Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Rather than returning to the castle quickly, Vahn walked at a normal pace, his mind in deep thought as he reflected on what Vivian had told him. As it was her ultimate goal to stay at Merlin's side, she was willing to offer her full support, so long as it did not involve directly interacting with others. Even though she had already 'imprinted' on the flowery Magus, Vivian could still be corrupted if she were exposed to too many negative emotions. Thus, rather than provide direct assistance, Vivian offered her service as a High Elemental Spirit who had full mastery over the Language of Faeries.The Language of Faeries, if languages could be classified in such a way, was what Vahn would refer to as a peak Tier 4 language. It had an incredible amount of potential, to the point that Artoria's armaments and physical enchantments were all derived from the Language of Faeries. So long as the user had a proper understanding of the language's structure, much like [Primordial Rune]s, there were no limitations to its uses. It could even grant people immortality, manipulate time, or, in the most extreme example, allow a person to move between 'Imaginary Spaces'.One of the most well-known forms of Magecraft used by the Fae was the Faerie Circles which, if used to their full potential, could even allow for passage to the Reverse Side of the World. As for its lesser, but arguably more useful applications, it could be used to enchant weapons and armor, promoting them to the level of Noble Phantasms. Though all of these uses depended on the amount of mana and materials, these were things that could be dealt with easily. After all, Vivian also had the ability to manifest concepts, albeit limited to aspects of Nature, Water, Yin, and Purification.What Vahn needed to keep in mind was the warning that Vivian had given him at the very end, the very thing that caused him to take his time when returning to the castle. She had explained that the efficacy of 'Faerie Runes', which was the written form of the Language of Faeries, relied on the caster being alive. They were intrinsically connected to their creations which also meant that, if used for evil and malicious acts, the creator could be corrupted. It was for this reason that powerful enchantments would be placed on their creations, making it impossible for the vast majority of people to use.As Vivian had already made a vow to him, stating that she would do anything he asked, Vahn, quite literally, had the authority to have her do whatever he wanted. High Spirits, especially Elementals, were incapable of lying and breaking their vows. Though he would never exploit this, it was enough to make him cautious and considerate of his future actions. After all, Vivian wasn't the only High Spirit he would interact with in the future and, if he erred along the path he had decided upon, there was a good chance his actions would have disastrous consequences.Vahn found that it was unfair that humans were able to make pacts and contracts with Spirits, Daemons, and Demons, binding them to their will. The fact that these were all Nature Spirits, existing as part of the natural order of the world, while humanity was more of an 'infestation', made little sense to him. Though he knew this was a quirk designed by the Record's Creator, Vahn couldn't help but feel troubled by the reality he had to face. For better or worse, humanity seemed to be the principal race within most Records, at least those existing within the scope of his knowledge.Though it wasn't the first time he had such thoughts, Vahn was now realizing that his ascent into the higher Tiers would be marred by his encounters with two groups, being 'normal' humans and those who oppressed and controlled them. Unless he proactively sought out Records that functioned from a fundamentally different perspective than what was considered 'normal', he would be plagued by the same tropes endlessly. This meant, even if he passed through a hundred Records, Vahn would be stuck in the same cycle over and over again, almost as if he were being refined and tempered like a blade being hammered tirelessly...Shaking his head, Vahn turned his eyes towards the blue skies above, muttering, "The only thing I can do is keep moving forward...when I reach the pinnacle, I won't allow this kind of structure to exist within the reach of my power..."In response to Vahn's words, the gentle and soothing voice of Sis flowed into his mind like water, guiding him in the same way she had always had, (*When you have enough power to link and create your own Records, it will ultimately be up to you to decide how the world itself functions. Even then, you must not forget, Vahn. So long as you endeavor to create a world where everyone can be happy, there will always be forces at play that serve to counteract your efforts. Creation, Destruction, Life, Death, Yin, Yang...for a Record to function, it must exist in a state of balance...*)Hearing Sis's words, Vahn nodded his head before continuing along the path toward the castle. As troubling as the thought was, Vahn knew he could not stamp out concepts like evil. Despite his best efforts, there would always be a few people who resist the system, doing everything in their power to break free and rise above others. Even if he promoted a system where they were able to rise up to their full potential, this would not satisfy everyone. At the same time, there would always be people who feel that the system itself is restricting them, despite the reality being that they simply didn't put in the requisite amount of effort to succeed.So long as there were differences between people, the seeds for potential conflict would always exist, waiting for the time they could blossom and thrive. It could even happen amongst people who seemed pure and incorruptible as, once they are in a position of uncontested power, just the reality of dealing with the same mundane problems could eventually wear them down. Even Vahn felt that way at times, finding the machinations of existences such as Nobles and Gods to be mundane and repetitive. Most of his enemies had common traits, being that they were either greedy, licentious, despotic, tyrannical, or all of the above. The only real differences between them were their respective crimes which, after a while, seemed to blend together into the same monotonous representation of corruption...Vahn found himself wondering if it wouldn't just be easier if he created a system that could interpret the karma of individuals, automatically sorting them into tangential realities where they would only interact with likeminded people. This would pit those with high amounts of negative karma against each other, allowing 'evil' to prosper