Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

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

Two days after their arrival, Vahn's party departed Zephyria in relatively high spirits. The infamous City of Freedom wasn't lacking in charms, but, if they stayed there too long, Vahn knew he wouldn't be able to avoid causing a scene. He had decided to give Katarina a bit of face by informing her of the issues, but, as was often the case, he couldn't exactly ignore crimes in progress.As could be expected of a nation that catered to Sky Pirates, Mercenaries, and Merchants, there was a fair amount of unpleasantness within Zephyria. The boarding of the Custos Rosea and the several attempts to try and kidnap Asuna were only the tip of the iceberg. Things got exponentially worse once you delved beneath the cloud sea and descended into the perpetual gloom that represented the city beneath the clouds.Though the had tried to show some restraint, Vahn had helped more than seven-hundred people return to the cycle of reincarnation during his short stint through the slum-like city. This caused a bit of a headache for Katarina, but, instead of apologizing, Vahn promised to return at some point in the near future. He was quite fond of the idea of a 'City of Freedom', but, if it only promoted the freedom of those willing to exploit others, they had a long way to go before they could pretend to represent such an ideal...---Unlike the journey to Zephyria, where they were plagued by various Sky Pirates, their departure was relatively smooth sailing. This resulted in Arika feeling a little bored, but, as peace was always better than discourse, she didn't openly complain. Instead, she put the Custos Rosea on assisted piloting mode, allowing Asuna to man the helm while she joined Vahn up on the deck.Though she could be rather honest in the bedroom, Arika still had trouble displaying her emotions in other settings. She simply didn't know what to do with herself, so, unless others initiated, she had a habit of remaining absolutely silent for several minutes at a time. This made her appear aloof and distant on the surface, but, if you were able to peer into her mind, you would discover she was a just an adorably awkward young woman...Fortunately, even if she didn't know how to seize the initiative, Arika was actually a very docile and receptive woman. The only time she would refuse anything was if Vahn went out of his way to tease her. If he remained silent, however, he could even hold her from behind, his hands gently stroking her abdomen as they stared out of the horizon together. She enjoyed being held quite a bit, and, if they were alone together, she would sometimes look up at him, her heterochromatic eyes revealing her desire to be kissed...---Unaware of the benefits her kindred sister was receiving, Theo could be found laying listlessly with her feet pointed skyward. Her combat style emphasized flexibility quite a bit, so, even if she wasn't proactively training, it had become a habit for her to stretch and strain her body.After more than four years of hard training and equally hard play, Theo, rather than feeling lonely, found herself profoundly bored following Vahn's departure. Fortunately, she received a message to return home almost immediately, and, after a little more than a day, she was able to lay in her own bed for the first time in years. It was a very nostalgic and comfortable feeling, but, compared to the warmth of her Master and his inordinately soft mattress, it left a lot to be desired...While lost in her thoughts, Theo transitioned from pointing her toes toward the ceiling to spreading her legs and doing a flawless split. This was significantly more difficult than using your body weight to force a split, but, as flexibility was one of her strongest points, Theo could pull it off with extreme ease. She had eclipsed the level of most ballerinas and contortionists, and, though it was impossible for her to compete against people like Fenrir and Xiao Bai, Theo was confident she would be able to assume any positions her Master favored...After idling about for several hours, Theo's ears perked up a few moments before a rhythmic knock sounded on her door. She quickly jumped up to her feet, and, after lightly caressing the amethyst embedded in her collar, her mesh-covered figure was adorned in proper clothing. Then, despite the distance being relatively short, she used [Shundo] to instantaneously close the distance, surprising the middle-aged woman and team of Maids waiting outside when she yanked the door open.Though she was used to Theo's antics, the bespectacled woman restrained a sigh as she pushed up the ridge of her glasses and sternly said, "A Princess of the Hellas Empire should endeavor to carry themselves with dignity and decorum at all times. Please show more consideration for the title you bear, Princess Theodora..."Without minding the woman's words in the slightest, Theo smiled wide enough to display both rows of pearly whites as she happily mused, "Szarlota, it's good to see you~!"Hearing Theo's familiar address, the serious-looking Szarlota was unable to restrain herself further, a tired sigh escaping her lips before she adopted a slight smile and said, "It is good to see you in such high spirits, Theo. Did you enjoy your time outside of the Palace?"Nodding her head exuberantly, Theo continued to smile widely as she answered, "It was great! I got to meet so many unique and interesting people! Princess Arika was very wise and the Sage Dragon Emperor was unbelievably powerful. I'm so much stronger now that even Jack might not be able to win against me, ehehehehe~."Not expecting such 'bold' words, Szarlota and her entourage of Maids were at a loss as to how they should respond. Before they could, however, an inordinately tall man seemed to appear out of thin air, his figure towering over Szarlota as he stared down at Theo and mused, "Oho, it seems our little tomboy has grown quite a bit in her time away from home..."Hearing a voice coming from right behind her, Szarlota's body tensed up quite a bit as the Maids in the surroundings glared at Jack, visibly flustered as they exclaimed, "How dare you regard Princess Theodora in such a rude manner!?"Without minding the comments from the peanut gallery, Jack continued to look down at Theodora, his golden irises glimmering in the shadow of his headband. He could sense a phenomenal power slumbering within her body, and, though