Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With the help of the World Tree's network, it didn't take long for Vahn to locate Asuna, and, after making the necessary preparations, he promptly teleported to her location. There, a woman that wouldn't lose out to even the most mature women in his harem could be seen suspended silently within the air. Her orange hair extended well beyond her pert buttocks, but, more noticeable than anything else, her breasts stood out like two mountains beneath the loose fabric of her gi...Earning the woman's attention, Vahn made no effort to hide his exasperation, exhaling a profound sigh that caused the grass below to rustle slightly. Immediately afterward, the woman descended to the ground like a goddess, a demure and apologetic smile on her face as she crossed her right arm beneath her breasts, holding her left arm in a self-comforting manner. She had the kind of look that made others feel guilty just looking at her, but, well aware of who was at fault here, Vahn just shook his head and said, "You really did it this time...Asuna..."Showing an even more apologetic expression on her face, Asuna hugged herself tightly, almost as if she was trying to attract focus to her breasts as she avoided his gaze and muttered, "I'm sorry...I just wanted you to start viewing me as a woman...please don't be too mad..."Even if he wasn't staring directly at them, Vahn could see Asuna's breasts on the verge of exploding from her gi. She wasn't wearing a bra, likely due to the fact she simply didn't have one big enough, so there was very little left to the imagination as her arm further accented their volume. Given who he was dealing with, it was highly like that she was intentionally trying to draw his attention, almost as if to say, 'Look how much I've grown up.'Restraining an urge to sigh, Vahn slowly ran his hand through his hair, turning his eyes to the World Tree's canopy as he answered, "What's done is done...just know that I'm a little disappointed in you. I can understand your reasoning, but this kind of behavior isn't something I can condone..."Displaying a visibly hurt expression, Asuna began to tear up, her lower lip quivering notably as she fought back the urge to cry. She had already expected Vahn to reprimand her, but, after such a long time apart, hearing his words hurt a lot more than she imagined. It had only been a year, but it was a year she had spent alone, separated from the person she cared about more than anything else in the world...Though Asuna was adept at controlling her emotions, she was never the type of person that used her tears as a weapon. Vahn could tell she was experiencing genuine remorse, so, while he still had a lot to say regarding her recent behavior, he simply didn't have the heart to stay mad at her. Her long isolation couldn't have been easy, so, in a way, she had effectively punished herself using a far more severe punishment than anything he could have come up with...Seeing a few tears liberate themselves from Asuna's eyes, cascading down the contours of her face on a tragic journey, Vahn found himself inhaling a slow and steady breath through his nose. There were few things more effective against him than the tears of someone he cared about, so, after his lungs had filled completely, he released another profound sigh, discarding his anger entirely as he wrapped the whimpering girl in his arms, ignoring the soft feeling pressing against him as he gently caressed her back.Feeling the familiar warmth wrap around her, Asuna was unable to stymy her tears, opening the proverbial floodgates as she lowered her head and sobbingly whimpered, "I'm sorry..." over and over again. At the same time, demonstrating that her year of isolation hadn't been unproductive, Vahn felt his bones creak under the strain of Asuna's embrace, the air being forced from his lungs for a brief moment before he quickly adapted...---Taking advantage of the drastic time dilation of the exterior ring, Vahn helped Asuna to calm down before allowing her to nestle against him as they sat against the trunk of the World Tree. He wanted to know her reasoning for taking such extreme action, his heart breaking a little when she demurely explained, "I was never meant to have a normal childhood...you already gave me more chances than I was originally afforded...if you hadn't come to this world and given me the opportunity to seize my own destiny, I would have continued being used by various people for more than a hundred years. I would have been separated from my family, friends, and, at the end of it all, I would have been used as a lynchpin to protect a world where everyone I cared about was already dead..."Though he was well aware of Asuna's future in the original timeline, hearing her describe it in such a somber tone destroyed what little anger remained in Vahn's heart. Her original self was one of the most pitiable people he had ever met, and, though he had prevented most of the tragedies meant to befall her, the fact Asuna knew about them had likely strengthened her convictions. She was the type that based her decisions on cold hard truths, and, though she was guided by her emotions at times, Asuna was extremely pragmatic...Recalling the first time he had met Asuna, Vahn realized it was probably at that exact moment that she had decided to follow him. This decision was undoubtedly influenced by her powerful fate, but, if he looked back into his memories, the