Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With the Vice-Director of the Policies Department giving way, there was no one with the authority to prevent Luvia from guiding Vahn into the very heart of the Clock Tower. Though any of the various Lords would be able to stall her for a short while, they had no grounds to stand on and, depending on the circumstances, this could quickly come back to bite them since it was rarely worth making an enemy out of the Edelfelts. Not only did they have the financial clout to put pressure on the majority of families, including a few of the top ten, but they also had one of the most powerful military forces amongst Magus families.As the vast majority consolidated power internally, cultivating a few key Magi to represent their authority, only the three most prestigious families had the ability to contend against the Edelfelt's military might directly. Thus, even people like Lord Sophia-Ri could only grind their teeth as Luvia led Vahn to their destination, the entrance to Magi's Fair, the mining city that served as the exchange hub for all missions and materials related to the Spiritual Tomb Albion. Though the Director was rumored to have their own Bounded Field within the Elizabeth Tower, the massive spire commoners referred to as 'Big Ben', most of the Administrative offices were located at the entrance and near the bottom level of the Spiritual Tomb.Not unexpectedly, more than ten official Enforcers were awaiting them while, at the very front of the group, a man Vahn had been looking forward to meeting towered over nearly everyone else present, at least insofar as his aura was concerned. In truth, he was the same height as Vahn, 185cm, but he gave off a presence similar to an insurmountable mountain, even though he was supporting himself with an ornate cane and appeared to be nothing more than an old man at a glance. Even without Luvia having to explain who he was, Vahn adopted a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, plainly stating, "Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg, the wielder of the Second Magic, Kaleidoscope..."Without missing a beat, almost as if their meeting had been rehearsed, Zelretch returned a wry smile of his own, his elderly voice echoing with a deep baritone hum as he stated, "Vahn Aldrnari Mason, the Sage Emperor from another world...I was wondering when we would finally meet. Now that I have seen you in person...you are quite the monster, aren't you...?" Though the last few words were said in a somewhat humorous tone, Vahn didn't miss the momentary battle lust that had flashed across Zelretch's ruby-red pupils. He may have had the appearance of a man in his seventies but, as if age only gave him more power, Zelretch gave off an unfathomable aura. The more Vahn tried to sense, the deeper the wellspring of his power seemed to become, almost as if he were gazing into an infinite mass of mana...With his smile curling up at the ends, Vahn could feel his tensions rising as he mused, "That is rather humorous, coming from someone like you..." Others may not be able to sense it but, regardless of how Zelretch tried to conceal it, Vahn could tell that he was a Vampire, one far above other Dead Apostle Ancestors. He had never felt Eva's true power, as he only ever interacted with her memory fragment, but Vahn imagined she would give off a similar aura to the one concealed inside Zelretch's body. This meant that, not only did he possess a seemingly infinite amount of mana, but he was also an immortal that would be able to regenerate from virtually any wound. With the ability to transition through tangential timelines, Vahn knew he would be a nightmare opponent to do battle against, even though he had a strange urge to give it a go...While Vahn sensed his own limitless mana reserves, Zelretch could sense 'something' concealed within the former's body, giving a very similar impression. Though Vahn seemed weak at a glance, his instincts that had been honed over millennia told him that defeating the man before him may very well take more than he could give. Even when he had faced against Brunestud of the Crimson Moon, Zelretch never had the impression that he would be unable to defeat his opponent. Now that he stood face to face with Vahn, however, his instincts were telling him that he would need to make ample preparations for any conflict between them. He had an unfathomable aura and, even though his eyes allowed him to see the true nature of all things, Zelretch was slightly shocked that Vahn was an enigma within his eyes...As the two continued to stare at each other in silence, the tension in the atmosphere continued to build, eventually reaching the point that some of the Enforcers began to fidget nervously. Though Vahn and Zelretch weren't releasing their Magical Energy at all, just their 'presence' alone made those gathered around them feel small and inconsequential in comparison. It was like watching two Gods face down each other while they, mere mortals, could only stand at the side, praying that they would not be victims if the two were to clash.Fortunately, as neither Vahn nor Zelretch were really the types to arbitrarily perpetuate destruction, they only observed each other for a few minutes before the latter smiled in an amused manner as he asked, "Tell me, Sage Emperor, what is the purpose of your visit? As you are in the company of Lady Edelfelt, I