Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

At times, Vahn felt like he would have a day that felt exponentially longer than others. It was barely approaching noon, but, from his perspective, nearly five days had passed. In that time, he had babysat his children, engaged in a contest of strength, visited multiple people, forged an S-Rank weapon, fought against his Memory Fragment, and participated in no less than two orgies. It had been a very eventful day, and, with his upcoming meeting with Solon, followed by the lecture he was scheduled to advise, it was nowhere near completion.Fortunately, Nero was in the care of Boudica so Vahn was able to relax while his main body waited for the arrival of the children. He had already been sitting there for around twenty minutes in utter silence as the matter with Nero had required a lot of focus. Now, he rested with his back against a cold stone pillar, pretending not to have noticed Mordred goading Mash to sneak up on him. They knew it was impossible to actually surprise him but, never one to spoil the children's fun, Vahn just sat with his eyes closed, pretending to meditate.Though Mordred's plan was to have Mash surprise her Chichue with a hug, the bashful girl didn't have the heart to do such a thing. Instead, she just lightly poked Vahn's cheek, her finger leaving a small imprint. When he didn't react, she blinked in surprise before turning back to see Mordred giving her a thumbs-up gesture and a large grin. This caused Mash to swallow the knot in her throat but, still unable to go through with the plan, she instead lightly pat the top of her Master's head with a small smile on her face.Seeing Mash's behavior, Mordred ran her hands down her face in exasperation before slapping her cheeks a few times. Then, before Mash could react, Mordred tackled her from behind, crashing into the 'sleeping' Vahn with a bit of force. This caused Mash to fluster with a red face but, just as she was about to apologize, the surroundings 'shattered' as Vahn appeared standing behind, a gentle smile on his face as he mused, "You shouldn't tease Mash too much, Mordred."Since they were now standing back near the entrance to the Transfer Room, it didn't take long for the girls to realize that Vahn had 'counter-pranked' them. Mash, however, still had a red face as she bowed low and stammered, "Please forgive me, Master. Mordred may have come up with the idea but it was still my decision to carry it out."Before Mash could say more, Vahn stroked both of their heads as he said, "It's nothing to apologize for. A bit of mischief is healthy. Just make sure not to push yourself."Though it wasn't the first or even the thousandth time she had her head rubbed, Mash could never get completely used to it. As for Mordred, she fully embraced the caress, a cat-like smile on her face as she unashamedly rubbed her head against his palm. It didn't matter to her if she had returned to her 'adult' form, she still enjoyed skinship with her Chichiue. If her Hahaue wouldn't reprimand her for it, she would still ride on his shoulders or hang off him like a monkey whenever the opportunity presented itself...With Mash sitting at his side and Mordred sitting happily in his lap, Vahn waited for the rest of the children to arrive. He could sense all of their locations so he knew they were already on their way; he had just arrived a little early. If he really wanted to, he could just teleport them directly to the Clock Tower without escorting them but, as that felt too impersonal, Vahn made sure he always made time to take them to, and from, school.Eventually, Sakura and Zoë showed up together, their entrance preceding Astrid's by less than a minute. Since Vahn knew the latter was on the way, he had Mordred vacate his lap before rising to give the new arrivals a cursory head pat. This was basically his way of greeting people so they were completely used to it. Rather, it would be more accurate to say they looked forward to it as Vahn's legacy as the Godhand hadn't exactly faded with time.Once Astrid arrived, Vahn greeted her in the same way as everyone else before asking the group, "Is everyone ready? I'm not going to teleport back if you forgot something." Then, despite them saying nothing was amiss, Vahn looked toward the sleepy-looking Zoë, asking, "Where is your pendant...?"Hearing Vahn's question, Zoë's hand immediately moved to her neck, finding her usual pendant missing. This caused her face to pale before immediately turning scarlet soon after as she bowed in a flustered manner and exclaimed, "P-please wait a moment! I'll be right back...!!" Then, with speed far greater than a normal human child, Zoë attempted to bolt out of the room to go and retrieve her pendant.Before she had made it more than ten steps, Zoë felt herself be pulled back, her feet leaving the ground as she slowly drifted through the air. She felt both confused and embarrassed but, when Vahn suddenly handed her a small peridot pendant, she breathed a sigh of relief before muttering, "Thank you..." in a small voice.It was a simple feat for Vahn to 'grab' items from pretty much anywhere within the Ivory Castle using his domain so there was no sense in making