Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Prior to the revelation of the world's end, the Clock Tower would have various holidays that affected students. For those that were in their General and Individual Fundamentals, they would have a two-month break during summer and a three-week break that ran through the new year. This was to give them a chance to rest their mind and, as many young Magi attended the Clock Tower from abroad, it was a chance for them to return home and visit family.With the imminent advent of Angra Mainyu, such holidays had been canceled entirely and, in order to prepare students for the coming battle, a quarterly system had replaced the previous observance of semesters. Fortunately, while this was a drastic change for most of the younger students, this was the norm for students in their later years. After all, lectures and special classes generally ran year-round and, in the event a student wanted to be successful within a department, they often had to work part-time to help in their Professor's research.To prevent students from burning out, the Clock Tower allocated them three days of vacation time per month, time which could be taken at any point that tests were not be conducted. This, combined with the fact that most students only had a few classes per week, meant there was a lot of time for self-study, extracurricular activities, and free time...While several changes had been made to prepare students for future events, the only thing worthy of note was that even first years could accumulate points to enter into the Spirit Tomb, something that had been reserved for third years and beyond in the past. This was to give them a chance to increase their overall combat capabilities, even if it meant the number of casualties and deaths had increased exponentially.With these changes, there were several new classes popping up all the time, many focused on the most pertinent topics of interest to students: survival and combat. Since the only requirement for a new class, or lecture, was that there was a Professor willing to divest their time, it wasn't uncommon for several new classes to appear for a few months before closing down. This was a way in which the Professors could build rapport and scout new students and, in many cases, their establishment ran parallel to an experiment being conducted by said Professor.Due to this rather loose and chaotic structure, it was actually a lot easier to enroll students at non-standard times. The only strict requirement for being a 'student' of the Clock Tower was that you had two ongoing classes and that you paid the annual fees on time. Though this usually only pertained to students in their later years, as most enrolling in the Clock Tower were required to attend the General and Individual Studies curriculums for upwards of four years, there were always exceptions.Generally speaking, the more prestigious Noble families educated their children internally, using a modified curriculum that only loosely followed the one established by the Clock Tower. This was due to the major families often having a variety of unique Magecraft that needed to be learned from an early age and, perhaps understanding the flaws of the curriculum taught to common students, they opted to distance their progeny from other students during their formative years. It wasn't until their children were around fifteen or sixteen years old, making them third and fourth-year students, that they were allowed to officially enroll in the Clock Tower, often for the purpose of networking alone.This kind of structure was problematic, for a variety of reasons, but it allowed Vahn to easily enroll Mordred, Sakura, Mash, Zoë, and Astrid into their newly founded department, the Faculty of Unified Thaumaturgical Theory. Since Da Vinci had been the one to develop the curriculum, and would be using one of her bodies to teach the students, it was the most suitable name outside the Faculty of Innovation.Like most departments, the Faculty of Unified Thuamturgical Theory had multiple classes that could be attended by prospective students. This was a split curriculum that focused on either becoming a Magic Knight or, out of spite against the existing system, a True Mage. After all, while they would not be given access to the most important secrets of the Empire, the fundamentals that would be taught in the new department would ultimately allow students to use Magecraft that rivaled True Magic.The only real requirement to become a student of the new department was that you were vetted by one of the Professors or Advisors. Without their consent, it was impossible to become a student, no matter how prodigious and influential your family was. This was to prevent the sons and daughters of major families from trying to seed themselves in the department with the sole purpose of spying on the Faculty's activities...Once accepted into one of the two classes, students would undergo a trial period. Those that proved they were willing to work hard would be given a slightly modified version of the Familia Crest. They would also be bound by a [Geass], a powerful contract that, when violated, would expunge the crest from their body and inhibit the flow of mana within their body. Though this could be later removed, it was intended to prevent people from just attending the class with the intention of gaining enough power to lord themselves over others.Vahn had no intention of raising a bunch of common students to prominence only for them to turn around and act like very Nobles that looked down on them previously. Thus, in order to monitor the progress and mental development of these students, they