imagine you are already aware of your status within the Mage's Association. I find it hard to believe someone of your status would turn themselves over so I can only assume you have come seeking a dialogue...?" Even if it was rather obvious, Zelretch had somewhat similar intentions to Luvia, making it an 'open' matter by discussing the subject of Vahn's visit in earshot of others. With the fate of the world on the line, he would not arbitrarily make an enemy out of a man he couldn't fathom, even with all his combined experience.Feeling that Zelretch wasn't an evil person, as his mana was actually extremely pure, regardless of the fact he was a Dead Apostle Ancestor, Vahn's expression softened a bit as he nodded his head and answered, "That is, indeed, the case. There are several misunderstandings I would like to clear up and, as we may very well be allies in the coming conflict, I believe it would be senseless to engage each other as enemies at this time. Though I may not see eye-to-eye with the Mage's Association, it is not my intention to seek trouble while the fate of the world hangs in the balance. I'm certain we can come to an accord through dialogue and, though I have no intention of becoming a part of the Mage's Association, I believe we can work together toward a common goal."Vahn made no effort to conceal that he wasn't on the side of the Mage's Association, even if he was going to cooperate with them in the future. As he would be establishing his own faction, he decided a bit of transparency was in order, even if it would make things marginally more difficult later on. If they tried seeking trouble with him, Vahn wanted it to be made very clear that he was not part of their hierarchal structure and, depending on the circumstances, it would be their actions that caused conflicts to break out.If others had said something similar, Zelretch would have considered them foolish, especially if they uttered such words in the heart of the Mage's Association. When Vahn said them, however, there was a certain weight behind the words that made them hard to rebuff outright. His intuition told him that, if things went south, the entire Clock Tower could be razed in the resulting conflict. With that in mind, Zelretch gave a solemn nod before gesturing to the Executors and saying, "Until further notice, the Sealing Designation on the Sage Emperor has been revoked. Return to your duties and see to it that others do not cause trouble while I escort him to meet with the Association Director..." As he spoke about others causing trouble, Zelretch gave an unamused look towards Luvia, causing her to elegantly chuckle in response...While the Executors were dispersing, though very few wandered too far, Vahn and Luvia shared a few parting words before he gave Gray's head a comforting rub. Then, with the two going off to make preparations for a potential conflict, Vahn fell into step alongside Zelretch while Artoria followed a few steps behind. As he had once stepped back in time to view the conflicts between King Arthur and the Saxons, Zelretch was very aware of her identity. It was actually her presence at Vahn's side, even more so than Luvia, that caused him to lower his guard slightly. Though he may not be able to see through Vahn, it was clear that Artoria and Luvia were not under any kind of influence. Thus, at least for the time being, Zelretch decided to give Vahn the benefit of the doubt, even if he knew that Solon would probably lambast him for it.After passing through a complex network of tunnels, Zelretch began guiding Vahn and Artoria toward the surface once again, beneath the location that Vahn had identified as the Elizabeth Tower. It would seem that the rumors regarding the Association Director's private residence were not false as, after activating a circular elevator platform, the surroundings rapidly began to change, expanding to a size much larger than the dimensions of the tower itself. Since they had been walking in silence for quite a while, Zelretch used this as an opportunity to start a conversation, explaining, "Around two-hundred years ago, the Director asked me to use the Second Magic to expand the interior of the Clock Tower. You probably noticed it yourself but, compared to the outside world, even the halls are more than twice the size they otherwise should be. As for this tower itself, space continues to expand the further you go, eventually reaching the size of a small world..."Hearing the pride contained within Zelretch's tone, Vahn adopted an amused smile, complimenting, "It really is quite something. I would normally need to use a powerful catalyst and spend a few hours to create a world this size. The fact that you are able to achieve such a feat using your own power is quite something..." Since the Space-Time Orbs could be theoretically infinite in size, needing only a greater volume of mana to expand without limit, Vahn decided to tease the prideful old man a bit. His words seemed to have quite an impact on Zelretch, causing him to raise his brows in an almost comical manner as he asked, "Do you have the Imaginary Numbers element...?" As there was no way Vahn could use the Second Magic without his notice, Zelretch didn't even imagine for a moment that he was able to manipulate Space as easily as he seemed intent to have him believe.Shaking his head in response to Zelretch's question, while simultaneously wondering just how far