Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Following the conclusion of his meeting with Solon, Vahn, accompanied by his new entourage, consisting of Okita and Altera, made a quick stopover at the Edelfelt mansion. Though he could send her a direct message, Vahn preferred to deliver news personally as, with the ability to teleport, other methods just seemed impersonal. He also knew Luvia herself would appreciate his visit so, with the silent and attentive white-haired duo standing on his flanks, Vahn teleported into the foyer where, as per usual, an entire team of Maids and Butlers were waiting to greet him.Despite the 'The Fall', and the penultimate collapse of the global economy, the Edelfelt family had continued to prosper. Luvia unashamedly made use of the Empire's resources and, though her core forces still consisted of the Edelfelt elites, they had recruited tens of thousands in support of relief efforts all over the world. Since they were one of the only military forces in the world that still had operational aircraft and a small naval fleet, it hadn't taken long at all for Luvia to cement her family as one of the most powerful forces in the world.Though they were intrinsically related to the Empire, the Edelfelt family was given autonomy to act in their own interests. As a result, they had been able to help people with the stigma of being directly associated with the Empire. The fact they still used technology from the 'old era' encouraged a lot of people to rally behind them and, though there were quite a number of opportunists that had tried to take advantage of this, the solidarity of the Edelfelt combat forces prevented any major uprisings.After a short trek through Luvia's fortress-like mansion, renovated as a courtesy of the Dwarves, Vahn found himself in an auditorium-sized training room. There he found Ulla happily clapping her hands while at the side while, on oversized wrestling ring, Oliva and Luvia were flying around like luchadores as they performed a variety of acrobatic feats. This wasn't entirely unexpected but, seeing that Ulla had also been dressed up in an adorable little leotard, Vahn couldn't help but adopt a wry smile...Almost immediately after he had entered the room, Olivia slid underneath Luvia as the latter used the ropes of the ring to vault through the air. She managed to land nimbly after missing her catch but, before she was able to turn around, Olivia snaked up behind her with surprising agility, her arms wrapping around Luvia's waist. In the next moment, despite their height difference, Olivia managed to bend backward, performing a perfect arch as Luvia was suplexed into the ring. As a result, her legs froze in a rather compromising position but, fortunately, things came to a swift end when the referee slid across the ring on their stomach, quickly counting her out.With her victory determined, Olivia raised her first toward the sky, a victorious smile on her face as Luvia pretended to be knocked out. This caused Ulla to fret a great deal as, while she was happy her Grandma had won, she was sad that her mother had lost. Her doll-like face formed into a worried expression and, seemingly determining her mother was more important than the match, she climbed up the side of the ring, shouting, "Mommy!"The moment she heard her daughter cry out, Luvia rose to a seated position, a vibrant smile on her face as she caught Ulla out of the air. Then, while happily rubbing her cheek against the latter's face, she chimed, "Ah, my darling Ulla, your voice awakened me~! I feel ten times stronger than before, ohohohoho~."Though they were both well aware of the fact Vahn had arrived, Olivia and Luvia were still putting on their play so, hearing Luvia's comment, Olivia crossed her arms proudly and claimed, "You'd have to be at least eleven, no, thirteen times stronger if you want to defeat me, kukukuku~."Hearing her Grandma's remark, Ulla showed a serious expression and, as this wasn't her first time in this situation, she hugged her Mother tightly as she said, "I believe in you, Mommy! You have to go for the legs! If you go for the legs, you can win...!"As if her greatest secret had just been exposed, Olivia took a few faltering steps backward, surprise visible in her countenance as she exclaimed, "No! How did you learn about my injured left knee!?" Then, seemingly realizing something, she lightly pat her own chest before adopting a taunting smile and saying, "Well, it's too late! The referee already declared my victory! If I rest properly, my leg will be good as new before our next match...!"With an expression that looked like she had swallowed a bug, Ulla glared at her Grandma before rising to her full height, a diminutive 85cm, as she shouted, "I'll just have to defeat you myself...!"Moving 'faster than Olivia could react', Ulla launched herself toward her Grandma's right leg. She still had a bit of trouble determining her left from her right, at least when it came to other people, but, in spite of this, Olivia fell to the ground, a howl of pain escaping her throat. Then, as Ulla did her best to perform a leg lock, Olivia helped position her arms and legs properly, lending a rather ridiculous quality to the whole scene...While Ulla was busy 