Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Despite having the attention of more than a thousand Magi, Bedivere showed an unperturbed smile on his face as he politely bowed to the assembly. Then, in a voice that had soothing quality, despite the firm undertone, he announced, "It is my esteemed privilege to announce the arrival of His and Her Imperial Majesties, the Sage Emperor, Vahn Aldrnari Mason, and his Dragon Empress, Artoria Aldrnari Pendragon."The moment Bedivere finished his introduction, a massive spatial tear appeared behind him, startling the entire assemblage. From within, Vahn and Artoria appeared, arms linked, the lighting from above reflecting off the metal components of their sleek formal wear. Vahn had been wanting to set a trend where people wore higher quality garments instead of just throwing together tacky, mass-produced outfits. He also wanted to make it 'normal' for people to wear armor and carry around their weapons as, if he were being honest, it bothered him to see people behaving so complacently all the time.After spending nearly 150 years within the Record of Danmachi, a place where cultures blended together like a hot pot, it had always bothered Vahn to see the hodge-podge 'uniformity' of modern people. Unless you were wealthy, everyone bought mass-produced goods and, while various brands and logos set them apart, everyone wore very similar outfits. If you strayed away from this, people would label you as a freak, ostracize, or even outright bully you. Only the wealthy and the affluent had been able to wear whatever they wanted so, in the future, Vahn wanted to shift the trend so that there was a larger focus on the quality, rather than the quantity, of a person's attire.Embodying this trend, he wore a sleek black 'napoleon-style' blouse with golden tassels and, if you looked closely, an intricate series of runes could be seen sewn into the embroidery. Though he never really liked clothes that were restrictive around the collar, Vahn tolerated it as it helped to keep his back straight and his head facing forward.To complete his outfit, Vahn had form-fitting onyx-black gauntlets, which, much like his blouse, were covered in an intricate pattern of runes, nearly indiscernible to the naked eye. These gauntlets, much like his greaves, had been designed to be so thin that, at a glance, you would think he had prosthetic arms and legs. More impressively, however, was the mesh of haptic sensors that ensured virtually no loss in textile sensation and dexterity. They even perfectly adapted to their wearer's biorhythm and internal temperature, simulating warmth and creating an illusion of skin contact...The final part of Vahn's outfit was a greyish-black silken sash which, much like the rest of his outfit, was covered in a layer of runes. Unlike the rest of his attire, however, these runes stood out quite a bit, blazing with golden light that emulated the embers visible when cloth was set aflame. This was meant to draw the eye and unnerve people slightly as, while it didn't seem as perturbing as his sleek black gauntlets and greaves, the fact it was an S-Rank Artifact gave it an aura that terrified or enticed anyone closely observing it.When he first stepped out onto the stage, Vahn felt the eyes of everyone in the audience focus on him before, moments later, their gaze shifted, albeit briefly, to Artoria. She, too, was attired in sleek black attire but, unlike Mordred and Sakura, she elected to embrace her femininity for this event. As a result, her main outfit consisted of three distinct parts: a removable sleeved top, a sleek, corset-like bodice, and a three-layered gown that, if you looked closely, vaguely resembled a flower. It extended all the way to her ankles but, as Artoria was used to fighting in a dress, it wouldn't exactly impede her movements in the slightest.Like Vahn, Artoria also had sleek black gauntlets and greaves but, what really stood out was the fact that, unlike her typical, extremely reserved outfits, the separation between her bodice and top left a small 'window' that showed off her cleavage. Da Vinci had even designed the bodice in a way that 'helped' to accent her rather diminutive assets so, with Artoria's already ethereal beauty, she radiated a slightly more mature aura than usual...Fortunately, most Magi were generally very sensitive to how others perceived them so, rightly fearing Vahn's ire, none were bold enough to openly gawk. It hadn't been all that long since he silenced an entire crowd prior to the duel between Artoria and Lorelei so it was no secret he was rather 'protective' of the women around him. Since Artoria had been introduced as his Empress, she immediately became a massive landmine within the hearts and minds of everyone gathered below.To further add to the anxieties of the crowd, Luvia performed a polite bow while, on the stage, Bedivere took a knee before lowering his head. At the same time, most of the Edelfelt security forces lowered their bodies at a steep angle, forcing everyone gathered to make a choice: either lower your head or be left as one of the few people standing tall. This caused bitter feelings in the hearts of the more prideful Magi, but, with 'very' few exceptions, they all bowed low.As one of the only groups left standing, Solon, Zelretch, Zepia, Sion, and Da Vinci (Professor Alpha), drew a lot of attention. Solon, as the 'leader' of the group, stood out the most as, with