Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Matching Jin's expectations, people all throughout Kouen City turned their heads when he and Lily were passing through. Many didn't even try to hide the desire in their gaze, so, even though he was supposed to be enjoying the festival with his girlfriend, his expression didn't show it. If anything, he appeared upset.
"Come on, Jin. Don't worry about what other people think. Let's just have fun, okay?"
Though he wanted to do exactly that, Jin's expression darkened when a group of burly-looking men approached them with smiles lecherous grins plastered across their faces. Lily noticed them as well, but, unlike Jin, she radiated no hostility. Instead, she exhaled an exasperated sigh before pulling him into an alleyway and whispering, "Remember what you told the others? Even if those men approach us, try not to make a scene. Just knock them out and be done with it, okay?"
Punctuating her words, Lily grabbed the sides of Jin's face before giving him an unrepentantly deep kiss. His eyes immediately widened, but, before he could even think to break free, Lily separated her lips and added, "You're strong, Jin. Stop being so gloomy all the time..."
Before Jin could respond, the trio of men that had previously 'targetted' them simply walked past the alleyway. Two of them looked over, but, other than smiling with 'knowing' looks on their faces, they didn't say or do anything. They just went about their business like everyone else.
Seeing the men walk away, a look of confusion briefly marred Jin's face before he promptly averted his eyes and muttered, "Sorry..."
Forcing Jin to stare back at her, Lily offered a comforting smile as she said, "Don't be. It makes me happy knowing you want to protect me. Just do it when the moment calls for it. If you start viewing everyone around us as potential enemies, we'll never be able to have any fun."
Though Lily's words did very little to improve his mood, Jin forced himself to nod in understanding. At the same time, however, he couldn't help thinking she could at least dress in a less eye-catching manner. She was supposed to be his girlfriend. What was the point of wearing outfits that invariably drew the attention of others? Even if she were wearing rags or thick robes, he would still love her all the same...
Noticing the hint of suspicion in Jin's eyes, a painful sensation spread through Lily's chest. It didn't show on her face, but, every time he gazed at her in such a manner, it hurt in a way she couldn't put into words.
Offering a smile as mellow and relaxing as a warm hearth in late Autumn, Lily ran her fingers along Jin's cheek before combing through his hair. She wished he would just come out and say what was on his mind. Maybe then, she wouldn't feel so lonely all the time...
Relaxing a bit due to Lily's tender and loving behavior, a faint smile developed across Jin's face as he finally reciprocated her embrace. Her warmth had a calming effect on his mind, and, though it was a little musty and animalistic at times, he had long since developed a fondness for the fragrant aroma of her hair and ears. If the thought of her refusing didn't terrify him, he would have asked if he could smell her tail as well...
Sensing the increase in pheromones exuding from Jin's body, a tingling sensation spread through Lily's tails starting at their base. Since there was a very high probability that things would become awkward when they reunited with Sandora, Lily leaned further into Jin's body, her bountiful breasts pressing into his chest as she drew her lips close to his ear and purred, "If walking around stresses you out...we can always find someplace more private..."
Punctuating her words, Lily attempted to maneuver her thigh into the gap between Jin's before the latter immediately separated from her, a crimson hue extending all the way to the tips of his ears as he exclaimed, "Lily! There are people nearby!" in a hushed, audibly stressed tone.
Though her ears briefly flattened due to her frustration, Lily suppressed her urge to punch the wall next to Jin's head as she calmly replied, "That's why I suggested we move elsewhere..."
Pressing his hand to his heart, Jin did his best to calm his breathing as he turned towards the wall in an effort to conceal the front of his body from Lily's gaze. This caused her to squint ever so slightly, her voice becoming noticeable firmer as she asked, "What are you trying to hide? We're supposed to be boyfriend and girlfriend. There's-"
"Just stop! Please...!"
Though he immediately regretted yelling, Jin didn't look back at Lily. Instead, he balled his hands into fists, head lowered as he trembled due to a mixture of embarrassment, frustration, and, regret. In spite of this, he still managed to eke out, "What happened to you, Lily? You were never like this when we were kids. Why are you so...so eager to advance our relationship? Can't we just take things slowly? You know, like Izayoi and Asuka?"
