Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though it didn't quite prove his claims, Vahn followed his explanation by inviting the Arika, Theo, Anarchia, and Vesperina into the Little Garden. Then, in order to effectively halt the flow of time in the outside world, he focused his mind and descended into his Realm once again.Seeing the miniature realm filled with numerous World Trees, the four new arrivals were, needless to say, awed beyond words. They could also feel the truly phenomenal amount of energy contained within the very air, it's concentration seemingly thousands of times more potent despite causing no strain on their bodies. Theo, in particular, felt like all of her pores were opening to, quite literally, aid in her absorption of the energy; effectively creating a feeling similar to infinite power was coursing through her body like a powerful river.Just as the quartet was beginning to adapt to their new surroundings, Vahn decided to drop in and say hi. His aura, alone, was enough to make Theo doubt her power even existed, as, despite feeling as though she had suddenly become unfathomably strong, her rapidly developing instincts told her there was absolutely nothing she could do to the man before her. This notion might have terrified others, but, having already dedicated her 'everything' to her Master, Theo surprised Vahn quite a bit by spontaneously developing heart-shaped pupils as she, once again, pounced on him...---In an effort to completely erase the few remaining doubts in everyone's mind, Vahn had four of himself preparing a feast since their previous discussion. He knew how much they all enjoyed his food, so, while it was a little 'underhanded', he wanted to finalize their decision with a promise of similar meals every day. To this end, he not only made everyone's favorites, but, taking advantage of the awesome power he wielded within the Realm, Vahn condensed his literal intent into the food, not to manipulate them persay, but to ensure they understood his feelings.Though everyone had a markedly different reaction, the plan ended up going a lot smoother than Vahn expected. Eva was even brought to tears the moment she bit into the strawberry shortcake he had baked for her, memories of the past descending upon her like rain. Instead of feeling alone and scared, however, there was a warm presence that never left her side, shielding her from the rain and preventing her from taking even a single step towards the darkness just beyond her periphery.While considerably less dramatic, everyone else at the table was having a similar experience as Eva. Anarchia and Vesperina were reminded of all the mischief they had gotten up to in their childhood, but, most notably, their hearts were warmed by the mere sight of radiant smiles on their daughters' faces. As for the daughters in question, Arika's face had become beet red, illusory steam rising from her crown as she momentarily refused to make eye contact with anyone. Asuna, however, made no such attempt to hide her emotions, a radiant smile visible on her slightly flushed face as she stared at Vahn with glittering, impassioned, eyes.Following Asuna's example, Theo had a very similar expression on her face, albeit for very different reasons. Asuna was imagining a rather tame scene where she curled up in his lap, sharing the same throne with an expression that matched the one she was currently presenting. As for Theo, the first image that came to her mind was being strapped to an x-shaped table, her wrists and ankles bound as several versions of her Master licked and 'tormented' her body.Seeing Theo descend into a giggling fit, Vahn began to wonder if he had gone a little too far, but, as she was the only real outlier, he decided it wasn't that bad. Even Jinbei seemed to savor each and every bite of his meal with a reminiscent smile on his face, while, seated next to Eva, Karin took very small bites of specially prepared sweet and spicy bread. Unlike everyone else, she was basically just recalling the last few days, each more fulfilling than the previous three-hundred-years combined...In the end, the only person who didn't experience something blissful or pleasant from eating the carefully prepared meal was Fenrir. As for the reason why, it came down to the simple fact of the matter that she was always happiest in the present, seated at her Master's side with a contented smile on her face. She found the reactions of everyone else more enjoyable than the flavor of the food, as, in her mind, her Master's success was her greatest source of happiness...