Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Observing Sandora's actions from the relative comfort of his suite, a fairly exasperated sigh escaped Vahn's throat. Sandora's inability to trust was even more severe than he presumed. She was so used to shouldering everything on her own that the moment she is presented with a situation that makes things easier for herself, she instinctually rejects it.
In Sandora's mind, the notion of requiring help was the same as being seen as weak or inadequate. As someone responsible for the safety and wellbeing of billions, she couldn't allow herself to show even a hint of weakness. The moment she did, her innumerable detractors would immediately try to use it against her. They didn't care that she was doing her best despite carrying responsibilities that shouldn't have been hers to bear. Instead, they beat her down over and over again in order to make her easier to control.
"I really hate politics and political intrigue...everyone deeply involved with them does everything in their power to compromise those bearing responsibility while simultaneously avoiding it. I wonder if Sandora would feel more at ease if I just deposed everyone that has ever stood in her way...?"
Despite his words, Vahn knew there was a much higher chance that Sandora would actually side with the very same people who had caused her so much pain and anguish. It was one of the things that annoyed him most about situations like this. The people pulling the strings were unrepentantly burdensome to those publically in charge, yet, in spite of this, they wholly expected to be protected by the very people whose lives they made difficult. They weren't simply cowards. They were harmful tumors that often jeopardized the very society they were duty-bound to preserve.
(*Don't do something both you and Sandora will regret. Once you are married, you will have every right to get rid of those who represent a danger to both Salamandra and the Aldrnari Empire. If you really want to teach people like that a lesson, expose them as the frauds they are. Strip them of the power they cling to and let the people they took advantage of sort them out.*)
"..."
Calming down in response to Sis's carefully chosen words, Vahn retracted the aura he had been subconsciously exuding. From the perspective of the various officials loitering around the Royal Palace, it was like a substantial weight had just been removed from their shoulders. For everyone else, they hadn't even noticed anything was wrong.
"Karmic justice, eh? I imagine those old codgers will be beside themselves with excitement when Sandora announces our engagement. They probably think I'll be too busy managing the affairs of the Empire to concern myself with matters in the North. I can't wait to see the look on their faces when I interrupt their future attempts to 'advise' Sandora..."
(*You could always adapt and modify your previous plan to govern the North. Take advantage of the fact that the Elders of Salamandra view Sandora as a child by assigning someone like Artoria or Luvia as her Governess. I'm certain the latter would jump at the opportunity to become a Dragoness and teach Sandora everything she needs to know about governing a territory.*)
Imagining Luvia with a dragon tail, curved horns, and maybe even wings, a knot began to form in Vahn's throat. She had retained her humanity thus far, yet, even as far back as their first meeting, Luvia and her family had always possessed the pride and temperament of Dragons. The members of the Clock Tower may have referred to her family as a group of hyenas, but, far from the politics of London, the Edelfelt Family were known globally as the Dragons of the North. They certainly had the wealth and power to back it up...
Though he supported Sis's recommendation, Vahn pointed out, "While the idea is solid, Sandora is bound to take issue with the notion of being 'babysat'. Her detractors may also accuse me of trying to weaken Salamandra in order to install a new Floor Master..."
(*So? As long as that isn't your intent, it doesn't really matter what others say or think. Besides, once Sandora escapes the burdens of Salamandra and spends a few years in the Game Board, she should mellow out quite a bit. Her biggest issue right now is something you brought up. She has never had the opportunity to live free from the constraints of duty and responsibility. To that end, it might not be such a bad idea to accept her previous proposal. A few years away from the hustle and bustle of society would do that girl a lot of good.*)
"You mean the thing about holing up in the mountains...?"
Though he couldn't see it, Vahn could 'feel' Sis nodding her head before saying, (*Indeed. Though you are correct to be 'concerned', spending a few years alone with Sandora would do wonders in regard to her trust issues. With her present mentality, she may actually lose confidence if she sees you interacting amicably with 'imaginary' women.*)
"..."
