Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

After waiting within the Transfer room for a few minutes longer, Kenshin, Lakshmibai, and Olga all arrived together. When they noticed Vahn had arrived first, Kenshin and Lakshmibai both gave polite bows while Olga fumbled around for a bit before doing the same. She was obviously very nervous as this would be the first time she met with her father after staying in Avalon. There were many things she wanted to discuss with him as, over the last few months, her perspective of the world, Magecraft, and Astronomy, had been completely shattered.With Luvia staying behind, the away group had all gathered together, Companions included, so Vahn initiated the transfer after confirming they were ready. He had to rely on Alaya this time around, as they were transferring directly to London, so the process was almost instantaneous once he gave the go-ahead. Though this wasn't her first time experiencing it, Olivia couldn't help shaking her head as she commented, "This ability alone makes you a terrifying opponent. I'm glad we're on your side~"Vahn lightly chuckled in response to this before the group made their way out of the basement, their destination the lavish dining hall where the Edelfelt's entertained their guests. This time around, he wouldn't have Luvia at his side to direct things and, as Olivia had already moved into the shadows of politics, it was a major statement that he would be the one receiving guests. Since it was important to make it very clear who was in charge, the Edelfelt family had essentially given him free rein to act as he pleased, so long as it didn't directly hurt their bottom line.As Olga was whisked away by a group of Maids to change into more appropriate attire, Vahn found himself seated at the head of the table while Lakshmibai and Kenshin flanked him. Though they were both Empresses, they took their duty as his escort seriously and, as this was a meeting between Vahn and an established Lord, it was important to pay attention to basic etiquette. In the future, once their status was known better, it would be quite intimidating to know he was attended by Empresses who, if allowed to fight freely, could wipe out small countries on their own.While waiting for Lord Animusphere's arrival, Vahn made casual conversation with the two, primarily discussing the possibility of establishing an actual Menagerie in the future. Kenshin was very fond of animals and, as there weren't any real dangers associated with keeping them, especially with Circe and Da Vinci, Vahn felt it wasn't a bad idea. They could even genetically engineer a few species that had been lost to time, filling the forests of Avalon with fauna that its future residents would be able to interact with freely.Around half an hour before lunch was intended to be served, a very prim and proper Butler arrived to inform Vahn that Lord Animusphere had just entered the premises. This brought the conversation to an end as Vahn gave an order for the staff to enter standby while a duo of Maids went to retrieve Olga. After that, he just waited patiently within the rather comfortable chair, his eyes closed with his back ramrod straight. At the same time, a subtle pressure began to fill the large room, indicating the subtle shift in his mentality from being casual to serious. This, in turn, caused the two girls flanking him to stand straighter than normal, compounding the effect and causing the staff located nearby to hasten their movements.When Lord Animusphere arrived in the dining hall, his usual amicable smile was nowhere to be seen and, the moment he set eyes upon Vahn, his expression turned rather solemn as he bowed at a low angle and stated, "I owe Your Majesty a great debt. If not for your intervention, I fear everything my family had worked toward over the last century would have gone to waste..."Hearing Lord Animusphere's words, Vahn kept silent for a few seconds before saying, "Raise your head, Lord Animusphere. Come, sit down, we have much to discuss." Though he was interested in Chaldea, Vahn didn't particularly care about the scheme he had circumvented. So long as it was dealt with, the only thing that mattered was preventing future troubles from arising.Feeling as though he had been given a reprieve, Lord Animusphere adopted a smile but, despite his best efforts, it didn't seem to quite reach his eyes. Even so, he moved to take a seat on the left side of the table and sat down as directed. Following this, Vahn asked in a stern yet curious tone, "I trust those documents are for my perusal? Though it would be best to wait for lunch to conclude, I would rather know about important matters sooner. I'm certain this will be preferable to you as well, Lord Animusphere, as your daughter will be in attendance shortly."Since he hadn't been informed of Olga's attendance, Lord Animusphere was more than a little surprised, his expression showing a bit of concern as he asked, "My daughter is here...?" In response to this, Vahn gave a curt nod, causing the former's smile to become more genuine, at least until he began to consider the implications behind her presence. This was only for a brief moment, however, as he quickly set the matter of his daughter aside so as not to waste Vahn's time.As Lord Animusphere brought out a small briefcase full of documents, he adopted the same solemn appearance as before, stating, "Know that I intend to take full responsibility for what had transpired, even though I had no direct knowledge of such experiments. I am truly ashamed of what happened and will do my best to address the matters personally. Please do not let this matter influence your decision to support Chaldea and my daughter..."Without answering Lord Animusphere directly, Vahn began to peruse the documents, some of which were direct accountings of the inhumane experiments that had been conducted in Chaldea. As there was a large stack of files related to the 'victims' of said experiments, pictures included, the pressure in the surroundings gradually increased as Vahn's expression darkened. Eventually, he had to rub his temples just to remain calm, understanding there was no sense in blaming Marisbury for the things people had done behind his back. He was a good man who wanted to protect humanity but, due to his financial circumstances and the machinations of other people, he had been taken advantage of...Before speaking, Vahn went over the files in a red folder, showing only a handful of survivors with the oldest being a young girl named Mash Kyrielight. In her photo, she was wearing a medical eye patch over her right eye while the left one seemed to have lost the light