"..."
Feeling a considerable amount of guilt, the frustration in Lily's heart turned to shame as she averted her eyes from Jin's back. She wanted to contend that he was the one who changed, but, fearing she would only make things worse, she elected to remain silent. When she finally did manage to speak, her voice was strained in a manner that made Jin's heart twist as she weakly replied, "I'm sorry I'm not the girl you fell in love with in your memories..."
Without waiting for Jin's response, Lily bounded up the alley walls in a zig-zagging manner before disappearing over the canopy of the rooftops. Jin turned to try and stop her, but, despite extending his hand towards her back and crying out, "Lily! Wait...!" his legs refused to obey him. By the time he recovered enough to manifest his magical aura and fly up to the roofs above, Lily was already long gone...
"What did she mean by the girl I fell in love with in my memories? Aren't you the same person...?"
Though he was currently and understandably confused, it wouldn't take long for Jin to figure out what Lily meant. In truth, she hadn't really changed all that much. He simply wasn't there to see as she slowly developed from a young girl into a young woman. She had already been developing an interest in romance even before his entry into the Game Board. He just hadn't noticed it due to his single-minded focus on gaining strength. As a result, the version of Lily he yearned for throughout his long years of training was the same naive and innocent young girl that had supported him ever since they were children.
What Jin had failed to consider, despite Lily's warnings, was that their time apart had slowly altered the way in which he viewed even her past self. He had converted the memory of her into a near-perfect ideal, so, when she failed to behave in the way he expected, he couldn't help feeling as though there was something wrong with her. It didn't help that one of the first things he encountered when emerging from the Game Board was Lily behaving all 'lovey-dovey' towards Vahn.&nbsp;
Simply put, Jin wasn't in love with Lily. He was in love with the idea she represented. He wanted the always faithful and supportive girl that doted upon and always did everything she could to support him. This 'new', proactive Lily may as well have been a stranger that shared her memories. And now, because of his obstinance, he risked losing both...
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Though she very rarely trained, Lily was, on paper, the fourth strong member of the No Names. She could cover vast distances in a very short period of time, but, instead of attempting to escape to the other end of the city, she dropped down into the adjacent alleyway and simply waited.&nbsp;
Seeing no signs of Jin flying overhead even after several minutes had passed, Lily's ears gradually drooped until they lay flat against her head. After ten minutes, she had slouched against the wall, and, though she was wearing a short white skirt in an effort to catch Jin's attention, she paid it no mind as she pulled up her knees, buried her face into them, and complained, "Stupid Jin..."
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Having spotted Lily descending into the alleyway, two men loitering around a festival attraction kept their eyes on her for several minutes. In the beginning, they were simply curious, but, after seeing her slouch down and pull her legs up, they willfully repositioned so that they could get a better look. Upon seeing her pure white and intricate lace panties on full display, they exchanged looks with one another before placing their hands in their pockets, looking around, and making their way into the alleyway.
Despite a possessive and hungry glimmer deep in his green eyes, the bolder of the two men slowly approached Lily before asking, "Hey...you okay?" in an ostensibly concerned voice. In response, Lily didn't even bother raising her head as she warned, "Go away..." in a low, threatening tone.
Frowning in response to Lily's harsh tone, the two roguish-looking men moved to surround her as the same man from before asked, "What's with the tone? We were just worried. You know, a pretty young thing like you shouldn't be loitering around in the middle of an alleyway like this. Security is pretty tight due to the festival but there are still some less than respectable types roaming about..."
Snickering in response to his friend's words, the second of the two ruffians crouched down in front of Lily and added, "He's right, you know? How 'bout you come along with the two of us? We'll keep you safe, and, who knows? Maybe you'll feel so grateful you feel compelled to offer us a reward..."
Towards the end of his statement, the second man attempted to reach between the gap in Lily's thighs. As they got closer, both men were able to get a much better view of the contents of her skirt. Since she was so willfully displaying them, he figured he may as well sample the goods...
Without raising her head, Lily promptly squeezed the tiny crystal she had been holding in her left hand. Before the man's fingers could reach her, the space within the alleyway seemed to stagnate before an oppressive aura smashed both men into the ground. The one that tried to reach for her even had his hand and forearm crushed to a pulp as a far more handsome and reliable figure with aquamarine eyes and dark-brown hair manifested from within the void, asking, "Are you okay...?" in a far more concerned tone than either scoundrel could manage.
