Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Back in Orario, Vahn had been busy with a veritable mountain of paperwork, even though the largest portion was being handled by Fortuna, Loki, and Eirene. The latter's Familia was processing all of the new residents that would be entering into the City while Fortuna was allocating the necessary funds to get everyone situated. If not for all the temporary housing that had been constructed during the ongoing reformations of Orario, it would have been extremely difficult to place the large influx of refugees. Currently, the Alliance was assigning refugees that had close relationships with each other to the same abode, at least until they were able to find work and move into one of the proper housing districts.As there was a chance some of the slaves would want to stay inside of the temporary housing indefinitely, Vahn had to make the 'hard' decision to put a two-year limit where they would have ample opportunity to find work. Fortunately, most of the former slaves were extremely motivated and wanted to get a jump start on their new lives, many immediately becoming laborers and joining construction crews. They had the necessary skills after living for decades within the Iron Hills and, with the availability of food, ample break time, and decent pay, many refugees considered Orario as 'paradise'. This was especially the case for the Pallum, making up nearly half of the entire refugee population, who moved into the large community that had been established for Pallum previously.Because Vahn had always anticipated that a very large number of Pallum would migrate into Orario after his policy changes were introduced, the Alliance had placed a lot of its efforts into expanding that particular district, even when the population wasn't that great. Previously, there had been around 70,000 permanant residents in the district while the available housing could accommodate nearly 500,000. They weren't the most lavish of residences but the architecture was suitable for ease of living for Pallum, with most of the shelves, tables, and countertops made much lower than normal. As a result, Orario referred to this section of the City as 'Little Orario', even though the Pallum residing in it had literally named it Pallum's Paradise...Currently, Vahn was pouring over a list of applicants who wanted to join the Haven Defense Force, which, once again, constituted a large number of Pallum and various Beast Humans. The Elves he had liberated were either returned to the Elven Forest or given residency within the budding Elven Community District. Many of them hadn't been slaves for very long, so their mentality had suffered a heavy trauma as a result of the very different lifestyles. As for the Half-Elves that had been forced to become slaves, they were currently unable to rationalize that the very nation that had sold them into slavery was now undergoing reforms. Many of them were seeking to become servants and shop assistants, essentially taking up the role they had back in the Iron Hills. As a result, Mama Mia ended up taking in several hundred Half-Elf refugees to serve within her various Hostess of Fertility, which now had a total of twenty-nine branches in operation.Overall, things were transitioning slowly but surely in a positive direction, at least until Vahn saw what was happening back in the Iron Hills. His hands had come to a stop mid-stroke, causing Fortuna and Loki to give him a curious look as the latter asked, "Did something happen, Vahn?" She had been helping sort out the more 'troublesome' slaves, as not every slave that had been liberated from the Iron Hills could be treated with impunity. Some had fallen into slavery as a result of crimes, many relating to theft, fraud, and embezzlement. Currently, so long as they cooperated with the investigations, these individuals would be given a clean slate of sorts, assuming their crimes were not of the heinous variety.Vahn shook his head lightly, explaining, "I'll have to take a break to meet with Tsubaki...there are a few things I need to inform her about. Why don't the two of you take a tea break to clear out the cobwebs? You've both been working hard..." Instead of Loki, Fortuna was the one to answer Vahn's question, laughing in an amused tone as she twirled her pen and said, "Though I'm sure we can both appreciate your concerns, aren't you working harder than everyone right now, Vahn? I'll take a break when you take a 'real' break..."Fortuna was a principle Goddess of Fortune with lesser divinities related to Wealth, Trade, and Luck. Vahn had been introduced to her through Minerva a long time ago and she had served as his intermediary when dealing with the markets of Orario. She was a beautiful goddess with a sharp and intelligent appearance, possessing pale green eyes and platinum blonde hair. As if trying to accent her intelligent look, Fortuna almost always wore a pair of designer bifocals while her hair was done up in a neat ponytail with her bangs done up near her temples with two golden pins. This caused the fringe hairs on the side of her face to frame her intelligent visage in an extremely neat fashion, completely her intelligent look, even though there was always a 'teasing' glint in her eyes that seemed capable of discerning the true value of everything...The one thing that Fortuna herself complained about was, much like Loki, she hadn't been blessed in the breast category at all. She was also rather petite, standing only 162cm tall, though her heels brought her up to a fair 170cm. Vahn had given her a massage in the past, discovering that Fortuna wore a padded bra that bolstered her bust size quite a bit. Though she wasn't truly flat, having similarly sized breasts to Emiru and Maemi, Fortuna had remarked, "Having a large bust is an asset when conducting business." Since she usually wore very stylish clothing that accented her appearance even further, giving her a 'professional' feel that could put most