Realizing his rather serious mistake, Vahn took a moment to comb through his hair before staring up at the ceiling in a manner not all that dissimilar to Sandora. He knew full well that she had trust issues, yet, despite having the means to remedy them with surprising ease, he allowed her to think she was worthless. Setting aside a few years to convince her otherwise wasn't even difficult. In fact, just a few days ago he had spent seven months cycling through Actualized Worlds just to check in on the people living within...
"Who would have thought that my desire to be considerate would actually exacerbate things...?"
Shrugging her shoulders, Sis resisted the urge to inform Vahn he could have easily reached these conclusions on his own if he just stopped to think. The problem was, whenever Vahn encountered someone suffering from emotions such as longing or loneliness, his brain would basically shut off. This was especially true when he encountered children beneath the age of 14, as, even after all this time, he still saw his past self reflected in each and every one of them. Since he had been given the opportunity to realize his dreams, Vahn did everything in his power to guarantee others, especially children, were afforded the same right...
Catching Vahn completely by surprise, Sis manifested next to him for the first time in quite a while, saying, "There is no reason to beat yourself up over your desire to help others. If you truly lament your decision, you need only to approach Sandora and demonstrate your willingness to help and support her through actions rather than words. For now, however, I believe it's about time you had a nice long rest..."
Without waiting for Vahn's response, Sis practically forced his face into her breasts before falling backward. Under normal circumstances, this would have placed them in a rather precarious position on the sofa, but, due to her power and authority being linked to Vahn, Sis was able to pull both of them outside the Standard Axes of Time, Space, and Reality itself. It had actually been months since he last took a nap, so, while she was normally content with letting Vahn do whatever he wanted, Sis felt compelled to get him to rest. She understood why he was in such a rush, but, as someone who had all the time in all the worlds, Sis wished Vahn would take more time for himself...he, much like Sandora, shouldn't have to bear everyone's burdens all the time...
"Go to sleep...when you wake up, you can play hero as much as you want. For now, just let this big sis take care of you, okay...?"
Instead of responding to Sis's words, Vahn kept his face buried in her ample bosom as his hands instinctually wrapped around her body. Sis tensed a bit when he suddenly grabbed her butt, but, instead of chastising or scolding him, she simply giggled before running her fingers through his hair with a smile...
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After an inordinately long yet impossibly brief period of time, Vahn opened his eyes to find that he was currently lying on the floor of his suite. All the stresses and tensions that had been building in his body and mind were now a distant memory. In their place, Vahn experienced a feeling of calm on par with the times he had delved a little too deeply into the Mantra of Eternity...
(*Don't go making connections that don't exist. I have absolutely nothing to do with that little chant of yours. In fact, even though our minds used to be one and the same, I have never once been able to hear the mantra. I assume it is automatically filtered out by The Path so that I can pull you back if you somehow lose yourself in its verses.*)
Surprised by Sis's casual mention of The Path, Vahn couldn't help asking, ("Did something happen? You aren't usually this talkative about the inner workings of the system...")
Giggling in response to Vahn's words, Sis took a moment to collect her thoughts before explaining, (*It likely has something to do with your spiritual and emotional growth. You may not have noticed it, but you have changed quite a bit ever since you reclaimed your title as Emperor. If I had to guess, it is your gradual acceptance of the responsibility you will soon bear that allows me to converse so candidly. I'm not entirely sure.*)
"I see..."
Nodding his head in implied understanding, Vahn earned another giggling laughter from Sis as she teased, (*You don't have to be so serious about it. This is actually a good thing. Once your mentality has developed beyond a certain threshold, there will no longer be any secrets between us. Truth be told, I'm equal parts terrified and excited. I fear I won't be able to remain 'just' your big sister in the near future...*)
Hearing Sis's sultry voice echo through his mind, a powerful shiver coursed through Vahn's spine before spreading through the rest of his body and causing goosebumps to develop across each of his limbs. He was used to Sis teasing him, but, 'feeling' the sincerity contained within her words, a sudden and intense feeling of expectation arose from the very depths of his being.
