Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

While waiting for Eva, Vahn had little else to do other than fall back into his old schedule. He had let everyone enjoy a vacation while he was dealing with Eva, but, now that his tensions had been dealt with, he could easily provide them with the amount of attention they required. Most importantly, he was no longer stressed out by the growing intimacy and skinship he shared with the girls. Rather, it was actually somewhat cute to see them eagerly fishing for his attention, and, though it might lead to future troubles, he decided to just laugh off their antics like he would his growing fanbase...

With a casual smile on his face, Vahn was dodging the 'flailing' of the bronze-skinned beauty, who, in spite of her best efforts, simply couldn't land a hit on him. She was surprisingly deft at hand-to-hand combat, possessing inherent flexibility, impeccable balance, and a talent for Ki, but, even if she stepped in at her fastest speed, Vahn would either evade or deflect her attacks to the side, casually explaining how she could improve in real-time. This allowed her to improve quickly, but, after a few minutes, Theo would always get riled up, attempting a big attack or trying to pull a trick...

In an attempt to take the fight into a grapple, Theo pounced like a cat toward its prey, a thin shroud of magical energy appearing around her body. This provided a qualitative increase in her speed and mobility, but, at the apex of her pounce, Theo found her vision obstructed by Vahn's open palm. In the following moments, a sense of weightlessness seized her body, and, before her brain processed everything that was happening, she found herself staring up at a familiar expanse of blue sky. There was no feeling of impacting the ground, only the feeling of cool grass against her sweaty body as a silhouette stared down at her from above, musing, "Until you can freely move in the air, leaving the ground is a death sentence against a skilled opponent. You lose the ability to dodge, and, while it is an effective way to catch some opponents by surprise, the loss of power is rarely worth it..."

Hearing Vahn's explanation, a smile spread across Theo's face before she began to laugh in a light-hearted manner. It had been impossible to get anyone to train her properly back in the palace, so, even if she felt completely exhausted, the urge to laugh was too strong to resist. Her pointed ears, which looked like elven ears covered in a thin coat of white fur, would gently waggle whenever she laughed, earning a slight smile from Vahn as he extended his hand to help her stand...

Though she accepted Vahn's outstretched hand, a mischievous sheen flashed across Theo's eyes as her laughter immediately ceased. Then, using Vahn's arm as leverage, she attempted to place him in an armbar by wrapping her thighs and legs around his arm. Unfortunately, the moment she twisted her body in an attempt to pull off the maneuver, a thin golden aura shrouded her body as she was tossed, rather unceremoniously, through the air. She tumbled head over heels a few times, but, as if it was just a fun carnival ride, Theo's laughter could be heard echoing all the way up until the point she crashed harmlessly into the sea...

Shaking his head, Vahn pulled out a towel to wipe Theo's sweat away from his arm before turning his gaze to the side, locking eyes with the other golden-haired beauty waiting for her turn. She, like Theo, was wearing a version of the [Aegis MK-U] that looked like a sports bra and hot pants, so, as could be expected from such form-fitting garments, there wasn't much left to the imagination. This was something Vahn had largely gotten used to, but, seeing Arika staring at him with a hungry look in her eyes, it was hard to resist sighing in appreciation as he pulled out Laev-tan and said, "Let me see how much you've improved..."

Without a moment of hesitation, Arika's hair began to fan outward as a golden claymore appeared in her right hand. Then, following the sound of a muted shockwave, Arika's figure 'flickered' out of existence before reappearing next to him in an instant. She had been steadily mastering [Shundo], but, without needing to look toward her, Vahn's easily deflected her sweeping blow toward the sky. His blade seemed to move in slow motion, but, no matter how much she enhanced her speed and strength using her colossal reserves, Arika could never complete her attack before it was deflected...

Clenching her teeth, Arika guided her sword into a controlled arc, using the momentum of Vahn's deflection to prepare a follow-up strike. At the same time, she stepped in quickly in an attempt to try and knock him off balance with her shoulder. Unfortunately, in much the same way he had dealt with Theo, Vahn stepped into the gap in Arika's movement. It was hard to redirect your momentum when you had committed to an attack, so, if your opponent was faster and more skilled, any wasted movements were easily exploited...

As he side-stepped toward the front of Arika's body, Vahn's right hand swept toward the pommel of her claymore. This prevented her from trying to perform an impromptu slash, the flat of her own blade pressing into her exposed flank and causing her to lose balance. She didn't fall over, but her body spun around a few times before she was able to recover. It was amusing to see how she could even turn a fumble into a graceful movement, but, before Vahn could comment on it, Arika's figure had already vanished a second time...

Feeling the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, Vahn's eyes widened slightly as a massive golden crescent bisected him at the waist. The energy blade, traveling several times faster than the speed of sound, was able to cut through the adjacent forest, only stopping after it carved a large gully in the nearby mountain. This was a rather impressive display, but, rather than appear satisfied, Arika's face showed disbelief, trepidation, and concern as she watched the two halves of Vahn split apart...