---With the feast inevitably coming to an end, everyone felt a little bittersweet, but, even after several hours had passed, it was possible to find most of them with a contented smile on their faces. There was something truly magical about being able to experience tender moments while enjoying some of the best-tasting food they could even imagine. Many were even able to recall memories they had once forgotten, so, despite feeling a little empty inside, it was a pleasant melancholy that reminded them of their childhoods and simpler times. Jinbei, in particular, just found a nice place to lay down at the edge of the island, a relaxed smile visible on his face as he decided to nap for a few months...Without paying any particular mind to the whimsy of the self-proclaimed Vagrant Hermit, Vahn had gathered everyone together in the dojo to discuss their actions going forward. He had already used the vessel he kept nearby to recover, not just the Garden of Avalon, but the entirety of Demios. This was bound to cause quite a stir within the astrological community, but, considering few people had even seen Deimos due to its small size, it wouldn't really be missed.With the Garden of Avalon secured, the only loose ends remaining in the Akamatsuverse were the people those present were insistent on bringing along. He had explained to them that it could take several thousand years before they are able to return to their world, so, while time would certainly be stopped, it would ease the burden of separation to have people they cared about to come along for the ride.Surprisingly, Eva seemed to have abandoned the idea of bringing along the immortal children she had previously wanted to help. She was a pretty rational person, so, knowing time would be halted while she was away, she ultimately decided to save them in the far future. By then, she would have more than enough power to defeat her foes, and, though she didn't vocalize her thoughts, she was still feeling a little guilty about being selfish while Vahn was still desperately seeking the strength to return home.Since it took a lot of effort to look after other people, Eva came to the conclusion it would be better for her to adapt to the current situation rather than making it more complicated. After all, she had a literal eternity to prepare a suitable environment for all the people she wanted to save. Until then, it was best she focus on the things that truly matter: the happiness she had found for herself, getting along with the people she already viewed as family, and the fact her fiance seemed determined to eat her up in the very near future...Though he wasn't reading her mind, Vahn could guess what Eva was thinking, as, the moment they began discussing living arrangements, her face became noticeably redder. After all, this topic was a segue into another very important discussion: wedding arrangement and family planning.Marriage seemed to be a lot more important in the Akamatsuverse than the previous Records Vahn had visited, so, without any room for debate, he was compelled to marry Eva, Arika, Theo, and even Asuna in the very near future. Anarchia even made a comment about throwing her own name into the pool for consideration, but, after realizing even her daughter was considering it, she promptly retracted her statement as a joke. She was honestly just happy that her daughter had been given a chance to find her happiness, and, though she certainly wouldn't mind having a 'taste' of Vahn, she knew it would be best for her to seek companionship elsewhere.With Anarchia's 'joke' out of the way, it was ultimately decided that each of the weddings, starting with Eva's, would take place over a three-day period approximately three weeks from the time of the discussion. This would give Vahn enough time to wrap up any loose ends in the outside world, and, though the weddings themselves would seem a little rushed, the honeymoon period was set to take place in the middle rings. There, the time dilation was close to 500x, so, with each of the three weddings taking place on different days, they would have upwards of fifty-days for the honeymoon period.Fortunately, though it was discussed in great detail, there was no risk of anyone getting pregnant unless they were absolutely certain they wanted to have a baby. This upset Anarchia and Vesperina a little bit, as they were very eager to meet their grandchildren, but, after hearing about the effects of the Little Garden in greater detail, they were willing to wait. Seeing an infant grow into an adult over the course of 2-3 years was a rather jarring experience, so, for the time being, Vahn suggested they wait patiently until they could enter the Realm proper.In the end, the only person who even considered having a child any time soon was, surprisingly, Theo. In her culture, it was pretty common for members of the Nobility to have multiple children, and, though she understood there was no real need to produce an 'heir', it was like an instinct for all of her people. She was similar to an Amazoness in that regard, and, due to descending from a warring species, Theo wouldn't be able to rest peacefully until she had produced at least a handful of strong children.Remembering she had literally asked him to impregnate her in the past, Vahn's initial shock faded rather quickly, and, much as he had promised in the past, he assured her that their children would be exceptionally powerful. This wasn't a false promise either, as, unless her desires