章節 1353: Small Steps
After escorting Nero for a much longer period of time than he intended, Vahn had come to know a few key things about the first-century Empress.
Perhaps the most important thing to note about her was the fact that, almost certainly as a result of her [Migraine] Skill, Nero simply couldn't focus on anything for more than a few seconds. If you tried holding a conversation with her, you could see her mind wandering progressively further the longer the discussion continued. The only exception to this was when Nero herself was talking but, even then, she would easily get distracted by anything that caught her attention.
Secondly, likely derived from her ability to focus on anything for a long period of time, Nero was an extreme narcissist. She simply couldn't empathize with others as any attempt to try and understand the complexities of another person would cause her an intense migraine, deterring her from even trying. Because of this, Nero emphasized her own thoughts and reasoning over all else, using her status as an Empress to basically do whatever she wanted.
Lastly, once against the result of her underlying issues, Nero was a very 'open' person, basking in the adulation of others and following her whims without restraint. While teasing him, she unabashedly talked about her forays in the beds of others, detailing her prowess and directly asking if he would like to take her to task. In her mind, it was perfectly natural to be desired by others and, if she found them pleasing to the eye, Nero would sleep with practically anyone; excluding Senators and anyone holding government office.
Since sleeping with government officials was, in many ways, directly involved with politics; Nero had shunned the advances of anyone proactively trying to court her. Instead, she preferred to engage in bouts of passion with her citizenry, even going so far as to host massive orgies within the confines of her theater. In one instance, she even attested to the fact that she had locked a group of more than a thousand inside the grand halls, staging a tournament to determine the greatest lovemaker in the entire Empire; a title, like many others, Nero claimed for herself...
Having dealt with people like Freya and Loki, Vahn wasn't the type that judged people based on the decisions they had made in the past. In fact, he didn't even mind how open Nero was regarding her sexuality. After all, he wasn't exactly a paragon of virtue so, rather than anything she had done in the past, Vahn was bothered by Nero's direct propositioning. It would be fine if she just teased him but, with Okita, Jeanne, and Gareth accompanying them, she unabashedly flirted with the three girls; the result of her transient sexuality.
While this kind of behavior was obviously a little troubling, the fact it was the product of whatever Nero was keeping hidden was the true crux of the problem. Vahn could tell that, rather than being absolutely confident in her behavior, there was an ever-present doubt hidden at the core of Nero's being. She spoke unabashedly and without shame but, during those moments, she never took her eyes off the person she was talking to; an earnest desire to understand them visible within her bright green irises...
Unfortunately, for reasons only Nero truly understood, she was unable to understand and empathize with others. Because of this, she was quick to apologize if she offended them but, at no point in time did she seem to realize she had done something wrong. There was a gap in her mentality that made it virtually impossible to reconcile the incongruities between her legitimate desires and the actions she took in an effort to express something she simply couldn't put into words...
---
After exploring the castle and a few places of interest outside, Vahn found himself taking tea with Nero and Spenta, the latter having accompanied them throughout the entire tour. Jeanne, Okita, and Gareth were all present as well but, as was often the case in situations like this, they quietly sat at the side. They were currently enthralled in an intense staring competition, Jeanne and Gareth teaming up against the seemingly unbeatable Okita who, even after an hour passed, hadn't blinked a single time...
Without minding the presence of others in the slightest, Nero was staring into the contents of her glazed teacup, an appreciative smile on her face as she remarked, "Tea befitting one such as I. What an elegant taste...and this aroma...umu, you have chosen well, my Master."
Having grown steadily accustomed to Nero informing him that he had done well, Vahn issued a light chuckle as he set his own cup to the side and stated, "Spending these few hours with you has been a pleasant experience, Nero. Unfortunately, I have other duties to attend. After this session has come to an end, I must be on my way."
Though he didn't particularly mind spending time with her, being around Nero was an exhausting experience. She seemed to expect him to continue accompanying her indefinitely and, while he was curious about her past and desired to understand the root cause of her problems, he couldn't ignore everyone else just to attend the whimsical Empress. Rather, he was very aware that Arcueid and Illya were both in need of his attention so, while it left a bittersweet taste in his mouth, Vahn needed to find a moment to bring their tour to an end.