of hope completely. Vahn knew her life hadn't been pleasant and, with an 'expiration date' less than three years away, there wasn't much hope for her to live a normal life without intervention. The most infuriating part was that she had been created by Chaldeas, meaning her entire life had been an extended nightmare where even the possibility of death was denied...just like his own, long ago.In total, there were only five survivors from the 'Designer Baby' experiment, as there hadn't been funding for the project since 2010. As a result, Mash was the oldest while the youngest was a boy with silver hair and light purple eyes, named Adam Smith. Much like Mash, his body had visible scar tissue but, rather than having lost the light in his eyes, Vahn could see madness and rage contained within the nine-year old's gaze. As for the other three survivors, they were all young girls like Mash and, if the data Marisbury provided was accurate, those who had harmed them were fortunate he wasn't the one to pass judgment against them...After collecting himself, Vahn stared directly at Marisbury, stating in an icy tone, "I do not blame you for this...but know that I will never entrust you with a position of oversight in the future. As for these children, I want them all transported here as soon as possible. They do not deserve to be imprisoned in some lab in the middle of a frozen wasteland..." Since Avalon was supposed to be a land where the beaten and downtrodden could live their lives freely, Vahn wasn't going to expose these children to further experimentation. He didn't give a damn about the Designer Baby project as, in the world he intended to create, lacking Magic Circuits would be rare.Hearing Vahn's words, Marisbury felt as if a heavy weight had been removed from his chest, though he resisted the urge to sigh with every fiber of his being. Then, surprising Vahn, he managed a smile as he explained, "I moved the five to my estate during the restructuring of Chaldea. Since then, they have been kept safe and provided for both mentally and physically. It shames me to admit there isn't much else I can do for them but making sure their lives are comfortable is within my means."Though Marisbury could probably be trusted with their care, Vahn immediately shook his head after hearing his statement, reiterating, "Those children deserve more from life than simple comforts. I will take them with me to Avalon and allow them to flourish. Even if you intend to do right by them, they would not have experienced this trauma if you hadn't authorized the Designer Baby project."As Vahn didn't give any room for discussion on the matter, Lord Animusphere gave an affirmative nod before saying, "I will see to it that they are safely transported to the Edelfelt Mansion...please, if you'll excuse me for a moment..." Since he could tell that Vahn wasn't content to let the children remain in his care even a moment longer, Marisbury decided to make a call and have them moved over as soon as possible He also instructed the Governess who had been placed in charge of their care to make sure they were neatly dressed and presentable, enough to meet with an Emperor.Around the same time that Marisbury was returning to his seat, a light knock sounded at the tall double doors located near the entrance of the dining hall. Immediately after that, the same duo that had gone to retrieve Olga opened the doors, causing the tense atmosphere to melt away as Vahn and Marisbury saw the pale-haired beauty making her entrance.Rather than let her hair hang somewhat wildly, as per usual, Olga's current style was similar to the one used by Artoria and Gray. Rather than a simple braid surrounding a neat bun, however, Olga had several intricate braids congregating into a complex bun that would have even taken Vahn over a half-hour to style. As for her attire, she had changed out of her scholarly clothes, which made her look somewhat like a student, replacing them with a red cocktail dress. It was decorated with an ornate flower pattern while the hips and left thigh were decorated with an intricate arrangement of flower adornments that further accented her beauty. What stood out the most, however, other than her breathtaking beauty, was the fact the dress exposed the back and shoulders, giving the illusion that it would fall off and expose her perfectly shaped breasts if she made any big movements...From the moment Olga stepped into the room, she already had a red face but, seeing the look on Vahn's, she became beet red in an instant. This was the most revealing outfit she had ever worn and, just like Vahn, she was very worried that it would 'slip', despite the adhesive pads she had been given to keep it in place. Since her father was also present, it felt like there was a swarm of butterflies in her stomach and, without the ushering of the Maid duo, even making it to the dining table would have been a difficult feat.Having already placed the documents away, Vahn's mood did a complete one-eighty as he looked toward Olga and commented, "Simply breathtaking..." This caused her to freeze on the spot but, with the help of the two Maids, she finally managed to reach the chair to his right. Though it was considered proper to leave it to the staff, Vahn decided to take the initiative to pull out Olga's chair for her, causing Marisbury to rise to his feet as the two Maids bowed politely and backed away.When Olga was finally seated, Vahn returned to his own seat and, for a few tense seconds, a rather awkward atmosphere began to permeate through the chamber. It wasn't until Olga bashfully stated, "Thank you for the compliment..." that time seemed to flow again. Then, turning her eyes toward her father, Olga murmured, "Father...it is good to see you again." with a small smile on her face. These words broke Marisbury from the spell he had been under, causing him to blink a few times before he returned a smile and remarked, "You look beautiful, Olga...just like your mother...she would be proud to see you right now."Hearing her father's remark, Olga felt a sour feeling in her nose but ultimately managed to keep her emotions in check as she answered, "Thank you. I wish she were here as well."Since Vahn was trying to allow the two a chance to speak, as this was their reunion, he had kept mum after his previous compliment. Hearing Olga's words, however, he furrowed his brows a bit and was tempted to remind her of the fact he could always summon her mother. She had already made him aware of her past and, knowing the trauma Olga had experienced, Vahn had considered whether or not he should summon her former Governess. The only reason he had yet to do so