Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

As a nation without any official Administration of governance, order within Zephyria was largely maintained by the various Merchants Groups, Mercenary Troupes, and, most notably, the Skyfarers Association. The latter was not only responsible for the various different types of races that were so popular within the country, but, as their name implied, they managed everything from distribution to the policing of Airfish and other vessels.

Prior to the existence of the Skyfarers Association, the most powerful force in the region had been a notorious fleet of Sky Pirates known as the Scarlet Armada. It wasn't until their leader formed a pact with Brave Enlil that Zephyria transitioned from a lawless land of brigands to a nation where various peoples gathered in the hopes of seeking wealth, fame, and, most importantly, freedom. There were still numerous bands of Sky Pirates that called the nation home, but, so long as they were inside its borders, even the most notorious bands followed the 'Sky Pirate Code' that had been written by the first Queen of the Skies, the Founder of the Skyfarers Association, the Legendary 'Crimson Scarlet'.

The Crimson Scarlet had been so famous and revered during her era, that, when you first entered the borders of Zephyria, you would pass one of the thousands of statues depicting the legendary Sky Pirate. Each was approximately twenty meters in height, and, though it was strange to imagine, her statues formed a perfect circle that denoted the borders of Zephyria.

Seeing the woman who looked eerily similar to Francis Drake, albeit with a loose braid that flowed from her wild hair, Vahn couldn't help but wonder what kind of person the Crimson Scarlet must have been. She must have been quite something to form a pact with a Great Spirit, and, if rumors were to be believed, it was the destruction of one of her statues that prompted the temperamental spirit to devastate the western coast of Tempe Terra...

As she often accompanied Vahn throughout the entire day, Eva hadn't missed the admiration that briefly flashed across his eyes. She had also seen the statue, so, with an accusatory look and a sly smile on her face, she asked, "Oh? Are even statues in your strike zone now~?"

Hearing Eva's remark, Vahn just laughed in a lighthearted manner before explaining the similarities between the Crimson Scarlet and Francis Drake. He also made sure to clarify that Drake wasn't part of his harem, as, despite admiring her quite a bit, there was no way they could be together.

Drake was a libertine who wholly dedicated themselves to hedonistic pursuits; someone who saw little to no difference between a paragon of virtue and a rogue scoundrel. She wasn't a bad person, not in the slightest, she simply believed people should be honest with themselves, and, rather than show restraint and pursue longevity, they should make the most of their transient existence to live as free and unfettered as possible. Though she disdained the vile and wicked, especially those that suppressed and tried to control others, she would rarely go out of her way to save others, claiming, "If people were not so attached to their fleeting little lives, it would be impossible for them to be suppressed by others."

In Drake's mind, people allowed themselves to be held back by their attachments. She genuinely believed that if the underprivileged began to commit suicide in mass, those who hoarded wealth and elevated themselves above others would be forced to change. After all, wealth and status only mattered when you had people to lord it over, so, if commoners simply stopped caring about the restrictions placed upon them, such things would lose all meaning. She believed that people should be able to love freely, drink merrily, and if there was something they were interested in, they should be able to pursue it without fear of censure.

Though Drake's mentality was 'very' dangerous, it actually coincided with many of Vahn's personal beliefs, so, rather than create conflict between them, they had mutual respect for each other. Drake appreciated the merit-based societal structure he had made, and, though she didn't agree with him on quite a number of things, she wasn't the type to proactively oppose anything. The only thing she really cared about was her own pleasures and pursuits, so, as long as she was allowed to sail, even under the banner of the Empire, she was happy.

Fortunately, though she had solicited him hundreds of times, nearly every time they drank together, Drake was the type that understood that 'no meant no'. Though she would tease him about being a 'hard-ass' and a 'tease', she would never pressure or force anyone into having sex with her. Instead, she would simply laugh off their rejection before finding someone else to keep her bed and body warm for the evening. Then, with the dawn of a new day, she would try again, always accepting no for an answer but never giving up on the things she wanted to obtain...

Not expecting Vahn to suddenly sing the praises of a woman she had never met, Eva just rolled her eyes at him before remarking, "It's hard to tell which of you is the bigger idiot..."

Hearing Eva's remark, Vahn smiled affectionately as he wrapped his hands around her waist, holding her loosely in his embrace as he teasing mused, "I'm willing to be the biggest idiot in the Universe if it means you'll continue to love me..."