their unique attire and emerald-green hair, reaching all the way down to their ankles, they didn't exactly blend in with the surroundings. As a result, Vahn's eyes passed over the group but, instead of forcing them to bow, he surprised the crowd by smiling as he said, "It is good to see you, Solon. I hope I didn't keep you waiting for too long..."Though it wasn't a very direct way to do things, Vahn's words made it very clear that his position was higher than Solon's. The casualness in which he greeted one of the most infamous figures within the Association was open to interpretation but, when Solon answered in kind, any doubts were removed as, to the horror of many, Solon politely nodded before replying, "Only a fool would dare to refuse a direct invitation from the Sage Emperor. It is my honor to have Your Imperial Majesty's recognition..."Even Vahn hadn't expected Solon to respond in such an 'agreeable' manner so, for a brief moment, his expression became more genuine as he issued a light chuckle. Then, so as to ease some of the tensions in the room, he raised his hand and stated, "Please, raise your heads. Your respect is noted but, for the time being, we are not your Emperor. Now, so as not to burden our hosts further, allow us to make a few introductions before proceeding with the rest of the gala."Following Vahn's words, everyone in the assembly raised their heads just in time to see Mordred and Sakura, followed closely by Alexander, Mash, Zoë, and Astrid exit through the spatial rift. The fact it had still been silently looming in the background terrified those who knew of the ridiculous amount of magical energy that would be required to perform such a feat. As for everyone else, they focused intently on the group of children that had exited the portal, waiting with bated breath to learn their identity and status.With Mordred, Sakura, Mash, Zoë, and Astrid wearing similar outfits, the only thing that set them apart, clothing-wise, were the golden emblems sewn into Mordred's and Sakura's collars. The others had simple gold buttons, imprinted with military rank, while Mordred and Sakura were decorated in what was quickly becoming known as the insignia of the Imperial Family. Since Vahn and Artoria had the same insignia on their clothes, it wasn't difficult to deduce the status of the distinctly different young women.Matching expectations, Vahn raised his head proudly as he extended his hand toward Mordred. The latter happily accepted and, after pulling her to stand next to him, Vahn announced, "This is the First Imperial Princess, mine and Artoria's beloved daughter, Mordred Aldrnari Pendragon, eldest of the Aldrnari Lineage."Hearing Mordred's official introduction, various thoughts were running through the Magi gathered within the ballroom. Mordred's name wasn't exactly common and, with her connection Artoria, many made the immediate connection between the proud young woman on stage and the Knight famous for leading the rebellion against King Arthur. Despite this, none had the intention of ever bringing it up as the internal affairs of the Imperial Family weren't worth probing into...Having been introduced by her Chichue, Mordred gave a Knight's salute to the crowd, her right hand over her heart as her left was neatly tucked behind her back. She had a radiant and charismatic smile on her face and, despite being the center of attention, showed no signs of nervousness as she raised her chin slightly and proudly declared, "I am privileged to serve the Empire as both Imperial Princess and a future member of the Imperial Knights. I pray that our relationships will be amicable and that my blade never finds purchase amongst any that have gathered here this day."Though Mordred's words were more than a little audacious, the crowd below was compelled to give her an ovation in accordance with prior social norms. She was the daughter of the Emperor and the heir-apparent to the Imperial Throne so, even if her words pricked the dignity of many people, they had little choice but to applaud. After all, rather than a casual threat, there was a certain weight to Mordred's words when you considered just how many people her father had already killed...Following Mordred's introduction, Vahn had her stand next to Artoria before extending his hand to Sakura. She readily accepted it but, compared to Mordred, it was obvious to everyone how nervous she was. If the opportunity presented itself, many decided it would be better to try and approach the demure brunette as, compared to Mordred, she seemed a lot more 'agreeable'.With Sakura standing statuesque at his side, Vahn internally sighed before adopting a more serious look, complete with a threatening aura, as he said, "This is the Second Imperial Princess, my beloved daughter, Sakura Aldrnari Mason. She has a kind and caring nature so, should the opportunity arise, please treat her well..."Though the tone he used was polite, the hidden meaning behind Vahn's words was clear due to the overwhelming pressure affecting nearly everyone; if you messed with his daughter, there would be a very heavy price to pay. His protective nature was well-documented and, according to rumors, it was actually a plot against Vahn's children that triggered 'The Fall'. Thus, if they wanted to try and exploit Sakura's apparent vulnerabilities, a fate worse than those involved in the purge would undoubtedly await them.Hearing her father's words, Sakura's smile