was the simple fact that, if he began arbitrarily using his summons in such a way, it was very likely that others would come to him in order 'resurrect' the dead. Since Olga's mother had died from chronic illness when she was only six years old, it felt like the window for reuniting them had passed...Deciding to shelve the matter until later, Vahn entered into the conversation by stating, "There are important matters I wanted to address, Lord Animusphere. Before then, let us eat our meal while the two of you catch up as father and daughter. Due to the nature of Avalon, it has been more than half a year since Olga came to the outside world so I'm certain she has much to say..."With Vahn's words lingering, the staff that had been waiting in the periphery quickly moved to set out a tray of appetizers before handing out menus. As for Lakshmibai and Kenshin, they moved to the operations room as, having them stand behind him while eating would be a bit awkward. This was especially so for Olga who, knowing the identities of the two women, felt a considerable amount of pressure to be seated while they were standing...At Vahn's behest, Olga and Marisbury carried on a polite conversation between themselves as Vahn quietly observed from the head of the table. Though this made them feel a bit pressured, Olga was the type to gradually relax when she was talking about the things that interested her. Thus, by the time lunch was served, most of the tensions had faded away as she began recounting her research findings and the progress of her own training. Needless to say, Marisbury was quite taken aback to hear how enthusiastically his daughter discussed her time in Avalon as, previously, he had been very worried about her treatment.Eventually, Olga began talking about a few 'sensitive' matters related to the Empire, allowing Vahn the opportunity to naturally enter into the conversation. Though this caused her to fluster a bit, he kept her from apologizing with a gesture, explaining, "One of the matters we will be discussing latter pertains to the ongoing alliance between the Empire and the Animusphere family. For now, feel free to discuss the results of your training but, until matters have been clarified, please keep the methods a secret."Since she had nearly blurted out the existence of the Quest Board, Olga bit her bottom lip in concern as she followed Vahn's words by lowering her head and swallowing her apology. Fortunately, Vahn didn't appear to be mad at her so, after he began to guide the conversation by showering her with a fair amount of praise, Olga was able to relax as the smile returned to her face. Marisbury, of course, had seen this entire event play out and, with his daughter acting like a bashful maiden, it didn't take a brilliant mind to deduce what Vahn wanted to talk about in the future. This actually wasn't all that surprising, however, as he had fully expected something to have happened between them. What did surprise him was the fact that, given Olga's behavior, it didn't seem like she had been pressured into a physical relationship despite several months having passed.Though Marisbury's opinion of Vahn was largely positive, he began to see the Emperor in a new light as, in similar situations, there were few who wouldn't have taken advantage of the situation. He had even provided his daughter with the necessary equipment to continue her research and, if her words were to be believed, she had grown considerably as a Magus in a relatively short period of time. She also seemed to have developed a sincere attachment towards Vahn, to the point she would glance his way as if seeking permission when she was speaking. Then, when he would praise her in turn, her face would brighten up noticeably, leaving Marisbury both happy and seriously concerned for his daughter's future.By the time lunch had come to an end, the mood had become somewhat lively, even though things had shifted to the point that most of the discussion was driven by Vahn and Olga. This left Marisbury sitting at the side with a wry smile, knowing where the conversation was going before Vahn brought it to light. His daughter also seemed to be aware of it as, after the plates were cleared away, she had a red face and had started fiddling with the flower ornaments on her dress. Then, meeting both of their expectations, Vahn stated, "Know that, regardless of the decision made here, I intend to support the operation of Chaldea. Thus, I would ask that you not let such matters influence your choice...to that end...know that I intend to take Olga as my Consort in the future. The decision is ultimately her's to make, but I have grown rather fond of her over the last few months..."Before Marisbury could say anything, Olga hopped up from her chair, slamming both hands against the top of the table as she exclaimed, "I accept! One-hundred percent!" Then, realizing what she had said, Olga's face became scarlet as she became statuesque. Vahn was just grateful that her top didn't slip off due to her spontaneous action, causing his face to show relief that was misconstrued by both Olga and Marisbury. They thought he was worried she would refuse, causing Olga's heart to twist in her chest as Marisbury released a profound sigh and remarked, "All children must leave the nest at some point...very well, though it may not have mattered, know you have my blessing. I will entrust my daughter's happiness to you, Your Majesty..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The pursuit of progress leaves many victims...','A flower blooms','I kind of feel bad for Marisbury xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

For the rest of the discussion, Olga either sat with her head down, cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, or ramrod straight as she attempted to put on a strong front. This would ultimately fail but, as this quirky nature was one of the things Vahn had come to appreciate of the pale-haired beauty, he had a smile on his face seeing her behavior. Lord Animusphere seemed a little troubled by how she was behaving but, with Vahn, an Emperor, not saying anything, he didn't have much ground to stand on.All in all, things had become relatively pleasant in the dining hall, at least until Lakshmibai appeared to inform Vahn about the arrival of the children. This put a dampener on his mood but, in order to allay any concerns they undoubtedly felt, he decided it was time for the luncheon to end. He had the staff see Lord Animusphere off, as doing so himself was actually considered improper, while he and a confused Olga made their way to a waiting room attached to a large ballroom where the Edelfelts would