As she would be accompanying him into the Dungeon, Vahn spent the better part of three days working on a set of 'shorts' for Fenrir. They were closer to designer hotpants because neither Fenrir nor Lili wanted much fabric covering their thighs at all. This meant their design was closer to the bottoms worn by Ryuu in the past, before her pregnancy. The only real difference was that it had an elastic belt-strap loop that fixed firmly around her hips, leaving a hole for her tail that also allowed her to move about freely. Because of their combat style, Vahn had to make sure the 'shorts' were very form fitting while also ensuring they were elastic or it would chafe when they began sweating.
The final result had the somewhat embarrassing 'shaping' attribute, which seemed to 'plague' all the lower body armor that Vahn created. This made Fenrir, who typically didn't have a very fleshy butt, almost look like she had a small and perky bubble butt. When Lili saw this, she got very excited and was greatly looking forward to her completed pair. As for Fenrir, she seemed very happy with her newfound 'assets' and could be found checking herself out in the mirror as she patted her own butt with a silly smile on her face. She made sure not to use her claws, as that could still damage the fabric, and just used her fleshy paw pads, enjoying the feel and 'sponginess' of her own perky bottom.
Fortunately, though his main focus had been on completing Fenrir's [Aegis Shorts Mk 1], he also found time to forge Tione's new swords. Preparing the materials was actually the most time-consuming part and the actual forge process only took around seven hours. He modeled them after a type of weapon known as a 'kopis', as he figured Tione could benefit from the extended range after adapting to the length of [Gale] and [Tempest]. She originally used a weapon known a 'kukri', which was like an inward curving machete, so Vahn picked a weapon that was a good balance between a shortsword and a kukri, thus deciding upon the kopis.
He used a triple-layer structure, emphasizing the ability of the kopis to cleave and hack enemies, comprised of a spine made of Adamantine, a core made of Orichalcum, and the blade encasing out of Adamantine. Orichalcum was much softer and would act as a catalyst to allow mana to flow through the blade, this time with a focus on enhancing Tione's power instead of any other kind of magical effect. Vahn also wanted to make sure it had the Durandal attribute, which is why more than 70% of the entire weapon was made out of Adamantine. The handle was wrapped in Cadmus hide, matching the pristine white blade since it was also pure white in coloration. Many of the materials Vahn used were predominately white in their base states, but that also allowed him to color and treat them later.
When Vahn finished with the pair of kopis, which were nearly identical in weight with only a 350 microgram difference. Vahn could guarantee an almost machine level of precision by using his 'Oblivion' skill to shave off excess materials and have Sis accurately weight the materials before he moved on. The difference came from the Cadmus hide since, though he tried to keep it as accurate as possible, there were very small imperfections in the hide even when he purchased it through the system shop. A 350 microgram difference wasn't even noticeable at all but Vahn was a little annoyed since he had wanted them to be true twin blades, instead of simply 'similar'. Tione, seemed very satisfied with them, however, so Vahn got over it very quickly and named the blades [Twin Dragon Fang]s since they had been treated by soaking the blades in Frost Dragon blood to give them an icy blue sheen.
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[Twin Dragon Fang]
Rank: A (Magic)
Slots: 0
P.Atk: 640+60
M.Atk: 220
Abilities: Durandal(A), Armor Break(B), Frost Dragon's Venom(D)
The elder of two twin kopis, capable of striking through the defense of enemies and cause a debilitating status affliction as a result of bathing in the blood of a Frost Dragon. The higher the defense of an enemy, the stronger this blade becomes, almost as if offended by the fact anything could resist its edge.
Restriction: Amazons Only
[Twin Dragon Fang]
Rank: A (Magic)
Slots: 0
P.Atk: 610+60
M.Atk: 330
Abilities: Durandal(A), Armor Break(C), Frost Dragon's Venom(C)
The younger of two twin kopis, capable of striking through the defense of enemies and cause a debilitating status affliction as a result of bathing in the blood of a Frost Dragon. Though not as capable when it comes to cleaving through armor, the amount of blood absorbed by this blade is much higher than its elder sister.
Restriction: Amazons Only
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When he saw the parameters of the two kopis, Vahn was pleasantly surprised because having more than six-hundred physical attack in what was essentially a short sword was fantastic. However, when he read the Abilities and saw the differences in the parameters between each weapon, he was a little dejected. Though the weight difference was almost negligible, Vahn could now see he had made 'mistakes' in how the metals were treated, not accounting for the 'peculiarity' like one metal's ability to absorb more blood than another's. At least they were 'similar' enough for there not to be any great differences in their performance, though the 110 extra magic attack on the 'younger' kopis made it arguably the more superior blade. Since Tione had a bit of a complex against her 'younger' twin, Vahn decided to keep this a secret and simply refer to them as normal sister swords...
