Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Early the next morning, when everyone had gathered together to eat breakfast, Vahn explained everything he had noticed the prior evening. This had become a rather common occurrence, and, though it was initially surprising to know just how much he was capable of sensing, being able to see a projection of his memory made explanations a lot easier.Not surprisingly, Eva and Arika had both met people very similar to the man named Secundum in their lifetimes. The former likened his existence to a High Spirit that had been infused with the body of a Demon. This was penultimately confirmed by Arika, as, within the records of Ostia, the template for all Spirits, including those like Secundum, existed.Though there was a difference between real and artificial spirits, all were the result of giving form to magical and elemental energy. The form and function of Spirits could change drastically depending on their planet of origin, and, prior to the structuring of Mundus Magicus, there had been no native Spirits on Mars. The components allowing for their existence had always been present, but, without the presence of sapient life, it was exceptionally rare for even Nascent Elementals to form.Vahn wasn't too surprised by the revelations made by Eva and Arika. Rather, knowing the Ostian Royal Family were descended from the Mage of the Beginning, it made sense that they would be aware of the formation and fabrication of Elemental Spirits. As for how beings like Secundum came to use Demons as a template, that wasn't a surprise when you considered the Ancient Civilization of Venus, which gave rise to the Demon tribe, predated both Mundus Ventus and Mundus Magicus by more than ten-thousand years.Considering her experiments to turn people like Eva into True Vampires, the odds of Ialda being a Vampire Noble were exceptionally high. The only other potentiality was that she was a member of the Demon tribe that rose to prominence following the fall of the ACV. This seemed to make the most sense, and, though there was a chance she was something 'more', such things were generally never recorded in history. The only way to discover the truth was to uncover it directly, but, by the time they encountered the Mage of the Beginning, the opportunity for dialogue would have come and gone...---Based on their new findings, the group spent the latter half of their breakfast discussing whether or not they should make changes to their plan. It was possible to extrapolate a substantial amount of information based on the fact that Cosmos Entelecheia had 'revealed' themselves in such a manner, and, knowing they were already trying to recover Asuna, it was all but guaranteed that the catalyst for war had been triggered.In the original timeline, the Great Magic War was preceded by months of escalating tensions and several small skirmishes between the Megalomesembrian Confederacy and the Hellas Empire. The inciting incident, however, had been the invasion and subsequent burning of Elfenholf, home of the Elves.Vahn had no intention of allowing the Elves to become victims in yet another war between the two major superpowers, so, depending on how things went with Brave Enlil, there was a fair chance they might simply ignore the Spirit's Quest in order to prevent a tragedy. This was a matter of principle, as, compared to virtually every other country, Elfenhof had absolutely nothing to do with the war. It was always the victim, and, due to their long lives, difficulty producing offspring, and various other limitations, they constantly lived with the threat of extinction looming over their heads.With his foreknowledge of the future, Vahn would find it difficult to hold himself back if he failed to prevent the razing of Elfenhof. It already took considerable self-control to stop himself from taking action similar to what he had done in the Nasuverse. This urge had become even stronger after his promise with Theo, but, knowing the 'futility' or repeating his actions in every world, Vahn resolved himself to continue along the path of a Vagrant Hero and deterrent.With this in mind, Vahn wrapped up the breakfast discussion by saying, "After saving the Elves, our main objective will shift to luring out and exposing Cosmo Entelecheia. We could try and decry the coming war, but, until something happens to shift the public interest, it will be nigh-impossible to prevent it. Instead, we will split our focus between diplomacy and taking decisive action to prevent the war from getting out of hand..."Having made up his mind on the matter, Vahn allowed his words to trail off as he turned to Arika and added, "Currently, there is a considerable amount of speculation concerning the relationship between myself and the Ostian Royal Family. As a result, it would become exceptionally difficult for you to engage in diplomatic affairs if we continue traveling together. It won't be easy on you, but, in order to fulfill our mutual objectives, we will need to create the illusion that we have parted ways following the events in Elfenhof. I will continue to travel with you in secret, but, unless you are in a situation you cannot resolve on your own, you will have to act in your own capacity as Princess and Queen of Vespertatia..."As she had already been expecting something