Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With Xuanwu and Qinglong feeding him information, Vahn was aware of most major events taking place within the Confederation and the Empire. As a result, he didn't really have to leave the island at all, so, while waiting for the arrival of Ala Rubra and the return of Eva, he spent his days helping Asuna train, meditating, relaxing, and testing the capabilities of the Little Garden.Vahn had been aware of the Law of Progression ever since his time in the Nasuverse, but, seeing it in action was, simply put, awe-inspiring. He had caught various types of fish outside, placing them in the waters surrounding the central island to observe their growth. This wasn't an exaggeration, as, due to the abundance of vital energy and the presence of Progression Laws, it was possible to see the growth of some specimens with the naked eye.Though the time dilation was one of the major perks of the Little Garden, that was only the tip of the iceberg when it came to its true power. It greatly increased the rate at which flora and fauna developed, and, though it wasn't really something he could arbitrarily test, Vahn assumed it had a similar effect on people.With the outer edges of the Little Garden having a time dilation of 700x, Vahn tested his theory by creating a small habitat for Cicadas. They were a metamorphic species that, depending on various environmental conditions, developed into adults between fifteen and twenty years. Since this time was spent a nymph, generally requiring between four and five molts to reach maturity, they were a suitable species to conduct experiments with, as, during their nymph period, they generally spent all their time burrowed in the ground.Since animals within the Little Garden didn't need to eat and couldn't die from old age, Vahn spent a fair amount of time simply documenting the growth of various species. To his surprise, the cicada nymphs emerged from the ground after only seventeen months. This implied they developed at a rate ten times faster than normal, which, on top of the effect of 700x time dilation, approximated a 7000x increase in the rate of growth.After observing the adult cicadas in great detail, Vahn determined that they were far more resilient than other members of the same species. Not only that, but, after mating and laying eggs, they did not die as their evolutionary path dictated. Instead, they spent several days idling about, seemingly without a purpose. As for the new eggs, they were between ten and twenty percent larger than the first batch, and, among them, there were several with odd colorations.Surprising Vahn even further, the next generation of Cicadas only took fifteen months to reach their adult state. Among these, there were a number of 'giant' Cicada, but, far more notably, Vahn found more than a dozen derivative species. There was even a kind that had evolved to possess no wings, and, despite having no need to eat, it waited until the other Cicadas began laying their eggs before digging them up and using a stinger of sorts to implant its own eggs within the developing larvae...Unsurprisingly, the third generation of Cicadas was completely dominated by the terrestrial version, as, prior to their adult phase, the other types were also restricted to the ground. This allowed them to quickly eliminate the competition before resorting to cannibalism and territorial disputes. It was a rather disheartening development, but, perhaps as a result of Da Vinci's influence, Vahn continued to observe their progress into the fourth generation before burning them all when the larvae began to develop jaws in order to cannibalize each other.Fortunately, despite the experiments taking around fifty-nine months, the actual passage of time, at least outside, was less than three days. The only time Vahn had to check on them was when one of the World Trees sent him what amounted to a telepathic message, as, even without a name, each of the majestic trees had a nascent Ego. They had formed a network with all of their roots intertwining, so, whenever something 'peculiar' happened within the Little Garden, they would not hesitate to let him know.Though he would periodically venture into the outer rings, most of Vahn's time within the Little Garden was spent beneath the canopy of the largest World Tree, the one located on the central island. It was 'technically' the youngest of the World Trees, but, due to the others feeding it their vitality, it easily towered over those furthest from the center.Despite being the centermost region of the Little Garden, the energy concentration on the central island was many times greater than normal. This made it an exceptionally comfortable place to be, and, whenever he wasn't busy