Springing to her feet, Lily practically leaped into Vahn's embrace before releasing the tears she had been holding back for the better part of twenty minutes. In response, he immediately wrapped his arms around her, one hand drawing her close while the other moved to caress her head.
Feeling a familiar warmth spread through her body, Lily preempted Vahn's attempt to ask about the situation, whimpering, "Please just hold me..." between silent sobs. This promptly quelled any desire Vahn had to press her for information. Instead, he hugged her closer before teleporting them to the suite he hadn't used since his first day in the Palace. Then, as Loi-chan carefully explained what had transpired, he did his best to console the crestfallen kitsune as a progressively conflicted expression developed across his face...
("Damnit, kid...how the hell did you mess things up this badly...?")
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Boya...','When brain big but confidence smol...','Vahn don't play...')

Waking from a peaceful slumber, Lily was unsurprised to find Vahn cradling her in his embrace. Any time she slept near him, she never experienced any discomfort or nightmares. Any negative feelings she had would seemingly vanish into thin air. In their place, comfort and security would envelop her like a warm, heated blanket in the dead of winter...
Noticing Lily's aura stir before promptly attempting to envelop him, Vahn gave her a light pat on the back, asking, "Feeling better...?" in a soothing tone.
Hearing Vahn's voice, Lily reconsidered her growing desire to pretend to be asleep. She didn't think he would mind, so, after a moment of deliberation, she closed her eyes and refused to answer. This caused an awkward smile to develop across Vahn's face, but, as Lily had anticipated, he didn't say or do anything to try and dislodge her. Instead, he waited patiently for Lily to 'wake up' and answer his questions of her own accord.
Fortunately, even in her borderline bereaved state, Lily was still the same kind, caring, and incredibly dependable girl she had always been. After around five minutes had passed, her guilt regarding the possibility she may be inconveniencing Vahn grew beyond her selfishness. She nuzzled against him one last time, and, after a final squeeze, sat a little straighter on his lap to answer, "I can still feel an ache deep inside my chest...but I am feeling a lot better..."
Nodding his head in approval, Vahn extended his hands to caress the sides of Lily's face, her scalp, and the base of her ears as he said, "That's good. Things like this happen every now and again. So long as you pick yourself up and keep trying, things will get better..."
Though she was initially leaning into Vahn's caress with a content smile on her face, Lily's expression quickly morphed into a sullen look as she weakly replied, "I'm not sure I want to keep trying..."
Slumping her shoulders, Lily brought her hands up to conceal her face. She couldn't even begin to describe the amount of guilt she was currently feeling, but, after trying for several months without any progress, she didn't think she could keep going. She didn't want to. If she had changed, it was because her relationship with Jin was slowly breaking her...
Noticing the concerning changes in Lily's aura, Vahn suppressed a sigh as he once again drew her close to him. She immediately returned his embrace, and, despite crying her eyes out previously, a fresh, seemingly endless stream of tears surged forth from Lily's eyes. She felt like she had just lost her best friend, and, though their relationship was less than fulfilling, she felt like she was somehow betraying Jin by refusing to try harder...
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"Hey, kid...you okay...?"
Raising his head, Jin looked up to find a young woman with bright red hair fashioned into two, inordinately long pigtails. She was dressed like a swordsman, and, though she had a somewhat grumpy expression on her face, it did little to hide the concern visible in her ruby-red eyes.
Surprised by how handsome Jin was, the red-headed woman was briefly taken back. She never expected that the young man she found sniffling in an alleyway would be such a pretty boy. His facial features and skin were somehow even fairer than hers and she spent more than an hour in front of the mirror each morning...
Shaking such thoughts from her mind, the red-headed swordswoman extended a hand towards Jin, saying, "Take my hand. I don't know what happened, but you'll feel better after we get something in your belly. You sure as hell ain't gonna fix anything by squatting down in an alleyway and crying."