this elevator was going to take them, Vahn answered, "There are a great many misunderstandings the Magi of this world have in regards to Thaumaturgy, Mystery, and Magic. I plan to help rectify some of these misunderstandings, in time, but that kind of discussion will have to wait until later. The only thing you need to know is that, while stealing power from the Root is certainly convenient, there are other ways to gain access to such powers..." Since Zelretch was one of his targets, at least the 'original' Zelretch, Vahn knew the old man would understand what he meant when mentioning how he 'stole' power from the Root.No longer amused, Zelretch's eyes became razor-sharp as he asked, "What do you know about the Root? What are you really...?" Though he did not become outright hostile against Vahn, Zelretch was very aware of what he meant with his words. It was a truth that he had never told others but, while he had memories of reaching the Root, Zelretch himself had never actually trespassed that inviolable space. It was another version of him who had achieved the feat but, at that same instant, he, and every other Zelretch in the vast and infinite multiverse, all gained access to the Second Magic. From that moment onward, they had an intuitive knowledge of how to use it and, almost like a hive mind, they had continued to observe the variable timelines in an effort to guide others toward the Root and prevent the World's destruction...Though it was a very dangerous statement to make, Vahn turned to face Zelretch directly, his own eyes blazing with a subtle hint of Divinity as he stated, "I know what is on the 'outside' that your original was too ignorant or afraid to face..." This one statement was like a bomb within Zelretch's mind as there was only one thing Magi meant when talking about the 'outisde' in relation to the Root. His eyes widened in abject shock as, if Vahn's words were the truth, it meant his existence was far more significant than they had ever assumed. At the same time, the reason why Vahn appeared to be a 'singularity' within the time axis suddenly made a lot of sense. If he was from the 'outside', the fundamental nature of his existence was drastically different than anything born 'inside' of the Root...As it was impossible to ascertain if Vahn's words were the truth, at least without concrete proof, Zelretch maintained a healthy skepticism, even though he elevated Vahn's status considerably. If his status as the 'Sage Emperor' was legitimate, while also being from the 'Outside', the ramifications for any slights against him would be extreme. At the same time, it meant his knowledge pertaining to True Magic was likely far greater than the current understanding of anyone within the Root. With this being the presumed truth, the question then became a matter of 'why' Vahn had come back. If he was truly from the 'outside', that meant there had to be a reason for him to enter into the Root and descend into this particular world...Seeing Zelretch's reaction, Vahn shook his head lightly before plainly stating, "You need not worry. I do have a reason for entering into the Root but it is not anything malicious. In truth, I'm only passing through en route to a completely different destination than the worlds within. I may have business with your original but it isn't to the extent that we would become enemies...now, exactly how long is this elevator ride going to take? Do you enjoy wasting my time...?" As Vahn had already noticed that Zelretch had created a spatial loop, even if it had taken him a bit of time, he was now looking toward the elderly man with a slightly annoyed look flashing across his eyes.Though he was still uncertain about the veracity of Vahn's words, Zelretch felt that he shouldn't be a bad person. It was rather unnerving to imagine his words were the truth but, if this did indeed turn out to be the case, a revolution within the Magus community was afoot. The problem was, even with the threat of the world's destruction looming over them, the current status quo wasn't prepared for any drastic changes. For the last few decades, largely as a result of the Holy Grail Wars in Fuyuki, things had been rather tense between the Mage's Association and the Holy Church. At the same time, even though the Clock Tower was considered the heart of the Association, the other two primary branches were more or less cut off from the rest of the Magus Community.Ever since the Clock Tower become the official Headquarters, the Atlas Temple would not even accept a visit from the Director while the Wandering Sea still maintained their isolationist practices, focusing solely on the study of Magecraft related to the Age of Gods. Though the current Director, Solon, had actually hailed from the Wandering Sea, they fundamentally lacked the power and authority to force the old monsters slumbering there to obey. The only reason the Clock Tower became the official Headquarters was due to the fact that the other two branches simply didn't care about the global Magus community...Feeling a headache coming along, Zelretch released a sigh before smiling in response to Vahn's complaint, answering, "It is just a small prank. When you have lived as long as I, finding ways to amuse oneself is the only method to avoid becoming senile..." Though Vahn struck him as a man who was older than he appeared, Zelretch had the distinct impression he shouldn't be more than a