Towards the end of his words, Vahn's voice became progressively more heated as he brought his face closer to Eva's. Her ears quickly turned red, and, by the time their lips were close enough to brush against each other, a ruddy hue had bled into her cheeks. The fact Vahn had stopped short allowed her to discern his intentions, but, rather than reward him with a kiss, she snapped her teeth in a biting motion before extricating herself from his embrace and saying, "We'll be docking soon. I need to get changed..."

Though Vahn didn't prevent Eva from walking away, he wasn't going to let her go that easily. Their relationship had developed to the point that they often teased each other, so, just as she began to descend belowdecks, he reached out with his hand, lighting pinching the air. He was able to ignore most magical barriers, so, at the exact same moment, Eva's body flinched quite a bit as she covered her butt with both hands. Then, after glaring at him with rosy cheeks, she fled into the depths of the ship, hands still covering her butt...

---

Unlike other countries, which had a limited number of places to dock, Zephyria had thousands of small ports. Since Airfish were the common mode of transportation, nearly every finger mountain had a number of piers that protruded out from the rocky structure, many with dozens of large and medium-sized vessels moored around them. Most of these were located above a certain height, as, once you descended below the markers that were painted across every single mountain, you would officially enter the 'Cloud Sea' where tens-of-thousands of Airfish flew about with little to no actual order or guidance...

Though most pilots entering Zephyria for the first time would be intimidated by the disorderly sight of thousands of Airfish flying about, Arika's expression displayed a look of absolute tranquility. Even when foreign Airfish came within a few meters of their craft, she skillfully made adjustments to their course, deftly evading even the fastest-moving crafts. This drew a considerable amount of attention from a number of curious individuals, as, not only did Arika's Airfish stand out quite a bit, her skills as a pilot were as clear as the endless blue skies above the Cloud Sea...

After skillfully navigating towards the heart of Zephyria, a massive structure that linked together a total of thirteen mountains came into view. This was the headquarters of the Skyfarers Association, the safest region within Zephyria, and the location of several globally famous Merchant Groups and Mercenary Troupes. They formed a perimeter around the Skyfarers Association, and, though there were a number of different factions competing against each other, most came together for mutual protection and profit.

Since she had no intention of hiding her status during her journey, Arika communicated her identity and intentions to the Skyfarers Association. The Communications Officer who answered the call was more than a little surprised that the Princess of Vespertatia had visited, but, after a few minutes had passed, they were given permission to moor their vessel within the Association's primary dock. This was typically reserved for the most prestigious Skyfarer crews, but, given Arika's status, the ranking members of the Association were more than willing to make an exception.

After following a small escort vessel, Arika effortlessly piloted the Custos Rosea into the hanger as Vahn, accompanied by Eva, Fenrir, and Asuna stood on the deck. A large crowd had already started to form, as, despite being a private dock, there were more than six-thousand vessels moored inside, many belonging to large crews of Skyfarers. Since the average crew of Skyfarers consisted of more than forty people, including engineers, doctors, and various other support personnel, there were a considerable number of people present within the lively hangar. There were even various open bars and market stalls present, much like an actual seaside port...

Due to how quickly rumors and information could travel in port, a considerable number of people had gathered for the sole purpose of seeing a Princess for the first time. This included a number of burly and uruly-looking figures, many choosing to forgo any type of garments to cover their upper bodies. Most were extremely tanned and muscular individuals, and, the moment they saw beauties like Eva and Fenrir, they showed absolutely no sense for propriety as they began to catcall, whistle, and holler out to them...

Under normal circumstances, Vahn would quickly teach the unruly bunch a lesson, but, given the identities of the two women they dared call out to, he just smiled slightly as the two released an oppressive, chilling, aura. The surroundings had, quite literally, dropped by several degrees in an instant, and, after a few seconds had passed, ice began to spread across metallic surfaces as Eva and Fenrir coldly stared at the few people who hadn't been cowed by the initial release of their aura.

Seeing even scar-covered men avert their eyes from the two beauties, Vahn couldn't help but laugh out loud. Even the port officials who had come out to welcome them had become statuesque, and, if not for their pride and responsibilities, they might have dispersed with the weaker willed amongst the crowd.