image of the little girl staring blankly back at him was still present. If he changed perspectives, he could see his own expression, and, though it wasn't obvious to most people, Vahn suspected that both Asuna and Vesperina had been able to see the familiarity, pity, and resolution visible in his gaze.Despite having never met before, Vesperina had entrusted her daughter to him before they had so much as exchanged three sentences. As for Asuna, she followed him around with the persistence of a duckling, constantly observing his every action with her discerning eyes and analytical mind. After a few days had passed, she began clinging to him excessively, and, though she never asked why he was so worried about her, that didn't stop her from inquiring about various other topics, seemingly eager to learn everything there was to know about him.In hindsight, Vahn realized that Vesperina, Anarchia, and even Asuna had been 'conspiring' against him from the very beginning. They treated him as if he was someone special, and, though he was certainly the benefactor of the Ostian Royal Family, the fact they had systematically normalized so many intimate interactions was abnormal. They gradually lowered his defenses, and, when the time was ripe, the two mothers had basically pawned their daughters onto him, entrusting someone they barely knew with the fate of the entire kingdom...As that thought crossed his mind, so too did the smiling faces of Anarchia and Vesperina. They were both exceptionally intelligent and perceptive so they had likely decided very early on that they were going to entrust their daughters to him. He couldn't see it when he looked at himself, but Vahn was apparently 'very' easy to read whenever it concerned people he wanted to protect. He used to think this was a property of his [Will of the Emperor], but, after asking nearly every member of his harem, the majority stated they could understand his thoughts and emotions just by looking at his face...As if to emphasize this fact, a smile spread across Asuna's face as she nestled a little closer to him and said, "Thank you..." in a demure tone. He didn't have to ask what she was thanking him for, as, even if it was somewhat sudden, Vahn could intuit she had sensed his anger fading away, effectively declaring he had already forgiven her.Unable to form a response at the moment, Vahn just lightly shook his head, a wry smile on his face as he gently squeezed Asuna's shoulder to indicate a silent affirmation. This caused her to release a sonorous giggle, her voice having deepened considerably due to her rapid development. She really had grown considerably, and, though there was a chance she would grow further, Vahn presumed this form represented her 'prime'.Going by appearance alone, Asuna looked like she was in her early twenties, and, if not for the fact he could see her Status, even Vahn could have been convinced this was the case. He could generally tell how old someone was by the maturation of their aura and the structure of their bones. This was no longer the case with Asuna, as, due to the effects of the Little Garden and her unique Cultivation methods, each of her features had been refined to their biological prime. In fact, she even gave off the impression of someone far older, as, due to her nature as a Tier 5, Asuna's appearance and aura elevated her beyond most Gods...------------------------------------------------[Status]Name: [Asuna Vesperina Theotanasia Entheofushia]Age: 13Race: High HumanOffense: 1943Defense: 1701Mobility: 3,590Base Power: 7,234Soul 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], [Grandmaster Ki User: E], [Heavenly Sword of Division(Spirit Cultivation): S], [Sage's Path of Enlightenment(Mind Cultivation): S], [Primoridial Goddess' Divine Body(Body Cultivation): S], [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 parameters hadn't increased that much, Vahn suspected the main reason for this was because Asuna had been trying to lay low. Even then, the increase was still impressive, as, the more powerful you became, the harder it was to increase your base parameters. The only reason she had grown so much over the year was that she had been focused on her Cultivation methods and trying to refine her State of Nothingness. This had likely helped her pass the time, and, as a result, she had effectively mastered her Spirit, Mind, and Body techniques.The [Heavenly Sword Division] was a method that helped a practitioner to both increase and refine their sword intent. As for her [Sage's Path of Enlightenment] and [Primordial Goddess' Divine Body], the former greatly aided in the comprehension of virtually all Laws while the latter was used by the vast majority of his harem to strengthen their body and enhance their beauty. There were no upper limits to how powerful they could become, and, unless there was something interfering, it basically allowed them to grow and develop into what they believed to be a 'perfect' body.With S-Rank mastery in all of her Cultivation techniques, Asuna was already at a level people several times her age had struggled to reach. It was hard to believe she was only thirteen years old, as, with her appearance, aura, knowledge, and skill, the only part of her that even remotely matched her age was the 'hopeful adulation' visible in her gaze as she looked upward at him. Young girls in love were notoriously oblivious to anything that didn't validate their views, often ignoring