changed, it was all but guaranteed that his children with Theo would be little battle maniacs. There was even a high probability that a few would inherit the evolutionary capabilities Theo had developed as a result of her fusion with the Tri-Force of Power. After all, the intent of the parents had a substantial influence on the children he produced, so, after experiencing such power, Theo would want their children to possess something similar.Fortunately, though it caused him quite a few headaches, Vahn already had a substantial amount of experience when it came to dealing with destructive infants with infinite potential for evolution. His daughter with Tiamat, Xysteria, seemed to represent the concepts of Chaos and Evolution. The only desire Tiamat had for her daughter was that she would be able to live however she pleased, and, no matter what form she took, she would always be loved. Vahn's own desire was that his children had no limits to their growth, so, in the end, Xysteria was born as an exceptionally adorable little dragon whelp that could produce seemingly infinite versions of herself, each with different traits...Though she had numerous visitors, Xysteria spent most of her time playing within a Realm that had been specifically created for her. She was a rather 'simple' girl with an insatiable curiosity, and, even if he wanted to, keeping her restrained was virtually impossible. Thus, to protect both Xysteria, and the very fabric of reality, Xysteria needed to be isolated in her own little world. There, more than a thousand different versions of herself happily explored the ever-changing region, each serving as an extension of the 'original' Xysteria, an adorable little toddler with earthen-brown skin, four arms, multiple tails, large furry ears, multiple horns, and fur so soft it could even compete with Fenrir and Preasia.Vahn did his best never to compare his children, but, as a result of his and Tiamat's desires during her pregnancy, Xysteria was inarguably his most adorable child. This wasn't just his opinion either, as, whenever people visited Xysteria's realm, it was impossible to avoid cuddling with her original body. Rather, even if you didn't want to, Xysteria would seek you out, and, after she inevitably got her hands on you, you simply had no choice but to cuddle her for, at least, a few hours. Her fur was immaculate, her body was squishy, and, though she was the furthest thing from a human in Vahn's ever-growing family tree, all of her characteristics screamed, 'I am adorable, love me'.Though it was a little dangerous to allow Xysteria's extensions to interact with others, as they were the manifestation of her curiosity, even children could interact with her original self without fear. As for why it was necessary to place her within her own Realm, it was because she had no control over when and where another version of herself would manifest out of thin air. She also had virtually no control over the traits they possessed, and, while they followed her will similar to a hive mind, a few of Xysteria's extensions had traits that posed a threat to others just by virtue of their existence.The most notable of Xysteria's extensions had the ability to produce spores that infected virtually all other forms of organic life, the only exception being her other extensions. Anything infected would have all the nutrients in their body consumed to produce massive mushrooms, many of which were larger than houses. By the time a week had passed, more than a million square-kilometers had been converted into one massive mushroom colony, and, if not for the effect spontaneously dying out, it likely would have spread to cover the entire Realm-like texture.Once Silva finished her Terra-Genesis, Xysteria was slated to become the first living organism on her surface. This was something Silva herself desired, likely due to Gaia's desire that her daughter get along with all of her siblings, so, whenever Xysteria was in a stable period, Vahn would take her over for a playdate. The two got along exceptionally well, and, though Xysteria still had the mental state of a three-year-old, even after several decades had passed, Silva didn't seem to mind babying her adorable little sister in the slightest...---With most of the important discussions out of the way, Vahn helped everyone get situated in their respective residences. The system shop had literal mansions available for purchase, and, since each of his inventory slots was a 1000x1000 meter cube, he had long-since developed a habit of storing numerous convenient structures inside. If he made adequate preparations, it was even possible to store an entire plot of land inside his Inventory, the only requirement being that the materials were all purchased from the system shop.When everything was said and done, Anarchia, Vesperina, Arika, Asuna, and even Theo all moved into a large mansion located within the second ring. They also had a small cottage on the main island and a training area on the third ring, the latter of which