like this to happen, Arika's expression didn't change in response to Vahn's words. She had discussed this very matter with both Theo and Eva, so, even if he didn't propose it, she would have done so in the near future. Their duties diverged quite a bit in the grand scheme of things, and, if he wanted to become an effective deterrent, Vahn needed to be able to employ 'drastic measures' when the situation called for it.What surprised Arika was the fact that Vahn said he would continue traveling with her in secret. She had expected him to assign someone to protect her, similar to Theo, so it was a pleasant surprise to hear that they would continue traveling together. As a result, though it didn't show on her face, she was actually feeling a little giddy as she asked, "Am I to act as a lure to draw out Cosmo Entelecheia and Ala Rubra...?"Restraining a wry smile, Vahn slowly nodded his head, explaining, "If you are acting in your capacity as a Princess of Vespertatia, it is all but guaranteed that Cosmo Entelecheia will attempt to pull you into their schemes. They will be unable to target Asuna using conventional means so they will likely try and ascertain what kind of relationship I have with Ostia before using you as bait to try and lure me out. There is a chance they might target civilian populations to achieve the same result, but, as that would drastically increase the chances of exposing themselves, they are more likely to focus on political maneuvering to try and put us at a disadvantage."Understanding what Vahn was getting at, Arika's expression became progressively more serious as she said, "I understand my duty to this world and its people. I am confident in Theo's ability to lead the Empire onto a better path, so, even if I have to mingle among snakes, I will do what is necessary to ensure the prosperity of Mundus Magicus. We have already discussed the matter, and, this time around, we will make sure the Empire and Confederacy accept responsibility for their actions. It will take a while, but we will endeavor to eliminate the need for a deterrent entirely..."Though he had grown accustomed to Arika's speeches, Vahn was still a little surprised by the fervor in her voice. A smile gradually spread across his face, and, though he felt a little guilty putting her in such a difficult position, he knew she didn't feel forced. Thus, rather than say something excessively flowery, he spoke the first words that came to his mind while staring into her gem-like eyes, a smile on his face as he softly uttered, "Thank you..."---With their plan of action decided, it wasn't long before Vahn, accompanied by Arika, Asuna, and Fenrir found themselves at the entrance to Brave Enlil's abode, the 'Free Spirit'.Unlike the residence of most Great Spirits, Brave Enlil didn't bother to enshrine himself. He had never been fond of worship and reverence, so, rather than a temple, his abode was actually just a simple tavern. He enjoyed drinking alongside the other residents of Zephyria, and, so long as you were prepared for random tavern brawls and boisterous competition, anyone was welcome into the home of the rather temperamental Spirit.When Vahn saw the rather homely tavern for the first time, he couldn't help but smile. It reminded him a lot of the Hostess of Fertility, not just because of the warmth that radiated from its interior, but because there were a number of beautiful yet powerful women working within. They even wore custom outfits that were a blend between the traditional garb of a tavern wench and a maid.Seeing four new customers arrive, a woman with sunkissed skin, sandy-blonde hair, and tiny horns protruding above her temples quickly made her way over. She had a welcoming smile on her face, and, similar to how Arnya would greet customers, she enthusiastically exclaimed, "Welcome to the Free Spirit Tavern! If this is your first time visiting, I can give you a basic rundown of our rules and a sample of the daily special free of charge~!"Though they had come to meet with Brave Enlil, Vahn didn't refuse the woman's offer. He knew the Great Spirit had taken note of their presence the prior day, so, even if they didn't approach him, the odds of the latter approaching them was high. The food served in the Free Spirit was also relatively famous, so, even though they had just finished breakfast, sampling some of the seasonal delicacies wouldn't hurt.After guiding them to their table, the waitress took the liberty of introducing herself, a radiant smile on her face as she chimed, "My name is Calliope! The tavern is pretty empty around this time of day so I'll be serving you throughout your stay. Would you like an explanation of the rules~?"Though he could have referenced his memory for the information, Vahn could tell the woman was eager to explain, so, on behalf of everyone at the table, he nodded his head, smiling as he replied, "If you would be so kind, please, explain..."Happy to oblige, Calliope smiled wide enough to show off her prominent canines before explaining, "The price of food is based on your rank and perceived wealth. If you are unwilling or unable to pay, you are allowed to attempt a dine-and-dash or put on a show for the rest of the customers. Even if you have no talent, you can generally work off your tab pretty quickly if you are willing