sometimes host parties. As it was an 'important' part of Aristocratic culture, most of the main mansions and estates belonging to the most influential families had such a room.Since Olga would be the Director of Chaldea in the future, he knew she needed to be aware of what had gone on in order to avoid repeat instances. Though she might not have to worry about this, as it was likely Chaldea would just become an extension of Da Vinci's work, meaning it would have almost inviolable security, it was still her family's legacy. To that end, Vahn preempted his meeting with the children and allowed her to view the related documents.Needless to say, Olga was more than a little shaken by the contents but, with him there to remind her it wasn't really her father's fault, she was able to remain mostly calm. In the end, she even held the documents close with a determined expression on her face as she promised, "I swear...I will never allow something like this to happen again...!"Vahn offered a sincere smile in response before plopping his hand down on Olga's head, stroking her hair as he answered in a low, almost hypnotic voice, "I know, Olga. I believe in you, after all..." With that said, Vahn moved aside Olga's bangs and moved to give her a kiss on her forehead. This didn't go quite as planned, however, as Olga hopped up on the tips of her toes and stole a kiss from his lips before retreating away with a beet-red face. Vahn was actually a little caught off guard, at least until Olga peeked back at him and mumbled, "W-w-w-we're g-going to b-b-be m-m-married in the fu-future...!"Though he was tempted to remark that they were technically already married, as the ceremony was only a formality in such situations, he knew Olga's modern mentality meant she was looking forward to her wedding. In this age, many young girls grew up with dreams of having a big wedding, even in the Aristocratic Magus families. Since Olga was 'uniquely' delusional, it was a given she expected a grand celebration of their marriage so Vahn just proferred an affectionate smile in response before they made their way to where the children were waiting.If not for the fact he had seen them the moment they arrived within the bounds of his domain, Vahn would have been both surprised and annoyed to find the children were all neatly dressed in formal attire. The girls all had on prim little dresses that accented their youthful traits and made them look a little like a group of Princesses while the only boy, Alex, looked like a little Lord in his small, high-end tuxedo. He looked particularly uncomfortable amongst the group but, considering the girls all had practiced smiles and lightless eyes, this wasn't unexpected.Accompanying the children was a woman with dark purple hair who seemed to be in her forties. She was also dressed formally, wearing attire that wasn't unsuited to a ball, albeit with a relatively tame design. She also had her hair styled up in a neat bun with a pair of half-rimmed golden spectacles that gave her an intelligent appearance with her almond-shaped blue eyes. When she saw Vahn and Olga appear, she gestured toward the children who were already standing in a line. This caused the girls to all curtsy in a practiced manner, one leg in front of the other while lifting the corners of their dresses, while Alex crossed his arm over his chest and bowed at a low angle.Vahn currently didn't know what he expected of the children in the future but, as the most important thing was to provide them with the opportunity to flourish, he adopted a calm yet deep tone as he stated, "Raise your heads." Then, turning to the Governess, Vahn gave a polite nod, adding, "Lord Animusphere is waiting for your arrival before departing. Please take care on your way out." Though it was clear she was a little surprised by the dismissal, the woman was practiced in etiquette so she dutifully performed a second curtsy, answering, "Your Majesty's words are a blessing." before quickly alighting from the room.Since he had no intention of taking the woman with him to Avalon, as her presence might just make life more difficult for the children, Vahn waited for the Governess to depart before passing his gaze over each of the children in turn. They were all arranged by height but, with Alex standing on the far left, as he was both the youngest and shortest. As for the eldest amongst them, Mash, she was in the very center of the group as two of the girls were only around a year younger than her. Due to their 'template', however, they were genetically disposed to be a little taller. They were named Zoë Meyer and Astrid Aeland while the youngest girl was named Juliet Byrnes.Noticing that all five children were quite tense, despite the lack of emotions on the girls' faces, Vahn decided not to keep them in anticipation for too long. Since she was both the oldest, while being in the most convenient position, Vahn gazed into Mash's singular lavender eye as her right was covered by her bangs. She briefly broke eye contact with him before looking back by impulse, causing Vahn's heart to feel as if it had a hand gripping it, despite his calm expression. He then asked, "Mash...if you could wish for anything...what would you choose?"Vahn wanted to know if these children had any kind of hopes, dreams, or ambitions as, if there was no hope for a natural recovery, he was prepared to either erase their memories or ask for Merlin's assistance in repressing the worst. What he didn't expect was for Mash to stare at him silently for several tense seconds before answering, "I want to protect humanity...if I were given a wish, it would be to eliminate suffering..." This answer caused the 'hand' gripping his heart to tighten as, for a brief moment, there was a small glimmer of hope within Mash's eyes, indicating she wasn't simply just answering in a way she was taught.After giving a small nod, Vahn turned his attention to her right, making eye contact with Zoë, a girl with platinum-blond hair and grey-blue eyes. She seemed to understand what he was going to ask so she answered in a dull tone not all that dissimilar to Mash's, "I would wish for wings. I want to be able to fly high in the sky...above even the clouds..."Though he knew this was Zoë's way of saying she wanted to be free, Vahn gave a curt nod before turning his attention to Astrid, Juliet, and then Alex. Astrid wished to be able to eat good food and live in a place surrounded by animals while Juliet had the most heart-breaking wish by saying she just didn't want to be hurt anymore. This wasn't as troublesome as Alex's wish, however, as the red-headed youth unabashedly met Vahn's gaze as he answered, "I