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28.28% Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos / Chapter 664: Patience

Chapter 664: Patience

Everyone in the ward looked at the two creatures with a great deal of surprise on their faces, at least until Vahn sighed and explained, "These are guardians, entities that will protect our daughters and grow alongside them. There are also some other items that can only be used by them, though I didn't want to pull them out just yet. Seems like my subconscious desire to ensure they were safe caused the summoning to trigger without my prompting..." Vahn had a slightly wry smile on his face at first but, after analyzing the benefits of the guardians being 'born' now, he understood it was probably for the best.

Hephaestus was still a little confused but still gave her husband a teasing look while mentally confirming that his powers were getting closer to those of the gods. They already knew he had pseudo-divinities related to creation and life so it wasn't that strange to see the guardians pop out of thin air. There was also the fact that, from the moment they popped up, her daughters seemed to be much happier by their presence. Hephaestus smiled, looking toward the small winged-cat and red-dragon brood before. They hesitantly approached, showing curious expressions on their faces as they inspected their would-be masters...

The entire room watched as Ina and Vana both reached out, touching the head and snout of the two creatures before a magical light shone. Just as quickly as they had appeared, the two guardians had now vanished while two small crest-like designs appeared on the girls' hands. Vahn was watching the entire process with his [Eyes of Truth] active, taking note of how an invisible protective membrane actually covered his daughters while a spiritual intent seemed to search around their bodies, strengthening parts where the flow of mana was slightly out of tune.

Though it felt a little awkward, Vahn pulled out the two [Heroic Tale]s and explained, "The guardians will protect them while these books will help them become stronger while recording all of their feats and achievements. When they are a little older, I also have unique items that will bind to their souls, giving Ina the ability to create a powerful hammer while Vana will be able to display mastery over fire..." Hephaestus nodded her head somewhat slowly, showing how tired she was as she said, "It feels strange knowing that our children will grow up so much faster than normal...but, at least now, I can be relieved knowing they have a father that is already thinking about their future in such a serious manner..."

Vahn had a light blush on his face, earning him a few chuckles from the other girls while Ina peered at him through her slightly parted eye. When things began to calm down, Juno patted his shoulder and reminded, "Loki is still waiting for us, so let's make our way over there pretty soon. Little Ina still needs to get her first meal and Hephaestus needs to get some rest. Since she is a goddess, rest will make her body heal very quickly an there shouldn't be any problems like in mortal women. She will just return to the state her body was in before the pregnancy..." As she spoke, Juno looked around to see if she could tease anyone, sending playful smiles towards Lili, Preasia, and Naaza.

After hearing Juno, Hephaestus nodded her head with a bit of hesitation on her face as she passed over her daughters to Epona and Hestia. However, when Vana simply went straight back to sleep, Hephaestus gave a small chuckle before releasing the tensions in her own body. Childbirth had been a lot more difficult than she expected, seeding a deeper appreciation for mortal women in the recesses of her mind. She gave Vahn one last look, smiling through half-lidded eyes as she said, "I owe Loki a great deal for having made her wait this long. Go, Vahn, take care of that mischevious woman for me...I hope our daughters get along well..." By the time she had finished her words, Hephaestus had given in to the desire for sleep and quickly fell into the embrace of unconsciousness. She began dreaming of spending time with her daughters, showing a loving smile on her face as the image of two girls playing in the forest surfaced in her mind...

Vahn gingerly stroked the side of Hephaestus' face, not minding the sweat on her brow at all as he marveled at how beautiful she looked at this moment. Leaving her side right now was very difficult but, understanding that he had a job to do, Vahn leaned down and lightly kissed her forehead before nodding to the other girls present. Juno gave a curt nod in response, gesturing towards the door as they all made their way to the next room over. Lili, Naaza, and Preasia were all a little pale from having witnessed the delivery but their auras were still stable and they seemed determined to continue. Vahn gave them all a comforting pat, hoping to encourage them to stay strong before stepping into the room where Loki had been napping.