of the Guild receptionists to shame, it was obvious that Fortuna was very calculating in how she presented herself to others...Vahn knew that Fortuna was more than a little fond of him and, if circumstances were slightly different, they may have already entered into a more permanant relationship. Now that she was showing her concern for him, in her own way, Vahn's expression softened a little as he said, "I'm not sure how long I'll be, but I wouldn't mind joining the two of you for a long break when I return. Though there is still a lot of work to complete, I can finish most of the paperwork in the Sub-Space Orb or create an updated memory fragment that can go through the paperwork on my behalf..." In general, if not for the two orbs, Vahn wouldn't be able to manage all of the documents that required his attention, especially during chaotic times like this.Fortuna and Loki both frowned when they heard Vahn's words, knowing that he was going to use the 'break' as an excuse to later work himself even harder. They knew he was trying to build a foundation to become an Emperor, something they both supported, but he was trying too hard to make things run 'perfectly' from the very beginning. There were so many ongoing projects right now and, at the heart of everything, there were both of Vahn's bodies working tirelessly to make sure things were running smoothly. Though he did take breaks, usually when they forced him to spend the night with the children, Vahn was spending upwards of six full days without sleeping even a wink. During the 'Fifteen Day War' between Orario and the Iron Hills, Vahn had spent more than two months of time without resting at all...Knowing that Vahn 'had' to have a limit, and fearing they would learn the hard way what happens once he reached it, Loki rose to her feet before walking over and placing her hand on Vahn's shoulder, sternly saying, "You can take the documents and let your memory fragment deal with them. That isn't an opportunity to just do more work, though, so you'll have to take a few days off to actually relax, okay? This thing with Tsubaki, it seems like a pretty big deal...you should spend some time with her and Sakuya. Though everyone in the Manor will help her out, you're her lover and the father of her child...there are some things only you can do for her. Relax, show her you are there for her through your actions, not just your words..."Without waiting for Vahn's response, Loki turned to Fortuna and said, "Come on, Fortuna, we could use a break of our own. This idiot will probably be busy for a while and we might starve to death if we wait around for him~." Though Vahn had become very 'reliable' over the last few years, Loki knew it wasn't that difficult to influence his decisions. She was confident that her words would be enough to get him to at least rest for three days, even if it was only with one of his bodies. The other would undoubtedly be off taking care of other important matters, something she understood was outside of her control to truly regulate. It would take the combined efforts of the girls in the Manor to get him to truly relax which, at the present, wasn't necessarily a good thing with how much was going on...True to Loki's expectations, Vahn sought out Tsubaki with the intention of staying at her side for as long as she needed him there. In truth, he also wanted to spend time with her and Sakuya, just as he wanted to spend time with all of his lovers and children. Though he had a decent lull in his schedule after sealing Enyo, it never felt like he had enough time to actually spend with all of the people important to him. He had to split time between spending time with his lovers, playing with his children, training, forging, assisting Asfi, Naaza, and Nanu with their research, making sure things were running smoothly at Spero, watching over the development of Haven, and ensuring that Enyo's seal wasn't compromised somehow. Without the Sub-Space and Space-Time orbs, it would be impossible for him to manage everything, even when he was in a period where he was supposed to be 'relaxing'...While thinking it would be best to actually relax for once, even while preparing to head back to the 60th Floor to monitor things with his avatar, Vahn made his way to Tsubaki's workshop. She didn't spend much time in the Sub-Space orb as, even though he could prevent her from aging noticeably, Tsubaki had never truly gotten over how old she was. Presently, her 'age' was around thirty-nine years old while, chronologically, she was forty-three. Her appearance, however, would cause most people to assume she was in her mid-twenties, as her healthy brown skin glowed with a youthful vitality while her sensual curves would make most men short of breath, assuming they had the opportunity to gawk without getting their face smashed in by her fists...It was currently Sunday, meaning Tsubaki wasn't at the School, so Vahn was easily able to track her down without even having to look. He could have sent her a telepathic message to meet up with him but, considering the circumstances, Vahn wanted to go to her side instead. She was in the middle of making a pair of black bracers that would easily fit a child, leading Vahn to believe she was making them for either Sakuya, Aisha, or Meinya. The latter had started to train hard after Arnya became busy training members of the Haven Defense Force. Though she still liked to play around, Meinya obviously wanted attention so Arnya had been guiding her more actively after noticing the change.Tsubaki was at the stage where she was adding embellishments to the material, giving it a unique appearance that would match its user. As a result, she finished up rather quickly before setting the bracers to the side, a loving smile on her face as she asked, "Vahn, is there something I can do for you...?" Even before she had finished asking her question, Tsubaki realized something was 'off' so she had started to make her way over, allowing Vahn