would be introducing Companions into both curriculums.The current generation of Companions was extremely intelligent and, even disregarding their ability to evolve, they could act as a catalyst for Magecraft. Once this became known, Vahn expected they would be extremely popular. Though it may take a bit of time for the boys to open up to them, he imagined the girls would be fond of the tiny creatures as, with each successive generation, they had become increasingly adorable.With Companions coming in a variety of shapes and sizes, there was a version suitable for practically everyone. The only downside was that you had to take your Companion with you almost everywhere and, if you ever mistreated them, they would be stripped from you. At the same time, your status as a student in the department would be revoked and, unless you did something drastic and endearing, the chances you would ever be accepted again were close to null...---If he were being honest, Vahn was still very nervous about having the children enter the Clock Tower. Mordred was a little easier to accept but Sakura was only ten years old at this point, making her a lot younger than the average student. In fact, one of the base requirements for entering the class was to be fourteen years of age but, considering her monstrous potential and maturity, Vahn had made an exception. It also helped that, with the time she would be spending in the Projection, it wouldn't take long for her to catch up with her peers.Still, in order to prevent a few problems, Vahn had given Sakura a ring that allowed her to appear a few years older. As for Mordred, she already had her seal removed and, as a result of her link with Artoria, had been maturing extremely quickly. She would eventually reach a point where her body was at the same stage of development as her mother and, no matter how much time passed, that is where her development would stop. This was troubling for a variety of reasons but, considering she was already a faux-immortal, it wasn't that big of an issue...Once all the paperwork was sorted, Vahn spent a few days within the Projection helping all of the children, not just his own, prepare for their first day of school. They had all been given uniforms that denoted their both their status as students of the Faculty of Unified Thaumaturgical Theory and their respective affiliation.For those aiming to become Magic Knights, they had been given attire reminiscent of military dress, including a high-collared red blouse with two rows of golden buttons and epaulets. They were also given the option of wearing white trousers or, in the event the desired greater ease of movement, a white skirt with black stockings. Those that elected to wear the later were required to wear a version of the [Aegis] that functioned similarly to spats while the skirts themselves had been enchanted to function in the same manner as Circe's previous skirt. Vahn wasn't going to allow people to stare at his children's panties using low angled cameras and simplified versions of clairvoyance magic...To complement the military-style garb, which had been designed with heavy input from Nobunaga, they were also given a cape that could be worn during formal occasions. It was solid white on the outside while the interior was covered in a scarlet red color that, if you looked closely, had a very complex assortment of runes sewn into its structure. This was very similar to the mantle provided to the students aiming to become True Mages, albeit with the latter having a matte black color on the outside.In order to create a contrast between the two classes, the uniform for those aspiring to be True Mages was made to appear more scholarly. It consisted of a white undershirt, a red sleeveless vest, an ornate tie/ribbon, solid gold cufflinks, and a stylish pocket watch. They were also given the choice between trousers and a skirt but, in order to balance out the mantle, their skirts were slightly longer compared to the ones worn by Magic Knights. This allowed them to wear socks instead of stockings and, instead of the riding boots worn by their counterparts, they had the option of wearing more comfortable dress shoes.Overall, the uniforms, as could be expected, were designed to create a semblance of uniformity that allowed students within the department to clearly set themselves apart from the norm. After all, they were aspiring to be the elites of the next generation so, while the Clock Tower generally allowed its students some freedom to choose their attire, they 'needed' to be the exception. They were the first-generation students reared by the Empire so, if they didn't establish themselves early on, it would be an issue several years down the line...Fortunately for the children, Vahn didn't want to remove their ability to express themselves. Since the students would be using the [REquip] system, they actually have a few variations of their uniforms to wear. The only truly uniform part of things were their capes as these were intended to display their various rewards during formal occasions. Even the Clock Tower had something similar so, to ensure there wasn't a complete disconnect between his, and other, students, a compromise had been made.All a student needed in order to customize their uniform was a few contribution points, making it a reward that needed to be earned. This was the mentality Vahn wanted to cultivate as the Empire was essentially going to function as a Meritocracy. They needed to plant the seeds early on, even if most of the important classes taught in Avalon would be by Heroic Spirits. Since they would need 'normal' people to serve as an example for those to follow, it was better to start rearing them now, when the stakes felt the highest.There were a large number of 'commoner' Magi who wanted to change their destiny so, with the world of the verge of great change, they were ready to seize any opportunities thrown their way. In the past, this was heavily exploited by the Noble Faction, often with disastrous results for those that seek power at any cost. Now, Vahn would also be exploiting this desire but, rather than simply take advantage of them, he intended to help students build a foundation that would allow them to thrive in any field. It didn't particularly matter to him whether or not they wanted to become teachers as, when the Empire began to expand, the number of people seeking such opportunities would increase exponentially...