in isolation while 'good' would flourish on its own plane. What made this impossible, or at least foolish to consider, was the realization that planes like Heaven and Hell were an example of such a system which, given enough time, ultimately failed...Resisting the urge to ruffle his own hair in frustration, Vahn's figure vanished from the path he had been walking. He next appeared at the entrance to the castle, deciding it was fruitless to think about such things on his own. His path was not one where he arbitrarily decided everything, passing down commands from on high without proper consideration for those who had to follow his decrees. Even when he ruled over entire Records, which was an inevitability at this point, the best he could do was create a system that incorporated the aspects of balance. He might not be able to come up with the most ideal system on his own but, with the help of people like Da Vinci, and the support of all his allies, lovers, and children, Vahn felt they could come up with something...---Though there was still a few hours until he had to return to the Training Orb, Vahn decided to vent some of his frustrations. Scáthach spent practically all of her time there, sometimes preparing a few 'surprises' for him while, other times, building obstacles and altering the terrain for future lessons. If he showed up early, he was essentially allowed to ask for supplementary lessons or just seek general guidance from her so, without having to worry about being trashed the moment he stepped inside, Vahn unhesitantly dropped into the Training Orb. There, as always, he found Scáthach waiting for him, her expression almost unreadable as she stared back at him with crimson-red eyes.Before he could state his reasons for arriving, Scáthach preempted him by saying, "You are lost and confused..." This was obviously not the first time she had seen Vahn in such a state, something which she had learned indicated that he was on the precipice of a big decision. With just this small amount of information, Scáthach was then able to reach her own conclusions about what plagued his mind, causing her to nod in understanding before saying, "There are none who can force you to bear the burdens you accept upon yourself. Hesitation and frailty of the mind will lead to ruin...if you do not have the conviction to abandon everything, stay focused on the things you want to protect."As she spoke, Scáthach walked over until she was standing just a few centimeters away from Vahn, close enough that she had to crane her head to look up at him. She could see that her words had an effect on him but, with doubt clearly visible in the depths of his eyes, Scáthach issued a rare smile as she said, "It is good that you are troubled. If you were not, you would have lost the qualifications to rule over others. This is why so many people support you. You should never have doubts, however, as doing so is an insult to everything you stand for..." Then, placing her palm against Vahn's chest, Scáthach added, "It is time you learn to be more selfish...you cannot live for others."Hearing Scáthach's words, Vahn had a wry smile on his face as he grabbed her wrist, saying, "If I were more selfish, I fear that I would become a monster...I do not want to become part of the corruption I fight again..." To this, Scáthach maintained her smile, staring back at him with an unwavering gaze as she replied, "This is why you've surrounded yourself with so many people. Do not look down on us, Vahn...if you step out of line, there will always be someone there to correct you. So long as you do not forget this, it is fine to act like a spoiled child..."At the end of her words, Scáthach prevented Vahn from saying anything further, extending her arms like in a blurred motion that was almost impossible to follow before hugging his face into her chest. She began to stroke the back of his head while adjusting her center of gravity towards the back ever so slightly. As a result, once Vahn began to relax, he naturally fell forward, causing her to tumble to the ground in a much smoother motion than an actual fall. This brought Vahn into a position where he was leaning over her body, his aquamarine eyes emanating a light that was invisible to most, but clearly discernible by Scáthach. Seeing this, her usually emotionless face softened somewhat, a small smile on her face as she wrapped her arms around his neck and said, "So greedy...you want me to spoil you as well...?"Though her words were obviously enough to give Vahn pause, as he knew the repercussions of such actions, Scáthach didn't afford him the time to think about it. Instead, she pulled herself closer to him, her lips close enough to tickle his ear as she whispered, "Give me everything...if you cannot bear the burden, you can entrust it to me...as your teacher, that is another of my responsibilities..." With this said, Scáthach flicked Vahn's earlobe with her tongue before pulling his center of gravity forward so that he was pressing into her. This was enough to cause Vahn to inhale deeply through his nose as he bit his upper lip to restrain himself.Everything that was happening right now was completely outside his expectations but, seeing the woman who had 'tormented' him for nearly a year suddenly pressed beneath him caused his brain to buzz instantly. Though he knew she was only 'acting', as this was also a Skill within her endless list of capabilities, Vahn felt an almost irresistible temptation. This was only exacerbated when he saw the taunting look deep in her eyes, followed by the edges of her lips curling into a condescending smile. At the same time, practically making the decision for him, Scáthach's bodysuit vanished into motes of purple light as she hooked her calves around his legs and pulled him closer to her body...Despite his inhibitions, Vahn felt that backing out at this point was impossible, but, despite this, he placed his hands down hard, flanking Scáthach's head. He stared into her usually emotionless eyes, resisting the temptation of her immaculately sculpted body and the stimulating heat that was being transmitted into him as he said, "I will not have sex with someone who does not love me...even if I have feelings for them..." Since he had already known her for a very long time at this point, Scáthach had become someone very important to him. She not only helped him grow stronger but, due to her own machinations, she now served as one of his 'goals', something he shouldn't be able to obtain arbitrarily.Hearing Vahn's words, Scáthach had a rare pause, her expression distorting slightly as she squinted her eyes. Then, after a few seconds had passed, she stated in a firm tone, "You are the person most precious to me, Vahn Mason. If I didn't want to