endless path, infinite cosmos

chapter 154

After tending to Anubis, Vahn didn't have anything to do so he spent the next few hours meditating to try and comprehend the [Mantra of Eternity]. Even now, he couldn't make out any of the words, but he had the benefit of easily clearing his mind using [Will of the Emperor], so he hoped to make progress on it one day. Eventually, though he didn't particularly require sleep at the moment, Vahn decided to go to bed in preparation for the coming day.

While he was sleeping, Vahn dreamt about floating above the world in a weightless state. His body felt very relaxed, and it looked like the only thing he had to do was reach out his hands and he would be able to encompass the entire world. It seemed so effortless, and the shining blue orb seemed so beautiful that he felt a strong desire to keep it for himself. Vahn felt like the world was a tiny treasure box that contained limitless precious items that he wanted to adore and protect.

Vahn awoke and could feel a fluttery and happy feeling in his relaxed body. It was almost as if his mind had awakened earlier than his body, and he enjoyed the tingling sensation of numbness throughout his body before he finally put strength into his limbs. Releasing a happy sigh, Vahn pulled out the black orb and began inserting his consciousness into it. The reason he had awoken was that the twelve hours had passed before he could enter the black and white space.

Fortunately, he seemed to enter the space at the same point he left previously. Looking around, Vahn realized that, though some stuff had moved, there didn't seem to be anything missing. He had been worried that Evangeline might make a mess of things in her frustration, but it seemed like he had worried for nothing. Thinking of Evangeline, the girl appeared from the void not far from him and within the area of his perception. He noticed that she wasn't in her adult form, but she appeared to already be upset.

She spoke in a forceful and annoyed voice as she said, "This space isn't meant to be used at your personal convenience to do whatever you feel like doing. When you're here, it requires more mana to sustain the energies that keep this world stable, and the original purpose was to pass on my techniques to future generations. If you're going to continue being selfish, I will not allow you to stay here any longer."

Vahn frowned at her words, but he didn't say anything as he tried to consider things from her perspective. Even if she wasn't the original, she had a pair of memories and could form thoughts to make judgments. If he continued to deny the purpose for why she was left in the space, Vahn couldn't fault her for getting angry with him. Vahn imagined what it would be like if he created a personal space to teach someone, but they ended up ignoring his intentions and started doing their own thing. The only way Vahn wouldn't kick them out is if they were someone he was fond of or someone he had taken pity on.

However, Vahn wasn't willing to simply concede to the small girl that was giving him a fierce look as she waited for his response. Vahn explained, "It wasn't my original intent to use this space at my convenience, and I'm sorry things have developed this way. However, I have a very limited amount of time to improve my forging and this space is the only way I can keep my promise." Evangeline's expression had relaxed a bit when he started apologizing, but the moment he gave her an excuse she couldn't help but ask, "Is it because of one of your women?"

Vahn nodded without hesitation and tried to explain the situation regarding Hephaestus. Unexpectedly, Evangeline allowed him to narrate the story without interrupting. Considering it had only been a few hours since she lashed out at him previously, Vahn was a bit confused with how she had changed in such a short period of time...As that thought passed through his mind, Vahn's eyes widened a bit as he asked, "Evangeline, does time continue to move forward normally when I'm not inside here?"

His words caused a deep frown on the doll-like face of the small girl as she gave him a blaming look and said, "You only just realized that now? You really are the biggest idiot disciple I've ever had the misfortune of meeting." Hearing her confirmation, Vahn asked Sis to calculate the time and realized that, in the short few hours he had been away, Evangeline would have been waiting an additional four years.