had already existed due to Vahn creating similar structures on each of the seventy rings. As for their insistence on having their main residence in the second ring, it was apparently to reduce the amount of time they had to wait before being able to eat his food again...With Theo choosing to live amongst the members of the Ostian Royal Family, seemingly quite serious about seeing Arika and Asuna as her sisters, Vahn's job was finished. He had constructed the residence for Eva and Karin days prior, and, though it was little more than a small cottage with only five bedrooms, Eva argued that it was 'intimate'. She seemed to have grown weary of extravagance, so, with the Little Garden suffused with a perpetual calming aura, Eva decided she would rather live in a small, peaceful, residence...the type of place you could, very easily, start a family.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn just Shokugeki-no-Souma'd them','Family planning is important','For those who are curious, Xysteria looks functionally identical to the character Faputa from Made in Abyss')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

To prevent any problems from arising, Vahn deposited Arika, Theo, Anarchia, and Vesperina back in their previous locations. At the very least, he still needed to recover Juuzou, and, though he had the option to just leave Nagi within his personalized Sub-Space Orb, the idea of leaving the boy inside, even with time stopped, just felt wrong.With a few hours to spare before the 'coming dawn', Vahn teleported over to Ariadne using one of the many spatial anchors he had created. At the same time, he also sent a version to himself over to Zephyria, not with the intention of inviting Katarina to accompany him but to share a few drinks. He couldn't deny he had grown a little fond of the woman during their relatively short stint in Zephyria, and, though they weren't particularly close, Vahn knew he would feel some regret if he left without at least saying goodbye.Understanding his nature well, Eva had actually given Vahn permission to sleep with Katarina, but, unless something pretty drastic happened, he had no such intentions. He wasn't fond of the idea of casual sex, and, depending on her reaction after the fact, he would probably try to convince her to accompany him. This would only complicate matters, as, despite being an exceptionally competent woman, Katarina wasn't really prepared to learn everything he had to impart. She was just a normal woman with extraordinary capabilities, and, though she undoubtedly had an adventurous spirit, the life she had lived up until this point was simply too divergent from his own...---Though he would normally just teleport directly into the interior, Vahn found himself standing on the outside of Katarina's room with a slightly melancholic smile on his face. Then, after shaking his head in self-admonition, he knocked on the door hard enough to send a jarring echo through the interior. This caught the woman inside by surprise, but, after removing the safety from her magical gun, she managed to sound cool and unperturbed as she deactivated the door's lock and said, "It's open!" in a commanding bark.Surprising the woman even further, Vahn opened the door to Katarina's personal quarters, a casual smile on his face as he stared into misty-blue eyes and lightly mused, "It seems I caught you at an inopportune time..."Since it was already nearing midnight, Katarina was currently wearing little more than a loose white blouse, a trainer bodice that was likely intended to help keep her hourglass figure, and, somewhat surprisingly, a pair of old-fashioned cotton knickers. Though she still gave off the impression of a fierce and dauntless woman, especially with her angular eyes and free-flowing scarlet hair, Vahn found the gap between her intimidating aura and plain sleepwear rather charming.Seeing who it was that dared visit her private quarters in the middle of the night, Katarina released a sigh of relief as she tossed her pistol onto the bed and quickly fixed her hair into a loose ponytail as she complained, "You really just do whatever you want, don't you? Zephyria might be the City of Freedom, but breaking into a woman's house in the middle of the night is grounds to be drawn and quartered."Though he was certain Katarina only felt a middling attraction toward him, Vahn's smile became more prominent as he noticed her instinctual attempt to beautify herself in front of him. It was the type of thing women did when they cared about how particular people saw them, and, at least until she saw his smile, Katarina didn't even seem to realize what she was doing.Noticing the change in Vahn's expression, Katarina's own turned into a scowl as she crossed her arms and asked, "What, never seen a woman in her skivvies before? I'd appreciate it if you stopped with the incessant gawking and answered my question. Don't tell me you actually came here just to pay me a visit?"As she had hit the nail on the head, Vahn chuckled in response to