to suffer a bit of embarrassment. If you want to try a dine-and-dash, there are no real penalties unless you get caught so feel free to give it a go. You don't have to worry about being barred entry into the Tavern or anything like that, but, if you do get caught, be prepared for a punishment game, okay~?"Upon mentioning the 'punishment game', a slightly sadistic look flashed across Calliope's pale-pink eyes. It was readily apparent that she 'encouraged' people to try and run, and, after cross-checking the information with what was recorded in his mind, Vahn understood why. The punishment game was generally decided by the waitress based on the behavior of their clients and the overall price of the food and drink provided. The most 'heinous' punishment seemed to be public spanking with a horsewhip while the rest of the tavern cheered on from the sidelines so it wasn't too surprising to see a sadistic glimmer in the over-excited waitress' eyes...Rather than ask further questions, Vahn just chuckled lightly in response to Calliope's words before saying, "For now, we'll take two pints of Drowning Dog, a glass of water, and a cup of orange juice. We'll also try the special you mentioned previously. Free food never hurt anyone, right?"Hearing Vahn's final remark, Calliope couldn't help but giggle mischievously before winking back at him and saying, "Right~? I'll go grab your drinks. The food will take around twenty minutes. Is that okay~?"With Vahn nodding his head in affirmation, Calliope quickly alighted towards the double-doors near the side of the bar. At the same time, seated at the bar, a roguish-looking individual with windswept dark green hair looked over at Vahn's table with a lazy, hungover, expression. His face was covered in a fair amount of stubble, and, based on his attire, it would be easy to mistake him as either a Sky Pirate or a rather unsuccessful Skyfarer.Seeing the man look over, Vahn offered a knowing smile before making a sleight of hand gesture with his right hand. Immediately thereafter, a pint of emerald-green liquor appeared in front of the man, startling him quite a bit if his expression was anything to go by. After the initial shock wore off, however, he issued a boisterous laugh before fearlessly raising the glass to his lip and taking a few large gulps of the fragrant alcohol. Then, earning a pointed glare from the female barkeep, he dangled the glass in his hand, a teasing smile on his face as he slurred, "Check it out, Julie. You can't cut me off so easily!"After staring at the glass in the man's hand, the barkeep, Julie, turned her attention towards Vahn's table with an angry look on her face as she shouted, "Oi, listen up you brat. Don't go givin' this lout any more to drink, ye hear? Next time you go shillin' out your own product, I'ma start chargin' you for solicitin' our customers."Preempting any kind of response from Vahn, the green-haired man adopted a rather fierce look on his face as he said, "Oi, oi, oi, don't go threatening my friends, Julie. Don't make me spank-"Before the man was able to finish speaking, Julie used the rag dangling from her hips to 'whip' the man in the face. A loud smack echoed through the tavern, and, as a result of his drunkenness, the man promptly fell off of his stool, knocking over a table in the process. Despite this, and a large red mark on his forehead, the man just laughed it off, his loud voice echoing through the tavern as he continued to lay in the rubble...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Arika is a good girl','Smile, Sweet, Sister, Sadistic~!','Gyahahahaha~!')http://www.easypolls.net/poll.html?p=5ee6438ae4b017b74559fd5bhttps://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After lying on the ground for the better part of a minute, the green-haired man promptly performed a kip-up, leaping from his back to his feet in a single deft motion. Then, no longer appearing drunk, he made his way over to where Vahn and co were seated, a lazy smile on his face as he asked, "So? Out with it. What brings a couple of Princesses and their Dragon escort into my abode?"Though it had been pretty obvious from the start, the green-haired vagrant-like man was none other than the Great Spirit of Wind, Brave Enlil. He was the only Great Spirit that routinely took on the form of a human, and, unlike the rest of his kin, he enjoyed interacting with people. His fondness for people was so great that, several hundred years prior, he even took on a human lover, the one and only Crimson Scarlet.In response to the Great Spirit's question, Vahn brought a chair out of his Inventory so the man could sit near the edge of their table. He then produced another pint of the same green liquor from before, a type of ale that was fermented from the sap of a World Tree, saying, "As I told Nyon previously, my primary reason for visiting is to meet and befriend the Great Spirits. I have decided to protect this world so I figured it would be prudent of me to meet those who came before."Sensing no falsehoods in Vahn's words, Brave Enlil plopped onto the chair that had been set out for him, ignoring the pint of alcohol as he said, "I thought I smelled that fat cat's aroma in the air. You, Goldilocks, show me your forehead."Though she didn't particularly enjoy being addressed by a nickname, Arika