Without showing any signs that she was particularly troubled by his coming departure, Nero simply nodded in response, intoning her characteristic 'umu' before answering, "This is to be expected, is it not? I may have been an Empress in the past but here, in this time, I am but a fragment of a wayward soul. Fret not, my Master, I will be fine without your attention. Know that I look forward to the dawn of the coming day, the moment we are able to meet again...umu..."
With her words finished, Nero set her own teacup down and, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, picked up Spenta to depart. This filled Vahn with an intense desire to sigh but, holding it in, he, instead, created a gentle flow of energy to obstruct Nero's path. Then, as she turned to face him again, he adopted a wry smile and said, "Here, take this with you. There is little I can do about the existence of you [Migraine] Skill but this should alleviate most of, if not all, the symptoms..."
Vahn had already given Nero a choker that would allow her to replenish her mana so, this time around, he gave her an ornate pair of earrings; each glimmering with emeralds, the same color as her eyes. They were an A-Rank item that had the ability to prevent most abnormal status effects that affected the mind so, with Nero's [Migraine] being B-Rank, Vahn was hoping she would slowly learn how to focus and better empathize with others.
Seeing the beautiful pair of earrings proffered forth by Vahn, Nero's smile became even more radiant than usual as she walked over, set down Spenta, and said, "Umu, you have my permission to lay your hands upon me." Then, extending her neck and raising her chin, Nero obviously expected that Vahn places the earrings in himself.
Since he already expected this outcome, as it was the most common reaction amongst the women he had associated with, Vahn had no trouble delicately manipulating Nero's head, piercing both ears in turn. Though he imagined it must be a little painful, as her ears hadn't been pierced, Nero showed no signs of discomfort at all. Rather, her smile, once the process was completed, became the most exuberant one she had displayed thus far; effectively lighting up the entire room with its imagined luminance.
Anticipating the question that almost always followed his gifting of an accessory, Vahn pulled out an ornate hand mirror for Nero's use, earning a satisfied 'umu' as she graciously accepted it. Then, upon seeing how clear the image was, her brows raised slightly as she remarked, "Umu, this may very well be the highest quality mirror I have ever seen. Even polished silver cannot reflect my beauty to this extent...truly, a marvel of the times. Umu..."
Though it looked like she could stare at herself for hours without end, Nero ultimately returned the mirror to Vahn, her smile regaining its usual quality as she commented, "You have chosen well, my Master. I will cherish this gift eternally, never letting it part from my sight. Umu, it will become as much a part of me as my immaculate arms and legs. Rest easy knowing your feelings have reached this heart of mine, fueling the fires of passion within. When next we meet, prepare yourself well. I will answer your feelings, doubly so..."
As was the common trend, Nero, upon completion of her statement, picked up the waiting Spenta and, without sparing anyone in the room a glance, proceeded to exit. This left Vahn feeling a little fatigued as he knew, even with the earrings, it would take a very long time for Nero to change for the better. Now, he fully expected her to go all out in tomorrow's competition, eager to lend veracity to her claims, cementing her 'rightful' place at his side...
Deciding to pay Merlin a visit later in the day, Vahn turned his attention to Okita, Jeanne, and Gareth, the latter having teary eyes due to straining them beyond her natural limits. This instantly improved Vahn's mood, bringing a smile to his slightly troubled face as he extended his hand; gesturing to the girls to come over. Once they obliged, he lightly covered Gareth's eyes, restoring them to their usual state and earning both praise and gratitude from his puppy-like protege...
---
After summoning eight people in one go, Vahn's diminished mental energies gave him a strong desire to just relax, sleep, and recuperate. As a result, he retired to the Menagerie with his usual entourage before seeking out Arcueid in his second body. Illya had already completed her move so, while she undoubtedly wanted to spend more time alone with him, she was forcing herself to fit in with the other bestial girls. As for Arcueid, she had been with Aoko since the conclusion of their conversation with Shiki and, even more so than Illya, Vahn knew she required his attention.
Unlike Aoko, Arcueid had decided to reside in a room of her own since she wasn't comfortable with being around the others just yet. Though she could tolerate almost any situation while he was there, the long period of loneliness she had imposed upon herself made it difficult for Arcueid to approach others. Thus, with Aoko being one of the few people she knew prior to moving into the Ivory Castle, it was a given that the red-haired beauty was, at least for the time being, helping the former Vampire Princess adapt to the new setting.