Katarina's words, surprising the woman for the third time in less than three minutes. She even took a step back, not out of fear, but sheer disbelief. At the same time, her heart began beating like a drum within her chest, and, though she was able to retain her usual mask of calm, a drunken hue colored her cheeks, staining her olive-skin with a subtle yet tantalizing shade of red.Though he wasn't exactly trying to tease the woman, Vahn allowed the misunderstanding to persist for several seconds before pulling out a crystalline bottle filled with a rich brown liquid. Then, with a rather cheeky yet somehow serious smile, he mused, "That's quite the inviting reaction...regrettably, I think it is best we avoid crossing that line. I'm not into one-night stands, so, unless you're willing to drop everything and follow me to worlds far beyond the stars, I'm afraid we'll have to remain as little more than drinking buddies..."Noticing the peculiar melancholy contained within Vahn's tone, Katarina's expression was marred with yet another frown. She suddenly got the impression he was here to say goodbye, and, based on the context of his statement, it seemed like he was going somewhere 'very' far away. This made her feel a palpable emptiness within her heart, as, despite their relatively short period of interaction, she had also grown rather fond of the troublesome dragon. His actions drowned her beneath an ocean of paperwork, but, as he was freer than anyone she had ever met, she found it impossible to hate him...After remaining silent for several seconds, Katarina ultimately broke eye contact, a conflicted look replacing her usual calm as she asked, "Assuming I was willing...what can you offer me in exchange? I'm a pragmatic woman...if the price is right, I could be convinced..."Surprised by Katarina's response, Vahn could only stare at her for several seconds, his expression a textbook example of abject shock. This scenario wasn't 'completely' outside his expectations, but, as the leader of a nation that espoused freedom, he hadn't expected Katarina to so readily offer terms for a 'compromise'.Seeing Vahn's stunned expression, Katarina glowered at him with slightly upturned eyes, her irises glowing slightly as she added, "I trust my gut. It's telling me I'll experience a lot of interesting things if I choose to follow you. I became Admiral to protect the country my ancestors had built, but, after more than a decade in this position, I've come to realize this is all just a big waste of time. Zephyria is a nation of cutthroats, opportunists, and traitors. The freedom I once believed in cannot be found here and I've long grown weary of the everyday politicking. If you can afford the price, I don't mind selling myself into your service...I gave up my actual freedom a long time ago..."Though he was even more surprised by Katarina's unexpected testimony, Vahn was able to maintain a mask of calm as he silently listened. He got the impression she was hiding something, but, when she got to the parts concerning her freedom, he could clearly hear the regret and sincerity evident within her tone. This was something that deeply resonated with him, and, though he could tell she didn't actually want to abandon her country, her yearning for something 'more' was reflected in the fiery glow of her glistening blue eyes...Realizing he was inadvertently on the precipice of obtaining a dauntless pirate queen as a potential harem member, Vahn couldn't help feeling a little disconcerted. Despite this, he had never been the type to disregard a person's convictions, so, in response to Katarina's proposition, he offered, "I can give you free rein through more than a thousand worlds, many filled with fantastical creatures, vast unexplored regions, and endless challenges to overcome. You can either become an Admiral in the Imperial Fleet, or, should you desire more freedom, I am willing to provide you a ship that is equally as capable of diving into the depths of the sea as it is at flying through the vast expanse of space. In the end, everything will depend on your ambitions, and, so long as you never stray onto a path that sees the weak and powerless suppressed beneath your will, I am even willing to provide you with all the resources you need to build another nation..."Though each of Vahn's promises was grander than the one before, Katarina couldn't help but feel a little melancholic. Part of her had wanted him to offer nothing more than his love and a few pints of strong liquor. From his words, she could easily conclude he already had, not just one, but numerous women in his heart. This wasn't really that surprising, but, with none of his promises even hinting at a relationship, she couldn't help but wonder if her charm was lacking.Rather than be deterred by the notion that Vahn was unaffected by her beauty, Katarina actually felt a little fired up. She wasn't known as the 'Dauntless Katarina' for nothing, so, after making a show of seriously considering his offer, she ultimately shook her head, adopting