few hundred years old. It was this impression that made it hard to believe he was from the 'outside' as, even though he had absolutely no idea what the world on the other side of the Root was like, it didn't seem like a place where a 'relatively' normal person would come from.Hearing Zelretch's somewhat grating laughter, Vahn just shook his head and decided to ignore the old man's prank. At the very least, he was able to see how the Second Magic was used and, while it would take him quite a long time to comprehend, just seeing how the space was bent according to Zelretch's will was quite educational. When he was able to use his Qinglong form freely in the future, Vahn intended to seek out the old man for advice, finding that he was strangely agreeable, even if a little strange. Since it wouldn't be that difficult for Zelretch to try and lock him away in a sealed-off spatial dimension, yet chose not to, Vahn felt he wasn't an enemy, at least for the time being...With Zelretch breaking the loop, it wasn't long before the elevator finally reached its highest point, filling in a circular hole on a massive disc-shaped platform. Rather than the walls of a tower, there were clear blue skies as far as the eye could see, populated by a few wispy white clouds. In the far distance, Vahn could even make out the figure of what appeared to by flying Wyverns, indicating this 'world' was distinctly different than the sub-texture that the Clock Tower occupied. What he found most curious was that, at the edge of the circular platform, there was a set of stairs that extended out into the void, completely lacking supports. They led up to a massive temple that, like the stairs and platform, seemed to be floating in the sky with unshakeable stability.Like before, Zelretch took it upon himself to explain once again, this time with the intention of trying to build rapport with Vahn as he stated, "This place is similar to a false Reality Marble, given form by various treasures and the Second Magic. The landscape you see around you represents the Reverse Side of the World and, though you could travel out endlessly, you will find that it is quite impossible to reach any of the scenery or interact with any of the creatures. In more ways than one, this place represents the obsession of something that cannot be obtained, only glimpsed..."Though there were numerous access points that the Mage's Association could use to reach the Reverse Side of the World, entering arbitrarily was extremely foolish. Even for existences such as Solon and himself, who had both walked the earth during the Age of Gods, it would be a death sentence to remain there in a physical body. Solon had tried several methods to rectify this, to the point that they had become something far removed from humanity, but this had all changed in the mid 18th century. Around the same time that he helped to build this isolated place for his long-time friend, Solon had ceased trying to reach the Reverse Side of the World and now simply bided his time, awaiting a future that Zelretch was afraid to look into as, by observing an outcome, it was almost the same as guaranteeing it...at least before Vahn arrived...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Two monsters facing down each other...','You think yer sneaky, boyo!?','Old Man Zelretch is getting too old for this xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Though there was a considerable amount of things he would need to keep in mind, much of what Olivia brought up actually pertained to what Luvia would need to deal with. Vahn knew this was her way of elevating Luvia's status in his mind but, as it would ultimately be up to her to deal with most of the political and business aspects of their life, he couldn't really blame her for doing so. His most important duty was similar to what it had been in his previous life, serving as the 'face' of the Empire. Though he had the freedom to make decisions on his own, it would be up to others to implement them so, while Vahn sat upon his Throne, representing inviolable authority, it would people like Luvia and his allies who carried out his will...The most important thing Vahn had to consider, at least until his Empire was an established world power, was the image he presented to the more distinguished Magus families. There would always be those who, regardless of the facts, would try to elevate their own status while proactively trying to degrade his. If he presented himself in high society, it was a given that families like the Barthomeloi, Trambelio, and Valualeta families would try to hold their heads up high around him. There was even a good chance they would try to demean his status, claiming he is not an Aristocrat himself for no other reason than he wasn't a part of their established hierarchy.When dealing with such people, Vahn needed to appear implacable, completely unaffected by their words and actions. If he carried himself with more dignity than they presented, never bending the knee to any pressure, it would eventually drive them to make mistakes, resulting in them lashing out and using forceful means to get their way. When that happened, Vahn needed only to use their own attack as a justification to deal with them directly. Though some would lambast him if he went too far, that ultimately served no purpose if there was evidence he only took action in response to their provocation. Dignity and