Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

For the better part of a minute, there was almost no sound within the area as those with lesser wills had to fight just to keep their consciousness. It wasn't until Vahn had passed his eyes over the entire crowd in turn that the pressure began to ease up. At that same moment, he spoke in a solemn voice that resonated through the entire arena, reaching everyone's ears despite the distance, "We are the Sage Emperor, Vahn Aldrnari Mason. We are not a tyrant but, if you covet what is ours, do not blame us for protecting it."In the past, Vahn wouldn't have cared about a few people gawking at his lovers but, now that he had obtained a Divinity related to Sex, it was almost like they were actively catcalling. Since he would not let such grievances slide if he were to hear them, Vahn lacked the magnanimity to tolerate the errant thoughts of the Magi in the crowd. After all, there were many amongst their number who had used things like Hypnosis, Charm, and lesser forms of mind control to act with impunity. He could sense the malicious intent radiating from some people, the largest majority of which belonged to what he assumed to be the Noble Faction.Fortunately for the crowd, Zelretch had been close at hand so, after he approached with a wry smile, Vahn gave the crowd some leniency as he turned to the elderly Mage and asked, "We trust this is not the reception the Association had in mind for us, yes? Take us to where we need to be so we can get this farce out of the way."Zelretch issued a dry laugh in response to Vahn's words as he slightly regretted bringing the group directly to the arena. He had wanted to give them the chance to make a grand entrance since they cut quite the figure as a group of powerful individuals. Now, Vahn had caused the atmosphere in the arena to become incredibly tense, no doubt earning him the ire of nearly everyone in the crowd.During the month leading up to the duel, the Barthomeloi family, and the Noble Faction in general, had been campaigning to demonize Vahn and his Empire quite a bit. They spun the facts to present him as a cruel and uncaring individual who wielded his power with impunity and acted however he pleased. This display would undoubtedly fuel the fires of propaganda further, despite it being clear to many that Vahn was overprotective and borderline possessive, not someone who would give up his allies for something like a wager.Vahn didn't care much for pretenses, especially if they required him to simply ignore the faults of wicked individuals. He understood that his actions would have earned him several enemies within the Association but, as this made it easier to identify those with truly malicious intent, he didn't mind borrowing a page out of the Edelfelt's book. His cooperation with the Association was predicated on their willingness to accept the reforms he intended to bring. He would not pander to the Magi that could not accept the changes he would bring so, even if he upset the majority of people belonging to the Association, Vahn showed no remorse...By the time Zelretch had escorted Vahn's group to their designated waiting area, many in the crowd had already started speaking in hushed tones. As for those belonging to the Noble Faction, who had borne the brunt of Vahn's aura, they were spewing venom and vitriol as they criticized the 'so-called' Emperor's actions. Some even sent their Servants, other students, to spread the word about what had happened so that everyone else could be informed of the 'truth' of Vahn's tyranny.Among those who had witnessed Vahn's display, there was a sealed viewing platform that only those with the highest status among the Noble Faction could make use of. From here, they could view the various duels and events that took place in the arena in extreme comfort. The interior was filled with high-end furniture while the structure of the platform itself was reinforced using materials that could only be found within the various Spiritual Lands. Even if a stray A-Rank attack struck the platform, it would suffer minimal damage while those within wouldn't even feel the smallest of shockwaves.Despite these protections, several people seated within the viewing platform had dour expressions as, much like the rest of the Noble Faction, they had borne the brunt of Vahn's pressure. At the front of the group, a tall man and a relatively petite woman, each having hazelnut-brown hair, emanated an aura that caused the interior of the room to tremble slightly.While some had felt weak at the knees after experiencing Vahn's pressure, these two stood ramrod straight, hands behind their backs as they raised their heads in a dignified and prideful display. The shorter of the two, despite her diminutive size, gave off the impression of a stable mountain. As for her counterpart, his presence was vast and unfathomable, causing those that met him to feel as though they were looking up at the sky above, awed by the boundless expanse.Without changing his posture in the slightest, the man spoke in a deep and stern tone as he stated, "That man is not simple...his aura feels closer to the Divine Energy than mana. You have made quite the enemy for our family, Lorelei."If others were to address her by name, Lorelei would harshly rebuke or outright punish them but, this time around, she lowered her head slightly and stated in a solemn tone, "Forgive me, my Lord." She did not try to make any excuses for her actions as, regardless of her haughty and cruel nature, Lorelei was nothing but a little girl when comparing herself to the 'middle-aged' man standing to her right.Despite the fact that Lorelei was lowering her head to him, something that shocked everyone else present to the core, the man continued to stand tall without any discernible reaction. It wasn't until several seconds had passed that he stated, "It matters not. Be they God, Divine Spirit, or Magi, our family will emerge victoriously. Recent events have given us the opportunity to show the world why we are considered the most prestigious Magus family. Failure will not be tolerated."Still having her head lowered from before, Lorelei answered in a calm and collected tone, without a single sign of lacking confidence, "King or Empress, I will not lose to some relic of the past. My only concern is that you will find the proceedings droll and boring, my Lord."This time, there was a slight change in the middle-aged man's, Lord Bathomeloi's, expression. Then, without any hesitation, nor caring for the presence of others, he struck Lorelei across the face with the back of his right hand. A loud smack resonated through the room, bringing an eerie silence with it, much like standing within a graveyard in the middle of the night.Despite having been struck across the face hard enough to leave a trickle of blood