to naturally embrace her. He wasn't the type to complain about a bit of sweat and, in circumstances like this, it was important if they were closer together for mutual comfort...Vahn held Tsubaki for nearly a full minute, sending threads of calming energy into her body, before explaining, "I know you told me not to worry about it, but I couldn't help trying to find out what had happened to your father..." Tsubaki's response to this was to just hang her head slightly, breathing in a little deeper to remain calm before uttering an 'Nn' to encourage Vahn to continue. He went on to explain the truth, including her father's past, how he had come to meet Sakuya, and 'why' he had put his life on the line. In the end, Vahn gave her the [Sakuya-no-Tsubaki], explaining its name and origin, causing the silent Tsubaki to tremble with the blade in her grasp.For the better part of an hour, Vahn just held Tsubaki in his arms as she curled up in his embrace, neither crying nor speaking a word. She just held the [Sakuya-no-Tsubaki] as if it were a precious treasure, staring into the pristine white blade that even her current skill may not be able to replicate. Though it lacked magic, the make of the blade and its unique abilities were something that only a god would be able to replicate, making it a true miracle amongst [Master Smith]s. The fact that Jorfaic had produced such a masterpiece, all because of the passion and love he had for Sakuya and her unborn child, showed the man's absolute dedication to both. Tsubaki, however, simply couldn't shed tears for the man as it conflicted with her own image to greatly...it would take time for her to truly accept these revelations...After calming down, Tsubaki still remained silent for a few minutes before asking, "Are you still back in the Iron Hills...?" Though he had already started making his way back with Fafnir, Vahn nodded his head in affirmation, causing Tsubaki to say, "I know you have the power...please, bring my father back...I want him to be buried at my Mother's Manor. In the future, when we go to pay respects...I..." Tsubaki knew that Jorfaic, her Father, had been yet another victim of circumstance and that all of her resentment towards him had been created based on a misunderstanding. Part of her even wondered if her mother had known about his death, giving her his surname and helping her to grow stronger as both a warrior and a blacksmith before telling her the truth. In the end, however, her Mother had remained silent on the issue, for reasons that had died with her...Tsubaki wondered if it was because of her single-minded hatred of her Father that her Mother had been unable to speak the truth. People could be foolish at times, especially when it came to keeping the truth from their loved ones, all in the name of 'protecting' them. Understanding this was likely just another misunderstanding, Tsubaki didn't know quite how she should feel about the situation. The one thing she now understood was that both of her parents loved her dearly and, even though she had gotten her Father's gift late, she had already found the happiness her parents had wanted for her...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Welfare and Charity can also cause problems','Vahn is still broken, just in a different way...','There is no truer love than that of a parent towards their children')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Taking Loki's advice seriously, Vahn stayed at Tsubaki's side and, instead of busying himself in the Dungeon with his avatar, decided to spend time with his family back at the Manor. He really didn't need to be 'rushing' everything so much and, so long as he wasn't caught wholly unprepared, it wasn't as if there were any great threats that required his attention. Now that they needed time to get the refugees settled, Vahn knew he should focus more on internal affairs instead of seeking conflict with other countries. They still had a little more than five weeks until the Rakia Kingdom's invasion forces arrived, so now was a good opportunity to get his personal life sorted out.With these intentions, Vahn spent nearly three days caring for Tsubaki, rarely leaving her side except when she needed to perform her duties at the School. During that time, Vahn would play with Sakuya, Meinya, Aisha, Lenneth, and Anise, watching over their training and just spending time playing games with them. At the same time, he had found the opportunity to check on his older children, helping Erika with her never-ending studies, teaching Vana how to manipulate external Fire Elemental energy, and helping Ina test her inventions. The latter had developed a prototype suit of armor that covered the entire body, complete with size-changing functionality. Most impressively, however, was that Ina had discovered how to create and exploit 'slots', something that Vahn had overlooked in other people's work.Depending on how a 'slot' was assigned, it was possible to use equipment in conjunction with other equipment, such as how a bow could make use of unique arrows depending on the number of slots. Ina had found a way to increase the number of slots in her armored suit, copying the basic structure of the Aegis Armor that Vahn had produced for the girls. With all the pieces of her suit together, including helmet, breastplate, pauldrons, arm harnesses, gauntlets, 'belt', leg harnesses, and greaves, Ina's [Aegis Prime Mk. 2] had a total of twenty-nine slots. The armor itself only had the Abilities 'Auto-Sizing' and 'Shock Absorption', but the additional parts that could be slotted into it gave it infinite functionality.Currently, Ina was proactively trying to learn how to 'engineer' gemstone constructs, using a combination of [Lapidary] and, after learning from Asfi, the [Mystery] Development Ability. All of the Vanir seemed to have a natural ability at learning Skills, Magic, and Development Abilities, much like how Vahn had been able to learn them in the past. So long as