As soon as he entered the room, Loki's eyes parted slightly before the 'playfully' mused, "Oh, and I was beginning to think I had been forgotten...well, let's go ahead and get this show on the road. I don't want our daughter to blame me for having her wait any longer. If she turns out to be a troublemaker, you'll have to be the one to step in and pacify her, Vahn..." Though the words sounded a little harsh, Loki had a gentle look in her deep red eyes and a small smile on her face when she saw Vahn's apologetic expression. With how quickly the Vanir grew, and how busy Vahn would often be, she knew he wouldn't be able to make that much time for his children. The only thing she really hoped for was that his daughter got along well with the lovable little idiot she fell in love with...

While they began preparations, Loki asked a lot of questions about how things had gone with Hephaestus. She clearly understood the process but, knowing it had gone well was a very comforting thought, especially when she heard about the guardian and unique items that had come into existence. Knowing that one of Hephaestus' children beat her to the punch in obtaining a dragon was a little bothersome, but Loki decided not to mind it since she knew Vahn had her Wyvern's magic core safely tucked away in his storage dimension. Now, her primary concern, other than delivering her daughter, was the form her guardian would take. Loki speculated the guardian represented some of the personality traits the children would have as they rapidly developed into adulthood.

Hestia showed up when everything was about to begin, locking eyes with Loki for a few seconds before they both showed small smiles. They had been at odds with each other for millions of years before being 'forced' to cooperate after meeting Vahn. Now, it almost seemed like their bickering in the past had been pointless, even though Loki was still more than a little bothered by the differences in their bust size. Since Vahn had always cared for her properly, however, Loki found herself starting to care less about such things. It also helped that Hestia, who used to constantly bring it up during their arguments, no longer pestered her about having a flat chest...

Once everything was ready, Vahn got Loki's permission before he began inducing her labor, activating his [Eyes of Truth] to make sure there weren't any issues. Contrary to expectations, their daughter hadn't developed too much more than Ina and Vana. It seemed that the same Divinity that protected them during pregnancy also slowed down the process of their development a great deal once they had fully matured. Vahn suspected there were some laws at work that he didn't understand but that could always be researched later. For now, he just helped Loki stay calm while Hestia, similar to what she had done with Hephaestus, held Loki's hand from the side.

By the time they had entered the second phase, Loki's contractions began with a surprising intensity that caused a deep frown on her face as she murmured, "Uku...I'll remember this pain and pay you back for it in the future..." Though she had a pained expression on her face, Loki still gave a slightly playful look that also came off as seeming very serious at the same time. She began to tense up a great deal every time one of her contractions hit, causing Juno to grimace as she whispered, "This is going to be a painful one...make sure you're ready for any tears and ruptures that may occur, boya..." Though Loki's child wasn't that much larger than normal, it was the fact that Loki herself had a petite and thin body, not suited for rearing children, that was the problem.

Vahn maintained absolute focus, letting thin tendrils of energy spread through his fingers and repair any area that started to become damaged through Loki's exertions. Though she would eventually heal completely, any internal bleeding could cause increased pressure within the womb and complicate the birth itself. Until he punctured the amniotic sack and his daughter began to crown, it was better to address the issues immediately. It would delay the process a bit, causing Loki more pain, but she was a strong woman who Vahn believed could bear-

"Uuuuuuuuuu, you did this to me, Vahn! I just want to kick you so badly right now!" Vahn was slightly stunned but didn't break his focus as Juno rebuked, "Oh, you can just shut your little trap, Loki. This is the pain of motherhood so suck it up and remember the experience. You'll look back on today with nostalgia and wouldn't want to remember attacking the boy working his butt off to make things easier for you!" Loki gave Juno a momentary glare, immediately remembering that Juno was actually a great deal smaller than she was. There was a reproachful look in the petite goddess' eyes that made Loki swallow her next words and just grit her teeth instead. This was a lot more painful than she expected but, just like Hephaestus had done, Loki denied any form of pain relief that Vahn would have provided...