Tione noticed, from the moment Vahn named the blades in her hands, they felt far more comfortable than before. It was almost like they were made specifically for her, feeling far more familiar than weapons she had used for much longer periods of time. With a smile on her face, she waved them around in a playful manner and said, "Vahn, these weapons are amazing. Should I consider this your dowry~?" Hearing her words, Vahn snapped out of his train of thought and smiled before teasingly saying, "If I can get an exotic beauty as my bride for the price of two swords, I don't think thats a bad deal." As he spoke, Vahn stepped towards Tione and got within a few inches of her face, causing her to step back in a panic.
Realizing she had just 'retreated', Tione's brow twitched and she embedded both swords into the table so that she could 'deal' with Vahn. However, the moment she jammed them into the table, Tione was surprised when both blades passed through the hardwood as if she was cutting through soft tofu. She had become momentarily distracted by this and, as she had turned away from Vahn to set aside the swords, he managed to step in behind her and grab her waist. Tione startled slightly before biting her bottom lip when Vahn sent a stimulating stream of energy through her navel while biting her earlobe. Bring up his left hand, Vahn caressed the locket around Tione's chest and whispered, "Once I deal with Hippolyta and Kali, I'll make both you and Tiona my brides..."
Tione's body was already beginning to burn up under Vahn's touch, but it was like a fire had been lit in her heart when she heard his words. Unfortunately for her, Tiona had also been present so she laughed happily and said, "I'm really looking forward to it, ehehehe~." With Tiona's words sounding out, Vahn let go of Tione, causing her to give her little sister an aggrieved look with a fair amount of blame in her eyes. Tiona, completely unfazed by this, just hugged Preasia from behind and snuggled her shaggy hair while the petite sheep person just 'accepted' her fate.
Vahn chuckled at Tione's reaction and said, "We don't really have that much time to 'play' around right now since we need to be getting ready for dinner. The expedition is only three days away so make sure to familiarize yourself with those kopis before we leave. They are a lot stronger than your previous weapons, almost to a scary amount, so you'll need to adjust your strength a bit to avoid accidents..." Looking at his destroyed table, Vahn had a wry smile on his face that made Tione show a rare blush as she averted her eyes and mumbled, "Sorry about that..." Ever since she had been 'conquered' by Vahn, Tione had become progressively more 'obedient' and well-behaved, a sign that she was maturing and learning to control the urges in her body.
Tilting his head to the side in thought, Vahn walked forward and leaned next to the rapidly breathing Tione's ear and said, "Since we're setting up a permanant residence on the 39th Floor, we'll have plenty of time to spend together so look forward to it..." Though he had been putting it off during their previous trips, Vahn felt like this Expedition was a good opportunity to actually try having sex in the Dungeon. Building a house for himself and the girls on the relative safety of the 39th floor and then 'breaking it in' seemed like a pretty exciting idea. He expected they would get bored being cooped up in the Dungeon for so long, meaning they were bound to want to relieve a bit of stress after enough time passed.
Tione's breathing became a little hot and she was very tempted to reach out and 'take' Vahn since he was so close. Though she was learning to manage her urges better, it wasn't easy when he was obviously 'teasing' her in such close proximity. It was during moments like this when she regretted being weaker than him because, even if she wanted to 'take' him, Vahn would end up getting an advantage before the end. Though that could be exciting in its own way, Tione knew Vahn wouldn't have sex with her right now so she would just end up embarrassing herself unnecessarily. Biting her lip, she muttered, "You can't go back on your word...I always wanted to do it in the Dungeon..."
Vahn arched his brow and 'sneakily' kissed Tione's forehead before stepping away, winking as he said, "It's a promise." Tione balled her hands into fists before picking up her kopis and leaving the workshop, making a beeline towards the training grounds to let off some 'steam' before she lost her mind. Vahn watched her departing figure, waiting for her to get a fair distance before turning to Tiona and saying, "Go look after your big sis for me, Tiona. Make sure she doesn't break anything that can't be repaired easily..." Hearing Vahn's words, Tiona laughed as if she had just heard the most amusing thing in the world before releasing Preasia and running off after her sister. This left just Vahn and Preasia in his workshop, with the latter releasing a pent up sigh before asking, "Vahn, will you help pacify my uneasy heart...?"
