Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With the Guardians' Tests offering no real challenge, Vahn's ascent had become relatively peaceful since his departure from the 44th Floor. Even pacing himself, however, resulted in him reaching the 49th in only two months. This brought him to a region in the Tower known as the Endless Sandsea, a massive desert that covered the entirety of the Floor, sans a few dungeon-like ruins and oases.Being one of the Floors with the sparsest population densities, Vahn chose the Endless Sandsea as the place where he would deposit Eduan. To his surprise, however, the man was promptly ejected to the Middle Tower by the Floor Guardian. As for the reason, it was apparently due to the fact that the 'real' Eduan still existed as one of the ruling powers within the Tower. Because of this, the Guardian refused to acknowledge the candidacy of the former data construct as a Regular. Thus, if he wanted to climb the Tower, he would need to start from the Floor of Tests, just like everyone else.Fortunately, Headon had been paying close attention to Vahn's progress, so, shortly after the blue-haired man had been expelled from the Inner Tower, the enigmatic rabbit extended an invitation for him to open the gate. This annoyed Eduan quite a bit, but, as it was also an opportunity for him to experience the Tower's changes in the most direct manner, he ultimately accepted after confirming that his status as an Irregular would remain unchanged. As for how Vahn knew of these happenings, it was largely due to his ability to share senses with his subordinates, and, as was often the case, the Law of Identity's ability to transform into persons of interest to reveal their thoughts and intentions.Since he could always recall Eduan through his Unit Management, Vahn decided to leave the man to his own devices to see how he would react to the changes introduced to the Tower following his initial climb. This would provide a retrospective account of the changes that had occurred over the last ten-thousand-years, and, most importantly, it would provide him the opportunity to experience his 'legacy' first-hand. After all, even in the Lower Floors, the corruption of the Ten ran rampant and without reservations...---A stark contrast to the majority of missions he had received from the Floor Guardian's, the Test of the 49th Floor had Vahn eliminate a hundred colossal Shinheuh known as Sandworms. These were omnivorous creatures that rarely appeared within the Endless Sandsea, but, when they did, disaster was the only thing left in their wake. They were also directly responsible for the perpetuation of the floor-wide desert, so, while it wouldn't solve the underlying problem, killing a few of the mountain-sized creatures made living on the Floor much safer than it otherwise would have been.Though he wasn't particularly fond of kill missions, Vahn and Co ultimately hunted far more than the required amount of Sandworms. It had only taken a single encounter with the nine-kilometer-long beasts to understand the danger they posed to the average resident of the Floor. They were also as close to mindless beasts as you could get, as, rather than having a centralized brain, their bodies were lines with several cerebral nodules that formed an intricate network reminiscent of a collection of creatures comprising a single super-organism. Their only purpose in life seemed to be tracking down and devouring rich sources of Shinsu, so, while there was nothing inherently evil with fulfilling their biological purpose, the destruction they were capable of simply couldn't be ignored.In the end, Vahn's hunting party ended up tracking down and eliminating a total of 338 Sandworms over the course of a twenty-three-day period. They only stopped because they were unable to find any additional Sandworms, not because the population had been wiped out, but because those that remained were either in hibernation or had fled to the depths of the Sandsea.As a result of their efforts, several additional oases began to pop up throughout the Sandsea as the average concentration of Shinsu qualitatively increased. There was even Shinsu-infused rain for the first time in several hundred years, an event that was perceived as both a pleasant surprise and an ill omen by those who had become accustomed to the inhospitality of the Floor. Fortunately, while a bit of flooding couldn't be avoided, none of the 'great disasters' prophesied by any of the Floor's would-be soothsayers came to pass...at least not in the manner they had predicted...