pride were extremely important in the Magus community so, regardless of what others would say against him, Vahn needed only point out the fact he took the high road until they attacked him...Though Vahn had already been 'taught' these things by Riveria and Loki in the past, Vahn humored Olivia by listening attentively to her advice. There was always a chance things would be different, as this was a completely different Record, but it seemed that Nobility and Aristocratic society was the same in various Records. Since these were worlds that had originally been created by Authors, given form by the dreams of an incalculable number of people, Vahn wasn't too surprised there were some similarities.Even the Gods were similar to the ones in Danmachi, at least going by the names that had been recorded in History. Some even had similar natures and personalities, such as Zeus, while others were so far removed from his expectations that Vahn found it rather hard to believe. The best example of this was Hephaestus who, in Vahn's heart and mind, was a beautiful and powerful woman while, here in the Nasuverse, Hephaestus was a male God who was malformed and made lame by Zeus' torture and Hera throwing him from Mt. Olympus...---After the more 'important' matters were discussed, the conversation took a rapid turn when Olivia suddenly asked, "So, when can I expect my great-grandchildren? Also, are you planning to hold an official wedding ceremony or do you intend to wait until this matter with Angra Mainyu is brought to an end...?" This was a subject Luvia seemed to anticipate, resulting in her releasing a cheerful laugh before answering, "Due to the environment and training methods employed back in Avalon, it seems our future generations will be far more powerful than those preceding it. Though the matter of succession will need to be sorted out, I'm quite looking forward to having a few children running around the castle~."With Luvia now happily clinging to his arm, Vahn couldn't help shaking his head, even though there was a discernible smile on his face. He was quite fond of children, especially if they were his own, so it wasn't an exaggeration to say he looked forward to the castle being more lively in the future. With that in mind, he explained, "Due to the time dilation within Avalon, there is no particular rush to have children. If we rushed things now, there is a chance your great-grandchildren would be in their fifties by the time Angra Mainyua emerged." As they had yet to discuss Avalon's projection, Vahn wanted to bring the matter to Olivia's attention to gauge her reaction.As expected, Olivia was a little surprised by Vahn's words as even Luvia's mother, her daughter, was only 51 years old. She was actually looking forward to seeing her great-grandchildren grow up, as watching over the young Luvia comprised some of her most precious memories. When she imagined them suddenly becoming adults in only 2~3 years, it caused her brows to furrow considerably. Even Luvia had a complicated expression on her face, even though she knew Vahn had the means to stop, or even reverse, aging. This was because, as she wouldn't be back in Avalon all that often, there was a chance her children could even grow older than she was in a remarkably short period of time...Seeing the reaction of the two women, Vahn had an amused smile on his face, glossing over the matter for the time being as he explained, "Succession isn't something that we need to worry about as, regardless of their age or status as my children, only the most suitable candidate would be given the Throne. With me being immortal, there isn't a pressing need to arrange my replacement and, while I won't deny it is important to layout proper procedure for transferring the Throne to another, I would never grant power to someone who hadn't earned it. While I am Emperor, I will not allow for something like factions to form within the Imperial Family, nor will I tolerate anyone trying to seize power through infighting..."Knowing the future Vahn envisioned, Luvia wasn't all that surprised by his words as, if Da Vinci had her way, there was a real chance the Imperial Family would be relegated to the role of 'Guardian of the Empire' while the 'Mother System' governed the people. So long as the system wasn't corrupted, it would certainly be better than having people in charge. The biggest issue was, with the passage of time, there would undoubtedly be factions forming within the Imperial Family, regardless of Vahn's intentions.There would be people all over the world who, despite the convenience of Da Vinci's system, would greedily seek more power for themselves. This was especially the case in a world where Magecraft had been made common as, given enough time, powerhouses would begin to arise within the general populace who, thinking themselves 'superior' to others, would try to seize power in their communities before extending their influence to other regions. There would undoubtedly be some who were more politically affluent than others, devaluing the system Da Vinci wanted to put in place and creating dissidence that would be hard, if not impossible, to prevent. The only means of doing so would be through the use of force which, in the end, would cause people to 'doubt' the system that had literally been developed to promote their individuality and protect them...For a brief moment, Olivia and Luvia exchanged glances, the