It took nearly five and a half hours, but Loki eventually managed to push out the ruddy little bundle into the real world, releasing a 'profound' sigh of relief after the final push. For a moment, the only thing on her mind was falling asleep but, the moment she heard her daughter cry out, Loki suddenly felt revitalized enough to lift her head and say, "Give me my baby...I want to see her..." Vahn had just passed his daughter over to Juno, showing a fair amount of exhaustion on his own face as he looked over to Loki and smiled, saying, "Just one moment, Loki. After she is cleaned, you'll be able to hold her as much as you want...she is beautiful, by the way...just like her mother..."

Though she should have been called, Disa, Loki had decided to change the name of their daughter and had yet to reveal what she had chosen. As for her appearance, she was much like what Vahn had described, a very small version of Loki herself. Even though she was still an infant, his daughter had slightly angular eyes just like her mother. He never really understood how Loki could walk around with her eyes closed most of the time and wondered how their daughter would manage if she had the same habit. Imagining this had brought a small smile to Vahn's face as he looked over the slightly mischevious face of his third-born daughter and marveled at her ruby-colored hair that was slightly darker than Loki's...

It didn't take long for Juno to finish washing her off before immediately handing her over to Loki. When she saw her daughter, Loki felt a strange urge to cry and held it in by taking a very deep breath. Even without all the pain she had experienced as 'evidence', Loki could see at a glance that the little ruddy bundle in her hands was her own flesh and blood. It really was like a miniature version of herself, which made Loki feel strangely nervous since she didn't want her own daughter to suffer the same way she had. There was a very strong desire in her heart to protect this mischevious little bundle, keeping her safe from everything that might try to cause her harm.

With a loving smile on her face, something that was very rare under normal circumstances, Loki kissed her daughter's head and said, "From now on, you will be my Erika..." Then, in a quiet voice, intended only for her daughter, Loki whispered, "I hope that you will be a kind and wise ruler that will help your father..." Unlike Ina and Vana, Erika didn't seem capable of opening her eyes just yet but there was a small 'Nn' produced from her, surprising everyone while Loki laughed with a 'kukuku'. Though it wasn't guaranteed that Erika had responded in affirmation of Loki's words, there was a fair chance this was the case since all the Vanir seemed to have remarkable intelligence.

Vahn had already arrived at Loki's side, marveling at the mother-daughter pair as he inspected Erika's body with his [Eyes of Truth]. The flow of mana in her body was slightly chaotic in structure, though the flow itself was very stable. There were intermixed reds, purples, and golds, coiling around a rainbow-hued core that created a helical structure with a strange green Vahn had never seen before. It was hard to know what affinity Erika actually had so he would have to observe her closely to make sure she wasn't a danger to herself and others. After all, unknown elements could be very dangerous since there were few ways of knowing how the 'laws' influenced them...

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[Quest: Origin of Heroes]

Rank: SS-SSS

Completion Grade: SS

Objective: Impregnate Loki (1). Ensure a safe delivery (1)

Rewards: 1,000,000 OP, 1x [Guardian:(Erika Mason)], 1x [Heroic Tale]

Grade Rewards: 2,500,000 OP, 1x [Amorphous Guise]

[Guardian:(Erika Mason)]

Rank: Unique

Use: Summons a spiritual guardian that bonds with the user's soul and protects them from danger.

Restriction: Erika Mason

[Amorphous Guise]

Rank: Unique

Use: A mask that can be nourished by the soul of the user, allowing it to become increasingly more powerful with the passage of time. Allows the user to emulate the capabilities of an individual, even providing insight into their recent thoughts and memories.

Restriction: Erika Mason

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Vahn was stunned by the description of the [Amorphous Guise], feeling somewhat hesitant about actually giving it to Erika before tossing that thought to the back of his mind. It was an item that The Path had deemed fit for her use and Vahn wasn't going to treat his daughter any differently than he would any of his other children. Even if she ended up constantly scheming like Loki, Vahn would care for and love her all the same. He believed that, by showing her the love she deserved, Erika would never walk down a path where she used and exploited other people with ill intent...