running from her nose, Lorelei's expression was as placid and calm. She made no effort to redress any grievances she might be feeling. Instead, she fixed her posture before lowering her head slightly once again. Even if someone were to try and view her thoughts using Advanced Magecraft, they would find her mind to be in a serene and unperturbed state.After staring at his granddaughter for several tense seconds, Lord Barthomeloi turned his eyes back to the front as he stated, "As a Barthomeloi, you do not lack the prestige to look down upon others. That woman, however, is not someone you can afford to look down on. Her bloodline is something even our family cannot compare to. You will fight her to the best of your abilities from the start. I did not come here to watch a show. I came here to prevent those two old monsters from doing anything to interfere with our family's matters."Though this was his first time seeing Vahn directly, Lord Barthomeloi could already sense there was something 'inexplicable' about the man. Even with his eyes, he was unable to see through the depths of Vahn's power. He could tell that Vahn was weaker than he was but with the entourage he brought along, even Lord Barthomeloi couldn't act with impunity. He had never met Merlin but, after trying to see through the flowery Magus' depths, Lord Barthomeloi actually felt a backlash and, for a brief moment, he was certain the white-haired man had even smiled toward him.As one of the most powerful existences on the Surface, Lord Barthomeloi's mind was like a fortress. The vast majority of Magi, regardless of how powerful they were, would not be able to breach his mental defenses but, as if they didn't exist at all, he was certain the man at the back of Vahn's group had peered into his mind. This made him feel threatened for the first time in more than two-hundred years thus, after hearing Lorelei's remark, he couldn't help but remind her to treat this matter with the severity it was due.---At the same time that Lord Bathomeloi was thinking of him, Merlin was rubbing his with the back of his sleeve after surprising the entire room with a loud sneeze. This reminded everyone that he was still present, including Zelretch. When the old man realized he had been ignoring Merlin this entire time, he was slightly taken aback before hardening his expression. The only way he would have been able to overlook Merlin's presence, especially after seeing him earlier, was if the flowery Magus was proactively obscuring his perception.With a look of mock-embarrassment on his face, Merlin produced a wry smile as he stated in an airy tone, "Oh, pardon me. Spring allergies. Please, continue." This remark caused Artoria to sigh deeply while Vahn and Zelretch stared back at him with incredulous looks. There was no way someone that was literally known as the 'Magus of Flowers' would be affected by something like pollen. They were located in one of the most secure places within the entire Association, far beyond the means for any stray pollen to reach...Deciding not to bother with Merlin, Vahn shook his head before turning to Zelretch and asking, "Is Solon not going to preside over this duel? I believe a 'senior' Magus needs to be present to ensure the duel's conditions are not breached. With Lorelei's status, the only person who can preside over this match should be Solon, correct?"Instead of Zelretch answering, it was Merlin who issued a light chuckle before musing, "Little Solon is indisposed of at the moment. Don't worry, as someone rather special will be presiding over today's duel. I'm actually a little excited. Today is a day of many reunions~"Even without Merlin going into greater detail, it was easy to intuit that he was already meeting with Solon in private. This caused Zelretch to grip his cane a little tighter as realization dawned on him as to why he had been unable to sense Merlin for the past few minutes. The Magus before him was just another illusion, albeit one that was almost indiscernible from an actual person. He was aware of the fact that Merlin had been imprisoned on the Reverse Side of the World so, seeing him able to freely move about despite being severely restricted, Zelretch couldn't help but feel like he was in the same room as a monster.Merlin just laughed in response to the way Zelretch was looking at him. Then, with a playful wave of his hand, he began to fade away from the room without asking for permission to leave. He and Vahn had already discussed the meeting with Solon and, if not for their prior agreement, Merlin would not have revealed himself so early. There were far more dangerous existences in the world than anything the Mage's Association could throw at them so. Once it was known that he was present, there were a number of troublesome individuals who would immediately come seeking him...Zelretch wanted to follow after Merlin but, with Vahn's temperament, he felt the need to be present to avoid any troublesome developments. With this in mind, he could only release a tired sigh as, for a brief moment, his age showed far more than it usually did. He kept calm by reminding himself that Merlin, despite his eccentricities, was not a dangerous person. Though Solon would probably have to 'suffer' for a bit, they wouldn't be too affected by the relatively short meeting.In an effort to distract himself, Zelretch's eyes suddenly turned into a kaleidoscope of thousands of images as he was very curious about who would be arriving. This caught everyone's attention while Vahn, having witnessed something similar in the past, couldn't help but smile slightly. Zelretch's use of the Second Magic reminded him a lot of Ina's ability to view the future, albeit far more advanced. This was further proof that the most powerful abilities, regardless of their complexity, usually had an Innate that had similar functionality.After a surprisingly short period of time, Zelretch's eyes returned to normal and, replacing the dour expression on his face, he now had a wolfish grin before spontaneously laughing. Then, adding to the incredulity of the situation, Zelretch suddenly stopped laughing before adopting a very serious expression as he explained, "It seems three Mages will be gathering here today. Please, Your Majesty, do not offend the person coming to preside over the match. She can be a very hotheaded individual and I fear the Association will not be able to survive a conflict between the two of you..."Vahn looked at Zelretch like he was senile but, after processing his words, he answered, "We do not seek unnecessary conflict. Unless that woman antagonizes us, there is no reason for concern..." Even before he had finished his words, Vahn could see a dejected glimmer in Zelretch's eyes as he shook his head. There was a smile present on his face and, after a few tense moments, he just shrugged his