became more natural, even if she couldn't help but feel a little exasperated. She appreciated his care and concern but, as this was supposed to be her debut, part of her wished he had let matters lay. Though she knew her weakness would entice the bolder men and women in the crowd, she wasn't a little girl that couldn't take care of herself. She liked to think she was a sensible young lady and, while her explosive power was leagues beneath Mordred, she had enough reserves to overwhelm the vast majority of Magi in an instant.Still, Sakura appreciated her father's support so, with a much calmer smile on her face, she saluted in much the same way as Mordred before stating, "I, too, am privileged to serve as both an Imperial Princess and a prospective member of the Imperial Knights. Though I do not like conflict, know that I am not fearful of necessary violence. Please, never give me a reason to strike you down..."Mordred's words had left quite the impression but, hearing even Sakura basically threaten them, the entire crowd was stunned. The more arrogant amongst them couldn't help but furrow their brows at the 'audaciousness' of Vahn's children but, much like the rest of the crowd, they all applauded. Even if Sakura was just a frail little girl, the fact she had monstrous parents backing her couldn't exactly be ignored. Even if they got the opportunity to teach the girls a 'lesson' in the future, they would never do so unless they could be absolutely certain it wouldn't be traced back to them. Being recognized as an enemy of the Empire all but guaranteed death, a truth emphasized by a body count in the nine digits...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Fashion master Vahn bites his thumb at your t-shirt, basketball shorts, and flip flops...','A Tyrannical Emperor's children are also Tyrants~!?','Mess with the cubs and you only have yourself to blame when Mama and Papa find you...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Needless to say, the introductions of Mordred and Sakura had left a 'deep' impression on everyone in the crowd. Vahn's aura hadn't exactly helped to ease any of the tensions so, even when the lights came back on, the majority of people weren't sure what to do with themselves. Some thought about just turning around and leaving but, as the doors to the ballroom had been closed prior to Vahn's arrival, they feared the repercussions of trying.Seeing how uneasy everyone was, Vahn felt somewhat apologetic towards Luvia as it actually hadn't been his intention to ruin the mood. He always got carried away when it came to his children so, in a vain attempt to ease the tensions, he released a mellow and calming aura as he said, "This evening is meant to be a festive occasion. Truthfully, we are easier to get along with than you might expect...so long as you do not do anything untoward. For the next two hours, enjoy food and drink provided as a courtesy of the Empire whilst mingling with each other. We also enjoy conversation so feel free to introduce yourselves."Though it wasn't as effective as he'd have liked, Vahn could feel people begin to relax as a result of his calm aura and guiding words. He didn't imagine any of them would actually try and introduce themselves without a mediator but, so long as they didn't have any malicious intentions, Vahn didn't particularly mind conversing with anyone. The only reason he came off as an intense character was due to many Magi having untoward thoughts or malicious natures. At the very core, Vahn wasn't the type to seek conflict and, if he could get along with everyone, that would be ideal.What Vahn couldn't do was compromise with people who had malicious intentions as, the moment you showed any sign of weakness, they were like snakes primed to strike. If he was around kind and caring individuals, he could coexist with them without any trouble whatsoever. In fact, he preferred the company of Spirits and Fae for this exact reason as, other than fulfilling their purpose, the only other thing they cared about was ensuring each member of their race could live happily. There were some obvious exceptions to this but, in general, entities with an assigned purpose were a lot easier to get along with.With nothing left to say, Vahn escorted Artoria off the stage, followed by his rather large entourage. After joining the congregation on the lower level, he made his way over to where Solon and the rest separated into smaller groups to interact with the crowd. Some of the invitees were students of the Clock Tower, including a few belonging to the Department of Unified Thaumaturgical Theory, so the girls all had groups they could freely mingle with. As for Alexander, he immediately plowed through the crowd, making a beeline toward the buffet tables lining the far side of the hall...Before Vahn could reach Solon's group, his way was 'blocked' by the familiar figure of Reines and the deadpan expression of Waver. Vahn could see visible exhaustion in the man's countenance so, while he had been tempted to just bypass Reines, he internally sighed before halting his steps. Walking by Reines would be a pretty big slap in the face and, given her character, she wouldn't take it kindly. He had already taken steps to try and help Ridley but, in the hopes of helping both Waver and Reines herself, Vahn's brain began to mull over various solutions.Standing in the path of someone on the level of an Emperor was what many would