Though she didn't mind being hugged and having the other girls touch her fur, Preasia still preferred when Vahn was the one doing it. She only allowed the other girls to do so because it was a little pleasant and also allowed her to get closer to them, making friends with those she had trouble connecting with in the past. However, 'nothing' could compare to the comfort Vahn's hands brought her, which was a sentiment shared by every Beast Human that had ever experienced his [Petting]. Everything else was like a 'shadow' of real petting, grasping at glory they could never obtain since they would always be overshadowed by Vahn's prowess.
Checking the time through the system, Vahn tilted his head slightly in thought before saying, "I need to clean up before dinner anyway, so let's take a bath together. You can tell me about your dreams and the progress you've made in controlling your ability while I groom your fur." Vahn whisked out a very fine brush that made Preasia droopy tail wiggle slightly in anticipation. One of the 'best' things about having a fur-covered body was that Vahn often helped groom her at the same time as he used his [Petting] skill. It was unbelievably comfortable, pleasant, and moderately stimulating at the same time. After the first time he helped her groom, Preasia had 'dreamed' about it for five days straight and it was one of the things she most looked forward to.
Vahn saw the 'explosion' of her aura and smiled before leading the way as Preasia trotted behind him happily, snatching his hand after catching up to him. She unashamedly hugged his arm in an affectionate manner with a happy smile on her face and a glimmer in her light-grey eyes. Vahn, feeling the soft fur of her arms and the plush feeling of her breasts, felt a bit of pressure in the bridge of his nose as he continued forward with a bit of anticipation in his own heart. Preasia wasn't the only one that enjoyed their grooming sessions as Vahn felt like stroking her fur was one of the most comforting things he had ever experienced as well. He knew he had a bit of a 'petting' habit even before awakening the Development Ability and it always helped his mind calm down whenever he stroked one of the girls. Preasia was easily the 'most strokable' girl now, so Vahn had grown very fond of her in a relatively short period of time...
As it was nearly 5 PM, Vahn habitually pulled out Eva's orb to see if there were any changes and saw that there were now just two interconnected magic circles remaining. Realizing the time of his reunion with Eva was even closer, Vahn felt ecstatic so he tossed the orb back into his Inventory before picking up a slightly startled Preasia. With a massive grin on his face, Vahn embraced Preasia tightly and nuzzled against her head as he said, "I'm in a very good mood, Preasia...I want to share it with someone..." With his intent known, Vahn turned his head to the side and kissed Preasia's lips as he continued to navigate towards the bath. Even when he was 'distracted', Vahn could still walk through the Manor since he didn't just rely on his eyes to move around. His domain allowed him to map almost every point in space when it was active, so Vahn could even walk through a crowded street with his eyes closed if he wanted.
By the time they reached the bath, Preasia's body temperature had increased a bit and she suddenly felt it was way too hot to be wearing a sweater. Fortunately, Vahn quickly relieved her of it, revealing some of the only exposed skin on her entire body, currently glistening with a small amount of sweat. Vahn traced his hand up her side, touching her bra with his index finger as he stored it into his Inventory, leaving Preasia wearing nothing but a pair of small shorts and what he could infer were pink panties since he could see the edge peeking up through the small gap between her shorts and her abdomen. Bringing his hand down, causing Preasia to tremble a bit in the process, Vahn traced his fingers along Preasia's rump, sliding effortlessly into her panties because of how smooth her fur was.
Preasia moved closer to Vahn instinctually and pressed her chest against his body as he traced his other hand down her back and stroked her other butt cheek with his palm. Releasing a hot sigh against Vahn's chest, Preasia then kissed his pectoral muscle before muttering, "Please don't tease me too much..." Hearing her words, Vahn squinted his eyes slightly before pulling down his hands and kneeling down, allowing Preasia to pull her legs free of her bereft panties and shorts. He then guided her to the bath, which was rapidly heating up as a result of Vahn infusing flame elemental energy into it, before stepping in and pulling her into his embrace.
Though he had originally said there wasn't time to Tione, Vahn felt a little different about the matter since it was just him and Preasia. She didn't have the greatest stamina so it wouldn't take too long to satisfy her, giving him ample time to take a bath during and after the fact. Tilting Preasia chin upwards, Vahn kissed her lips as she moved into a position where she was straddling his hips. Preasia already knew what Vahn had in mind since she could always feel her 'power' become stronger whenever he was excited. At times, it was almost like her 'dreams' had seeped into reality and it felt like she 'knew' what was going to happen. She had a small vision where she and Vahn were having sex in the bath and now it seemed to have become a reality, making her heart beat with anticipation and excitement...