doing other things, Vahn generally kept a version of himself meditating on the inside of the Little Garden. This greatly increased the replenishment of his internal energy, and, so long as he didn't go overboard, it even offset the consumption of his mental and spiritual energies.Accompanying Vahn in his meditation, Fenrir had started to spend a considerable amount of time in the Little Garden. It wasn't as productive for her cultivation of Yin, Ice, and Darkness Elemental Laws, but, after taking a single deep breath of the energy inside the Little Garden, Fenrir firmly stated she would be training inside from now on. She stated that she could feel herself growing strong just by being inside, so, whenever she wasn't busy doing something 'outside', Fenrir spent most of her time just meditating or napping alongside the version of himself Vahn kept within the Little Garden.With Fenrir setting a precedent, it wasn't long before Medusa insisted that she also move inside the Little Garden. It was even safer than the Garden of Avalon, and, though Vahn was worried about the growth of Stheno and Euryale, she managed to convince him such concerns were pointless. Stheno was maturing extremely quickly, steadily closing the distance with her own mother, so, rather than worry about their physical development, she told him to be more concerned about their education and mental development.Since the energy within the Little Garden was extremely pure and refreshing, it had a calming effect on the mind. The fact it was governed by the Laws of Progression also meant it a significantly easier to comprehend new subjects, and, so long as you put in a concerted effort, it even had an effect on the time taken to master a skill. These things made it the 'ideal' place to train and learn new things, so, after a bit of convincing, Vahn built a cozy cabin within the Little Garden to house Medusa and his daughters.Of course, with even Euryale residing in the Little Garden, Vahn inevitably had to allow Asuna inside. She was even better at arguing than Medusa, so, on the grounds that it was the best place to both keep her safe and advance her training, Vahn ended up expanding the residence to include both a bathhouse and a training dojo. From then onwards, it became the place where he conducted all of his training with Asuna, and, even though she only spent a few hours inside each day, it was 'very' easy to see the gardens influence on her development...Asuna had already been in the midst of puberty, so, while not unexpected, her growth had been accelerated exponentially. It was like she had hit a growth spurt, and, by the time three weeks had passed in the outside world, she went from looking like a girl in her first year of middle school to a young lady in the midst of adolescence. Most people would approximate her age to be around 14 or 15 years old, and, though she still gave off the distinct impression of someone very young, her physique had already developed to the point that she could rival Irisviel.Though she appeared very lean and athletic, Asuna's bust, waist, and hips had developed to 83cm, 57cm, and 84cm respectively. When Vahn had first created Iris' new body, her dimensions, starting with height, bust, waist, and hips were 158cm, 85cm, 56cm, and 84cm. Since Asuna had also grown to a height of 158cm, the only thing she had lost out in was the size of her bust, but, with less than a one-centimeter difference, it was easy to imagine her growing up to rival Eva's adult form at her current pace...Fortunately, though he could tell she was definitely up to something, Asuna seemed to shift her focus, dedicating herself wholly to her training within the Little Garden. When she was outside, she spent a fair amount of time learning to cook, clean, and perform various household chores without the use of magic. Most of these things were taught to her by the Chacha sisters, but, whenever she was learning how to cook, Asuna always dragged him into the kitchen to teach her. She seemed to really enjoy cooking, and, though there were a few moments when she would lightly bump into him with her shoulder, that was the limit of her antics within the kitchen.The only time Vahn had any trouble with Asuna over the three weeks was whenever she wanted to take a bath, watch his memories together, or sleep. She pretended to be unaware of the changes in her body, but, whenever they slept together, Asuna tended to nestle up as close as possible to him, her breasts pressing into his arm and side. During their baths, her breasts would 'accidentally' come into contact with his back whenever she was helping to wash his hair, and, most notably, whenever they relaxed together, her butt was almost always perfectly positioned in a dangerous area.Vahn