shoulders and said, "Well, it's been a while since I had to go all out. Don't worry. I'm not planning on fighting against you. If I don't interfere, all of London might end up being destroyed in the process."At this point, Vahn was getting annoyed by how Zelretch was obviously beating around the bush. At the same time, however, he was somewhat curious about what kind of opponent would require the elderly Magus to go all out. Based on Zelretch's words, it was obvious that the person he was talking about was a wielder of True Magic. After all, the only people that were allowed to call themselves by the title of 'Mage' were those who had either reached the Root, or inherited the Magic from their ancestors."Surprising Zelretch quite a bit, Vahn adopted a smile on his face as he mused, "Aoko Aozaki, the Fifth Magician..." with a fair amount of intrigue. Alaya had taken it upon herself to inform him of who was on the way, even without him asking for the information.Zelretch grimaced like someone who had their fun ruined but, rather than ask how Vahn obtained the information, he gave a curt nod before stating, "Indeed. It isn't an exaggeration to say that she is the most capable Magician in terms of destructive capabilities. Though she is still a little wet behind the ears, even I don't have the confidence in being about to outlast one of her tantrums. She is a good and honest lass, despite being a little temperamental..."While Zelretch was giving his explanation, Alaya, seated snuggly on Vahn's shoulder, gave her own accounting of Aoko's character, stating, "That woman is irresponsible. Though her actions are a necessity in guaranteeing the current cycle comes to an end, her use of the Fifth Magic will cause the inevitable destruction of the Universe. If she uses it haphazardly, even Type: Mercury will not be able to defeat her. I would advise you to exercise caution, Master..."Hearing Alaya's words, Vahn felt his scalp tingle as he couldn't even fathom how strong ORT was yet, according to his perpetual companion, she could even defeat an existence he had little, if any, hope of defeating. This was a jarring discovery as, while he knew the Administrative Functions were all very powerful, he hadn't expected such an information bomb at this point in time. He was actually a little annoyed as, until now, despite having discussed potential dangers several times, Aoko's name hadn't even been brought up.The 'original' Aoko was actually one of his targets but, for the past two years or so, Vahn hadn't even thought about the Quest that had been assigned to him by Akasha. Now that he knew she had such an extreme amount of power, he suddenly felt the need to increase his own. At the same time, Vahn couldn't deny that he was actually interested in seeing just how strong such a person could be. Since Merlin and Alaya hadn't warned him about her, she likely wasn't a 'threat', despite having more than enough power to oppose them.Recognizing the look in Vahn's eyes, Zelretch shook his head in exasperation as he said, "If you want to fight her, please do it elsewhere. I would hope that, as an Emperor, you have the wherewithal to avoid causing unnecessary collateral damage. I can help you arrange a battle if you'd like. Just don't do it here." The battle between Artoria and Lorelei was already pushing the limits of what the arena could withstand so, if two people capable of wielding True Magic began to fight, it was only a matter of time before everything was destroyed.Despite Vahn having never stated it outright, Zelretch considered him a wielder of True Magic and, now that rumors had been circulating, others saw him in the same light. He imagined this was the primary reason behind Aoko's visit as, even after the revelation of Angra Mainyu's emergence, she hadn't particularly cared. She wasn't too fond of the current Association, despite the Aozaki family being one of its core affiliates.Hearing Zelretch's words, Vahn dismissively waved his hand before saying, "Today is the opportunity for our Empress to display her prowess. I will only intervene if the Barthomeloi family tries anything shady. If Aoko is as you describe, I doubt we will come to blows. Rather, after this matter is settled, I would prefer to meet with her directly. I'm certain she would want to be present for the discussions so please inform Solon of her attendance. If she chooses to abstain, however, leave her be. It is only a matter of time before we sit down for a discussion as, with her power, I imagine she will have her own conditions to present to the Empire...hahahaha~"Zelretch could only shake his head with a wry smile after hearing Vahn's words. He could only hope that Aoko was in a good mood as, with her nature, she was the most likely person to start the fight. As for Vahn's remark about Aoko's conditions, Zelretch was genuinely afraid that she would actually ally herself with the Empire in the future. If that were the case, the Empire would become the most powerful force in the entire world overnight. After all, while the Fifth Magic had various uses, the one it was most famous for was being able to draw out a person's future potential in the present...With this in mind, Zelretch's gaze briefly flickered over Fenrir as, while she was one of the weakest in the procession, her potential terrified him. If she were to meet with Aoko on amicable terms, it was impossible to know exactly powerful she would become...(A/N: Alternate Titles: '*Smack*','RIP Solon','The Fifth Magician is a little scary...?')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

The duel between Lorelei and Artoria had been scheduled for noon so, after idling in the waiting area for around half an hour, it was nearing time for the battle to begin. At this point, the only thing they were really waiting for was the arrival of Solon or, in this case, Aoko Aozaki. Without someone to officiate the event, it could not proceed so, while waiting for her arrival, Vahn passed the time by talking with Zelretch while Artoria was tended to by Gray and Gareth.It wasn't until a few minutes before the duel was scheduled to begin that Vahn's perception picked up on an aura that he couldn't make sense of. It felt simultaneously ancient and cold yet, at the same time, gave off a very youthful and sunny vibe. He was a little surprised by the contrary nature of the aura but, as it was something he could look into at a later date, he decided not to mind it. Instead, he looked toward Zelretch and, understanding his intent, the old man gave a curt nod before lightly tapping his cane against the ground. In the next moment, his figure had vanished from the waiting room, leaving behind a few ripples in Space-Time.With Zelretch's departure, Vahn rose to his feet and approached Artoria to help her stand. She had been in a meditative state in preparation for