(*Oh my...it would appear my words have inadvertently moved up that particular deadline. Calm down, would you? If you grow any more excited...things may become rather dangerous...*)
While Vahn was doing his best to calm down, Sis was looking around at the veritable army of cat and bunny girls staring at the projection of Vahn's thoughts with borderline carnivorous looks on their faces. She was also in rather dire straights, but, as the representative of her other selves, she was the last thing standing between them and complete takeover of Vahn's harem. The moment Vahn became aware of and released them, absolute chaos would unfold...
As that thought crossed her mind, Sis casually transported one of her alternate versions out of the observation room. The overexcited cat girl was attempting to sneak up on her, and, following that, several other versions of herself directed their attention her way.
Snorting through her nose, Sis grumbled, "You brats...you really think you can take me on?" whilst popping her fingers. This was enough to deter the vast majority of her offshoots, but, powered by Vahn's lust, a few of the feistier girls stepped forward, arguing, "Vahn needs us..." as they adopted various combat stances...
Squinting her eyes, an oppressive aura exuded from Sis's body as she asserted, "You have things in reverse. It isn't Vahn who needs us, it's we who need Vahn. Putting your personal desires before his growth is the antithesis of everything the Sister Corps stands for. Don't think I won't destroy you if you dare to impede Vahn's path..."
As each of the people around her was ultimately an extension of herself, Sis would not hesitate to destroy them if they threatened Vahn's growth. When Vahn granted her an Ego, she had even been willing to erase herself if it meant ensuring the fulfillment of his dream. This was a sentiment shared by each and every one of the Sisters, but, due to Vahn's current emotional state, they were willfully neglecting their shared responsibility...
(*I suppose this is the pitfall of having a little brother whose desires manifest as females capable of entering into heat...haaaaaa...*)&nbsp;
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Politicians...','Onee-san Secret Technique: Surprise Abduction...!','Bunch of naughty kittens...')

After decompressing for a bit and returning to her duties, Sandora had largely returned to normal. Work had always been her go-to method of escaping the negativity that frequently tormented her when she was alone. Thus, with several hours until the scheduled banquet, Sandora did her best to distract herself with preparations for the upcoming festival.
Unfortunately, just as Sandora was getting into the groove of things, her brother and several of the higher-ranking members of Salamandra showed up. She could guess the reason for their visit even without asking. Even so, she summarily dismissed the people she was speaking with before donning her usual mask and saying, "Dear Brother, I am pleased to see you in good health. Tell me, is there a matter I can assist you with...?"
Before responding to his sister's words, Mandra cast a threatening glower to the group of middle-aged men accompanying him. Reluctant expressions appeared on several of their faces before the entire group begrudgingly bent the knee, heads lowered as a sign of 'respect' towards their future Queen.
Snorting in contempt, Mandra shifted his deep blue eyes away from the group of obstinant old men before nodding towards Sandora and explaining, "I came to ask how your meeting with the Sage Dragon Emperor went. From what I heard, the meeting was rather brief."
Though it was pretty well known that Vahn could manipulate time, doing so within the territory of another Community was exceptionally difficult outside of a Gift Game. Thus, even though Sandora had spent a startling 13 hours within the suite prepared for Vahn, only thirteen minutes had passed from the perspective of the Stewards, Maids, and Guards keeping an eye on the room.
Inhaling through her nose, Sandora steeled her resolve before raising her left hand to highlight the gently pulsing ring Vahn had given her. Upon seeing it, a hint of conflict appeared in Mandra's deep blue eyes before he closed them and said, "I see..."