Unaware of what Preasia was thinking, Vahn stroked her back again, using both [Hands of Nirvana] and [Petting] to increase her excitement while simultaneously helping her relax. Preasia lowered her hips and, though it was a bit difficult since the hot water washed away her love juices, she slowly managed to 'seat' herself against Vahn by wiggling her hips around for a few minutes. Vahn already knew the 'mechanics' of having sex in water made it somewhat difficult but he also knew it was possible if the girl was aroused enough. They just had to go a little slow that water didn't accidentally slip into her vagina, even though the odds weren't that high since Vahn had a tendency to 'fill' the girls up completely.
Preasia began to take labored breaths as she moved her hips around in shallow movements while Vahn kissed around her neck and collarbone, simultaneously beginning to brush her fur with the fine-bristle brush. The stimulation was a bit intense for her, but Preasia tolerated it even though her lower jaw quivered and she wanted to cry out at the top of her voice. Unfortunately, Vahn had a bit of 'expectations' every time he was with Preasia so he tilted his head down and pushed up her breast with his right hand before sucking on her peach-colored bud. Preasia took a sharp breath and released a sensual 'hafuu' while leaning her body back to let Vahn have easier access to her breasts. She supported herself by placing her hands on Vahn's knees, grateful that her fur didn't extend to her palms so she wouldn't slip away...
Vahn continued to 'pamper' Preasia earnestly before his eyes snapped open and his movements came to a stop. Preasia was a bit confused because she had been nearing the peak and it was a little 'frustrating' for him to suddenly stop. She saw he had a serious expression though and immediately calmed down since he must have had a good reason. Hugging his body with a loose embrace, Preasia asked in a somewhat hot voice, "What is it, Vahn...?" Without answering directly, Vahn extended his hand and created a golden magic circle that caused several bands of runes to wrap around doorknob a few meters away. He then converged his domain and created a soundproof barrier as he explained, "Tina seems to have come looking for me, and my instincts triggered as a precaution..."
Everyone in the Manor knew of Tina's [Luck] at this point and Preasia immediately became a little pale when she heard Vahn's words. There were still an ache in her body, but she didn't want to be involved in one of Tina's accidents, especially in such a compromising position. Vahn, however, pulled her body closer to his suddenly before slipping his right hand between her thighs and saying, "Don't worry, I'm not going to leave you on the edge like that. Regardless of how powerful her [Luck] may be, there is no way Tina would be able to get through my barrier...at least not any time soon." Before he had even finished speaking, Vahn inserted a thread of energy into his own penis before placing his thumb around the sensitive little nerve cluster at the top of Preasia's vagina.
Realizing what was going to happen, Preasia felt a strange sense of relief and hugged Vahn's body tightly before twisting her hips and sinking as low as she could on Vahn's penis before a massive wave of electricity passed through her body. She 'headbutted' against Vahn's chest and released a haggard "Ha--ah-ah-ah-aaaaah----fuuuu---uuuuuuuuuuuu~" as an almost indescribable pleasure wracked her body. Vahn hugged Preasia firmly in response and enjoyed the three constrictive points in her writhing and highly stimulating vagina, seemingly trying to 'milk' the vital fluid from his penis. There was a pleasant shiver running up his own spine but he remained relatively calm as he gently stroked Preasia's back to help her calm down...
Vahn helped Preasia quickly wash her body after she returned to her senses and was preparing to get out of the tub when he turned his head and became statuesque when he saw something 'impossible' right in front of him. Though the bindings were still on the doorknob, Tina was now standing right next to the bath, completely naked and covering her crotch with her small hands. She had a very flushed face and became very spooked when Vahn made eye contact with her, showing a confused and startled expression as she crouched down and covered her body. The same moment she did so, Tina actually shrunk down until she was only around 10cm tall, yet didn't seem to have noticed it herself.
Seeing this, Vahn understood what was going on and immediately activated his [Will of the Emperor] as the space around him collapsed into nothingness. The next moment, Vahn was in the bath with Preasia against and she was still twitching in the echoes of her powerful orgasm. He noticed there was a golden sheen to her fur and turned his perception to the small figure with a chaotic aura that was in the nearby corridor. Tina had fallen to the ground and had an almost sickly pink aura intermixed with purples and murky yellows, clearly confused about what just happened. Realizing she was in the hallway now, Tina looked around in a jittery manner before running off without continuing her search...
Though he had often underestimated the influence of Tina's [Luck], Vahn now realized, once again, that he had grossly underestimated it. He didn't even know when it happened, but he had somehow slipped into Preasia's dream and, perhaps as a result of her powerful emotions, her Innate had influenced her surroundings and actually pulled Tina in as well. Since time and space worked in very finicky ways inside the dreamscape, Tina had been able to completely bypass the dream version of his barrier simply because she was 'looking' for him. This brought her right to his side and allowed her to have a front-row seat to Preasia's orgasm and the subsequent aftercare. Because his ability to detect people was nonexistent in the dreamscape, Vahn had been entirely unaware of her presence...