Before she could even cry out and [Shundo] to Vahn's side, all of Arika's mental processes ground to a stop when a familiar voice casually asked, "What are you looking at...?" from right behind her.

With rounded eyes, Arika attempted to spin around, but, part-way through the movement, a finger poked into her cheek, somehow arresting her momentum completely. On the other end, she could see Vahn's casually smiling face tinged with amusement as he retracted his hand and said, "Unless you have confirmed the death of your opponent, never make assumptions. Did you really think you had cut me in half so easily~?"

Without dignifying Vahn's words with a verbal response, Arika found her left hand moving before she had willed it to do so. It was like an 'instinct' was driving her to slap him, but, as if to emphasize his invulnerability, Vahn didn't even bother dodging as her hand swept through him like a phantom image. This ended up being the case, as, in the next moment, a familiar sensation plopped down on her head, followed by a comfortable flow of energy as a voice echoed from behind her, saying, "You have every right to be mad. However, this is training so you won't be easily deceived by your future opponents. I'll apologize later, so, for the time being, focus on trying to land a hit on me before you even humor the thought of 'accidentally' killing me..."

The moment she felt Vahn's hand leave her head, a glowering look spread across Arika's face as she twisted her body in a graceful arc, sweeping backward with her sword. Then, for the better part of an hour, she fervently attempted to release her frustrations on the smiling man until her body was completely covered in sweat. Even then, she pushed herself beyond exhaustion, only stopping when Vahn grabbed her blade with his bare hand, taking advantage of her depleted reserves to snap it in an instant...

---

Following another long session of training, Vahn made good on his promise to Arika, apologizing by helping wash her back and hair as she hugged her knees and pouted. At the same time, though he had told her it wasn't necessary, Theo was spiritedly scrubbing his with a large sponge. She had tried to tease him by lathering up her own body and pouncing on him, but, after a literal spanking, she had, momentarily, become a little more obedient. As for how their relationship had evolved to the point of him spanking her backside, well, this was largely due to Theo herself and a few remarks from Fenrir.

Though she had taken his words into consideration, restraining herself quite a bit, it was impossible to stop Fenrir from preaching the principles of being a 'good girl'. She had explained the concept of earning rewards for good behavior, going into great lengths about the many benefits that could be obtained. Inversely, she also explained what constituted bad behavior, using Theo's recent mischief as an example. Vahn wasn't entirely sure what had been said, but, after that, Theo directly requested that he spank her whenever he thought her antics had gone too far. She seemed to believe it would help her mature into a proper adult, citing that 'proper discipline' was important between a Master and Disciple.

Truthfully, Vahn felt like Fenrir had 'inadvertently' planted a landmine in his path, but, after refusing to spank her, Theo became even more rambunctious and bold. She even waggled her pert brown butt in his face a few times, resulting in the penultimate moment when he tanned her hide for the first time. Afterward, she became demonstrably more demure and bashful, cutting back on most of her antics. It was only during and after training that she would resort to her usual antics, the result of a biological predisposition to get 'very' excited during and after battles...

Finished with washing Arika's hair, Vahn lightly uttered, "Lean back a little..." before using a gentle torrent of hot water to rinse away the suds. This allowed Arika to stare up at his face, but, without minding her gaze, Vahn supported her body with his palm, quickly completing the process before smiling as he said, "You're good to go..."

After guiding Arika back into a seated position, the latter stood up from the mineral-rich waters of the onsen, her long hair covering much of her figure but still leaving the curves of her body visible. She was clearly still a little upset after being 'toyed' with during their training, but, after standing in silence for nearly half a minute, Arika uttered a demure, "Thank you for washing my hair..." before slowly levitating from the water and alighting from the bath.

Realizing that Arika might have just been standing in front of him to allow herself to be seen, Vahn developed a slightly wry smile on his face as he watched her land at the side, the water on her body evaporating even before she stepped into the changing room. This left him alone with Theo, and, as a result, she became more emboldened, throwing her arms around his neck from behind, her naked body pressing into his back as she teasingly whispered, "It seems like big sis is rapidly falling in love with the big bad dragon~."

Without reacting to Theo's provocation, Vahn slowly rose from the bath, allowing her to hang from him as he casually answered, "I am well aware. However, she is a little too young and inexperienced for me to reciprocate her feelings. Though she likely has a number of reasons at this point, she only loves me because she doesn't really know how to love anyone else. I am merely the first person she has shown a special interest in, and, due to my nature, she feels 'safe' by entrusting herself to me...is it not the same for you, Princess...?"