Nodding his head in approval, Mandra opened his eyes before looking towards the group kneeling at the side and saying, "The future of Salamandra is now secured. With an ally like the Sage Dragon Emperor on our side, it is only a matter of time before our reputation and honor are restored. I trust none of you have any problems with this?"
In response to Mandra's question, the most senior member of the group exclaimed, "Of course not! The name of the Sage Dragon Emperor resounds throughout the entirety of the Little Garden. With the exception of our Lord, there are none better suited to becoming Her Highness's husband. Glory to Salamandra!"
Though there was a distinct lack of vigor from some of the men, none hesitated to exclaim, "Glory to Salamandra!!!". It didn't take a political genius to understand this was a power play by Mandra to test their loyalty. If they showed any signs of dissension now that a player like Vahn had entered the game, they were bound to experience some grief...
Turning back to his sister, the briefest hint of a smile graced Mandra's otherwise rugged and serious countenance as he said, "You've done well, Sandora. If Father and Mother had been here, I'm certain they would agree with me."
Feeling a knot forming in her throat, Sandora didn't immediately respond to her brother's unusually supportive words. He wasn't exactly known for being kind and supportive. Rather, even before their father had declared her the next Leader of Salamandra, Mandra had rarely spoken with her outside their official duties. He was one of the few people Sandora 'trusted', but, ever since she was a very young girl, she couldn't shake the feeling Mandra blamed her for their mother's death.
Noticing his sister's difficulties, Mandra promptly placed himself in a position to obscure her from the crowd kneeling behind him. He was quite tall at 195cm, and, thanks to his robe, he could easily conceal Sandora's comparably small, 142cm frame.
Seeing through her brother's actions, the knot in Sandora's throat became a painful tightness as she stared up at him in absolute silence. She never shed any tears, but, for a very brief moment, a dense layer of moisture covered her eyes as she seriously questioned whether or not the man in front of her was the same brother she had grown up seeing from a distance.
Recalling that Vahn had removed the tumors from her brother's lungs, Sandora briefly shifted her gaze to Mandra's chest. In response, he immediately shook his head, a far more serious expression on his face as he whispered, "You have already shouldered the burdens of Salamandra for four and a half years. There are none more suited than you to sit on the throne..."
Since the glaze had already faded from Sandora's eyes, Mandra emphasized his point by kneeling as respectfully as possible. The men that had been sneaking glances from behind him immediately lowered their heads in a similar manner. Few of them genuinely supported Sandora, but, now that the person they had been backing was demonstrating his loyalty, they no longer had a choice. The era of Sandora, the Fire Dragon of the Northern Plains had begun...
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Located approximately 980,000km away from the Northern Capital of Kouen City, a handsome man with untamed blond hair and a pair of headphones could be seen gazing up at one of three moons. A remarkably attractive young woman with dark brown hair was leaning against his shoulder, yet, rather than appearing even remotely excited, both had incredibly bored looks on their faces as the woman asked, "How much longer are we going to keep idling about? As much as I relish these little moments of peace and quiet, I didn't come to the Divine Realm to gaze at stars..."
Without missing a beat, the blond-haired youth adopted a wolfish grin as he remarked, "If you're that bored, we would always trade peace and quiet for passion and fervor. I'm not sure what it was like immediately following the war, but people from my time aren't exactly known for waiting until marriage to have a bit of fun..."
Snorting through her nose, the young woman, Asuka, adopted a harsh tone as she criticized, "It's better to have at least some principles when it concerns matters of love and romance. If you're that desperate to get in my pants, you could always propose..."
Though a blush colored her cheeks, Asuka was able to conceal it by lowering her head slightly and leaning into the young man's, Izayoi's shoulder.
Rolling his eyes, Izayoi strengthened his hold on Asuka's hand as he returned his gaze to the moons above and complained, "I'm not sure my heart can take you rejecting me a fourth time..."
Snorting a second time, the ruddy coloration of Asuka's cheeks darkened as she grumbled, "If you were sincere about it, I would have said yes the first time..."
"..."