'defeating' her Grandmother, Luvia reclined onto her elbows, leaning her head back to smile at Vahn. This brought an even bigger smile to his face as, despite knowing Luvia had a lot going on, the fact she always made time to play with their daughter made him feel even more attracted to her than normal. There was nothing more beautiful and endearing than a good mother so, when they both had a free moment, Vahn decided he would reward her plentily.With her 'weakness' targetted, Olivia ended up tapping out, unable to bear the pain of Ulla's leg-lock. Afterward, Ulla copied her Grandmother's previous display, raising her tiny fist high into the sky to proclaim her victory. Just as she was about to cry out, however, she noticed Vahn standing at the side of the ring and, seemingly losing interest in the match, shouted, "Daddy~!" before running over without hesitation.Catching his airborne daughter out of the air, Vahn spun around a few times before pulling her close and giving her a firm hug as she happily wriggled about in his arms. This prompted Luvia and Olivia to rise to their feet and, after being waved away by the latter, all of the staff within the room quickly cleared out.While leaning against the ring's ropes, her hair done up in two drill-tails, Olivia cheekily asked, "Are you stopping by for business or pleasure? My afternoon is free so I can help out with both if you'd like~."Since he had already grown accustomed to Olivia's 'propositioning', Vahn just rolled his eyes at her before explaining, "Solon and Zelretch have agreed to attend the gala. After this event, the Mage's Association will unofficially be under the control of the Empire. I thought Luvia would like to know sooner, rather than later, so I stopped by immediately after my meeting ended. I'm glad I did, too, as I got to see just how strong my little jumping bean has become."To punctuate his statement, Vahn gave Ulla a kiss on the cheek, making a loud 'mwah' sound that caused her to giggle happily before returning the favor. At the same time, Luvia adopted a far more serious expression than before, asking, "Will they be announcing their full support of the Empire or is the intention to officiate the current Alliance?"Rather than go into the finer details, Vahn set Ulla onto his shoulders before saying, "Unless you are busy, we can talk about it later. For now, how about we enjoy a light lunch? It's getting pretty close to lunchtime and I have some time on my hands."Though he was generally very direct and honest with his children, Vahn didn't like talking about the affairs of the Empire in their presence. He liked to make them the center of attention, not bore them to death with long, and often droll, conversations.Understanding his intentions, Luvia hopped over the top rope, landing smoothly next to him with a smile on her face as she answered, "Certainly! I'll have the chefs cook up something scrumptious~!"Luvia wasn't particularly hungry but, as it was an excuse to spend time together, she wasn't going to pass on the opportunity. She and Vahn were generally very busy during the daylight hours so it had been a while since they dined together within the mansion. Though they almost always ate together during the evenings, it was hard to enjoy the moment to the fullest when there were between twenty and thirty people present...Before Vahn and Luvia could wander off with Ulla, Olivia reminded them of her presence by saying in a firm tone, "Wait a minute you two love birds. Before you eat lunch, make sure to wash up properly. Don't go teaching Ulla any bad habits or I'll put you into a full nelson when you least expect it!"Hearing Olivia's warning, Vahn just waved his hand, tiny beads of sweat pooling together from the bodies of Luvia and Ulla. At the same time, a fragrant aroma began to spread throughout the area, a technique he had stolen from Da Vinci. He had previously modified his 'Cleaning Magic' to have a deodorizing effect but, as the lack of an aroma caused a bit of incongruity, he spent a considerable amount of time learning how to infuse an aroma into his domain.With Vahn seeing through her plan, Olivia clicked her tongue before hopping up and using the ropes to bounce herself backward. She landed nimbly on one of the corner posts before pointing down at Vahn in a theatrical way and proclaiming, "You can't use magic to solve everything! Be a responsible parent and take Ulla to take a bath! Don't the Japanese teach the importance of skinship between a parent and child!?"Though Vahn was going to ignore Olivia's outburst, his plans changed when Ulla leaned against the top of his head, doing her best to look into his face as she said, "Daddy, let's go take a bath. I want to wash my hair and change my clothes."Since his children's 'orders' were absolute, Vahn nodded his head in affirmation, causing Ulla to bob happily. Before he alighted from the room, however, he looked toward Okita and Altera who, from the beginning, had been standing like a pair of statues at the side. The moment he turned his eyes toward them, they seemed to 'boot up', eagerly awaiting his next order.Nipping any of Olivia's plans in the bud, Vahn adopted a somewhat malicious smile as he said, "Will the two of you please keep the Edelfelt Matriarch