Chapter 262: Restraint
[January 30th TST/September 22nd DBT]
With three hours remaining until the next four-month cycle in the Tower, Vahn was enjoying a moment of serene introspection—using an oil rag to polish Laev-tan as he watched Lastia braid Lupheria's hair, supervised by Dizzy.
[Have you decided what you want to do over these next four months...?] asked Laev-tan, her voice echoing within Vahn's ears like a clear auditory hallucination rather than inside his head like telepathy.
'First and foremost, I have my obligations as a consultant for the Dragon's Pavilion...' answered Vahn, his expression reflective as he appended, 'After that, I'll presumably resume searching for the next Trial or the entrance to the Corridor's next floor. Unless you want to tell me where it is...'
[I would tell you if I believed you were ready for it, but you're not] stated Laev-tan, her tone leaving no room for doubt as she added [You need to awaken your Body and Spirit Innates—at the very least. But the latter will be difficult within this sandbox you've created for yourself.]
'For my Body, I assume I just need to subject myself to harsh conditions or particularly grueling training...' concluded Vahn. 'As for my Spirit...would it require something like a near-death experience? I already meditate on a near-daily basis...'
[If there were a surefire way to awaken Innates, you'd have a bunch of absurdly powerful beings running around] stated Laev-tan, expanding [The most important factor is your state of mind when facing trials and overcoming various difficulties—like how the main character in a shonen Manga unlocks a hereditary power that has always dwelled within during a time of crisis. Your issue is that you've created a set of circumstances where even if you face off against foes narratively stronger than you, you can simply fling them into another universe or toss them into a black hole at your leisure. It's practically impossible for you to encounter a crisis you can't overcome using your authority as the creator of Invirtua.]
'Well, I can't exactly orchestrate a crisis...' argued Vahn, causing him to get the distinct impression Laev-tan was narrowing her eyes before she caught him off guard, stating [It doesn't have to be now, but you need to learn to let go—like how you plan to let the first ten people who clear the 50th Floor rule the Tower. Invirtua can never grow beyond or surprise you if you keep viewing it as an outsider.]
'Mmmn...it's definitely too early for that...' maintained Vahn. 'But, I agree with your reasoning. Once my children are born and have the opportunity to spread their wings, I will gradually weaken my hold over Invirtua. But the others are working too hard to make the Dragon's Pavilion a reality for me to step away from my position as Dragon God...'
Interrupting Vahn's and Laev-tan's discussion, Lupheria made her way over, looking adorably bashful as she pressed the tips of her tiny fingers together, hung her face, and asked, "Chichiue...how does my hair look...?" while sneaking a peek at him with upturned eyes.
"It looks great. Lastia did an excellent job," affirmed Vahn, his expression melting into a fatherly smile as he extended his left hand to gently caress Lupheria's head, taking care not to untidy it.