Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Feeling the holy aura radiating from Karin's body, Eva was ultimately able to recover enough of her sensibilities to reveal her face and firmly state, "Karin, that's enough. Vahn might be an idiot, but he isn't a bad person. Though I understand your reasons, I don't want you to resent Vahn. You are both irreplaceable existences in my heart...please get along..."Though she wasn't able to completely relax, Karin's expression notably slackened when she heard her Master's heartfelt words. She was actually very happy that Eva had called her something like an 'irreplaceable existence', but, refusing to show any weakness before Vahn, she spent a few seconds trying to regulate her breathing before answering, "I understand...for now, I will continue to observe without passing judgment."Hearing Karin's response, Eva breathed a sigh of relief. She honestly didn't know what she would do if Karin actually hated Vahn. She owed the former a great debt, and, after neglecting her for several centuries, Eva felt a considerable amount of guilt towards the exceptionally loyal woman. As for the latter, he was the person she had entrusted with her heart, the man who had liberated her from the darkness and opened her mind to the endless possibilities of the future...With that thought playing across her mind, Eva remembered something very important, but, given the current situation, she wasn't sure if now was the best time to bring it up. Unfortunately, her act of biting the nail of her thumb with a vexed expression was clearly observed by the highly attentive duo. Vahn didn't even need to see her face to know she was struggling with something, as, with her seated in his lap, he could even sense the firing of her synapses through the contact of their bodies.In an attempt to ease Eva's anxieties, Vahn gently placed his hand atop her head, lightly caressing her silky smooth hair as he asked, "Is something the matter? You don't need to hide anything from us...isn't that right, Karin?"Though she was momentarily distracted by her thoughts of cutting off Vahn's hand, Karin wasn't so distracted that she was incapable of processing his question. Thus, after resisting the initial urge to lambast him for addressing her in such a familiar manner, she nodded her head and replied with a curt, "Indeed..."Realizing her mistake only after hearing the duo's words, Eva forcibly repressed a sigh, shaking her head in self-admonition before ultimately explaining, "I was thinking of ways to relieve the tensions between the two of you. That caused me to recall our previous discussion, and, though it might not be the best timing, I was thinking about trying to convince you to allow Vahn to analyze your Curse of Inviolability."As it was something they had discussed on numerous occasions, Karin wasn't too surprised by her Master's words. Rather, after how fervently Eva had talked-up Vahn's capabilities, she had gradually come to believe it might be possible to remove, or, at the very least, modify her curse. Though her reason told her this was impossible, her trust in Eva defied all reasoning, and, after more than two-thousand-years of wandering the Earth, the faith that had originally kept her going gradually turned into something else entirely...Before Karin could come up with her answer, both she and Eva were surprised when Vahn suddenly mentioned, "I have already thought of a number of solutions, two of which are guaranteed to work. Though it would be best for me to analyze the 'curse' directly, one of the things we can try is simply having Karin enter the Little Garden. It might be linked to this world, but the Laws governing it are a few degrees of separation from the primary axis of reality. If I'm not wrong, Karin's 'curse' is directly linked with the physical plane, so, by entering a realm with at least two degrees of separation, most of its effects should be negated."Though she wasn't able to understand everything Vahn was saying, Karin knew enough about her own abilities to say, "I have heard something similar a long time ago. However, when I tried to enter another dimensional plane, the gateway itself was destroyed. Even entering a Sub-Space Orb is very dangerous, as, the moment I enter within, the interior space begins to gradually collapse."Hearing Karin's explanation, Vahn's interest in her 'curse' became even higher, but, rather than take her words to heart, he ultimately dismissed them, saying, "You don't have to worry about that in my case. Even if I wasn't a God of Space, I have absolute confidence in my ability to create a realm that exists outside the influence of whoever is interfering with your life. As for the Little Garden, it should be completely safe...if it's not...well, let's just say I have ways to deal with jealous Gods..."Directing his last few words towards the sky, Vahn couldn't help but squint his eyes slightly as, for a very brief moment, he detected 'something' observing them. He wasn't very fond of being spied on, but, before he could trace the intent back to its source, it simply vanished into thin air.Following Vahn's gaze, Karin also turned her eyes toward the ceiling, a conflicted look appearing on her face as anxiety began to sprout in her heart. Before she could succumb to her doubts, however, her