endless path, infinite cosmos

chapter 152

It was still the middle of the afternoon, so after Vahn pet her ears for a few moments, Anubis left looking reminiscent of how Vahn arrived. She seemed to be happy and looking forward to the future, and Vahn couldn't help but smile as he watched her leave. The golden ribbon around her tail stood out from the rest of her outfit, and Vahn couldn't help but let his eyes be drawn to it as she walked away. Shaking his head, Vahn left the corridor and headed toward his own bedroom to get everything ready to put his plan into action.

After arriving, Vahn laid down in his bed and relaxed for a few minutes. He had been in somewhat high-tensions for a good part of the day, and he wanted to calm his mind before beginning. After around fifteen minutes, he smiled and had an expectant look in his eyes as he pulled out the orb that led to the black and white world where Evangeline awaited. He had learned from Sis that the time dilation within the orb was a factor of 1440:1. That meant, as long as his spirit was inside the orb, Vahn could spend an entire afternoon, roughly five hours, and it would translate to nearly 300 days worth of time.

With the orb in hand, Vahn inserted his consciousness and once again opened his eyes in the black and white world. Evangeline was waiting for him, but she was now in her adult form and wearing an elegant black dress. She seemed to be expecting him, as she said, "Good, you're finally here. There are a lot of things we need to discuss now that you're my disciple." Vahn nodded his head, but he couldn't help but ask, "Why are you back in your adult form, doesn't it take mana to sustain?"

Evangeline gave him a cold look and ignored his question as she said, "Didn't I tell you to call me Master? Don't tell me you've forgotten already, or is it that you want me to punish you?" Vahn could feel the air around him begin to grow colder as he laughed awkwardly and said, "Please forgive me, Master Evangeline. I've been a bit distracted with everything that happened today."

Curious, Evangeline asked, "Hmm, and what made you forget common courtesy? Don't tell me...you were playing with one of your girls?" When she asked the question, Evangeline gave Vahn an even colder look and now every time he breathed he could see condensation. Vahn began to warm his body with the 'eternal flame' as he explained, "I wasn't playing around, Master, but I did go on a date with a half-elf girl named Eina. At lunch, we even got engaged before meeting with Hephaestus, who also became engaged to me."

Vahn had a happy smile on his face as he spoke the words, but he felt like the air was continually growing colder as he stared at the mature form of Evangeline in front of him. Suddenly, she said in a low voice, "From now on, never talk about your women around me. I don't want to hear about you and other kids playing around when you should be focused on your training." She turned her head away from Vahn, and he could tell she was upset for some reason, but he wasn't willing to let her denounce the girls he liked so easily.

Instead of shying away from her pressure, Vahn explained in a firm voice, "You can't look down on people like that Master. One of those girls, Hephaestus, has lived for several million years. Compared to the tragedy we have experienced, her loneliness is on a level we can't even understand." Evangeline had been annoyed when he stood up to her, but hearing his words she couldn't help but ask with an incredulous look, "Several-million years? How is such a thing possible...don't tell me she is an immortal as well?"

Vahn nodded his head and explained, "She is the Goddess of Forging, Hephaestus, and has lived long before the existence of other sentient creatures." Evangeline scoffed at his words as she said, "Goddess of Forging? Don't try to joke around with me, boy, are you sure she isn't just pulling one over your eyes just to get pity?" Though Evangeline knew of the existence of gods, she knew they weren't the type of entities that lived among mortals and were usually some kind of abstract consciousness, not something of flesh and blood.