Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

After helping Rin set up her own workshop, leaving Sakura to play with Mordred under the watchful eyes of Artoria and Gray, Vahn found himself in his own workshop alongside Da Vinci. She was currently overhauling Ark with a series of upgrades after having changed back into her more youthful form. Though she now had three bodies with the [Golden Rule: EX] skill, she still preferred this form, saying it was easier to have smaller hands and not have to work around her breasts when she was hunched over and focused on a project. It was also the form that Vahn was least likely to make any advances on, allowing her to comfortably snuggle up with him whenever she wanted to take a break.Since Da Vinci was currently tinkering with an electronic brain that had used her own as a template, Vahn chose not to interrupt her work. Instead, he picked up a clipboard and a pen before moving to the area where Da Vinci had been conducting tests with his blood and other bodily fluids. Though it made him feel a little bit like her assistant, Vahn didn't really care all that much since he was also extremely interested in her research. Unfortunately, even Da Vinci's best efforts had yielded results not all that dissimilar to Vahn's own findings. This included the fact that, regardless of the structure of his cells, even if he turned them into solid metal, they would always carry the same purification properties for up to twenty-four hours. As for the bodies he had produced for the others, they had also lost this unique quality, even though they were still comprised entirely of Source Energy.What this research proved was, instead of his cells themselves being unique, something else was responsible for giving them their purifying qualities. Curiously, the purification effect seemed much stronger when it was in the form of blood, indicating that it may have something to do with Blood or Purification Laws. It was very difficult to discern, however, as both types of Laws were usually pretty easy to detect. Vahn's blood, however, was impossible to analyze as, even when it was structured as a red blood cell, even the most powerful microscopes weren't able to identify their structure at all. His blood didn't even serve the same function as other people as, regardless of if they were exposed to oxygen or within a perfect vacuum, they would never decay until they lost their 'purification' properties. After that, they would break down into 'literal nothingness', as not even subatomic particles were left present in their wake...Da Vinci's current theory was that, instead of simply 'purification', his cells themselves were made up of a completely unknown form of energy, one that wasn't governed by Law or Mystery. Rather than a 'physical body', she determined that Vahn's form was more of a 'projection', not all that dissimilar to her Conceptual Vessels, just infinitely more complex. He completely lacked things like DNA and, unless he was guiding the processes, there were times when Vahn's cells would just 'do nothing' until they were observed or 'needed' in order to repel invasive energy. Then, even if it had been a simple protein strain or an individual blood cell, they would instantly change form and function to automatically react when Vahn was in danger, turning into a form of energy that was impossible to detect with any of her existing tools. Though it was possible to destroy his body faster than this autonomous reaction, Vahn's body seemed to 'remember' what had injured it in the past, developing resistance to even the tools she used to take measurements...Though Vahn knew the energy comprising his body was Source Energy, a lot of the other findings Da Vinci had made were completely new to him. Since he was, for lack of a better explanation, an Avatar that had been manifested specifically for the Nasuverse, the comparison between his body and a Conceptual Vessel wasn't all that far off. His form always took on the 'image' he had formed, representing his ideal except when he willfully changed it to something else. This was similar to how Da Vinci's Conceptual Vessels would change based on her perception, just pushed to an extreme as he could change without limit while her bodies took a lot of preparation to develop.The most important discovery, though it was actually rather obvious if he thought about the past, was the fact that his body was developing a resistance to 'everything' outside of itself. Since it was always changing based on his perception, it was a given that anything that had caused him pain would become less effective. Though his body didn't filter out the pain any longer, at least after his [Pain Tolerance] had evolved into [Rakshasa Body], this was an important mechanism for keeping him focused. As he could actually turn off his ability to feel pain, Vahn knew it was a very bad idea as, without proper stimulus and feedback from your body, you actually had to pay a lot more attention to your own state or you might even up losing a limb without even noticing it...As for why this was an 'important' discovery, it implied that his body was always evolving and adapting to new stimuli and threats. If given enough time, he could theoretically become immune to anything as his resistances even seemed to apply to Laws. This could be seen from how his regeneration, while also improving gradually, was less affected by Kenshin's 'Martial Laws' and Scáthach's Anti-Divine weaponry. In a way, it was almost as if he was naturally cultivating a unique kind of Defensive Law that was slowly turning him into an existence like Jeanne back in Danmachi. As the Nasuverse also had things like [Magic Resistance], [Physical Resistance], and Siegfried's [Armor of Fafnir], it wasn't outside the realm of possibility to believe he would one day reach a point where 'nothing' could harm him. He had even experienced something similar in Danmachi where, after reaching Tier 4, attacks from anything lower than his Tier couldn't even damage him due to the protection of the Record's Laws...