章節 1616: Rumor : Insight

With the dawn of a new day, Vahn made breakfast for everyone before discussing their next plan of action. They, technically, didn't have anything else to do in Al Jamila, so, depending on her decision, they would either double back to Zephyria or escort Arika back to Ostia. The war was already in its early stages, and, though it hadn't officially begun, it only needed a single inciting incident before things quickly got out of hand.

Fortunately, as he had placed markers in both locations, Vahn could escort Arika to both Zephyria and Ostia without having to spend days flying back and forward. The only downside to this was that it would cut into their time together, but, as a woman with strong convictions, Arika didn't hesitate to choose the most 'efficient' method available. Thus, after a hearty breakfast and a few hours in the Space-Time Orb, Vahn, accompanied by Arika and Asuna, teleported back to Zephyria. At this same time, he said his goodbyes to the friendly Al Jamilan people before piloting the Custos Rosea, which had effectively been gifted to him by Arika, towards the East.

Vahn didn't need an Airfish to get around, but, with the Space-Time Resort and 'Garden of Avalon' on board, exposing the Custos Rosea to danger carried too high a risk. Thus, before the war began, he intended to find a relatively secure location that would serve as both a sanctuary and a rallying point for the members of their faction. This would technically give his enemies something to target, but, in actuality, Vahn intended to create his actual base on Phobos, the larger of Mundus Magicus' two Moons.

In essence, Vahn's hideout in the real world was meant to serve as a red herring. It would be more of a bastion for the Elementals than anything else, and, though it was only a matter of time before it became a significant location, the most his enemies would accomplish by attacking it was pissing him off. He actually intended to avoid causing too much collateral damage in the future, but, if they employed scorched earth tactics or tried attacking his base using tactical grade magic, Vahn would not hesitate to answer in kind...

---

Though Vahn's ability to teleport great distances was relatively well known within the underground intelligence communities, Katarina nearly had a heart attack when he suddenly appeared inside of her office. She even pulled out her magical pistol the moment she detected the anomalous energy in the room, but, using his bare hand, Vahn casually grabbed the projectile out of the air, smiling as he asked, "Is that any way to greet an old friend?"

Seeing who had entered her office without permission, Katarina plopped back into her chair, a tired sigh escaping her lips as she protested, "When you told me you would return soon, you neglected to mention you would be teleporting directly into my office. This is supposed to be a place where I can cut loose and deal with private affairs without having to worry about outsiders storming in. Do magical barriers and defensive artifacts mean nothing to you...?"

Not expecting Katarina to openly protest, Vahn felt a little awkward, but, rather than apologize, he tossed over a crystalline gourd filled with a red liquid, explaining, "A gift. Though it will cause a bit of discomfort, mixing that into your bath will inhibit the effects of aging while also making your skin more resistant to external magical power."

As she had initially assumed it was some kind of alcohol, Katarina was at a loss for words when she heard Vahn's explanation. Before she could say anything, however, he added, "We came to meet with Brave Enlil but I couldn't sense him anywhere. Do you know where we can find him or when he will return to the City?"

Though she would have liked to provide an actual answer to Vahn's question, Katarina deftly placed the flask of unquestionably priceless liquid into the drawer of her desk before explaining, "Unless it is something important, Brave never explains where he is going or what he intends to do. He claims it will spoil the surprise if he tells people what he is going to do before he returns. Since he has the ability to move at lightning speeds, he is just as likely to be on the other side of the planet as in the next country over. If I had to make a bet, I would wager he went to investigate the rumors involving your actions in Elfenhof..."

Remembering the reports she had received from the intelligence division, Katarina couldn't help but frown as she added, "According to some reports, you imprisoned the entire Elven population before burning the entire country of Elfenhof to the ground..."

Rather than showing any sign of perturbation in response to Katarina's cautious tone, Vahn issued a light chuckle, his eyes shifting from aquamarine to a pale-gold as he asked, "Oh? And who, pray tell, is spreading such rumors? Do you actually believe them...?"

Without having to consider her response, Katarina didn't hesitate to shake her head, saying, "I have heard several reports, but, based on your usual modus operandi, I can't imagine you would do such a thing. If anything, you are far more likely to protect the Elves rather than wipe them out. If I'm not wrong, your primary reason for burning the forest was to liberate those who had been sealed within the so-called Forest of Penance."

