with young women, don't you...?"Hearing Eva's barb, Vahn laughed dryly in response before shaking his head and answering, "I don't mean to make people fall in love with me...I just want them to be happy. It was never my intention for things to develop like this..."Snorting through her nose, Eva didn't hesitate to retort, saying, "At your age, you should have more awareness than this. Just how many times have you repeated the mistake of pampering girls to the point that they don't even want to look for other partners? People are instinctually drawn to comfort and things that make them feel secure. You pamper them to the point that it is impossible for them to rationalize being with other people. After all, who in their right mind would give up all the benefits you provide for something that isn't even comparable!? If they continue to follow you, they have access to resources, get to eat delicious food, and, even if you pretend to put up walls, you still pamper and dote on them in excess...even if wasn't your intention for things to develop like this, you've done very little to deter their advances. I mean, for crying out loud, Vahn, you've been sharing the same bed with them for almost a year!"Though she didn't really want to yell, Eva found it hard to hold herself back after Theo's and Arika's declaration of war. She knew Vahn could easily manage several women at a time but it was still frustrating knowing how available he made himself. He could have easily become the type of mentor that the girls looked up to and respected, but, instead of watching them from afar and offering advice when they needed it, he constantly allowed himself to get pulled into their pace.Rather than try to refute Eva's words, Vahn just gave a small nod before choosing to remain silent. Everything she said aligned with his own thoughts on the matter, and, if he had put his foot down from the start, things would never have developed this far. Instead, he continually went along with the flow of events, inadvertently taking advantage of the 'casual' way in which Ana and the other members of the Ostian Royal Family treated him. Now, he was even sharing a bed with two women he proclaimed to have no interest in, yet, in spite of this, allowed them to sleep next to him wearing very little clothing...Seeing Vahn comb his fingers through his hair in a familiar self-calming gesture, Eva released a tired sigh before grabbing his arm, surprising him as she muttered, "Those three are already too far gone...just promise me that you'll be more considerate of your future actions...if this is going to work, I need to know that you aren't going to get distracted by everything with a big butt or exotic features...stop teasing women you aren't involved with and stop letting people you aren't in a relationship convince you to do things you know aren't a good idea. Seriously, what did you expect to happen when you allowed a promiscuous princess to sleep next to you in nothing but her underwear...!?"Though Eva was obviously showing him a bit of leniency, the more she talked, the more upset she seemed to become. She didn't let go of his arm, but, as the pitch of her voice raised, her nails began to sink deeper into his flesh. Despite this, Vahn didn't make any attempt to argue, as, objectively speaking, she had hit the nail on the head. He really hadn't done much to stop them from growing increasingly bold. Rather, he even went out of his way to convince himself their behavior wasn't a 'real' problem, allowing matters to 'take their course' as he continued to pamper, compliment, and tolerate them...Releasing a tired sigh, Vahn did his best to sound sincere as he looked into Eva's angry eyes and answered, "I promise to do better, Eva...I don't want to betray your trust...I just..."Shaking her head, Eva interjected, saying, "I already said what I wanted to say. Just remember your promise and there won't be any problems. As for those brats...as long as they are willing to make an effort, I won't say anything about your relationship with them. You can't lay a hand on them until they become much stronger, though...I will never approve of anyone that might become a liability..."Understanding that Eva didn't really want to discuss the matter, Vahn just nodded his head, a serious expression on his face as he muttered, "I will keep my promise..."Hearing the sincerity in Vahn's tone, Eva answered with a nod of her own before falling silent with her head resting on his shoulder. She originally had a lot more to say, but, after the brief encounter with Arika and Theo, Eve realized it would be difficult to make them give up. As for Asuna, that was even more hopeless. She could tell the girl was completely attached to Vahn, and, unless something major happened, this wasn't likely to change.Though Vahn had already explained Asuna's origin and the original course of history, Eva was still shocked by how much potential the young girl had. Her talent was truly monstrous, and, if she trained for a few years, Eva could easily imagine Asuna surpassing her. She was also the literal lynchpin of Mundus Magicus, so, even if Vahn had wanted to entrust Asuna to someone else, Eva would have called him a massive idiot for even considering it...Unaware of Eva's silent thoughts, Vahn guided her all the way to the massive beach house he had constructed before breaking the silence, saying, "There is a large bath located at the end of the hallway. I'll let you wash up while I prepare dinner. I would join you, but my other selves are currently busy taking care of other tasks. Still, if you want me to-"Without waiting for Vahn to finish, Eva lightly snorted through her nose, saying, "If I gave you a reward so quickly after reprimanding you, you wouldn't learn your lesson. Go cook the food. Try and behave for the rest of the day...if you do, I might give you a real reward..."Taking advantage of the fact she was still in her adult form, Eva allowed her hips to sway as she languidly made her way toward the bath. She knew it wasn't exactly the most opportune moment, but, after laying it into Vahn for several minutes, she had started to feel a little guilty. Thus, in the hopes of lifting his mood slightly, she did her best to appear as sexy as possible while her back was turned to him, hiding the subtle blush creeping onto her cheeks...