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Controlled Chaos','RIP perverts that try to upshoot girls' skirts o3o...','The best kind of exploitation...?')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

As it was their first day of school, everyone except for Mordred was feeling more than a little nervous. They had all been brought to a small lecture-style classroom with five rows for students. However, due to the fact that the department had just been developed, the only students present were themselves and seven other people, split between four girls and three boys.Needless to say, the announcement of a new department had caused a stir within the Clock Tower, not just because it belonged to the Empire but due to the purported curriculum. There had actually been a number of students who wanted to check it out but, as the vetting process would take a few weeks, only those loosely associated with the Empire's current allies had been given the opportunity to venture forth.Among the seven potential students, one of the older boys decided to muster up the courage to try and break the silence, moving toward the front of the room where the group of foreign women was gathered. They didn't really need to ask where the girls had come from, especially considering who backed the current department, but the boy still gave a polite bow, saying, "Greetings. My name is Silvain Valois. May I have the honor of knowing your names...?"To his credit, Silvain hadn't initially addressed anyone in particular but, by the time he finished his introductions, his gaze had turned to Mordred. She was seated near the center of the group, while the other girls seemed somewhat cautious of him, Mordred had an amused smile on her face that radiated confidence. He was immediately reminded of the high born and prideful young mistresses of the more established Noble families so, while still putting on a casual air, his back had become a little straighter.Without beating around the bush, Mordred smiled with a toothy grin before saying, "You're a brave one, kiddo. That's good. Men should be bold, even when they are boys."After seeing Silvain tense up at her words, Mordred began to snicker before adding, "My name is Mordred. This here is my little sister, Sakura. As for those three, the big one is Mash, the airheaded one is Astrid, and the bratty one is Zoë. You're probably curious about the particulars of our origin but...well, let's just say it will be a lot less stressful for you if you don't know about it. Shishishishi~"As it was customary for people to introduce themselves with their full name, especially in a school saturated with the children of Aristocrats, hearing Mordred's words caused Silvain to swallow hard. While some might assume Mordred was just putting on false airs, she gave off a very distinct aura, one that could only be cultivated by those with high status and authority.Deciding to play it safe, Silvain gave a polite bow with his hand covering his heart, answering, "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintances."In response to Silvain's words, Mordred just continued to smile while Sakura gave a small bow. As for Mash, Astrid, and Zoë, they gave polite responses of their own, albeit with a considerable amount of caution in their body language. This wasn't missed by Silvain so he did his best to smile disarmingly without staring directly at the girls, even if he found them more than a little charming.So as not to overstay his welcome, Silvain didn't stay around too long after his introduction. He knew there would be time to socialize more in the future so, in order to cover his bases, he walked over to the other six students, introducing himself to those he had yet to meet. It never hurt to expand your personal network and, though these may be his competitors in the future, they could be considered allies due to their affiliation...While Silvain was making his rounds, Sakura muttered in a voice that only Mordred and Mash could easily hear, "His position in the Valois family must be uncertain. If I'm not wrong, he is the third son of his family so there isn't really anything for him to inherit..."In response to her remark, it was the tiny dog-like Companion, Momo, who nodded its head. All of the companions were linked to a network and, while their communication functions were limited by design, they had all the details regarding the affiliated families associated with the Clock Tower. They had even received a massive upgraded recently, benefitting from Sherlock's investigations. He had used the last few months to uncover the secrets of every major family and organization, expanding Mother's network and greatly increasing the analytic ability of the Companions themselves.With Momo's affirmation, Mordred's smile only widened as she stated, "It is a common thing, really. When they are afraid of being