decided not to let it get to her. Instead, she just lifted her bangs, and, after a few seconds had passed, a tiny paw print began to illuminate. This caused Brave Enlil's brows to rise slightly before he shifted his attention back to Vahn, asking, "What is your relationship with this woman? Nyon wouldn't just entrust their Blessing to anyone. Are you her guarantor or something?"Shaking his head, Vahn adopted an appreciative smile as he plainly said, "Arika doesn't need something like a guarantor. Though I do support her, she is perfectly capable of achieving her goals without my assistance. She managed to convince Nyon through her own words, and, if you give her a chance, I believe she will be able to win your trust as well."Hearing Vahn's words, Brave Enlil adopted a thoughtful expression as he shifted his focus to the paw print on Arika's head. Nyon didn't just give out their Blessing arbitrarily, and, though there was no true leader among them, the chubby cat often acted as the voice of reason when they gathered together. Because of this, Brave was very indebted to them, so, after a moment of silence, he adopted a challenging smile as he said, "Sounds interesting. As fate would have it, I even have the perfect Quest for you...how about it, you willing to accept, Princess?"Though others might be prompted to ask about the conditions of the Quest, Arika's adopted a serious expression as she immediately replied, "So long as it does not go against my beliefs or require me to compromise my integrity, I will accept. My only concern is that I would not be able to complete it before official duties require my attention."Understanding that Arika was talking about the coming war, Brave adopted an amused smile as he said, "Looks like Nyon's blessing really has affected your luck. You see, a good friend of mine has been stressed ever since the Confederacy began snooping around in their territory. I want you to go and lend a hand."Even without Brave explaining in greater detail, Arika could guess who he was talking about, as, in the original timeline, one of the Great Spirits slain by Megalomesembria had been the Great Spirit of Water, Eulimene Ea. They had never forgotten the indignities they had suffered at the hands of Eulimene and Brave, so, during the early stages of the war, Megalomesembria made a concerted effort to kill all of the Great Spirits bordering their country.Since the home of Eulimene Ea was relatively close to their next destination, Arika didn't have to consider her response for very long. Rather, ensuring the safety of Great Spirits was one of her primary objectives, so, even if Brave Enlil hadn't asked, she would have done her best to prevent Eulimene Ea's death. The sea may be exceptionally dangerous due to the rampaging of the Leviathan, but, without its plentiful bounty, millions would starve.Eulimene Ea's territory, Al Jamira, was the only maritime nation in the entire world, so, while it was possible to fish elsewhere, they contributed to nearly 40% of Mundus Magicus' seafood market. This would have normally made them an exceptionally wealthy nation, but, as a result of their relatively unique culture, most Al Jamirans cared very little about stockpiling wealth. Instead, they exchanged their catch for raw materials and resources, refusing any long-term contracts and forbidding the establishment of corporate entities within their lands. As a result, they lived relatively simple lives, but, compared to almost every other nation in the world, they were, inarguably, one of the happiest groups of people in the entirety of Mundus Magicus...Refusing to allow one of the few 'gems' of Mundus Magicus to be destroyed as a result of the Confederacy's greed, Arika's expression became especially serious as she stated, "I will carry out this task without fail."Amused by Arika's response, a massive grin spread across Brave Enlil's face as he said, "I can see why my friend here is so taken with you. You're quite the passionate woman, ain'tcha?"Not expecting Brave Enlil's remark, the tips of Arika's ears became slightly red as she found herself at a momentary loss for words. Vahn, however, didn't hesitate to take advantage of the opportunity, smiling as he said, "She certainly is..."---While the meeting with Brave Enlil was ongoing, Vahn, accompanied by Eva, decided to investigate the remains of Secundum's hideout. It had been completely destroyed during the man's flight, but, unless certain measures were taken, it was almost impossible to erase all traces. Everyone had their own magical signature, and, when powerful magic was used, it greatly affected the balance of mana and elemental energy within the air.When powerful beings traded blows, it was possible that their energy would persist for thousands of years after the conflict, so, even if Secundum had glassed the entire hideout, it wasn't enough to erase his presence. Instead, it made him easier to track, as, unlike a normal High Spirit, his Demonic template had a corruptive influence on his surroundings. This created noticeable gaps in the density of elemental energy as the Nascent Elementals in the environment proactively avoided filling it back in.With his [Eyes of Truth], Vahn could even see the infinitesimally small magical particles that existed within the interior Elementary