Zoë retrieve it herself. He just wanted to help her wake up and give her a reason to pay more attention to her preparations in the future. She had obviously been sleeping prior to arriving in the Transfer Room as her uniform was still disorderly, despite the fact Sakura had helped to fix her up.Now that everyone was actually ready, Vahn asked one final time before they all transferred directly to the Sage Aldrnari Commons. From there, he parted with the children after telling them to do their best, leaving them to basically sprint the rest of the way across campus. They still had a few minutes until class was supposed to start so, even after stopping by their dorms to pick up a few things, they had more than enough time to reach the classroom, assuming, of course, they ran at their fastest speed...---After taking a few minutes to just sort his thoughts, Vahn stood up, stretched his body, popped his back, and then teleported to the underground elevator that led to Solon's private garden. It didn't take long for the elevator itself to descend so, after boarding, Vahn steeled himself to meet with Solon, this time without an entourage. He would normally have someone like Artoria present but, out of consideration for Solon's character, Vahn felt things would go a lot smoother if they were alone.Fortunately, Zelretch had been extremely busy as of late so, upon ascending to the usual circular stone platform, Vahn found his surroundings bereft of a greeting party. Thus, without dallying, he made his way up the winding stone steps before opening the large stone doors of the temple-like construct at the end. Inside, he found the usual pathway that led to the suspended platform at the very center of the garden. There, Solon already had an annoyed expression on their face as, even without knowing why Vahn had arrived, his presence all but guaranteed trouble.Without minding Solon's pointed look, Vahn made his way over, sitting down on one of two chairs that had been prepared. Since the table between them was empty, he pulled out some piping hot tea made from literal Yggdrasil Leaves. This obviously caught Solon's attention as, even if it had no relation to the tree they received their power from, there was a certain vitality emanating from the pot, one they were very familiar with.Before questioning what trouble Vahn brought their way, Solon poured a cup of tea for themselves, sampling the contents like a cat. This caused Vahn to raise his brow slightly but, deciding it was best to avoid teasing the emotionally unstable Magus, he focused on the contents of his own cup.After sampling the emerald-green tea, Solon's eyes widened marginally before they downed the entire contents of their cup in one go. For a brief moment, they seemed to forget Vahn was present, releasing a hot and contented sigh before slouching in their chair, a comfortable expression on their face. It was only when they opened their eyes to find Vahn staring back at them did Solon seem to remember the origin of the tea. Their expression became dour in an instant but, before they were able to say anything, Vahn plainly stated, "Don't...you'll ruin the taste of the tea. Just relax..."Following his own advice, Vahn refilled his cup before leaning back in the ornate wooden chair, his mind wandering to pleasant thoughts of home and family. This earned him a prolonged glare from Solon but, after a few seconds had passed, they finally relented before pouring themselves a second cup. They knew Vahn would undoubtedly say something unpleasant so, given the option between dealing with him before or after the tea, Solon ultimately decided upon the latter.Like two old men who had just returned from a hard day's work, Vahn and Solon both sank into their chairs, holding their cups with both hands like a mug of hot cocoa. The tea, when combined with the peaceful surroundings, created a sensation as if their souls were being healed. Thus, for a short few minutes, all of their past animosity was forgotten. There was only the tea, the peaceful atmosphere, and a surprisingly comfortable wooden chair...Unfortunately, a single pot of tea between two people didn't last so, after around twenty minutes, Solon claimed the final amount for themselves before asking, "Why have you come here? Even if you told me it was just to have tea, I would never believe you..."Since there was no sense in beating around the bush, Vahn stared into Solon's Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, something very few could manage, as he answered, "Simply put, circumstances require that I make you into my direct subordinate. Now, before you lash out at me, hear me out until the end..."Though Vahn was speaking calmly at first, his expression and tone become stern to match the fierce expression on Solon's face. Even the cup in their hand had started to tremble slightly as the tension between them began to compound exponentially. In the end, however, Solon made an earnest effort to calm down, breathing somewhat loudly through their button-like nose for several seconds before giving a small nod.Seeing Solon forcibly restrain themselves, Vahn allowed his own aura to mellow out slightly as he explained, "I won't bother trying