cut off, they either do their best to stand on their own feet or find a larger umbrella to stand under. So long as you all remember what we talked about, there shouldn't be any problems. Just don't let yourselves get caught up in the pace of some random pretty boy and his flowery words."Here, the usually quiet Astrid nodded her head and, with a distant look in her eyes, added, "Words are used as a means to manipulate people. Only consistent action can be trusted...I won't be fooled anymore. This opportunity that Master has given us, I will cherish it..."Mordred snickered in response to Astrid's words before reminding, "You can't address Chichiue as Master while we're at school. It may be hard, but even I'll have to call him by his actual title, at least for the time being. If our identities are exposed too soon, it will make things a lot harder later on."Despite her tomboyish antics, Mordred had made an earnest effort to increase her understanding of politics and social maneuvering. She had always taken her Chichiue's words to heart so, when he told her that only a qualified individual could become Emperor, she had to change her perspective. While she was enjoying her childhood to the fullest, the most important thing to her was the recognition of her parents and the prosperity of the Empire. Her Chichiue wanted her to learn how to interact with her future subjects and empathize with them so, while it was an uphill battle, Mordred would never stop trying...Just as several small conversations were beginning to replace the room's previous tense atmosphere, it was suddenly brought back in full when the door at the front of the room opened. They basically froze on the spot upon seeing Vahn enter in the room, Da Vinci and Galahad following close behind. This answered some of the questions that had been plaguing them while simultaneously confirming that the new department was, in fact, directly backed by the Empire...Due to his experience acting as Headmaster back in Danmachi, Vahn made his way to the lectern of the class, his nerves steady and placid. He had his usual smile and, after looking over every student in turn, explained, "Greetings, students. I'm certain you all have a questions and concerns but, for the time being, we'll get introductions out of the way..."Gesturing to Da Vinci, who was attired in long, gown-like robe, he stated, "While there will be a split in the curriculum, this will be your primary teacher, Professor Alpha. If you follow her teachings with the proper motivation, even True Magic will not be beyond your capabilities. You will come to learn over the following months and years that the Magecraft you have been learning is flawed on a very fundamental level. The Faculty of Unified Magical Theory is meant to correct this. Should you put in the requisite effort, each and every one of you has the potential to become a powerful Mage."As could be expected, Vahn's words had further stunned the seven children seated toward the back of the class. It was very difficult to believe he was telling the truth but, after seeing the recordings of the battle between Artoria and Barthomeloi Lorelei, they knew the pinnacle of Magecraft was much higher than their previous understanding. It had been an eye-opening experience and, in an effort to change their fate, each of them had gathered for the purpose of expanding their horizons. While it was hard to believe in Vahn's words, they willed themselves to do so since, at the very least, it would increase their chances of joining the Empire in the future...Vahn understood that words meant very little so, despite seeing the caution and doubt in the eyes of the children, he kept his smile. They would quickly discover the truth for themselves so, before the tension could reach an uncomfortable level, he gestured to Galahad, explaining, "While Professor Alpha will be your primary teacher, this man will be in charge of your physical training. For those of you who wish to pursue the path of a Magic Knight, he will make sure you have the proper level of skill and discipline. If you work hard, even reaching the standard of a Heroic Spirit is not impossible. After all, this man is Sir Galahad, former Knight of the Round Table and current Knight of the Aldrnari Empire."While Da Vinci's identity was protected, to the point she even had a physical projection to make her appearance, Galahad's would be made public. This was to serve as both a deterrent and a means of drawing in interest from students that were currently sitting on the fence. After all, it was difficult to pass up the chance to learn from a genuine Hero, especially one as famous as Galahad. Since he had a very handsome appearance, combined with a seemingly limitless amount of patience, Vahn knew it wouldn't be long before the Magic Knight class increased in size.Of course, the most important reason behind Galahad being chosen was that he had a weakened version of [Pure Eyes]. They allowed him to sense the aura of a person based on their karma, making it possible to determine if they were good or bad at a glance. This would allow him to weed out any students that came under the influence of an outside force, albeit after an investigation to ascertain the truth. After all, people were sometimes forced into a difficult position and, though this may lead them to perform evil acts, that didn't mean they were beyond redemption...Hearing that the handsome youth wearing priest-like robes was none other than Sir Galahad, the four girls in the class practically had hearts in their eyes. As for the boys, they had a look that Vahn knew oh-so-well as, whenever he was walking around with his women, he