a serious expression as she said, "You'll have to do better than that. Flowery words would never be able to convince me to give up everything. If you want me, I'm afraid you'll need to demonstrate a bit of sincerity...prove to me that I won't regret it..."Since she got the impression Vahn was acting denser than he actually was, Katarina left no room to misinterpret her meaning, pulling at the strap keeping her bodice in place. Her blouse immediately burst open, and, though she was pushing thirty-nine-years-old, Katarina's body showed no signs of deteriorating. Instead, she gave off the impression of a woman in her prime, her olive-skin catching the light in a way that made the contours of her body appear even more beautiful...After briefly pausing to admire Katarina's notable abdominal muscles, Vahn raised his eyes to meet the woman's fiery gaze. He was only just now beginning to realize what she wanted from him, and, though it was a little unorthodox, he was certain he could 'convince' her. She very clearly wanted to love him, but, due to her nature, she couldn't open her heart so easily. Thus, in order to remove all of her doubts, allowing her to pursue the freedom she so desperately craved, Vahn resolved himself to show Katarina the full extent of his capacity to love...What he never could have expected was, despite her age, position, profession, and natural beauty, Katarina was somehow still a virgin...---Though he shared senses with each of his vessels, the other Vahn's couldn't help but feel as though their counterpart in Zephyria was very fortunate. After all, their original intention was to simply say goodbye, but, before a single drink could be poured, the situation had developed into a passionate session of lovemaking. To make matters even more outlandish, this was actually his first time having sex with a woman he had met within the Akamatsuverse.Remembering his conversation with Eva prior to departing the Realm, Vahn realized she had already expected this exact outcome. She had probably noticed something contained within Katarina's gaze that he had overlooked, as, moments before his departure, she went out of her way to expressively give him permission. If he had to guess, this was either her way of testing him, or, given the specific circumstance, her method of trying to make up for her recent selfishness. She knew he had made a number of concessions on her behalf, and, though Vahn never regretted any of his decisions, there was no denying they had brought him a considerable amount of stress.Fortunately, despite Seras actually becoming a ranking member in his fan club, Vahn was able to depart Ariadne without accidentally cooking up an oyakodon. He got the impression that neither Sidra nor her daughter would refuse to become his ingredients, but, thanks to Zhuque, who had been watching over the duo on his behalf, neither were bold enough to proposition him. In the end, they just had a pleasant late-night dinner, and, after discussing a few of his former students, Vahn departed the Academy City without giving in to his urge to seek out a certain fragrant rabbit...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Just leave him inside &gt;:D...','Truly Dauntless o_o...','No Bun's buns (T ^ T)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After idling in the air for several minutes without any new gates forming, confirming his suspicion that Karin effectively acted as a waypoint for whatever entity was observing her, Vahn gradually eased out of his Cherubic-Dragon transformation. It was a very powerful form, but, perhaps as a result of using Karin's body as a template, he actually needed to focus just to prevent his body from transforming into that of a female.Vahn didn't particularly mind transforming into a woman for short periods of time, but, as his self-image was that of a reliable father, an emperor, and a man, he always felt uncomfortable in a woman's body. It also reminded him of the time he was essentially pushed down by Tiona, the experiments he conducted with Da Vinci, and, most notably, the thirteen-weeks he spent trying to familiarize himself with Yin Elemental Energy.For one reason or another, likely pertaining to the Laws, everything from natural affinity, race, and gender determined the efficacy of certain types of energy. Men were naturally better and shaping and controlling Yang Elemental Energy, and, though they were able to eventually master it, women had a far easier time mastering Yin Elemental Energy. There were various ways around this, but, in the end, it was always better to work alongside the Laws rather than work against them. Thus, in an effort to familiarize himself with various Laws, Vahn had changed his form from everything to a tiny pixie to a hill-sized dragon.With Karin's body as a template, it was only a matter of time until Vahn incorporated the unique structure of a Cherubim into a vessel that perfectly suited his personal use. This was nothing new, however, as, even as far back as the Record of Danmachi, Vahn had been experimenting with the form and function of his own body. He had originally used Riveria as a template to emulate a High Elf, and, though it was awkward in the beginning, he had even found a way to change his form into that of a male Amazoness. There were very few limits to his ability to manipulate his form, the only real restrictions being his inhibitions and his understanding of the race he was trying to emulate.