to convince you through words. We both knew the current status quo would be impossible to maintain during the coming convergence. The Empire has decided to move forward with some of our larger plans, many of which include the Mage's Association..."Vahn said he wasn't going to convince Solon with words but that didn't mean he could just avoid explaining what propelled him to move forward with his decision. To this end, he pulled out a stack of documents related to the creation of the Supercolonies, allowing Solon to view them while he added, "As you can see, I intend to plant World Trees at the heart of every Supercolony. Though I can create a Spirit to manage them, I know of your association with the original Yggdrasil of this world. If you are willing to become my subordinate, I will allow you to become a Sacred Tree Spirit, Guardian of the World Trees...what say you, Solon Yggdrasil?"With how much Solon's hands were trembling, it gave the impression they were moments away from tearing the documents to pieces. Instead, they glared back at Vahn, asking, "Did that flowery asshole tell you...?" To this, Vahn simply nodded his head in response, earning an aggrieved, teeth-gnashing reaction from Solon. In the end, however, they slammed the papers down on the table and shouted, "You already know I can't refuse this! Tell me, what do you want from me you...you bastard!?"(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Would you call this productive...?','Mordred's antics never cease','How to tame your Sacred Tree Spirit...?')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Instead of responding to Solon's outburst, Vahn just sat quietly within his chair, his face a mask of calm as he waited for them to calm down. This caused Solon's left eye to twitch but, as there really wasn't any way for them to refuse Vahn's offer, they eventually sat back down in a huff.Solon felt that, ever since they became intertwined with Vahn, their life had been filled with endless frustrations. Now, Vahn had absolute leverage against them and, knowing he could manipulate the terms of their contract at his leisure, Solon couldn't help but feel bitter. It seemed like Vahn was always in control of the situation, despite clear evidence showing he often made decisions without putting much thought into them...Before they realized it, the once-empty teapot now had a bit of steam rising from its spout, a very fragrant aroma permeating through the surroundings as a result. When Solon saw this, they released a tired sigh before pouring themselves a cup and asking, this time in a quiet tone, "What would you have me do...?"Now that they were being more agreeable, Vahn allowed the smile to return to his face as he stated in an equally reserved tone, "Truthfully, I want for you the same thing I want for everyone. Even if you wanted to hole yourself up for all eternity, that is fine by me. So long as you are genuinely happy, it isn't my place to question how you live."Hearing Vahn's response, Solon just rolled their eyes before pulling their legs up into their chair and sipping on their tea. This action caused Vahn to raise his brows slightly, then, understanding Solon wanted a more concrete answer, he sighed before saying, "I'll be direct, then...the main reason I have come to you like this is because it relates to one of my Quests. I know you have tried to investigate the Quest Board when you thought no one would notice. Well, it isn't just students who can accept the Quests that are posted..."Though they didn't move from their current position, a lot of thoughts began racing through Solon's mind when they heard Vahn's revelation. This implied Vahn had a way to observe them without their knowledge while also clarifying a lot of their past speculation. To confirm, however, Solon looked at Vahn out of the corner of their eye, asking, "All of your nonsensical actions in the past...was this due to your Quests...?"Vahn could only guess what Solon meant when they referred to his 'nonsensical' actions but, as it probably wasn't that far from the truth, he nodded his head before explaining, "Though it isn't quite the truth, it isn't wrong to consider the Quests that appear to be the Will of Fate...or perhaps Karma? Ultimately, what appears on the board aligns with a person's desires, capabilities, and other factors, some of which I have direct control over. To answer your question, you, too, will be able to accept Quests in the future."Since they knew Vahn was from the Outside, Solon speculated the Quests very likely related to his origins. They weren't surprised by the fact that Vahn couldn't reveal all of the details but, based on what he had revealed; it was clear that the Quests exceeded even High Thaumaturgy in concept. For a while, Solon had even thought it was directly related to the Greater Grail as, seeing items manifest out of thin air, some of which shouldn't even exist in this world, there had to be something powering the phenomenon.Having observed the Department of Unified Thaumaturgical Theory since its foundation, Solon's next question was rather direct, asking, "Am I to assume you will be placing that mark on my back, then? I have noticed all of the