Particles, so, unless they had an abnormally powerful Innate, escaping his notice once he had found your trail was virtually impossible. As a result, it only took around five minutes before he and Eva found themselves near the crater created by Secundum's crash landing.Seeing the 130m long channel that had been carved in the land, Vahn couldn't help but frown. At nearly the exact same moment, Eva spoke the words that had crossed his mind, her voice ice-cold as she said, "The person who recovered the body...they have similar abilities to my own. They have access to the Black of Venus and seem to be able to move through the shadows. Do you want me to force it open...?"Though it would be exceptionally difficult, there were few people as gifted in the manipulation of Darkness and Shadows as Eva. If she forced it, following after the shadow user through their own Shadow Dimension wasn't impossible. The only problem with this, other than an exceedingly high probability of traps, was that it might take them directly to the enemy hideout...Charging straight into the enemy's base wasn't necessarily the worst course of action, but, from that moment onward, it would become impossible to predict their actions. There was even a chance that the shadow dimension simply didn't connect to the enemy base. This might result in them exposing their hand for no real benefit, but, rather than refuse, Vahn decided to leave it up to Eva, saying, "I'll follow your lead. This is your revenge so I will support your decision."Hearing Vahn's remark, Eva released an exasperated sigh, but, despite her efforts, she was unable to prevent the corners of her mouth from curling up. Then, following a period of reflective silence, she shook her head before saying, "I have grown a lot stronger than I ever thought possible, but, even if I went all out, I'm not sure of my chances against that freakish monster. If our speculation regarding her origin proves true, it might not even be possible to kill her without relying on that chibi..."Disheartened by her own words, Eva released another sight as she walked over to Vahn's side and rested her forehead against his chest. This resulted in the latter dutifully wrapping his arms around her body, greatly easing her tensions by replacing them with a gentle warmth. The opportunity to track down her most hated enemy was difficult to pass up, but, understanding the significance of gathering information and consolidating power, Eva fought back the urge to follow her instincts...While holding Eva in his embrace, Vahn considered her remark regarding Asuna. He also suspected that the Mage of the Beginning wouldn't fall so easily without the so-called 'White of Mars', but, as it seemed to be little more than the power of Creation, he should be able to defeat her without any major issues. Even if that wasn't the case, Vahn was confident their Zanpakutos would be extremely effective, as, unlike normal weapons, they were specialized in damaging the Spiritual Body and Ego directly...---After taking a few minutes to 'recharge', Eva extricated herself from Vahn's embrace, her expression defaulting to her usual calm and confident mask as she said, "After parting ways with Arika, I want to get in contact with some of my former associates. I might not have anyone I can call a friend but there are a few people I believe we can trust. While you go around playing Hero, I want to focus on gathering information and building an organization to directly oppose our enemies."Though he was unable to prevent a slight frown from developing across his face, Vahn didn't refute Eva's words. It was important to him that his women retained their independence, so, as long as she didn't take things too far, he wouldn't interfere with her actions. Instead, he decided to support her, saying, "When the time comes, I'll put you in contact with Fairy Xuan. It hasn't grown as quickly as I would have hoped but she was still able to establish herself in the Megalomesembrian underworld."Hearing Vahn's supportive words, Eva felt a bit of warmth spread through her chest. She was a little worried that he would try and convince her against taking action on her own so it was a great relief to hear him support her in spite of his protective instincts. It showed just how much trust he placed in her, and, though she sometimes felt undeserving of his love, Eva had come to appreciate it more than she ever thought possible...Feeling emboldened, Eva closed the distance between herself and Vahn, this time wrapping her arms around his neck as she pressed her breasts against his chest. A teasing smile naturally spread across her lips as she brought her face within a few centimeters of his before saying, "It occurs to me that I haven't been rewarding you properly as of late...shall we return and take advantage of our time together~?"Though Vahn had been intending to ask about Eva's 'associates', as even her Memory Fragment had rarely talked about her relationships with other people, he decided to shelve it until later. Eva's switch often flipped at completely random times, and, if he missed the opportunity to share some intimacy with her, he was bound to regret it. Thus, around the same time she lightly nibbled on his bottom lip, he instinctually moved his hands to grab her plump posterior before teleporting them back to the Custos Rosea to take advantage of the empty Captain's quarters...