the coming battle so, when she opened her eyes, Vahn was able to see a silver glow flickering across her irises. It was quite the sight to behold and, if not for the fact he was afraid her focus was be affected, he wouldn't have been able to resist giving her a kiss or two.Artoria seemed to understand his intent as, for a brief moment, the focus in her eyes faded away as she looked up at him with a smile. Vahn habitually returned her smile and, though his gauntleted hands might not be the most comfortable, he cupped her cheek before resting his forehead against hers. They stayed like this for more than a minute before Vahn pulled away and stated in a confident tone, "Your actions today will usher in a new Era for this world. I believe in you, Artoria..."After inhaling audibly through her nose, Artoria's smile became more radiant as she placed her hand against his breastplate and whispered, "Believe in us...I do not carry this burden alone. Ever since our first meeting, we have walked this path together."With her words finished, Artoria gave one last smile before turning away with a far more serious expression on her face. She gave off the impression of someone who had lived an entire lifetime on the battlefield, a stark contrast to the loving woman that had been present moments prior. Vahn had a thoughtful look on his face as he watched her retreating figure but, throughout the sequence of events, his smile had never faded.Though it shouldn't be necessary, Vahn sent a mental command to Scáthach, telling her to follow along with Artoria to prevent any kind of subterfuge. If the enemy decided to pull something at the last moment, he didn't mind going to war against the entire Association.Before anyone realized it, Scáthach's figure had vanished from the periphery of the room as Vahn turned to address his companions with a smile. He primarily directed his gaze towards Gray, Fenrir, and Gareth as he calmly stated, "Regardless of the outcome of this battle, we stand together. While it may be difficult to uphold in the future, everyone within the Empire is an important member of my family. I will not tolerate others machinating against my loved ones so, if the Association seeks War, we must be prepared."In response to Vahn's words, Gawain, Galahad, and Gareth all gave proper Knight's salutes while Kenshin and Lakshmibai just smiled back at him. As for Fenrir and Gray, the former had the same resolute expression as always while Gray, understanding the meaning behind her Master's words, couldn't help but smile, even as her eyes developed a layer of moisture. Then, so as not to embarrass herself, she wiped away the budding tears before adopting a resolute expression of her own...---While Vahn was giving his motivational speech, Zelretch had a ragged expression as a woman with red hair and lapis-lazuli eyes stared back at him with a confident smile on her face. Though she was only 165cm tall, her expression made it appear as if she were looking down on the 185cm tall elderly man. With her peculiar choice of garb, her mature appearance was present for the world to see and, if Vahn were present, he would have placed her three sizes at 90/56/88, giving her a figure that the majority of women would envy.Similar to Nobunaga, Aoko liked to wear casual clothes that gave her a more 'wild' and unrestrained appearance. Today, she was wearing a pair of blue jean shorts that were frayed at the ends, almost as if they had been cut from a pair of pants. She had a sleeveless white that accented her rather large breasts while, around her a neck, an ornate metallic choker with a blue gemstone was present. What stood out the most, other than her inordinately beautiful appearance, were the complex runes that had been engraved on her exposed arms like tattoos. She also had a black glover on her right hand that ran up the length of her elbow while, completely her outfit, she had on a pair of black, military-style boots.As if playing the part her clothes had presented, Aoko was basically grinning at Zelretch as she said, "Long time no see, Jewel Bastard. Have you broken any more students since the last time we met?"Zelretch snorted in response to Aoko's taunting words, stating in an aged tone, "I find myself lacking the time to dedicate to rearing another student. I'm certain you have been rather busy yourself...tell me, Ms. Aozaki, has the nature of your Magic changed in the last five months...?"Knowing what Zelretch was getting at, Aoko's expression turned more serious as she stated, "There have indeed been some changes. I'm assuming that man is the cause...?" At this point, most of the major players around the world knew of Vahn's existence so, as the Head of the Aozaki family, one of the most prominent Magus lineages in the modern era, she was obviously aware of him as well.Without beating around the bush at all, Zelretch stated in a solemn tone, "That man comes from the Outside..."This time, Aoko's eyes widened in genuine shock was, better than most, she knew exactly what he was talking about when mentioning the Outside. Her Magic gave her direct access to the Root and, if she wanted to, it was possible for her to come into contact with it whenever she wanted. If she didn't have so many things anchoring her to the world, she would have given in to the ever-present urge to find out what was on the other side.After collecting herself, Aoko adopted her usual confident expression as she mused, "It seems I'm going to have to meet with this so-called Emperor. If he is really from the Outside, he should be able to answer a few questions of mine."Zelretch gave a curt nod and, remembering Vahn's words, explained, "That man is undoubtedly an Emperor. You should not go out of your way to antagonize him. As for a meeting, that is something that can be arranged. The Sage Emperor has extended an invitation to you. If you have no other pressing matters to attend, there will be an important discussion taking place in the next couple of days. The Director and myself will also be present and, as it has been quite some time, I would ask that you consider the matter seriously, Ms. Aozaki."Crossing her arms, an action that caused her breasts to stand out even more, Aoko answered in a non-committal tone, "We'll see. I've heard some pretty shady rumors about that man, including that he is already in cahoots with the Director. I'd rather not be trapped in a room with three of you old monsters at the same time."Though he knew it was dangerous to do so, Zelretch couldn't help but laugh in response to Aoko's words. He wasn't sure what kind of rumors she had heard but, considering the propaganda spread by the Noble Faction, they were undoubtedly slanderous. Aoko obviously knew better than to treat the rumors of the Association seriously, as she had been a victim of them herself in the past, but that didn't