children that have completed that so-called Foundation Training bears it. Not just them, either...I have seen it on the backs of those women..."Realizing they had just revealed the fact they had been spying on Vahn, Solon's words trailed off as they closely observed Vahn for any negative reaction. Instead, he just continued to smile, revealing the fact he had been aware the entire time. This caused Solon to feel a unique kind of frustration as it also meant Vahn had been behaving that way despite knowing he was being observed.In truth, before Solon revealed it themselves, Vahn could only assume he was being observed by the hyper-cautious Magi. Now that Solon had mentioned it themselves, however, Vahn sloshed around the contents of his cup slightly as he said, "I trust your little voyeuristic play was kept from Zelretch, yes?"Hearing Vahn's question, Solon momentarily paled but, as they had indeed kept it a secret, they were able to quickly calm themselves, answering, "I'm not an idiot...besides, that old pervert doesn't need my help to spy on people. I doubt he would try while you're around, though. He seems to fear you a considerable amount."Sensing no falsehoods in Solon's words, Vahn lightly nodded in response before dismissing the issue entirely as he stated, "That mark is known as the Familia Crest. It denotes the bearer as a member of my Familia, bestowing them my Blessing and allowing them to receive various benefits. The one you are most aware of is the Quest Board. Using it, they can challenge themselves, overcome trials, and earn rewards for their efforts. This, however, isn't the most important aspect of the crest...rather, it is the unlocking of one's potential. So long as they have not committed egregious actions, earning a considerable amount of negative karma, the crest had the effect of increasing their capabilities in all categories..."Since he could tell Solon was interested in the benefits of the Familia Crest, Vahn went ahead and spent a few minutes selling the idea to them. The only true demerit was that he could easily trace the location of the bearers but, with Alaya at his side, this functionality was redundant. After all, he could achieve the same effect with the Strings of Fate, even without the target bearing his crest.With Vahn's explanation, Solon was able to better understand his plans for the future as they had already seen the results of students within the Department of Unified Thaumaturgical Theory. Even those that had been considered below average were quickly catching up and even surpassing the students within the standard curriculum. Now, they understood why Vahn had been determined to gain access to the Spiritual Tomb as, by simply killing monsters, anyone bearing his crest would be able to become a powerful Magus. Eventually, the students he was rearing would quickly surpass their peers, further elevating the status of the Empire within the minds of those seeking to change their fate in this chaotic world.Though this thought had already crossed their mind before, Solon realized that Vahn was already in control of the Mage's Association. It didn't matter if he wiped out former factions and completely undermined thousands of years of heritage as, with the theories perpetuated by Da Vinci, the Familia Crest, and seemingly unlimited resources, he could just rebuild it from scratch. At this point, the fact they were still the Director felt more like a formality than anything else...they had lost control of the situation a long time ago.Realizing this, Solon couldn't restrain a defeated sigh as they slouched even further in their chair, to the point they were basically curled up in a ball. This made Vahn feel more than a little awkward as it wasn't really his intention to break Solon's spirits. Rather, he wanted to liberate them from some of the things that had been stressing out. After all, it wasn't as if they did much as the Director of the Mage's Association and, by the time the World Tree's were planted, someone else would have been placed in charge.Fortunately, without him having to say anything to further convince the green-haired Magus, Solon dully asked, "So, what do I need to do? I keep asking you but you haven't given me a clear answer. Is there some kind of ritual that needs to be performed, a contract I need to sign? Let's get on with it and be done with this."Hearing Solon's words, it was Vahn's turn to roll his eyes, albeit within his mind. Unfortunately, his bad habit wasn't so easily restrained so, rather than answer Solon's question, Vahn smiled slightly as he asked, "Will you talk like this, even after I become your Master~?"Though he had expected Solon to erupt slightly, Vahn was somewhat surprised when the latter just glared at him for several seconds before righting themselves in their seat. It felt like they were about to behave in a very professional manner so, feeling his mood falter, Vahn raised his hands to prevent whatever they had intended, stating, "Relax, I was just messing around. In response to your question, well, there isn't anything you need to do other than be sincere. I have the ability to see a quantifiable representation of my subordinates' Loyalty so things like