As a result, Vahn found Aoko and Arcueid together in the latter's room, both, somewhat surprisingly, occupying the same small sofa together. Their conversation with Shiki had been a taxing experience so, with only each other to truly understand what they were going through, Aoko was comforting the golden-haired beauty in lieu of Vahn. This made it somewhat awkward when Vahn knocked on the door but, after realizing who was visiting, Arcueid's mood noticeably improved; her melancholy melting away in an instant as her lips formed into a gentle arc...
Since she had jumped up to meet him, Vahn unhesitantly wrapped Arcueid in his embrace while, a little slower to react, Aoko crossed her arms and complained, "It took you long enough. If you didn't show up soon, I was going to track you down and drag you back. Seriously, you shouldn't be leaving Arcueid alone like this...this isn't easy for her..."
Vahn nodded his head in affirmation of Aoko's words but, as if rising to his defense, Arcueid adopted a conflicted expression as she shook her head and stated, "Vahn didn't do anything wrong, Aoko. He already told me that he had other matters to take care of..." Then, resting her head against Vahn's chest, she added, "I'm glad you came to see me...I missed you..."
Feeling a fair amount of guilt as a result of Arcueid's words, Vahn put a bit of strength into his arms, whispering, "Sorry I came so late...I meant to arrive earlier."
Though these words were spoken to Arcueid, Vahn intended them for Aoko as well, a fact he made apparent by looking toward the red-haired woman in the latter half of his words. She was able to understand his intentions but, seemingly unwilling to forgive him so easily, she continued crossing her arms after averting her eyes. In truth, she was feeling a little insecure at the moment as, with the return of Shiki, Aoko felt compelled to actualize the truth she had professed to earlier: that she was already one of Vahn's women.
Without having anything to show for their relationship just yet, Aoko couldn't help feeling anxious as it was almost like she was lying. For this reason, she had continued to accompany Arcueid as, while it was certainly true that she wanted to support latter, Aoko also expected that Vahn would stop by to visit her at the earlier opportunity. Existences like Nero made her feel threatened so, before anyone else could attach themselves to Vahn, Aoko felt compelled to make good on her past promises, the first being her promise to take matters into her own hands if he continued stalling...
Aoko didn't voice any of these things but, with his Divinity, Vahn was very sensitive to the thoughts plaguing the frustrated redhead's mind. He knew well that she wasn't the type to change her mind, often forcing herself into difficult situations so; before she could do anything drastic, he intended to meet her expectations. In fact, both girls could use a bit of convincing so, without minding the fact that Aoko was pretending to ignore him, Vahn guided Arcueid over to her side before snaking one of his hands around the former's waist...
(A/N: I found a bit of time hiding under my pillow so I decided to write a chapter, umu~!)
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章節 1354: Atmosphere
Contrary to how usual confident and outgoing demeanor, Aoko was quite weak when it came to others taking the lead. She was better at making decisions and acting upon them, not being pulled along in the pace of other people. As a result, Vahn's act of pulling her closer to him caused Aoko to momentarily fluster before; realizing what he was doing, she swatted away his hand, giving him a less-than-intimidating glare in the process.
Since he already expected her to be more strong-willed than most women, Vahn simply gave Aoko a knowing smile before guiding Arcueid to sit next to him on the sofa. Even if things didn't develop to them ultimately having sex, he wasn't particularly bothered since, after the summoning; he wasn't in a hurry to exert himself. He even defaulted to taking a nap upon reaching the Menagerie, using his daughter as a 'barrier' against the other girls as they all cuddled together on the plush, pillow-laden bed...
Still, despite having swat his hand away moments prior, Aoko took the seat opposite to Arcueid, her leg and shoulder pressed against him due to the sofa's small size. It just barely accommodated two people comfortable so, with three people sitting side-by-side, there was bound to be some overlap. Vahn had noticed this upon seeing the two sitting together earlier so, accounting for Aoko's nature, he basically had Arcueid sitting on his lap to make room.
When all was said and done, a rather awkward atmosphere permeated throughout the room due to Aoko not knowing quite what to say. Truthfully, she virtually no experience dealing with the opposite sex as, during the springtime of her youth, she had been enthralled in constant conflict. By the time she began desiring the companionship of others, her preferences had become somewhat twisted as the time she ever associated with males was during her middle and high school days.