would wish for power. Power to kill anyone that wants to hurt me...!"It could be the result of his age, as he clearly hadn't thought about the situation he was in, but Vahn didn't hold it against the young boy. Having experienced a fate not all that dissimilar to these five children, Vahn could understand the desire for power. If he had been given a different choice in the past, he very likely would have gone to extreme measures to get his revenge. It was only the result of Klyscha's guidance and the multitude of experiences he went through after the fact that changed his perception of the world.Surprising Alex somewhat, Vahn gave an understanding nod instead of rebuking him like every other adult in his life. His face immediately formed into a frown after the fact, however, believing that Vahn was just another person trying to manipulate and control him.Vahn didn't particularly mind Alex's behavior, so long as he didn't act out too much. He already had a plan for the young boy but, before that, he looked over the children once again before saying, "My wish is to create a world where other people can achieve their own. I do not tolerate unnecessary violence, but I will do my best to make sure all of your wishes come true. Even then, your happiness is ultimately the result of your choices. If you cannot accept the present and face the future, the past will consume you...it will take time, but I want all of you to be happy."Since he knew actions spoke louder than words, Vahn didn't expect any of the children to outright believe what he had to say. The only way he could guide them forward was to make good on his promise, helping them to achieve the happiness they deserved. Fortunately, with Avalon being a rather mystical place, their baseline for reality would naturally shift and, with a Companion to keep them company, it shouldn't take too long for them to open up. After that, they would have some freedom in making choices in their own life, be it becoming a member of the castle's staff, a citizen of the Empire, a capable Magus, or even a Knight.The most difficult part of their adaptation to Avalon would be the fact that, despite his intentions to care for them, none of the children would have any status. He would also be their physician and, due to their trauma, this could result in them distancing themselves from him or, even worse, being too eager to please him as a result of their conditioning. Though this would all be ironed out in time, it was still a little troublesome as Vahn couldn't invest the time they might need from him. He would have to observe them and get a better understanding of their true nature before giving them small pushes toward the path that suited them.Deciding to make an impact on them as soon as possible, Vahn caused the group to tense up as he made his way right in front of Mash. Though she was only fifteen years old, Mash was already 156cm with her body even eclipsing girls like Rin in many places. Vahn knew from the documents that Mash had gone through some of the most terrible things a woman could experience, especially as a child. Despite this, she didn't shy away from him, doing her best to maintain eye contact as she repressed the trembling of her body. She reminded him a lot of Preasia after he had rescued her from slavery, causing Vahn to adopt the gentlest expression he could manage as he stated, "I will heal your eye..."Due to the tense state of her body as he extended his hand toward her face, it didn't seem like Mash had processed his words. She just stood there statuesque as he moved aside her bangs, finding a lavender iris that had a very advanced stage of cataracts. There was also a rather vicious scar that passed over her eyelid and cut into her cheek. It had healed over almost perfectly, but the scar tissue itself was a stark contrast to the fair complexion of the young girl.Under the watchful eyes of the other children, Vahn had Mash close her eyelid as he placed his index finger gingerly against the surface. Since he was using his [Hands of Nirvana] to mask his touch itself, the only thing Mash felt was a bit of warmth flow over her chaotic mind, helping her calm down. Her eye then began to itch slightly but, after only three minutes, Vahn removed his hand and said, "Open your eyes." As she was accustomed to listening to orders, Mash immediately opened her eyes only to find that Vahn was holding a small disc to obstruct the view of her left eye.It took a little while, but Mash eventually processed what it meant to still be able to see Vahn. At that same moment, he pulled out an oval handmirror, holding it in front of her face, allowing her to see that both her eye and the scar around it had been healed. Seeing her reflection, Mash couldn't resist bringing her hand to her face, touching the somewhat tender skin and confirming that it was indeed her own reflection in the mirror. This caused her eyes to moisten slightly but, as her tears had long since dried up, this was the extent of her emotional response as she adopted a practiced smile and stated, "Thank you, Your Majesty."Though Vahn would have preferred a more honest reaction, he was still satisfied with the results as, slight though it may be, there was a small glimmer in Mash's eyes. Since he was also cheating a bit, using his View Affection to determine their mental state by the color of their aura, he noticed that her value immediately jumped to 51 from 38, making her impression of him slightly better than neutral. This was a good baseline for the future, though the (Trust?} parameter always bothered him a little bit.Using his treatment of Mash's eye as a segue, Vahn explained, "You will come to learn more about the Empire and myself in the future. For now, know that my official title is Sage Emperor, granted to me as a result of treating the injuries and solving the issues of various races. I will first heal your scars and extend your lifespans so that you have as much time as you need to make your wishes a reality."As could be expected, the children seemed uncomfortable with the revelation, despite the fact they both feared death and wanted their scars removed. Since one of the methods that had been used to make them more cooperative was making promises that were rarely kept, it was hard to accept his words at face value. If not for him treating Mash's injury with such ease, they wouldn't have believed him for even a moment. The saddest part, however, was that they would still accept treatment as, for their entire lives, they never truly had a choice. If nothing else, Vahn seemed like a nice person, even if, in the back of their minds, they thought he was just another