(A/N: Sorry for the late/short chapter. I'm getting ready to move between the 20th~25th so there are a few things requiring my attention. I'll try to get out two more before the reset, but I can't make any promises atm. Also, I'll be closing the poll early due to botting so you'll have until the end of the day to cast your vote. I'll be taking the top three and throwing them into a randomizer and announcing the winner tomorrow morning.)http://www.easypolls.net/poll.html?p=5ee6438ae4b017b74559fd5bhttps://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though Vahn might not pay as much attention as he should to the things happening within his domain, that didn't reduce its efficacy in the slightest. He often spent the evening hours, when he was supposed to be sleeping, perusing through the information he had accumulated throughout the day. This was how he typically uncovered incidents and investigated persons of interest, as, so long as they were within his domain, he could track all of their activities up until the moment they exited his range.When Vahn didn't have time to sort through his own memories, as controlling anywhere between three and five bodies required a fair amount of focus, Sis was always there to serve as a backup. She was infinitely better at processing information, and, though her capabilities rapidly diminished when Vahn's mind was in disorder, she had always been his greatest ally. Her only real weakness was that, when Vahn was wholeheartedly focused on a specific task, such as forging, her focus would equally as occupied by the same subject.Fortunately, with Vahn meandering about and being 'lazy', Sis had plenty of time to focus on other things, so, while she hadn't noticed it immediately, it didn't take her long to create a perfect three-dimensional representation of the location Secundum had been hiding in. This was the same ability that Vahn used when he 'navigated' his own memories, but, unlike how he simply moved around his intent, Sis actually used a faux body.Though she would willingly change to reflect any form Vahn had decided for her, Sis kept it a secret that she 'already' had a body. She would never allow him to try and separate them, as there was no form of intimacy closer than what they currently shared, but, knowing he would eventually want to meet her, she had conceived the closest thing to an ideal big sister that existed within Vahn's mind. This image had changed with the passage of time, but, while her figure had been modified quite a bit, there were a few things that had persisted since Vahn's time in Danmachi.As she was his 'big sister', Sis had healthy brown skin that was similar to Vahn's. Due to the early influence of people like Milan, Tina, and Choe, however, her default appearance was that of a Cat Person. She had short hair that was like a fusion between Vahn's and Chloe's, but, unlike the vast majority of Cat People, her figure was anything but lithe. She was very petite, only standing around 158cm tall, but, similar to Arnya, she had an uncharacteristically voluptuous body. Her breast could easily contend against the bustier women in Vahn's entourage while her tail, despite appearing like a traditional Cat Person's, was inordinately thick and fluffy.Vahn might not be aware of his own preferences, as he willfully blocked them, but Sis was able to peel back the veil to peruse his deepest and darkest thoughts. He might not have a 'preference' for women with large busts, but, when he thought of 'comfort', resting in the bosom of a busty woman was the fastest way to calm him down. He had never stopped longing for his mother, so, whenever he experienced difficulties, he instinctually sought the comfort of the more motherly women in his expansive harem.Though he wasn't aware of it, Sis had helped to cultivate this 'dependency' within Vahn's mind, as, when he 'lost himself', she would piece him back together and hold him closely in order to bring him back. She was the reason he often felt surrounded by warmth when he was at his lowest point, and, even if everything else turned against him, she would remain to comfort his broken heart.Wearing an outfit similar to a simple villager girl, Sis moved through Vahn's mindscape with a smile not all that dissimilar to Chloe's. The playful Cat Person had made one of the deepest impressions on Vahn's heart, and, while others might take up larger places in his heart, they were built atop the foundation that Chloe had laid. If not for her efforts, he would have walked a very different path, so, no matter how much time passed, Vahn would fondly recall that sunset, the moment when he first decided, wholeheartedly, to pursue something...