company? I wouldn't want her to feel lonely while Luvia and I take Ulla into the bath. Don't worry, we won't be too long. Until then, however, ensure we are not disturbed."Hearing their Master's orders, Okita and Altera both nodded in understanding, the former saying, "I understand..." while the latter chimed a monotone, "I see...". Then, as if they had a highly advanced auto-targeting system, both girls locked onto the grimacing Olivia. She had been intending to invite herself into the bath but, as Okita and Altera were impossible to reason with, bypassing them would be all but impossible. If she made a serious effort to break into the bathroom, there was a very real chance they would become destructively hostile...Satisfied with Olivia's response, Vahn turned away as Luvia followed behind, her amused laughter echoing throughout the expansive room. She enjoyed the interactions between her Grandmother and Vahn, even if it sometimes gave her a strong desire to reward her Grandmother with a fist to the top of her noggin. She, like Vahn, knew that Olivia was 'mostly' just playing around but, as there was a part of her that seriously vied for a chance to get a taste of her husband's 'godly' capabilities, she couldn't drop her guard...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The Hyenas became the Kings of the Jungle','Wrestling is real, I swear~!','The ultimate matriarchal technique, 'Cougar Stalking Dragon'~!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After a week's worth of preparation, the day for the Imperial Gala finally arrived. It had been set to take place at the Edelfelt mansion and, though the guest list contained well over a thousand total guests, there was still plenty of space within the massive, highly decorated, ballroom.Those that had attended parties at the Edelfelt mansion in the past weren't all that surprised by the glamor and decor but, considering the vast majority of invitees were 'new' families, they were quite taken aback by the splendor. Though some rationalized that the Edefelt family had always done everything in a very showy manner, others interpreted the display as her family showing off the benefits they had received from the Empire.During a time where nearly every other family was struggling, as it became increasingly difficult to acquire various goods and services, the Edelfelt family had continued to thrive. This had caused a number of people to feel bitter but, with fake smiles on their faces, they still flocked to the Edelfelt family in the hopes of obtaining their own benefits. The only path to prosperity was throwing your lot in with the Empire so, in order to preserve their family and legacy, most Magus families, both old and rising, sought to ingratiate themselves to the Edelfelts.Luvia was no stranger to people trying to cozy up to her for benefits but, with the Empire at her back, the only thing she stood to gain from any of them was 'authority'. There were few benefits to associating with the older Magus families and, while they provided an ample workforce, even the up-and-coming families weren't particularly beneficial to the Empire. Vahn had established a system with functionally infinite resources, including Magical Energy, so the 'value' of everything had immediately become inconsequential...Fortunately, people themselves still had considerable value and, as Vahn intended to establish a system based on individual merit, there were quite a number of reasons to proactively socialize. It was impossible to completely remove the idea of perceived and inherited status from people's minds so, given enough time, there was certain to be a perceived class divide in the future. After all, if a reasonably powerful person made a name for themselves, acquiring great fame as a result, the common consensus of people would be to elevate that person and their family.Even without a monetary system, people would never stop seeking to distinguish themselves from others. The vast majority of humans had an intrinsic desire to elevate themselves amongst their peers; This was one of the cornerstones of human society so, despite Vahn's optimism, Luvia knew it was only a matter of time before someone exploited the system and tried to directly oppose him.To prevent Vahn from being blindsided by 'human nature', Luvia was willing to act as one of the many shields that protected his vision. The Edelfelt family had always been gifted with the ability to game the world's system and, as the latest and greatest in her line, Luvia would elevate her status and fame to the point that, when others attempted to do the same, she could knock them down if they proved to be a threat. After all, in the world Vahn wished to create, one of the most powerful political tools would be dragging your opposition's reputation through the mud using the leverage you were able to obtain...