As someone who had grown up alongside criminals, mercenaries, merchants, and pirates, Katarina had always been rather sharp. Her intuition had always been uncanny, and, during her days as a Skyfarer, her gut feelings often spared her and her crew from disaster. She also considered herself adept at judging someone's character, so, unless the Elves had been secretly engaging in some kind of heinous act, it was impossible to imagine Vahn wiping them out...

Seeing the absolute certainty visible in Katarina's eyes, Vahn was once again reminded of how scary a woman's intuition could be. She was actually spot on, so, after a brief moment of tense silence, an appreciative smile spread across his face as he said, "You're really something...well, your suspicion is correct. What might surprise you, however, is that Yggdrillia forged a contract with me, rather than the other way around. You are free to make of that what you will, but, in the end, all it means is that the Elves are now completely off-limits. If I find any being mistreated, there isn't a force in the entire Magical World that could prevent me from bringing their captors to justice..."

Though the Skyfarers Association didn't specifically keep in Elves in captivity, Katarina was aware of the existence of several within the underground community. She could tell that Vahn was giving her an advance warning, and, unless she wanted to invite a calamity upon Zephyria, she needed to take action to either liberate or kill the Elves illegally kept locked away. Some simply couldn't be spared, as, if Vahn encountered some of the older Elves, which were broken beyond recovery, it was all but guaranteed that his wrath would expand further than the organizations responsible...

In an effort to ease the growing tensions, Katarina habitually rose from her desk, pulling out a few shot glasses as she asked, "Do you have time for a drink? I don't know when Brave will return and I can't imagine you will stick around and wait for him. I can send a private missive to the Free Spirit Tavern to have them inform him of your arrival. He can basically travel anywhere in the world in just a few seconds, so, if there is a place he can meet you, I imagine he will seek you out the moment he receives the message."

Vahn wasn't particularly in the mood for drinking, but, noticing Katarina had only produced glasses, he decided to humor her by pulling out a few random bottles. She had a penchant for alcohol even before receiving the benefits from [Call of Cthulhu], so, after obtaining practical immunity to things like alcohol poisoning, Katarina's fondness for the substance had only increased. He even began to suspect she had an Innate related to alcohol, but, without observing her for a long period of time or engraving his crest upon her back, there was no way to be certain.

According to the explanation given by Sis, The Path actually had an external analysis function, but, due to his unique perspective and the influence of his [Eyes of Truth], he had never unlocked it. He could have easily unlocked it during his time between records, but, fearing it would make the world seem even more like a game or simulation, Vahn had decided against it. He had even grown tired of seeing his own Status, so, while it was undoubtedly a very powerful ability, he would either become reliant on the information it provided or it would quickly lose its novelty when even blades of grass and individual stones had their own information windows...

After filling two cups, Vahn lightly clinked his glass against Katarina's before downing the contents of his own and answering, "The person that needs to speak with him is Arika. I'll be taking her back to Ostia after this, so, unless something changes, he should be able to find her there."

Finished with the contents of her own glass, Katarina casually set it atop her desk while her mind processed everything Vahn had just said. It was largely considered impossible to teleport anywhere near Ostia, as the magic supporting the floating nation prevented such spells from functioning, but, based on his words, this didn't seem to apply to him. There was always a chance he would teleport to a nearby location and then complete the rest of the journey using other methods, but, given that it was more normal for Vahn to do inexplicable things, Katarina doubted this was the case...

As this thought crossed her mind, Katarina briefly turned her attention to Arika, who, since the time of her arrival, had just been standing patient at the side. As for the little girl accompanying her, who was also rumored to be a Princess of Vespertatia, she was curiously inspecting the numerous scale-model Airfish that lined the room. Neither showed any particular reaction to Vahn's words, so, while it was possible they simply didn't care, the more likely scenario was that they were well aware of the infamous Sage Dragon Emperor's capabilities.

Resisting the urge to shake her head, Katarina took the initiative to refill both glasses before raising her own and saying, "I'll see to it that the message is conveyed without fail. The next time you visit, I hope you'll enter the country properly. Zephyria might purport itself as the City of Freedom but that isn't an open invitation to come and go as you please. At least give us a little time to prepare so we don't end up arbitrarily offending you...I'm already busting my ass off to try and weed out some of the more troublesome elements of the City so I would appreciate it if you didn't add to my stress..."

