Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

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

After leaving Da Vinci and Galahad to carry out the rest of the orientation themselves, Vahn returned to the Faculty Room, a large three-story building that had both living and work spaces. Here, Okita, Jeanne, and Gareth, his usual entourage, were waiting while, seated at a small table, Zelretch could be seen nursing a cup of black tea.Seeing Vahn enter in through the front door, Zelretch inhaled one final whiff of the fragrant tea that had been provided to him before asking, "How is it, being an Advisor? I wish I had been there to see the surprise on those children's faces, hahahaha~"Taking a seat of his own, followed by Gareth dutifully pouring him a cup of tea, Vahn answered, "It won't be long before the number of prospective students explodes. I'll need to make sure the other Factions keep their noses clean, lest I have to bloody them..."Zelretch couldn't help but laugh in response to Vahn's words as he could, quite literally, imagine a few Nobles getting more than their noses bloodied by the latter's actions. There were some people who, despite all the evidence acting as a deterrent, would still seek death as a result of their errant actions. This was especially so for the Factions that had been eyeing certain students, students who would now, undoubtedly, seek shelter in the Empire.Understanding this, Zelretch adopted a more genial expression as he mused, "I should have taken more proactive action to redress the flaws in the world. Now, I can only leave the matter to you. It is high time I take a backseat and observe the passage of time...perhaps I'll even take in a new disciple. I can't deny that your words, back then, have left quite an impact on me...hmmm..."Hearing Zelretch's words, Vahn tilted his head to the side in rumination before stating, "You may not be qualified to teach others. Those that have lived far beyond the normal lifespan of the people they teach have a difficult time empathizing with them. In the past, you let your experiences shape how you educated your disciples, breaking them in the process. If you're looking for someone to succeed you, I can pull someone suitable through the Throne..."Zelretch made no attempt to refute Vahn's words, even though they were a little harsh. Instead, he began to stroke his beard in a self-calming manner before asking, "Did you have anyone in mind? I already had a few suitable candidates but, after hearing your words, that may have been misguided on my part..."In truth, Zelretch had several potential candidates to succeed, not just his Magecraft, but his actual Magic itself. He had even included Vahn in this list in the past but, after visiting Avalon, he no longer thought the Emperor before him needed the power and guidance he could provide. Rather, due to the same experiences Vahn mentioned, he almost had to recuse himself from getting involved in the events that would be taking place in the near future.Vahn couldn't immediately answer Zelretch's question as, in his opinion, True Magic itself wasn't that unique. Though the original wielders were undoubtedly terrifying existences, the restrictions on the use of Administrative Functions made it a dead-end pursuit. It would be completely useless outside of the Records of the Nasuverse so, rather than focus on borrowed power, he was more interested in teaching people how to obtain lasting strength...Still, it wasn't too difficult to come up with candidates that would benefit from the tutelage of a True Magician. They just needed to have a positive alignment, the mentality of an immortal, and a strong sense of responsibility. It was almost impossible for a normal person to become the apprentice of a True Magician as, as could be observed in Zelretch's case, their perspective was too skewed from the norm. Only those with powerful quirks, bordering on psychosis, that would be able to emerge from the training without any mental trauma.After thinking for a few moments, Vahn asked, "How about the first generation director of the Atlas Temple? Their organization has been protecting the world since before the Mage's Association even existed. The Atlas Temple also has the most developed understanding of Laws so they would be a suitable candidate. After all, they already have the ability to see the future and view parallel worlds, albeit to a lesser extent..."Hearing Vahn's suggestion, Zelretch just laughed as he shook his head. This earned a raised brow from Vahn until the former explained, "That bridge has already been burned. Atlasia didn't much appreciate the influence I had on the future so we had a few...disagreements...hahahaha~"Remembering that Zelretch had traveled at least a few hundred years into the Age of Gods, Vahn wasn't too surprised that he had met the first Director of the Atlas Temple. Though it would have been more accurate to call them the High Priest, as they were a descendent and worshipper of Isis, the future generations of the Atlas Temple recognized them as such.Rather than offer another name, Vahn shrugged his shoulders and said, "Your biggest issue will be finding someone that you can treat as your equal. If you only want a protege to follow everything you say, it will be impossible to rear a capable Mage. You may have had some disagreements with Atlasia but that is all in the past. There is an unlimited future ahead of us so you shouldn't dismiss the idea outright."Finding a grain of truth in Vahn's words, Zelretch nursed his black tea for a few moments, his mind wandering to distant memories. When he regained clarity, however, he shook his head again before saying, "I can't deny the wisdom contained in your words...maybe it's because I'm an old man but, if I'm to choose a successor, I'd want them to be a blank slate. Atlasia was a capable alchemist with a very powerful foresight but, as a result of their upbringing, it would be impossible to take them as a disciple. Rather, I imagine it is more likely they would become the head of the Atlas Temple or try to work with your Empire..."Understanding the logic behind Zelretch's argument, Vahn gave a small nod but, hearing the man mention a 'blank slate', he asked, "Why not rear an