---As if the world around her was a remarkably detailed hologram, Sis was able to freely travel through objects to reach her destination. She could also speed up, pause, or reverse the flow of time within Vahn's memories, so, after reaching the location of Secundum's hideout, located in one of the large supports holding up the world-famous 'Golden Palace' of Zephyria, a massive casino, she reversed time up until the point Vahn's domain no longer overlapped with the area.Though she would allow Vahn to discover things on his own, Sis was the primary contributor to all of his 'hunches'. They shared the same mind and memories, so, to make things easier for him, she had developed a habit of learning new things and sorting through information on his behalf. This allowed her to provide the answer when he asked, but, more importantly, it allowed him to quickly connect the dots between certain events since she had already done so on his behalf. To him, it was like 'remembering' something he already knew, and, considering she 'was' a part of him, Sis happily allowed him to take credit for her efforts.After realizing the man was part of the enemy forces, Sis's yellow-green eyes began to glow with a bit of intensity. She was capable of using all the same Innates as Vahn, so, for the better part of five hundred hours, she dutifully analyzed the structure of Secundum and his cohorts. She internalized everything he had said, all the orders he had issued, and, since it was often important for Vahn to know such things, she referenced all of Vahn's knowledge on psychology to evaluate his character.Vahn would generally act decisively when it was required, but, after the fact, he couldn't help but wonder what had made people into the monsters they became. His empathy was one of his most powerful traits, and, though many didn't deserve it, he would often seek to vindicate them within his mind. There were even times when he would pray for and mourn the lives he had claimed, as, despite his ruthlessness against enemies, Vahn felt considerable guilt whenever he harmed others.By putting in the effort to understand his enemies for him, Sis could make things a lot easier for Vahn. The moment he began having doubts, he would default to the knowledge she had obtained on his behalf. This would drastically decrease the amount of time he spent brooding, and, as they were opinions derived from his own knowledge and thought processes, Sis had already confirmed that Vahn would reach the same conclusions if left to his own devices. She simply made the process more efficient, allowing Vahn to quickly recover so that he could focus on the things he cared about more than anything else: his family, friends, and loved ones...Confident she hadn't missed anything, Sis casually waved her hand, erasing the three-dimensional representation of Vahn's memory. Once it had completely faded, the only thing left was a tiny green fragment. This was actually a piece of Vahn's ego, so, as if it was one of the most precious items in all of existence, Sis cupped it between her hands, hugging it close to her chest as her surroundings changed to reflect an ancient storehouse.As the Mediator between Vahn and The Path, Sis was privy to a bit of information that the former simply wasn't able to comprehend at his current level. She was even aware of the nascent structure of his unawakened Innates, and, when he was ready, she would work hard to help him comprehend them.Amidst the rows of countless bookshelves, scroll racks, and woven storage containers, Sis bypassed countless versions of herself. Rather than clones, however, they were her at different points in what Vahn perceived to be Time. They existed to serve as a 'bookmark' of sorts so that Vahn never forgot anything, and, though she was able to perceive them, none of her past selves were able to perceive and interact with her. They were all trapped in static loops, and, even if she walked through one of them, they would just phase out of existence for a brief moment before 'refreshing' the loop anew.Though she didn't regret it, Vahn's desire for her to develop an Ego had placed quite a number of restrictions on her capabilities. Without the static versions of herself, there was a chance even she might forget something. Fortunately, so long as the fragments were safely archived, she would be able to reacquire the information in a 'relatively' short period of time. The flow of Time within the archives flowed at a rate of 1000:1 based on Vahn's perception, so, for every second that passed for him, she would experience approximately sixteen minutes and forty seconds...After approaching the centermost region of the archives, the location of a massive spherical mass that displayed Vahn's current field of perception, Sis gingerly placed the tiny fragment of ego back in its original location. Then, alongside ninety-nine other versions of herself, she sat around the spherical display, her expression instantly changing to match her other-selves. Though they would sometimes have wry smiles on their faces whenever Vahn did something silly, their default expression was one of profound intrigue and love. Even if he was performing the most mundane of actions, there had never been a single instance where they grew tired of watching over their adorable little brother's growth...