was aware that Asuna was emulating the behaviors she had observed from Arika, Theo, and even Eva, except, rather than make the same mistakes, she skillfully measured how she behaved at every moment. This actually reminded him a lot of his past self in Danmachi, back when he relied on his View Affection to determine how he should behave, but, rather than rely on observing the color of his aura and the rise and fall of his Affection, Asuna closely observed everything from his facial twitches to the rhythm of his heart.The fact such a young girl had 'figured him out' filled Vahn with various concerns, but, considering how prodigious Asuna was in everything she did, it wasn't that unbelievable. She was moving closer to the level of a Grandmaster with each passing day, and, though she had footed around the issue when they discussed it, Vahn was pretty sure she had already awakened her Bankai. In fact, he even suspected she had awakened her Bankai the moment she first called the name of her Zanpakuto, as, from that moment onward, it had always been in an unsealed state.Asuna had even been able to 'see' a draconic version of Laev-tan that Vahn himself wasn't aware of until after she mentioned it. All of his communication with the rambunctious Zanpakuto Spirit was in his head or within the Realm so it was quite a surprise to learn that Asuna could 'literally' see her using some special sense. She had even assisted Arika, Theo, Eva, and even Fenrir in the awakening of their Spirits by describing the features of their Zanpakuto, so, even if she was surprisingly evasive about the matter, it wasn't difficult to imagine that Asuna had already awakened her Bankai.At her current rate of growth, Vahn suspected that Asuna might even eclipse his own strength after a few more years. Though this would only really apply in the Akamatsuverse, the fact she could ever rival him demonstrated just how ridiculous Asuna's potential as a natural-born Tier 5 was. She likely at the greatest potential in the entire Record, and, so long as her perception continued to influence the Fate around her, even the Gods wouldn't be able to prevent her meteoric rise to the pinnacle.All Vahn could really do at this point was continue guiding Asuna along the path she had decided for herself. Though this path invariably led directly to him, pretty much everyone around, including Eva, had been aware of the inevitability from the start. In fact, the moment he first met Asuna, it was like her Fate had latched onto him, and, unless he forcibly severed it, Vahn knew the world itself was supporting her pursuit. The most he could do was delay the inevitable, but, even without having to put his foot down, Asuna was very aware of her limits. She always retreated just when it seemed like his patience was wearing thin, and, over time, she was gradually chipping away at his defenses until there was absolutely nothing left...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The legendary Chimera Cicadas...','(O w O)...','Thanos could learn a lot from Asuna')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Having finished their daily training hours prior, Vahn was relaxing on the beach chair wearing a pair of swimming trunks, sunglasses, and a pair of headphones. There was a large beach parasol next to him, but, enjoying the sun's warmth, he tilted it away from his body, exposing his tanned skin to the sun's gentle caress. He was quite fond of relaxing outdoors, and, though he knew the main reason Asuna had invited him was to show off her new bikini, that didn't stop him from enjoying the warm sun and the cool breeze...After spending nearly twenty minutes submerged, Asuna poked half her head out of the water, her contemplative gaze showing no hostility but reminding Vahn of an alligator waiting near the water's edge. He was pretty good at sensing when she was up to something, so, when Asuna invited him to go exploring an undersea cave, Vahn politely declined. He could sense that she had placed all kinds of magical barriers and wards around the area, and, after sending his intent to investigate, he found a few hundred candles decorating the interior cavern.Though she probably didn't have anything too risque in mind, confined quarters with atmospheric lighting were a breeding ground for licentious thoughts. Even if her intention was only to nestle up close to him, 'normal' behavior at most times, the fact she was wearing a white string bikini made it a lot less 'innocent'. She had even been tanning recently, so, while most of her body was kissed by a very healthy shade of brown, there were a few regions that were still pristine, fair, and, as was likely her intention, eye-catching.Seeing Asuna continuing to stare at him, the edges of Vahn's