pretender.Seeing the grey-ish purple auras possessed by the children, the only exceptions being Mash and Alex, Vahn felt a little saddened. Though he didn't let it show on his face, he wanted the children to be able to trust him, despite the fact he understood why they couldn't. Fortunately, Mash actually had a subtle yellow to her aura and, though it was troublesome in its own way, Alex had more red and orange in his aura than anything else. This indicated rage, indignation, and slight envy, causing Vahn to wonder if he might have a bit of a sister complex toward Mash. As the eldest in the group, she was the 'anchor' for the others, something Vahn could make use of in their future treatment.Since giving them detailed explanations of what to expect would only confuse them, Vahn decided to just return to Avalon so they could be paired with a Companion and begin their recovery. With that in mind, he shepherded the group toward the basement, something that caused Zoë and Juliet to tremble, but they still trudged forward nonetheless. It helped that Kenshin, Lakshmibai, and Olga were present, despite the latter having an expression of guilt as she saw how the children behaved.After reaching the transfer room, Vahn had Alaya move them to Avalon without delay, disorienting Zoë somewhat, despite the fact there was no actual motion involved. This caught Vahn's attention but, until she was ready to accept his Familia Crest by her own will, he wouldn't try to pry into her secrets. He knew from her file that, like Sakura, she had the Imaginary Numbers element so, in the future, she would be adept at using Space, or potentially even Time, elemental abilities. Since they all had sufficiently complex Magic Circuits, with an abnormal amount of Od, they had a lot of options in the paths they could walk.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Bye Felicia','Open your eyes and see...your eyes are open~.','Alex be like, "You, don't you lay a finger on my Onee-chan...!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

True to his word, Vahn also gave Olivia a 'rejuvenation' treatment under the scrutiny of a room full of people. His skills as a masseur were known to almost everyone within the castle so, despite the fact Olivia had a maroon-red face by the end of it, it was obvious he had held back. He also made sure to act as professionally as possible, despite the fact it was more than a little strange for an Emperor to be personally treating people.When everything was said and done, Olivia, despite the fact she already looked younger than Luvia, now had a glossy sheen to her complexion. Since he had even used [Primordial Rune]s to reverse the age of her organs before strengthening them, she would easily live another hundred years without further treatment. Olivia herself, however, seemed quite taken with the experience and, if not for the difference in their status, or perhaps the presence of others, she would have done everything in her power to obtain him as her personal attendant.With her body trembling like a newborn fawn, Olivia was dressed by Luvia's attendants as Vahn quickly wiped down the massage table before looking toward Sophia and saying, "You'll be next." He didn't leave a lot of room for argument, despite the fact his tone was polite, so Sophia couldn't help but flush slightly. She was obviously trying to behave professionally, and would even be able to fight naked if necessary, but Vahn wasn't the type of enemy she could face with confidence after seeing what he did to her Grand Mistress.As could be expected, Sophia had a very toned body as one of the Edelfelt family's Elite forces. Vahn also had to admit that, seeing a fit woman wearing nothing but slacks and dress shoes was quite the sight to behold. Fortunately, he managed to keep his mind clear of wayward thoughts, courtesy of Sakura's presence next to Gray. Though she had paled a little when he was giving Olivia a massage, she now had a slight blush on her face as she held Gray's hand and obediently observed from the side.Since it was a good opportunity, Vahn went ahead and healed the various small scars that marred Sophia's otherwise fair skin, with permission of course. He also provided this same service to the rest of Luvia's entourage, named Natalia, Leah, Marjaana, and Pihla. Like their companion, they all had very toned figures while, amongst them, Leah even outclassed Luvia in bust size. She also had a large scar under her left breast, where she had been stabbed with a spear, so Vahn got an eye-full when she lifted them up, her hands sinking into the plump flesh as he treated the delicate area.In total, the crest applications and treatment only took around two hours as, under the watchful gaze of Artoria, Gray, and Sakura, he didn't have the courage to tease any of Luvia's attendants. When the procedure had finished, the group returned to the Quest Board once again. Since the Medical Ward was adjacent to the Knight's Barracks, it was a very short trip so, within five minutes, Olivia and the rest had all accepted a few Quests for themselves. Olivia, in particular, accepted an S-Ranked Quest that required her to kill a 'Malevolent Otso', a monstrous bear spirit that was native to Finland. She had already been planning to deal with it soon, as it had already attacked a few villages, so getting a bonus reward was quite nice.With the matter of the Quest Board addressed, Sophia and Natalia accompanied Luvia and Olivia while Leah, Marjaan, and Pihla were escorted by a group of Homunculi to tour the castle. All six girls, Olivia included, were given a Companion of their choice from amongst a small 'flock' that had been wandering around the castle. Unclaimed Companions often wandered the halls, observing anything of interest and helping out if they were able. Once they received a 'Master', however, a simple rune contract would activate and, from that moment onward, they would follow them around wherever they went.Since Olivia was already aware of the existence of Companions, as Siegfried had brought Skuld V2 with him, she was quite pleased to receive her own. It took on the form of a tiny humanoid bear cub, complete with white hair in a bowl cut, two rounded ears, and a tuft for a tail. She named it Met and seemed to enjoy carrying it around as the adorable creature clung to her like a Koala. As for the rest of the girls, they all picked dog-like Companions as, compared to most, they were very affectionate and playful.