---With the Imperial Gala scheduled to start at 7 PM, most guests had made sure to arrive at least an hour early. Nobody wanted to show up later than the Guests of Honor so, even before the gates of the Edelfelt mansion had been opened, many had gathered in the periphery, patiently waiting for their chance to enter. This included the so-called high-brow members of society as, no matter how highly they regarded themselves, any status they held prior to 'The Fall' had lost its meaning.Though some people still clung to old titles and holdings, it was no longer something they openly bragged about. It had become dangerous to stand out in the current political climate so, fearing the loss of what little they had been able to preserve, even 'former' Nobles did their best to lay low.Among the exceptions to this rule were those like Reines El-Melloi Archibald, the current Lord El-Melloi Archibald. While the status of Lord had all but lost its meaning over the past few months, she had spent decades trying to reclaim her family name and title so, as one of the first members of the Alliance, she unashamedly flaunted her status.While most people just silently lingered around the ballroom awaiting the arrival of the Emperor and his entourage, Reines, wearing a lavish, sapphire-colored, dress, wasn't shy when it came to drawing attention to herself. She, accompanied by her husband, Waver, and her daughter, Ridley, wasted no time in approaching Luvia the moment she arrived. Her aura was enough to drive away the couple that had been previously conversing with Luvia who, upon seeing Reines, offered her usual business smile as she said, "I'm glad you were able to attend, Reines. We have a daycare set up if you'd like to send little Ridley off to play with the other children."In response to Luvia's greeting, Reines returned a cold and calculating smile of her own as she mused, "You are looking as radiant as ever, Lady Edelfelt. Tell me, when is His Imperial Majesty's group expected to arrive? Rumor has it that the Imperial Family will be in attendance so I would like to properly introduce Ridley to her future friends and colleagues."As if acting on a cue, Ridley performed a prim and proper curtsy immediately after her mother's words. This caused Luvia to offer a polite smile in turn but, within the sanctity of her own mind, she couldn't help but roll her eyes. Reines had always been an opportunist but, if she kept trying to push her daughter forward without proper consideration, it was only a matter of time before she stepped on Vahn's bottom line.Causing Reines' expression to darken perceptibly, Luvia waved over two neatly dressed security personnel, saying, "Please escort Miss Ridley to where the other children are playing. Make sure she is well fed and properly entertained until her parents are ready to depart."Since Luvia was hosting the gala, Reines didn't have the leeway to try and overrule her decision. She was well aware of the fact that her status couldn't be compared to the golden witch standing before her so, while it caused her eyes to sharpen slightly, she allowed Ridley to be escorted away before asking, "What is this about, Lady Edelfelt?"Now that Ridley was, albeit momentarily, removed from her mother, Luvia adopted a moderately serious expression as she answered, "I do not wish to see you and your family brought to ruin by your lack of consideration. The Empire is vehemently against the idea of exploiting children and using social gatherings like this to forge connections and arrange marriages. With how drastically things are changing, how far do you think your outdated sensibilities will take you? If you want to succeed within the Empire, you'll need to work on that character of yours."Though it didn't show on her face, at least from an outsider's perspective, Reines was incensed by Luvia's words. She wanted to say something about how Luvia had just been lucky to jump on the bandwagon as a result of her relationship with Rin but, knowing the former wasn't shy to violence, she opted to withhold her comment. Instead, she did her best to remain calm, intertwining her arm with Waver's as she said, "I'll keep your advice in mind, Lady Edelfelt. Truthfully, I just want to provide my daughter with the opportunity to succeed in this changing world. Surely, you will not begrudge me for thinking about her future..."Without footing around the issue or using flowery words, Luvia gave a curt nod in response to Reines' words before saying, "If you are concerned about your daughter's future, become a better person. You aren't a fool, Reines. Though your interactions with Vahn have been limited, you have had plenty of time to properly consider things. If you keep trying to take shortcuts in an effort to increase your status and authority, you're going to hit a wall. If you're truly concerned about your daughter, stop treating her like a political tool."In the past, Luvia wouldn't have particularly cared about how Reines raised her daughter but, after becoming a mother herself, her perspective had changed a lot. The way Vahn raised his children had left a deep impression on her and, after spending a considerable amount of time with Ulla, it became impossible for her to empathize with anyone who treated their children as tools...