would get similar looks all the time. Fortunately, jealousy and envy were rather common and, while it was clear the boys felt a little threatened by Galahad, there was clear interest visible in their gazes. After all, they were going to be learning from one of the most famous Knights that had ever existed, indicating there was a chance they could reach the same level in the future.Seeing that there weren't any genuine causes for concern, Vahn didn't pause for too long before adopting a slightly larger smile as he explained, "I believe my own identity is well known but, in the interest of clarification, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Vahn Aldrnari Mason, the Sage Emperor of the Aldrnari Empire. In this classroom, however, I am nothing more than your Advisor. I will not be present that often due to my other duties but, rest assured, I will stop by during some of the class' practical lessons. As for things like whether or not you can join the Empire, think about that when you are getting ready to graduate. Any questions before I turn things over to your Professor?"Vahn had actually expected silence in response to his question but, at the furthest point in the class, a sharply dressed youth with exceptionally straight brown hair raised her hand. She actually stood out quite a bit among the other students as, while they each had their quirks, this particular youth had an eyepatch covering her right eye and, despite only being around fifteen, radiated the aura of a mature secretarial woman.Without missing a beat, Vahn turned his attention to the young woman, asking, "Is there something, Miss Phamrsolone?"Though the girl, Ophelia Phamrsolone, had a relatively cold expression by default, she couldn't help show mild shock upon being addressed by name. Fortunately, she was was a very stoic girl so, not wanting to keep someone with the status of an Emperor waiting, she rose to her feet and gave a curt bow before asking, "Are there any protections afforded to students that wish to attend lessons? Also, is there a college where we will be able to take up residence...?"In total, there were forty-three 'colleges' located within the Bounded Field of the Clock Tower. These served as student dormitories and, with various other facilities forming to meet the various needs of young Magi, a veritable town had formed. This was made possible due to Zelretch's assistance in the distant past, making the space within the Bounded Field several hundred times larger than the space occupied by the Clock Tower in the real world.As these questions weren't outside of Vahn's expectations, he gave a simple nod before saying, "In the classroom, you need not bow. While it is a good idea to keep my status as an Emperor in mind, I am nothing more than an Advisor within the school's grounds. Now, to answer your questions, I can say yes to both. So long as you are officially accepted as students, you will be given a unique status that makes it very difficult for other factions to target you. Though this will not allow you to act with impunity, you will be able to enjoy your school life without too many concerns. As for the college, it is currently being built in the northern district. I'm certain there are already rumors circulating so I do not believe it necessary to go into further details."Though she had other questions, Ophelia knew it was better to wait for an explanation before she interrupted a second time. For now, it was enough just having Vahn personally say they would be protected. After all, it wasn't a secret they were attending this orientation so, in the near future, it was all but guaranteed that the other three factions would put pressure on them. This was especially true for people like her who, as her eyepatch denoted, had a unique and highly sought after Mystic Eye.Even without inquiring, Vahn knew why girls like Ophelia were interested in joining the Empire. Her only other option was to become the tool of another family as, despite being from a relatively well off family, she was not the heiress. There was even a chance that her Mystic Eye would be removed before she was married off to another family who, knowing she had a chance of passing down the trait, would force her to bear several children. This was a common practice so, while the number of students attending the orientation was small, it was only a matter of time before those in a similar situation sought liberation for themselves...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Mordred is a good daughter','Companions are OP','There are a lot of people that would willingly distance themselves from the established Magus Community xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

As watching over Solon, Zelretch, and Director Atlasia for a few hours translated to literal days from Vahn's perspective, it wasn't long before he decided it was time to send them on their way. He was certain the Zelretch had mapped out much of the region by now and it was obvious from Solon's interactions with the Spirits that they were no longer as stressed out as before.With Companions at their side, Solon and Zelretch returned to the castle shortly after Vahn shared his intentions. They knew better than to try and overstay their welcome so it didn't take them long to finish up what they were doing. The only one who took marginally longer was Director Atlasia as he was quite taken with many of Da Vinci's inventions. It was unfortunate for him that, while Da Vinci had no problem exchanging some information, she had no interest in detailing the intricacies of the most important systems she had developed.By the time Director Atlasia had