With a light blush coloring her cheeks, Theo released her hold on Vahn, taking a few steps back as a timid smile spread across her face. She could understand what Vahn was trying to say, as, over the last few days, she had started to wonder if she was also falling in love. He made her feel safe, and, if she were ever in any danger, she knew he would stop at nothing to try and save her. This gave her a strong desire to stay at his side, and, due to how 'accepting' he was of their selfishness, Theo often found herself wondering just how much she could get away with...

Rather than respond directly to Vahn's words, Theo's expression softened slightly as she said, "You know...if we were back on Earth, I would already be twenty-one-years-old, more than old enough to drink and vote in most countries. I even had my first period when I was seven, so, from a biological point of view, I'm already more than ready..."

Towards the end of her words, Theo's eyes wandered down Vahn's body, swallowing hard when she looked directly at his sleeping member. She hadn't really thought about matters like love before her appointment as Imperial Ambassador, but, after observing the intimacy between Vahn and Fenrir, it was hard not to feel a little curious. Her appointment was also something that was only supposed to be given to adults, for obvious reasons, so, all things considered, Theo had gradually convinced herself she was more than mature enough for a physical relationship...

Without losing his smile, Vahn just shook his head before calmly stating, "You're in the same boat as Arika. Even if your argument is sound, you simply lack the life experience to make such decisions. In a normal society, you would have learned about these things by growing alongside your peers, but, as a member of the Imperial Family, you have been isolated from others. Now, you have a chance to break away from most of the restraints that have kept you bound, so, after imprinting upon me, you have developed a subconscious desire to strengthen our relationship, believing it is the best way to ensure your happiness. What you feel isn't true love, Theo, it is the result of your curious nature and a desire for liberation...you just want to experience new things and be free..."

Hearing Vahn's words, Theo's ears drooped somewhat pathetically, as, despite her desire to refute them, she couldn't really argue against them. She didn't really understand how she felt, but, as Vahn had stated, she just felt comfortable and secure around him. If she sincerely asked him to, she knew he would allow her to live a completely different life than the one that had been decided for her by fate. He had even answered many of the questions she had about the future of this world, including those related to her marriage...

Though she wanted to serve her people and fulfill her duties as Empress, Theo didn't really want to sacrifice everything in that pursuit. She still wanted to be happy, so, knowing she had been forced into a political marriage to strengthen ties within her own family, it was hard to look forward to the future. She actually knew the person she was fated to marry, and, though he wasn't really the worst candidate, imagining herself loving the man was impossible. Not only was he weak, but, as a result of his family's wealth, he had lived a decadent and wasteful life thus far...

Seeing the mixture of confusion, melancholy, and frustration in Theo's countenance, Vahn's smile softened slightly as he said, "You're thinking too much, Theo. The answer is actually very simple, you know?"

Hearing Vahn's words, clarity returned to Theo's sapphire-like eyes as she heard him add, "You were able to grasp your freedom the moment you became my student. No matter what others decide, you are the only person that can make decisions regarding your life. Even if you wanted to lead the Hellas Empire down a completely different path, I would support you from behind the scenes and help you find allies, like Arika, who are willing to share your burdens. So long as you never become the type of person who exploits others for personal gain, you will always have my support. There is no need to rush things, Theo...happiness isn't looking toward the future and fretting over events to come. Happiness comes from making the most of each passing moment, forging strong bonds, and constantly pushing yourself to become something 'greater'..."

Though it would take a while to process them completely, Theo felt considerably relieved by Vahn's words. At the same time, however, she keyed in on a few key phrases, a look of confusion marring her expression as she asked, "How can I make the most of each moment if I'm not allowed to act on my instincts and urges? Even if what I'm experiencing isn't love, there are still plenty of things I want to try. I can't even imagine experimenting with other people, so how old do I need to be before you are willing to accept me...?"

Not expecting Theo to immediately bounce back and adapt his words to the current situation, Vahn smiled wryly as he explained, "There are differences between personal and shared happiness. If you only think about your own happiness without considering the circumstances and feelings of others, you will gradually become a greedy and selfish person. Though you are a beautiful young woman, I do not have those types of thoughts and intentions toward you. That may change in the future, but, for the time being, I cannot answer your question..."

Since she didn't want to become the type of person she hated more than any other, Theo fell into a state of deep thought. She noticed he didn't openly state it was impossible for them to be together, so, if she persisted, there was still a chance. It wasn't as if she was in a particular rush to further their relationship, so, rather than fret over it, she decided to just focus on her training and continue their cohabitation. It was fun to spending time with him, and, if Fenrir's words rang true, she could slowly close the distance between them. If her emotions did turn to love, Theo was confident he wouldn't turn her away...

Imagining Vahn doing his best to 'ignore' her advances, a mischievous smile spread across Theo's face, her mood completely restored. This caused Vahn's smile to turn wry, but, when she asked him to help wash her hair, he didn't refuse...

(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn is a bully...','Fenrir is unstoppable','Eva about to bury some pretenders xD...')

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