---After being separated from her mother, Ridley's doll-like face had been set into a tiny frown. She hated being treated like a child as, despite the fact she was only six-years-old, she had mastered the basic curriculum taught at the Clock Tower. Her mother had educated her to be far superior to her peers so, while others her age were filled with whimsy and a general zest for the world around them, Ridley, emulating her mother, had already become a cold and calculating young lady...Upon seeing a number of young children, many of whom were even younger than her, Ridley's face visibly darkened as she turned to her escort and asked, "Would it not be possible to have a private room? I am not feeling well and I would hate to get anyone else sick..."While others might be easily tricked by Ridley's words, the elite security forces of the Edelfelt family weren't so soft. The room housing the children was the most heavily protected area of the entire mansion so, if there was an enemy attack, she would be much safer inside. Since it would also require them to send several people to watch over her elsewhere, the young man instantly shook his head, stating, "You will stay with everyone else. If you are feeling tired, rest on the sofa or eat some of the snacks provided. You needn't worry about getting anyone ill as you would not have been allowed to pass the barrier if you carried something infectious."Seeing how quickly her escort had shot her down, Ridley's face morphed into a dour expression as she issued a 'hmph' and entered the room. Immediately afterward, the two men exchanged a knowing look between them before the man who had refuted Ridley just shrugged. They weren't authorized to actually enter the room so, without idling about any longer, they quickly alighted to return to their duties...Despite her general loathing for other children, Ridley knew that everyone gathered within the room should be the sons or daughters of affluent families. With this in mind, she forced herself to at least make an introduction as, for all she knew, there could be children with a much higher rank and status than her own. She would eventually be forced to interact with her peers at some point in the near future so, rather than make a bad first impression, Ridley adopted her practiced smile before approaching the two oldest girls in the room, both having peculiar white hair.Even before reaching the two girls, Ridley felt a strange sense of incongruity as, for reasons she couldn't fathom, part of her felt a strong desire to actually befriend these two girls. She did her best to bury this thought in the back of her mind but, by the time she was standing in front of the strange duo, her smile became noticeably more genuine as she politely curtsied and said, "Good evening. My name is Ridley, daughter of Lord El-Melloi Archibald. If possible, I would like for us to be friends..."Though the older of the two girls just tilted her head cutely, the white-haired girl around her own age smiled in a way that made her seem much older as she answered, "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ridley. My name is Aura and I'm always happy to make new friends~."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'If someone has power, someone else is coveting it','Luvia might be one of the best when it comes to playing politics but that doesn't mean she is playing games &gt;:D...','It's a trap...!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

In preparation for the upcoming 'Imperial Gala', Vahn was meeting with Solon and a disgruntled Zelretch as they discussed implementing the Virtual World and assigning Companions as part of the standard curriculum. Since he would effectively be taking over the Mage's Association after the gala, it was necessary to implement rapid changes to emphasize this fact to the faculty and student body.With this in mind, Da Vinci had already prepared a localized Nexus specifically for use within the Clock Tower. As for the matter of Companions, there were several factories that could produce several thousand of the adorable creatures daily so, with the 'Purge' being a recent event, it wouldn't be that difficult to issue them throughout the entirety of the Mage's Association.As Solon had mellowed out considerably after becoming Vahn's Subordinate, much to Zelretch's chagrin, there was virtually no resistance against the idea of implementing the updated system. It had already become a hot topic amongst members of the student body and, while they wouldn't openly admit it, many of the faculty members were also eager to delve into the Virtual World. The rumor it could emulate advanced Thaumaturgical processes with a negligible margin of error was too tempting to pass up as, using it, they could effectively test their theories without wasting any actual resources.The only person proactively against the idea, for various reasons, was Zelretch as, with his ability to freely traverse between parallel worlds, he had already seen several versions of the same tech. In almost every instance, Virtual Reality was either the result or the direct contributor to societal collapse, as, with a virtual environment to meet all of their needs, people quickly lost motivation to live normal lives. He had even seen instances of virtual cults give rise to Cyber Daemons and Artificial Deities, entities that could influence the Virtual World and reality in equal measure.Vahn assured him that their system was different than the ones he had experienced but, as many of those very systems started off with similar intentions, he was skeptical. After all, once