give myself to you, there is little you could do to take anything from me..." Following this remark, Scáthach quickly reversed their positions, pinning Vahn to the ground in an instant. Before Vahn could say anything further, she grabbed the sides of his face and said very matter-of-factly, "I want to spoil you. I want to give my body to you. If you want me to love you, make me. Don't make excuses."Though he was very familiar with how vicious Scáthach could be, Vahn had been caught unprepared by her sudden actions. She made it very clear this was something she wanted and, even though he did his best not to rely on it, Vahn couldn't help activating his View Affection. The moment he did so, Vahn saw something rather discomforting as, with each second he delayed, Scáthach's Affection had started to decrease. What surprised him most of all, however, was the fact that her value had already broken through the threshold, represented by the hidden parameter 'Faith' at 413. This was the first time he had seen such a value, indicating that Scáthach had a lot more trust toward him than he had expected...Despite his confusion at the peculiar parameter, Vahn was very clear about what he needed to do as, with the activation of his View Affection, he was able to see Scáthach's aura. Though her expression had become somewhat vicious, there was actually no anger at all visible within her aura. Instead, it was a mellow yellow, tinged with sky blues and a healthy amount of pink. It could be the result of the fact she had riled up her own body so that it would be more responsive to him, but it was clear that Scáthach wasn't playing around. This became even more apparent as a small flower of purple began to bloom at the center of her aura, indicating frustration and a small amount of fear...With his mind calming down a bit, Vahn looked directly into Scáthach's eyes, causing her expression to return to a more neutral state. At the same time, her Affection started increasing, albeit at a much slower pace than the previous decline. Upon seeing this, Vahn adopted a smile as he extended his hand out and tested the feel of Scáthach's ample bosom while saying, "I will make you love me using my own methods...don't disappoint me, Shishou..."Hearing Vahn's words, Scáthach's face formed into a frown but, doubt filling her usually placid mind. It wouldn't be the first time she had sex with a student and, feeling that Vahn needed a 'boost' to his ego, she was fully willing to play the part required of her. What she didn't expect was him regaining his confidence in an instant, causing her current actions to feel like a 'mistake'. This wasn't the first time he had surprised her, however, so Scáthach quickly adjusted her mentality and adapted. As he began to fondle her breasts, she began to grind her hips against his, only stopping when Vahn's eyes became sharp.From this, she could conclude that he wanted her to remain an almost unreachable goal, something he could obtain, not something to be received. Though she should be happy with Vahn's decision, Scáthach felt a sudden 'emptiness' in her heart, even though she was certain there had been nothing there moments before...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Shit be whack, yo','Ara Ara...','Doki Doki')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Though he had originally gone to Scáthach to vent, Vahn later left the Training Orb in a ragged state. After he took the initiative, Vahn did his best to get a genuine reaction out of Scáthach but, despite his best efforts, the most he managed was causing her skin to flush slightly. Even this was only due to the fact she couldn't easily expel his Source Energy from her body, giving him a small advantage against a seemingly insurmountable foe. This had continued for several hours, Scáthach allowing him to try whatever he wanted while she passively and actively resisted his influence. Fortunately, with his View Affection still active, Vahn was able to learn quite a bit before one of the most painful thrashing sessions he ever experienced followed...Vahn thought he had prepared himself for Scáthach's 'counter attack' but, once the training actually began, she reminded him of the massive gulf between them. By the end of things, he had become a veritable puddle of greyish flesh, spending nearly three hours just trying to collect himself before she resumed teaching him about Laws and combat techniques. This was similar to the state he had been in after Musashi cut through his ego but, as he had 'failsafes' against that now, Vahn recovered much faster than he otherwise would have.During the follow-up lessons, Scáthach used 'practical' demonstration to teach him, meaning, other than the three hours he had spent reforming himself, Vahn spent thirty-seven straight hours at the mercy of his 'spurned' Shishou. She wasn't actually angry, as her Affection had actually gone up, but she seemed to be responding to his intent. Now, though it had already been obvious before, Vahn was made aware of just how much Scáthach had been holding back against him. Now, instead of just responding to him, she was taking the initiative to attack directly, forcing him on an impossible defensive where his mind could hardly even keep up with the stimulus he received from the outside world...Scarily enough, this was Scáthach's way of respecting his decision. She was showing him just how far apart they were and, if he wanted to capture her heart for himself, Vahn had a very long way to go. Since he had made his intentions clear, the proverbial gloves had come off. Now, it was a battle of attrition where he would either claim Scáthach's heart, or she would break him. Even so, Vahn didn't intend to give up and, now that he had essentially 'challenged' her, he would keep pressing forward until his inevitable victory. If he couldn't even conquer a single woman, there was little hope that he would have a strong enough will to rule entire Records...With such thoughts on his mind, Vahn decided to spend some time with Iris and Illya before leaving the Projection and heading to New York. This time, he was intending to travel without Alaya's help as it was only around 5,300km away. Previously, he had been using her for his convenience but, with a desire to see the world he would one day rule, Vahn intended to travel around freely for a while. The trip would only take around two hours if he relied on his natural speed, allowing him to either fly across the sky or zip across the surface of the ocean without any major difficulties.As was often the case, Vahn found Iris and Illya in the Library as, even during the day, Illya spent most of her time studying and researching. This was a trait she shared with Rin and Olga, something that was common