mean she ignored them completely. Until she met with Vahn and got a feel for his character, it would be very difficult to convince her to meet on any terms but her own.At this point, the scheduled time for the duel had already come and gone but, being two of only five Mages/Magicians, Aoko and Zelretch had the freedom to arrive at their leisure. Since it was their first meeting in a few years, they decided to make polite conversation for a bit while slowly making their way over to the arena. Along the way, anyone who saw them was considerably shaken, causing them to head in the complete opposite direction.As a result of the duo's leisurely pace, the entire arena was aware of Aoko's presence by the time she had finally arrived. This included Lord Barthomeloi who, already feeling bothered by the presence of the 'unknown' Magus at Vahn's side, nearly called off the duel on the spot. No matter how confident he was in his own family's power, he wasn't foolish enough to believe he could take on two wielders of True Magic at the same time. Aoko, in particular, was the one opponent he would rather not face as, despite very little being known about the Fifth Magic, it was considered second only to the First.Despite wanting to call everything off, Lord Barthomeloi looked toward Lorelei before saying in a cold tone, "Do not hold back. Do not try and show off. End this battle as quickly as you can."Without arguing at all, Lorelei nodded her head in understanding before answering in a courteous tone, "Yes, my Lord." After this, she gave a polite bow before turning away to make her way down to the arena. Along the way, she looked at everyone present in the room like an Executioner eyeing a group of death row inmates. Though there was no shame in lowering her head to her grandfather, they had seen her be struck. Thus, as far as Lorelei was concerned, they were all living on borrowed time.After making her way down one of the private corridors that provided access to the VIP viewing room, Lorelei slowed the pace of her steps until she came to a complete stop. Then, no longer able to restrain her frustration, she punched the adjacent wall with enough forced to shatter the surface and cause the magic crystals serving as light sources to fracture.Though her conditioning made it impossible for her to even contemplate baring her fangs towards her grandfather, the fact that Aoko had appeared incensed Lorelei to no end. While she was called the 'Queen', having no peers that can be directly compared to her, it was an indisputable fact that Aoko was stronger than her. When the latter was around, calling Lorelei the Queen of Mages was less of a compliment than it was a mockery. Because of this, Lorelei had always hated Aoko as, while the latter existed, she would always be the second most powerful female Magus...---When Aoko appeared within the arena, the crowd went wild in much the same way as when Vahn's party first arrived. This caused Aoko to roll her eyes but, as she took considerable pride in her figure and lived by the creed: 'regret nothing', she didn't really care how they reacted. So long as none of them were foolish enough to make brash remarks and catcall her, she didn't mind if they eyed her like a group hungry wolves stumbling across a wayward lamb.After being handed a microphone that looked like a magic crystal on the end of a metal pipe, as the Mage's Association was pretty strict about not using advanced technology, Aoko struck a dauntless pose before shouting, "Hey, everyone! I hope you're all excited about today! It isn't every day that you get to witness a battle between the 'Queen of Mages' and a Legendary Heroic Spirit~!"Though it wasn't discernible to everyone, the more perceptive members in the crowd heard the extra emphasis Aoko placed on Lorelei's title. In truth, Aoko didn't really put Lorelei in her eyes but, as the latter had caused her a fair amount of trouble in the past, she also had no love for her. Since she had yet to meet with Vahn, Aoko was automatically inclined to root for Artoria. Lorelei's comeuppance was long overdue and, if not for the trouble it would cause her family, Aoko would have taught the 'Blue-Blooded Bitch' a lesson a long time ago.After waiting for the crowd to settle down a bit, Aoko had a big grin on her face as she exclaimed, "I don't normally do things like this but I decided to do the Director a favor by hosting today's duel. Before that, there is something I want to make very clear to all you bastards scheming in the stands. No matter how you try to spin things, I've already been informed of the terms for the duel since the arrangements were made. This duel is to address a perceived grievance between the Barthomeloi family and the Empire. There were no wagers made that require any person or artifacts to change hands. You can shove your schemes up your asses, okay~?"In response to Aoko's words, several people from the Noble Faction began to shout while, elsewhere in the stands, everyone else had an 'as expected' reaction. Though they could not speak out about it, every commoner student knew the methods used by the Noble Faction. They controlled the spread of information, both inside and outside of the Clock Tower. In most situations, they would never take the group's words at face value but, as they also lacked the power to oppose the machinations of the established powers, they could only lower their heads in silent acceptance of their fate.Aoko wasn't worried about offending the Noble Faction as, with her family's territory being located in Japan, there weren't many amongst them who would even try to scheme against her. If they had the courage to do so, they would also need the conviction to confront the Fifth Magic, something only the Three Monarchal families could reasonably manage. Now that they had been petitioning her family for support in the upcoming battle against Angra Mainyu, Aoko felt like taking a stance against them since she knew there was nothing they could do but grit their teeth and bear it, just like the commoners they looked down upon.Ignoring the outcries of the Noble Faction, Aoko pulled a small pocket watch out of her short's back pocket before checking the time. She showed an expression of mock surprise before exclaiming into the microphone, "Oh, wow! We're actually super behind schedule, aren't we~!? Well, without further ado, let's get this show on the road! Let's see..."Since Artoria was the party being challenged, it was proper to introduce her first before introducing her opponent. Aoko had been given a small script that showed various talking points, including one that told her to introduce Lorelei first. This was obviously another scheme by the Noble Faction as it made Artoria seem like the challenger going by the usual order of events.After understanding the bias behind the duel's