the global population had been placated by the system, making it impossible for them to function without it, it could be used to manipulate them with considerable ease.When this was pointed out, Vahn could only shake his head as, while Zelretch's words struck at the truth of the matter, the system designed by Da Vinci was far more comprehensive than what most people could rationalize. The Empire also took a 'hands-off' approach to governance while also proactively encouraging people to engage in the real world. There were always people who sought real thrills so, if they promoted a system that elevated a person's status based on real-world accomplishments, people would quickly compete for a better ranking.With a system that focused more on a person's merits than concepts like hereditary wealth and given status, future generations would be demonstrably more capable than their modern-day counterparts. There was even a system designed to track a person's Parameters, Skills, and other metrics so that they could distinguish themselves in a society that seamlessly blended the virtual world with the real world. Since there were people who would literally spend thousands of hours speed-running the same game for nothing more than recognition within a small community, Vahn had little doubt that the system designed by Da Vinci would be a success.Since it was all but impossible to change Vahn's mind after he had already drawn a conclusion, Zelretch ultimately gave up with a defeated sigh. He had started looking a lot older these days and, though his red-eyes still blazed with fervor and borderline madness, everyone that closely associated with him could see that he was beginning to lose his edge. Though he wasn't down and out just yet, it felt like each passing day made him less relevant as, with Vahn forcibly seizing control of the present, most tangential timelines were influenced by the echoes of his choices.Fortunately, while it became increasingly tiring to try and reason with Vahn, the latter never failed to provide delicious tea and a plethora of otherworldly delicacies. Zelretch could still remember the first time he had been treated to 'Dragon Steak', the most delicious and mana-rich foodstuff he had ever had the privilege to sample. Thus, while he would sometimes have the urge to just go 'all-out' against the immovable Emperor, he managed to restrain it...This time, while discussing the upcoming Imperial Gala and the implementation of the Virtual World, Vahn had prepared baked apples. These had been grown selectively by the Dryads that now called Avalon their home and, as a result, they were even more delicious than the already legendary apples that had been present prior to their arrival. A single slice, while not enough to fill a person's stomach, provided them with enough nourishment for three days as, due to how the human body processed ingested magical energy, a single apple could effectively provide upwards of 60,000kcal.Since they were all 'monsters' who had effectively infinite Magical Power, Vahn, Zelretch, and Solon were able to freely engorge themselves on the lightly baked, cinnamon covered, apple slices. This, combined with their choice between a mellow and fragrant tea, turned an otherwise tense conversation into a relatively pleasant experience. Even Zelretch found it hard to stay mad while, at the side, Solon absentmindedly nibbled on the slices with absolutely no consideration for appearances.Compared to the past, when they covered their body in various Artifacts, the current Solon could generally be found wearing nothing but a white robe, their usual medallion, and a total of three rings. This was a stark contrast to the dozens of Artifacts they previously wore but, after gaining a set of Magic Circuits, most had become redundant. They already knew how to activate complex Spells after thousands of years of research so, while the Artifacts could still be used to enhance their capabilities, they had been making a concerted effort to improve using the Quest Board.Ultimately, the main reasons behind Zelretch's annoyance with the changes to Solon were the fact he also wanted access to the Quest Board but, much like Aoko and Arcueid, the Familia Crest had absolutely no effect on him. As a Tier 5 entity, Vahn was unable to give his Blessing to the elderly Magus and, as his pride wouldn't allow him to become subordinate to another, Zelretch had no choice but to listen to Solon drone on and on about their progress, all while he was forced to sit on the sidelines...