Master interrupted her thoughts, saying, "Even when I tried to tell you that curse of yours was a blessing, you always insisted it was some kind of punishment. If that is the case, know that you have suffered long enough. You have repented for your actions long ago, and, if your God is truly as kind and benevolent as people claim them to be, there is no reason for them to personally interfere with the happiness of a single person. That man's death was supposed to have absolved humanity of its sins...forcing you alone to atone without allowing any chance of redemption is a contradiction..."Though Eva still had a lot to say, the look on Karin's face and the way Vahn tightened his hold on her waist caused her words to trail off. Then, joining them, she turned her attention towards the ceiling, or, more specifically, the skies above. There, monstrous clouds had started to gather, but, rather than appear dark and menacing, they were like billowy white cumulonimbus clouds...Even without being able to see the clouds directly, everyone within the library was able to sense their formation and the awesome might contained within them. This caused Karin and Eva to pale, but, despite feeling as though electricity was circulating through his veins, Vahn wasn't particularly concerned by the encroaching storm. Instead, he sent his intent directly into the clouds, both as a silent challenge and a means to locate the source of the surging divine power.One of the most troublesome aspects of several Realms was that, unless you met certain conditions, they were simply impossible to access or locate. When an entity within that Realm used its power to influence another world, however, a gateway between the two was bound to be formed. This might be no bigger than a single atom, but, so long as it remained open, there was nothing barring those with the capabilities from passing through.Vahn wasn't particularly interested in waging war on the Gods or entering a Realm like Heaven, but, if they were going out of their way to break the rules they themselves had established, he wouldn't hesitate to hold them accountable. He hated it when people only selectively enforced the laws they had established, and, though he wasn't without fault, Vahn couldn't tolerate the small-mindedness of a God who punished a woman to outlive the entire universe for a betrayal they had orchestrated as part of their so-called 'grand design'...---Around the same time that Vahn was effectively challenging the Heavens, a woman with features not all that dissimilar to Altria was sitting silently upon a throne, her angular golden eyes showing a mix of consternation and excitement as she mused, "Hooo...that man actually dares to challenge the Throne...this is starting to get interesting..."Hearing her woman's words, a girl with similar features, albeit much younger, craned her head back to ask, "Did you sense something, oh Great Mother?"Matching gazes with the young girl who appeared no older than five, the woman adopted a small frown as she muttered, "Amateru...I told you to simply refer to me as Mother when we're alone..."Chuckling lightly in response to her Mother's heavy tone, Amateru, the true name of the first Queen of Vespertatia, answered, "I dare not. I fear that I might slip up around those children, so, unless the Great Mother insists, I cannot abide that request. Please accept my heartfelt apology..."Though she was dissatisfied by her daughter's response, the woman, Ialda Baoth, better known as The Mage of the Beginning, didn't both insisting. Instead, she raised her hand to reveal dainty white fingers, pristine despite the millions of lives she had harvested throughout the years. Then, prior to answering her daughter's question, she began to lightly caress Amateru's head as she explained, "I can sense the influence of the Rubrum. I am unsure of the situation, but it appears the Sage Dragon Emperor either isn't aware of the situation in Heaven or simply doesn't fear the consequences of his actions..."Hearing her Mother mention the name of a Seraphim, Amateru's eyes widened more than a little as she asked, "Are they so bold as to extend their reach into Mundus Magicus? Shouldn't the Code of the Lifemaker prevent them from having any influence in this world?"Though her daughter's words weren't entirely incorrect, Ialda still shook her head, her countenance darkening slightly as she answered, "Without the Great Grand Master Key, there isn't much I can do to stop them from interfering in this world. So long as the Throne is unoccupied, those bastards will continue acting however they please. There is even a chance that my Resonance is the result of that hypocrite Caeruleum using the Root of Creation to curse me..."Since her Mother generally kept mum on any matter related to the Root of Creation, Amateru was unable to hide her confusion. It was very obvious that something was changing in her Mother as of late, the most obvious indication being that she was currently seated in the former's lap. Due to the Resonance, it was virtually impossible for her Mother to demonstrate love and affection, yet, in spite of this, she currently appeared inordinately calm, her dark expression gradually fading away as she continued to absentmindedly stroke her head...Noticing her daughter's confusion, Ialda revealed