consider foolish but, having a decent understanding of Vahn's character, Reines had been willing to gamble. She had made sure to approach from Artoria's side, leaving plenty of space to walk around if he decided to avoid her. Though this had its fair share of problems, Reines had been spreading rumors about her close association with the Empire and, even if she couldn't win Vahn's favor, controlling how others viewed her was well within the scope of her power.After performing a flawless curtsy, followed by Waver bowing politely, Reines smiled radiantly as she mused, "Your Imperial Majesties, it is a pleasure to see the two of you again. My husband and I have been wanting to express our gratitude ever since you visited our manor to heal his affliction. As this may not be the most opportune time, please allow us to pay you a visit in the future. My daughter, Ridley, also wanted to express her gratitude, but, due to her age, she was, unfortunately, whisked away..."Reines had made little effort to conceal her words so, while she hadn't said any lies, the complete lack of context made it very easy to misinterpret them. It made the relationship between her and the Empire seem infinitely more intimate than it actually was. Just mentioning the face he had personally come to aid them was a pretty big deal but, as he didn't want to publically shame her, Vahn kept his usual smile as he replied, "Having you visit Avalon is a matter for the far future but, if you would like to take tea, I'm certain Luvia can make the arrangements. Waver is a dear friend so I wouldn't mind conversing with him on occasion. Of course, as his wife, you are more than welcome to attend."Without directly refuting Reines' words, Vahn shifted the focal point to Waver, making it clear to the peanut gallery it wasn't the Archibald family, but Waver himself, that had his favor. Since Reines has pointed out his previous visitation, mentioning its relation to her husband, Vahn capitalized on the small oversight. As a result, despite the fact Reines was still smiling, Vahn could see a few additional purple and green bands within the pale-gray aura shrouding her body...Realizing what Vahn had done, Waver adopted a polite smile on his face as he bowed his head and answered, "To have His Imperial Majesty consider me a friend is a great honor. We will be certain to reach out to Lady Edelfelt in the near future. I am looking forward to drinking Your Imperial Majesty's tea once again."Though his wife's vice-like grip caused him a bit of discomfort, Waver knew he had a part to play and, for both of their sakes, he did his best. Reines would probably lambast him for not coming up with a way to elevate her status but, as her obsession was nearing the point of endangerment, he was hoping to resolve the matter in the near future. He lacked the ability to restrain her on his own but, with support from Vahn, it wouldn't be impossible.This time, instead of being dragged around, Waver was the one to lead Reines out of Vahn's way as, if she were to say more, it would only complicate matters. Vahn had already made a public promise to meet with them and, despite their relationship being 'peculiar', to the say the least, he gave them considerable face by calling Waver his friend. This was something Reines herself was very aware of so, even after Vahn and Artoria walked past them, she maintained a faultless smile before allowing Waver to lead her around, their roles suddenly reversed...---After 'deflecting' Reines away, albeit temporarily, Vahn neared the group now consisting of only Solon and Zelretch. Director Atlasia had wandered off to engage some of the students he had sent off to the Clock Tower while Da Vinci and Sion, neither fond of social situations, opted to alight to the private lounges adjoining the hall. They had only appeared as a matter of course so, after the gala officially began, they had no qualms about excusing themselves. Da Vinci, in particular, had grown rather tired of people trying to court her as, even with a device to conceal her beauty, her association with the Empire garnered a great deal of attention...Immediately after Vahn reached a comfortable speaking distance, Solon created a soundproofing bubble. Following this, Zelretch released a hearty laugh before adopting his usual sly smile as he said, "It may have just been my imagination but I would swear the temperature around that woman decreased by several degrees in an instant."Adding onto Zelretch's remark, Solon raised their head, looking directly at Vahn as they said, "That woman is a snake. I won't tell you how to handle your affairs but it would be foolish to trust her. That man has a few redeeming qualities but he is hopeless without the backbone to oppose his wife."Though he didn't exactly disagree with Solon's assessment, Vahn was briefly tempted to remark that there was nothing wrong with listening to your wives. He could also be considered to be henpecked but, unlike the situation between Reines and Waver, his wives genuinely respected his opinion. Even if he was wrong, they would still support him to the best of their ability and, as a result, they would be able to accomplish much more, together.Since Waver's situation was 'significantly' different than his own, Vahn issued a light chuckle before commenting, "I suppose we can't all be fortunate enough to have amazing wives. Even though I try to count my blessings every day, a new one