lips curled up as he gave her a casual wave. This caused her to flare her nostrils slightly, a mischievous glimmer flashing across her eyes as she dipped her head beneath the water's surface. Immediately after, her presence seemed to vanish in its entirety, but, unless she vanished from the outside of his Domain and snuck in, Vahn could still track her if he really wanted to.Sensing an almost imperceptible distortion in the fabric of Space-Time, Vahn turned his attention to his right, an area just outside his periphery. There, he found a smiling Asuna performing a ram seal, the index and middle fingers of both hands pressed parallel to each other as the ring and pinky of her left hand cupped her right. This was a familiar seal for those familiar with the Record of Naruto, but, as was the case with many principles, a number of things transferred between worlds.With some of the most powerful Ki users being practitioners of Chinese Kenpo and the ancient Japanese Ninja Arts, techniques like Kage Bunchin, Shunshin, and even the Substitution Technique actually existed in the Akamatsuverse. Asuna was well-aware of this, and, in her pursuit of knowing everything there was to know about him, she was equally aware of the fact he used to be a fan of Naruto. She had read a variation of the series that was drastically different from the one found in his memories, but, while there were some pretty major differences, many of the central elements remained the same.Taking advantage of her mastery over internal energy and Ki, a large cloud of pink smoke erupted around Asuna as she shouted, "Hāremu no Jutsu~!". The explosion was powerful enough to knock the sunglasses from Vahn's face, kicking up a considerable amount of sand in the process, but, with a thin aura protecting his body, he was left to smile wryly when a total of twenty bikini-clad Asuna's appeared around him.Though all twenty gave off the impression of the original, Vahn turned his attention to one specific Asuna amongst the group, asking, "What are you trying to pull this time?"Smiling wide enough to display her pearly whites, Asuna didn't hesitate for a single moment before saying, "Let's play the King's Game. Loser has to abide by one request from the winner."Understanding that the King's Game was essentially just an 'advanced' form of Truth or Dare, Vahn wasted no time in shaking his head, stating, "You are too young to play such a game. Also, even if you have a bunch of clones, there are only two of us present. What next, are you going to ask me to play Doctor?"Appearing slightly indignant, at least on the surface, Asuna puffed out her cheeks in an attempt to appear both pouty and adorable. This had worked well when she was younger, and, though Vahn had built up a resistance to it, Asuna couldn't help but laugh internally when she saw the edges of his smile twitch. There was also a slight contraction of his pupils before they returned to normal, a sure sign that he had wavered, even if only a little bit.By baiting Vahn with an unreasonable request, Asuna had primed him to be more accepting of her next request, something far tamer, but, for her, equally as exciting. She was confident in her speed and actually enjoying running around ever since the first time Vahn took her exploring the forests near Nyandoma. Thus, after pretending to pout for several seconds, she released a disappointed huff before crossing her arms and saying, "How about a game of tag then? The winner still gets to make a request of the loser, but, instead of 'anything', they are limited to choosing something that has already happened."Though he was almost positive that Asuna was baiting him, Vahn didn't really have anything else going on at the moment. He also trusted that Asuna wouldn't take things too far, so, after a brief moment of deliberation, he nodded his head and asked, "So, you want me to chase down each of your clones?"Hearing Vahn acquiesce to her 'compromise', a mischievous smile spread across Asuna's face as she explained, "That is just one of the rules. The other two are that you can only tag someone over their clothes, and, unless you burst them, my clones will be able to tag you back. I believe that's fair since you have the ability to control Space and Time."'Realizing' what kind of game Asuna was trying to loop him into, Vahn inspected her scanty white bikini, a garment that effectively only covered her erogenous zones. If he agreed to her game, his victory was predicated on his willingness to basically grope her, and, knowing Asuna, there was a very high chance she would discard one, or both, of the garments. He hadn't missed the face she tied a tiny ribbon around her left ankle, and, while most wouldn't consider that clothing, the actual definition