---Even after taking all the measurements and checking all the vials, Da Vinci still wasn't finished working on her project so Vahn decided not to bother her. As it really wasn't all that important to discuss the ideas he had in mind, at least right this instant, Vahn left the Workshop and instead decided to check on Olga or see how Luvia was doing. He hadn't seen the former since she had retired to her room previously while the latter had gone off to explore the castle alongside Fenrir. Since there was a good chance she had already explored most of the interesting places, as much of the castle was still barren, Vahn expected he would encounter Luvia either near the residential areas or on the western side of the castle near the Knight's Training Grounds.With the current size of his domain extending to nearly 4500 meters, it didn't take long for Vahn to identify where both girls were, especially since they were together alongside Lakshmibai and Fenrir. Though this caused a small flag to raise in Vahn's mind, he wasn't going to back away just because the situation might turn awkward. Based on their arrangement, Vahn expected that Luvia might be trying to cement herself in the group hierarchy or, based on what he had observed from her, Olga could be asking them for advice. She seemed like an awkward young woman, not all that dissimilar to his impression of Risna, albeit less of a shut-in and just generally lacking social grace. It was obvious she was having a dialogue occur within her mind so Vahn was expecting her to 'explode' at some point in the near future after her delusions reached a certain point...As the girls had met up in the Library, a public area, Vahn didn't bother knocking as he walked through the large open doors, drawing the attention of everyone present. Since none of them seemed surprised, he assumed Fenrir had alerted them to his presence long before his arrival, something he was easily able to confirm when her ears twitched and she averted her eyes for a brief moment.After rising from the lounge she had been seated on, Luvia smoothed out the creases of her dress in a natural manner as she remarked, "My Emperor, what brings you here on this lovely evening? Were you perhaps looking for me~?" As she knew there was actually a high chance of this being the case, Luvia bit the bottom of her lip with a slightly seductive look in her eyes as, other than Vahn, the others could only see her back. She didn't seem aware of the fact that Fenrir could 'smell' her but, as the latter had already broken the habit of calling people smelly, Luvia was able to avoid that rather embarrassing label.With her question not far from the truth of the matter, Vahn gave a curt nod in response and, as Luvia had already walked over, he gestured toward the door, asking, "Shall we alight...?" Though such manners weren't really necessary in this situation, Luvia had referred to him by his title so Vahn had decided to go with the flow. He didn't know if she was trying to make things clear for Olga, who had been statuesque since his arrival, so it was best to play his part in such situations. Thus, when Luvia linked her arm with his, Vahn escorted her out of the room in the proper manner while giving a polite nod to the other girls present.Shortly after leaving the room, Luvia, now happily clinging to his arm, informed, "That girl seems to be struggling. If she is troubling you, I can always arrange different terms with the Animusphere family. It would compromise the foundation of our alliance but I could buy out all their assets so that Da Vinci can research them freely. Though there is a good chance a lot of the data would be lost or destroyed-." Before Luvia could continue any further, Vahn had guided her to a stop before looking at her with a hint of sharpness in his eyes. He understood it was 'normal' for established families to take advantage of others, especially in this politically driven world, but that wasn't how he preferred to do things. Though he would, at times, put pressure on others, this was usually necessitated by the situation, not his personal preference...When Luvia had trailed off her words, meeting his sharp gaze with an elegant smile, Vahn shook his head before saying, "Though she may feel pressured to be in this situation, she also had the resolve to see it through by coming here. With how she behaves, I can guess that her past has had its fair share of troubles. If possible, I would like to help her overcome these things and become a stronger person in the future. The only thing that keeps me from taking action right now are the elements of uncertainty surrounding her. Even if I go easy on her, there is a good chance a person with Olga's personality would develop a dependency on me in the future..."In response to Vahn's words, Luvia gave an understanding nod, adding, "Indeed. Even I am taken aback by the type of person she