common sense and committing to rather 'drastic' actions to earn the affection of the person they liked...Proving his point, Asuna seemed to forget that she had been sobbingly apologizing less than half an hour ago. A loving and expectant smile had spread across her face, and, though now was neither the time nor the place for such things, she hugged his arm tightly while pressing her breasts against him. To further exacerbate matters, a blush had started to spread across her face, though she didn't say anything, the expectant and eager look in her eyes revealed her thoughts.Feeling like Asuna had loosened the chains on Pandora's Box and was hoping he would open it, a wry smile spread across Vahn's face as he lightly pinched her nose. This was how he would normally let her know she was getting out of hand, so, with an expression of supreme disappointment, Asuna deflated like a balloon. She instantly understood the meaning behind his action, her mind racing to think of methods to make the next few months fly by. At the same time, however, her hand slipped down his chest, and, though it didn't come into contact with anything 'problematic', the way Asuna leaned into him made it very clear she hadn't given up on tempting him...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The most potent weapon...','Vahn never stood a chance','Eva needs to give this girl a firm spanking...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though tensions between the Empire and Confederation hadn't waned in the slightest, both sides understood there was no merit in waging a war under the scrutiny of the Sage Dragon Emperor. His power greatly exceeded their ability to comprehend, and, as had been demonstrated by his actions in the Senate, he would not hesitate to hold the ruling class accountable for their actions.Needless to say, many were dissatisfied by Vahn's actions, but, without the power to openly oppose him, they could only submit for fear of losing their lives. Even banding together with other countries to form a unified front served no purpose, as, with overwhelming firepower and the apparent ability to teleport virtually anywhere, it was all but guaranteed he would target the leaders directly. He also had advanced knowledge of the inner workings of both superpowers, so, while it would normally be possible to develop contingencies behind the scenes, leaving any traces was tantamount to signing your own death warrant.Choosing to preserve what power they could hold onto, many within the Confederation and Empire began baring their fangs toward each other. There were generally multiple factions maintaining the balance within a country, so, before the ink on the peace treaty could even dry, several families and organizations began making plays for power. This included several notable groups recognized by the public as being good or righteous, as, even if he didn't represent them, they were empowered by the fact that the Sage Dragon Emperor had taken a hard stance against corruption.Generally speaking, the most successful families backing a superpower were the most corrupt, so, with a massive power vacuum being created in the wake of Vahn's actions, there were many groups fighting for control. The Confederation, in particular, was on the verge of a Civil War, while, back in the Empire, the faction supporting the Crown Princess had been gaining momentum at a terrifying rate. There were even rumors circulating that the Emperor was preparing to step down, presumably to make way for the new generation in what some were already calling the 'Era of the Sage Dragon Emperor'.Vahn's popularity had grown explosively among the various Demihuman tribes, and, though he was significantly less popular with humans, there was a growing faction of sympathizes that had already secured a foothold within the Capital of Megalomesembria. This was largely the result of Lady Xuan carefully manipulating a number of Senators, but, more than anything else, it was Vahn's actions in the Senate and his liberation of countless slaves that inspired people to action.With several media stations being destroyed in the wake of Vahn's ultimatum to the Senate, there was a significant decline in the amount of propaganda circulating within the Confederation. There were still a few active groups on the Magical World's version of the internet, referred to by many as 'MAHO.NET', but, with many of the groups' leaders going missing or turning up dead, fewer people were willing to openly discuss their prejudices outside the relative privacy of their homes.Without the Media constantly enforcing various agendas and ideologies, many of the groups that had been too afraid to speak out in the past became 'very' vocal. There were actually a considerable number of people within the Confederation who didn't believe in the ideologies purported by their government, so, now that the higher-ups had fallen silent, they were finally allowed to give a voice to their indignation. This led to a sharp increase in the number of crimes reported between citizens, but, with the violent members representing both sides going missing, the numbers were gradually on the decline. (A/N: Good people, once empowered, can be even worse than bigots and racists. Be good to each other.)