---Though he would have liked to immediately head for the gigantic Floating Fortress known as The Nest, there were a number of matters Vahn needed to attend to before making contact with the Lo Po Bia Family. It was also rumored that the artifact used to access 'The Frozen Waterfall', one of the largest pieces of Suspendium ever discovered, took upwards of a year just to prepare. This made it exceptionally difficult to steal anything from the infamous 'Vault of Jahad', as, the moment you tried to forcibly access the interior storage, failsafes built into the system would ensure the destruction of everything inside.Fortunately, due to the influence that Suspendium had on the surrounding Space, it was remarkably difficult to approach The Frozen Waterfall, much less damage it. Even High Rankers required special equipment to get anywhere near it, and, even then, there was always a chance that wayward spatial fluctuations could rip them apart without affording them the opportunity to defend themselves. For this reason, The Frozen Waterfall was one of the most secure storage facilities within the entirety of the Tower, so much so that Jahad had entrusted countless priceless artifacts to the Lo Po Bia Family for safekeeping.Though he was confident in his ability to circumvent both The Nest's and The Frozen Waterfall's defenses, Vahn had already decided to try and settle things in an above-board manner. This meant negotiating with the Lo Po Bia Family directly, and, depending on the circumstances, confronting Lo Po Bia himself. The man was known to spend a significant amount of time within The Nest itself, so, with the device used to activate The Frozen Waterfall taking up to a year just to charge, there were ample opportunities for their paths to cross. Before that, however, there were a few other important matters he needed to attend to, so, at the behest of Ryun and Ai, Vahn eventually found himself on the outskirts of a place known as the Wall of Peaceful Coexistence.As the name implied, the Wall of Peaceful Coexistence was built near the end of the Era of Genesis as a symbol of peace and compromise between the Jahad Empire and the various forces that had opposed Jahad proclaiming himself King.In the beginning, there were walls located on every Floor between the 50th and 100th Floors, but, with the passage of nearly ten-thousand-years, only three remained to this day. Because of this, it was rumored that once the remaining three walls fell war would, once again, return to the Tower...Staring up at the massive stone wall supported by pillars of Suspendium that dwarfed skyscrapers, Vahn could feel an oppressive atmosphere radiating from within. It was like the people inside had completely lost their hope, and, even without seeing them directly, he could feel the melancholy that had pervaded the majority of their beings. This gave him the urge to avoid entering the wall, but, with Ryun urging him inside, he ultimately ascended the hazardous stone steps leading to its interior. There, after bypassing a number of security checkpoints, he followed Ryun through streets lined with people who emitted a depressive yet remarkably hostile aura.Noticing the desperation in the eyes of nearly every person they passed, Vahn couldn't help shaking his head. The people living within the wall reminded him of those he had encountered on the Floor of Death, yet, unlike the aforementioned immortals, the residents of the wall could leave whenever they wanted. Instead, the majority chose to stay for fear of being persecuted by those affiliated with the Jahad Empire, and, as a result, fear, paranoia, and self-preservation had become the foundation upon which society within the wall was built. This led to an extreme aversion towards foreigners and refugees, as, more than anything else, the people living within the wall feared change.Sensing her Master's frustration, Ryun decided to stick a little closer to him so that he wouldn't feel alone within the ocean of resentment. She had come to understand that he was heavily influenced by the sentiments of those around him, so, despite feeling more than a little embarrassed, she did her best to counteract his diminishing mood by sticking close to him and willfully waggling her tail.Understanding Ryun's intentions, Vahn did his best to ignore the looks directed their way until they reached the back entrance of what appeared to be a tavern. There, dressed in contrasting blue and pink robes decorated with yellow ribbons, two young women, one with dark blue hair and the other with bright-pink, synchronously bowed as they said, "Welcome. Our Master has been awaiting your arrival. Please, come inside."With the Law of Identity hovering behind him, Vahn promptly became aware of the fact that their Master was none other than Sophia Tan, one of the most influential Elders in the entirety of FUG. This left a slightly sour taste in his mouth, as, despite being the benefactor of various organizations protecting and promoting females within the Tower, Sophia's other titles included Chief-Mistress of the Pleasure District and Grand Matchmaker of the Noble Families. In other words, her organization sponsored nearly every successful whorehouse and prostitution ring within the Tower, and, for the sake of expanding her information network, she trained women to serve as courtesans, spies, and assassins within the ranks of the Ten Great Families.Though she rarely forced them to comply, the structure of the Tower left most women with very few options if they wanted to avoid a tragic fate during and after their ascent. Thus, with the exception of a few rare talents and those belonging to the Ten Great Families, most female Regulars ended up joining one of the various female-only organizations, the majority of which were backed by Sophia and a few other influential and opportunistic women within the Tower. This was the only way many of them could avoid becoming victims, so, while it might be true that Sophia didn't force anyone to join her organizations, she also