they set their minds on a goal, each had been able to achieve a great deal in a very short period of time. Vana already had [Swordsman], [Tamer], and [Acrobatics] while Erika had reached A-Rank in her [Mage], and [Analysis] Development Abilities. Vahn had never even heard of the latter before it popped up in her [Heroic Tale], which explained that it allowed her to analyze targets, identifying their strengths and weaknesses at a glance. She could even, to an extent, gauge the power output of a target, claiming that Vahn's 'aura' made it seem like he was a massive ocean of power...Ultimately, Vahn was incredibly proud of each of his children, even though the Vanir stood out as especially exceptional. The fact that his three eldest already appeared to have reached adulthood still caused him to feel slightly melancholic but, seeing how much they had grown along the path they had chosen, he could only smile with pride. His only complaint, though it really couldn't be considered one, was that there seemed to be a 'gap' in their awareness that he wasn't sure how to address. Even Erika would sometimes want to receive a bit of pampering, causing Vahn to feel awkward whenever they would make requests for things like massages and other types of spa treatments. He didn't mind it so much, as he felt no deviant feelings towards his daughters, but a part of him wished they would show a bit of propriety at times...(A/N: Keep in mind that Vahn is also the family physician, does beauty treatments, etc. Don't be weird about it :P)From the period between 4:30 AM, as Tsubaki had to be at the School's training field by 5:00 AM, until around 2:00 PM, Vahn would spent his day watching over his children and interacting with the other residents of the Manor. When Tsubaki eventually returned, he would always be there to greet her with Sakuya in his arms, spending the rest of the day together and showing her as much care and concern as she could tolerate. This ended up being the key word, tolerate, as Tsubaki eventually started teasing him for being overly concerned, trying to drive him away and make him spend time with other people. Even so, Vahn had gotten good at handling most of the girls, Tsubaki being no exception, so he managed to coax and pacify her until she became docile in his arms once again...It was the evening of the third day when, after having what amounted to a tickle fight, Tsubaki was leaning into Vahn's chest with the sleeping Sakuya in her embrace as she muttered, "I think I'm ready... let's go tomorrow afternoon..." Vahn had already moved Jorfaic's body to where Tsubaki had wanted him buried, erecting a large prayer shrine where people from the Far East would go to honor their ancestors. Tsubaki had a smaller shrine inside her room, where they would return to at the end of the year to pay respects to Sakuya. Now, the shrine inside Tsubaki's old room, which had belonged to her mother before her, had two pictures enshrined inside. The first showed a vibrant Sakuya, still the picture of perfect health, while the second showed a stern-faced Dwarven man who, if you looked closely, had a soft light in his eyes...Vahn responded by rubbing Tsubaki's arm as gently as he could manage, not wanting to wake Sakuya, while he kissed the top of Tsubaki's head and said, "Whenever you're ready...there is no rush, Tsubaki..." She nodded her head slowly in response before muttering, "The longer I wait, the guiltier I will feel...besides, aren't I always telling you not to overthink things? As sad as this ended up being, it is actually a positive outcome. Instead of abandoning us, my Father cared for both my mother and me very deeply...I have wronged him greatly and it has already been far too long since I have paid my due respects..." The only reason Tsubaki had waited an additional three days was that she had been trying to think about why her mother had kept the truth from her. However, no matter how much she thought about it, any answer she could come up with didn't seem to be the truth of the matter. Now, after watching over the various orphans in her change at the School, Tsubaki felt that she 'needed' to pay respects to her deceased Father soon or the guilt might tear her apart...Without saying anything, Vahn just held Tsubaki a little tighter, knowing she was trying to sort her own thoughts, not really expecting him to have a response. This was something she could only work through herself and, for the time being, his duty was to show her as much support as she needed from him. Tomorrow afternoon, they would go and pay respects as a family, taking Sakuya along with them so she could come to understand that both of her grandparents were loving parents to her mother. Though she was still a little young to understand such things, Sakuya would one day learn the significance of these truths, giving her strength and direction in her own life down the line...---True to her word, Tsubaki had arrived punctually at the Manor after completing her duties at the School. Vahn was already waiting for her with Sakuya, dressed up in an adorable red kimono, holding his hand at the side. Tsubaki, seeing her own daughter in such a getup, couldn't help smiling affectionately as she too made her way inside to get changed. Vahn was also wearing a black yukata with red lines, designating him as the 'head' of the household while Tsubaki eventually dawned a similarly colored Kimono. Though she looked very stylish wearing such clothing, there were no adornments or embellishments to be seen, as they would be going to mourn and pay respects. This wasn't the case for Sakuya, however, as Vahn had spent nearly two hours helping her style her hair and look even more adorable so that he could show her off to his in-laws...Though they would have flown during most circumstances, this was a solemn event that Tsubaki would need time to prepare herself for. As a result, the three walked hand-in-hand the entire distance, even stopping to peruse a few stalls