Furrowing his brows, Jin refused the woman's outstretched hand, saying, "Leave me alone..." before hanging his head. This caused the woman's left eye to twitch, her outstretched hand balling into a fist as she resisted the sudden and intense urge to smack Jin upside the head.
"Damn brat..."
Leaving Jin to his brooding, the young woman disappeared from the alleyway in an apparent huff. A few minutes later, however, she came back with several piping hot meat skewers in hand before plopping down next to Jin and saying, "Here. Eat." in an authoritative tone.
Believing the woman would just go away if he ignored her, Jin neither accepted the meat skewer nor raised his head. Instead, he just continued to sulk for the better part of an hour as the woman finished off half the skewers before emulating his sulking. This caused Jin to feel more than a little annoyed, but, confident she would eventually get fed up, he continued ignoring her until the sky overhead began to darken.
"Hey...kid...you got someplace to stay? Like a Community or something?"
Hearing the woman mention Community, Jin's brows wrinkled. He was supposed to be the Leader of a Community yet here he was sitting in an alleyway and brooding. There was a good chance the others were waiting for him to arrive, so, after a lengthy period of silence, he reluctantly nodded his head and replied, "Yes..."
Exhaling in relief, the woman picked up one of the now chilled skewers before holding up her free hand to produce a bright orange flame. She ended up burning the meat a bit, but, after checking to make sure it was edible, she proferred it towards Jin and said, "That's good. I wouldn't have minded letting you crash at my place but it ain't exactly prepared for guests."
Though Jin was tempted to refuse the slightly charred skewer, sadness and longing had a way of amplifying the feeling of hunger. He also felt guilty about ignoring the woman for the better part of four and a half hours, so, after staring at the meat for several seconds, he eventually reached out to accept it, muttering, "Thanks..." in an aloof-sounding but appreciative tone.
Waiting until Jin had bitten into the skewer, the red-headed woman nodded her head in approval before saying, "The name's Helena, by the way. I'm a Sergeant serving in the Salamandra Military Police. Mind telling me your name and what you're doing here in this alleyway? I'm not the best of listeners but I know it helps to talk about things whenever you're feeling down. It sure as hell beats moping about without any purpose."
Furrowing his brows, Jin countered, "I wasn't moping...I was thinking about how I could fix things..."
Snorting through her nose, Helena picked up one of the remaining skewers, biting into it as she said, "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. First time I ever saw someone productively crying..."
Adopting a slightly hostile expression, Jin looked directly at Helena and asked, "What do you know? Do you have any idea what I just went through? How much pain I'm feeling!?"
Chewing the cold meat from the skewer, Helena didn't so much as twitch when Jin suddenly yelled at her. Instead, she continued chomping away at the skewer until he gradually lost his momentum and slumped back against the wall.
Finished with the skewer, Helena flicked it into a nearby trash bin before saying, "I don't know jack shit about you, kid. To be perfectly honest, I don't need to. All I know is I found some brat sobbing away in the middle of an alleyway so I decided to come over to see if he needed help. If you don't want to talk about what happened, so be it. Just don't go condemning others for not understanding things you refuse to talk about. You won't get anywhere in life expecting people to magically know your thoughts."
Feeling a little thirsty, Helena rose to her feet with the intention of looking for a stand that sold beverages. Jin followed her departure with his eyes, but, after hearing what she had to say, he was genuinely at a loss for words. He didn't know if their meeting was providence or something more but Helena's words resonated strongly with his current mental state.
Ever since Lily ran off, Jin had been seriously contemplating the root cause of the problems in their relationship. The conclusion he came to was the same thing Lily had been pressing him to do ever since they started dating. He simply didn't know how to properly express himself or talk about the things that were troubling him. He was so used to bottling up and compartmentalizing everything that he would actively shut out the people trying to help him...
Realizing the root cause was his self-esteem issues, Jin hung his head in shame, muttering, "I'm a terrible Leader..."
Though she should have been out of earshot of Jin's words, Helena stopped near the mouth of the alleyway, stating, "Only if you give up..."
Widening his eyes, Jin looked in the direction of Helena only to find that she was nowhere to be seen. He rose to his feet and ran to the entrance of the alleyway, but, even after searching left and right, he saw neither hide nor hair of the redhead that had appeared out of thin air to try and help him. She had simply vanished...