he was well-concealed, even Qinglong didn't completely evade his senses. His couldn't actually sense him but Jack's instincts told him there was 'something' very powerful looming around the Palace ever since Theo returned...Undaunted by Jack's intimidating presence, Theo continued to smile as she crossed her arms and said, "I'm serious. I might not be able to win if you decided to go all out, but, if you fight like you normally do, I'm confident in my chances. You shouldn't underestimate how much effort I put into becoming stronger."Unable to hold himself back, Jack released an uproarious laugh in response to Theo's words. Even without her drawing attention to the fact, he could tell she had become much stronger than before. In fact, it was almost unbelievable how stronger she had become. The only thing she seemed to be lacking was actual experience and killing intent. As for raw power, her petite body, against all rhyme and reason, seemed to radiate an incomprehensible amount of strength. It was enough to make his blood boil, and, if not for the fact he saw her as a mischievous younger sister, he might not be able to restrain his urge to battle her...Suppressing his thirst for battle, Jack adopted an approving smile as he said, "Your father wanted to see you, brat. It seems those old sharks in the Megalomesembrian Senate have lost their patience. There have already been a few skirmishes along the eastern frontier so it won't be long until a war breaks out. You might not get a chance to fight on the frontlines, but you'll be expected to support the troops and perform some diplomatic duties. I hope you're prepared, kiddo...the political world ain't a pleasant place for the naive and faint of heart..."Surprising even Szarlota, Theo adopted a serious expression in response to Jack's words. Her casual and friendly demeanor faded away in an instant. In its place, a calm and capable countenance that befitted a ruler. This was quite a surprise for everyone who knew Theo closely, and, though it was a positive development, it didn't feel right to see her show such a solemn expression. Despite this, all were silent as she eloquently stated, "Though I might be lacking compared to someone like Princess Arika, I am not the same young girl who departed the Empire many months ago. I still have much to learn, but, if they think they can take advantage of my naivete and inexperience, I have considerably more to teach my contemporaries..."Showing a serious expression of his own, Jack nodded approvingly in response to Theo's words. She had clearly obtained more than just power during her time in Ariadne, and, though she was severely underestimating her enemies, her current mentality was a qualitative improvement. Though it was a little sad to see her grow up, Jack knew it would be necessary if she wanted to become a competent Empress in the future...---After refusing the assistance of her Governess and Maids, Theo changed into a flowing white robe before making her way over to meet with her father. She would normally wear casual clothes, as her father doted on her quite a bit, but, as it was her first official summons as Imperial Ambassador, she wanted to make a positive impression. Numerous members of the Imperial Court would be present, and, though there was some merit in pretending to remain childish, she wanted to start establishing herself sooner, rather than later.Seeing his daughter wearing ceremonial garments, the Emperor, much like the rest of his Court, was more than a little surprised. He was used to his daughter disregarding court etiquette entirely, and, though he would lightly reprimand her, he didn't particularly mind her childish antics. Rather, when she was younger, he would even allow her to sit on his lap while listening to his Ministers report on the various affairs of the Empire...Ignoring the incredulous gazes from her surroundings, Theo approached within ten meters of her father's throne before cupping her hands together and bowing low as she said, "Princess Theodora greets His Imperial Majesty."Though it was the proper way to introduce herself, Michael couldn't help but feel slightly saddened by his daughter's formality. He hadn't expected her to have matured so much, as, according to the period reports he received, she was still the same vibrant and outgoing girl he knew and loved. This was likely an act of some sort, but, despite knowing this, he couldn't help but restrain a sigh before firmly stating, "You may rise. It is good to see you in good health, Theodora..."With her hands cupped together, allowing her sleeves to overlap slightly, Theo continued showing the proper courtesies as she adopted a polite smile and answered, "I am gratified to hear such kind words. I see that Father is also in good health. It would seem I owe a debt of gratitude to the Gods and Spirits that watch over our beloved Hellas."Ignoring the stuffy feeling in his chest, Michael adopted a smile in response to his daughter's words before turning his attention to Jack. The latter noticed his gaze and shrugged in response, earning a few hateful glares from the surroundings. Despite this, none had the gall to speak out of turn, as, in preparation for the coming war, Jack had been elevated to the status of 'Special Grand Marshal'. He didn't have any official authority over troops, but, during a state of emergency, he was even able to countermand the orders of the Commanding General. Though he would need a good reason to do so, this was an unprecedented amount of authority for a 'commoner', and, unless Jack lost the favor of the Emperor, few could speak out against him within the Court...Seeing Jack's casual response, the Emperor felt a small amount of relief as he internally remarked, ("At least some things never change..."). Then, turning his attention back to his daughter, he buried his discomfort as he adopted a serious expression and said, "Report on your progress in Ariadne..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn is even more efficient than Truck-sama','This girl has fallen hard...','RIP Emperor Michael. Your daughter is already gone xD...')(A/N: I already closed the poll. I'll leave two options in the comments section, so, if you want me to spoil you, feel free to upvote. If you want to be surprised, feel free to upvote the second option~!)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

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

Chapter 1605: Trust