hadn't done much to solve the underlying issues that forced nearly 70% of female Regulars to join her organizations and sex-trafficking rings...Noticing the look in her Master's eyes, Ryun tightly gripped his hand, whispering, "Please hear them out before you make a decision..." in a pleading tone. This left Vahn feeling exasperated, but, having already promised he would do just that, he ultimately nodded his head and said, "Don't worry...even if I don't appreciate these types of organizations, I learned long ago that they are an intrinsic part of most societies. I'm not going to hold those at the bottom accountable for a system necessitated by circumstance. Besides, this isn't all that different from what the Great Families have done to try and earn my favor..."Exhaling a sigh of relief, Ryun gripped her Master's hand a little more firmly before resting her head against his shoulder and muttering, "Thank you..." with as much sincerity as she could manage. This caused the two girls standing at the entrance to give her scrutinizing and slightly incredulous looks, but, as they had already performed their duty, neither said anything until after Vahn and Ryun had disappeared into the tavern's interior. Then, with a slightly excited expression, the pink-haired girl turned to her blue-haired counterpart, green-eyes glistening as she mused, "He is a lot cuter than I expected. What do you think, Namo?"Showing very little change in expression, the girl named Namo looked towards her counterpart with a slightly contemptuous glimmer in her dandelion-yellow eyes, monotonously replying, "I would be happier if you weren't here..." before immediately returning her attention to the alleyway they were tasked to guard. This caused the brow of the pink-haired girl to twitch quite a bit, but, knowing she wouldn't be able to get a rise out of the former, she ultimately just snorted through her nose before pulling out a tablet-like device to complete her 'dailies' on one of the Tower's more popular gaming apps...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'I feel bad for the Regulars who have to test alongside Eduan...','A beginning is a very delicate time...','Endless Politics : Infinite Concubines')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Entering the backroom of the tavern, Vahn was unsurprised to find a moderately attractive woman with ashen-pink hair and apathetic blue eyes among the people waiting inside. What did surprise him, albeit only a little, was the fact she had a thin scar running from her forehead, through her left eye, and down the left side of her face. As for why he was surprised, it was due to the fact there was a tenacious sword intent radiating from the scar, almost as if the person who had inflicted it upon her otherwise flawless face refused to let it heal...Resisting the almost instinctual urge to offer his assistance in treating the wound, Vahn shifted his gaze from the calculating woman to the others present. This included a rather blind man with grey-blue hair and peculiar horns, an inordinately petite woman who was clearly a member of the Red Witch Tribe, and, most importantly, a mature beauty with similar features who was a carbon copy of Ryun, albeit with a more 'seasoned' appeal.With the latter being the reason for his visit, Vahn offered a polite bow, saying, "Ryun has told me a lot about you. It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Elder Hwa."Smiling in response to Vahn's words, the red-headed beauty, full name Hwa Hae Yon, offered a bow of her own before directing her gaze towards Ryun and softly musing, "I see now why you made the decision you did. In hindsight, it was perhaps a little hubristic for us to believe we could guarantee a specific result when we are capable of witnessing how even minor changes to the present can affect the fates of countless people in the future..."Nodding her head, Ryun maintained her usual calm and collected demeanor as she explained, "In my time following Vahn, I have witnessed splendors beyond imagination and come to understand much about the true nature of the world. Though I still believe it is my duty to Guide others, I have also come to realize that we have just as much a right to determine our future as anyone else. I do not fear my fate, but that does not mean I must march towards it without questioning whether or not anything could have been done to change the outcome. From now on, I will focus on bettering myself as a person while doing everything I can in the present to find happiness. There is no future for those who do not embrace the present, only remorse."Though Hwa Yon couldn't help smiling in response to her daughter's words, the comparably petite Red Witch standing next to the muscular man with horns seemed dissatisfied with her statement, a mixture of disdain and frustrating marring her countenance as she said, "This is ridiculous. How can you trust this...thing...with our fates? If you are unwilling to follow your destiny, everything we have sacrificed for over the last ten-thousand-years will have gone to waste. What makes you think you are entitled to happiness when thousands of our sisters have willingly met their end!? How can you be this self-centered!?"Turning to meet the petite Red Witch's gaze, Ryun's expression hardened as