contracts and rituals are unnecessary."With everything else Vahn had revealed, Solon wasn't surprised by his claim that he could somehow see a person's loyalty. Instead, his mind began to mull over the concept of 'sincerity' itself as, without a contract or something like a vow, how could sincerity be shown? Words didn't seem to be enough but, even with their genderless body, Solon wasn't comfortable with letting Vahn mess around as he did with his women...Realizing the thought that had just gone through their mind, a frown immediately formed on Solon's face. Then, after literally forcing the thoughts away, they looked directly at Vahn, plainly stating, "I know what it means to be sincere but, in this situation, I don't really understand what to do. I would never enter into a master-subordinate relationship with someone unless they had made a binding vow so I'm unable to rationalize doing so myself. Even now, if I had the opportunity, I would do my best to at least try and find a way to kill you."Hearing Solon's admission, Vahn just shrugged his shoulders as the former's animosity wasn't news to him. Rather, if he knew there was some all-powerful force above him, he wouldn't be able to rest easily without increasing his strength or preparing countermeasures against them. Since he felt this way, it was only to be expected that others would react in a similar manner. Solon had protected the world and its more unique inhabitants for several millennia at this point so, to have someone like him appear out of the blue, it must be very stressful for them.To make things easier for them, Vahn pointed out, "The Familia Crest is basically a ritual that will bind us together as a faux-family. In truth, I actually consider those that bear my crest as part of my actual family. This might not mean much to some but, as a God, I treat familiar relationships very seriously. If people try to harm me, it typically doesn't phase me all that much...however, if they target one of my family members or loved ones..."Even without explaining further, Vahn's aura made it clear just what fate awaited those that brought harm to the people he had chosen to protect. This was enough to convince Solon that the Familia Crest was, indeed, a binding ritual. After all, it would grant them power, allow Vahn to freely sense their location, and even provide access to a fantastical Quest system. In a way, he was like a Familiar contract, albeit one between a God and his followers.Realizing that Vahn would basically become their God, Solon had mixed feelings but, after thinking it over for a few moments, they ultimately nodded their head, answering, "So be it, then. If your Familia Crest can be applied to my body, I will accept you...as...my...Master..."Hearing Solon force out the final few words, Vahn just shook his head and said, "I told you to relax. If you don't want to call me Master, that is fine with me. So long as you don't harm people or go out of your way to defy the Common Law of the Empire, you are free to live as you please. Though you'll have to properly maintain the World Tree in the future, that's something I trust you'll do of your own volition."Feeling as if a heavy burden had been removed from their shoulders, Solon breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't pleasant to address someone as their Master so, with Vahn giving them leeway to address him as they please, Solon decided to continue referring to him by name. Then, without further delay, they rose from their chair before manifesting the mannequin they used to hold their artifacts. Since it wouldn't matter if Vahn saw their body, Solon convinced themselves to stay calm as they began the arduous process of removing the vast array of Artifacts covering their body.Realizing what Solon was doing, Vahn felt a little awkward and, though the former hadn't asked him to turn away, he felt compelled to do so. Though Solon didn't seem to have an actual gender, their appearance and temperament gave off a very distinct impression. This, combined with their fair skin, tiny frame, and youthful figure, made watching them undress feel inappropriate.Seeing Vahn turn his head, Solon wanted to curse the man to death as their actions suddenly felt a lot more awkward than before. It would have been a lot easier if Vahn just remained calm or, like Zelretch, gawked freely. That way, they could rebuke them to ease some of the awkwardness rather than let it continue to build, seemingly without an upper limit.By the time only their medallion and robe remained, Solon felt slightly nauseous but, having formed their resolve previously, they managed to remove the heavy golden Artiface before tugging at the sides of their robe. For a brief moment, Solon both lamented and appreciated the fact they didn't wear anything resembling underwear. Zelretch had tried to convince them to wear some in the past but, as these were always very childish and feminine designs, Solon generally responded with a swift punch to the face...