an uncanny smile as she revealed, "I'm not going to make it easy for them, but my instincts are telling me my time in this world is soon coming to an end. Though I have yet to see their power, the strength displayed by the Third Princess is already at a level that could pose a threat to our organization. Our Inheritor and the Key of Twilight have been with him even longer, so, even if there is currently no evidence, it would be absurd to suppose they are weaker. As for the Dark Evangel...she was already strong enough to wipe out most of our group on her own. Now that she had joined hands with the Sage Dragon Emperor, I cannot imagine even a single outcome where we come out ahead."Despite the content of her words, a vicious smile began to spread across Ialda's face the more she talked about their dismal future. She didn't seem to care even the slightest bit about the impending destruction of her organization, and, understanding the reason, Amateru offered a wry smile of her own as she silently tolerated having her head caressed...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Gods can be surprisingly petty...','Vahn is letting his desire to battle a strong opponent cloud his judgment...','Ialda-chan isn't considered a prodigy for no reason...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though others might have difficulty finding the gate, Vahn had an absolute advantage that allowed him to locate such things with extreme ease. Thus, after spending a few minutes trying to sense the anomaly using his intent, he simply submerged into his Realm to systematically search for it within his memory. This process took nearly nine hours, but, even if he had decided to stay within for nine years, not even a single zeptosecond would have passed in the 'outside' world.With his primary objective completed, Vahn decided to spend a few days among his friends, family, and lovers, updating them on the situation and sorting through his thoughts. The best part about this was that, prior to entering his Realm, Vahn moved everyone on the island into the Little Garden. This included Karin, who, as he had postulated, was able to enter the Little Garden without issue. After all, it might use the Laws of the original Record as a template, but, on the most basic level, the Little Garden was directly connected to his 'soul realm', comprised and maintained by his own Source Energy.Needless to say, Karin, Jinbei, and even Eva were completely gobsmacked, not by the existence of the Little Garden, but by Vahn's power and presence. It didn't matter that his power was somewhat weakened due to the garden's Laws, as, within his Realm, it was impossible to even comprehend the nature of his existence. He was an absolute concept, and, though it would sever their connection to their original world, Vahn explained that he could, quite literally, create new bodies for them within his Realm, effectively transmigrating them.Unfortunately, though there was nothing preventing him from talking about it, Vahn was unable to explain the specifics of The Path while they were still linked to their original Record. The best way he could explain it was that a separate axis of reality existed within his Soul, and, though it was still in a nascent state, it would gradually evolve to represent an entire Multiverse. This had come as quite a shock to people like Karin, but, as she was well aware of the existence of the Realm, Eva merely fell into deep thought for a few days. As for Jinbei, he didn't seem to really care about anything, using the unexpected 'vacation' to idle at the edge of the island with a fishing pole for a few days...---With the help of Da Vinci, Vahn was able to test several theories he had regarding the removal of Karin's [Penance Seal]. It was a non-standard Innate that had obviously been forced upon her as a result of some greater plot tied to the Record itself, but, with an Omnipotent Genius on his side, it was a simple matter to come up with a variety of solutions. If those didn't work, he could always use a [Fate-Severing Knife] to do the job, as, after an admittedly ridiculous amount of research, it was all but confirmed that this was the original purpose of the blade.Similar to how Heroic Spirits would always obtain a non-standard Innate related to their legend, the very thing that gave them power, some Innates were intrinsically bound to a person's fate. The best example of this was the [Child of Destiny] Innate while other notable examples included Mordred's, [Sage Dragon Emperor's Pampered Princess], Scathach's [Scathach], Da Vinci's [Pioneer of the Stars], and Tamamo's [Tamamo-no-Mae].By using the [Fate-Severing Knife], Vahn was able to remove a person's non-standard Innates, and, under certain conditions, he could even assign them a new one. Entities that had their fate severed were not all that dissimilar to [Nameless] existences without any fate at all. Thus, if you had a strong enough Will and a substantial influence on Fate, you could impose an entirely new fate on someone simply through assigning them a new name or purpose.During his experiments with Da Vinci, Vahn put this theory to the test by severing the fate of none other than Skoll. She had been one of the first Companions to develop an Ego after the Awakening, and, due to her association with him, she