amongst Magi. The only time she did something other than study was when he invited her out or when she was accompanying her mother around the castle grounds. Though she would sometimes interact with Fenrir, Medusa, and Circe, the rest of Illya's social interactions hinged on other people entering the Library and taking the initiative to talk to her.Once again, Illya had built a veritable tower of books around herself and, as the Library was located within the Inner Sanctum, she was even wearing light pajamas while laying on a futon that had been kept in her storage bracelet. With a cup of pocky, a stick-type candy that was popular in Japan, she looked like a proper, albeit very adorable, shut-in. This became even more apparent as, after noticing his presence, Illya had a flustered expression on her face as she retreated under her blanket for a few seconds before appearing in a proper dress moments later. Shen then quickly threw the evidence of her behavior into her Inventory as Vahn pretended to be distracted by making polite conversation with Iris.Dutifully playing along, Iris had risen to her feet but, with Vahn gesturing not to bow, she instead had a radiant and admittedly breathtaking smile as she softly stated, "Welcome to the Imperial Library, Your Majesty. If I can be of service, please, do not hesitate to ask~."Though it was an admittedly pointless question, just like asking about the weather, Vahn walked next to the front desk, leaning against it as he asked, "How are you lately? Have you had any trouble with maintaining the Library...?" This comment elicited a light giggle from Iris and, perhaps mimicking his own behavior, she leaned against the table as well, supporting herself with her elbows in a way that, if she weren't wearing a blouse, would have accented her cleavage considerably.In response to Vahn's question, Iris tilted her head slightly to the side, a playful glimmer in her ruby-red eyes as she answered, "It may not be the most exciting life, but I have been enjoying myself. I'm currently doing a Quest that requires me to read one-hundred books. If I work hard, I may be able to finish in the next two or three days~." As there were Quests for even mundane tasks such as chores, there were obviously Quests related to work and recreational activities. They didn't give much in the way of rewards but, with Iris being quite fond of reading, she felt a small sense of achievement every time she completed a Quest...After having hidden all the evidence of her somewhat slovenly behavior, Illya had hopped from the second floor, causing Iris to avert her attention away from Vahn as she said, "Illya, use the stairs or ladder properly, please~." Though she said it in a lackadaisical manner, it felt like the surrounding temperature had dropped a few degrees as Iris smiled radiantly at her daughter. Even though Illya wouldn't be harmed, jumping around the Library was a no-no as far as Irisviel was concerned.Flinching slightly at her mother's smile, Illya showed an awkward reaction as she answered, "I-I won't do it again..." Then, after doing a strange 'wiggle', following by shaking her head, Illya trotted over to Vahn's side, asking, "Did you come to visit us...?" At first, it might have sounded like she was referring to Iris and herself but Vahn knew she was undoubtedly asking if he had come to spend time with her and Cath Palug.Recently, Illya had been trying to convince the hyper-affectionate Beast of Gaia to fuse with her and, even without his [Eyes of Truth], Vahn could tell they had made a lot of progress in that regard. Now, rather than having perfectly straight, silky smooth hair, Illya's had started to curl a bit towards the ends. It had also become progressively whiter and, having experienced it personally, Vahn knew it was very soft to the touch. He suspected that, any day now, Illya might actually sprout an extra pair of ears and a bushy tail, something he was both anxious about and looking forward to. It was also this 'fusion' with Cath Palug that had caused Illya's somewhat lazy behavior as, while she had never been that social before, Cath Palug was outright lazy and anti-social...As if it was the most natural thing in the world, Vahn habitually extended his hand to stroke Illya's head, bringing a cheerful smile to her face as he answered, "This time, I wanted to spend time with the three of you. Is that okay...?" While he was addressing Illya, Vahn knew that Cath Palug was also listening in and, after a few seconds of internal deliberation between them, Illya's smile became even more vibrant as she nodded her head with an 'Nn~!'. Follow this, Vahn carried Illya in his left arm and, though he hadn't really made any progress on his relationship with Iris, for obvious reasons, he still escorted her by the arm locking up the Library and turning over the key to one of the waiting Homunculi.After reaching Iris' room, which was now separate from Illya's, the 'four' sat down on a sofa together and, as he had already gotten used to it, Vahn didn't mind in the least that Iris sat flush next to him while Illya and Cath Palug claimed his lap for themselves. He liked to think of them as a small family group, even though he was fully aware that Iris wouldn't refuse him if he wanted a more meaningful relationship. Though he could never replace Kiritsugu in her heart, Iris was infinitely more concerned with Illya and, as the latter wanted her mother to be happy, something she associated with Vahn, Iris had virtually no inhibitions towards him. This had caused Vahn to think about summoning Kiritsugu in the past but, knowing the man's nature and the 'questionable' acts he had performed in the past, he was a bigger landmine than even Shirou...---With Iris using his shoulder as a headrest, and Illya snuggled up in his lap, Vahn used a specialized [Projection Sphere], the same tool used to stream the Coliseum battles and sports back in Danmachi, to project an image of his own memories onto a thin membrane. Cath Palug was extremely against having Merlin in its head but, wanting to know even more about him, Vahn had been streaming his memories for Illya's benefit. She really enjoyed seeing the world through his eyes, especially when it came to the more action-oriented scenes of him fighting against incomprehensibly strong enemies.Since she had seen Vahn's memories directly, Iris already knew what to expect but, as it was still very interesting to watch, she also enjoyed spending time together like this. It was almost liked going to a movie theater as a family and, though there was no greater meaning behind her actions, she enjoyed using Vahn's arm and shoulder as her pillow. Though she would sometimes wonder if Vahn saw her as anything more than Illya's mother, especially