Aoko had always been rebellious by nature so she was never fond of adults, especially those who always purported to know best. Thus, even though she was in her twenties at the time, Aoko only really knew how to interact with boys much younger than her; earning her a few less than pleasant nicknames from her enemies. It didn't help that she had been rather fond of the Tale of Genji, as it was very popular amongst women of her time, so there was a small inclination within her mind to simply 'raise' a suitable partner for herself...
With all of these factors lining up, Aoko had passed well into her thirties with her only meaningful interactions with boys being hand-holding and, in parting, a few kisses. Though this didn't really matter all that much, due to her ability to freely alter her age, Aoko had never been able to bite the bullet and pretend she was younger in order to poach a boy in her 'preferred range'. They seemed so vulnerable and, after dealing with corrupt and vile Magi most of her life, she didn't want to follow a similarly depraved path just because there wasn't anyone that could stop her...
Realizing Aoko was having difficulties, Vahn leaned a bit of his weight against her, breaking the spell of reflection she had put herself under. This caused her to blink back into awareness, only to find his face much closer than anticipated; all while Arcueid stared at her with a curious expression on her face. They had already discussed their intentions prior to Vahn's arrival so, seeing Aoko behave in this manner, Arcued was both confused and intrigued at the same time.
Refusing to fall into the pace of others, Aoko nudged Vahn with her shoulder before asking, "Don't you have like a movie or something to put on? Just sitting in silence like this is awkward. Come on, I want to see one of your memories. Make it something cool and action-packed."
As she was also keen on learning more about Vahn, Arcueid found Aoko's suggestion agreeable so, in support of the idea, she adopted an excited smile and added, "Please, Vahn, I would also like to see your memories...I have heard a lot of interesting things from the others. I would like to see for myself: the world you came from, the people you lived alongside...everything..."
Though he knew Aoko was just fishing for an excuse to buy time for herself, Vahn also knew using the [Projection Sphere]s was a good way to set the mood. Even in the outside world, at least prior to the changes he had implemented, it was common for men and women, who were dating, to go and see movies together. The low light and larger-than-life screen inspired a unique atmosphere, one which emboldened both men and women to feel emboldened.
Playing to the mood, Vahn pulled out a [Projection Sphere] before snapping his fingers, reducing the lighting in the room until on the glowing of the crystal ball illuminated them. Then, after starting the feed, Vahn leaned back into the sofa, holding Arcueid's waist with his right hand before, once again, snaking his left hand around Aoko's. She gave him another 'glare', her blue eyes glimmering slightly in the low-light but; unlike before, she didn't make him remove it. Instead, she leaned into him a bit, an indiscernible blush coloring her cheeks as she focused on the images being projected in the air...
---
Vahn hadn't actually known Aoko all that long but, in the time they had known each other, he came to understand much about her character. It was with this understanding that he decided to reach far back into his memories, pulling a scene near the very start of his foray through the massive Dungeon beneath Orario, a place he ultimately conquered with his own hands...
Since it was one of the direst situations he had ever been in, Vahn focused on his first true dive into the Dungeon's depths, a moment that had been immortalized as one of the most important in his entire life. His encroaching death, and his unwillingness to remain a weak and helpless child, allowed him to awaken one of his most powerful Innates, the one that served as the veritable lynchpin of his current power: [Will of the Emperor]...
When they first saw the youthful Vahn depicted in the projection, Arcueid and Aoko had mixed reactions. Arcueid could see the tell-tale signs of a lonely and detached person within Vahn's eyes while Aoko, owing to her peculiar preferences, got a little excited upon seeing the handsome yet roguish-looking youth. She could also feel the air of loneliness and caution around him but, despite his obvious fear, the resolution in Vahn's eyes was enough to send shivers through her body.
With very different perspectives on the events taking place within the projection, the two watched on with unveiled intrigue as Vahn fought a few close battles against surprisingly weak enemies. It was difficult to imagine the man sitting between them was the same one depicted 'on-screen' but, based on how the youth continued pushing himself, it was easy to imagine the path walked by the once-weak boy...
What really caught the girls by surprise was Vahn's encounter with the Kobold as, rather than show his developing prowess, they watched in horror as he was nearly killed. It was a jarring and visceral scene to witness, something movies would never be able to emulate with special effects. They could feel the pain and anguish experienced by Vahn being transmitted in vivid detail...