obtained a non-standard Innate called [Companion of the Sage Dragon Emperor]. This allowed her to evolve into a chibi-form that resembled a five-year-old version of Fenrir, and, though she still had bio-mechanical components, her evolution elevated her to a similar status as Ark, Mother, and Shadow within the Companion network. In essence, she had become the God of Companions, and, after using the [Fate-Severing Knife] to remove her original non-standard Innate, that became her official title and responsibility.In the wake of Skoll's ascension, the vast majority of Companions experienced evolutions of their own. This led to the Surface becoming surprisingly stable due to some people having spent more than two decades alongside their adorable little partners. Many had even developed an emotional attachment to their Companions, and, in some regions, Japan being the most notable example, it had become increasingly common to see Human-Companion relationships to develop into happy marriages.Since it was well-within their calculations, neither Vahn nor Da Vinci was surprised when the first requests to marry a Companion was submitted. Rather, a system to officiate the relationship had already been developed decades prior, so, after a brief period of rising social tensions, most people had come to accept that the Companions were just other residents of the Empire. This led to a few groups trying to advocate for Companion rights, but, with the Companions capable of speaking for themselves, those attempting to inflate the non-issue into a point of contention were never able to build any momentum...---With several days to consider her options, or, more specifically, be convinced by Eva, it wasn't long before Karin found herself seated naked on an examination table. She wasn't even remotely shy, as, due to her unique form of immortality and her propensity for fighting powerful enemies, having her clothes destroyed was 'very' common. Rather, if you were a woman in the Akamatsuverse, especially a combatant, ending a fight without even a scrap of clothing was considered 'normal'.Vahn used to wonder what went through the mind of their Creator when designing certain Records, but, after remember that Records were given shape by an amalgamation of dreams, he couldn't lay all the blame of them. They undoubtedly shared the blame, especially if they created a world with a significant amount of 'fanservice', but, in the end, it was the desires of the people viewing, playing, and commemorating their creations that gave form to a Record.While thinking about the functionally infinite ways in which a Record could manifest, Vahn slowly and methodically traced his finger across the tattoo on Karin's back. She didn't so much as flinch in response to his touch, but, considering Eva was sitting mere meters away, she was probably doing her best to appear as disinterested and unperturbed as possible. Despite this, a subtle shade of red had been steadily creeping into her cheeks, not because he was touching her, but because she was being watched by Eva...In order to finally convince Karin, Eva had, quite literally, pushed the taciturn woman down, sealing her lips to form a Pactio. This had been something Karin coveted for hundreds of years, so, rather than complain, Vahn nearly had to excuse himself when it seemed like the two were going to do a lot more than simply kiss. It felt like he was trespassing on something he wasn't meant to see, and, though Eva was his fiancee, he wanted to give them a chance to strengthen their bond without his interference.Unfortunately, though he wasn't exactly complaining, Eva had noticed his intentions, 'forcing' him to stay and observe. This caused Karin to visibly pout, but, after some skillful coaxing from Eva, she was quickly pacified. In the end, she even seemed to seriously consider allowing him to participate, a notion that was made even stronger when it came time for her to be the observer...After tracing a pattern hidden within the roman numeral for thirteen inscribed on Karin's back, Vahn issued a small nod before retracting his hand and saying, "There are a few notable differences, but I can conclusively say this seal functions similarly to the 'blessing' of a God. There are complex Divine Words hidden within a structure carefully designed to conceal both their existence and function. As for their true purpose...well..."Sensing the hesitation in Vahn's voice, Karin adopted a disapproving frown, emulating her Master's way of speaking as she sternly said, "Out with it. I've already entrusted this matter to you so there is no sense in being roundabout. If you have something to say, say it. If it isn't important, then get on with the treatment."As Karin had been pretty harsh with him ever since he watched her make out with Eva, Vahn wasn't too surprised by her tone. Instead, he just shook his head while Eva snickered at the side, reveling in his 'misfortune' and Karin's false bravado.Since she had put on a strong front, Vahn decided to respect Karin's resolution, explaining, "This is not your original body. The seal on your back has nothing to do with your 'Curse of Inviolability'. It is the thing binding your Ego to your current vessel. In other words, you likely died all those years ago, and, after your Soul moved on to the afterlife, you