with thousands of similar entities walking around, it ultimately didn't matter.Iris was very happy living in the castle and, while it was somewhat disconcerting that her daughter was fusing with a beast capable of destroying the world, she didn't make a fuss over it. After all, it was very apparent that Illya was even happier than she was and, after knowing how long Cath Palug had lived in isolation, Iris felt pity for the monstrously powerful creature. It also helped that their fused form was rather cute, not that she would admit this was one of the primary reasons she had accepted its presence...This time around, Vahn was showing Illya one of the times he had cut loose in his Baihu form and, with his domain automatically scanning his surroundings, he was able to display the scene from a variety of different angles. Since it also played at the speed of his perception, it was easy for the girls to follow, even if this meant many of the enemy monsters were moving in slow motion at times. The only thing lacking was a music track but, with the action in the projection being very 'real', it wasn't really necessary to amplify things any further. Though some of the scenes were rather visceral, this only affected Cath Palug as both Illya and Irisviel were intimately familiar with far worse scenes.The only major downside to viewing memories through a projection was that it played in real-time, meaning there was no pacing at all. It would play out for hours on end and, unless Vahn sped it up or skipped parts, there would be long periods where no action took place at all. Even then, Illya and Iris didn't really mind as, during the lulls in the action, they seemed to enjoy the silence even more. They got to see how Vahn viewed the world which, when he saw it second-hand, was quite an eye-opening experience.Even Vahn was surprised to see how attentive he was to things that, at the time, seemed arbitrary or unimportant. This was the result of his sub-process mind proactively taking in his surroundings, even when his main process had been focused on other tasks or meditating. Thus, while there were some blurry areas, the projection showed a startlingly clear picture of his surroundings, including how the walls and floors seemed to be transparent or, at times, non-existent due to his domain. It was almost like watching an illusion play as, with his awareness of the flow of elemental energy, the scene was remarkably vibrant, filled with a variety of hazy colors. If he moved the focal point near a person, it was even possible to hear their heart beating or the blood flowing through their veins...Fortunately, either as a quirk of The Path or Sis' careful doctoring, his memories never showed anything directly related to the system. This included things like View Affection and his discussions with Sis. Instead, it would show him calmly meditating or fearlessly walking through the Dungeon, almost like an unstoppable machine that emanated a terrifying aura. Until he had viewed them from an outsider's perspective, Vahn had never realized just how domineering he had behaved, especially when he had first started to gain power. In a way, it was actually rather embarrassing but, as Illya and Iris seemed to find some amusement in this, sometimes even laughing when they saw how 'serious' he was behaving, Vahn kept mum about it...After a few hours had passed, the scene in the projection showed Vahn enjoying a meal, eliciting an audible rumble from Illya's stomach. This caused her to act like a startled rabbit, her body flinching as her face turned a vibrant shade of red. In response, Iris began to giggle while covering her mouth with her hand while Vahn produced a wide smile while resisting the urge to laugh out loud. Though Illya didn't actually need to eat, she had long since developed the habit, to the point she could be quite the glutton at times.While letting the projection continue, Vahn pulled out a peach that had a pale-gold hue to it. Then, before Illya could complain about them laughing at her, he adopted a more natural smile as he held the unnaturally fragrant fruit near her mouth. Rather than bite into it while he was holding it, Illya snatched it from his hands before turning her face away from them as a loud crunch sounded in the predominately quiet room. At the same time, Vahn pulled out another peach, handing it over to Iris, eliciting a gratified smile and a quiet, "Thank you~" in response. Unlike Illya, however, she playfully took a bite while he was still holding it before showing a girlish expression as she enjoyed the sweet yet mellow flavor of the peculiar peach.Fortunately, after the initial bite, Iris accepted the peach directly as Vahn pulled out one for himself before placing an entire basket on the table he whisked out of his Inventory. He also set out some tea, a plate of walnuts, and some dried fish. For one reason or another, Cath Palug was quite fond of the latter two so, after learning this, Vahn made a habit of coaxing the tiny creature whenever the opportunity presented itself. This was one of the ways in which he helped to aid the fusion between the two, despite the fact he knew what awaited him once they completed the process...---After enjoying some quality time with the mother-daughter-beast trio, Vahn informed Artoria that he would be leaving for New York before acceding to her 'demand' that he take an escort. Now that she was his Empress, Artoria could no longer be the one to escort him as, when they appeared together in the future, she would either be in ceremonial attire or armor. This was something they had already discussed and, as a way of displaying the prestige of the Empire while making their stance very clear, he also intended to wear a formal raiment or armor in the future. Though he would garner some strange looks from the general public, it was far more important that he presented himself as the Emperor he was, rather than skulking about behind the scenes.As a result of Astoria's insistence, Vahn ended up being accompanied by Kenshin and Lakshmibai as traveling to a modern city like New York would be an important learning experience for them. They were also the only ones qualified to escort him as, with Siegfried and Astolfo gone, there weren't any other Knights within the castle. Though Mordred obviously wanted to accompany him, her mentality meant she was far more likely to cause trouble than properly act as his escort. This, combined with the fact she was both a child and an 'apprentice' Knight, meant she was ill-suited to the role. Thus, even though Kenshin and Lakshmibai also weren't considered Knights, despite the former being his Herald, they were the best options to accompany him when accounting for the fact that Fenrir and Gray were nearly as likely to cause trouble as Mordred.Though Vahn wasn't intending to be gone for too long, this would translate to several days passing within the Projection. With that in mind, he spent a bit of time saying his goodbyes with everyone before being sent off by a much larger group than anticipated. The gathering had drawn a crowd of Homunculi and Companions, bringing the total count of people to attend his departure to 119. Vahn found this rather amusing so, before heading out, he gave a small address to the gathered crowd, expressing his trust and asking them to take care of the castle while he was away. This earned him a surprisingly coordinated bow from the crowd and, by the time they had raised their heads, many of the Homunculi had smiles on their doll-like faces, a simultaneously refreshing yet eerie sight that filled him with a gentle wave of power...