when Sakuya showed an interest in something. By the time they reached Tsubaki's Manor, the adorable little Half-Dwarf was happily nomming away at a candied stick while Tsubaki's expression had softened a great deal, a natural smile displayed on her face. When they went inside, Tsubaki showed no hesitation as she stepped into the shrine and, though it was long overdue, she paid her sincere respects to her father while praying for the health of her daughter...Vahn waited patiently outside with Sakuya since, even though he was the head of the house, he had no right to enter into the Ancestral Shrine dedicated to Tsubaki's ancestors. His time came later, when the three of them entered into Tsubaki's room and opened the partition where the shrine that was dedicated to both Sakuya and Jofraic was located. Here, Vahn paid his respects together with Tsubaki before they had a long conversation with the two pictures, introducing the confused Sakuya to her grandfather. Even in her confused state, however, Sakuya did an adorable little bow and happily began chatting with the two pictures as, for a brief moment, it felt like the five of them were all in the room together as a family...That night, the three of them stayed within Tsubaki's Manor while Tsubaki, for the first time since learning the truth about her Father, shed tears on his behalf. In the past, she had cried tears of indignation, blaming her father for the suffering she and her mother had to go through alone. Now, knowing she had misunderstood the truth of the matter, Tsubaki shed tears that had been bottled up for forty-two years, crying for the father she had never known. All the while, Vahn lent his shoulder to her, stroking Tsubaki's silken black hair until, several hours after she had started, the proud and strong woman he had fallen in love with cried herself to sleep...The following dawn, Tsubaki had returned to her normal and upbeat self, an honest and caring smile on her face as she cooked up some fried rice and eggs for Sakuya. Vahn knew she was still hurting, and would likely be for a while, but he also displayed a happy smile. He knew that now, after coming to terms with what had happened, the healing process could finally begin. Just as Sakuya and Jorfaic had hoped, Tsubaki would be stronger after knowing the truth and, with the [Sakuya-no-Tsubaki] at her side, her happiness would continue to grow. Even their daughter seemed to understand this as, during breakfast, with pieces of rice sticking to her face, Sakuya happily asked, "Mom, will you teach me how to use a sword like that...?"Tsubaki had already started teaching Sakuya some of the fundamentals but, as the latter was too young for real training, they hadn't started on anything more difficult. When she heard her daughter's question, however, Tsubaki smiled lovingly before adopting a 'serious' look as she said, "If you start down the path of a warrior, you will not be able to deviate and slack off later on. I'll teach you everything I know until you are strong enough to grow beyond me and begin teaching others. It isn't a path you should walk if you lack the conviction so, until you are four years old, you should seriously consider if that is what you truly desire, Sakuya..."Even though her mother's words sounded serious, Sakuya just giggled playfully as she held up her spoon and shouted, "Don't worry, Mom, Sakuya will be the strongest~!" With her exclamation complete, Sakuya scooped up another mouthful of fried rice and shoveled it into her mouth, squinting happily as she did so. Tsubaki, hearing her daughter's words and observing her actions, simply began to laugh out heartily while Vahn, watching the interaction between mother and daughter, felt like his heart was going to melt. With the bonds of family, and a willingness to do whatever it took to make the other party happy, it was possible to whether any kind of setback. Tsubaki would normally need the support of many people to put this matter behind her and face the future but, with just a few choice words from her daughter, the road to recovery would become much shorter.Since Tsubaki had taken the day off, having Arnya fill in for her, the three spent the first half of the day lounging about and simply spending time together as a family. In the afternoon, after having Sakuya wear some casual children's clothing, the three went around the various interesting areas of Orario, including the very top of Babel tower. It worried Vahn a little, that none of his children seemed to have any fears while he was around, but it also made him feel like a capable father at the same time. Even when Sakuya was walking around the edge of Babel, completely ignoring the high winds that could easily sweep her off her feet, Vahn just created a wind barrier around her while anchoring her with his telekinesis. Since even Tsubaki allowed her to play around, enjoying the sight of Orario from above, Vahn allowed his daughter to do as she pleased while saving his lecture for later...Once Sakuya had played around for a bit, the three made their way to a rather high-end restaurant within Babel Tower before taking Sakuya to view the various weapon and item shops on the 16th Floor. Along the way, Vahn found a small shop that sold children's toys and souvenirs, which had been growing in popularity, and decided to buy something to commemorate the event. When they entered the shop, however, Vahn felt his face heat up as Tsubaki's laughter echoed throughout the entire Floor. As for Sakuya, she beamed upon witnessing the adorable plush dolls that were on display, labeled under a sign that boldly touted, 'Best Selling Children's Toy, The Little Emperor of Orario!'