Releasing an exasperated sigh, Vahn hugged Preasia's body and helped her calm down as a strange sense of deja-vu enveloped him. Her Innate was more powerful than he expected but, even though that was the case, Vahn still felt like Tina's [Luck] was the superior ability. He was tempted to update her Status Board just to see if it had increased in rank, because it was very obviously working overtime for the small cat girl...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Teasing Tione','Pampering Preasia','There is no Escape')
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With less than three days remaining until the start of what could be a very long Expedition, Vahn began spending the majority of his time mingling with the girls within the Manor. They were going to be apart for a while and Vahn wanted to comfort them as much as he could while also discussing what actions would be taken while he was away. Construction on the School had already started at this point and it would be continuing for the next 3-5 months. Since the Alliance controlled all the territory in the 'Section 4' District of Orario, even including the entertainment district after Freya seized power in the area. This gave them a territory nearly 3,800km² with several residential districts that were slowly being converted into large plots of land to construct Manors for the Alliance Familias and the School. There was even a smaller Coliseum being built in the area, but this would be for combat training for the students and holding smaller tournaments for the public to witness.
Vahn had been a little surprised by how much land the Alliance possessed, especially after learning Freya 'conquered' the entire entertainment district, eliminating several of the gangs in the area. Unfortunately, before he could even pitch the idea, Loki explained that such a district was 'necessary' for people in the current social climate. It was a place where Adventurers could go to release tensions and also served as a place where people could elevate their social status without putting their lives at risk in the Dungeon. Since many politicians and businessmen also frequented the area, it was also a place where secret dealings could be held and served as the backbone for the black markets. It was also impossible to get rid of the entertainment district since it was where most of the people in the entire City went to release stress, meaning they would cause a great deal of tension by even trying to regulate it harshly.
To 'pacify' Vahn, Loki told him how Freya had essentially 'negotiated' with all of the Familias in the area, as most of the successful brothels and businesses were governed by gods of beauty, sex, passion, pleasure, entertainment, etc. She got the majority of them to sign contracts enforcing better regulations and living standards for their 'employees' and had each of them assigned 'territory' that they would be responsible for managing. Though it was impossible to prevent crime from occurring, they needed to have more serious consequences in place to deter people from repeating their actions. As for things like slavery, the black market, and even gambling circuits, they couldn't be abolished in the current climate since slavery wasn't illegal, the black market was necessary for getting some important foreign imports, and gambling was too profitable and enjoyed by far too many people.
Though it seemed to be a cruel institution, 'legal' slavery was actually necessary in the current political climate since the vast majority of slaves were either criminals or people that 'willingly' became slaves, such as Emiru and Maemi. Since there wasn't a functional judicial system in place, there wasn't enough funding for infrastructure like prisons and such. Even the few that existed were typically very cruel places as corruption caused things like torture, rape, and trafficking to be very prevalent. Systems had existed in the past, but they were exploited by the people that passed the laws, often using them as justification to eliminate their enemies and simply do whatever they wanted.
Since slaves were a large part of the population on the continent, it was determined that the criminal slavery system would be instituted instead. Depending on the severity of their crimes, people would be bound to different types of contracts that also determined what kind of owner could purchase them. As for other types of slaves, that was sometimes the only way people from the various beast tribes could escape poverty and things like famine. Many people sold themselves into slavery in the hopes of a better life, often dictating the terms of their contract in exchange for higher purchasing prices. This allowed them to hope for a better future while also helping their villages, tribes, or families survive through trying times.
The biggest 'justification' behind it was the fact that the slave trade was simply too profitable and Orario was actually the 'safest' place for slaves since there were systems in place to protect them. Without exception, every other country and culture on the entire Continent had a slavery system that was far worse than the one that existed in Orario, meaning it was the 'desired' place for many people. Slave traders often brought their 'stock' to the City to sell since they could also charge a premium for exotic slaves that they picked up when making the rounds to various tribes. If Orario outlawed slavery, it would simply result in the 'merchants' trading elsewhere, often causing the slave to end up in far worse conditions.
Vahn still wasn't that happy about the situation since he believed it was a very tragic thing for such a practice to be the 'norm'. However, unless he could change the values of the entire Continent, there was no way to get around it without causing even greater suffering. Loki told him that, when people were unable to go into slavery as a means of escaping poverty, they often were either killed or starved to death. If a tribe was struggling to get by, they would have to do things like killing the elderly or abandoning their children to starve in the woods, which could be a far worse fate in some cases since there were many 'cautionary tales' of young girls being captured by Goblins.