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'You ain't sneaky, Solon','Don't mess with Vahn's Familia...','Zelretch really is just an old pervert xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Vahn felt at a loss to see how things had turned out. He didn't understand how his words had set off such a reaction in Nero but, in hindsight, he realized the deeper meaning behind Nero's actions. She had left her fate in his hands, earnestly believing he had called her here because he needed her. This was why she didn't allow others to get to her as, in the end, the only person who truly mattered, at least to Nero, was the one who had called upon her.Based on how Gray had reacted, it was clear that Nero hadn't really been accepted by the girls within the Inner Sanctum just yet. Her behavior made it difficult for her not to stand out so, even if she did her best to avoid offending people, they would always feel uncomfortable due to her unrestrained and prideful nature. They saw Nero as a threat, someone who seemingly believed themselves to be of a higher standing; someone who looked down on them.The truth of the matter, however, was that Nero didn't actually look down on anyone. Rather, she did her best to try and understand what she had done to upset them. Unfortunately, this was something that would take a considerable amount of time and an equal amount of effort.Nero originally believed that the unique gathering of people would make it easier for her to fit in but, after the discussion from earlier, she realized it would be very difficult to mesh well with most of them. She couldn't understand them, despite her best efforts. Inversely, they made no effort to even try and understand her, judging her based on how she carried herself as an Emperor. She could tell that, if they had the option, almost everyone within the Inner Sanctum would avoid her.Vahn couldn't have known what Nero was thinking about as, due to how deeply she had buried her true emotions; it was impossible to ascertain how she truly felt. He could have used View Affection to guide his actions based on the changes in her affection value but, after having decided not to rely on this ability; Vahn primarily made use of it only when dealing with enemies. He could usually sense the wants and needs of the people around him on a nigh-instinctual level so it hadn't really been a problem before now.Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret so, having failed to understand what she needed from him, Vahn made Nero feel as though he had pushed her away. He was, quite literally, the very thing that anchored her to this world so, for him to tell her to seek happiness on her own, while also placing so many restrictions on her; Nero couldn't help but feel he had abandoned her. His words made it clear, at least within her mind, that he didn't actually need her. Even if she was to disappear from this world, Vahn, the man she called her Master, could just replace her at his leisure...Now, Vahn could only watch with a pained and solemn expression on his face as Boudica held the borderline catatonic Nero in her arms. Her emerald green eyes had now lost their luster, revealing the true state of Nero's psyche as she stared back at him with a slightly confused expression. It was clear she didn't understand Boudica's sadness or the pain visible in Vahn's eyes. She could only feel that she had done something wrong and, if not for the crimson blood flowing from Boudica's hand, she would have tried to take her life a second time.Since standing around would accomplish nothing, Vahn eventually steeled himself as he walked over to the duo's side. Boudica actually glared at him for a brief moment but, after a few seconds passed, she just shook her head and hugged Nero even tighter. Her look made Vahn feel as though his guilt had compounded but, doing his best not to let it show; he knelt down so that his face was only a few centimeters away from Nero's as he muttered, "Never again...I won't allow it..."Feeling his own emotions begin to burst forth, Vahn had to take a deep breath through his nose as his eyes began to sting slightly. Fortunately, he was able to keep his composure enough to carry out his original intentions so, before Nero could ask what he meant; Vahn placed his hand atop her head as he solemnly stated, "It is an order...as your Master, I expressively forbid you to try and take your life, Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus. Your life had value...more than you seem capable of understanding. I hope, one day, you will understand the pain you have caused everyone here..."After triggering such an extreme response from her earlier, Vahn didn't really know what to say to the current Nero. Part of him wanted to just hug her, holding her body tightly until she realized just how important her life was. Boudica, however, didn't seem intent on letting her go any time soon so, using Nero's earlier words to guide his, Vahn decided to play the part of her Master...As this thought crossed his mind, Vahn briefly remembered the peculiar incident that had occurred prior to Nero's summoning. He had nearly selected the Lily version of Nero by pure happenstance and, now that he saw her like this, part of him wished that he had done so. Nero, in many ways, was like a child that desperately needed the guidance of parental figures. She didn't know how to take control