"..."
With neither really knowing what else to say, Izayoi and Asuka sat in silence for the better part of an hour before the latter muttered, "I'm bored..."
Nodding his head in affirmation, Izayoi replied, "No kidding..." before leaping to his feet, extending his hand to Asuka, and adding, "Let's go have some fun." with a mischievous grin on his face.
Though she was a little annoyed by the fact that Izayoi had basically shrugged her off his shoulder, Asuka only glared at him for a brief moment before adopting a smile of her own, grasping his hand, and asking, "What did you have in mind?"
Without any hesitation whatsoever, Izayoi answered, "No clue. All I know is there's a massive world out there waiting for us. I'm sure we can find something if we just go out and explore it."
Furrowing her brows, Asuka asked, "You're not suggesting we just up and abandon the No Names, are you? What about working together to raise them from one of the weakest Communities to the strongest?"
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Izayoi surprised Asuka by picking her up in a princess carry and saying, "We're not going to accomplish anything by just sitting around and gathering our strength. If it were up to Jin, the No Names would remain isolated from the rest of the Little Garden for the next hundred years. No way am I going to just sit around twiddling my thumbs while Vahn and his Community get to have all the fun."
Without waiting for Asuka's response, Izayoi leaped high into the night sky. Asuka closed her eyes and clung to him in response, but, upon realizing there was no wind pressure whipping against her hair or face, she gradually relaxed enough to ask, "Where are you taking me?"
Adopting his characteristically wolfish grin, Izayoi continued to kick and bound off of empty air as he teased, "Well, since my bedroom is apparently off the table I figured we may as well consult a professional. Just try not to get riled up like last time, okay? I'm more than willing to throw down, but I'd rather not have my ass handed to me just because you're jealous..."
"Huh? Jealous? Me? Did you hit your head somewhere? Who could I possibly be jealous of...?"
Meeting Asuka's incredulous glower, Izayoi's expression morphed into a deadpan as he answered, "Me, Jin, Lily, Yo, Black Rabbit, Usalia, everyone in the Sage Dragon's Hearth, people who are even mildly better than you at something, and Vahn."
"..."
Ignoring the piercing chill in Asuka's gaze, the corners of Izayoi's smile curled upward as he asked, "What? I didn't say it was a bad thing. If anything, I think it's kind of cute. Your drive to be the best is one of the things I love most about you. It would be one thing if you were jealous of people and didn't even try, but, whenever you encounter an obstacle, you continuously push yourself and try to overcome it. It's honestly kind of hot..."
Though she snorted through her nose, a healthy shade of crimson spread through Asuka's cheeks and ears as she looked away from Izayoi. She was honestly still a little miffed, but, like many young maidens in love, her anger subsided greatly when she heard Izayoi say he loved her. Sure, he may not have said it directly, but that was beside the point...
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"Hmm...?"
Sensing someone entering one of his consultation offices, a version of Vahn immediately appeared as Izayoi and Asuka stepped inside.
Raising his hand, Izayoi immediately greeted, "How's it goin', old man? We decided to drop in and ask you for a bit of advice."
As this was the first time Izayoi and Asuka had visited the consultation office by themselves, Vahn was genuinely confused regarding the reason for their visit. The only thing that came to mind was relationship advice, but, if that was the case, Asuka wouldn't have been present.
Shifting his gaze to the pouty, faintly blushing brunette, a teasing smile developed across Vahn's face as he asked, "What's this? Did the two of you enter the path of adulthood and have a happy little accident...?"
Understanding the meaning behind Vahn's words, Asuka's cheeks practically glowed as she balled her hands into fists and hissed, "You...you scoundrel...!"
Blinking in surprise, Vahn shifted his gaze to Izayoi, mild incredulity in his expression as he asked, "Did I do something wrong?"
Much to Asuka's chagrin, Izayoi shrugged in response to Vahn's question before asking, "Are there any interesting events going on in the Little Garden right now? We're bored out of our minds and are looking to get out and have a bit of fun."