she plainly stated, "You speak as though you are dissatisfied with the fate you have been given...if it bothers you so, change it. Had I truly betrayed my purpose and endeavored to defy my fate, my powers would have already been sealed. Instead, they grow stronger with each passing day. Your unerring commitment to what you believe to be your duty has blinded you to the other paths that are available. You have allowed your fate to control you, yet, even if I were to ask you here and now, you could not detail the events leading up to your inevitable death...you only know the final outcome and have allowed it to dictate every decision you have made for the last ten-thousand-years...how tragic..."Hanging her head, the petite Red Witch, better known as Soo-oh, clenched her teeth with enough force that everyone present could hear her molars grinding against each other. Were it not for the presence of several unbelievable powerhouses, she might not have been able to restrain her desire to wring Ryun's neck. At least that way, she could be satisfied knowing she had done something to punish the divergent Red Witch for turning her back on the countless sacrifices that had been made to clear a path and ensure she was able to fulfill her destiny...Having known Soo-oh for much of their lives, Hwa Yon could easily empathize with her younger cousin's frustrations. In the end, however, Ryun's fate had always been in her own hands, and, regardless of what she chose, they were duty-bound to provide her as much support as possible. After all, she was the Red Witch described in Enryu's prophecy, so, unless they intended to refute his words, contradicting their very purpose, they had little choice but to conclude that Ryun had chosen the correct path. This was the most frustrating thing for the petite redhead, as, any action she took against Ryun would be a direct contradiction to everything she believed in...Deciding to inject himself back into the conversation, Vahn maintained a relaxed smile as he calmly explained, "As it stands, it is only a matter of time before the dream of the Red Witches is realized. I can understand your frustrations, but there is ultimately no need for this kind of drama. Those who have sacrificed themselves did so willingly. There is nothing anyone can do in the present that will change that fact. Holding Ryun accountable for the decisions of others is unfair. Rather, you should be thanking her for liberating the Red Witches who have yet to be sacrificed..."Raising her head, Soo-oh glared at Vahn with such intensity that, if looks could kill, he would have died at least a thousand times. This made it pretty clear she wasn't very satisfied with the hand she had been dealt with over the last ten-thousand-years, but, regardless of her personal feelings on the matter, that had very little to do with Ryun. If anything, her actions made it seem as though she envied the latter, but, due to her personal convictions, she couldn't allow herself to shift gears and begin searching for happiness after dedicating herself to a cause for thousands of years.Understanding that the woman would only be convinced after witnessing the final outcome of his time in the Tower, Vahn decided to simply ignore her, directing his gaze to the muscular man at her side before saying, "My only reason for coming here was to introduce myself and meet with Ryun's mother. The ambitions of FUG mean very little to me. If you want to avoid destruction, you will take my advice at face value and carry out the necessary reforms. I will eventually be sending auditors to check on and observe your progress. If your organization is still comprised of cutthroats, murderers, and rapists, don't expect any clemency from me. I am not Jahad. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt and assume the best of them, but I will not hesitate to annihilate those who have veered too far from the light. The revolution you desire is upon you. Prove to me you aren't just a bunch of hypocrites upset at Jahad because he managed to seize power you coveted for yourselves..."Despite lacking any irises or pupils to speak of, the man, better known as Khel Hellam, one of the most active Elders within FUG, met Vahn's gaze without any change in expression. Even without the Law of Identity, however, Vahn could tell the man was in deep thought as he carefully weighed his response. Unfortunately, this resulted in a rather lengthy silence, and, as a result, it was Sophia who answered, "You're pretty intense." before offering an amused smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.Turning to meet the woman's gaze, Vahn noticed a distinct lack of emotion in Sophia's pale-blue eyes, the result of an inordinately long and turbulent life. She gave off the impression of someone that was tired of existing, yet, due to her convictions, refused to succumb to her own apathy before completing her objective. This would have normally made her seem rather pitiable, but, considering the types of organizations she supported, Vahn found it difficult to empathize with her.Noticing the peculiar way in which Vahn looked at her, Sophia felt uncharacteristically unnerved, a cold sweat breaking out across her body as she maintained a professional smile and asked, "Does His Imperial Majesty have some