Seeing Katarina rub her shoulders for effect, Vahn was tempted to offer his services as a masseuse, but, almost immediately as the thought crossed his mind, Sis muttered, (*Vahn...seriously...?*)

Quickly dismissing his wayward thoughts, Vahn adopted a wry smile before downing the contents of his glass and answering, "I'll keep that in mind. You are a competent leader so I trust you will do what it takes to make your nation into a true City of Freedom. I can't promise anything, but, if you need my help, feel free to pass a message to me. I'll be pretty indisposed during the war, but, after the fact...well, let's just say I'll be encouraging proactive reform in every nation..."

Finished with his glass, Vahn set it down on the desk, and, without waiting for Katarina's response, he turned to Arika and Asuna, asking, "Are the two of you ready to return?"

Though she was slightly annoyed by the fact Brave Enlil had departed so unexpectedly, Arika didn't allow it to show on her face. She didn't expect that she would be able to meet with the other Great Spirits until after the war anyway, so, setting the matter aside, she nodded her head and answered, "I have made my preparations."

Hearing the conviction in Arika's voice, Vahn nodded his head in approval before approaching her side and linking hands with both her and Asuna. This might be a cause for 'misunderstandings' to occur, but, as he wanted to believe in Katarina's intelligence and capacity as a leader, Vahn didn't think she would say anything. Before teleporting away, however, he sent her a 'friendly' smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, causing her to swallow instinctually before turning her attention to the glasses and bottles atop the desk...

(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'This isn't even my final base!','Vahn doesn't like people that spread false rumors (O x O)...','Oh, look, what a pretty glass...')

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章節 1617: Surprise

Contrary to what Katarina might have believed, it was actually difficult for even Vahn to teleport in and out of Ostia. If not for the spatial anchor he had created during his stay, with permission from Ana, he would have been forced to either tear through space or approach the floating capital city from the outside.

Ostia, as the literal heart of Mundus Magicus, still had countless secrets to uncover, and, though he had never found any sign of their movements, Vahn suspected that Cosmo Entelecheia was actually deeply entrenched within the peaceful nation. The fact that the Ostian Royal Family was descended directly from the Mage of the Beginning was all the proof needed to support this theory, but, even after probing around for several weeks, Vahn had failed to uncover even the smallest trace of the enigmatic organization.

With at least one Tier 5 on their side, a very powerful one at that, the most obvious answer was that Cosmo Entelecheia had hidden the core of their organization within a Realm. There was little chance that The Mage of the Beginning would have left the heart of Mundus Magicus exposed, so, with the Magical World existing on the 'Reverse Side' of Mars, it was virtually guaranteed that other Textures existed. The tricky part was locating the entrance to these Textures, as, depending on the skill of its creator, a Realm could be hidden away in something as small as a marble. Other Realms, such as Heaven and Hell, actually required the death of the physical body as a catalyst for opening the way, so, while it wasn't likely, there was a chance that Cosmos Entelecheia had taken refuge in a Spiritual Plane, rather than a physical one...

---

Emerging from the location of the spatial anchor, Vahn wasn't too surprised to find that Ana and Vesperina were nearby enjoying tea. They had worked out the location of the anchor a long time ago, and, though he had created multiple auxiliary points, Vahn had always teleported to the one he had created in the guest room. Since the time of his stay, however, the room had been turned into a library-like study, and, when they had nothing better to do, Ana and Vesperina had made a habit of lounging about within his former chambers.

Showing absolutely no surprise on their uncannily similar countenances, the two cousins elegantly rose from their seats, smiling in perfect synchronicity as they said, "Welcome home."

Ignoring the fact both women were dressed in nightgowns that were reminiscent of the type used during the Victorian Era, Vahn returned a smile as he accepted Ana's casual embrace. At the same time, Asuna leaped into her mother's arms, earning an amused giggle from Vesperina, who, despite her dainty appearance, easily picked up her daughter and asked, "Have you been having fun?"

Without any suspense, Asuna beamed in response to her mother's words before happily exclaiming, "It's great! Every day is filled with new and exciting things. Just recently, I made a ton of new friends among the Elven children Vahn saved!"

Amused by her daughter's zeal, Vesperina issued another motherly giggle as she carried the former over to the nearby lounge and said, "I would like to hear more. Will you tell me more stories of your travels~?"

Always eager to talk about her training and all the interesting things she was able to experience while following Vahn, Asuna's expression brightened up even more, her eyes glittering like gems as she intoned a happy, "Nn~!"