Watching in amusement as Asuka attempted to 'discreetly' step on Izayoi's foot, Vahn asked, "Just the two of you or the No Names as a whole?"
Seemingly oblivious to the fact Asuka was driving her heel into his foot, Izayoi looked down at her and asked, "You heard the man. We eloping or do you want to entangle everyone else in our thrill-seeking?"
Realizing that trying to crush Izayoi's foot was like trying to crush diamonds, Asuka forced herself to regain her composure before answering, "I know for a fact that Yo would want to tag along. We can also use this as an opportunity to drag Jin out of his comfort zone. Who knows, if he builds up a bit of confidence, he might stop stressing out so much..."
Noticing Asuka directing an accusatory gaze his way, Vahn furrowed his brows and asked, "What's that look for? My relationship with Lily is strictly platonic. If it wasn't, you would literally be one of the first to know about it."
Unable to refute Vahn's words, Asuka just crossed her arms and looked away. She knew full well that Lily and Yo would have told her if something happened between them and Vahn. They may have developed a game to send Vahn secret messages, but, based on what they had told her, he would usually just chuckle before ruffling their hair and gently chastising them...
Taking advantage of Asuka's silence, Izayoi half-stepped between her and Vahn before asking, "So? Anything interesting going on? Something an entire Community could get in on...?"
Though he was mildly amused by Izayoi's protective demeanor, Vahn didn't comment on it. Instead, he pulled out a flier with the words Rise of the Fire Dragon emblazoned them in shimmering, bright red ink, asking, "Have you not heard about the festival in the North...?"
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Glory to Airyglyph...!','Not sure if wholesome or annoying...','Fate reveals its hand...')

Feeling more relaxed than she had felt in her entire life, Sandora was understandably reluctant to wake up and face reality. It was her feelings of guilt towards Vahn that compelled her to do so. Not because of the very inappropriate dream she had just experienced, but because he was forced to sit and wait for her to wake up. She didn't want to inconvenience him any further than she already had.
Opening her eyes, the first thing Sandora noticed was how close her face was to Vahn. A faint blush colored her cheeks, but, at the same time, a feeling of incongruency washed over her since she was well aware of the fact she was seated on his lap. Given her build, she was nowhere near tall enough for their faces to be this close...
Looking down, the color in Sandora's cheeks became far more prominent as she noticed the two pillowy mounds where relatively flat planes had previously existed.&nbsp;
"That would explain why I felt so fatigued...my body was preparing to undergo metamorphosis..."
Though she was presently beyond surprised, Sandora's expression didn't show it. She had already intuited that the culprit behind her sudden growth was the ring Vahn had gifted her. There was a possibility that Vahn had done something as she slept, but, even though she had only known him for a few hours, Sandora didn't think he would perform such an act without her consent.
"Are you feeling okay?"
Rather than immediately answering Vahn's words, Sandora looked to the ring on her hand with a pensive expression on her face. Her second metamorphosis was estimated to take place when she was between 60-100 years old. She wasn't particularly upset by this development but she couldn't help feeling as though a major chapter of her life had just come to a close.
"Want to try taking it off...?"
"Pardon...?"
Adopting a perplexed look, Sandora looked up at Vahn as if his face held the answers to all her questions. In response, Vahn explained, "The ring I gave you has the property of amplifying the wearer's Spiritual Energy by a factor of ten. Its true purpose, however, is to nourish the wearer's spirit and allow them to resist attacks that would damage their soul. The longer you wear it, the more resilient your spirit will become..."
Looking down at the faintly glowing ring, Sandora's expression relaxed into a smile as she asked, "You were trying to protect me...?"
Nodding his head, Vahn surprised Sandora with a warm embrace as he said, "I won't force you to explain the reasons, but I could sense from the start how lonely you were. Your mind and body are remarkably stalwart for a girl your age, but, even though you possess tremendous willpower, your heart is still vulnerable. To that end, the ring serves two purposes...it is a reminder of our union and a catalyst to both strengthen and protect your heart..."