. There, in a display bin that was surrounded by various women and children, a veritable pile of Vahn plushies could be seen...In the end, Vahn had to purchase several of the rather intricately designed dolls while those who had already been there to buy one ended up asking for autographs. Some of the bolder women, at least until Tsubaki scared them away with a deadpan stare, even tried to ask for a lock of Vahn's hair to sew into the backing. His popularity with Amazons, Elves, Pallum, and Beast People had been peaking for a while now, though they typically had enough sense not to bother him when he was with family. This time was a bit of an exception, however, as the group of girls fawned over the adorable Sakuya while happily flaunting their dolls and paying him more than a few heavy compliments...Along the way back to the Manor, Tsubaki teased him incessantly about the dolls while Sakuya happily hugged her 40cm tall plush that had cost Vahn a surprising 60,000V. It used rather high-quality materials in its construction and, after asking the store owner about who created them, Vahn learned they were produced by a goddess named Rhapso, possessing a 'literal' divine level of skill when it came to sewing. Her Familia was relatively new, only existing for around eight months, and she currently only had four total members. Since she hadn't joined the Alliance yet, and Vahn had never heard of her previously, it was likely that she had only descended in the Mortal World around the same time. Now, Vahn planned to give her a public endorsement and invite her into the Alliance, as the popularity of such items had a lot of potential within the ever-evolving markets of Orario...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Ina Inherited Tony Stark's Will xD','Four decades of saved tears...','Rhapso is about to become famous, producing an entire line of Vahn-type plushies~! I imagine they would be very popular with refugees and the girls at the School...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Tsubaki's father, Jorfaic Collbrande, had been born into the Collbrande Main Family sixty-seven years in the past. He had been the second son of the Patriarch's brother and, after several years of internal competition over who would be the next head of the family, Jorfaic ultimately failed in his endeavors. His cousin, the son of the Patriarch, had been able to become a [Master Smith] at the age of thirty-two, confirming his place as his father's successor. As for Jorfaic, even though he was also highly skilled and well on his way to becoming a [Master Smith], he had been moved into the Branch Family to remove him from contention. His older brother, Edwin, had been good friends with the Patriarch's son, Dulgurim, forcing Jorfaic to sacrifice his career as a [Blacksmith] in order to become a Merchant.Dissatisfied with the lot he had been given, Jorfaic ended up 'betraying' the Collbrande Family by stealing away the valuables and sinking one of their small merchant vessels. He then vanished, seeking asylum within Orario before taking up his hammer once again. Jorfaic was determined to become a [Master Smith] so that, when he did return to the Iron Hills one day, he would be able to show his brother and cousin how foolish they were. They had tried to suppress his growth by forcing him into the position of a Merchant but, once he obtained the title of [Master Smith], they would be seen as fools within Dwarven society while Jorfaic was free to open his own Workshop.The Matriarch wasn't entirely sure what happened while Jorfaic was within Orario, but Vahn knew the man had sought out other capable blacksmiths before finally meeting Tsubaki's mother, Sakuya. Not only did she have techniques that were significantly different from the Dwarves, especially when it came to forging weapons, but she was already a [Master Smith] at the time. The two entered into a relationship after a few years had passed before Sakuya ended up becoming pregnant with Tsubaki...This was where things became tragic for all parties involved as, shortly after learning of Sakuya's pregnancy, Jorfaic's mentality had undergone certain changes, allowing him to finally break into the coveted [Master Smith] rank at the startling age of twenty-nine. Upon realizing his dream, Jorfaic had immediately wanted to return to the Iron Hills to show the Collbrande Main Family how foolish they had been to try and make him into a Merchant. With his achievement, he was one of the youngest [Master Smith]s in the entire History of the Iron Hills, beating out the son of the Patriarch a full three years while his older brother was behind by nearly ten...Once the story had gotten to this point, Vahn's expression had turned icy as he asked, "What happened to Jorfaic after he returned...?" By now, he had already started to glean some insight into things, especially with how the Matriarch claimed Jorfaic to have been exiled. Matching his expectations, the elderly woman showed a mournful expression as she said, "Jorfaic did indeed return to the Iron Hills, but it wasn't in triumph...because he had stolen wealth, sunk a merchant vessel, and compromised an entire caravan...he had been exiled from the family. He had also been blacklisted and labeled as a criminal by the Elder Council, barred from entering into the Iron Hills as a citizen..."Vahn's expression hardened even more upon hearing this as he once again repeated, "What happened to him...?" At this point, the room had become incredibly tense as everyone present hung their heads when the Matriarch answered, "The only fate for criminal exiles within the Iron Hills is to become slaves. If we hadn't exiled Jorfaic, he could have ruined the entire family..." Because they would have been held accountable for Jorfaic's criminal acts, the Collbrande Main Family had very quickly cut ties with their kin. This was a very common occurrence when there were any hiccups or accidents with the merchant caravan, as it was considered borderline treason to compromise the 'lifeblood' of the Iron Hills to such an extent.Though he already knew the answer, Vahn still asked, "Is he alive...?" in a solemn tone. Just by the Matriarch's expression alone, Vahn understood the truth of the matter. Even so, he still listened as she