encompassed item, object, or apparel worn on the body.Suppressing a sigh, Vahn was about to refuse Asuna's game when she very plainly pointed out, "It is just touching. You used to help me wash when I was younger and you see me naked several times a day. We also sleep and cuddle together, so what's wrong with a little touching? Besides, my mother has already given her consent and I don't even remotely mind you touching my body. I doubt it will be more intimate than those times you gave me a massage..."Though she spoke nothing but truth, empowered by cold hard logic, Vahn couldn't help but run his hand slowly from his forehead to the back of his head. Her most powerful argument was the fact that her mother had expressively given her consent following Asuna's first period, as, in accordance with Vespertatian Law, a woman could be wed so long as they were evaluated to be of sound mind and had completed at least one year of secondary education. Though Asuna had only attended a single year of Academy, her theoretical and practical knowledge even eclipsed that of the tenured professors, so, in accordance with Vespertatian Law, she had already become an adult...Vahn was well-aware of just how mature Asuna was, both in body and mind, but her attempt to try and 'entrap' him was proof enough that she was still immature. If he had been much younger, there might have been a chance her logic would have worked, but, now that he had actual grandchildren that were older than her, his inhibitions weren't so easily discarded. Even if she had a body that was on the level of someone like Artoria, Arcuied, or Musashi, Vahn wouldn't give in until he felt she was ready for such interactions...Fortunately, Vahn didn't actually have to shut Asuna down, as, near the very edge of his domain, a few powerful auras entered his perception. Immediately after that, seemingly able to sense that he had sensed them, two of the auras began to surge. Asuna also took notice of this, and, though she would normally be 'very' annoyed by such interruptions, Vahn heard a sigh of relief escape her lips as she dismissed her clones. She was aware that she had pushed a little too hard, but, after seeing her bikini-clad figure in the mirror, Asuna couldn't help but feel a little emboldened...Refusing to allow anyone but Vahn to see her scantily clad form, Asuna donned her usual battle attire using her personalized [REquip] system. Then, manifested from a block void in the center of her chest, the black hilt of the perpetually unsealed Ko emerged as Asuna stated, "If that brat wants to fight, leave him to me. I've been yearning for a rematch and I currently have a bunch of stress to release..."Though she said the last couple of words in a barely audible murmur, Vahn could still hear them as if his ear was right next to Asuna's mouth. This caused him to release a light chuckle, but, unlike the hotheaded young woman, he elected to remain in his swimwear. He didn't take Nagi seriously, and, though this might seem hubristic, the simple fact of the matter was that the youth wouldn't survive a single exchange if they went all out. He likely wouldn't even be able to land a hit on Asuna at the moment, as, with the benefits provided by the Little Garden, her base parameters had increased by nearly thirty percent...------------------------------------------------[Status]Name: [Asuna Vesperina Theotanasia Entheofushia]Age: 12Race: High HumanOffense: 1638Defense: 1219Mobility: 3,412Base Power: 6,269Soul Tier: 5 (Realm Soul)Skills: [Child of Destiny(Non-Standard): SSS], [Key of Twilight(Manipulation): SSS], [Magic Cancel(Mitigation): SS], [White of Mars(Creation): SS], [Black of Venus(Absorption): SS], [Master Swordsman: A], [Master Ki User: A], [Heavenly Sword of Division(Spirit Cultivation): B], [Sage's Path of Enlightenment(Mind Cultivation): A], [Primoridial Goddess' Divine Body(Body Cultivation): B], [Expert Cooking: D], [Master Seamstress: C], [Great Divide: SS], [Hands of Nirvana: D]Magic: [Shundo:SS], [Koku Shundo:S], [Cantus Bellax: SSS], [Mellodia Bellax: SSS], [Vis Maxima: SSS]------------------------------------------------Though her actual parameters should be a bit lower, the fact Asuna's Zanpakuto was always in its unsealed form gave her a status that could rival the Gods. Her only real weakness was her lack of experience, but, similar to Jack, she learned and adapted 'exceptionally' quickly. Unless it was simply beyond her means to counter, no same technique worked on her twice, and, while she might not be able to externalize her magical power, her raw speed and her Innate ability to outright cancel magic made her the nemesis of virtually all Mages.Confident in Asuna's ability to secure a victory, Vahn wasn't going to interfere in her desire