organization, Aoko crushed the piece of paper before exclaiming, "Representing the mysterious Aldrnari Empire is none other than the Legendary King of Knights, now Empress of the Aldrnari Empire, Artoria Pendragon~!"Lorelei had been preparing to make her entrance so, hearing Aoko's outburst, her faced turned dark in an instant. The only thing keeping her calm at this point is the assurance that, when all of this was over, her family would have cemented its image as the most powerful of the Three Monarchs. With this in mind, she began to open and close her fists to remain calm, waiting for Aoko to introduce her so she could bring this farce to an end.When she heard her name called, Artoria rose from her kneeling position in the wing before making her entrance onto the battlefield. Her arrival caused a stir to pass through the crowd and, while some seemed to have forgotten Vahn's earlier words, the majority of people present were simply in awe of her dignified aura. They had all heard that 'King Arthur' was going to be one of the contenders in the duel but, while the rumors about her being a female had already circulated, this was the first time it the truth really resonated with most people.After reaching her designated area in the field, Artoria raised her right arm and, much to the surprise of the crowd, began to gather a phenomenal amount of mana. Though she could summon it without the fanfare, Artoria knew it was important to put on airs when presenting oneself to the public. Thus, with an inviolably noble disposition, she pulled [Excalibur] out of thin air. When it appeared, silence had descended upon the crowd while some, especially those hailing from the British Isles, had a very strong urge to kneel. After all, while Artoria may be a beautiful woman and an Empress, she was also the 'Once and Future King of England'...Artoria continued holding [Excalibur] high for several seconds, allowing its holy light to wash over the crowd. When the light began to die down, she brandished the blade in a flourish before setting the tip against the ground, both hands resting on the pommel. Though she was very petite, she suddenly seemed like an immovable mountain in the eyes of everyone present, Nobles included.Despite being the Fifth Magician, even Aoko could only stare at Artoria with awe clearly visible on her face. This caused her to momentarily blank until Artoria turned her silvery eyes towards her and gave a small nod. As if she had been given leniency, Aoko came back to her senses before coughing awkwardly to ease her embarrassment. Then, causing an oppressive and wrath-filled aura to spread through the arena, she brought the microphone up to her mouth before stating in a dismissive tone, "Lorelei, stop wasting time and get out here. You were the one to challenge Her Majesty so why are you dawdling...?"(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Believe in us...','The Fifth Magician's Eccentricities','RIP Lorelei's brain. That aneurysm xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

It was early in the morning on March 15th, 2015. Vahn was being fitted into a set of ceremonial armor by Gray and Gareth. Though he could have equipped it with his Equipment function, it was something of a sacred duty for the most loyal servants of a Ruler to help them adorn their battle raiment. Since it meant a lot to them, Vahn decided not to be selfish as, while it took much longer, the solemn and intimate atmosphere actually sharpened his concentration a great deal.Most armor, at least when worn by Vahn, was more decoration than anything else. His battle raiment was no different but, as it looked 'badass' according to Nobunaga and Mordred, Vahn felt compelled to wear it. Presentation was very important for an Emperor and, by showing up in full raiment, it was the same as letting the Barthomeloi family know his intentions. If they insisted on pushing him, they needed to be prepared for the consequences of their actions.Compared to his normal attire, Vahn was wearing a padded black tunic with golden adornments and a pair of sleek black trousers. His raiment itself consisted of full-plate armor, formed from pure white metal that shone with divine light. This included greaves and gauntlets while, adding to the overall regal nature of the attire, he also wore a white knight's mantle that was colored royal blue on the interior. It was tied together at the front by thick golden cords while, around the collar, a thick fur plumage was present to increase the dignified appearance of the raiment.The most important aspect of his battle raiment, at least in Vahn's opinion, was that it was a close match for Artoria's own. Rather than wear her old battle dress, which was more-so beautiful than intimidating, she had adorned pristine white armor forged from the same metal as his. There were accents of blue and gold to increase its aesthetic appeal while, to complement his dragon motif, Artoria had the visage of a royal blue phoenix plastered on her breastplate.When standing side-by-side, Vahn and Artoria truly looked like an Emperor and Empress, especially with the crowns that had been designed by Da Vinci and forged by Vahn and Aeterna. His took on a form similar to golden vines that wrapped around his head, complete with two circular gaps where his horns would be able to grow in his Qinglong form. Since he didn't like gaudy designs, Vahn had chosen a very minimalist design that complimented Artoria's quite a bit. Her's took on the form of a golden plate that covered the forehead and followed the shape of the brows in a gentle arc. There were two tiny horns near the temples that poked out, obviously intended to emulate his own horns, albeit much smaller.Vahn found it rather amusing that he had based his battle raiment off of Artoria's armor, only for her to latter want newly designed armor that matched his. She paid attention to the small details and, if he were being honest, Vahn found it adorable. Though it was completely unnecessary, she even wore asked Luvia to teach her how to apply makeup so that she could accent her eyes with a bit of green and red. This gave her a 'slightly' more mature appearance and, with her raiment having the motif of a phoenix, it fit remarkably well with her silver eyes and regal disposition...The first time Vahn saw Artoria in her raiment, he was actually inspired quite a bit so, while it would have been better to request Da Vinci, he ended up creating a painting on the spot. He had a special item called a [Magical Canvas] that could form the image inside of a person's mind so, with his nigh-perfect imaging, the final product was almost photo-realistic. This made it seem less like a piece of art but, with Artoria's ephemeral beauty and regal disposition, it could easily serve as a centerpiece in an art collection.Artoria had been embarrassed