---After giving Olivia a brief tour of the castle, including the Throne Room, the residential area, and the large central courtyard, the group took a break at the dining hall once again. This time, most of the castle's residents had gathered, including the somewhat reclusive Da Vinci and Olga.Vahn used the gathering for the purpose of introductions as, for better or worse, the Empire and the Edelfelt family walked the same path. Though she would have heard about them from Luvia, giving Olivia the chance to see first-hand their power would give her confidence in her own actions in the future. Like Luvia, she would be working to ensure the success of the Empire and, though Vahn had every intention of standing at the frontlines himself, the influence of the Edelfelt family was already global. She had greater freedom of movement and could help to lay the foundation of the Empire in other countries, avoiding some of the issues he and Luvia had previously discussed.For the most part, the new arrivals were well-received, so long as the snide and teasing remarks of people like Nobunaga were ignored. The only person that seemed genuinely annoyed by Oliva was Da Vinci as, even more so than Luvia, the older Edelfelt seemed like trouble. She didn't get along with the types that stuck their noses into other people's business for no better reason than profit. It was people like Olivia, combined with the busybodies from the Holy Church, that was responsible for suppressing her back in the day.By the time the early dinner party came to an end, despite the fact the sun hadn't even reached the apex of its arc, Olivia was shown to a private quarter in the residential area while almost everyone else moved to the Inner Sanctum or went about their personal business.Despite the fact she was Luvia's grandmother, Olivia technically had no status within the Empire so, while exceptions could be made for Luvia's personal attendants, she was not given leniency to stay within the Inner Sanctum. Though it didn't particularly matter to Vahn, he still abided by the decision as, like people kept telling him, he needed to take the matters of the Empire seriously. Since Olivia didn't even try asking for access to the Inner Sanctum, apparently more interesting in wandering the expansive halls of the Ivory Castle, Vahn decided to let the matter lay.Shortly after reaching the Inner Sanctum, Vahn stopped Olga to explain that she would be returning to London with him later in the day. Though she was initially startled by this, her expression became fretful before Vahn preempted her delusions by explaining it was just to visit her father and discuss matters. She would be returning with him after the fact, unless, of course, she herself decided to stay.Since even the thought of being away from Avalon frightened her, especially knowing the difference in the flow of time, Olga insisted that she would continue to stay in the castle until being made the Director of Chaldea.After giving Olga an adequate amount of praise and head rubs, Vahn sent her to prepare for the trip before retiring to spend a few hours with Nobunaga, Ereshkigal, and Da Vinci. He wanted to cheer up the latter, as she very clearly wasn't in a good mood. Since they were all expecting, Vahn showed them some of his most cherished memories, those of the time he spent together with his children as he watched them grow like beanstalks. Though Da Vinci and Nobunaga teamed up against him by adopting their most 'youthful' appearances, Vahn did his best not to mind it since it was easier to snuggle with all three of them as a result...Eventually, Da Vinci returned to her Workshop to continue her research as, with a baby on the way, she needed to make adequate preparations to avoid future difficulties. As for Nobunaga, she went to take a rest, sneaking into Kenshin's room, while Vahn escorted Ereshkigal by hand back to her shared room with Rin. Even simple displays of affection seemed to have a big impact on the blond-haired Goddess as, by the time he reached their room, she had a happy glaze over her eyes as she tip-toed to kiss him. Vahn, of course, reciprocated her affection, at least until she suddenly became far more skilled than normal, indicating that Ishtar had sneakily swapped places with her younger sister.Since he still had time before his scheduled return, Vahn decided to spend some of it with the three girls in the comfort of their room. Even Rin made a partial appearance, sharing her body with Ishtar, so he got to experience a 'very' affectionate version of Rin after the latter used one of her charms to request a massage of her own. Unlike what he had done with Olivia, however, Rin straddled his hips while wearing nothing but Ishtar's intricate panties, allowing his hands to wander around her chest and abdomen as she playfully sucked on his fingers. It was clear she was 'learning' from Ishtar while he was away, causing Vahn to flush slightly when he thought about what they might be doing inside of the unique space shared within her soul...After leaving the warm and fragrant room behind, Vahn was feeling a little heated and, if not for the fact he would be returning to London soon, he would have gone on the 'prowl', as Nobunaga called it. He suddenly felt a little annoyed by the fact that Ereshkigal outright disallowed Rin and Ishtar to have sex in their current state, despite the fact it shouldn't have any effect on their pregnancy. She was very adamant, however, so both Ishtar and Rin had conceded to her insistence, leaving Vahn in his current state.While seriously considering stopping by the Menagerie for a quick bit of fun, Vahn ultimately chose to temper himself by resisting the urge. Instead, he focused his mind with the aid of his [Will of the Emperor] and the [Mantra of Eternity]. Curiously, as he had been using his [Will of the Emperor] at all times throughout the day, its effects had become simultaneously more potent while seemingly less effective. He could be influenced by things a lot easier than the Innate should allow, meaning his views on how an Emperor should think had changed. Though this wasn't necessarily a bad thing, as he could still channel his emotions during combat against his enemies, it had led to a number of 'complications' over the last few months.