explained, "Jorfaic refused to become a criminal slave and pay off his debts, even though it wouldn't have taken that long with his capabilities as a [Master Smith]. The Stormwright clan had offered him terms that would have allowed Jorfaic to earn his freedom after ten years...however, regardless of the terms, Jorfaic adamantly refused. In his attempt to escape, Jorfaic injured several members of the Stormwright Family and was subsequently executed for his crimes..."Upon hearing this, Vahn was unable to resist allowing his domain to release a subtle pressure, as a strong desire to wreak havoc amongst the Stormwright clan emerged in him. However, he also understood that Jorfaic had indeed broken laws which, at the time, were beyond his means to do anything about. As the member of a Lesser Noble house, it was impossible that Jorfaic hadn't been aware of the laws he had broken. That meant there was more to the situation while, at the same time, his justification for causing havoc at the Stormwright residence was without any basis. He would essentially be throwing a tantrum, even though it was an irrefutable truth that Jorfaic had broken the laws and had to be held accountable...Trying to piece together the whole story, Vahn asked, "Do you know why Jorfaic was so against becoming a slave to pay for his crimes...?" Vahn already had a guess as to the reason, making it no surprise when the Matriarch looked towards the side, nodding her head towards the middle-aged Dwarf standing next to the Patriarch. The burly man swallowed audibly with a troubled expression on his face as he said, "I had the chance to meet with my brother when he was imprisoned. He argued that he could pay back all of his debts after returning to Orario, even if he had to pay double the amount owed. At the time, he wouldn't explain why returning to Orario was so important, so it was seen as an attempt for him to escape responsibility once again..."Even without the man explaining further, Vahn was able to deduce why Jorfaic had wanted to return, especially with how hesitant Edwin seemed to be about speaking on the matter. Tsubaki had become very famous as both a [Master Smith] and the Captain of the Hephaestus Familia. Even if they hadn't known about her existence at first, the various merchant caravans that traded with the Hephaestus Familia obviously would have spread the word upon their return.Vahn suspected that Jorfaic wanted to return for Tsubaki's birth, likely after severing ties with the Collbrande Family directly. It was considered a pox of sorts, having a child with another race, but it was obvious that Jorfaic hadn't been a conventional Dwarf in the least. He had fallen in love with a human woman who had greater skills than himself, even siring a child with her and becoming inspired enough to become a [Master Smith]. It was his desire to protect Tsubaki and Sakyua, who could have been pressured unfairly by the Iron Hills, that compelled him to remain silent when questioned...To confirm part of his suspicions, Vahn asked, "Did you receive letters for Jorfaic around twenty years ago...?" This time, the atmosphere in the room became so tense that it felt like you would be able to cut through the air with a knife and leave a visible trail. For several long seconds, nobody answered Vahn's question, causing the tension to increase further until the Matriarch finally explained, "After confirming the letters had been delivered...they were burned as an offering to Jorfaic's unmarked grave...I'm sorry..." As criminals were not allowed to be buried with honors, most were simply tossed into mass graves or burned to ashes within a furnace. Jorfaic had been a small exception, as he had obtained the rank of [Master Smith], so his body was laid to rest with an unmarked gravestone on the edge of the Collbrande Family Estate...Knowing that Tsubaki had paid exorbitant fees, during a period of her life when she was suffering the most, only for her letters to be burned away...made Vahn feel incredibly empty on the inside. Since the letters had been addressed to a dead man, it would have been exceptionally rude for anyone to actually read the contents but, the fact nobody had even bothered to send a return letter explaining the situation, causing Tsubaki to continue spending a small fortune to deliver more letters, showed just how greedy the Dwarves could be. Part of him wanted to punish these people for lacking the basic decency to provide any kind of closure to a girl that had been suffering greatly...even though this was a matter from more than twenty years ago...After taking in a long breath, Vahn exhaled a sigh as he stated plainly, "Tsubaki is one of my most important people...you know, we even have a daughter together now. I had wanted to bring her some form of closure by finding out what happened to her father, a man she had spent thirty-nine years believing had abandoned her. Even when she was caring for her sick mother, desperately trying to contact her father, she had become an even greater victim because of the practices of your corrupt and wicked merchants...I don't know what to tell her about this event, as it feels like anything I say would only bring her greater pain..."Vahn knew it was possible to have ties closer than family, even with people that had no blood relation to you. At the same time, it was possible to have direct kin who felt extremely distant, to the point that they would even backstab you if it meant they would receive benefits. He didn't want Tsubaki or Sakuya to have any relation to these kinds of people, even if they may one day grow beyond their current status and become kind and capable people in the future. Though it should be Tsubaki's decision to make, Vahn's expression turned icy as he said, "I feel an indignant rage, yet have no way to deal with it without causing a tragedy...from now on, the Collbrande Family no longer exists. You will change your name and bury this matter entirely...if I ever find out any of