---Though he was well-aware of the events transpiring around the world, Vahn didn't have much time to focus on them. Asuna's growing boldness was one of the reasons, but, even more troubling than the love-struck prodigy was the youth who would periodically 'invade' the island. Nagi didn't know how to accept a loss, and, though Vahn had tried lecturing him on numerous occasions, everything seemed to go in one ear and out the other.At first, Vahn tried simply ignoring the brat, but, as if 'demanding' their attention, Nagi would begin using power magic out at sea. This wasn't that annoying, as Vahn could easily just create a barrier to block both the sound and shockwaves, but, after a few days, several mercenary groups and bounty hunters began appearing in the area, likely to investigate the wanton misuse of magic. This resulted in the island becoming well-known in the underground community, and, though Vahn had always expected their location to be exposed, the fact Nagi's tantrum was the reason caused him to, quite literally, capture and spank the spirit out of the youth.Currently, Nagi was 'grounded' within the Sub-Space Orb Vahn had originally prepared to help the youth in his training. As for the other members of Ala Rubra, Vahn used Nagi's mistake as an excuse to beat some sense into both Eishun and Filius. He would have done the same to Albireo, but, ever since the man had been wantonly teleported, he never directly appeared within the domain. When asked about his location, Filius explained that he was investigating something in secret, so, at least for the time being, the man had been able to avoid Vahn's wrath.Thanks to Nagi, the island had been getting a lot of 'visitors', but, thanks to the Elementals, very few were able to approach the island directly. Those who tried to approach from the air would find their Airfish unresponsive while the few that approached from the sea would find their path blocked by a series of large whirlpools. If that wasn't enough to deter them, they would find themselves besieged by countless Elementals, and, should they somehow managed to break through even that, they only had themselves to blame for what happened after...---Wearing a similar bikini to the one she had worn previously, albeit covered by a shawl, Asuna gazed out over the horizon with a less-than-enthused expression on her face. There was less than a month until she came of age, but, enjoying Vahn's reactions, she was determined to try and break down his defenses before the date in question. She didn't really see eye-to-eye with him concerning her age, and, during their most recent visit to the Sun Palace, her mother had backed her up, literally gifting Vahn a pair of edible panties and advising him to be more decisive.Unfortunately, the panties melted into a rather sticky mess before they could serve their purpose, and, after the fact, Asuna had to hand-wash the sheets as a punishment. Fortunately, she actually enjoyed chores quite a bit as they always made her feel like a young housewife. In fact, one of her favorite pastimes was cooking alongside Vahn, and, though it resulted in her getting kicked out of the kitchen, remembering his reaction when she showed up wearing nothing but an apron always brought a smile to her face.Prior to her arrival on the cliffs surrounding the south-eastern section of the island, Asuna had been trying to tempt Vahn into applying sunscreen on the front side of her body. She was usually able to convince him to handle her backside without too much fuss, but, ever since her breasts had grown to a size she was honestly a little proud of, Vahn had firmly kept his gaze focused on her eyes. This was something Asuna found very amusing, as, even if he wasn't looking directly at them, she knew his perception was properly recording their shape, size, and texture.Though the odds were generally against her, Asuna had noticed that Vahn was in a good mood today, likely having spent some time within his Realm. This gave her the confidence to try a little harder than usual, as, depending on how long he had been inside, he could be 'very' receptive to her advances. The last time he was in such a good mood, she had convinced him to give her one of his indescribably pleasant massages, and, though he ultimately refused to massage her breasts, she at least got to feel his hands on her butt and thighs.Even if she wasn't able to convince Vahn to apply sunscreen to her breasts, Asuna was confident she could convince him to apply it to her abdomen. This would give her the chance to stare directly into his face as he touched her body, and, though that would probably be the end of things, there were few things Asuna enjoyed more than observing Vahn's reactions.Though he attempted to mask his emotions behind a calm and casual demeanor, Vahn's thoughts and feelings were always easy to intuit. He simply couldn't deceive those who were close to him, so, despite his attempts to appear composed, Asuna knew her charms weren't useless against him. She could tell there were moments when he seriously considered her words, and, though he had always refused her in the end, just knowing he had considered it filled Asuna with a sense of excitement.Asuna had been looking forward to witnessing another one of Vahn's internal struggles against her charms, so, when he informed her that a group of people was attempting to sneak into the island, her mood had diminished greatly. While Fenrir was occupied with her training, Asuna was tasked with defeating any enemies who managed to slip through the island's perimeter defenses. This was a compromise she had made with the ever-serious Vanargandr, as, unlike