The main reason behind that was due to the fact that, without a Falna or the opportunity to increase their strength, women were often more 'expendable' during times of crisis. With few exceptions, the males were often physically stronger and this meant they were 'necessary' for hunting, farming, and hard labor. As a result, most villages prioritized strong and capable men and invested most of their resources into nourishing them for future use, whereas young girls were either sold as slaves, abandoned, or outright killed. This only happened when the villages were facing a crisis, fortunately, so you could often tell if a tribe was flourishing based on the number of females around.
Orario was an exception to this rule, however, because the various agricultural Familias had taken control of the entire Plains region to the southwest. Since they were able to sell their produce directly to Orario, things like famine almost never occurred and, though the population was regulated a bit, there were far fewer 'tragic' events taking place. Many of the people convicted of lesser crimes were often sent to the plains to become farmers, generally settling in the area because of the peaceful living conditions and how 'accepting' the communities often were. As for why most people didn't simply migrate to the Plains, it was because the area was strictly managed and villages were required to conduct censuses and report their numbers to the City.
For a place out in the countryside, that was also the largest food-producing region in the area, the population needed to be regulated or it would simply 'explode' over time. This would mean more resources would be required to maintain the increasing numbers, further increasing the workforce and potentially increasing the amount of food produced. However, the production could barely keep up with the growth of a population that was unregulated, something that had been documented throughout history. Since they exported the majority of the food, through a surprisingly complex system that ensured prices were kept at a stable level, the population 'had' to be regulated and people need to get permission for every child they had.
In the past, before these regulations were in place, farmers simply had as many children as possible since it allowed them to have an easier time managing the fields. However, this caused a lot of conflicts over time since some families became far more powerful than others, often stealing farmland or entering feuds with each other. In other cases, the numbers in the villages continued to increase to the point where it was very difficult to allocate land, requiring them to expand further and establish smaller settlements and communities. This would eventually lead to further conflict and competition, causing prices to fluctuate greatly as villages fought against each other for contracts. In the most extreme cases, it wasn't that uncommon for 'hostile' farmers to burn the fields of their competitors during the harvest season...
Now, after the gods descended to the world, things had become incredibly regulated and most of the farmers lived relatively peaceful lives. When the population increased too much, they would send their children out into the world as explorers, hunters, or Adventurers. If the population got too low, Orario would send some of the more 'tame' criminal slaves to help fill out the ranks, typically comprising of women since they were often in short supply at times. For 997 years, this system had worked almost flawlessly since it was all regulated by gods and goddesses that typically worked together to ensure everyone was well-fed and happy. It was nearly impossible for any 'private' farms to exist at this point unless it was on privately managed land, often far away from the Plains since the entire region was already the property of various Familias.
After being convinced by Loki, Vahn accepted there wasn't much he could do other than improve the living conditions of people in general, specifically through education and mentorship. By providing opportunities to young people, allowing them to become stable and functional adults, the status quo would slowly change over time as the authority of the Alliance increased. They wouldn't be able to implement 'fast' changes, as that would lead to potential backlash and destabilize a system that had been maintained for nearly a thousand years. It would be better to 'target' the countries outside the City first since things were decidedly more chaotic and dysfunctional there.
Using Riveria's old idea, Vahn intended for the Alliance to generally vet and accept refugees from other races and slowly increase the quality of life for those in the younger generation. They shouldn't really allow adults to get involved as, after reaching a certain age, most people had already solidified their understanding of the world, even if it was wrong. This meant they were far more prone to becoming corrupt and trying to seize power in a selfish manner to promote their own quality of life over others.
Children were far easier to work with, especially if they were refugees or slaves from the countryside that had an earnest desire for a better life. Giving them a structured environment to grow, treating them as if they 'belonged' to something greater than themselves, these were the paths to true reform as they would easily exceed the capabilities of other people. As long as their morals were strong, it wouldn't be that difficult to bring about drastic change after a few decades had passed. Those that 'graduate' from the school would likely go on to have their own children, raising them in a better environment and wanting them to receive the same type of education, thus perpetuating the cycle further...
Vahn's idea for the school system, after talking it over with various goddesses and Riveria, was to teach Physical Combat, Magical Studies, Monster Ecology, History, Medicine, Arts, and Business. When they built the Academy in Haven, they would teach a more advanced version of those classes for anyone that was able to earn a scholarship or complete the test to reach the 50th Floor. One of the most important things they would be working on is developing the idea that, while people were unique and had special traits, everyone had nearly limitless potential.