thoughts he would like to share? I am certain I would benefit from any advice you wish to bequeath my humble self..."Furrowing his brows ever-so-slightly in response to the woman's words, Vahn was tempted to tell her to absolve her organizations, but, understanding how the people beneath her might suffer, the words couldn't quite make it to his lips. The factions and organizations she supported were intrinsic to the survival of countless female Regulars, and, while many were forced to suffer due to their lack of power, it wasn't as if Sophia was responsible for the existing structure of the Inner Tower. Rather, if she hadn't taken the initiative to create her own faction, the influence of the Ten Families would be even greater...Resisting the urge to exhale a sigh, Vahn rose to his feet and said, "There isn't much to discuss at this point. I am not unwilling to compromise, but, until your organization demonstrates its sincerity and willingness to change, there can be no cooperation between us. Your desire to have me shield you from Ureko's wrath demonstrates a lack of accountability I cannot condone. Your people toyed with the residents on the Floor of Death, manipulated her friend, and created a whole host of other problems. If you want to avoid such consequences in the future, unfuck yourselves. It's that simple."Understanding they couldn't simply lay the blame on Karaka, a wry smile developed across Sophia's face as she asked, "Can you at least ask her to show a bit of restraint? She had already annihilated a total of thirteen bases, none of which had anything to do with the events on the Floor of Death. You are right to hold us accountable, but that is drastically different from holding everyone accountable. At this rate, countless innocents will die for a crime they neither committed nor had any knowledge of..."Adopting a slightly incredulous look, Vahn was very tempted to ask if there was something wrong with the woman's head. Instead, he offered a very simple solution, saying, "Then tell her where the culprits are. Ureko isn't a monster incapable of reason. If you don't want her arbitrarily destroying your bases, present Karaka to her and offer an apology. The problem with people in positions such as yours is that you hold unrelated people more accountable than the members of your own group. Stop protecting Karaka just because he is a Slayer. That entire system has been a farce ever since it was implemented."Having noticed the incredulity in Vahn's gaze, combined with his chiding tone, Sophia felt more embarrassed in the present moment than she had in the past several thousand years. She now understood the reason for Gustang's warning, as, despite giving off the impression of someone politically competent, Vahn didn't actually enter negotiations with the intent of receiving any kind of benefits. This allowed him to one-sidedly make demands as he simply didn't care about what others might offer. Instead, he held them accountable for their words and actions, so, unless they were willing to compromise, there was absolutely no room for negotiations with him. Thus, for a brief moment, it almost seemed like Vahn was the only adult present in a room filled with children...Realizing this, the briefest hint of a blush suffused Sophia's cheeks as she reconsidered whether or not to broach the subject of entrusting her apprentices to his care. Unfortunately, the moment this thought crossed her mind, Vahn exhaled a sigh before rubbing his temples and saying, "You lot are going to cause me an aneurism..." before turning around and adding, "Ryun. We're going." in a firm tone. This left everyone but Yon feeling at a loss for words, but, fortunately for Sophia, Vahn ended up motioning for the two girls guarding the entrance to follow him on his way out...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Soo-oh is hella jaded...','As if Vahn could control Ureko...','Vahn be like +2')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Following his departure from the 44th Floor, Vahn decided to remain relatively low key for a short while. His time with Yuri had exhausted him somewhat, so, even if it was just until he reached the 50th Floor, he wanted to decompress and search for a safe place to deposit people like Eduan, the members of Roen's entourage, and the Arie Siblings.Though he was planning to create a base of operations that would allow the residents of the Little Garden to freely traverse the outside world, Vahn was still of the mind that people needed to face challenges and experience difficulties if they wanted to become truly powerful. He also wanted to avoid increasing the number of people whose fates were tied directly to the Empire and his rather ridiculous rate of growth, so, with this in mind, he was ultimately intending to eject everyone who wasn't a part of his immediate family, a member of his harem, or one of his Templates.With this in mind, Vahn spent several weeks simply gathering information while completing the task assigned to him by the 45th Floor's Guardian, a giant sea urchin whose dimensions were difficult to grasp despite his domain extending for upwards of 90km.Like many of the previous Guardians, the Guardian of the 45th Floor had tasked Vahn was ensuring the safety of a critically endangered species. To