to vent some of her stress. Rather, he actually felt a little sorry for Nagi, as, after their previous battle, there was no way Asuna would give him a chance to counter. She was durable enough to outright tank a howitzer round to the face, but, when it came to dealing with actual pain, she was in the category of people that did everything within their power to avoid it entirely.Even if she left him in a far worse condition, Asuna was still holding a grudge against Nagi after he crushed her wrist and electrocuted her. This was her opportunity for revenge, and, though it was a little childish of her to hold such a grudge, Vahn was of the mind that people should be allowed to make mistakes. If her desire for revenge caused her to make a few mistakes, he would address them after the fact, as, without setbacks, even prodigies like Asuna wouldn't take every lesson to heart.Interested to see how much they had both grown, a smile spread across Vahn's face as he looked up into the sky. There was an exceptionally tiny dot glowing in the distance, and, as if it was one of the only ways he knew how to make an entrance, a flash of light, followed by a thunderclap, hit the beach with explosive force. Then, before the dust could even clear, a phenomenal aura surged out as a youthful voice cried out, "I hope you're ready for a beating, lizard breath...!"(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The 'logic' of children is dangerous...','It's a trap!','Hell hath no fury...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With the loss of nearly forty percent of the Senate, the destruction of various facilities, and the mass liberation of innumerable slaves, few were surprised when the Confederation began suing for peace with the Empire. The demonstration of the Sage Dragon Emperor's might made it clear to most that he was against the War, and, though he was currently 'playing nice', the actions he had taken within the Senate demonstrated he would hold those in power accountable rather than the soldiers on the frontline.After witnessing their contemporaries executed with a simple wave of the Sage Dragon Emperor's hand, the surviving Senators weren't in a hurry to paint a target on their backs. They immediately rescinded the bounty placed on both the Sage Dragon Emperor and the Scarlet-Eyed Wolf King. It was clear the two were closely affiliated, so, while there were several private bounties still in effect, the current political stance of the Confederation was in compliance with the Sage Dragon Emperor's demands.Though 'everyone' knew there was more going on behind the scenes, the sudden suing for peace came as a great relief to the nations nearest to the frontlines. It was always these smaller nations that suffered the most during a conflict, as, whenever either side was looking for a vantage point to attack from, they almost always cut through neighboring territories. They would also be ransacked for supplies during a prolonged engagement, and, though there were several accords intended to inhibit such behavior, many small towns and villages became 'playgrounds' for war-weary soldiers looking to relieve some stress.With the Confederation suing for peace so soon after the war began, the common people felt as if a great blessing had descended upon them. As for the various unscrupulous merchants, arms dealers, nationalists, and soldiers on both sides, they couldn't help but feel notably frustrated. This war had been an opportunity for them to either make a considerable profit or elevate their status, so, even if they had seen the Sage Dragon Emperor's might first-hand, there were still people who lamented even the mention of peace talks.Fortunately, at least for the common people often victimized during such conflicts, the leaders of both sides were very self-centered and egotistical. They wouldn't hesitate to send millions to their deaths, shouting nationalistic ideologies and inciting the people to take up arms in the defense of their nation, but, the moment their own lives were on the line, they were exceptionally quick to seek a compromise, emphasizing the value of restraint, virtue, and the need for peaceful coexistence...