by the impromptu painting, not because it existed, but because Vahn had placed it above the mantlepiece of the dining hall's hearth. This caused a lot of the other women to tease her when they took meals together but, as it was something Vahn had made for her, Artoria couldn't ask him to take it down. She could only tolerate its presence, even though she felt like Vahn had made her far more beautiful than she thought herself to be. This was the main reason why she was embarrassed as, with the painting being created from Vahn's mind, it served as a representation of how he saw her.Despite being one of the most beautiful women he knew, Artoria had, for reasons he would never truly understand, a complex about her figure. She genuinely believed she had boyish features and a rough body due to her harsh training as a youth. It didn't matter how much other people praised her beauty as, from Artoria's perspective, she was a woman that lacked charm. The most ridiculous and contrary part to this belief of hers was, despite having nearly identical features, Artoria had actually complimented Gray's beauty on several occasions.Fortunately, Artoria had made a lot of progress over the last two years so, while she hadn't exactly gotten over her complex, it no longer bothered her all that much. All that really mattered to her at this point was being loved by Vahn, managing the affairs of the Empire, being a good mother, and serving as a proper example for other young women. Since her eye color had changed, she knew it was only a matter of time before her body changed as well so, rather than beat herself up, Artoria had gotten much better at living in the moment while looking toward the future.It was with this frame of mind that Artoria craned her neck to stare up at Vahn's face, a confident glint in her eyes as she stated, "I'm ready." Since there was a 31cm height difference between them, Artoria's petite figure was far more prominent than it would usually be. Despite this, she gave off the impression that she was his equal in every sense of the word.Vahn resisted his almost instinctual urge to rub Artoria's cheek before giving a curt nod and smiling in turn. After that, with a fully armored Kenshin, Lakshmibai, Gawain, Galahad, and Gareth following close behind, Vahn activated the transfer portal. Gray was also accompanying them but, due to her combat style, she opted to wear her cloaked mantle rather than don heavy and restrictive armor. As for the rest of his entourage, Vahn had Merlin and Scáthach following at the back while, right behind him and Artoria, Fenrir, wearing a modified bodysuit and a cloaked mantle of her own, kept pace with them.This time around, the group exited from the center of Stonehenge as, after this event came to an end, it wouldn't really matter if the location of the Empire was known. Just knowing it was in a sub-texture of the world would deter the vast majority of people. Destroying one of the three Monarchal families also served as a powerful deterrent of its own, especially since the Barthomeloi family was considered the strongest in the entire world. Though several groups would begin to scheme and machinate, none of that would matter since Vahn only ever negotiated on his own terms, often with a complete disregard for material benefits...The moment his group passed through the massive transfer gate, Vahn wasn't at all surprised to sense spatial fluctuations in the immediate surroundings. His sensitivity to the unique energy had skyrocketed over the last few months so, even before he had appeared, Vahn was already looking toward where Zelretch's body would emerge from the void. This seemed to surprise the elderly Mage quite a bit but, rather than express shock, he smiled with the look of a hardened veteran as he eyed Vahn's group.Before anything else was said, Zelretch initiated the conversation by stroking his beard and musing, "So that's how it is...I had been wondering where your Empire was hidden away. It seems like you will have little trouble rivaling the major factions within the Association with a sub-texture of your own..."As he spoke, Zelretch's pupils would expand and contract slightly based on the person reflected in his gaze. When he saw Merlin, Vahn had noticed his brows twitch almost imperceptibly but, when he eyed Fenrir and Scáthach, a brief flash of uncertainty crossed his vision. He didn't seem surprised by the presence of Gawain and Galahad, likely having observed them in the past, but it was apparent, at least to Vahn, that he had a small amount of fear towards Fenrir and Scáthach. It was very likely that he was unable to see through them at all, especially with the latter being completely separate from the time axis.In response to Zelretch's remark, Vahn returned a smile before cautioning, "There will come a time when you will be allowed entry into the Empire so you would do well to temper your curiosity. If you try to enter into my dominion without permission...the Second Magic will not be able to protect you. Please, keep this in mind, Wizard Marshall..."Now that Zelretch knew where one of the gates to Avalon was located, it wouldn't take him much effort at all to gain entry. This, however, would not go unnoticed as, despite his mastery over Space and Time, Alaya, Vivian, and Merlin would all be able to track him. Unlike other sub-textures and Bounded Fields, Alaya's powers weren't restricted at all within Avalon. The moment Zelretch, or any other 'curious' Magi tried to enter, she would immediately alert him. Since this was indisputably an act of aggression or, at the very least, subterfuge, Vahn would make them pay dearly for invading his home.Zelretch had always felt a 'danger' lingering around Vahn's body so, while he might ignore the same words from the majority of other people, regardless of their power, he gave an understanding nod this time around. He also knew how capable Merlin, despite never having fought, so Zelretch had no intention of antagonizing the Empire unless he felt they were a threat to the world. Even then, he had already decided to gamble on Vahn as, no matter how strong he was, there was no way he could bring people like Merlin to his side unless he genuinely wanted to make the world a better place.As that thought crossed his mind, Zelretch decided to clear something up by asking, "Forgive my brashness, Your Majesty, but there was a matter I wanted to discuss with you..." Since it would be beneficial to ingratiate himself to the Empire, Zelretch decided to adopt a more formal approach as, while Vahn didn't seem to mind it, he was already earning a few pointed glares from the Knights at his back.Understanding Zelretch's intentions, Vahn smiled slightly before giving a small nod and saying, "Tell us, Wizard Marshall, what is it you wish to discuss? You don't intend to ask for leniency on