were forced back into a vessel that looked identical to your original body. Your current race lists you as a Cherubim, one of the attendants of the Biblical God...if I had to guess, you entered into a contract with a higher-tiered angel after your death, and, due to the guilt you felt at that time, you agreed to repent for your sin of betrayal by serving as an instrument of God in the physical plane..."Hearing Vahn's speculation, Karin was completely slack-jawed, her mouth dangling open as her brain failed to find any words to explain her current mental state. If what he stated was the truth, it meant her 'curse' was something she had imposed on herself, not something that had been forced upon her. As for her ability to use Holy Magic and Purification Spells, these were likely related to the fact she was a Cherubim, or, at the very least, a human Soul sealed within the body of one...Not finished with his explanation, Vahn adopted a thoughtful expression on his face, using the hand he had previously used to caress Karin's back to stroke his chin as he said, "I'm guessing your desire to 'serve' also has something to do with your Cherubic nature. Though it is pretty obvious that your Ego is in full control, the form and function of our vessels often dictate our self-perception and how we engage others..."Though she was still staring at Vahn, Karin's mental processes continued to move at a snail's pace, her mind struggling to make sense of everything he had revealed previously. She suddenly felt like a stranger in her own body, as, while much of what Vahn said was mere speculation, the one thing he continued to reinforce was that this wasn't her body. It was something she had been bestowed in order to fulfill a purpose...a purpose she had instinctually followed without question prior to her meeting Eva...Before Karin could fall further into her doubts, her awareness was brought back in an instant when she felt a familiar embrace. She immediately recognized this as her Master, and, though she still had a number of doubts, the one thing she didn't question was that Eva was the most important person in her heart. She never wanted to part with her again, so, even if it meant betraying the purpose she had been assigned, it didn't matter so long as she was able to fulfill the purpose she had chosen for herself all those years ago...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Hax...','The rise of the most adorable Goddess...','Omae wa mou shindeiru...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With the 'departure' of Juuzou, Vahn took the initiative to invite everyone back to the hideout. He wanted to give the new residents a chance to get settled in, and, though she was currently on her best behavior, Asuna still needed her punishment. Leaving her fate to Eva wasn't exactly fair, but, as it served as a decent segue into the topics of the Little Garden and his future plans, Vahn left Jinbei to the Chacha sisters before alighting to the large library on the northern side of the estate.As could be expected, the moment Eva was out of sight from people like Jinbei and Juuzou, an air of confidence radiated from her as she briefly inspected Asuna before pointedly stating, "I can't say I'm surprised...still, mind explaining how the brat turned into a breast-demon in a single month?"Hearing her Master's words, Karin instantly adopted an accusatory frown, but, before she could so much as utter a syllable, Eva, with a very serious expression, turned to her and said, "Vahn isn't the type to lie and wantonly manipulate others. Give him a chance to explain himself without throwing out accusations."Surprised by her Master's words, Karin was caught with her mouth slightly agape, her lips failing to form words as her mind floundered about for a response. She didn't expect Eva to snap at her, and, though she could understand the reason, it made her feel a little bitter knowing the former didn't hesitate to speak out in defense of Vahn.In the end, Karin gave up trying to speak out and simply bowed respectfully in acknowledgment of her Master's words. Then, with her hands neatly folded across her lap, she stood like a dutiful young attendant at her Master's side, her eyes staring off into empty space as if the discussion no longer had anything to do with her.Seeing how Karin was behaving, Eva had to suppress a sigh as she shifted her gaze back to Vahn, clearly expecting an explanation. In response, Vahn didn't beat around the bush, lifting his hand to show a brilliant blue orb of light as he explained, "I came into possession of a portable realm known as the Little Garden. Everything inside is governed by the Laws of Progression, and, though the flow of time is only ten-to-one near the center, it effectively increases a person's growth rate by a factor of one-hundred. There are a lot of finer points, but, simply put, it drastically accelerates growth, aids comprehension, and provides a sort of biological immortality since entities inside never age beyond their biological prime."If anyone else was saying these things, Eva would have looked at them as if they were completely full of it. When Vahn said such things, however, she always took them at face value, as, unless it was related to the things he couldn't tell her, he simply couldn't lie to her