Before the system took matters into its own hands, Vahn said, "I'm going to summon a guardian to protect our Erika. It will grow alongside her, keeping her safe from harm and providing companionship for the rest of her life..." Loki nodded her head, lightly pinching her daughter's nose before turning her attention to Vahn. She was more than a little curious about the form her daughter's guardian would take, as it would give her a better idea about how to educate and groom her. When Vahn pulled out a small red orb and tossed it into the air, Loki traced the arc with her eyes as a magical light emerged from the orb and formed...a small brown-skinned baby.

Somehow, Juno had moved to instinctually catch the tumbling infant, surprised by the fact that it had nearly no weight at all as she cradled it in her arms. When she glared toward Vahn, he felt a shudder along his spine as he explained, "It seems her guardian has taken the form of something called a 'Doppelganger'. Though I can't be certain, I believe it should be able to transform into any shape once it becomes more powerful..." If Juno hadn't already moved, Vahn would have blinked around to the side of the bed to catch the infant Doppelganger in her stead. He was certain it wouldn't have actually been harmed if it fell, but seeing a baby tumble was more terrifying than facing a Valagang Dragon's maw head on...

Since she had seen the earlier interaction between a newborn and its guardian, Juno carried the infant Doppelganger to Loki's side, causing the small 'creature' to open its eyes and stare towards Erika. It had black sclera with pale golden pupils and a small tuft of white hair growing from its head. Though it likely didn't have a 'true' form, the Doppelganger currently looked female and it took the initiative to reach out and touch Erika's face since the latter didn't seem to care about what was going on around her. Like the previous two guardians, the Doppelganger vanished into thin air as a small crest appeared on Erika's hand.

Loki's mind had already started racing from the very moment she heard Vahn mention the Doppelganger's supposed abilities. Being able to transform into anything was a very useful ability and would give their daughter an edge in almost any path she ended up walking. Though she didn't know exactly how strong a guardian could become, Loki speculated their potential was very high if it was something Vahn had 'created' to protect his children. Even if Erika herself never trained, Loki believed the Doppelganger could become very strong and she could already feel the protective membrane that had appeared around Erika's body. Though it bothered her that everything seemed to be going according to 'fate', Loki believed that her daughter would be able to overcome such things with the proper mentality and the support from what Loki believed would be a 'doting' father...

Much like Hephaestus, Loki was utterly exhausted by the time everything was said and done, willingly entrusting Erika to Hestia's care as the latter carried her off to be nursed. When they had disappeared through the door, Loki felt a small amount of 'terror' well up in her heart but dismissed it since there was no way anything would actually happen that endangered her child. It was just a little scary being separated from her daughter so soon, something that was more impactful since Loki could feel the bond she shared with her fire-born. Even when Hestia had walked two rooms over, Loki was aware of Erika's presence and could even feel her daughter's mood, which seemed to be tired and hungry at the moment.

Vahn reached out to stroke Loki's hair, breaking her from the reverie she had found herself in as she playfully asked, "Did you wash your hands yet? I imagine they aren't exactly the cleanest things after everything that has happened...kukuku~." A light blush touched Vahn's cheeks as he replied, "I had covered them with a light layer of energy to keep them sterile and I already cleaned them with a spell..." Loki's grin grew progressively larger the more Vahn tried to explain things so he simply gave up and just stroked her hair without minding the playful glint in her eyes. She didn't make any attempts to avoid his hand so it was clear that Loki had just wanted to tease him a bit, even going to far as to 'sample' his palm with her tongue when it got close. However, after she had calmed down a bit, the fatigue began to settle into her body and she released a tired sigh and said, "I'm going to take a nap...go look after our daughters, Vahn..."

All of the girls had come together during one of their 'Vahnatus' meetings, agreeing that everyone would be responsible for raising everyone's children. If possible, it was the hope of the girls in the Manor that all of the children truly acted like siblings as they grew up. Loki, though certainly showing some preferences towards the daughter she had birthed, would treat all of the children in the Manor as if they were her own. By giving them strong familial ties, it was hoped that all the children would look out for each other and have a strong sense of belonging in the future...