turned out to be. The few times we had met in the past, she seemed like an unnecessarily haughty woman who was putting on a strong front. Now that she is in a weaker position, her personality has essentially flipped...hmmm...is it so bad that she is dependent on you? With the amount of time available within this place, I'm certain she will eventually grow beyond her current limitations if you guide her properly. Besides, aren't those other three girls rather dependent on you...?"Hearing Luvia's question, several faces flashed through his mind, including Illya, Medusa, Circe, and Lakshmibai. Though they all had strong personalities, Vahn could imagine them having breakdowns if he ever expressed he was no longer interested in them. This would never happen but, while girls like Lakshmibai would probably dutifully serve at his side, Illya could potentially threaten the entire world while Circe would undoubtedly do something like trying to poison everyone else. Medusa was the most stable of the four but, as she was also the 'closest' to him, if for no other reason than the strange bond linking them, Vahn knew she had the highest potential for doing great harm in a short period of time...Seeing the look in Vahn's eyes, Luvia knew he had understood who she was talking about, causing a smile to spread across her lips as it was always preferable when the person you were talking to was able to quickly intuit the meaning in your words. This showed that Vahn regarding everything she said seriously, something that would be very important if she were to one day be his Empress. With that in mind, Luvia decided to give him options, adding, "That man, Siegfried, seems like the docile and caring type. If you do not wish to address the matter of Olga personally, you can always play matchmaker between the two of them. Though she would lose the status of being directly involved with you, the most important thing is to avoid internal conflicts and unnecessary troubles."Though it didn't seem like a terrible idea, as Siegfried would undoubtedly treat Olga well, he knew it wouldn't necessarily be 'healthy' for either of them. Vahn knew Siegfried well after spending months confiding in the stoic man whenever they both had free time. If he asked him to, Siegfried wouldn't hesitate for a moment to commit himself to Olga, as that was his nature. However, as a result of his past experiences and the life he had lived, there would always be a 'disconnect' between him and Olga that, even after decades, may never be bridged.For better or worse, Siegfried was simply unable to lie. If Olga were to ask him why he liked her, or what he liked about her, rather common questions in Vahn's experience, his answer could devastate her. Though he would likely say something complimentary, it would only be a matter of time before the 'truth' came out. Since it was virtually impossible to have them develop a relationship naturally as, even if she were to approach him of her own accord, the current Siegfried would never accept such sentiments. If there was even a negligible chance his actions could be misconstrued as having betrayed Vahn, he would always er on the side of caution. Though he was alive in the present, the current Siegfried had already assigned himself a purpose and, as the one who had inadvertently given it to him, Vahn knew well how his friend would react to Olga's clumsy advances...After thinking about the matter, Vahn ultimately shook his head, saying, "I'll deal with Olga's matter personally. Though the chances I'll ever gain a full understanding are slim, I've come to learn a lot about women over the years. Based on how she reacts to every little thing people say about her, it is clear that Olga is the type that is sensitive to praise. If I leave her as she is, the chances of her being taken advantage of by someone would increase exponentially. As she has already developed certain expectations, she would only get worse if things don't develop at least in the same direction. I can't have a Director of an organization that is meant to monitor the entire world if she is vulnerable to being exploited by others..."Vahn could see any older man, or even strong women like Nobunaga, easily wrapping Olga around their finger and leading her by the nose. Unless he paid close attention to her, the odds of her being manipulated in the schemes of others was very high, with Olga herself being none the wiser. She was simply too eager to please others, to the point that he could probably even leave her to Fenrir for a while and she would likely become another 'devoted' follower of his.Since it was infinitely better to change her perspective from 'seeking praise from others' to 'seeking praise from him', Vahn had a rough idea of how he needed to treat Olga moving forward. At least in this manner, whenever others tried to manipulate her, Olga would become immediately skeptical of them since she would always pass things through her lens of 'is this what Vahn would want?'