face.Shifting her attention to Asuna, Eva already had an idea about what had happened, her expression visibly darkening as she plainly stated, "I am disappointed in you, Asuna. You undoubtedly have all kinds of logical arguments to justify your behavior, but, even without being present, I can guess you went way overboard. Though Vahn has his fair share of the blame, taking advantage of his nature to get what you want isn't an act of love...it is pure selfishness...tell me, how old are you right now?"Hearing Eva's words, Asuna couldn't help but avert her eyes, unable to answer Eva's accusation and subsequent question. She wasn't used to being reprimanded or accused, and, even if she wanted to try and justify her actions, she couldn't deny the truth contained in Eva's words. She was well aware of the fact that she had been the one pushing Vahn, willfully taking advantage of his inability to stay mad at her...Seeing Asuna's reaction, Eva didn't need an actual answer to know the faux-woman was still just a brat. Since Vahn mentioned the center of the Little Garden experience a ten-to-one flow, she could easily intuit that there was a varying rate of flow within the miniature realm, likely increasing as you moved towards the outer edges. Asuna had probably found a way to sneak into the region without notice, and, by the time Vahn became aware of what had happened, the damage had already been done.Shaking her head, Eva turned her attention back to Vahn, her arms akimbo as she maintained her accusatory glare and said, "You're too much of a pushover...tell me, how do you go from being one of the most domineering people in the entire world to a floundering idiot who gets tyrannized by a little girl? I know you don't want to hurt the feelings of the people you care about, but letting them do whatever they want just isn't healthy! You are supposed to be the one in control, Vahn! Where is your dignity as a Master and an Emperor!?"Though he didn't avert his eyes like Asuna, Vahn's expression morphed into an apologetic frown as he listened to Eva's words. He knew she was right, and, given Asuna's nature and temperament, she would have adjusted her behavior accordingly if he put his foot down. She was a very obedient and rational young lady, and, prior to her Eva's departure, the only action he needed to take in order to correct her behavior was explaining his reasoning and expectations...Realizing his fault in the situation, Vahn solemnly lowered his head, stating, "I understand where I have erred and will commit myself to do better moving forward...please forgive me..."Though she had heard similar promises before, Eva didn't actually blame Vahn, as, even before her departure, she expected something like this to happen. She knew what kind of person he was, and, in the absence of someone with greater expectations for him, he was susceptible to falling into the pace of others. He just couldn't help but try and make everyone around him happy, and, though it often caused him stress, he could bear any burden if it was for the people cared about.Feeling her anger rapidly diminishing, Eva wasn't able to maintain her accusatory glower any longer, a tired sigh escaping her lips as she crossed her arms and muttered, "I forgive you..." while casting a communicative gaze at Asuna. The latter easily understood the meaning contained within her gaze, so, without needing to be told, she bent down and performed a faultless dogeza, forehead pressed to the ground as she said, "I have also realized my wrongs...I owe an apology to everyone. I'm sorry for taking advantage of your kindness, Vahn...I just like spending time with you...I..."Seeing Asuna perform a dogeza, Vahn felt like a cold sweat had spread across his skin as he looked between her and Eva. The latter just rolled her eyes when she noticed his gaze before giving him a shoulder shrug as if to state, 'do whatever you want'.With his fiancee's consent, Vahn leaned down and placed his hand upon Asuna's shoulder, silencing her apology by sincerely stating, "I accept your apology, Asuna...now, stand up. You need not lower yourself to such an extent. The most important thing is to remember the lesson you learned and do your best to avoid repeating the same mistakes. You are an exceptionally bright and capable young woman, and, though you are not without fault, I believe you will become even more amazing in the wake of this incident..."Hearing Vahn's words, Asuna raised her head to reveal a thin layer of moisture covering her eyes. It was clear she had been on the verge of tears, but, now that she had been pardoned, the glistening layer took on a new meaning as she looked up into the face of the man she loved. This made Vahn feel a little helpless, not because she hadn't learned her lesson, but because he could tell Asuna had resolved herself to greatly exceed his expectations...