---Though the Empire had yet to reach a consensus, Arika took advantage of the opportunity created by Vahn to try and mediate between the two superpowers. As a result, she soon found herself in an ornate reception room, silently sipping away at tea whilst waiting for an audience with the Emperor of Hellas. Across from her, wearing attire that wasn't exactly proper for a Princess meeting a foreign dignitary, an ever-vibrant Theo could be seen sitting with her legs crossed, smiling cheekily as she said, "I'm guessing Eva already departed for Mundus Vetus. Asuna must be driving Vahn crazy right now~."Hearing Theo's reminder, Arika couldn't help releasing a small sigh before lightly shaking her head and saying, "That girl is better at handling Vahn than any of us...I just hope she doesn't take things too far..."Amused by Arika's concerns, Theo snickered in her characteristic manner before saying, "Asuna is a good kid. She might be a little precocious, but I can't really condemn her. I have to train my body at least six hours a day just to avoid breaking things. You've also been struggling, right?"Though her expression didn't change much, a rosy hue spread through Arika's face as she averted her eyes and simply intoned, "Nn..."Seeing her kindred sister's reaction, Theo's smile became even more prominent. Though Arika was probably less affected than she and Eva were, Theo knew it couldn't be easy for her. She struggled when it came to being honest with herself, so, without a bit of coaxing, Arika likely had no way to deal with her urges. Theo could even imagine her just curling up in bed, tightly hugging a pillow for a few hours, constantly thinking about taking action but unable to due to her feelings of shame and embarrassment...As that thought crossed her mind, Theo considered giving her best friend a helping hand, a sadistic smile spreading across her face as a result. A desire to dominate everything had been seeded inside of her ever since she awakened as a 'Dragon', and, for reasons she assumed to be related to the Tri-Force of Wisdom contained within Arika's body, Theo felt an increasing urge to push her down. Not to take advantage of her, but to strengthen the bonds she had with her beloved big sister...Feeling a strange sense of panic welling up inside of her, Arika turned her attention back to Theo, a questioning look visible in her eyes. At the same time, she felt a sensation similar to burning in her left hand, and, though it wasn't visible to other people, both she and Theo could see a glimmering golden triangle glowing through her glove. This caused a cool feeling to wash over her mind, and, as if everything had suddenly become clear, Arika's eyes widened slightly as she plainly stated, "I'll have to refuse your offer...unless Vahn is with us, I'm not comfortable doing such things..."Arika's calm yet demure tone did little to address Theo's urge to push her down, but, even if the compulsion was several times stronger, she would never force someone against their will. Two of the most important lessons her Master had taught her was about consent and trust. You needed both if you wanted to maintain a healthy relationship, so, while the smile on her face didn't fade, Theo nodded her head in understanding before teasingly commenting, "I'll keep that in mind the next time we're all together, shishishi~."Understanding Theo's meaning, the ruddy glow on Arika's face became even more prominent, but, rather than refuse, she responded with a small nod. She was actually a little interested in the things that Theo and Vahn did together, so, while she didn't really have the courage to participate, part of her had always wanted to watch...Starling both girls, though neither really showed it, a loud knocking could be heard from the ornate metal door that represented the room's primary entrance. In response, Theo was the first to alight from her seat, her movements swift and sure as she appeared next to the door in an instant before using her tail to practically force it open and ask, "Has my Father called for us?"Surprised by how quickly the door had opened, the trio of Maids on the other side couldn't help but take a few steps back. One even fell down, her skirt magically hiking up more than it ought to as she landed hard on her butt, her lips parting on instinct to attempt an apology.Amused by the trio's response, a playful glimmer reflected across Theo's eyes as she bypassed the first two Maids to help the one who had fallen. This caused the Maid in question to feel incredibly flustered, but, before she could say anything, a crimson flush appeared on her face when she heard the Princess state, "Black suits you..." while winking.Though it didn't immediately hit her, the Maid quickly realized what the Princess was talking about when she mentioned the word 'black'. This caused illusory steam to rise from her head, and, though her education trained her to always maintain her bearing and behave respectfully towards members of the Nobility, she couldn't help but lower her head while gripping the front of her skirt.Seeing the Maid's reaction, Theo's smile became wide enough to display her prominent canines. A very strong desire to tease the Maid began to well up inside of her, but, having already dedicated herself to her Master, she managed to restrain the urge. She could