latter giving her Grandmother a simple smile that seemed to communicate a great deal. After this, Olivia gave a slightly incredulous sigh, shaking her head before saying, "It is very apparent that our worlds have a number of differences...as I cannot predict the future, I will trust in the path you have decided upon, Vahn. It is enough for me to know you will protect my Granddaughter and Great Grandchildren with all your might..." Though she knew an 'idealist' like Vahn could be very dangerous, especially when they had power, he gave off the impression of a genuine and almost incorruptible person. Even if things went south, he would undoubtedly work hard to 'fix' things so, as long as they made the proper arrangements, it wouldn't be difficult to secure their own position in the future he envisioned.Understanding that actions spoke far louder than words, Vahn just nodded politely in response to Olivia's words without trying to convince her his method was correct. Then, changing the tempo of the conversation, Vahn doubled back a bit and explained, "Regarding the matter of mine and Luvia's children...well, it would be best if they experienced accelerated growth within the Projection, at least until they were capable of protecting themselves properly. I can arrange for a residence to be built for the Edelfelt family on the island and, as direct relatives of Luvia, you will obviously be allowed to enter the Projection. As for things like aging...well, I have the means to extend your life for hundreds of years with the only side effect being that you would be able to grow even stronger..."As 'strength' was one of the founding principles that the Edelfelt family lived by, Olivia couldn't help perking up a bit in response to Vahn's words. Once again, she looked toward Luvia for confirmation, however, causing Vahn to squint slightly. This wasn't missed by Olivia so, after seeing Luvia nod her head, she adopted a slightly apologetic look before saying, "You'll have to excuse my behavior...you do not live to my age in this world without a bit of skepticism and caution. Even if you are older than me, Your Majesty, I'm certain you can understand how drastically different our situations are. I'll do my best not to unnecessarily offend you in the future, but please forgive me for deferring to my Granddaughter as I have come to trust her judgment over the years..."Though she knew he was playing him a bit, Vahn knew there wasn't much sense in trying to put pressure on Olivia over such a small matter. Instead, he just let the matter pass before explaining his understanding of Magic and the Laws that governed the world. To her credit, Olivia was attentive, even asking a few questions in an effort to better understand what he was trying to convey. She was very interested in the existence of the Familia Crest as, in more ways than one, it seemed to function in the same way as a Magic Crest. Though their uses were actually fundamentally different from each other, Olivia felt they were complementary systems that would make future generations intrinsically more powerful.Even before Vahn had finished explaining, she was already thinking about how to get the Clock Tower to grant them access to the Spiritual Tomb in order to ascertain whether or not the Familia Crest functioned in the way Vahn had explained. If that were the case, getting other families on their side would be much easier as the promise of power was a very potent motivator for most Magus families. Just the fact that Vahn was able to summon Heroes from throughout History already made him one of the most coveted individuals to befriend as, if you played your cards right, it was possible to get the aid of powerful figures throughout history, some of which could fundamentally change the balance of power in the modern world...---After passing a few hours in discussion, a light knock could be heard at the door, bringing a prompt end to things when Olivia rose to her feet, remarking, "It seems lunch has been prepared. If you'll join me, Your Majesty, our chefs have prepared a small feast for you to partake before your business at the Clock Tower requires your attention. If things go well this afternoon, a celebratory feast with our allies has been arranged to conclude the evening. Will you be attending...?" Though it actually didn't require Vahn's presence, as the alliance was more so between the Edelfelt family and other Aristocratic families, it was better that Vahn begins making public appearances sooner, rather than later.While rising to his feet alongside Luvia, Vahn adopted a polite smile and, understanding the hidden meaning in Olivia's words, answered, "It would be better to be forthright about such things to avoid potential issues in the future. The matters within the Imperial Family are already complex enough as they are. In order to avoid exacerbating things, announcing mine and Luvia's engagement would be for the best." Though it would eventually come to light that there were multiple Empresses, causing a few people to try their luck, Vahn already made an exception regarding Olga. He wasn't trying to become the 'glue' that held together a bunch of other Aristocratic families as it would only increase the chance of corruption and infighting in the future.At this point, Vahn's 'goal' within the Nasuverse was less about traversing multiple timelines as it was about cementing himself in the current