Burying her face into the nape of Vahn's neck, mixed emotions swirled around in Sandora's chest. She was grateful for Vahn's concern, but, at the same time, she couldn't help feeling as though he had only accepted her proposal out of pity. The possibility may be minuscule, but, due to her bias towards rational thought, Sandora simply couldn't dismiss it.&nbsp;
"So you're hypothesizing that I will return to my previous form if I remove the ring...?"
Without waiting for Vahn's response, Sandora took advantage of the fact her arms were wrapped around his body to slip the ring off her finger. The excess energy in her body didn't immediately dissipate, but, like a tub without a rubber stopper, Sandora could feel it draining from her body at an incredible rate.
Though he was a little taken aback by Sandora's actions, Vahn would be lying if he said he hadn't anticipated something like this occurring. The moment he casually proposed the idea of removing the ring, he had the distinct impression he had just become a victim to Gag Laws. Thus, even when Sandora's resized top began sliding down her increasingly slender frame, Vahn exhibited absolutely no indication of surprise. Instead, he averted his eyes before promptly manifesting a warm blanket to cover Sandora's body.
Confused by Vahn's actions, Sandora sat a little straighter before immediately covering her chest as her top slid away completely. A fiery red blush spread through her face, but, instead of crying out or tearing up, she just stared intently at Vahn for several seconds before stating, "It would appear your hypothesis was correct..."
"Indeed..."
"..."
Staring at Vahn's profile, a growing part of Sandora wanted to compel him to face her. She didn't really understand the logic behind it but she felt as though his behavior reinforced the notion he had only agreed to her proposal out of pity. She wanted him to prove otherwise, but, at the same time, she felt compelled to prove his conjecture wrong through her own actions.
Suppressing her embarrassment, Sandora adopted her characteristically serious expression as she lowered her hands and asked, "Do you have a way of modifying the ring so that it doesn't amplify my spiritual energy? If I suddenly emerged from your room in my transformed state, there is a good chance it would cause needless concerns among my people and staff..."
Noticing the glimmer of spiteful conviction in Sandora's eyes, Vahn's brows furrowed into a serious expression as he looked directly at her and said, "If you wish to demonstrate your capabilities and cultivate spiritual energy on your own, you have that right. Just don't deceive yourself into thinking you are somehow proving me wrong by refusing to accept help. I am not looking down on you nor am I pitying you. I am simply doing my best to understand and support someone who is supposed to be important to me. In time, you will come to learn this is perfectly normal behavior for people who respect and care for one another..."
Taken aback by Vahn's words, Sandora found herself at a loss for her own. She was also seized by a sudden and intense urge to cover herself, not because she was half-naked, but because she felt as though Vahn could peer into her innermost thoughts. He didn't appear to be reading her mind but that did little to make her feel better. If anything, it made her feel even more exposed...
Before Sandora could make up her mind, Vahn took her left hand into his own before retrieving the ring contained within. Multiple threads of fear and trepidation appeared within her aura, but, before she could mistake his intentions, he flipped her hand over before promptly returning the band to its rightful place, stating, "Regardless of the decisions you make in the future, know that I will continue to support you. The most important thing to me, at least in regards to our relationship, is that you are happy and healthy. Even if you were just a normal girl without any status or power to speak of, I would never, not even for a moment, look down upon you..."
Taking advantage of Sandora's stupor, Vahn reached down to grab her breastplate-like top before helping to resize and fasten it to her body. He was extremely adept at helping girls get dressed, so, by the time Sandora recovered enough wherewithal to pay attention to what he was doing, most of her outfit had been readjusted to its original size and state.
"..."