Vahn continued to stroke Loki's hair for a bit, even after she had fallen asleep, before turning to Lili, Naaza, and Preasia. They looked very tired, almost like they had been the ones on the table, so Vahn gave them a small smile and said, "You all held up very well. Make sure to eat a good meal and take a long rest after this. I will stay in the maternity ward and watch over my daughters for a bit before I head off to sleep a little later..." Taking his words as a cue, Juno wiped off her own hands with a clean towel and gestured to the three girls, saying, "Lets go to the dining room. There are a few things I want to cover with the three of you to wrap up this event. If you're going to act as a midwife in the future, there are a lot of things you'll need to know..." Without any complaints, Lili, Naaza, and Preasia all nodded their heads, practically 'fleeing' from the ward as they followed behind Juno...

(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Loki's Patience...','Birth of a Great Ruler...!?','Familial Bonds : Unity')

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Chapter 665: Overwhelming

Vahn spent a fair amount of time watching over Loki as she slept before walking next door to check up on Hephaestus. As Juno had explained, their bodies were quickly recovering and Vahn could see an incredible amount of energy circulating through their mana circuits, restoring them to a pristine condition. Strange as it may seem, there was a good chance both goddesses would return to their natural appearance seemingly overnight. Since Vahn was someone that could even change the number of eyes growing on his head and the number of limbs protruding from his torso, he wasn't that surprised, however. After all, they were goddesses and he was better suited to simply watching over them instead of trying to understand and explain the peculiarities of their existences.

Since it didn't look like either of them would be waking up any time soon, Vahn migrated to the maternity ward where Juno, Epona, and Mona were all gathered. He had made sure his daughters were in their beds before entering since it seemed almost 'fated' that he walked in on Mona while she was breastfeeding. Vahn knew she had a trauma related to exposing her breasts to men and, since she had made the decision to separate from the Manor in the future, he wanted to respect her decision. The fact that she was the wetnurse for his children gave Vahn a positive opinion of her and he believed that Ina, Vana, and Erika would all have a bit of an attachment to her in the future.

All three girls turned to him when he entered, earning Vahn small smiles from Epona and Mona while Juno stepped forward with a vibrant and guiding look on her face. She reached out, patting Vahn on the shoulder as she said, "Today couldn't have been easy for you, boy. You performed exceptionally well in a circumstance most people can't even imagine finding themselves in. Well done, Vahn, I really mean it..." Under the heavy compliments of Juno, Vahn felt a little anxious but still managed a gratified smile on his face as he politely said, "Thank you, Juno. Your guidance was a great help..."

Juno waved her hand dismissively before gently pulling him towards the three cradles that had been set up side-by-side. She brought him next to Vana, touching the side of the cradle as she said, "All of your children are so adorable...honestly, I'm a little envious. Though I love my kids, they usually look like potatoes whenever they first come out..." If not for the fact that he was leaning over to look at Vana's face, Vahn felt like he would have fallen over when he heard Juno's words. Truthfully, other than the memory of his own newborn body, Vahn didn't really know what newborns were supposed to look like. With Juno's words, however, he did recall that his appearance had been somewhat 'lumpy' compared to the three beautiful angels laying in the cradles...

Seeing Vahn's reaction, Juno laughed before pulling him over to Ina's cradle, seemingly alerting her since one of her eyes opened. Ina seemed to have very high perception and, the moment she smiled toward him, Vahn felt like his heart was going to twist and jump out of his chest. Juno giggled, letting go of his arm as she reached into the cradle and lifted Ina's body, rocking her for a short moment before passing her over to Vahn. It wasn't the first time he had held her, but Vahn felt 'awed' when Juno handed Ina to him. Before he even realized it, there were tears beginning to stream from his eyes as he mumbled, "My Ina...you..." Unable to actually find the words to express how he was feeling, Vahn just kissed his daughter's head, earning a small giggling sound from the girl as her second eye opened.