this end, Vahn was tasked with traveling to a region many considered to be one of the most dangerous prior to the 100th Floor, a poisonous lake filled with peculiar purple Shinsu that formed countless whirlpools, several of which surpassed a hundred meters in diameter.Immune to the continually evolving toxins in the lake, Vahn had very little difficulty trespassing the hidden village located within its depths. There, he found a species of fairly alien-looking merpeople with dark blue skin, glistening scales covering parts of their bodies, and, most notably, glowing blue mantles that extended from their shoulders and down to their tails, an appendage reminiscent of a bird's tail feathers.As the species rumored to have taught the first generation Wave Controllers how to command the waves, Merfolk had an understandably mythical status among residents of the Tower. Unfortunately, as was often the case, their blood, bones, and other raw materials could be used to create a variety of elixirs, medicines, and even staves capable of manipulating Shinsu. There were even a number of rumors alleging that the flesh of a young Merperson could grant eternal youth upon consumption, so, as could be expected, they had been hunted to near-extinction even before the rise of the Jahad Empire. To make matters even worse, the majority of these rumors were actually true, so, whenever a Merperson appeared within the Tower, they almost always disappeared shortly thereafter.This being the case, Vahn couldn't really blame the remarkably reclusive peoples for attacking him the moment he trespassed their home. Even his usual display of power did little to pacify them, so, much to his dismay, he had been forced to capture them whilst defending himself. This exacerbated the misunderstanding between them quite a bit, but, after a few months of relatively peaceful living in the vast ocean of Shinsu that comprised the Fifth Layer, the High Priestess of the Tribe was finally willing to listen to reason.Despite what her title might suggest, the High Priestess of the Merfolk, for reasons Vahn could only ascribe to fate, appeared to be the youngest among her people. Of course, as was often the case in such situations, she was, in fact, the oldest of her tribe. The reason for her youthful appearance was actually the result of a misunderstanding among the Tower's residents, as, rather than developing in a similar manner to humans, Merfolk were born resembling adults after a seven-year gestation and gradually regressed into a far more powerful child-like state as their power matured.Simply put, the Merfolk that resembled mature warriors were actually the youngest members of the tribe. As a result, they used weapons ranging from Needles to Tridents as they gradually mastered the basics of Shinsu Control and Wave Manipulation. Then, as they matured, they would gradually compress their bodies until they ultimately ended up looking like children between the ages of 10 and 14. Of course, this was only when you compared them to humans, as, more often than not, it took hundreds of years for a Merfolk to reach the point where they could compress themselves into their more 'compact' forms...---Having accepted an invitation to meet and discuss terms, Vahn soon found himself seated across from a youthful-looking Merfolk garbed in little more than a purple sarong, bindings around her arms, breasts, and ankles, and, most notably, several ornaments comprised of seashells and deep-sea stones. This included a large shell that covered her diminutive breasts, which, in reality, were actually bladders that could be inflated or deflated to store and expel Shinsu for emergency use...Though Vahn hadn't expressly cast his gaze upon her body, the High Priestess had long-reached the point where she could sense things like emotion and intent through the subtle fluctuations of the surrounding Shinsu. Thus, even without Vahn brazenly inspecting her body, she was vaguely aware of the fact he was doing 'something' to analyze and evaluate her. This made her feel more than a little uncomfortable, not because she believed he had any licentious thoughts, but because it wouldn't be the first time a human had tried to 'domesticate' them in order to procure a perpetual supply of immortality.With the Law of Identity narrating the woman's thoughts, Vahn couldn't help frowning as he said, "I assure you, as difficult as it might be to believe, I have no need for such things. Rather, if it required me to consume the flesh of the innocent, I wouldn't want to be immortal."Without changing her expression in the slightest, the High Priestess, known among her people as Nami-ue, closed her deep-purple eyes and replied, "I do not profess to have absolute wisdom, but I would wager that my people have been betrayed more than any other race within the Tower. We have trusted in your kind countless times in the past. In the end, the greed of humanity will always win against reason. You might not desire the bounties our bodies provide, but that does not mean those around you will share in your sentiments. Still, for the sake of my people and our continued existence, I am willing to compromise with you. Tell me, what must we provide in exchange for the release of our youngest? Even if you genuinely wish to protect us, we