---Though it seemed like everything had been settled without incident, Asuna insisted that Eva met out a suitable punishment for her recent behavior. She immediately came to regret this decision, but, rather than complain, Asuna had a defeated look in her eyes as she helped the Chacha sisters move all of her stuff into a spare room. She had been barred with sharing a bed with Vahn until her birthday, and, unless it was for training purposes, she wasn't allowed to make physical contact with him unless he was the one patting her head or tending her wounds.Feeling guilty about the situation, Vahn was tempted to commute Asuna's sentencing, but, before he could utter a single word, Eva silenced him completely with a gaze shaper than any spear. After that, he found himself back in the library, and, though he wasn't exactly complaining, Eva elected to use his lap like a throne as she explained the situation to Karin. The latter had yet to be informed of the existence of his Harem, so, as could be expected from someone that admired Eva as their most important person; Karin wasn't at all enthused by the presence of Asuna and the mention of others associated with her Master's fiance.Truth be told, Karin had already prepared herself to 'assist' her Master, and, if necessary, she was even willing to dutifully serve her Master's husband. She couldn't lose her virginity, and, if it made things easier on her Master, she was willing to suffer some indignation on her behalf. After all, they would be together for thousands of years, if not longer, so Karin wasn't foolish enough to think that 'nothing' would happen between her and Vahn. Her Master had also been behaving 'strangely' ever since their reunion, so, even if she was sorely lacking in experience, Karin hadn't lived for more than two-thousand-years without developing the ability to intuit certain things.Hearing her Master segue into topics such as parallel worlds, alternate dimensions, the flow of fate, and tangential timelines, Karin felt like her brain was gradually beginning to melt. There was far too much information to process, and, in the end, none of it really mattered. All she took away from the explanation was that her Master's fiance had come from a different world with the singular purpose of saving her Master. In that world, he had an expansive harem filled with actual Gods, Heroes, and a bevy of mystical and legendary entities. In the present world, there were at least five other women besides her Master, two of which were legendary monsters while the others were the Princesses of the most powerful nations in existence...Needless to say, Karin was incensed by Vahn's lack of fidelity, but, more than anything else, she was frustrated by the fact that her Master was completely smitten with the man. To make matters even worse, she could tell that the reverse was also true, as, even when he was just looking at her Master, Karin could see the love, respect, and admiration he had for her. He was also completely deferential toward her, a trait Karin both respected and felt increasingly confused about. She didn't understand how someone could be completely smitten with another person, yet, in spite of that, have a massive harem that seemed to span more than a hundred people...In the end, Karin couldn't help but voice her perturbation, waiting until her Master asked if she had any questions to glare at Vahn and ask, "What makes you so special that my Master chose you over everyone else in the world? I don't understand it. Even if you were able to treat her condition, I can't see my Master falling in love with someone so-"Before Karin could finish her words, Eva silenced her with a simple gesture and a pointed look. This filled the dark-haired woman with a bit of indignation, but, trusting that her Master would explain things, she remained silent and attentive. What she didn't expect was for a crimson hue to spread across her Master's face as she explained, "Explaining the reasons I love this idiot would take even longer than my previous explanation...the only thing that really matters is that I chose to fall in love with him. It might be difficult for you to understand right now, but believe me when I say it isn't all that different from your decision to follow me all those years ago...the love I now feel has given my life new meaning...even though I have the option to live a normal life, I'm no longer afraid to face eternity because I know a certain idiot will always be there to watch over me..."Though she was sitting with her back to Vahn, Eva couldn't help but bury her face into her hands as she uttered the final few words. This was a little contrary considering her statement that she was no longer afraid to face eternity, but, rather than point it out, Vahn earned the most profound pout he had ever seen on a grown woman's face as he embraced Eva from behind. Karin was glaring at him with a look that could even rival the release of his sword intent, but, rather than angry; it would be more accurate to say she was 'extremely' envious, not of Eva's position, but his...If looks could kill, Vahn was pretty sure he would, at the very least, be extremely injured by Karin's gaze alone. He could even feel his skin tingling slightly when he whispered, "I love you." in Eva's ear, his Magia Erebea constitution causing him to feel actual pain due to the rather ridiculous amount of holy energy exuded by Karin's body...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Eva be like, "Only I can say bad things about my husband!"','RIP Asuna','Karin about to go Biblical on this fool...)(A/N: I'm taking my break today. I'm feeling a little lethargic and want to decompress. Take care of yourselves.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1673: Revelations