---After assuming a far more comfortable form, Vahn decided to sit atop the island's estate as he waited for some kind of response from Heaven. He didn't actually know to what extent they were able to influence the physical plane, but, considering there were entities like Demon Gods, Vampire Nobles, and various other malicious creatures acting with impunity, he doubted their influence was able to reach beyond their established territories. They likely used Karin's body as a beacon of sorts, so, now that she was no longer in the Magical World, there was a chance they had lost the ability to directly influence Mundus Magicus.With more than an hour passing without incident, Vahn felt like his speculation hit the proverbial nail on the head. This was actually a little disappointing, but, as he had already decided to depart the Akamatsuverse, he didn't let it bother him. Instead, he pulled out two tarot-like cards from his Inventory, each showing distinctly different women with diverse shades of golden hair.Staring at the first card, a wry smile spread across Vahn's face as it depicted Theo in a rather risque outfit with several muscular arms hovering around what appeared to be a dharmic wheel. She had a massive grin on her face, and, though it was just a card, Vahn felt like he could feel her enthusiasm and her desire for battle radiating from the image. As for the latter card, it showed an inordinately beautiful woman with long golden hair reaching the small of her back, her expression appearing a little cold at first, but, if you looked closely, an undisguised warmth was visible within in her peculiar heterochromatic eyes...After staring into Arika's gem-like eyes for several seconds, Vahn brought her card to his forehead, closing his eyes as he attempted to established a telepathic link. It took her less than three seconds to accept his 'call', her voice sounding equal parts excited, confused, and worried as she asked, ("Is there something wrong? I never expected you to contact me during the day...")Though Vahn could simply teleport to the Empire and meet with both of the girls, doing so would be a greater hassle than summoning to his side with the Pactio. Before that, however, he wanted to give them a heads up, so, in response to Arika's question, he plainly stated, ("There is something I needed to discuss with both you and Theo in person. A few things have changed in the past couple of days. How quickly can you make preparations so I can teleport you-")Without affording him the time to finish his telepathic message, Arika answered, ("We can be ready in three minutes.") in a curt tone. This caught Vahn a little off-guard, but, considering who he was speaking to, it wasn't too surprising that she would immediately make time for him. This brought a natural smile to his face, and, after sending her an affirmative, he quickly teleported to the Palace of the Sun in order to include Anarchia and Vesperina in the discussion...---Immediately after her telepathic conversation with Vahn, Arika turned toward the bronze-skinned woman curled up at her side. Then, after several seconds of staring at the line of drool leaking from the woman's mouth, she raised her hand to give the scantily-clad woman a rather firm smack on her largely exposed rear-end. Rather than cry out in confusion, however, the woman immediately closed her mouth, a sonorous moan escaping her throat as she lazily opened her eyes.Resisting the urge to sigh in exasperation, Arika decided to get directly to the point, stating, "Vahn has called for us. It seems to be an urgent matter so you should prepare yourself accordingly."Hearing her kindred sister's words, Theo immediately sat up on the bed, her developing breasts bouncing spiritedly for a brief moment as she exclaimed, "Yosh! I hope those bastards hiding in the shadows have finally poked their heads out! I'm itching for a fight...!"As they had just finished training less than an hour ago, Arika couldn't help but roll her eyes ever so slightly as she explained, "If it was the enemy, Vahn would have come directly to us. It seems like he has something important to discuss so we will likely emerge within the Palace of the Sun. Though I have already told them about you...I would rather you avoid wearing anything inappropriate before my mother and aunt. It's not that I'm against your choice in garb, but, for a variety of reasons, it is best you adorn something more formal..."Imagining her mother walking around the palace in a skimpy dress or a modified wedding gown, a notable shiver passed through Arika's body. She knew her mother's