---

While Asuna was catching up with her mother, Vahn, Ana, and Arika decided to give them a bit of space, alighting to a nearby kitchen to manually prepare lunch. This had become a habit every time Vahn visited, as, after enjoying his home-cooked meals, Ana, Vesperina, and virtually everyone else, had developed a particular fondness for his cuisine. It used various rare ingredients, and, compared to the meals prepared by emotionless automatons and magical spells, there was an insurmountable difference in quality.

Despite being a Queen, Ana had a surprisingly shameless personality, so, while Vahn was preparing everyone's meal, she would casually pick out ingredients and partially completed dishes to snack on while conversing with her daughter. This action was imitated by Arika, but, to her credit, she at least helped out by cutting up vegetables and peeling fruit. She had grown to feel guilty about watching the process like it was some kind of amazing spectacle, and, though her cooking skills were on the level of a natural disaster, she could at least prepare ingredients without issue.

Ana obviously took note of the changes in her daughter's character over time, so, every time they were together, she would take the opportunity to tease her, ignoring Vahn's presence as she asked things like, "So, have the two of you done the deed? Should I be expecting grandchildren any time soon~?"

Though she defaulted back to her taciturn personality around her mother, Arika couldn't prevent a crimson hue from coloring her ears and cheeks in response to Ana's teasing. Despite this, she would actually answer the questions, causing Vahn to suppress a wry smile when she stared at the back of his head and said, "Not yet. At this point, I believe it will have to wait until marriage..."

Arika had originally been intending to reference Eva's marriage to Vahn, but, perhaps as a result of her hidden desires, the words hadn't come out as anticipated. She realized this almost immediately, but, without missing a beat, Ana capitalized on the opportunity, showing mock astonishment as she mused, "Oh my~! Did he already propose to you or do I need to have a heart-to-heart with my Son in Law~?"

With her face gradually approaching the color of blood, Arika averted her gaze away from the back of Vahn's head as she muttered, "That is unnecessary...I said something inappropriate..."

Hearing Arika's remark, Vahn released an audible sigh before setting the stove to a low boil so that he could turn around and say, "What nonsense are you saying? At this point, it is all but confirmed that you are my woman. Even if I don't want to get involved in politics, I'm not a coward that would put his loved ones into a difficult situation just to avoid some trouble. Once this fiasco with Cosmo Entelecheia is dealt with, I will gladly take you as my wife. Rather..."

Though it was a little early, Vahn surprised both Arika and Ana by lowering himself to one knee. He had been thinking a lot ever since he made his promise with Theo, and, though he wanted to avoid having to subsume the entirety of Mars, transplanting a single Texture shouldn't be too difficult. He had already made some breakthroughs in that regard, so, while he had been intending to wait until after his wedding with Eva, Vahn didn't hesitate to produce a pale-gold ring set with a unique gem that looked like the combination between a sapphire and emerald fused to form a yin-yang symbol.

----------------------------------------------------

[Harmony]

Rank: S (Divine)

P.Def: 0

M.Def: 0

Abilities: Indestructible(Divine), Supreme Ultimate(S), Magic Nullification(S), Physical Nullification(S), Abnormal Status Immunity(S), Soulbound(Unbound)

Use: 'Oneness Before Duality': Allows the user to burn their future potential, drastically increasing their present strength. The aftereffects of using this ability can be mitigated entirely by sharing the burden with another. (Warning: Item destroyed after use.)

Restriction: Arika Anarchia Entheofushia

----------------------------------------------------

Resisting the urge to excitedly explain the effects of the ring, Vahn casually retrieved the stupefied Arika's hand, placing the ring near her finger as he asked, "Arika Anarchia Entheofushia...will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?"

Brought back to her senses by Vahn's words, Arika actually retracted her hand as if she had been electrocuted. Then, hiding her beet-red face, she released a surprisingly girlish groan before parting her fingers slightly, glaring at him as she said, "This isn't fair at all..."

Vahn was a little confused by Arika's words, but, rather than rise to his feet, he continued to smile at her, presenting the paradoxically beautiful yet simple-looking ring. He had always believed that the true beauty of a woman lay in her smile, so, despite putting an inordinate amount of effort into the forging of various wedding bands, Vahn made sure they never stood out more than the wearer. This was very important to him, but, despite its relatively simple appearance, Ana and Arika were unable to take their eyes off the perfectly complementary band...