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Appearing on a roof several hundred meters away from the alleyway where she had encountered Jin, a somewhat annoyed expression developed across Helena's face as she muttered, "Now what? Do I join the Military Police or should I go exploring the Northern Plains?"
Though the question was directed at herself, Helena was unsurprised when a penetratingly deep yet comforting voice emanated from behind, answering, "That's up to you. If you'd like, I can even send you to the Actualized World your Template originates from."
Shaking her head, Helena stated, "Even if my abilities are currently limited, my potential far exceeds the standard of that world. Throwing a Tier 5 into a place where horses and wyverns are considered the fastest means of transport is simply ridiculous..."
Having made up her mind by the time she was finished speaking, Helena directed her attention to the North, adding, "I may as well check the plains to the North. There's supposed to be a bunch of Fae and other Spiritual creatures roaming about. Who knows, maybe I'll find some other lost brats in need of guidance...?"
Without waiting for the voice's, Vahn's response, Helena stepped off the edge of the rooftop before blurring into a red meteor that garnered a lot of attention before disappearing beyond the horizon. The character she was Templated from had a prideful and unyielding nature. Since Vahn had given her the freedom to choose her own path, that is exactly what she intended to do...
Following the temperamental redhead's disappearance, Vahn manifested atop the roof with a wry smile on his face. Instead of chasing after or trying to call Helena back, however, he fixed his gaze on Jin, muttering, "There is only so much I can do for you, kid...if you can't overcome your personal setbacks, you have no one else to blame if Lily seeks comfort in another..."
Understanding that the person Lily was most likely to attach to was himself, Vahn couldn't help shaking his head as he turned around and vanished into thin air. He was doing his best to support them, but, understanding how much pain Lily was in, Vahn couldn't help wanting to comfort her. If Jin didn't get his act together soon, he would need to step in before she had a complete and utter mental breakdown.
Someone as kind and caring as Lily didn't deserve to suffer the anguish of a broken heart. She had already lost one family. If Jin couldn't become the pillar she relied upon, Vahn would willingly bear her burdens...
It was one of the things he was best at...
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: '*sad kitsune noises*...','Lending a hand...','When girls rebound to Vahn, they don't go back...')

Sensing a faint yet determined intent attempting to lock onto his position, Vahn's brows perked up as he remarked, "It would appear your guests have arrived."
Hearing Vahn's words, Sandora raised her head from his chest, a hint of confusion in her eyes as she asked, "Guests...?"
Though it would potentially cause some problems if anyone were present to witness it, Sandora was currently curled atop Vahn's lap as the latter made himself comfortable on her throne. There was no hidden meaning behind this. Sandora just wanted to be pampered a bit after blazing through most of her responsibilities in record time.
Fortunately, even if someone were to rush towards and attempt to enter Throne Room, Vahn could extend the moment before their arrival to a functional eternity. Sandora was fully aware of this, so, ever since Vahn had guided her through one of the most insufferable moments of her life, she had developed a penchant for being held. It made her feel safe, warm, and, most importantly, closer to the man she loved.
"The one outside is named Kasukabe Yo. You've yet to meet her, but she is an amazing and friendly young woman. As for the others, I imagine they're currently exploring the city...?"
Helping Sandora put a face to the name she had already been made aware of, Vahn created a 3D projection of Yo observing the Palace from her perch. This caught Sandora by surprise, not because she hadn't seen him use projection magic, but because Yo was a remarkably beautiful woman.
"You never mentioned how pretty she was..."
"Mmm...I find it's best not to actively discuss other women unless the one I'm with actively inquires about them..."
Recalling the existence of Vahn's rather vast harem, a hint of solemnity appeared in the depths of Sandora's deep blue eyes as she asked, "Is this...Kasukabe Yo one of your women...?"
Though they had yet to make things 'official', Vahn imagined that Yo would be sad if she heard him deny such a question. Thus, after a very brief moment of deliberation, he nodded his head and said, "Yes. While it would be more accurate to argue we're just close friends, the only thing preventing us from taking things further is Yo's desire to support her friends..."
Tilting her head in confusion, Sandora asked, "What do you mean...?" before immediately regretting it as Vahn detailed the situation between him, Jin, and, most importantly, Lily.