. From there, he could help Olga become a stronger and more confident woman and, though the odds of her leaving his side would decrease exponentially, she would at least be a much better person by the time he had finished influencing her.Vahn was well aware of how his treatment of women could drastically alter their perception of both themselves and the world around them. Even girls like Tiona were 'very' perceptive, especially once they gained a bit of confidence, so Vahn believed that it wouldn't be long before Olga decided on a path of her own choosing. Though her path had a high chance of running parallel to his own, even if she diverged a bit, Vahn was confident she would never betray the trust of the people who helped her set the course. He could easily see her becoming good friends with pretty much everyone in the castle at some point as, once she broke out of her shell, girls like Olga were usually eager to increase their rapport with others. Then, with so many other powerful personalities surrounding her, it was only a matter of time before Olga herself became one of them...Understanding that Vahn had made up his mind, Luvia dropped the matter entirely and just clung to his arm with a smile on her face. Matters of Vahn's private life, at least for the time being, were not her primary concern. Since she had been the one to boost Olga to her current position, Luvia wasn't going to undermine her own efforts as, from past experience, her intuition regarding such things was always accurate. Olga had a lot of 'investment potential' and, with someone like Vahn present in her life, it was only a matter of time before she reached heights that would have been impossible for her back in London. Luvia herself felt stronger just by having Vahn's Familia Crest carved onto her back and, knowing its functions, she was rather eager to return to the Clock Tower and negotiate access to the Spiritual Tomb, Albion...After a few minutes of silence, Vahn and Luvia ended up outside of her room as, understanding her own intentions, Vahn had a few of his own in regards to the buxom golden-haired beauty. With them being in direct contact, he knew from the moment they had left the Library that Luvia had been anticipating what they might be doing. Though they had yet to marry, even her mother had gotten pregnant before finally sealing the deal with her father. One of the most important 'duties' of the Edelfelt heir was to find a suitable partner to pass on their genes to the next generation, with marriage usually being a byproduct, not a requirement. With the valuation of Vahn being 'limitless', Luvia was rather eager to sink her teeth into him and, if necessary, vice-versa...With their intentions aligning, Luvia opened the door to her room before inviting Vahn in with a slightly red hue to her face. This was her first time but, as Rin had already spilled to beans about what to expect, she was less nervous and more excited than anything else. After all, Vahn had even conquered Goddesses related to Sex and, seeing how the other women in his life simply 'accepted' his relationships with other women, Luvia had very high expectations. Even if they were close, it was rare for women to coexist with each other without small conflicts so, eliminating other factors, this meant they had unified together as a result of a commonality between them. Though Vahn's nature wasn't all that bad, Luvia knew it took more than that to win the hearts of so many women...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Da Vinci's Loli Defense Matrix','Vahn, "I don't want people to be dependent on me..." *petting Circe into oblivion*','RIP Luvia')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

When Sakura finally woke up, around five hours after Vahn had laid down with Rin, he helped pick out an outfit for her while she went off to the bathroom to dutifully brush her teeth. Afterward, he helped to brush her hair and style it up while, having never been much of a morning person, Rin took her sweet time crawling out of bed. By the time Sakura was ready to go, her mother had only just dragged her feet toward the bathroom, releasing a loud yawn along the way as she asked, "Are you going to breakfast...?"Vahn gave her head a rub in passing, sending a wave of gentle yet stimulating energy into her body as he answered, "Yeah. I'm going to cook something up so hurry over. After that, we can take a walk over to the Knight's training field together. Sakura wants to see Mordred's morning training..." As she was near what Artoria stated to be the 'ideal' age to start Page and Esquire training, Vahn had a small expectation that Sakura might take an interest in it. She was at an impressionable age and, though it wouldn't be easy for her, there were a lot of people within the castle who would support her growth.Unlike her mother, Sakura was already completely awake so she immediately followed up by pumping her little fists and exclaiming, "I don't want to be protected by Onee-sama! I want to become strong...!" As she had already seen Mordred vaulting through the air in a way she had not even though possible, followed by her dominance of all physical and skill-based recreational sports, Sakura had been inspired. She knew that Mordred wasn't even a year older than she was so if she began working hard, Sakura believed it wouldn't be long before she was able to do incredible things as well. This was why, when Vahn picked out clothes for her, she was given an outfit similar to what Artoria and Mordred wore during morning training, complete with an undershirt, tunic, trousers, belt, and springy riding boots that ran halfway up her calves to prevent her from rolling an ankle...Though Rin was moments away from telling Sakura she didn't need to try and follow in Mordred's footsteps, she ultimately just smiled before stroking her daughter's head and saying, "You can do it, Sakura..." in a guiding tone. Even if the training was hard on her, Rin knew it would be better for her in the long run and, considering she would be under the tutelage of Artoria, there was little chance she would be in any real danger. If Sakura actually managed to reach the point of being a qualified Knight from Artoria's perspective, there would be few enemies throughout the entire world that would be able to contend against her. Thus, even though she kind of wanted Sakura to just live an easy and peaceful childhood, Rin instead decided to just support her decision...