Misunderstanding the situation, Ana decided to give her daughter a little bit of a push by extending her own hand and musing, "Well, if my daughter isn't willing, I certainly wouldn't mind...ufufufu~."

Before her mother had finished her statement, Arika snatched the ring out of Vahn's hand, holding it protectively near her chest as she exclaimed, "Mother! You..."

Noticing the teasing look in her mother's eyes, Arika's words ended up trailing off, her face turning a shade darker as a feeling of dizziness spread through her mind. Everything was happening far too quickly for her mind to process, so, before things could get further out of hand, she decided to take a seat, resting her forehead against the cool countertop under the worried gazes of both Vahn and her mother.

To allay their concerns, Arika made a dismissive gesture before explaining, "I just need to cool my head a bit..."

Though he was tempted to use his Hands of Nirvana and Petting Laws to provide assistance, Vahn got the distinct impression that Arika wanted to sort her thoughts without his help. Thus, with a wry smile on his face, he gave an understanding nod before turning his attention back to cooking. This earned him a slightly dubious look from Ana, but, having spent so much time with him, Arika knew Vahn was actually being considerate rather than apathetic. She could sense that his focus never left her, and, if she needed him, he wouldn't hesitate to drop everything to come to her side...

With a small smile spreading across her face, Arika closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of the cold countertop. She was actually very excited that Vahn had proposed to her, but, as it conflicted with the promise she had made with Theo, her mind was in a state of disarray. They had become far closer than normal sisters during their time in the Diorama, and, after the announcement of Eva's engagement, all three of them had discussed the matter of marriage.

In the end, Arika and Theo promised that, if either of them were to ever wed Vahn, they would do so together. They had even come up with a plan to unify the various countries of Mundus Magicus, but, as that was a matter for the far future, Vahn's sudden proposal had completely caught Arika by surprise. She had even expected that he would wait until after Asuna had reached maturity, as, even if nothing had happened between them, it was obvious to everyone that the two shared an enviable affinity with each other. Asuna was practically a miniature version of Vahn, and, though he appeared to have a fair amount of resistance against her, the truth of the matter was that Asuna actually had a near-perfect understanding of his tolerance and what she could get away with...

She was apprehensive to admit it but Arika knew she wouldn't have been able to compete with her younger cousin if they were the same age. Asuna was more intelligent, exceedingly talented, and, most importantly, she was able to read Vahn like a book. She was extremely attentive to all of every aspect of his character, and, though she never directly manipulated him, she had the confidence to forge and temper an unbreakable bond between them. She also put an inordinate amount of effort into her training, and, at times, she even managed to 'resist' Vahn's usual rewards in order to obtain an even greater reward later on...

Suppressing a sigh, Arika slowly opened her palm to stare at the ring Vahn had undoubtedly put a considerable amount of effort into forging. She knew the 'best' course of action would be to return it, but, having already seized it, she felt reluctant to do so. She knew Theo wouldn't actually be mad at her for cementing her engagement a little early, but, knowing today was the day she temporarily separated from Vahn, Arika felt the timing was simply the worst...

As this thought crossed her mind, Arika slowly lifted her body, her expression a perfect deadpan as she stared at Vahn and said, "You can be the biggest idiot in the world at times..."

Hearing Arika's remark, Vahn's expression become apologetic, but, before he could say anything in his defense, he was pleasantly surprised to hear her say, "I will accept your proposal, but, before we confirm anything, you must propose to Theo as well. We made a promise together and I don't want to feel as though I have betrayed her trust. You will also need to discuss this matter with Eva, and, after this war has come to an end, the three of us will work out the details regarding the ceremony."

Having agreed to Vahn's proposal, Arika suddenly felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. A natural smile began to spread across her face, and, though she was tempted to comb through her hair, as was often the case when she was nervous, she managed to restrain the urge as she asked, "Isn't there something you should say at a time like this...?"

The moment he heard Arika's words, Vahn's figure turned into a phantom image as he appeared at her side. Then, under the gleaming eyes of Ana, he habitually pulled Arika into his embrace, a loving smile spreading across his face as he said, "You're an amazing woman, Arika...I love you..."

With nothing else to say, Vahn punctuated his words by stealing Arika's lips, and, though she would normally never commit such an act in front of her mother, she decided to make an exception as she graciously reciprocated her Fiance's passion, matching it with her own...

(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Realms within Realms within Realms. Realmception!','Ana's shamelessness pays off!?','Is this the influence of Asuna's fate or Arika's fortune~?')

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