Under normal circumstances, Sandora would be over the moon to learn more about her two friends from childhood. She missed both of them dearly, and, even now, never understood why the Alliance between their two Communities had been annulled.&nbsp;
"Jin..."
As troubling as the information regarding Lily was, the thing that impacted Sandora most were the revelations related to Jin. Most people likened their relationship to the bond between brother and sister, but, deep down, Sandora had always had a crush on Jin. When they were both six years old, she attempted to get him to promise to marry her once they matured. She expected him to relent, but, shortly after she started pressuring him, Jin ran out of the bath with teary eyes and a blush on his face...
Though a faint smile developed across her face due to the fond memory, it faded rather quickly when Sandora noticed Vahn observing her with his characteristic smile. She immediately became embarrassed, cheeks tinting red as she averted her eyes and remarked, "I...it's nothing..."
Adopting a marginally more affectionate smile, Vahn answered, "It isn't nothing. In fact, it's perfectly understandable. Never suppress your emotions for the benefit of others. Openness and honesty are two of the most important pillars of a lasting relationship. This may come as a surprise, but many of the women I'm closest to even had families and children long before I came along..."
Emphasizing his point, Vahn showed projections of Hephaestus, Loki, Aki, Chloe, Lunoire, Anubis, Tsubaki, Milan, Freya, Demeter, Shizune, Rufina, Aisha, Kali, Rin, Ereshkigal, and many, many others. Each was a woman who had formerly been in love with someone else, married, or had children. The case of Demeter was one of the most noteworthy, as, prior to settling down with him, she had given birth to hundreds of children and married multiple times.
Such matters may concern others, but, in Vahn's case, he actually found motherly and experienced women the most relaxing to be around. They knew exactly what they want, and, unlike some of the younger and more inexperienced women, they felt significantly less inclined to experiment or push boundaries in the bedroom. Even Loki was no exception to this. The moment she noticed he was pushing himself or suffering from mental fatigue, she would practically force him to just stop and relax. It was something few would expect from such a chaotic entity, and, over time, it became one of the aspects Vahn most loved about her...
Seeing the startling number of women that apparently had relationships prior to Vahn, Sandora was at a complete and utter loss for words. She knew, or, at the very least believed Vahn wasn't the type to intrude on other people's relationships for his personal benefit. There were just so many...
"..."
Noticing the pensive expression on Sandora's face, Vahn asked, "Is something the matter?" while tilting his head to the side to get a better look at her.
Turning to meet Vahn's gaze, Sandora hesitated for a brief moment before asking, "Have...have any of your wives or lovers ever left you? Have you ever left any of them...?"
Providing Sandora considerable relief, Vahn immediately shook his head, answering, "None. From the moment of my first confession till now, there has never been a single instance of anyone falling out of love with me or vice-versa. There have been quite a few bumps along the way, but, no matter how difficult or strained things became, we always managed to overcome it together..."
Though images of Scathach briefly flashed across his mind, Vahn knew she had never left him. Her desire for death may have exceeded his ability to remedy, but, at no point in time did he ever lose her heart. In fact, she had gone out of her way to leave it with him...
Noticing the hint of loneliness in Vahn's eyes, an indescribable pain manifested in Sandora's heart. She didn't know why but it felt 'wrong' for Vahn to have such an expression, so, after a moment of hesitation, she grabbed the sides of his face and parroted his words to her, promising, "No matter what...I will always be with you..."
With an affectionate yet wry smile on his face, Vahn prepared himself for the inevitable kiss that was coming. To his surprise, Sandora didn't aim for his lips when she drew his head towards her. Instead, show borrowed another page out of his book by planting a chaste yet lasting kiss on his forehead.
Separating her lips from Vahn's head, Sandora couldn't help giggling when she saw the befuddled look on his face. Immediately thereafter, a remarkably radiant smile developed across her face as she playfully inquired, "What? Were you expecting something else...?"
Supplying a chuckle of his own, Vahn returned Sandora's forehead kiss with one atop her crown before holding her close and whispering, "You become more amazing with each passing day..."