---After cooking up a large and hearty breakfast, at least until Circe eventually showed up to take over the kitchen, Vahn enjoyed another lively meal before placing a few dishes into a picnic basket and escorting Rin and Sakura over to the Knight's Training Field. Along the way, Vahn explained to Sakura what she should expect, including that most trainings took place during the day period. If not for the fact he had detected Artoria, Gray, and Mordred heading out earlier, her resolve would have to be temporarily quenched. As for why the girls were training during the night period, Vahn didn't really question it since it wouldn't be the first, or the last, time. With Catherine currently wandering around France with Astolfo and Nobunaga, Mordred didn't have any other lessons so it was a 'given' that she would be training with her mother...As expected, Mordred and Artoria were currently in the midst of light sparring while Gray was seated on a blanket at the side. Most of Mordred's training took place directly in the Knight's Training Field instead of the Training Orb due to the seal on her body not really necessitating the use of the infinite white space. Though their fights could get pretty intense at times, Artoria emphasized 'control' over raw power as, with their use of [Mana Burst], it wasn't really necessary for them to exert themselves in the same way as others might. Instead, she was trying to hone Mordred's instincts further while helping her build up a stronger foundation, the antithesis of her previous, somewhat brutal, fighting style.Almost as soon as they arrived in the field, Sakura stared in awe as her sister twisted her body agilely through the air to evade a sweeping blow from Artoria. In the same movent, Mordred tried to bring her own reinforced wooden sword to bear against her mother but, by simply adjusting her center of gravity and placing her sword at a sloping angle, Artoria was able to deflect the blow with finesse to spare. To her credit, Mordred was also about to react extremely quickly, kicking out with her left leg and releasing a small burst of mana that allowed her to flip over, performing a second strike that was evaded with a backstep from Artoria. She was taking advantage of her smaller stature and compact center of gravity to spin around in the air, combining offense and defense together in a manner that made it hard to follow her movements.Unfortunately, while such techniques might take the average warrior by surprise, Artoria's expression remained unflustered as, after stepping back, she also released a small burst of mana through her feet. Mordred held her sword with the broad side facing Artoria's charge while condensing a thin membrane of mana around her body. This resulted in Artoria gripping her sword a little tighter as, like a professional batter, she slammed her sword into Mordred's, sending the latter flying backward for several meters. Artoria continued to press the attack without giving Mordred any leeway, forcing her back until the latter nearly reached the wall of the training field. Instead of allowing herself to be pressed to the wall, Mordred used her proximity to the hard stone surface to leap back, planting both of her feet against the perpendicular surface before launching herself forward with a powerful thrusting motion.With Mordred now going on the offensive, Sakura continued to watch their battle with her mouth slightly agape before asking, "Is it really possible for me to fight like this...?" Now that she had seen an example of her sister's skill, Sakura had suddenly lost all of her confidence. Vahn answered her question by rubbing the top of her head, explaining, "If you work hard, you'll be able to do even more amazing things. One day, you'll even be able to fly through the sky and move faster than even the fastest airplanes..." As he said this, Vahn began to slowly levitate himself and Sakura, surprising the latter until she realized what was going on. Since he now had her full attention, Vahn smiled affectionately as he added, "There are no limits, Sakura...never be afraid to reach for even greater heights..."Though they had both taken notice of his arrival, Artoria brandished her sword after deflecting another one of Mordred's strikes. This was the signal for their spar to end, causing Mordred to wipe the sweat from her brow as she looked up at the floating duo, adopting a wry smile before shouting, "Chichiue, Sakura, don't go flying around without me~!" In response to this, Mordred felt a tugging on her body that slowly lifted her into the sky, eliciting a happy snicker from the youthful Knight as Artoria shook her head and plainly stated, "I'll give her a ten-minute break..." With that said, Vahn alighted his two daughters into the night sky while Artoria made her way over to where Rin and Gray were seated, the basket of food and a thermos of hot tea waiting for her...Vahn took Sakura and Mordred a few hundred meters above the training grounds, using his domain