For the first time, Ina showed that she actually had heterochromatic eyes, one being a pale blue while the other was light gold. There was a small band around her pupil, resonating with a subtle magical light that gave Vahn the impression she could see through anything. He was only momentarily surprised, however, and put the matter to the back of his mind for the time being as he just enjoyed the time he had with his daughter. They would grow up much faster than normal children so Vahn wanted to cherish the moments like this, when there was nothing else in the world that mattered more than the child in his arms...

Juno may have been the closest, but all three girls were watching Vahn interact with Ina, showing kind smiles on their faces at seeing the bond between the father-daughter pair. It was obvious to anyone looking that Ina seemed especially attached to Vahn, even going so far as to reach out and try to touch his face with her small hands. She giggled like a pristine bell and the smile on her face seemed to light up the room, creating an illusion as if all the colors of the world were enriched by her presence. Mona was already very fond of her as, compared to Vana and Erika, Ina was very tame during feeding times and didn't even require burping. Vana made her heart feel very warm, but her voracious appetite was a little disconcerting while Erika simply made Mona feel nervous...

Though he would have liked to carry Ina around forever, Vahn knew she needed to rest properly, especially since her growth would be even faster than a normal infant. However, when he tried to lay her in the cradle, Ina looked at him like he had wronged her, showing small glistening tears in the corner of her eyes. Vahn's mind blanked, earning a laugh from Juno as she said, "Just hold her for a while until she falls asleep. The other two are already napping and you can just watch over them for the moment..." Nodding his head, Vahn carried Ina in his embrace, gently rocking her under Juno's guidance as she happily began to doze off.

While cradling Ina, Vahn stood over Erika's crib, noticing that her presence was distinctly different from his other daughters. It was likely a difference in their pseudo-divinities, or perhaps an incongruity caused by Erika's unique affinities, but Vahn didn't really care. He now understood why Loki, Riveria, and Juno hadn't taken him seriously when he talked about trying to raise his children without overly pampering them. Unless it was something that endangered themselves or others, Vahn couldn't see how he would ever be able to deny these three beautiful girls anything the world has to offer. He would need to make sure they didn't become spoiled, but Vahn knew he would pamper them a great deal in the future...

Though she didn't open her eyes, Erika slightly turned her head toward him, causing Vahn's [Eyes of Truth] to activate on instinct. He noticed she was actually awake but was either incapable of opening her eyes, or simply didn't need to. With his eyes active, Vahn could see Erika's energy feeding into her ocular nerves as the mana from her circuits pooled around her eyes. She seemed to be looking directly at him, causing Vahn to smile as he lightly whispered, "My little Erika..." It looked like she tried to tilt her head slightly but, finding she was unable to move, lifted up her tiny hands instead. Juno, realizing Erika was awake, picked her up before passing her over to Vahn, allowing him to carry both girls, one bundle of beauty in each arm.

Just like when he first held Ina, Vahn felt a little overwhelmed when Erika was passed over to him. Holding them like this made Vahn realize what it meant to be a father, supporting his children and bringing them as much comfort as he could spare. Though he was already very strong, Vahn wanted to become even stronger in the future, ensuring they never had to experience any suffering brought upon them by his enemies. Knowing that there were people in the world that would actually move to try and rob the happiness of such beautiful existences made Vahn's mind turn cold while a flood of heat emerged from an area around his heart before both energies intermixed with each other...

Juno reached her hand out, shakily placing it on his shoulder as she mumbled, "Vahn...calm down..." Broken from his reverie by Juno's hesitant words, Vahn looked around to see that both she and Epona had very pale faces. As for Mona, she had fortunately been sitting down and managed to support herself with the arm of the sofa. Vahn hadn't realized it but, the moment he began thinking about the possibility of someone 'stealing' his children, he began to emit an incredibly overbearing aura. It didn't seem like his daughters were aware of it, however, causing Vahn to be somewhat confused as he apologetically inclined his head to Juno, Epona, and Mona, saying, "Sorry...I just imagined someone taking my daughters away from me...and..."