Leaning into Vahn's embrace, the smile on Sandora's face relaxed into the content expression she had been wearing with increasing frequency. She was still a little worried regarding the situation with Lily and Jin, but, having already made her choice, she decided to prioritize her own happiness over the concerns of others. She had lived her entire life trying to make other people happy. It was her turn to experience it...
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After observing the Palace for several minutes, Yo was thoroughly convinced that Vahn was inside. Since she didn't have their invitation, however, she made no attempt to approach the palace guards or break inside. Instead, she made her way over to the coliseum in order to register for the Battle of the Creators. Today was the final day of registration, so, as much as she wanted to drop in and see what Vahn was up to, Yo decided to focus on her original objective.
Approaching one of the many kiosks separating the coliseum's interior from the outside, Yo was pleasantly surprised to find a Lizardman with vaguely feminine features manning the window. While fluff was supreme, the ruggedness of scales had a charm of its own. Yo also noticed the woman put a considerable amount of effort into her grooming, so, the moment it was her turn to approach the window, she couldn't help remarking, "You have very pretty scales." with a sincere and unmistakably excited smile on her face.
Though she was briefly taken aback by Yo's sudden compliment, a somewhat scary smile, at least to the vast majority of people, developed across the Lizardwoman's face as she rebutted, "You ain't so bad yourself, girly. Now, how can I help you? Don't think flattery will get you free entry..."
Shaking her head, Yo reached into her pocket to pull out a tiny pouch filled with gem-like crystals. She had made a habit out of accepting simple Quests from the Quest Board, so, while most of the items she received were junk, a few rewarded her with things like Mana Crystals and Magic Stones. Yo didn't really understand what the difference was but most businesses eagerly accepted them as a form of payment.
Sensing the magical energy contained within the tiny pouch, the Lizardwoman flickered her tongue out of sheer instinct. Items containing magical energy weren't particularly rare in the Little Garden but no one in their right mind used them for simple transactions. In the Lower Realms, Yo's actions were the equivalent of pulling out a pouch full of gold coins to pay for a single stick of gum.
"I wish to register my Community for the Battle of Creators. My Community doesn't have a name but I have a referral letter from Shiroyasha-sama, the Eastern Floor Master. If this isn't the correct place, please tell me where I need to go."
Hearing the woman before her casually mention possessing a referral letter from the Eastern, aka the Strongest Floor Master, the Lizardwoman's jaw muscles promptly loosened into a slack-jawed expression. Fortunately, one of her Managers, a young woman with dark skin, purple hair, and cat-like features had been close by. When she heard Yo mention the letter, she immediately sauntered over, asking, "May I please see the letter? Once I have confirmed its authenticity, we'll also need you to follow us somewhere to verify your identity."
As Shiroyasha had mentioned that something like this might occur, Yo nodded her head but didn't hand over the letter. She had been told to keep it on her person at all times, so, in response to the woman's words, she explained, "You'll need to verify it without touching it directly. Shiroyasha-sama told me to hold onto it no matter what."
To Yo's surprise, the feline woman actually relaxed when she heard her response. What she didn't know was that the woman's words had been a test of sorts. Had she actually handed over the letter, they would have been forced to detain her in accordance with protocol. A surprisingly high number of people thought they could get away with pretty much anything by forging the seal or signature of a Floor Master. By invoking Shiroyasha's name and refusing to hand over the document despite scrutiny, Yo had effectively proven her identity. Had she been lying, the letter would have burst into flames.
"I understand. Please follow me to my office. I will help process your registration, and, if necessary, help you check into a room. We don't normally allow contestants to stay in the coliseum during the festival but we're more than willing to make an exception for a VIP such as yourself."
Though she followed after the woman, Yo refused the offer for a room by explaining she would be staying at the Palace. She wasn't aware of it, but this immediately elevated her position in the mind of the Manager. Once Yo's registration had been completed, she even gave her a ruby-red keycard that would allow her access to most of the coliseum's facilities. More importantly, it allowed her to basically take anything she wanted from the various stores and gift shops found within. As a guest of the Salamandra Royal Family, she wasn't merely a VIP. She was a Super VIP.
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Jin can't catch a break...','Sandora got them uno reverse card strats...','Yo is an equal opportunity Mofu Master (U w U)...')

Chapter 2263: Lingering Attachment