behalf of the Bathomeloi family, do you...?"To Vahn's surprise, Zelretch actually snorted through his nose, almost as if he was offended by the notion of being accused of association with the Barthomeloi family. When he answered, however, his expression had become more respectful as he shook his head and clarified, "I will not intervene in the private affairs of the Empire and the Barthomeloi family. What stirs my curiosity is, as far as I am aware, a completely unrelated matter. It pertains to the sharp decrease in the number of abhorrent crimes taking place in the world...specifically those related to children. I wonder if Your Majesty has any knowledge of this...?"Even without Olivia providing them with constant updates, Da Vinci had already adapted her system to compile data directly from the internet. She used it to keep track of world new and, after a long discussion with Luvia, had even been using Ark to compile data on market trends. Thus, while he did not keep up to date on most matters in the outside world, Vahn had a good idea of what Zelretch was talking about. After all, it was a matter directly related to a decision he had made.Without beating around the bush, Vahn raised his head slightly before stating in a firm tone, "We are intimately familiar with this topic. Now tell us, is there a particular reason why this subject is of such import to you, Wizard Marshall?"Zelretch immediately shook his head upon hearing Vahn's question. Then, in a sincere yet solemn tone, he plainly stated, "Whatever your reasons were, I can only commend your benevolence. Only a true despot would fault you for taking action to protect children. My, or, more specifically, the Mage Association's concern is that the Holy Church has been taking credit for the act. They claim it to be some act of Providence....haaaa..."Vahn was tempted to laugh at Zelretch's expense as, in many ways, it wasn't an inaccurate account of events. After all, Vahn was indisputably a God now and, as a result of a decision he had made, it was easy to misconstrue the change to be some form of divine protection. Since Alaya was even the God worshipped by the Holy Church, they had struck at the truth of the matter, even if their reasons were wholly misguided.Now wasn't the best time to discuss his newfound Divinity, especially considering the form it took, so Vahn decided to keep it to himself. Instead, he gave an understanding nod before saying, "It is not all that far from the truth. Once the Empire has gone public, you'll learn that there are a number of Gods in our midst. The Holy Church is likely scheming something but, regardless of their intent, it is only a matter of time before the truth comes forward. Soon enough, the Holy Church will either fall to the Empire or fall in line with it..."Hearing the confidence in Vahn's words, Zelretch couldn't help but grip his cane a little tighter as, rather than pretentious bravado, the comparably young Emperor before him seemed absolutely sure of his claims. With Merlin smiling at the back, Zelretch felt as if his skin had become clammy as, in the back of his mind, he resolved himself to convincing Solon to stop antagonizing Vahn. His old friend was determined to find a method to defeat Vahn, regardless of whether or not the latter was an actual threat to the world. They were the type that couldn't rest unless they had come up with a method to deal with all threats but, no matter how he looked at it, Zelretch couldn't think of a way for Solon to defeat this particular opponent.Since it was getting closer to the time of the duel, Vahn decided to bring this conversation to an end, saying, "While it is always a pleasure to converse with you, our presence is required elsewhere. If it is not your intent to guide us to our destination, please, make way." Vahn had decided to give Zelretch the opportunity to further ingratiate himself as, from the very beginning, his impression of the man had always been relatively positive.Zelretch didn't misunderstand Vahn's intentions so, with what could only be described as a wolfish, battle-hungry, grin, he tapped his cane on the ground. Behind his back, the void began to tremble as a massive spatial gate was created. Reflected on its surface was what appeared to be a massive arena comprised of durable white stone. It was impossible to know its dimensions from the gate alone but, with his ability to perceive the space on the other side, Vahn felt the arena should be around 500m in diameter.Vahn felt this was extremely small but, considering it was the Mage's Association they were talking about, he didn't doubt they had the means to host a duel between Artoria and Barthomeloi. They could always just petition Zelretch to expand the space within exponentially, making the 500m closer to 500km if he so chose.Though it could be a trap, Vahn didn't hesitate at all to walk forward, leading his entourage directly through the spatial gate with a confident look on his face. Zelretch wasn't foolish enough to try and collapse the surrounding space on them so, regardless of what awaited them on the other side, Vahn was not afraid.After passing through the portal, the first thing Vahn noticed were the thousands of people in the stands while, at the very center of the arena, located around 200m above the ground, a monstrous crystal was present. It created large projections in the air, allowing people to get a clear view of what was taking place in the arena, regardless of where they were seated. Currently, dominating the large projection, Vahn could see his own confident visage, complete with a casual smile and sharp eyes...The moment Vahn appeared, the arena became alive with sound as, while they were anticipating the duel, nobody had expected his entourage to appear in the middle of the arena. It was customary for a senior Magi to introduce the parties participating in a duel so the sudden appearance of a large group of people was quite the surprise.Vahn had drawn a lot of focus at first but, as his entourage followed closely behind, the gazes of nearly everyone in the arena turned toward the group of inexplicably beautiful women. This wasn't outside of Vahn's expectations but, with his new Divinity, he couldn't help but feel more than a little annoyed. There was a big difference between knowing others were pining after your women and being able to 'feel' the intentions directly. Thus, to remind them of whose women they were eyeing, Vahn released a phenomenal aura that descended upon the entire crowd like the sky falling upon their heads. After this, the frenzy of the crowd was immediately replaced by an oppressive silence...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Heavenly Dragon and Divine Phoenix (UwU)...','RIP Solon','The Emperor has appeared')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Chapter 1257: Reception