your family tries to use your loose relationship with Tsubaki to gain any form of benefits, I will fix my mistake by making you disappear myself...!"Once the Iron Hills became a more open country, it was very likely that Tsubaki would one day venture to the homeland of her father and seek answers. Even if he lied to her and said he was unable to find out any information, there was no way he would be able to genuinely fool her. As much as he tried to hide his thoughts, Vahn was terrible at lying to the people that were close to him, especially women like Tsubaki. This meant he would have to tell her the truth at some point, as she deserved to know that her father had cared for her enough to stake his life just trying to return to them. One day, she may even forgive the Collbrande Family for what they had done, but that was something in the far future, for both of them...As prideful as they may be, not even the Patriarch of the Collbrande Family was willing to stand against Vahn on this issue. He knew they had erred a great deal in how they handled the situation and, given Vahn's power and authority, he had more than enough of both to completely bury his entire family. Dulgurim had even made an internal decision to properly mark Jorfaic's grave and entomb the area properly, just in case Tsubaki or Vahn returned here one day. They didn't have the right to seek any benefits from either of them but, depending on the choices his family made in the future, things weren't entirely irreconcilable. As small a connection as it may be, they still had familial ties with Vahn and Tsubaki, meaning it was possible their family could flourish in the future if they changed their ways. (A/N: Remember, these are people that have lived like 80+ years only thinking about benefits. It is impossible that they wouldn't be considering how best to make use of such a situation...)Vahn spent a few minutes discussing matters with the Patriarch of the former Collbrande family, including the steps they would take to change their status and reputation in the future. Since they had two [Master Smith]s, it wouldn't be hard for them to uproot their Workshop and businesses before moving into another Undercity after changing their names. Dwarves rarely had interaction with people outside of their social and business circles, and now was a good time to move since the entire Iron Hills was in chaos. A lot of people would likely be moving about in the next few years while those families with Master Artisans would likely rise to even greater prominence in the aftermath...After their discussion had come to an end, Vahn wanted to see Jorfaic's grave so he could pay respects to his would-be father-in-law. Though he and Tsubaki had never truly married, they had gone through the ceremony that would have made her into his Mistress. In accordance with her's and Sakuya's culture, Vahn wanted to pay his respects properly. Thus, for the better part of an hour, Vahn washed Jorfaic's grave before bowing low to it, praying he had found solace and happiness in his future incarnation. If possible, Vahn prayed that he and Sakuya could reunite at some point, finding peace and love in each other's company once again...Once had finished paying respects, Vahn raised his head and, without turning around, asked, "Did you need something from me, Matriarch...?" The old woman had been watching him for over a half-hour, silently standing at the side without making any sounds to interrupt his display of respect. Now, upon hearing Vahn's words, she moved forward with slow steps, carrying a wrapped cloth in her arms as she said, "You have every reason to be dissatisfied with us, Vahn, there is nothing I can do to remedy that. Please, take this with you...it is the item that Jorfaic had forged to become a [Master Smith]. It does not belong here in this place any longer..."Within the wrapped cloth, which seemed to be comprised of fine red silk, there was a relatively plain katana. However, as simple as its appearance was at a glance, Vahn was able to feel a strange sense of 'pride' and 'elegance' radiating from the sheathed blade. Upon receiving it from the Matriarch, Vahn unsheathed the blade, finding an immaculate silvery-white blade that was the obvious result of a [Master Smith]s cumulative efforts. Even the untrained eye would be able to see the amount of effort that had gone into the production of this single blade, so sharp that simply looking at it gave the sense that you were going to be cut...With a small nod, Vahn resheathed the blade and placed it into his Inventory, pausing when he saw the name that was listed through the interface. His nose felt a little sour and, even though he had never met Sakuya and Jorfaic himself, Vahn felt an urge to tear up. Reading the name and description of the katana made Vahn's heart feel like it was twisting in his chest and, though he had already paid his respects once, Vahn felt compelled to do so a second time...----------------------------------------------------------------------[Sakuya-no-Tsubaki](A/N: Last Night's Camelia Flower)Rank: SP.Atk: 1800M.Atk: 0Abilities: Parent's Hope(S), Impeccable Edge(S), Durandal(A), Auto-Repair(A)A sword produced by a budding Mastersmith during a bout of inspiration, allowing him to produce a miracle in the form of a masterpiece. This blade contains the passion and intent of its creator, bestowing it with the unique ability to greatly increase its user's potential. After going unused for forty years, the effect of this blade has only increased, carrying the sincere hope that its intended user may cut through all obstacles in order to obtain happiness.Restriction: Tsubaki Collbrande----------------------------------------------------------------------(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'A Man Who Would Not Be Suppressed','The Failure of a Family...','A Hope That Transcends Death...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Chapter 902: Overwork : Understanding