Shaking her head, Juno showed a very warm smile and said, "They are lucky to have a caring father like you, Vahn. However, you need to always act as if you are an 'unshakable' force when you are with them. The more consistent and reliable your behavior is, the more grounded and functional your children will be in the future. Now that you are a father, you need to act as such, always taking into consideration how your children will interpret your actions...after all, they will look towards you for guidance in their own lives..." As a goddess who had seen thousands of children born and raised within the mortal world, Juno had a great understanding of what it took to be a good parent. She could tell that, though Vahn would struggle a bit later on, he would make a good father to the Vanir for the interim...

Vahn smiled toward Juno but still gave a slight bow to Epona and Mona, earning a dismissive gesture from the former while Mona seemed to have become a little tense. Even so, she managed a smile on her face and Vahn could see her aura slowly stabilizing. She was just a little spooked after feeling his aura in close proximity, fortunately, spared from any direct pressure since Vahn instinctually considered her an ally. Had she been an actual enemy, someone as weak as Mona likely would have suffered a mental collapse instead of experiencing a bout of lightheadedness...

Taking note of Mona's aura, Vahn blinked in confusion as his senses danced around within his domain, sensing the presence of everyone around him and their current 'feelings'. However, there were five presences within his domain whose aura he couldn't sense, drawing Vahn's attention to the two girls in his arm and Vana, still sleeping in her crib. He hadn't noticed it earlier, but Vahn was aware that he couldn't actually sense the aura of his daughters and had only been detecting the flow of their energy instead. It was probably for the best that he couldn't 'read' his children, but Vahn still felt a little strange as he opened up his system interface and checked through the Affection listings...

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[Ina Mason][Affection:91(Favorite Person)][Intrigue:53(Curious)]

[Erika Mason][Affection:54(Familial Bond)][Intrigue:88(Very Curious)]

[Vana Mason][Affection:58(Neutral)][Intrigue:51(Confused)]

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When he read through their values, Vahn felt strangely guilty but still smiled when he saw that Ina already treated him as her 'favorite person'. As expected, Erika was the type that was intrigued by her surroundings, likely credited to her seemingly advanced intelligence. As for Vana, it made Vahn a little sad that she was 'neutral' towards him, but the 'confused' descriptive for her Intrigue made him feel a little better. Though she was still very intelligent, she acted the most like an actual newborn, including how she had cried out very loudly and engorged herself during meals. Her confusion about the world made a lot of sense so Vahn knew he could improve her opinion about him with time...

After a little more than an hour, Ina and Erika had both fallen back asleep, the later still showing fluctuations in her internal energy, especially around her brain. Juno and Epona helped him lay the girls back in their cribs while Vahn sat down on one of the available sofas, feeling surprisingly drained. His stamina may be infinite, but his mental energy wasn't quite at that level just yet. If not for the support of his [Will of the Emperor], Vahn imagined he would have collapsed the moment Vana crowned earlier. The number of nerves he had suppressed to keep his focus had taxed his mind a great deal and, now that all of his daughters were sleeping, Vahn felt very tired.

Epona and Mona moved to the connecting room, where the latter would be staying while the girls were still reliant on her milk, while Juno moved to the same sofa as Vahn. Though she had the appearance of a young girl, appearing closer in size to someone like Ais than a mature woman, Juno still patted her thighs and said, "Sleep." Vahn, however, shook his head and politely declined her offer since he didn't really have that kind of bond with the diminutive goddess. This earned him a frown from her, causing Juno to furrow her brows and scrunch up her nose as she snorted. Hopping off the sofa, she patted off her light dress and said, "Fine. I'll go get one of the other girls to come watch over you then. I imagine you'll be staying here, even if people advise you to go get some food and rest properly...?"

Vahn nodded, noting that he actually hadn't even though about leaving the maternity ward any time soon. Unless there was an emergency, or Hephaestus and Loki woke up, he intended to stay and watch over his daughters. Even with the protection of their guardians, Vahn felt compelled to protect them himself, unable to tolerate the idea of letting anything happen to them. As brief as it had been, Vahn was affected by the thought of his enemies conspiring to take one of his children away, much like he had been robbed from his mother in the past. Though he had accepted everything that happened as part of life, Vahn wouldn't tolerate allowing such a thing to happen to his own progeny...no matter what it took.