By the time Arika had emerged on the deck, less than a tenth of the original crowd remained. These were generally the Captains and Officers of various Skyfarer crews, people that wouldn't easily back down even in the face of impending destruction. They would have never earned the recognition of the Skyfarer Association if they lacked courage, so, while they promptly ceased their catcalling, their pride prevented them from dispersing with the rest...

Arika wasn't particularly surprised by the tense and chilly atmosphere that had descended upon the docks. Instead, she showed the same calm and dignified countenance she displayed every time she acted in an official capacity. To onlookers, she gave off the impression of a Goddess that descended upon the mortal world, as, after four years of arduous training and hundreds of massages, Arika had greatly exceeded conventional standards of beauty. Though the same could be said for Fenrir, Eva, and even Asuna, they weren't trying to radiate a regal aura, so, for the moment, Arika stood out far more than anyone else on the deck...

After passing her gaze slowly over the crowd, Arika gracefully alighted from the deck, her pale-pink dress following her movements as if she was submerged in water. This gave her an ethereal quality, and, after landing, the officials sent to greet her were so stunned by her presence that their mental faculties seemed to have ceased entirely. As a result, they stared back at her with black expressions of adulation, their mouths slightly agape as they stood statuesque before her.

Realizing the other party was unfamiliar with general practices and courtesies, Arika took the liberty of breaking the silence, calmly stating, "We intend to stay in Zephyria for a number of days. It would be convenient if the Skyfarers Association is able to accommodate us. Finances are not an issue, so, if you could make the necessary arrangements, we would be grateful."

Hearing Arika's words, the port official regained his senses, standing ramrod straight as he stated a little too loudly, "U-Understood! I will make sure to pass your request to my superiors!" Then, as if only then realizing their original duty, they added in a meek tone of voice, "I have been tasked with escorting your party to meet with the Admiral. She had wanted to come personally, but, due to the unexpected nature of your visit, she was unable to break her prior arrangements..."

Showing no sign of perturbation, Arika gave a small nod towards the port official before leniently stating, "That is perfectly understandable. Please, lead the way."

Feeling as though he had received a great mercy, the port official exhaled a profound sigh of relief before turning to his companions and saying, "Prepare the transport and send someone to pass on the Princess' message. It's not every day we get to show a Princess our hospitality so look sharp!"

Though it was a little foolish to say such things in front of the person they wanted to impress, the number of foreign dignitaries that frequented Zephyria could be counted on one hand. Since it was a relatively lawless land, especially beyond the borders, most Aristocrats and Nobles gave the area a very wide berth. Even a Super Dreadnaught might not be able to trespass Zephyrian airspace safely, so, prior to Arika's arrival, they had never entertained Royalty.

Without minding the impropriety displayed by the port official, Arika turned toward Vahn, her eyes silently asking whether or not he would be accompanying her. This matter, technically, had nothing to do with him, but, after spending so much time together, she felt more comfortable when he was around. Vahn was very aware of this fact, so, without footing around the issue, he surprised quite a number of onlookers by manifesting a second version of himself. Then, alongside Fenrir, he flanked Arika while his main body, accompanied by Eva and Asuna, vanished into thin air...

---

Shortly after the Custos Rosea docked within the Skyfarers Association, rumors of Arika's arrival had already circulated through most official and back channels. This garnered a considerable amount of intrigue amongst the general populace, but, compared to the stir it caused within the underground community, this was negligible. Her arrival was completely unprecedented, but, rather than see it as an opportunity to make a name for themselves, many promptly decided to lay low for a while.

Only the truly foolish would dare target a Princess of Vespertatia, as, even if you did manage to pull it off, you could never claim credit for it. Announcing the truth was the same as inviting death upon yourself, and, in the most extreme circumstances, it might even result in the destruction of Zephyria itself.

Ostia might be a neutral country, but, without an exceptionally powerful military, maintaining that neutrality would have been impossible. Their fleet was capable of linking together to perform Grand Ritual Magic without having to go through the usual process of preparing the land and mobilizing thousands of Mages. Under the most extreme circumstances, they had more than enough power to, quite literally, erase a country off the map. This had happened a number of times through Mundus Magicus' history, and, though it was typically used as a last resort to protect the Magical World, the memory of such events didn't fade with the passage of time...

(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Drake be like, "YOLO~!"','Frogs coveting the meat of swans','Only the truly foolish would dare target a Princess of Vespertatia (O w O)...')

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