seems to come before I'm able to finish."Hearing Vahn's flowery remark, the tips of Artoria's ears became almost imperceptibly redder. Her expression remained unchanged, giving off a dignified aura, but she couldn't hide the truth from him. This caused Vahn's expression to soften as he lightly rubbed the hand she had interwoven with his arm. He rarely passed up a chance to appeal to his women and, considering Solon had already erected an obscuration and soundproofing barrier, he didn't mind taking advantage of it.Solon was no stranger to Vahn's incessant wiling of women so, while Zelretch had an amused yet incredulous expression, the green-haired Magus appeared unphased as they muttered, "You really are a helpless fool...I suppose that is why so many women favor you?"With the latter half of their sentence being directed toward Artoria, indicated by Solon's slight turn of their head, the former gave a small nod before answering, "Vahn is a capable Emperor but, before that, he is a father, a husband, a teacher, and much more. We all support his vision, hoping against nigh-impossible odds that the world will become a better place through our efforts."This time, Solon's expression changed quite a bit as, unadulterated exasperation on their face as they shook their head and muttered, "I take it back...it isn't Vahn, alone, that is hopeless; the whole lot of you are beyond helping...!"Finding Solon's words disagreeable, Artoria's brows furrowed ever-so-slightly but, before she could retort, Vahn eased tensions by saying, "Relax." Then, projecting his voice so that only Artoria could hear it, he added, "Solon is just a Tsundere. They don't know how to express themselves so they just lash out whenever they are flustered. Don't let it bother you."As she was familiar with the term, Artoria briefly imagined Solon with twin tails, flinging gemstones at people with a red face. The latter seemed to sense her thoughts, their brows furrowing behind their blindfold as they asked, "What did that bastard tell you...?"Remembering how Solon always called Zelretch 'old bastard', the image of them being a Tsundere was cemented in Artoria's mind. Thus, while her instinct as an Empress and Knight was to defend Vahn's honor, she let Solon's comment slide with a 'knowing' smile. This only caused the latter to fume even more but, with a large audience, there was a limit to what they could say or do. Even the obscuration barrier wasn't perfect and, based on their body language, a lot of assumptions could be made.Deciding to give Solon a bit of leniency, as he knew they were easily stressed, Vahn redirected the conversation, explaining, "If nothing happens in the interim, we'll be making the announcement at precisely 9 PM. Until then, feel free to rest in one of the various lounges. Just make sure not to drop you guard...there is a decent chance some of some unexpected visitors making an appearance..."Hearing Vahn's warning, Zelretch adopted a battle-hungry expression while Solon, a small frown on their face, asked, "What are the odds? For you to be informing us...they seem quite high."Though he kept a casual smile on his face, appearing perfectly normal to external observers, Vahn's tone was firm as he unhesitantly answered, "There is room for variation but, based on our data, there is about a ninety-three percent chance of something happening. It would seem another example will have to be made before the integrity of the Magus community reaches an adequate level..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Relax, guys, just act casually :D...*world burning in the background*','Vahn's past training with Loki wasn't without results','Some things change, others remain the same')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With nearly every attendee having already arrived, Vahn was patiently waiting to make his own entrance. He was intending to arrive precisely at the changing of the hour and, after that, other guests would not be allowed in.It was common for the Guests of Honor to arrive at social gatherings later than was reported. In the interval between the time they are scheduled to appear and the moment they actually appear, everyone would be paying close attention to new arrivals. Thus, in the past, anyone that wanted to draw attention to themselves or their status would arrive during that brief window. This was a political statement of sorts and, despite how foolhardy it would be in this situation, Vahn knew a handful of people would still take the risk...To bide time until his entrance, Vahn was helping to style and fix the girls' hair, a skill he had all but mastered after well over a hundred years of practice. There were no limits to the shapes he could mold hair into and, due to the peculiarities of how hair behaved in some Records, they held their shape surprisingly well.Though this would be their official debut as Imperial Princesses, Sakura and Mordred had both elected to wear a modified military dress, rather than gowns. Neither girl had any interest in being treated like a delicate flower and, though Sakura once harbored an interest in being the type of princess found fairy tales, she quickly grew out of that phase after her training began. Now, she and Mordred were both wearing form-fitting white trousers, vermillion, military-style, blouses, and half-mantles that were colored white on the outside and red on the inside.Overall, both girls seemed more like Knights