Juno gave a wry smile but didn't seem to blame Vahn for his behavior as she muttered, "Doting fathers can be so troublesome..." She then exited the room, making a beeline towards where most of the girls had been gathered. Everyone was curious about how things had gone so they were all sitting in the dining room with Lili and Naaza. Preasia had originally been there but, as a result of her 'training', went off to bed shortly thereafter. She would likely be dreaming about the procedure and had decided to retire early so as to avoid having other people invade her dreams, chiefly Fenrir...

A few minutes after Juno had left, Tsubaki showed up within the maternity ward, sending Vahn a soft and loving expression before curiously inspecting the contents of each crib. The moment she laid eyes on the girls, Tsubaki had an almost silly smile on her face and fought against the desire to pick up and cuddle each girl. Vahn, leaning against the arm of the sofa, bit his lip to prevent his own chuckles from leaking out as Tsubaki finished her 'inspection' and walked over to him. Much like Juno, she patted her thighs with her left hand but, unlike the small goddess, pulled Vahn's head down with her right. She didn't really leave any room for discussion and just 'forced' him to relax a bit while stroking his thick brown hair with her hands.

While playing with a lock of Vahn's hair, Tsubaki quietly whispered, "I heard you worked very hard today, Vahn...good job. All of your daughters are like little gemstones that had been cut by a master artisan...like little bundles of perfection~." Vahn lazily nodded his head, enjoying Tsubaki's caress with half-lidded eyes as he looked towards the cribs where Vana, Ina, and Erika were sleeping. Even now, he couldn't bring himself to look away from them and hoped they were all having pleasant dreams while they were sleeping.

Tsubaki didn't really mind Vahn's behavior, instead, finding it slightly amusing since it was obvious he had already fallen hard for his role as a father. Her only hope was that he showed a similar level of concern for their daughter when she was born. Since the Vanir would be the equivalent of eight-to-ten months old by then, Vahn would probably have to watch over them closely while his relaxation time would probably be used to watch over his 'normal' children.

Fortunately, things would eventually turn in favor of his other children in the future since he would have to invest a lot more time and energy over a longer period just taking care of them. The Vanir would mature very quickly, meaning they required a lot of care early on but would be self-sufficient in as little as two-to-three years. This left plenty of time for Vahn to spend with his other children, enabling their physical and emotional growth to progress at a comparably 'casual' pace...

Tsubaki knew that, given Vahn's personality, he would love and care for all of his children to the best of his ability, just like he tried to look after all the women he was involved with. His only limitation was the fact that he was a single person, which is the main reason all the girls had already banded together to create a stronger sense of unity within the Manor. They knew he would be busy ensuring they were protected from harm, dealing with issues both within the City and the countries beyond its borders. Thus, it fell to the girls within the Manor to look after the children and ensure they were receiving a proper education and advancing on a more 'correct' path.

Like Vahn, they didn't intend to force the children into anything directly, leaving it to them to make decisions about their own lives as they matured towards adulthood. However, this didn't mean they wouldn't 'encourage' them towards specific disciplines. As in most families, the stronger the bond was between parent and child, the more likely the child was to take up the mantle of whatever craft or discipline their parents pursued. Tsubaki wanted their daughter to be a capable warrior so that she could protect, not only herself, but all of her siblings and the people she would come to care about...

With these thoughts in mind, Tsubaki continued to gently stroke Vahn's hair, smiling down at his sleeping with a loving look profoundly reflected in her gaze. It was both exciting and scary to think that this singular boy, peacefully lying in her lap, had the potential of shaping all of their lives. As long as he was a good person, Tsubaki believed all of their children would aspire towards the example he had set. Since everyone in the Manor supported him, the children would likely come to support him as a result of their interactions with everyone else. Though there would certainly be some that were more 'rebellious' than others, Vahn wasn't really someone that people could hate so easily...especially if they are his family...

(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Tiny Weight, Heavy Burden','All over the world, the enemies of Vahn simultaneously felt a chill run down their backs...','Living by Example')

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