---After confirming the plans to implement the Virtual World and distribute Companions, Vahn shifted the topic, asking, "Will the two of you attend the gala? I won't force you but, considering what it represents, your presence would be welcome. I have already confirmed Director Atlasia's participation so it would be problematic if you elected not to attend, Solon."Though even the thought of attending a social gathering made them feel nauseous, Solon didn't hesitate to nod their head, lazily muttering, "I will attend..."Seeing his long-time companion instantly acquiesce, Zelretch couldn't help but release a sigh as he reclined his head back, staring up at the sky as he answered, "I will also attend. Even if I'm not a direct affiliate of the Empire, I would like to consider us more than acquaintances. This will be an important event so, while I will likely not attend future gatherings, I can make an exception on this occasion."Hearing Solon and Zelretch agree to attend, Vahn issued a relieved sigh within his mind as, with their participation, things became a lot easier. He knew that, despite their willingness to join the Empire, the vast majority of Magus families still disagreed with his methods. They merely joined with the intent of preserving their family and legacy so, by having a greater number of powerful and influential figures appear in support of the Empire, most dissidents would think twice about plotting against them.Since their straightforward response had saved him a lot of time in trying to convince them, Vahn gave an approving nod before saying, "Soon enough, I will invite both of you to visit Avalon on holiday. I, too, would like to think we have made considerable progress toward becoming friends so, to officiate things, inviting you into my home should suffice. I'm aware it is something you have been interested in for quite some time, so, when the opportunity presents, I hope you accept my invitation."Though Solon was admittedly interesting in touring Avalon, a place where thousands of Spirits now dwelled, it was Zelretch whom Vahn had directed his comment toward. The latter had been skulking around Avalon every now and then so, with the promise of a future invitation, his tired eyes regained some of their lost vigor as he offered a toothy grin and answered, "It would be a great honor to tour your home, even for a short period of time. I look forward to the opportunity and pray it comes even a single day sooner."As he had already made preparations for Zelretch's arrival, Vahn could actually invite the man at any time. The only reason he hadn't was due to the Empire's relatively shaky internal affairs as, after the fiasco involving Scáthach, things had become more than a little awkward. She had left an impact on a number of people so, learning the infamous Purple Monster had lost her life, many within the Inner Sanctum couldn't quite believe it. They, much like Vahn, didn't really know how to treat the Lily version of her while Ciel, having spontaneously lost her mentor, now apprenticed directly under Vahn.It would take some time for the reality that the original Scáthach was no longer with them but, in the meantime, Vahn had started using the time he once used to train with his Shishou in order to mentor quite a number of people. He now taught a class consisting of Fenrir, Gareth, Mordred, Sakura, Mash, Astrid, Zoë, Ciel, and, of course, Scáthach.Though he still hadn't fully accepted everything that happened, Vahn had been taking small steps forward with each passing day. It was at moments like this that his expansive support group came in handy as, without their constant care and guidance, Vahn would have holed himself up for days on end, basically throwing a tantrum. Instead, he had dozens of people pushing him forward, the principal offenders being those like Fenrir, Artoria, and, for completely different reasons, each of his children...Vahn always wanted to set a proper example for his children so, rather than let them see him at his lowest, he forced himself to bounce back after explaining the situation to them. Though they had never known Scáthach in the same way as everyone else, Vahn knew they would feel begin to feel doubts if they were left out of the loop. He liked to be open and honest with them so, while it wasn't easy, Vahn had talked with each of his children, explaining the situation so that they might understand why everyone was behaving differently than before...The hardest part of being a parent was taking into consideration how your children interpreted your behavior when you were experiencing things they might not understand. You constantly had to remind yourself that, even though you were hurting, your responsibility as a parent superseded everything else. If you took the time to wallow in self-pity, ignoring the people who relied on you more than anyone else, the negativity would only spread without end. It was easier to be honest with them as, while they may not understand exactly why you are hurting, they would still be able to empathize with you.The feeling of inclusion was a powerful factor when it came to raising your children as, if they felt involved, even in matters completely unrelated to them, they learned the importance of sharing their own troubles. Bottling things up was never healthy and, while it was important for everyone to have their secrets, keeping them at the expense of the people you loved was rarely the correct choice...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'If there is a leaderboard, someone would do their best to get to the top of it...','Zelretch is hella jaded','No matter how uncertain you feel, you should never compromise the feeling of certainty your child has toward you. You are their rock. While you may be shaken and tossed about by the tumultuous seas of life, you are the anchor that keeps them from being swept away in the same current...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1406: Flair