than Princesses. This would give the impression that the Empire was a military state but, after setting 'The Fall' in motion, Vahn didn't particularly mind how others saw them. It was better than having people assume his children were political tools that were vulnerable to external pressure and assassination attempts.After styling Sakura's hair into a neat bun, similar to how Artoria and Mordred tied up their hair, Vahn smiled at her through the mirror, asking, "Are you nervous?" in a gentle tone. In response, denying her true feelings, Sakura shook her head and answered, "I have trained hard for this day. I won't allow myself to be bullied or embarrassed...!"Hearing Sakura's remark, Mordred laughed at the side before jumping on her from behind and saying, "That's the spirit, Sakura! Let's teach these smelly bastards not to look down on members of the Imperial Family~!"Though she was used to Mordred's excessive physical contact, Sakura quickly extricated herself before smoothening any wrinkles in her uniform. This was evidence of just how nervous she was, causing Vahn and Mordred to exchange a quick glance that basically communicated, 'take care of your sister'. Mordred understood this well so, without any words between them, she just nodded before apologizing and helping Sakura fix her outfit.---At seven minutes till 7 PM, 1308 people had gathered together in the spacious ballroom. This relatively small group of people normally represented the majority of power within the Mage's Association but, compared to the people that had just arrived, even their combined strength wouldn't amount to much. Just the presence of the robed individual with green hair was enough to cow every member of the Clock Tower's faculty that was present within the room...Though they weren't actually the strongest among the group of new arrivals, Solon led the way as Zelretch, Director Atlasia, Sion, and the infamous Professor Alpha followed close behind. Sion had already been exposed as the 'former' Vice-Director of the Atlas Temple so, while very few people could recognize who Director Atlasia was, the fact he was followed closely by two affluent figures in the Department of Unified Thaumaturgical Theory spoke volumes about his status.While most of the attendees had turned statuesque with the arrival of such powerful figures, Luvia gracefully made her way over, her presence like a wandering star traversing a silent abyss. Then, further awing the crowd that had been gathered, the group headed by Solon was the first to give a polite greeting, something unimaginable to most. This sent ripples throughout those gathered along the periphery as, while Luvia's status had always been presumed to be high, it now seemed a lot higher.Finding the gossip in the surroundings bothersome, Solon, now wearing their usual blindfold, lifted their rather fair hand, creating a bubble that blocked all sound as they asked, "When is Vahn expected to arrive? I only just arrived and I already feel like leaving..."Though she was actually feeling quite nervous to be standing before the infamous Director of the Mage's Association, Luvia managed an unperturbed and elegant giggle before answering, "His Imperial Majesty will be arriving shortly. He has chosen to advocate for punctuality so he will be arriving at precisely 7 PM."Hearing what they had wanted, Solon gave a small nod before dispersing the soundproofing barrier and following behind Luvia as she guided them through the hall. Their action of simply walking to their destination caused the rest of the gala's attendees to quickly disperse, giving the group a very wide berth for fear of triggering the infamous Director's ire. Though Solon looked like a child at a glance, even the former Monarchal Lords hadn't dared to oppose them so, with monstrous existences like Zelretch present, none were bold enough to approach the group and introduce themselves.With the purging of the corrupt Noble houses and the abolishment of various practices within the Mage's Association, there was now a vast gulf between the lesser nobility and the most powerful members of the magus community. A massive power vacuum had also been created but, due to the Empire's presence and influence, it was impossible for anyone to actually take advantage of this.The only group poised to take control was Luvia's faction but, with her family having functionally limitless resources due to the Empire's backing, the Alliance now served more as mediators than anything else. It was for this reason that so many families had reached out to her as, without a mediator, trying to negotiate with the Empire seemed all but impossible. Most people failed to get a proper read on Vahn's character and, after he basically flipped the world on its head, few had the courage to even try...Amongst the group that dared to press their luck, there were only those such as Reines who, after seeing the Director's entourage, unhesitantly made her way over. Her family was one of the first to join the Alliance and, though they hadn't done much to earn the Empire's support, this did little to stop Reines from taking advantage of her presumed status. Thus, despite feeling more than a little intimidated by the group's presence, Reines neared Solon before adopting a smile and saying, "It is rare to see you out and about, Director. I did not expect to see you at a social gathering such as this."Despite wearing an embroidered leather