When the memory reached the point where Vahn was on the verge of death, Arcueid couldn't hold herself back anymore, shouting, "No, you mustn't stop! Don't give in to the darkness...!" She seemed to momentarily forget she was viewing a memory from the past, clear concern visible in her gaze as her power began to distort reality around them.
Aoko, at least on the outside, appeared to be very calm but, deep within, she felt a sickly cold that caused her to squeeze her left hand tightly. Part of her wanted to punch Vahn for showing them this kind of memory but, with the feed still running, she couldn't tear her eyes away. She knew he would undoubtedly survive but, when witnessing a scene like this in such vivid detail, the mind struggled to reconcile such things...
Just as it seemed as though Vahn was going to give in to the pain and blood loss, causing both Aoko and Arcueid to hold their breaths, a sudden burst of fervor erupted from within. In a way, it was like witnessing the last moments of a dying youth but, instead of following the usual route, Vahn pulled out a tiny green bean, devouring it with the fervor of a starved dog. Miraculously, all of his wounds then began to heal and, as if the world had been covered by a monochromatic film previously, a vast array of color and intensity was breathed into the scene as it expanded to encompass a larger area of view.
A stark contrast to the frail and cautious boy from before, the younger Vahn suddenly seemed far more self-assured as, rather than struggling with enemies, he began to cut down swaths of Goblins and Kobolds like a farmer harvesting wheat. Once difficult enemies now became completely helpless against him, his sword slicing through them with considerable ease as their blood and viscera flowed around him; following along with his movements like debris in a tempest...
The memory in the projection continued to play all the way up until the moment Vahn reached the surface, his mental and physical energy completely drained. Since he wasn't completely aware of his surroundings during the earlier days of his 'awakening', the edges of the projection became hazy and, by the time Nicholas appeared, the Elven man that had been one of the first to show Vahn kindness; the memory had completely faded to black.
With the scene coming to an end, Vahn caused the lights in the room to gradually illuminate, finding both Aoko and Arcueid still staring into the projection; waiting for something to happen. This caused a smile to spread across his face and, never missing the opportunity to tease others, Vahn decided to take advantage of their intense focus. His hands slowly moved from their waists, caressing up their sides as a trickle of stimulating energy flowed into their bodies.
Arcueid's reaction was rather tame, as she obviously had high resistance due to her instantaneous regeneration, but Aoko's was anything but. She released a girlish yelp, practically jumping from her seat with a red blush spreading across her face in an instant. Then, realizing what had happened, she formed a fist with her right hand, unhesitantly striking the top of his head as she shouted, "You jerk!" in a high-pitched and embarrassed tone of voice...
Though Vahn was tempted to tease her even more, he was brought to stunned silence in the middle of theatrically rubbing the top of his head. This was due to the fact that Aoko was wearing a thin white blouse and, having never been fond of wearing bras, both of her nipples were clearly outlined as a result of his earlier prank. She didn't seem to notice it herself but, after following his line of sight, her face became even redder as she gripped her hands into fists and glared at him...
What surprised Vahn the most was that tears seemed to be building in the corner of Aoko's eyes, causing him to panic slightly since it was rare that he misread the situation. He hated making any woman cry, much less those who had chosen to be with him, so a pang of guilt spread through his heart; discernible from the expression on his face. His first instinct was to apologize but, before her tears could free themselves from their confines, Aoko was the one to seize the initiative, shouting, "Fine, then! It was always going to come to this so let's get on with it. Come on, take your clothes off and get ready; I'm going to teach you not to tease me, you baka-tennō!"
Following her outburst, Aoko went along with her own momentum and, without waiting for Vahn to remove his own clothes, she quickly pulled her blouse over her head and began to strip down. This had the effect of causing Vahn to momentarily blank, earning him another pointed glare from Aoko as she stopped mid-way between removing her pants to shout, "What are you waiting for!?" before looking to Arcueid and adding, "You can join in or help out if you want."
With these two polarizing comments, Aoko continued to hastily undress in spite of the growing flush spreading through her face and body. She wasn't the type to back down so, while it felt like she was on the verge of exploding due to embarrassment, she 'had' to teach Vahn a lesson. He couldn't just get away with teasing her whenever he felt like it so, even if she had to 'cheat', Aoko was determined to get at least one victory against him, even if it was a pyrrhic...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Setting the mood','Humble beginnings','The power of an airheaded heroine')
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