Vahn, Fenrir hadn't been so keen on forgiving her.Having known Fenrir much of her life, Asuna had a great deal of respect and appreciation for the woman who had always dutifully served as her caretaker, mentor, and rival. She was the one who taught all of them how to circumvent Vahn's defenses, and, though Asuna had yet to receive the same benefits as everyone else, it would have taken a lot longer to figure Vahn out without Fenrir's guidance.Being called a 'bad girl' by the woman she had looked up to for several years had been significantly more painful than Asuna had expected. It wasn't really comparable to how she had felt when Vahn admonished her, but, as Fenrir had even influenced her style, Asuna felt a combination of guilt and shame under the Vanargandr's disapproving gaze. She had even started to tear up a bit, but, unlike when she was with Vahn, she managed to hold them back long enough to have a surprisingly long conversation about how she could become a 'good girl'...Since Fenrir was constantly training her body and mind in order to stand at her Master's side, Asuna had agreed to fulfill her responsibilities in the outside world. This had been a pleasant arrangement in the beginning, as she had convinced Vahn to increase the frequency and intimacy of her rewards, but, ever since Nagi exposed their hideout, Asuna felt like she was constantly being interrupted. She even suspected that Vahn 'let' some people pass through every now and then just to undermine her efforts to seduce him, a speculation that was all but proven by his reaction when she brought it up.Asuna knew her behavior was sometimes troubling to Vahn, but, rather than resort to methods like this, she would much rather he just tell her he wasn't in the mood. She didn't want to upset him, so, whenever he was firm with her, she did her best to comply. In fact, she actually preferred it when he was a little firm with her as it made it a lot easier to truly understand what he was thinking. She felt a strong compulsion to know and understand everything about Vahn, so, once they finally became a couple, Asuna was determined to peel back his layers until she discovered the very essence of his being. Then, like a seed that would eventually grow into a tree that spanned the heaven, she would plant her love there and nourish it until her existence had spread throughout and become one with his...Imagining herself sitting alongside Vahn as they reshaped the heavens together, a smile gradually spread across Asuna's face, replacing her dour expression. Then, after using the [REquip] system to don her combat attire, she leaped from the edge of the cliff with a determined glint in her eye. The only way to realize her dream was to grow stronger than everyone but Vahn himself, so, while they were unlikely to pose even a minor threat to her, Asuna knew there was always something more to learn in the midst of combat...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The power of a deterrent','Someone strangle this kid (O n O)...','Asuna has a little bit of yandere in her it seems...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After waiting for the members of Ala Rubra to move far beyond the boundaries of his domain, Vahn reversed the order of entropy to repair the damage done to the island. This caused illusory versions of Ala Rubra to appear, each an incomplete 'projection' that denoted the location and structure of the groups' magical energy at a given point in time. A person's cells were filled with magical energy, so, if they had used a ki shroud or a magical barrier at any point during the fight, he would be able to see this energy with the naked eye until it inevitably dispersed once the flow of time returned to normal.With the island returned to its original state, Vahn exhaled a tired sigh as he began teleporting to various points within his domain. Albireo Imma had left a number of seed-like spatial anchors at several locations, and, despite being teleported around at complete random, he had been on the verge of completing a ritual-grade magic circle. To make matters worse, the core of the formation existed within the void, so, while its influence could be expunged by reversing the order of entropy, the structure persisted, removed from the standard axis of time.Though it wasn't unexpected, Albireo Imma was unquestionably the most 'dangerous' member of Ala Rubra. Vahn even suspected he was an existence akin to a God, an artificial one whose powers had been sealed by means he was currently unable to identify. As for the other enigma within the group, Filius Zect, Vahn was about ninety percent certain that the man was similar to the artificial spirit he had destroyed during his time in Zephyria. The only difference was, while the previous man was around 80% Spirit and 20% Demon, Filius gave off a feeling similar to a pure-blooded Demon, one who had been modified to emulate a Great Spirit...If not for Nagi's behavior and the general disregard demonstrated by at least two of his mentors, Vahn wouldn't have minded working alongside them. Each member of Ala Rubra had something he was interested in, but, if he was the only one making compromises, it was the same as lowering his head for the benefit of the group. They didn't really provide anything to him at the present, and, so long as Nagi continued to behave like an incorrigible brat, keeping him around the hideout was the same as inviting additional stress upon, not