character well, and, though she was a nigh-flawless Queen when it came to the execution of her duties, her insatiable curiosity and her penchant for trying new things had become increasingly problematic. The presence of Vahn had only exacerbated this, and, if not for Asuna and herself, Arika was certain that her mother would not have held back at all during her treatment.Remembering all of the 'advice' her mother had given her, Arika was unable to prevent a sigh from escaping her lips as she began to fix her hair and clothes. Fortunately, they were currently within a sub-space created by Qinglong, so, while she had told Vahn they would be ready in three minutes, they actually had closer to thirty before he summoned them. This gave her plenty of time to fix her appearance, a habit she had put increasingly more effort into even before her feelings for Vahn had fully blossomed...---With three minutes having elapsed, Vahn smiled at the two pajama-clad women seated across from him as he said, "I'll be summoning Arika and Theo now. I can also summon Asuna, but, for the sake of convenience, I might just take everyone to where she is located..."Without asking any questions, Anarchia and Vesperina just nodded in understanding before taking simultaneous sips of the hot cocoa he had prepared for them. This caused the smile on Vahn's face to twitch slightly, but, without commenting on their easy-going attitudes, he held up the two Pactio cards and exclaimed, "I Summon Forth, Attendants of Vahn, Arika Anarchia Entheofushia and Theodora Bashireia Herasu De Vesuperisujimia...!!"Following the incantation, two complex magical circles appeared on the ground as Anarchia, with a teasing smile on her face, mused, "Hear that, Vesperina? It seems my daughter, the future Queen of Vespertatia, has become the Sage Dragon Emperor's attendant. How scandalous~."Hearing the remark and subsequent laughter, Vahn's smile became even more strained, but, seeing Arika and Theo appear, he was able to recover almost instantaneously. His expression softened into an affectionate smile, but, before he was able to utter so much a single syllable, the latter of the two zeroed in on him, her eyes turning into predatory slits for as she pounced on him with the force of a freight train.Fortunately, Vahn was already accustomed to Theo's antics, so, before she was able to send them crashing through the palace walls, he created a spatial lock just to arrest her momentum. Then, with a mix of amusement and affection appearing on his face, he wrapped his arms around the excitable woman, the middle and ring fingers of his right hand pressing into the nerves above the base of her tail as he mused in a slightly commanding tone, "Behave yourself..."The moment she heard Vahn's words, all the power seemed to drain from Theo's body in an instant as she slumped against him. The only part of her that was still lively was her tail, but, due to Vahn's preemptive measures, it was only able to lightly waggle and twitch as she nestled her face into his chest, her voice hot and heavy as she mewled, "Master..."Hearing the familiar form of address, the smile on Vahn's face became more prominent as his hold on Theo's body became more firm. Before he could reward her obedience with a kiss, however, the mood was completely destroyed when Anarchia audibly muttered, "Oh my...this was not what I had in mind when the Sage Dragon Emperor requested our presence. I had originally thought we were underdressed for the occasion...now it's starting to seem like the opposite is true..."With her hearing becoming even more sensitive as of late, Theo didn't miss a single word that had escaped Anarchia's mouth. This caused her to feel more than a little embarrassed, but, even if they had tried to forcibly tear her away, she wasn't going to part from her Master so easily. Instead, she just buried her face in his chest, a thin membrane developing within her ears to block most external sounds as her olfactory receptors began to multiply, drastically increasing her sense of smell.Due to their close proximity, Vahn was even more aware of the changes occurring in Theo's body than she herself. This fascinated him greatly, but, knowing he would have plenty of time to observe her within the Little Garden, he temporarily suppressed his intrigue. Instead, he continued to hold Theo in his embrace, and, after offering an apologetic smile toward Arika, he went on to explain as many details regarding his intentions as possible. He explained it as placing the entire universe into stasis, and, after explaining his reasons for leaving and promising them he would finally be able to reveal the truth, he managed to convince, not just Arika and Theo, but Anarchia and Vesperina to accompany him...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn conducts a lot of experiments with Da Vinci (OwO)...','Anarchia never misses an opportunity~','The power of evolution combined with the Law of Progress o_o...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1680: Arrangements