to keep away the frigid wind as he held the two girls' hands and slowly drifted through the air. He could keep her protected but, with Sakura's current physique, it wasn't safe for her to move around at high speeds. She would experience things like whiplash and gravitational strain if he accelerated too quickly, things her body wasn't able to withstand just yet. Thus, even though it was probably a little boring for Mordred, he just guided them slowly through the sky while, overhead, a half-moon illuminated the night, casting its gentle rays down on the uncommon trio. To add a bit of flair, Vahn channeled strands of Source Energy into his domain, causing bands of rainbow-hued light to spread through the surroundings, reflecting in Sakura's teal-blue eyes that had been glimmering, even as she tightly clung to his hand for dear life...---After setting back down on the ground just under ten minutes later, Vahn rubbed the tops of both girls' heads, promising, "I'll teach both of you how to fly in the future. Mordred, make sure you take proper care of your sister during training. The path the two of you walk may take different forms but it is still the same path. As Imperial Princesses, it is important that you are able to protect yourselves while also setting a proper example for those who will idolize you..." With that said, Vahn withdrew his hands from their heads while Artoria rose up from her spot and took over. She gave Mordred the task of performing a thousand sword strikes, using the proper form, while, as this was Sakura's first time even holding a weapon, Artoria had her practice just 'standing' in certain poses to start building up the muscles she would need for proper training later on...While seated at the side with Gray and Rin, the latter spontaneously asked, "Should I start training with Artoria as well? I've always been a mid-range and close-combat Magus so it would probably be a good idea if I train seriously..." In response to this, Vahn brought his fingers to his chin, adopting a thoughtful expression as he remarked, "There is nothing wrong with pursuing such a path. The only thing that really matters is that you keep training persistently and with the correct mentality. Even reaching a level beyond the Gods isn't impossible, especially with proper guidance..." Though saying such a thing to Rin, who had two Goddesses inside of her, was a bit strange, Vahn was very serious when he made such claims.Ishtar had actually seen mortals rise to a level that allowed them to contend against the Gods, she didn't really have much to comment on the matter other than telling Rin, ("It won't be easy but you'll have the two of us to help you. Just make sure to properly express your gratitude in the future, my dear vessel~.") At this point, Ishtar had become rather fond of Rin and, now that they were all with Vahn again, she was in a great mood. As for Ereshkigal, she sat in the corner of her own territory, nodding her head with a happy smile as she was surrounded by more than a hundred dolls that looked vaguely reminiscent of Vahn. She had been keeping herself occupied by practicing her sewing, something that both creeped out and amused Ishtar as they were forced to occupy the same space within Rin's soul...Though she had been silent after greeting Vahn and Rin previously, Gray used this topic to enter into the conversation herself, remarking, "I would also like to become stronger...instead of always relying on Add, I want to be able to protect myself with my own power." This caused the small metallic cube in her sleeve to comment, "Hey now, you aren't intending to abandon me, are you!?" Though he had always kept quiet around Artoria, even though the latter was already aware that he was templated from the consciousness of her adoptive brother, Sir Kay, Add couldn't keep silent when hearing Gray effectively say she wanted to grow beyond having to rely on him.Hearing the somewhat shrill metallic voice of Add, Gray held up his cage, shaking it around a bit as she complained, "I'm not going to abandon you, idiot...I just want to be stronger. I lose most of my combat ability when we are separated so I need to get stronger to avoid losing you..." This remark caused the vaguely humanoid face on the metallic cube to look rather embarrassed as, in a much lower voice than previously, he released an awkward laugh before remarking, "That's right, isn't it? Sorry, Gray, I said something thoughtless..." As 'he' had always been overprotective of her ever since the first incident with Svin, where he had been sealed away in a magical vault, Add had panicked a bit when it sounded like Gray was going to stop using him in combat...Seeing the peculiar interaction between Gray and the small cube, Vahn had an amused expression, even though he knew Add's main weapon, Rhongomyniad, wouldn't be in his possession for much longer. With that in mind, he habitually stroked Gray's head, eliciting a sheepish blush from the monochromatic girl as he remarked, "The path you decide upon can take any form you please, Gray. You will have my support in anything you choose to do, even if you ultimately chose to spend the next couple of years enjoying life. I think it's long past due for you to experience some happiness so don't push yourself too hard until you have a proper understanding of your goals..." With nearly sixty years of additional prep time within the Projection, Vahn believed it might actually be better for girls like Gray to just