Though you could use your racial traits to give you an advantage in some aspects, it didn't mean you couldn't be surpassed by those that worked hard. Merit, accomplishments, and personal accolades were more important than factors of birth, as nobody was 'entitled' to anything simply as a result of the race and position they were born to. Demigods could be considered a bit of an exception to this, especially in the case of the Vanir, but Vahn intended to teach them in a similar manner in the hopes they wouldn't give in to corruption and misuse their power. He would treat his children well, yes, but he would 'never' allow them to act like they had a special birthright that made them better than others. Their capabilities may be higher, but they weren't born into the world having achieved anything and were thus required to 'prove' themselves before obtaining any position of power or authority.
This wouldn't work in 'most' cases, but Vahn's situation was a bit unique since there was a very real possibility he would live forever in this world. Even if he didn't manage to get the anchor before he had to leave, he was involved with many goddesses that would likely carry on his legacy when he was gone. Since he would undoubtedly return, Vahn was trying to plan around 'eternity' instead of simply a few generations and the transfer of power. He thought it was a little ridiculous that power could be 'inherited', sometimes by people that were grossly unsuited for the position. The devotion to clans seemed ridiculous to him, especially in the event where they used it as a justification to do terrible things. It almost always ended up with people becoming morally corrupt while most 'good' people rarely cared about such things, freely loving people regardless of their race, ethnicity, or affiliation.
Vahn had already prepared himself for the 'inevitable' situation where he would likely have to watch some of his descendants grow old and die while others obtained immortality through their own means. It was a very sad thing, but death was also a 'natural' part of life that needed to be accepted in every instance where the person didn't overcome it themselves. His presence in the record already paved the path for others to obtain immortality, something he may help guide them along but never 'giving' to them. If Vahn made every one of his descendants immortal, they would also want their descendants to be immortal, perpetuating an endless cycle where his lineage would eventually overrun the entire world. This went against the natural cycle, especially in instances where those that obtained immorality did immoral and intrinsically evil deeds at the expense of others.
Though it would be difficult, Vahn knew it was his 'duty' to be as impartial as possible on matters or else he would end up as a hypocrite and likely fall to corruption himself with time. He didn't want to become some kind of 'evil' god that ruled over the entire multiverse while molding it to his preference. One day, Vahn truly wanted to reunite with his mother and he believed she would be very sad if she learned that was the type of life he lived. Fortunately, he had capable guides like Sis with him and could rely on the companionship of his 'subordinates' when he visited other records in the future. Vahn never wanted to lose himself and become like the 'Emperor' in the Divination, as the image of Hephaestus 'thanking' him often haunted his thoughts...
---
As usual, Vahn woke up slightly before 5 AM, this time with the combination of Milan, Chloe, Emiru, and Maemi in his bed. Since he was going to be away for a long period of time, the schedule had been disregarded for the past few days so Vahn could spend some 'quality' time with all the girls. As for the reason behind the current combination...well, Vahn was somewhat fond of being tended to by Cat People, even though Maemi and Emiru were Snow Leopards. His [Petting] was especially effective against them and it was always strangely calming to be licked and cuddled by affectionate cat girls...
Pulling out Eva's orb, Vahn's smile widened greatly because, instead of a magical formation blocking his perception from entering, the orb was now pitch black with a stable blue glow in the center. Today was the day he was supposed to be leaving for the Expedition but, fate seemed to have aligned with his hopes since Eva's orb was no in an active state once again. Vahn's excitement was so great that it had 'alerted' the sleeping kittens who awoke to find him holding the orb in his hands with a large smile on his face. Chloe tilted her head to the side and asked, "It's awake nyow~?" with a bit of intrigue and curiosity visible on her face.
Nodding, Vahn explained, "Yes, I'm almost certain the orb is active again...it seems my trip into the Dungeon will be far longer than I expected. However, my strength will explode and there will be almost nothing that could threaten me or my family in the future..." Hearing his words, Maemi and Emiru were also very excited whereas Chloe seemed to become a little thoughtful. She knew that Vahn would be experiencing up to seven days for every one day that passed, meaning it would more than a full year before he returned, at least from his perspective. He had already changed a great deal over a relatively short period of time so she was a little worried about his mental health. Snaking her way out of the bed with very lithe movements, Chloe said, "I think it would be a good idea to talk about this and potentially delay the Expedition for a bit."