would rather not entrust the survival of our species to someone with the power and means to imprison us at his leisure...if you are truly a friend of the Merfolk, you will not keep us against our will..."Having heard similar arguments from the leaders of other Native Ones, Vahn wasn't particularly surprised by Nami-ue's words. Thus, without even needing to consider his words, he nodded his head and explained, "Capturing you wasn't exactly my preferred course of action. Under normal circumstances, I would have convinced you outside before accepting a few families and allowing them to prove my claims. To that end, I am more than willing to free all of you in the hopes that it will help smooth relations between our two peoples and pave the way forward for the prosperity of all Merfolk."With the intent of expressing his sincerity, Vahn, who had been sitting in seiza, bowed his head in a respectful and apologetic fashion. This caused Nami-ue's aura to fluctuate in a manner indicative of surprise and disbelief, but, as could be expected, her expression revealed neither of these emotions. Instead, she appeared completely apathetic, and, due to the surrounding temperature nearing -4°C, she gave off the impression of someone remarkably cold and distant.After several long seconds of silence, the majority of which involved Nami-ue simply staring at the top of Vahn's head, the youthful-looking High Priestess once again closed her eyes as she said, "As the leader of my people, ensuring our survival is my highest priority. To that end, I have little choice but to trust you. To that end, I would propose some form of mutualistic or cultural exchange. Even if your intentions are pure, even the magnanimity of the strong has its limits. Without some form of equivalent exchange, anxieties are bound to arise regarding your true motives..."Though he understood the woman's skepticism, Vahn ultimately raised his head before shaking it as he explained, "There is plenty of time to discuss such things during the period in which your people are exploring the territory I have prepared for them. For now, we should focus on transporting your people outside. I'm sure your young ones would feel more relaxed once they are in a more familiar setting. As comfortable as the conditions in Little Garden are, I understand they are no replacement for the concept of 'home'."Nodding her head in affirmation, Nami-ue was about to rise in order to personally inform the tribe of their return a peculiar shift occurred in the surrounding Shinsu. Immediately thereafter, a feeling of familiarity donned upon her as Vahn supplied an amused smile and revealed, "It's done. I'll leave you to convince your people not to run away. Of course, if you feel compelled to send a few off, just to be safe, I won't stop you. Instead, I will wait here until you are ready to discuss matters in greater detail."With that said, Vahn picked up his now-chilled cup of tea, heat flowing from his palms to quickly heat it as he closed his eyes to take a sip. This left Nami-ue to stare at him silently, various thoughts conflicting within her mind until she ultimately returned a curt nod and said, "I will return shortly..." before swimming off in a manner similar to a Shinheuh. This was a rather strange sight to behold considering the density of Shinsu wasn't particularly dense, but, as he had seen far stranger things, Vahn simply sampled his tea without paying it much attention...---When all was said and done, Vahn managed to convince the Merfolk in much the same way as the other native tribes. He provided them the opportunity to increase their numbers in a remarkably short period of time whilst also allowing them to interact with the other tribes under his protection. Most importantly, however, was the fact that he had made it clear from the start that they could not stay within the Little Garden indefinitely. He also revealed his status as a God, his affiliation with the Tower's Guardians, and, most notably, his ability to transform into virtually any race. This last ability was especially important, as, more than anything else, the Merfolk feared being harvested for their immortality and being treated as little more than livestock.By demonstrating his ability to not only become a Merfolk but create seemingly infinite copies of himself, Vahn was able to convince the few remaining skeptics that he simply had no need for the resources they might provide. He even went a step further by agreeing to Nami-ue's proposition and producing a Merfolk Template to act as both an intermediary and proxy. This resulted in a few awkward interactions between them, but, after presiding over the duo's marriage and leaving them to their own devices for a few years, Vahn, or, more specifically, his Template was able to convince her that they were separate entities. This saved the original Vahn quite a lot of trouble, as, despite thinking Nami-ue was cute, he wasn't particularly interested in becoming the Chieftain of a Native Tribe...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn is like a parent that wants their kids to get out of the house...','Their true forms are larger than orcas...just saying...','Vahn used Substitute! It's Super Effective...!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1953: Perspective