take it easy for a short while. Even Nobunaga and Kenshin had similar ideas and, if she was able to find a 'new motivation', he knew her strength would increase explosively later on...Gray found herself at a loss for words after hearing Vahn speak, lowering her head slightly as she just allowed him to stroke her hair for nearly a full minute before Rin nudged him. This was ultimately for the best as, while stroking Gray's head, Vahn had been very tempted to grab her wriggling ahoge as it danced from side to side in response to his caress. He had once grabbed Lakshmibai's in the past, eliciting a loud and startled 'squeak' from her, followed by an extremely embarrassed reaction that resulted in her giving him the silent treatment for a few minutes after the fact. As Artoria had also reacted in a rather adorable manner, Vahn felt that ahoges within the Nasuverse were a strange yet amusing existence that, even now, he didn't fully understand.---While making polite conversation with Rin and Gray, Vahn also watched the progress of Mordred and Sakura with a thoughtful light periodically flashing across his eyes. He could tell that Mordred was actually slowly breaking through the restrictions of her seal, even though it was still in full effect. Her body seemed to be adapting to its presence, causing her use of Magical Energy to become far more efficient than it had been in the past. Now, she could nearly fight as if the first part of the seal had been removed, something Mordred herself seemed to be fully aware of as she continued to exert herself long after her body was completely soaked with sweat.Mordred always behaved this way whenever he would attend her training and, knowing she was aware of his gaze, Vahn would give an approving nod whenever she performed particularly well, even though he knew she was just showing off. In the past, this would earn her a reprimand from Artoria but, as she had slowly been learning what she could and couldn't get away with, Mordred had gotten better at avoiding lectures. At the end of her thousand swings, she just added a bit of Magical Energy into the attack, kicking up a small tempest of wind that caused her bangs to flair somewhat heroically as beads of sweat were sent flying from her body. Vahn was actually impressed by the sight so he gave the reaction Mordred sought from him, something made more meaningful since Rin and Gray also seemed impressed by her display...Though significantly less impressive, Sakura was also working hard under Artoria's tutelage, even though her thin arms and legs were shaking after only a few minutes of training. Since she wasn't the type to show 'unnecessary' lenience, Artoria was using a thin wooden pointer to slightly adjust Sakura's position whenever her arms would start to fall. She knew Sakura's limits better than the young girl, using stern words as she strictly pushed her to the point of tears without showing any intention of letting her off. This caused Sakura to periodically look towards where her parents were seated, an act that normally earned her a light yet painful thwack as Artoria plainly stated, "Stay focused. It is always hard in the beginning, Sakura. After a few weeks of training like this, you will be able to stay in this position all day if necessary..."To her credit, even though tears would periodically fall from her eyes, Sakura never once asked for the training to come to an end. Since her parents were present, and just watching from the side, she knew this was 'normal' training. Because of this, even though it hurt a lot more than she expected, Sakura continued to push herself far beyond what she believed her limits to be. The reason for this, and the purpose of this training from the very beginning, was due to her Magical Energy working to alleviate her pain and fatigue even without her directing it to do so. Sakura had a much higher than average amount of Magical Energy and, with proper guidance, she would be able to tap into this energy to greatly enhance her physical abilities. The primary difference between this and using Reinforcement Magecraft was that the latter needed to be activated while this harsh training would gradually improve Sakura's physical capabilities to the point that she could even rival a Heroic Spirit in the future.After precisely thirty minutes of training, Artoria gave a curt nod before saying, "Good work, Sakura." These words were like a magical spell that caused Sakura's legs to immediately give out but, instead of crashing to the ground, her body was supported by an invisible force before she found herself being pulled towards the spot where her parents and Gray were seated. Artoria also flagged over Mordred, saying, "Breakfast time. Good work, Mordred." Then, emulating Vahn, Artoria stroked Mordred's hair and, even though she lacked any understanding of Petting Laws, this still elicited a toothy grin from her daughter. After that, they both made their way over to enjoy an impromptu picnic of sorts while Vahn let Sakura and Mordred use his lap as a pillow while he lightly stroked the former's head and fed the latter small pieces of fish and sausage with a pair of chopsticks...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Sakura's conviction...! Fighto~!','Mordred isn't simply overcoming her limits, but her restrictions (O___O)...','Vahn spoiling his little Princesses as their mothers stare with deadpan expressions...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Chapter 1165: Eager