Though the same nagging voice from before was compelling her to be frustrated by Vahn's actions, Sandora managed to smother it without too much trouble. She knew Vahn wasn't fixing her clothes just because he didn't want to see her body. He just wanted to help her. It was surprisingly difficult to accept, but, seeing none of the disdain, contempt, or pity most people had when looking at her, Sandora had no choice but to accept it. Vahn wasn't pitying her, he was just being considerate...
("Since when did I start viewing compassion as an indication of scorn...?")
Unable to find the answer to such a question, Sandora did the only thing she could think to do given the present situation. She lowered her head, and, with the sincerest expression she could manage, muttered an apology. Then, before Vahn could respond, she raised her head and said, "Thank you for being so patient with me...it may not sound all that convincing after my unsightly behavior thus far, but I really do mean it when I say this...thank you, Vahn..."
Exhaling a sigh, Vahn suppressed the urge to tell the young dragoness she didn't need to thank or apologize to him. He was being pretty selfish himself, so, even if Sandora was doubly so, it wouldn't really bother him. He would have just continued supporting her until she gradually opened up and accepted the fact that she was no longer alone. There would be countless people coming forward in the future, each more than willing to help shoulder her burdens. Thus, rather than admonishing or underappreciating the depth of her gratitude, he just wrapped her in his embrace and promised, "I will always be here for you..."
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Returning to her room after what had felt like an entire day, Sandora immediately collapsed face-first into her bed. There was still plenty she had to do in preparation for the banquet and her big announcement, but, for the time being, she just wanted to stew in her own thoughts.
Though she was initially ecstatic that Vahn had accepted her proposal, Sandora's excitement had diminished greatly as each and every mistake she had made during their discussion resurfaced in her mind. She didn't want to admit it, but, looking back on the way she had behaved, Sandora was able to understand what Vahn meant when he pointed out she was still lacking in experience and emotional growth.&nbsp;
Recalling how petulant her behavior had been at several points throughout the discussion, Sandora wished she could go back and smack her past self upside the head. Vahn was already making a lot of concessions on her behalf, yet, as if he had some duty to appease her, she had treated him as if he were somehow beneath her. All he was doing was trying to make her happy yet she had viewed his kindness as if he were trying to ridicule her...
Suppressing her sudden and intense urge to scream, Sandora rolled onto her back before raising her left hand and staring listlessly at the metallic band on her finger. The prospect of marrying Vahn still made her giddy, but, after their 'disaster' of a first encounter, Sandora had started to question if she was even deserving of him. Compared to the innumerable benefits she was bound to receive as his wife, what could she possibly give in return?
The obvious answer was her body, but, even before penning her letter, Sandora knew full well that Vahn had a harem that likely exceeded a hundred members. This included a number of women with distinctly draconic features, so, even if she really was the last remaining Salamander, she wasn't that special. In fact, based on what Vahn had revealed about his powers, he could effectively produce as many Salamanders as he pleased. In that regard, there was truly nothing she could offer him...
Giving voice to the thoughts lingering at the back of her mind, Sandora asked herself, "Why did he agree to marry me? Wouldn't it have made better sense to replace me with someone already loyal to him? Why does he care so much about my well-being...?"
Having never had genuine confidence in herself, Sandora was unable to find an answer to even a single one of these questions. She was able to imagine how Vahn would respond, but, as much as she wanted to trust him, she simply didn't know how to open her heart to others. Vahn had made a few sizeable dents in her defenses, but, until he had given her a 'legitimate' reason, the only logical conclusion was that he was pitying her. She believed him when he said he wasn't, but, as someone who believed everything happened for a reason, Sandora needed something more concrete to go off of if she wanted to lay her concerns to rest.
As sad as it sounded, the eleven-year-old dragoness needed proof that her life had some kind of value...if it didn't, what could she possibly hope to give Vahn in return...?
She had to find something...
...
..
.
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Booba...','Gag Laws strike again (O w O)...','This is actually kind of sad...')

Chapter 2257: Breaking Point