made his appearance, Vahn had been keeping Solon and Zelretch company for nearly twenty minutes. He used this time to inquire about their opinion on Avalon's development, earning quite a few compliments from Zelretch and a few dismissive remarks from Solon. The latter felt that Avalon should be home to only Spirits in the future as they did not want to see this land tainted by humanity.In response to this, Vahn calmly explained, "Avalon will become a bastion for all species that seek a better future. I'm not going to discriminate and anyone based on the preconceived notions as that will only lead to a social divide later down the line. So long as they follow the laws dictated to them, anyone will be able to call Avalon home, at least for a short while."To further clarify, Vahn detailed his intention to turn Avalon into a massive Academy and Sanctuary. The only permanant residents would those living and working within the castle while everyone else calling the island home will only be able to stay for as long as they are contributing to the system. When they were ready to move on from their studies, the people educated in Avalon would be able to make a name for themselves in the outside world using the knowledge and resources provided to them by the Empire.Unlike existing systems, the Empire had the ability to supply the necessary resources for everyone to advance their research. The only restriction on resources would be the person's capabilities as, if they were unable to handle dangerous or delicate materials, they would not be given access to them. This would prevent waste and encourage those who sought greater heights to push themselves further.Solon was obviously skeptical, as things rarely went as expected, but they could at least agree with the idea of making Avalon into a scholarly utopia. The Clock Tower, Atlas Temple, and Wandering Sea had been stagnating since the advent of the Modern Era so it would be extremely beneficial for the development of Magecraft to have fresh ideas introduced. This also explained why Vahn wanted to send his children to the Clock Tower as, in the future, the existence of the special class hosted by the Empire would serve as a vetting program for the first generation of Avalon Academics.Understanding this, Solon asked, "How soon until you announce the existence of Avalon? Will you manifest a physical representation of the island in the real world?"As most Subtextures of the world had an access port anchored within reality, it would be difficult for the Empire to exercise its authority if their power could not be seen. People may instinctually fear the unknown but, when you could see the wealth, power, and prosperity of another country, it increased the amount of influence you had on countries. After all, while power and authority were wielded by a select few, they could still be pressured greatly by their affiliates and countrymen. Even Vahn wasn't free from such influences as there were a number of people that could sway his opinion with just a few words.In response to Solon's question, Vahn paused for a moment before answering, "Once the existence of Magic has been made known to the rest of the world, I will bring Avalon to the Surface. This island will become a symbol, the very heart of the Empire. Here, Magic and Science will blend together to create a world where all sapient creatures can survive and prosper. It will not be an easy transition but, for the generations that follow, it is our duty to make the world a better place."Hearing Vahn's words, Solon released a heavy sigh before giving him a deadpan stare and saying, "Everything you say is extreme and overbearing...well, it doesn't really matter. Someone comes along every now and then to try and unify everyone under similar ideologies so we'll see how far you can go. I just hope you don't forget your current convictions with the passage of time..."With those parting words, Solon passed through the gate that had been opened, leaving Zelretch and Director Atlasia behind with awkward smiles on their faces. The former seemed to want to pat Vahn on the shoulder but, after lifting his hand, he retracted it under the pointed gaze of Okita and Jeanne. As for Director Atlasia, he just lightly chuckled before commenting, "The Atlas Temple will be open to you in the future. For now, I'll be sending some students to attend the Clock Tower. I believe that the curriculum Madam Da Vinci has developed will revolutionize what it means to be a Magus. I'm quite looking forward to the results."Like Solon, Director Atlasia left after his parting words, an expectant smile on his face as the cape he wore flared behind him. This left only Zelretch remaining who, prior to passing through the gate, asked, "Alaya isn't the only powerful force backing you, is she? I can sense something watching us, something horrifyingly powerful..."Rather than answer Zelretch's question, Vahn just smiled knowingly as he turned his head toward the ceiling, expanding his domain through the castle to where Leviathan resided. It was actually weaker than entities like ORT and Alaya but it was still a Tier 5 existence. Since it had dominion over Space and Time, it wasn't that surprising that Zelretch was able to sense it observing him. Rather, if he was unable to do so, Vahn would begin to suspect that the Second Magic was a lot weaker than it ought to be.Zelretch's aged body shivered as he turned his attention toward the sky, goosebumps spreading across his arms as the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. He couldn't locate Leviathan but, now that he followed Vahn's gaze, an overwhelming sense of dread passed through him. It