just for himself, but everyone.With a complete lack of regard for others, Nagi behaved without even a semblance of a filter, and, though he undoubtedly had his reasons, there was nothing requiring others to tolerate his behavior at their own expense. This was especially true for any females on the island, as, based on the nature he had demonstrated thus far, the boy wouldn't hesitate to behave in a way that was tantamount to sexual harassment. He seemed to think it was okay to just say or do whatever he wanted, and, when it involved people stronger than him, Vahn could see the boy pestering both Fenrir and Asuna just to rile them up for a fight.As he was currently, Nagi was simply toxic to be around, and, while Vahn was confident he could correct the youth's behavior, that wasn't the reason he had ventured into the Akamatsuverse. He was here to save Eva, and, though his nature compelled him to take action on behalf of the world, Vahn had been fully prepared to move on the moment the Vampiress' vengeance was completed. Now, he had even formed the determination to subsume the entire Magical World, so, while there was some merit in taking Nagi as his protege, empowering the youth served no real purpose.Vahn could tell that Nagi was actually very similar to his past self, someone who was unsure of how to interact with others so they continually defaulted to 'extreme' behaviors. This wasn't necessarily a bad trait to have, especially if you were something similar to a shonen protagonist, but, more than power, Vahn knew what the boy truly needed was 'normalcy'. He would benefit more from living a simple life, one far removed from large scale conflicts and political turmoil. This wasn't to say that his power should be completely sealed, but, until he had established a stable baseline, it was better for everyone if he stayed away from the battlefield.Though it was hard to be certain, Vahn suspected that the main reason Negi had been reared in a controlled environment was to make up for the qualities Nagi had lacked. The people manipulating both youths likely realized their mistakes with the first generation, so, before getting Negi involved in the conflict, they made sure he had a stable baseline to work from. This involved ensuring he had a relatively peaceful childhood, and, after experiencing a traumatic event, they put him in a situation where he was responsible for twenty-eight female students, allowing them to imprint on each other before separating them. It was these bonds that allowed them to overcome the adversities they had faced in the Magical World, and, though Negi ultimately failed to defeat Ialda, he came much closer than anyone else.If Nagi had been 'necessary' to defeat the Mage of the Beginning, Vahn might have put more effort into 'fixing' the boy. However, as he had mentioned before, he wasn't interested in rearing children to fight planetary-level threats in his stead. He would much rather resolve things on his own, and, though he understood the importance of things like vengeance and destiny, placing such burdens on a child wasn't something a responsible adult should do.Vahn saw nothing wrong with empowering the younger generation, as that was the responsibility of those who had come before. However, when you used said generation to fight on your behalf, you were literally going against the natural order of things. Preceding generations were meant to create a stable environment that guaranteed the greatest chance for success and prosperity, not wholly for themselves, but for their young. Failing to do this went against numerous biological principles, and, more often than not, societies that prioritized structure that benefitted the middle-aged and elderly quickly fell to corruption...---By the time he had finishing removing all of the 'seeds' planted by Albireo Imma, the sun had long descended over the horizon. If not for the version of himself he kept within the Little Garden, Vahn would have experienced a bit of a mental strain due to having five active vessels, two watching over Tempe and Lake Argyre, one protecting the Garden of Avalon, one cleaning up the battlefield, and, as stated previously, one version within the Little Garden to serve as an anchor for the rest.With his cleanup finished, Vahn returned to the hideout to relax while the version of himself in the Little Garden slowly opened his eyes. He didn't keep his domain active within the garden, so, for a brief moment, a look of confusion reflected in Vahn's gaze as he found Euryale dozing off in his lap. This quickly turned into a loving smile, however, as, perhaps sensing his awakening, Euryale opened her eyes, twisting her neck a little more than was normal to stare up at him with her big amber eyes.Before he even willed his body to move, Vahn found himself affectionately stroking his daughter's head, eliciting a contented hum from the adorable girl as she nestled closer to him.Vahn had originally been worried that Stheno and Euryale would develop extremely quickly within the Little Garden, but, similar to Medusa and Fenrir, their physical appearance didn't really change with the passage of time. The development of the gorgons was largely dependent on how many times they had molted, and, unless they proactively 'wanted' to molt, there was nothing that could force them to do so. As a result, Medusa and Euryale hadn't really changed much, while, inversely, Stheno had grown even faster than Asuna...Remembering