---Though it was a time when most people would be either sleeping or resting, this was not the case for the Homunculi calling the castle home. They had already come up with a shift system amongst themselves, even without external influence, so there were always around 2,000 people, each with a Companion of their own, walking around the castle. Thus, while Vahn was making his way over to the Transfer Room, his path was littered with beautiful flowers that, due to his current state, made his mind wander a bit more than it should. He actually felt somewhat silly to have so little control over his thoughts, especially with his age. However, when he remembered the quirks of pretty much every God he had ever met, Vahn felt his own behavior was relatively tame compared to some...Fortunately, even if he was under the influence of Da Vinci, Vahn felt he would be able to resist the temptation of pushing down any of the Homunculi. Knowing they wouldn't refuse, even if he asked them to head to their deaths, allowed him to stay sober even in his most heated state. He simply couldn't take advantage of their vulnerable and highly receptive states, especially since a number of them had 'imprinted' on him after their treatment. It was because of this that, despite the fact they were given the opportunity to live in the nearby Castle Town, every single Homunculi brought by Illya decided to take up residence in the castle.After navigating the surprisingly dangerous hallways, filled with beautiful smiling women who all stopped to happily greet him, Vahn plopped down on the smooth stone floor to wait for the others to arrive. He was more than an hour early but, in order to give himself time to calm down, Vahn had no problem waiting around as the heat slowly drained from his body. Since he would be meeting with Olga's father soon, he needed to be clear-headed to guide the conversation, both for his and Olga's sake.In a way, this could be another manifestation of Olga's fortune as, depending on the decision she made, he would very likely be returning with yet another woman to shower in affection. Since she was honestly one of the most adorable women he had known, reminding him a lot of Risna back in the day, Vahn had been thinking about what he might do with the bashful maiden when the time came. Since he knew she also thought about similar things, it almost felt like they were synergizing with each other as, despite the fact he could easily make his thoughts into reality, they were still just delusions in the present...While humoring such thoughts, around thirty minutes passed and, for the most part, Vahn had been able to calm his mind. Though he was akin to a bomb that had its timer put on pause, it would allow him to meet with Marisbury and any of their other allies without any issues. Once he returned home, however, he would be ready to go off at a moment's notice. It was never a question of if, only when, where, and who he would be with when the time came. Since this could very well include Olga, Vahn had thought about who should accompany them as, with it being her first time, she would be hard-pressed to satisfy him. Fortunately, she had gotten reasonably close with Lakshmibai and Fenrir so, even though it might be a little awkward for her, Olga shouldn't be against having their 'support'.With such thoughts on his mind, Vahn rose to his feet just moments before Olivia arrived, escorted by a duo of Homunculi named Chelsea and Judith. Both women politely greeted him and, bringing radiant smiles to their faces, Vahn dutifully expressed his gratitude while addressing them by name. This caused Olivia to raise her brows slightly and, after the two left, she immediately asked, "Have you remembered the names of every Homunculi?" Though the girls all had small identifying patches sewn into their collars, these were not on display normally as, due to Vahn calling them by name in the past, they had adopted the habit of concealing them for reasons only they were aware.In response to Olivia's question, Vahn gave a simple nod before explaining, "It is my hope that those girls are all able to develop egos of their own. In the future, I want them to be able to live freely, not as the tools they were designed to be. Besides, they work hard...its the least I could do..."Hearing Vahn's words, Olivia smiled teasingly as she mused, "Oh~? You sure it isn't because you like the attention~?" Since she could tell Vahn was behaving differently than normal, Olivia felt he might be the kind that enjoyed the attention of beautiful women. The fact he surrounded himself with so many seemed to be proof enough of this fact but, when he gave her a deadpan stare in response, she supposed it was just a misunderstanding.Rather than play along with Olivia's teasing, Vahn leaned against one of the stone pillars in the room as he said, "Things are never so clear cut. Life is filled with infinite complexities, despite our desires to simplify things and just enjoy life..."Recently, Vahn had been feeling the vicissitudes of life, despite the fact that nothing had happened to really garner such a response. He just felt like the world was filled with problems and, though he would do his best to address them in the future, it almost felt like a fruitless endeavor. Part of him just wanted to retreat to an unreachable place, taking all the people he cared about with him and ignoring the complexities of life. Though he knew this was only because he had been isolated from the problems for a while, as he could never just ignore people in need, Vahn honestly felt that his efforts would just be a stopgap measure in the grand scheme of things...As someone who had seen and experienced quite a bit during her ninety-seven years, Olivia's smile faded away as she solemnly nodded in response to Vahn's words. She had lived through two world wars and had seen some of the most horrendous displays of 'humanity' imaginable. Though there had undoubtedly been good times amidst the chaos and bloodshed, it always felt like the bad far outweighed the good in retrospect. Still, she did not regret the path she had chosen and, with her daughter and granddaughter finding success in her wake, she felt an irrepressible vindication.Though she could tell that Vahn wasn't the type that would break under pressure, Olivia decided to be a little presumptuous, saying, "We do what we must to ensure those who follow are able to live better lives."Hearing Olivia's words, Vahn gave an affirmative nod as, if not for his children, he very likely wouldn't bother with such tiresome affairs. It was imagining how they would react in response to the current state of the world that mustered him to action in the first place. Since he knew this world would not be pleasant for them to live, he wanted to make it a better place, not just for them, but for all the children that would one day call this planet home. Thus, no matter how hard things got, Vahn would continue to stand tall, supporting the Heavens themselves if necessary...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The Unstoppable Godhand','Quality time o3o...','All children deserve a chance at happiness')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Chapter 1221: Luncheon