wasn't as terrifying as the pressure given off by Alaya but, much like when he faced Crimson Moon in the past, Zelretch felt a genuine threat to his life.After staring at the ceiling for a few seconds, Zelretch adopted a smile as he said, "Honestly, I hope a time where your backers are revealed never comes. It's a shame that I can't see the future along the axis of time you exist in...I'm certain it would be an eye-opening experience, hahahaha~"Following in the footsteps of Solon and Director Atlasia, Zelretch passed through the gate, his laugh still echoing for several seconds until his figured vanished entirely. This left Vahn in the transfer room with Okita, Jeanne, Gareth, and a small entourage of Companions.Once the gate had closed, Vahn visibly relaxed but, as there were still a few things that required his attention, he said, "We'll return to the Edelfelt Manor shortly. Before that, however, I'll be visiting the Daycare to spend some time with my children. The three of you should go relax. We'll regroup here after two hours have passed in the Projection. I'll send you a telepathic message when I'm preparing to leave."Though they preferred to stay at his side, even Okita knew better than to stick around when Vahn was spending time with his children. He didn't like distractions and, with how they behaved, it made things a little awkward when he wanted to just cut loose. After all, he didn't really act like an Emperor when he was spending time with his children so having people wait upon him was troublesome. This was something they had become accustomed to so, after a series of bows, the girls departed, leaving their Master in peace.Vahn appreciated the girls' understanding so, after picking up Skoll and a few other Companions, he made his way toward the nearest mirror that connected to the Projection. He was actually in a good mood but, knowing that major changes were afoot, he was a little worried deep down. Though there were no forces that should be able to oppose the Empire, that didn't mean they wouldn't try. There was always a chance that something would go wrong and, considering some of his children would be in the direct line of fire, Vahn couldn't help but worry.With a lazy expression on his face, Vahn let his mind wander a bit as he muttered, "I'll need to have Da Vinci upgrade the girls' Companions with updated security measures..." Then, with a glimmer in his eyes, Vahn picked Alaya from his shoulder, making eye contact with her as he asked, "What do I need to give you in exchange for guaranteeing my children are safe? You might not be able to give me power, but you can grant it to others, right...?"Alaya no longer resisted being handled so, even though she had a lazy and annoyed expression on her face, she allowed Vahn to dangle her as she answered, "The minimum amount of Magical Energy to make someone into a Counter Guardian is one-trillion units. As a result of your previous order, the reserves you had stockpiled have all but depleted at this point. I would also need to form a contract with the recipient of my power as the Counter Force can only be wielded by those that have a direct link to myself and Gaia."Vahn wasn't really surprised by Alaya's words as her answer coincided with the conversations they had in the past. He also wasn't upset by the fact that his reserves had depleted as it went towards ensuring that tragedies all over the world were avoided. There had been millions protected by the intervention of Alaya at this point, greatly increasing his amount of Karma since it was by virtue of his order that their fate had been changed.Since there wasn't a simple solution to the problem, as Alaya wouldn't accept outside mana from people like Maxwell, Vahn rubbed her head with his index finger before placing her back in her usual position. She wasted no time in nestling into his neck, her teeth pricking his without causing Vahn to flinch in the slightest. Rather, at this point, Alaya's presence had become completely natural, to the point that he would sometimes look around, feeling as if he had forgotten something if they were separated for too long...---Though his thoughts had started to wander a bit, Vahn's focus immediately returned upon entering the Daycare. There, he found Ereshkigal watching over most of the children on her own, assisted by Isanna and Naavi. At this point, both girls looked to be around eight years old so, upon seeing him enter the room, they sprung up with childish smiles, Isanna taking to the air as she flew over and hugged him with her tiny arms. She looked exactly like a childish version of Ishtar so she was an exceptionally adorable girl that always brought a smile to Vahn's face, even if he was always a little worried about how fast she was developing...With Naavi always trotting over to be picked up, Vahn carried both girls in his arms as he made his way over to join the smiling Ereshkigal. She practically served as the Guardian and Caretaker of all the children as, while none of the mothers were exactly 'bad', Ereshkigal's maternal instincts were on another level. Thus, when others needed a break, she would always happily babysit, a loving smile always visible on her face. Since Vahn had a great appreciation for mothers in general, he couldn't help but see Ereshkigal in an increasingly positive light as time continued its eternal march forward.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Solon, the Skeptic','The 30km long whale that can destroy the planet is a scary existence? Never would have guessed o3o...','Ereshmama is best mama...?')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Chapter 1284: Final Preparations