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Illya is a Hikkikmori...!?','Iris is being corrupted...!','A Knight Order with only three Knights xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

After a long training session with Scáthach, Vahn found himself lounging in one of the smaller and more homely rooms of the castle. Other than the light from the fireplace, the room was otherwise dark as he sat flanked by two women, Nobunaga and Ereshkigal, with a contented smile on his face. They were just watching the flickering of the fire and listening to the periodic crackles and pops as Vahn had the two women reclining against him as he gently stroked their abdomens. He liked to spend his free time in this manner and, despite the fact she would antagonize him on occasion, it was a time enjoyed by Nobunaga as well.Among the three of them, however, it was Ereshkigal who enjoyed the quiet moments like this the most as, with her head nestled against his shoulders, she had a subtle smile on her face as her maroon eyes reflected deep emotions. She had her left hand overlapped with Vahn's as he gently rubbed her belly and, every now and then, she would look up at him with a hazy moisture covering her eyes. At times like this, Vahn would return an affectionate smile to her and, as if to remind her that she wasn't dreaming, he would give her a gentle peck on the lips. Even Nobunaga knew better than to make a fuss while Ereshkigal was around as, if she attempted to tease Vahn even a little, the blond-haired Goddess would practically erupt as a result.Since they obviously had the right to know, Vahn eventually broke the long silence, explaining in a subdued tone, "Da Vinci is also pregnant now...there is a good chance Circe and Luvia will follow..." This comment only elicited a thoughtful glance from Ereshkigal but Nobunaga followed it up by giving him a sly smile, her blood-red eyes reflecting his image in the low light of the room. Rather than complain, however, she poked him in the side with her index finger, musing, "You really don't know restraint. Don't tell me you intend to knock up everyone now? Did I start a trend~?" Though she was only teasing him, Nobunaga didn't miss the subtle change in Vahn's expression, causing her to laugh uninhibitedly for a few seconds, continuing until Ereshkigal's ice-cold maroon eyes caught her attention.Though she would never admit it, Nobunaga was more than a little intimidated to be glared at by a Goddess of Death but, rather than show it, she adopted a dauntless smile as she stated, "You are too overprotective. Have more confidence in our man..." This remark caused Ereshkigal's brows to furrow as her nose scrunched up in a manner Vahn found adorable. Since Ereshkigal was very inexperienced when it came to socializing, she didn't fully understand when people were just joking. Thus, before she could show any hostility, Vahn brought his hands from the two's stomachs before pulling their heads to rest against his chest. Then, to dismiss the matter, he stated in a firm tone, "Don't fight..." before kissing the tops of their heads.From their resting place against Vahn's chest, Nobunaga and Ereshkigal were only a few centimeters away from each other. This caused Nobunaga to cheekily poke her tongue out towards the pouting Goddess but, not wanting to upset Vahn, Ereshkigal just closed her eyes and lightly snorted through her nostrils. Nobunaga also knew better than to antagonize her any further, causing her to trace her fingers around Vahn's abdomen as she asked in a somewhat serious tone, "What are you planning?"For Vahn to have the thought of impregnating everyone all at once, Nobunaga knew he must be up to something else.In response to Nobunaga's inquiry, Vahn spent a few moments collecting his thoughts, staring into the flickering orange flames of the fireplace. When he finally spoke, Vahn's expression had become serious, his brows furrowed as he answered, "I feel that it is a mistake to spend all of our time inside of the Projection. It feels like we are becoming detached from the rest of the world..." Then, holding the two women a little tighter, Vahn released a sigh as he added, "I enjoy moments like this more than anything...but I can't shake the feeling our enemies are doing whatever they please while I just sit here and idle about..."Rather than refute his words, Nobunaga nodded her head in agreement before extricating herself from Vahn's embrace to address him more seriously. Her expression became serious and, though it was tempered considerably, there was a vicious glint in her eyes as she stated, "Now that I'm like this, I've had a lot of time to consider the future..." As she spoke, Nobunaga lightly stroked her belly without breaking eye contact with Vahn, adding, "I am not afraid of death. Even when I died the first time, I accepted it with a smile on my face. No, what I fear is that our child will grow up in a world filled with individuals who would want nothing more than to exploit or kill them. If you did not take action, I would have taken it upon myself to do so in the future..."As much as she loved Vahn, Nobunaga felt that, with each passing day, her passion for conquest had awakened once again. Just as she once lifted her blade against the corruption of the Shogunate, all for the benefit of her people, Nobunaga wanted to create a better world for her child. Though she still had the ambition to conquer other planets and star systems, she would never be able to do so without first strengthening the foundation of the Empire.Understanding Nobunaga's words better than most, as they had very similar natures, Vahn nodded his head with a cold glint in his eyes. What neither woman could see was his system display which, at the present moment, reflected the objectives of his [World Power] Quest. He had already discussed these objectives with Artoria and Da Vinci, as they were