Though Maemi and Emiru didn't seem to understand Chloe's concern, Milan nodded firmly and pressed her hand to Vahn's chest, feeling his increased heart rate as she said, "The orb is a very powerful tool, but it can cause you to lose your sense of 'connection' with the real world. Please don't change too much, Vahn...we need you..." Vahn was a little surprised by the behavior of Chloe and Milan, but he could also understand their concerns after he remembered his past actions. It actually had become someone 'difficult' to keep track of things in the real world because the majority of his time was spent in the orb. He didn't feel that his bonds with the girls had weakened much, but his mind had become very reliant on the orb to deal with all the rapid changes to his life at the time. Since things would be relatively 'stagnant' in the Dungeon, they were probably worried that his bonds would slowly fade away with time...
Realizing their concerns, Vahn showed a soft and loving smile as he calmly stated, "Even if I had to bear the burden of eternity in isolation, I would never forget the bonds I have forged with everyone. They are what gives me the strength to continue moving forward...each of you is an intrinsic part of what makes me who I am. Besides, if I get strong quickly, I could probably even make a trip to the surface in less than a day just to come and visit everyone..." At this point, Vahn felt like he had truly fallen in love with most of the girls, even if it wasn't at the same level for everyone. It was to the point that the goddesses believed he actually may have a Divinity related to Love since he was so compassionate and empathetic towards others. This was one of the reasons they didn't proactively try to interfere with any new relationships he had, essentially feeling it was 'natural' given the nature of Vahn's existence...
Chloe gave a somewhat mischevious smile but the light of love was burning strongly in her eyes as she buttoned up her tunic and said, "I believe in you, Vahn. We'll still need to talk about it at breakfast though, as it's a very important topic that needs to be discussed with everyone. There are some things we'll need to take care of on our end to make sure your transition is smooth when you finally do return to the surface, after all." She didn't say it, but Chloe felt it was very fortunate that Vahn's return would be around the same time as the birth of his children. Such a 'significant' event would essentially strengthen his bonds with everyone since he would probably want to 'share' his love and happiness. Realizing this, she was actually a little troubled that she hadn't taken the opportunity to get pregnant herself, especially now she wasn't really that active and just trained Shizune...
Vahn also knew it was very important to talk about the orb with everyone, even though they had already discussed it in length several times. Speaking about something that 'might' happen wasn't as important as addressing something 'as' it was happening. It was actually a little inconvenient that the orb was awakening right now, as he wouldn't be able to talk about his progress as easily with people like Riveria, Loki, Hephaestus, and Eina. The only people that were accompanying him into the Dungeon were Tiona, Ais, Tione, Lefiya, Haruhime, and Fenrir. Though Lefiya and Haruhime would probably be very helpful, both being prodigious and talented mages, Vahn wouldn't really have anyone to seek advice from. He was almost tempted to ask Terra to come along with him, but that would be a 'terrible' idea since she was the guardian of the Manor along with Fafnir.
Realizing all the 'complications' that would arise now that the orb was awakened, Vahn understood why Chloe would say its very important to address the issues right now. However, it was also necessary to establish a 'baseline' for the discussion so Vahn held the orb in his hand and said, "Before we head down, I want to enter the orb and talk with Eva as well. If necessary, I can limit the amount of time I spend in the orb so it is less impactful on my mind...though that will probably not happen..." Thinking till this point, Vahn actually changed his mind because he remembered a 'promise' he had made previously. After remembering this, Vahn shook his head and said, "Actually, let's get everyone together and talk about it right now. I also need to take Fafnir, Fenrir, and Terra into the orb with me since I promised them I would..."
Fafnir was actually very fond of Eva and had been wanting to meet her again for a while now, especially since it wanted to get even stronger. Terra was interested in Eva for the same reasons and was also curious about the 'garden' Vahn had created within the orb. As for Fenrir...she wanted to use the orb as an opportunity to 'mature' and would probably spend a good 4-8 years within the orb. Knowing this made Vahn a little worried because he could imagine Fenrir being 'especially clingy' every time he returned to the orb, much like how Eva had been in the past. Hopefully, she would also mellow out a bit and actually 'mature', though that was also a thought that made Vahn a little sad at the same time...
Milan saw the look on his face and ran her fingers through his hair, softly saying, "Don't worry, Vahn...everything will be fine." Hearing her words, Vahn nodded his head and decided to 'believe' that the future would also be a better place. Fenrir would inevitably 'mature' with time and it really wasn't 'fair' for him to force her to remain childish and innocent. Since she would be at his side, potentially for all eternity, Vahn wanted her to become a stable and reliable existence. Besides, he didn't think her base nature would change that much and she would probably at least 'act' in a similar manner. She had always been very impressionable and observant, copying the actions and behaviors of other people. Being exposed to Terra and Eva for a four year period would probably change her a great deal...'hopefully' for the better.
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Culture, Politics, and Educational Reform','Vahn casually making Eva wait...','Beliving in a better tomorrow...!')
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