the eldest of the two gorgon sisters, Vahn turned his attention to the cottage near the edge of the ring-like lake. He could normally find her inside studying magic or lazing about in the bathhouse next door, proactively accelerating her growth while warming her body. She, unlike Euryale, was just as cold-blooded as her mother, and, though she could easily use magic to regulate her core temperature, it seemed to be an 'instinct' for gorgons to siphon the warmth of others, soak their bodies under the sun, or relax in a hot bath...Though he wasn't 'afraid' of his daughter, Vahn decided to put off meeting with her until he had the chance to properly relax. She had an Innate seductive quality, and, though she didn't act with any ill will or specific intent, Vahn wasn't entirely immune to her natural charms. This was exacerbated by the fact she now had the appearance of an inordinately beautiful woman in her mid-twenties, her secondary sexual characteristics having fully developed to a rather 'dangerous' extent.As was the case with all gorgons, including the dragon-born Euryale, Stheno was extremely clingy, so, whenever Vahn spent time with her, it was impossible to keep her from sticking to him. This was fine when she was just a little girl, but, now that her breasts had grown to a surprising 90cm, having her constrict, rub against, and nuzzle against him was slightly troublesome. He wouldn't mind if she behaved innocently, but, as a result of her Innate, Stheno had a dreamy look in her eyes, constantly licked her lips in a seductive manner, and, though it didn't seem intentional, her hands and hair had a habit of 'wandering'.Fortunately, Stheno didn't seem to have any actual licentious thoughts toward him, and, though it would be easy to mistake her affection as a physical attraction, the truth of the matter was that she simply felt most comfortable nestling against him for warmth. This had been the case even before she had the wherewithal to control her own actions, a trait shared by both Euryale and her mother.Vahn didn't particularly mind skinship with his daughters, but, understanding it would become an issue if he didn't wean them at some point, he was gradually trying to reduce Stheno's clinginess. The problem was that, despite her rampant growth, she was still very young, and, with Euryale as her twin, she had a pretty good reason to continue clinging to him. He would eventually need to wean them both, but, until Euryale began showing signs of wanting to mature, Vahn's hands were effectively tied.Shaking his head, Vahn continued to stroke the top of Euryale's as he asked, "Where are Fenrir and Asuna? Did they go somewhere to train?"Though she still struggled with speaking and showing expressiveness, Euryale, largely thanks to her interactions with Asuna, had developed other ways to communicate. Vahn just needed to open his mind, and, as expected, a tiny and demure voice could be heard answering, ("Sister Fenrir was here a little while ago...I think she went to take a bath...I don't know where Asuna went...")Hearing the last statement, Vahn instinctually furrowed his brows for a brief moment before asking the World Tree where Asuna had run off to. He knew she hadn't been in the best of moods after the encounter with Nagi, but, with a time dilation of 10:1 on the island, she had more than enough time to calm herself. Her 'disappearing' was certainly abnormal, and, when he heard where she was at, a deeply profound sigh escaped his lips as he caressed Euryale's head to reassure there was nothing wrong...---Located on the outermost regions of the Little Garden, a beautiful woman could be seen floating a few meters off the ground, her orange hair, which was normally kept in twin-tails, flowing gracefully behind her and cascading down her shoulders. There was a serene aura permeating from her body, and, though it wasn't noticeable unless you got very close, a gentle white aura could be seen rising from her body like a thin mist.Though she knew Vahn would probably be a little upset with her, Asuna was tired of being treated like a child, so, taking advantage of the fact nobody had been around during the time of her entry, she used the State of Nothingness to hide her presence before sneaking off to the periphery. Since then, a total of 379 days had passed, and, though she had been extremely lonely, she persevered in the hopes that Vahn would acknowledge both her patience and growth. At the very least, she would only have to wait a few more months until her next birthday, removing the final obstacle that stood in her way...As this thought crossed her mind, a subtle blush spread across Asuna's face, accompanied by a very prominent smile. Her long period of reflection had only strengthened her feelings, and, though she had come to understand how childish some of her previous actions had been, Asuna was confident that Vahn would forgive her selfishness. After all, everything she did was fueled by her desire to be just a 'little' bit closer to him. She knew it was almost impossible to convince him to have sex with her before he consummated his relationship with Eva, but, at the very least, she wanted the same level of intimacy as Arika and Theo...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'A healthy partnership requires both sides to compromise','Vahn's troubles never end','A girl in love can be very scary (o _ o)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1666: Retrospect