the closest things to Advisors that he had, so he had already been given 'permission' to act. To that end, Vahn needed to activate CHALDEAS and, if necessary, disregard the status quo entirely as he worked to shape the world into his vision of the future.Though it would take a few more pushes before he took more decisive action, Vahn took a deep breath through his nose before stating, "Soon, I may not be able to spend as much time as I'd like with everyone..." Then, shaking his head, Vahn built up a little more conviction as he said, "I need all four of you to be strong in the future. As both Empresses and Mothers, the way you carry yourselves will have a powerful impact on the rest of the castle's residents. I will always do my best to return when I can but, when I'm not here, it will be your strength and guidance that allows our children to grow happily..."In response to Vahn's words, Nobunaga lightly snorted through her nose before leaning against his body and stating matter-of-factly, "In my era, it wasn't uncommon for warriors and warlords to be away from their territory for months and years at a time. So long as you are doing your best, they will never come to resent you just because you aren't around as often as they'd like. Leave it to the mother's of the household to manage the internal affairs..." With this said, Nobunaga unabashedly hooked her hand around Vahn's head, punctuating her statement by pulling him into a kiss.Seeing the passion shared between the two, Ereshkigal felt a small bout of jealousy that was quickly swept aside once the two separated. Then, though she wasn't a well-spoken individual, Ereshkigal held Vahn's hand supportively as she stated in a demure tone, "We will support you...leave it to us..." As these words left her lips, Ereshkigal's hair underwent a change and, though they could not keep it up for very long, all three personalities manifested together. Vahn couldn't help but smile when he saw this, earning one from the three girls as they mimicked Nobunaga's actions with a fair amount of fervor...---Though it was still early in the day, Vahn left the comfortable warmth of the small study with a smile on his face and a focused glint in his eyes. He still had a few hours before he was supposed to start his training again so, while greeting the Homunculi he passed in high spirits, Vahn exited the castle before 'flickering' out of existence. The next instant, as it was only a few kilometers away, Vahn had appeared next to the frozen lake containing the underwater castle and shrine. Unlike the majority of Spirits and Fae that had come to reside on Avalon, Vivian had been able to access the Projection from the start. Though it was impossible for her to enter Avalon by her own means, there was little she couldn't do once Merlin had invited her back. After all, though she would lose if they were to genuinely battle it out, Vivian was nearly as skilled as Merlin himself when it came to Magecraft.Almost immediately after his arrival, a dazzling blue light emerged from the surface of the icy lake before coalescing into the figure of a beautiful, albeit translucent, woman. Today, perhaps as a result of the sunlight, her body was shrouded in a subtle white halo as her eyes glimmered like sapphires that, despite their clarity, seemed to have a depth that rivaled the ocean. She had an elegant smile on her face and, picking up the edges of her watery-dress, Vivian gave a polite curtsey as she bowed her head and stated, "It is our pleasure to welcome His Majesty, the Sage Emperor..." Then, with the corners of her smile curling at the edges, Vivian added, "Please excuse my behavior..." before waving her hand and creating a bubble formed from the water of the atmosphere. Moments later, complex runes, many comprised of the Language of Faeries, formed a very powerful barrier that served as a special Bounded Field to obscure Merlin's attempt to spy on them.Without showing any discernible signs of perturbance, Vahn waited for the barrier to form, cutting off even his domain from the outside world. He found this use of Magecraft rather interesting as, if it could actually circumvent Merlin's voyeuristic nature, Vahn felt it would be worthwhile to learn. Even though he knew the flowery Magus was on his side, that didn't change the fact that it was annoying to be spied upon.Though she could not read his mind, despite her attempt to do so, Vivan could understand the glint in Vahn's eye as he looked at her barrier. This caused her to giggle from her place atop the icy lake's surface before saying, "If His Majesty is interested, I can teach you the Language of Faeries."Hearing Vivian's offer, Vahn shook his head, surprising her somewhat when he casually explained, "I am already familiar with the Language of Faeries. In fact, I can speak interpret all languages, even those of Divine origin. Thank you for the offer, Lady Vivian."Despite her shock at Vahn's claim, Vivian's expression didn't change all that much but, in response to his words, she once again giggled before stating, "His Majesty seems quite capable~." Then, causing Vahn's brows to rise slightly, Vivan walked across the icy surface of the lake, sending gentle ripples through the hardened ice as if it was liquid water. When she stepped on dry land, her delicate steps caused the grass in a three-meter area to frost over, creating a trail of as she walked within an arm's length of Vahn.Understanding some of the questions he had, Vivian preempted Vahn by asking, "Your Majesty, may I speak freely...?" As he gave her a nod of approval in response, Vivian smiled radiantly for a brief moment before adopting a more serious expression as she explained, "You are an anomaly that should not exist within this world..." Though these words sounded harsh at first, Vivan's expression softened a bit towards the end as she added, "For that, you have my gratitude."Following her words, Vivian gave a gracious bow, holding it for several seconds before raising her head and explaining, "I believe His Majesty is aware of the fact that Merlin has been sealed away. I do not know how the information circulated, but it seems to be common knowledge that I sealed him away due to his pestering....haaa..." Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Vivian then added, "The truth of the matter is, I have and always will love Merlin. However, once I understood the type of entity he was, I had no choice but to seal him away. I could not tolerate his adherence toward fate and his unwillingness to do anything about it, despite the pain it caused him. I'm certain he even allowed me to seal him away for the same reasons..."Now, Vivian had a hurt expression on her face and, despite the fact she was made from water, Vahn could tell she was on the verge of tears. He couldn't help but swallow nervously as, if she were one of his own women, he would have embraced her to calm her tumultuous heart. His concern seemed to be conveyed to her, however, causing Vivan to wipe at her eyes with a smile on her face as she commented, "You are a kind man, Your Majesty..." Then, after collecting herself for a bit, Vivian went on to say, "I truly am grateful for your presence. If things had continued along the course that Merlin and I had seen, our paths would have never intersected. It would have taken several impossibilities for us to be together once again but, now that you are here, I believe there is a chance the course of our fate has been altered..."In response to this, Vahn's expression softened a great deal as he mused, "You really do love him...I hope your paths truly do align in the future..." This remark caused Vivian to smile radiantly yet again, followed by her nodding her head and explaining, "That is why I wanted to meet with Your Majesty as soon as possible. Merlin already explained your ambitions and, while it is hard to even fathom the world you wish to create, know that I will dedicate my everything in support of the Empire. All I ask is that you never stray from the path you have set yourself upon...if you are unable to control the flow of fate around that woman, Merlin's duty will never be complete..."Though Vahn understood what Vivian was trying to say, he still asked, "And what exactly is his duty? I have some understanding of his nature but there are many things Merlin keeps to himself..."Nodding her head in understanding, Vivian calmly explained, "Merlin's father was the King of the Incubus species. He was placed in charge of observing the progression of the world and implanting the seeds of ambition by shaping the dreams of people throughout history. However, due to Gaia's hatred for humanity, as a result of their corruptive nature, he became influenced by their negative emotions. Fearing he would be corrupted even further, Merlin's father started devouring only the good and pleasant dreams. This caused humanity's corruption to spread even faster, resulting in Gaia imploring the Moon to punish him for causing her even greater anguish. This resulted in the exile of Merlin's father, forcing him to descend upon Gaia's surface so that she could punish him directly. In order to evade his inevitable end, the former King fled into the dreams of a young woman born in the British Isles..."As Vivian recounted Merlin's past, Vahn listened attentively as several questions appeared within his mind. He didn't quite agree that humanity was a corruptive force by default but, when he considered the history of the Nasuverse, this actually seemed to be the case. Not only were they slowly killing the planet they inhabited, but their actions often caused an incomprehensible amount of bloodshed, usually for no other reason than a few people wanting to gain benefits for themselves. They also had the responsibility of corrupting the various Spirits as, prior to the emergence of humanity, all Spirits simply carried out their roles in nature without fail. It wasn't until they began to interact with humans that various malicious Spirits, Demons, and Ghosts came into existence...While thinking about these matters, Vahn began to reflect upon all of the stories and books he had read. He also recalled his past experiences as a lab rat and blood bag in his first life, causing him to frown deeply, at least internally. It certainly seemed to be the case that corruption was widespread in all worlds, including the Records that had come into existence as a result of the dreams of sentient creatures. Since the world needed to exist in a state of balance to function healthily, Vahn began to realize that sapience itself may be the 'source' of corruption. So long as the possibility of benefits existed, regardless of how they might affect others, there would always be people who seek to rise above the norm to elevate themselves above others...Having nearly completed her recounting of Merlin's past, Vivian wrapped things up by explaining, "Merlin was heavily influenced by his mother who, even knowing his birth would result in her death, willingly sacrificed herself so that he could live. This caused him to develop a self-sacrificial mentality as well, setting him upon a path where he sought the 'best end' for everyone. It was this desire that led to him getting involved with human affairs and, after the birth of Artoria, she became the most instrumental part of his entire plan. Since her fate was far more powerful than normal, he helped to shape her into the 'Perfect King', preparing her for the time when she would usher the world toward a true utopia. Merlin's goal is to create a world where everyone has a chance at happiness, free from the fates that had been assigned to them..."Understanding this, Vahn nodded his head before stating, "So, our dreams are pretty similar...to that end, the success of the Empire is the same as fulfilling his ultimate ambition, In turn, that will free him from the duty he had taken upon himself, allowing him to retire to the Stone Prison where you intend to join him...is that correct?"In response to Vahn's inquiry, Vivian gave a curt nod before answering, "Unlike humans, we Spirits only ever imprint upon a single person. When I imprisoned Merlin, I also isolated myself in the coldest and most distant part of the ocean as penance. You may think I am a cruel and petty woman but I would not have been able to imprison him at all unless he allowed it. Merlin understands better than most what he had gotten himself into after making a Spirit fall in love with him...please keep that in mind, Your Majesty."Though it sounded like she was just making excuses, Vahn knew that Vivian was actually trying to warn him. As history made very apparent, Spirits were perfectly fine living lives completely separate from humans but, once they did become involved, they completely dedicated themselves to the role they had adopted. This is what often led to the corruption of said Spirits as, with their nature being fundamentally different from humans, any negative emotions they experience were amplified by several times. They could quickly become vengeful and destructive Spirits due to misunderstandings, sometimes causing small countries to disappear from the map overnight...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Nobu, the trendsetter o3o...','The default state of the world is pure and unblemished. It is the passage of time and the desire for progress that leads to corruption and, ultimately, stagnation through control','Spirits be scary')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Chapter 1214: Endless Cycle