timeline and increasing his power in conjunction with the world itself. It was, in more ways than one, an opportunity for him to practice governing an Empire that, given enough time, would eventually spread throughout the galaxy. Since Akasha and her Superiors dealt with expanses of time so vast they could hardly be comprehended, it wasn't likely that they would be seeking 'immediate' results. So long as he managed to finish his 'mission' in the next series of 'cycles', the odds of them intervening without reason were infinitesimally small. They would instead continue to observe him and, based on his interactions with Akasha, determine if there was any need to 'stimulate' the experiment further.Hearing Vahn's response, Olivia gave an approving nod while Luvia, excited by the idea of lording her future position over a few key individuals, began giggling cheerfully while clinging to his arm. She had already made some 'concessions' in regards to Rin, Olga, and the women preceding her so, unless there were significant benefits to be gained, there was no way she would allow others to stake a claim. It was clear that Vahn himself would need to be reined in a bit but, as this was an impossible task for her alone, Luvia would need to ally herself with the current women he was intimate with. She harbored no illusions about being 'enough' to deal with Vahn on her own...Upon reaching the dining room, complete with an extravagant table filled from end-to-end with expensive dishes, Vahn's smile turned wry as, without a hundred people to assist, there was no way he could finish all of this food expediently. Even with Gray and Artoria present, they would hardly be able to make a dent in the 'small feast' that Olivia had prepared. Then, as if to allay his concerns, she laughed in a mischevious manner before saying, "Worry not, Your Majesty, as none of this food shall be left to spoil. Whenever we host a banquet, we always allow the staff to eat untouched foods while anything that can be packaged neatly will be given to various charities and food kitchens within the City. You need only keep in mind not to touch anything you do not intend to eat. Everything else will be taken care of properly by our staff~."Though he wanted to comment about the staff eating alongside them, to prevent anything from going to waste, Vahn understood this would be a serious breach of etiquette. As he needed to start paying attention to such things, he gave an understanding nod in response to Olivia's words before moving to the 'guest' seat near the head of the table. It would not have been improper for him to sit at the very end, as his status was the highest in the room, but Vahn left that particular seat to Olivia as the Matriarch of the Edelfelt family. She might not be his senior, as he was nearly sixty years older, but that would only matter when his age became common knowledge.With everyone seated, including Artoria and Gray at Vahn's behest, they began enjoying a rather lively lunch together. Vahn asked what the two girls had been up to while they were away, leading Artoria to explain some of the security arrangements and important protocols that he would need to be aware of. Artoria took her duty very seriously and, if not for Vahn asking her to sit down and eat, she would have been perfectly content to stand with the other security personnel arranged around the room. As for Gray, she was just following Artoria's lead as, with her current mentality being more than a little 'clouded', her distant ancestor was the only baseline she had to work from.Luvia was very aware of the 'change' in Gray but, considering the daze she had been in after her first time with Vahn, she imagined that Gray was experiencing something similar. When she and Vahn had disappeared for more than twenty hours, Luvia had been a little shaken as, even if they were not 'together' the entire time, the possibility still existed. Later, Luvia wanted to try and milk the details from Gray as, while the latter had always been rather shy and demure, her current behavior was like an obedient maiden who was completely smitten. When she wasn't responding to Vahn or Artoria, Gray even seemed to be a little troubled that others were speaking to her while, when Vahn's focus was on other people, she would fall silent as if waiting for him to address her again...As Olivia hadn't known Gray personally before, her opinion of the two nearly-identical women was that they were extremely loyal to Vahn. Since she knew Artoria's identity, this improved her opinion of him considerably as, gaining the true loyalty of a King wasn't a simple feat. It meant that Artoria genuinely believed in the future he sought and, though she might not have been the 'best' of Kings, the legacy of 'King Arthur' would likely persist until the conclusion of recorded history. Knowing he had such a noble personage supporting him, Olivia felt less concerned about the future Vahn wanted to create as, with Luvia's 'intuition' having never failed, there was no reason his Empire would be the first exception...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Aristocrats of one world would never recognize those from another..unless, of course, there were benefits to be had xD...','Luvia needs to put her foot down...booty up?','Gray has fallen quite hard. Eternal Loyalty is scary (o,...,o)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Chapter 1176: Entrance