blindfold, completely concealing their eyes, Solon had been staring at Reines from the moment she deigned to approach. This was more than enough to deter most people from approaching as, unlike Vahn, the fear of death wasn't something people could simply ignore. With their Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, anyone unfortunate to fall under Solon's gaze would feel vulnerable and powerless, much like a normal human suddenly finding themselves in a den of hungry tigers.Without minding Reines' actual words, Solon instantly shut her down by saying, "There is a fine line between bravery and seeking death. You would do well to consult with your husband before you end up making an irreversible error. He seems to have considerably more sense than you..."While Reines had been doing her best to adopt a casual demeanor, Waver, pulled along by her, had closed his eyes and lowered his head ever so slightly. He had often talked with Reines about her mistaken beliefs but, after obtaining so many of the things she had coveted for decades, she had been riding a high that made her previously cautious and calculating self seem like nothing more than a facade. She was too eager to seize greater power and authority, despite having done little to deserve it.In response to Solon's words, Reines visibly tensed, her smile becoming somewhat unnatural as she fought to maintain composure. Then, convincing herself that Solon was just a relic of the past, Reines gave a cursory bow before pulling Waver along to wait for Vahn's arrival. If she could get close to the Imperial Family, it wouldn't matter what other connections she had...Seeing Reines drag away her husband, Solon just shook their head before turning to Zelretch and saying, "There are power-hungry fools in every era. Tell me, during all of your stints into the future, was there ever a timeline where that woman succeeded?"Hearing Solon's remark, Zelretch's toothy grin showed just how much effort he was putting in to avoid laughing out loud. When he finally answered, Solon's inquiry, he explained, "Prior to Vahn's emergence, that woman was fated to lose her life after several failed ploys against the Archibald family. More often than not, she ended up getting tortured and killed by Bathomeloi Lorelei...as for the futures where she managed to succeed, most of those were timelines where Magecraft had rapidly stagnated. As a result, she was able to use poisons and assassins to eventually secure a pretty high position for herself."Even before Zelretch had finished explaining things, Solon had already imagined Reines to be a snake in the guise of a woman. If not for the fact Vahn kept company with some of history's most notorious poison users, Solon would have been tempted to remove Reines from existence. With their Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, it was possible to directly strike the Origin of a person and, as a result, even memories related to their existence would rapidly fade away.Understanding his long-time friend well, Zelretch lightly tapped Solon's leg with the tip of his cane, saying, "Vahn isn't the type of person that will punish someone for ambitions alone. Let that woman make her own mistakes. If she does something heinous enough, you needn't lift a finger as only death awaits those who directly oppose the Empire."Though Zelretch's words hadn't been spoken aloud, many people in the hall had been trying to listen in on their conversation. As a result, those who had been harboring thoughts about trying to resist the Empire in the future suddenly changed their plans as, with his 'Operation of Parallel Worlds', Zelretch was the person who knew best about the future. Considering Vahn had already killed a considerable number of people, his words had even more weight to them...Around the time their thoughts turned to the infamous Emperor, the lighting in the hall began to dim, the only exception being near where Luvia had been entertaining guests. This was a tiered area where, throughout the duration of the gala, an orchestra had been playing music. Located behind the conductor's podium, two tiers higher than where the orchestra itself was playing, a large stage had been visible since the onset of the event.With all eyes focused on the stage, Luvia, having changed into a completely different sapphire-blue dress, made her way to the very center. Then, using Magecraft to enhance her already loud voice, she performed a polite curtsy before smiling as she said, "I would like to thank all of you for attending tonight's event. Though I am acting as host of this evening's Imperial Gala, it wouldn't be much of an event without its Guests of Honor. With that in mind, please give light applause for the Empire's Steward, Sir Bedivere..."Following Luvia's introduction, a fair-skinned man attired in formal wear that resembled both a butler and a military officer stepped onto the stage. He had a regal and noble appearance with perfect bearing, befitting of his status as both a Knight and Imperial Steward. As a result, many members of the audience were awed while a number of women, and even some men, began to harbor untoward fantasies regarding the handsome Knight...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The Dao of Hairdressing','Reines' death-seeking habits','Imagine learning most of the former Knights of the Round Table are still single...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1409: Debut