artificial human or a conceptual entity? They are your best option for finding a blank slate. If you raise them properly, they could become the most ideal version of the successor you have in mind. As for everyone else, they will always have a history and an ego, one which can be shaped based on the circumstances of their environment. To that end, you don't really have much of a choice in the matter."Zelretch couldn't help but frown in response to Vahn's suggestion. He didn't think it was wise to entrust such power to an artificial lifeform but, when considering his own metrics for choosing a student, it did seem like the best choice. After all, it was difficult to find even poor candidates for an apprenticeship, much less 'ideal' ones. There were too many uncontrollable variables and, with the existence of Vahn, any small hiccup in their training could have disastrous consequences...While Zelretch was feeling conflicted, Vahn shook his head before lightly tapping on the table and saying, "It really doesn't matter. You're putting too much thought into something that shouldn't be a problem. Stop trying to control everything and just do your best as a teacher. Even if your student goes astray, you should just guide them back onto the correct path. The more you try to force them, the greater the contradiction you'll create in their mentality. People become great because they are inspired to greatness by their circumstances. If you try to engineer greatness, forcing it upon those who don't have the capacity to accept it, you'll only end up creating a monster or, at best, a puppet."This time, Zelretch entered a very long and solemn silence as, with thousands of years of experience to draw from, he knew there was a great deal of truth behind Vahn's words. While it was possible for a powerful individual to rear up others, they were often inclined to play favorites and allow those of their choosing to take shortcuts. This generally built up positive rapport between Master and student but, when things didn't go as planned, a great rift could be formed between them, often ending in a great tragedy...Without a better response, Zelretch released a tired sigh before asking, "How can someone like you, who has so much control over everything, advocate the idea that it must be relinquished? What you have done thus far seems contrary to the point you are trying to make..."Vahn furrowed his brows slightly in response to Zelretch's accusation, his mood soured slightly at the lack of awareness the elderly man had. Still, he had put a lot of thought into his actions so, without a single fluctuation in his voice, he explained, "My actions are necessitated by the state of the world. It is the inaction of those that should have acted, combined with a lack of accountability on behalf of those who have power, that requires me to do establish the Empire. None of that has anything to do with my personal stance on education and rearing disciples...rather than throw out accusations, you should see for yourself how I operate. I am not a hypocrite that simply spews platitudes, old man..."Zelretch was a little surprised by Vahn's hostility but, rather than be offended, he was actually more relieved than anything. It was too easy to compare Vahn to the people that he had encountered in the past, something that emphasized that he did, indeed, rely too much on his experiences. Because of this, a part of him was always skeptical of what people said and did as, in many instances, even the best of intentions could be led astray by simple setbacks...What Zelretch often forgot, even though it was one of the more important aspects of Vahn's very existence, was that the man was not from his world. He was a fundamentally different existence and, in the short time he had existed, great changes had already been introduced. Just the presence of Alaya at his side showed that he was, in many ways, an incomprehensible existence. After all, while others had to fight hard to obtain their power, scheming and machinating to rise above others, Vahn was already there. He had enough power to easily dominate the world by force yet chose to focus on building the foundation for a better future by empowering the younger generation and inspiring them to greatness...It was only now, when he compared himself to Vahn, that Zelretch began to understand the very different ways in which they viewed the world. He was too used to the 'certainties' that came with being able to use the Second Magic. As for Vahn, he never cared about the future and its myriad paths. Rather, his only concern was on the present and how his actions in any given moment would shape, not just himself, but the very world around him. The future was completely inconsequential as, by measuring all of your actions against things that have yet to happen, you were already too detached from reality to live a meaningful existence...With a crooked smile spreading across his face, Zelretch began to stroke his beard as he mused, "It really is a shame...if I had met you a thousand years ago, I may not be as hopeless as I am today. I've only ever considered what my successor might do in the distant future...it is no wonder my students have been unable to break away from the path I foresaw...I forced them to take it..."Vahn was still a little annoyed with Zelretch but that didn't prevent him from nodding his head and adding, "The worst thing a parent and a teacher can do is neglect those in their charge. It is our duty to establish a baseline of consistency, one which allows them to freely choose their future. It is when you begin acting contrary and going against your own teachings that they begin to stray. So long as you help them build a strong foundation, focusing on morals and merit, children, and people alike, have no limits to what they are able to achieve."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Senile Old Man','Experience can lead to wisdom but, more often than not, it instead becomes bias...','Believe in the future, not the one you have planned, but the one that will be created by your children. Be good to people.')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

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

Chapter 1285: Orientation