---After a long discussion with Katarina regarding the existence of corruption within Zephyria, Vahn retired to two different rooms to rest for the evening. In one room, he shared a bed with Fenrir, Eva, and Asuna, while, back at the Custos Rosea, he enjoyed snuggling up with the mother-daughter trio of Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale. As for Arika, she ended up cuddling up with the chibi tiger form of Xiao Bai, as, unlike Ariadne, the security within Zephyria was simply terrible.Though the odds of her being targetted were slim, the chances that someone might discover Vahn and Arika sharing the same bed were very high. This could be circumvented by using the Diorama, but, as it took a considerable amount of time to set up, Arika agreed to sleep alone for the evening. Fortunately, she had Xiao Bai and a number of Elementals to keep her company, and, while this was enough to draw a fair amount of attention, it wasn't really 'abnormal' considering Arika's status...Vahn had actually been tempted to transform into a 'Vanargandr Puppy' form to accompany Arika, but, fearing it would establish a dangerous precedent, he decided against it. He knew how adorable he was in such a form, and, though he could always refuse, he could easily imagine Asuna, Eva, and even Fenrir convincing him to let them carry him around. He wasn't yet ready to be delegated to a mascot character that was carried around by others, so, at least for the time being, he decided to let Arika grow accustomed to the fact there would be nights where they simply didn't sleep together...Though he wanted to reach a point where he could attend to every member of his harem, that was still a distant dream. Until then, the girls around him had to come to terms with the fact he wouldn't always be around them. This was easy for most, but, as they had spent such a long period of time together, Arika and Theo had actually been spoiled quite a bit. If they did ultimately follow him into other Records, they needed to be ready to integrate into his larger harem, so, while there would be plenty of time for them to be intimate with each other, they had to understand they couldn't always be intimate...After sorting through his thoughts and slowly easing his own guilt, Vahn began to finally relax his mind. Everyone except for Fenrir had already fallen asleep, but, as she only ever slept when it was 'absolutely' safe, this wasn't a surprise. He also couldn't sleep properly when there were potential enemies about, so, while diffusing calming energy into his domain, Vahn conducted his usual ritual of sorting the day's memories. He spent most of his time focusing on the things happening around him than paying attention to distant matters, so, whenever the opportunity presented itself, he did his best to 'rewind' his memories to see if there was anything he had overlooked.As this thought crossed his mind, Vahn recalled the fluctuation he had sensed during his evening stroll with Eva. Immediately thereafter, as if he was moving through time and space itself, he found himself within a confined location beneath the nearby Golden Palace. Though there were no signs of enemy activity in the present, as everything had been melted and burned away, he was able to rewind the clock to a point prior to the destruction.Seeing the man with pale-green hair, Vahn couldn't help but internally frown. He could tell what kind of existence the man was at a single glance, and, though he had never seen such pills being used, he could sense the presence of Elemental Spirits within. This made him feel a little incensed, but, considering the man was also an Artificial Spirit, there was nothing intrinsically wrong with him subsuming other artificial spirits. Only the method was questionable, but, considering the end result was the same, he decided not to let it bother him too much.After suppressing his anger, as there was very little he could do about events that had already come to pass, Vahn began analyzing the scene in greater detail. It didn't take much effort for him to make sense of what had happened, and, though he felt guilty about the lives that had been lost when the man fled, Vahn imagined himself smiling wryly in response to the stupefaction visible on their faces. Even he hadn't intended to expose a member of Cosmo Entelecheia during an evening stroll, so, to see such an event play out, Vahn couldn't help but feel a mixture of incredulity and amusement.Even after searching Ostia and Ariadne in painstaking detail, it had been impossible to find the trail of Cosmo Entelecheia. This had always troubled him quite a bit, and, though he had never vocalized it, Vahn had started to worry that Cosmo Entelecheia simply didn't exist in the current timeline. The chances of this being true were exceptionally slim, but, as there was no way to accurately determine how his presence had impacted the original timeline, Vahn could only continue moving forward.Now that he had confirmed both the existence of Cosmo Entelecheia and the fact they were already aware of him, Vahn felt as though a substantial weight had been removed from his shoulders. It was always easier to take action when you had a basic grasp of the enemy's intentions, so, now that he knew they were trying to recover Asuna, he had a considerable amount of leverage against them. If he played it smart, he could even predict their future actions and entrap them, so, until the evening had passed, Vahn spent several tens of hours scouring over the scene for additional information...(A/N: Alternate Titles: '(O o O)...!','Vahn still craves his mother's warmth (T ^ T)...','Vahn be like, "Look at how easily I can understand things! I am a master detective (O,...,O)~!"')http://www.easypolls.net/poll.html?p=5ee6438ae4b017b74559fd5bhttps://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1604: Spirit