make an exception for Arika, as she was another one of her Master's women, but, when it came to others, Theo needed to temper herself. She was unwilling to betray her Master's trust, and, even if it was just 'playing around', she knew it would be inappropriate for her to do such things without his permission.Nodding in approval of her own thoughts, Theo lightly pat the Maid's shoulder a few times before turning to face the leader and stating, "You never answered me."Hearing the Princess' remark, the senior Maid showed an expression of surprise before immediately lowering her head and answering, "Forgive me, Princess Theodora. To answer the Princess' question, yes, His Imperial Majesty is ready to receive Her Highness, Princess Arika Anarchia Entheofushia."Though she already expected such a response, Theo nodded her head a few times before looking toward Arika and saying, "Well, you heard her. Let's get this over with so I can show you around the Capital. There are a ton of things I want your advice on and I know a few interesting places we can visit to have a bit of fun~!"Hearing how their Princess was addressing a Princess of Vespertatia, the trio of Maids and a few nearby Imperial Guardsmen all began to sweat. They had heard the rumors stating that Theo and Arika had become friends during their time in Ariadne, but, as the Ostian Royal Family had always been neutral, it was very strange to hear their Princess speak so casually. After all, the matter they were about to discuss with the Emperor was directly related to the war, not something you just 'got over with' before going off to play.Ignoring the looks from her surroundings, Theo continued to smile radiantly as she exacerbated the matter by grabbing Arika's hand and pulling her along. This was enough to cause even Arika to feel slightly troubled, but, rather than pull her arm free, she just smiled politely towards the trio of Maids as Theo 'guided' her to the Throne Room...---With everything that had been happening recently, Michael had been experiencing hypertension-induced migraines. As a result, he had dismissed nearly the entire Court before removing his crown and asking a very mature-looking woman with a low-cut gown to massage his temples. This earned him a few envious looks from the remaining members of the Court, but, with the exception of Jack, none were bold enough to say anything. As for the man in question, he had left the Capital in order to complete a secret mission, so, with the Emperor cracking down on corruption as of late, nobody was willing to speak out...Just as Michael was thinking about asking the buxom woman to hug his face, a method that greatly aided in relaxing his mind, a thunderous sound echoed through the chamber like an explosion. This startled most of the people present, but, having grown accustomed to such surprises, as they were one of the causes for his migraines, Emperor Michael just casually waved aside the bronze-skinned servant before donning his crown and musing, "Lively as ever..."Though he had spoken very quietly, Theo's enhanced hearing was able to pick up on her Father's words with considerable ease. Her smile became even more prominent, and, as there were fewer and fewer people bold enough to call her out on not behaving like a Princess, her Father included, Theo no longer bothered with trivialities such as decorum and obeisance. She had always preferred being more direct, and, though she could play the political game well, there was simply no need to when you had uncontested might and popularity.The citizens of the Hellas Empire already considered Theo a 'Princess of the People', so, even if she didn't behave like a Noble, none of them would judge her. As for the rest of the Nobility, she didn't really care about their opinion, as, unless they were willing to commit themselves to the Empire, she had no need for the majority of them. Those that sincerely supported the Empire would never care about trying to 'correct' her behavior, so, by acting out and controlling the pace, Theo could expose potential dissidents by simply annoying them until they exposed themselves.With that in mind, Theo snickered towards a number of Nobles present, earning various reactions as she guided Arika, now less forcibly, towards her Father. Then, without bothering to bow or lower her head, she displayed her most radiant smile as she said, "Hey there, Papa. I wanted to introduce you to one of my friends, shishishishi~"(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'I have always been against such barbaric conflicts...' -Former War Advocate and Arms Dealer','Black suits most people (UwU)...','Theo has really grown...kinda...maybe...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1662: Progress : Growth