---While his main body was preparing dinner, Vahn was consolidating the energy of his other vessels, separating their energy from the primary 'network' shared by each version of himself. He hadn't expected to find Eva so soon, but, now that he had, it was time to start speeding up his plans a bit...Originally, Vahn had intended to take his time gathering information during his pilgrimage to meet with each of the Great Spirits. He had intended to support Arika's growth and help her forge alliances with powerful groups like Ala Rubra so he wouldn't be charged with ensuring peace and prosperity for the entire Magical World. Now, however, he had the current Queen of Vespertatia and the future Empress of the Hellas Empire fawning over him, and, based on Eva's words, it was pretty clear they were serious about pursuing him.Though he still wanted to avoid becoming directly involved with politics, Vahn knew he was going to have to take a more proactive role in future events. To that end, he needed to build his own faction, help strengthen the girls, forge a few alliances, and, most importantly, spread his influence beyond Ariadne.Vahn knew he had already stayed in the scenic Academy City for too long, and, though he wanted Asuna to enjoy attending school, he had already noticed her growing increasingly bored with the curriculum. Her theoretical knowledge could even compete with most of the teachers, and, though she enjoyed spending time with her friends, the difference in their capabilities had slowly created a gulf between her and most students.Regardless of his own plans, Vahn would allow Asuna to remain in the Academy, but, knowing her, she would insist on accompanying them. This wouldn't change even if he left a version of himself to look after her, as, despite his warnings, she insisted on using the diorama alongside everyone else. She didn't seem to particularly care about aging faster, rather, despite starting off younger than most of her classmates, she was far more mature than most graduates. Thus, even if she did age quickly, Asuna didn't see this as a negative as it also meant her power and knowledge would increase exponentially...Realizing why Eva mentioned three brats, all of Vahn's vessels simultaneously released a sigh. He wasn't actually that surprised, as Asuna had been very 'reflective' ever since their last visit to Ostia, but, knowing the young girl had set her sights on him, he couldn't help feeling a little sad. She would undoubtedly grow into a world-class beauty, but, knowing this change would also denote the loss of her innocence, Vahn was already beginning to miss the adorable twin-tailed girl that followed him around like a lost puppy...Shaking his heads, Vahn began to focus on the task at hand, bringing his palms together as runic markings began to spread across his bodies. At the same time, a complex magic circle began to form in front of him, one radiating a jade green light while the other flickered with an ocean blue, complete with ripples spreading across its surface. Then, from the center of both magic circles, strange 'tunnels' seemed to form as two figures quickly manifested from within.Though he was feeling exhausted, in more ways that one, Vahn managed a smile as he saw a familiar youth with predominately white hair standing next to a 'woman' with dark green hair. The former had distinct black striping within his hair, and, at the top of his head, two rounded ears complimented the thick tail that protruded from his backside. As for the woman, she had a beauty that could even rival Zhuque, complete with a long ponytail and a mature figure, but, if you were to peek beneath her form-fitting purple kimono, you would find something rather 'unexpected' waiting for you...Preempting the two's usual greeting, Vahn gestured for them to relax, smiling as he said, "It is good to see the two of you, Xiao Bai, Fairy Xuan...I'll be relying on you a lot in the near future."Hearing Vahn's words, the young white tiger playfully flexed his arms as he exclaimed, "Great! I've been waiting to show off my skills! I'm already getting pumped up...!!" As for the woman affectionately referred to as Fairy Xuan, she offered a rather motherly smile, her voice similar to the sound of distant waves gently lapping at the shore on a sunny day as she said, "It is our pleasure to be of service~."Nodding toward his two fiercely loyal companions, Vahn rose to his feet explaining, "Xiao Bai, I'm going to have you assist in the training of a few people. This world uses the concept of Ki and I'm interested to see how you can adapt it with your fighting style. As for you, Fairy Xuan, I'll have you help me collect information. You already have all my knowledge about this world. I want you to use it to expand an information network withing Megalomesembria. If I go there now, I probably won't be able to control myself, so, until I have made adequate preparations, I want you to spread your influence as far as possible. Can you do this...?"As if it was a small matter, Fairy Xuan giggled like a mother who just saw their child commit a bit of mischief before smiling as she answered, "Though we dare not compare ourselves to Master, we are confident in our ability to gather information. Given enough time, we might even be able to take over the entire country before Master's arrival~?"Though it sounded like a gross exaggeration, Vahn wouldn't be too surprised if Fairy Xuan actually managed to pull off such a feat. She was remarkably intelligent and possessed the inherent ability to charm both sexes. Most importantly, however, was her ability to traverse a sub-dimension by slipping into pools of water. There, she could travel incredible distances in a short period of time, but, more pertinent to the task of gaining information, she could listen to listen in on conversations and directly spy on people from even a single droplet of water...Not wanting to lose out, Xiao Bai, named as such due to his rather childish mentality, pumped both of his fists as he exclaimed, "Yosh! Leave everything related to martial arts and training to me! I'll turn all of Master's students into Grandmasters in the blink of an eye~!!"Since he was the type that didn't understand the concept of personal space, Xiao Bai always got very close to people whenever he was excited. As a result, Vahn could easily reach out his hand, stroking the 135cm tall tiger's head as he said, "I'm counting on you. Just try not to go overboard. Remember, not everyone gets as excited about martial arts as you. This is a good opportunity for you to learn how to be a proper teacher so make sure you pace yourself and pay close attention to how others react to your training. I'll be around to give advice, but, in the end, I want to see how far you can grow while teaching others."Though Xiao Bai showed a contented smile while having his head pat, he still listened very intently to his Master's teachings. Thus, immediately following Vahn's words, he adopted a cheeky smile as he reiterated, "Leave it to me~!!"(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'There is a reason why Eva is the Master xD...','Fairy Xuan has many secrets (UwU)...','We're about to see a showdown between a Bakatiger and a Bakadere...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

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

Chapter 1580: Tensions