of her life without being in control of everything. Boudica could fill the role of a surrogate mother but, in the grand scheme of things, there was only one person who could have been a father to her...Realizing these things, Vahn released a melancholic sigh as he continued to caress the confused Nero's head. Now, even if he wanted to treat her as his daughter, Nero's experiences made this all but impossible. Though he could give her a new vessel, just like Mordred, she would still have a lot of trouble fitting in with others, both children and adults. The 'best' option would be to tweak her memories but that wasn't really a solution, not in this case.Since she had been watching him the entire time, Nero could tell that Vahn was struggling. She was unable to understand exactly why he was upset but she knew he was saddened by her actions. Since he had even used a command spell to prevent her from committing suicide, Nero began to feel like she had misunderstood the situation. It seemed like he still needed her so, even if she was unable to understand why, exactly, Nero began to feel her dark thoughts slowly fading away.Like a switch had been flipped, Nero's smile spontaneously returned, her aura blazing like a golden sun as she broke free from her catatonic state. She then used her free hand to lightly pat Boudica's head, saying in a gratified tone, "Thank you for worrying about me. I'm fine now, umu, please release me...grkk...you are a lot stronger than you look. Umu..."Hearing the first half of Nero's words, Boudica put even more strength into her embrace. However, when she heard the former groan, she immediately weakened her hold, saying, "You're not okay...not yet. Don't think you can fool me with words alone..."With Boudica refusing to release her, Nero couldn't help but furrow her brows slightly but, just as she was considering breaking free, calming energy flowed into her mind, courtesy of Vahn. When she turned to look at him, the latter had a wry smile on his face as he stated, "Consider this your punishment for worrying us. It is okay to not be okay, Nero...you don't have to force yourself to put on an act. Nobody here expects you to be a perfect Emperor without any flaws...after all, I have a fair number myself. If you want to fit in and understand others, you have to be willing to expose your true feelings to them. Don't be afraid to ask for help...if there is something you don't understand, we will help you find the answer..."Though it was probably impossible for him to fill the role of a parent to the current Nero, that didn't mean Vahn couldn't help guide her. She had clearly been shaped from a young age to behave in a certain way so, even if it caused a few awkward moments between them, Vahn needed to be willing to reprimand and guide Nero when she made mistakes. He could also have her help test the Virtual World simulations with Da Vinci, potentially giving her the chance to live and grow from childhood without having to make any changes to her current self.For now, however, Vahn needed to show Nero that she wasn't unnecessary. She needed to know she had value, even if it would take her a long time to understand exactly what it was. With this in mind, he looked toward Boudica, adding, "For now, I'll have you move into the Inner Sanctum as well. It will take a few weeks before we're ready to establish the European Supercolony. Until then, I want you to live alongside Nero. I believe she will learn more from interacting with you than observing Artoria...is that okay?"Though Nero seemed like she wanted to disagree, Boudica preempted her response by hugging her tightly and saying, "You don't even need to ask." Then, in order to convince Nero, she whispered, "It will be okay. Your Master can be a bit of an idiot at times but he is surprisingly competent when it comes to things like this. Trust that there is a reason behind his decision and give it a chance...it may take a while, but I promise to teach you how to be happy."Nero wasn't completely convinced by Boudica's words but, with her pointing out that this was the decision Vahn had made, she ultimately nodded her head in agreement. She was aware that she and Boudica would be working together during the establishment of the European Supercolony so, for the time being, she would do her best to get along with the buxom woman. This would also allow her to interact with the rest of the Inner Sanctum's residents with greater ease, borrowing on the rapport that Boudica had built with them.With Nero's acquiescence, Boudica's mood was instantly improved. A loving smile spread across her face before she noticed the wry one on Vahn's. Then, remembering she had just called him an idiot, her brows furrowed in an apologetic manner. This caused Vahn to lightly shake his head, his smile returning to normal as he added, "I can't force her to stay in one place but I'll also leave Spenta in your care, at least for the time being."Hearing Vahn mention Spenta caused the tensions in the air to dissipate slightly as even Nero had become rather fond of the adorable white-haired girl. Not only did she have a calming aura, but her skin was very soft to the touch. This, combined with her naturally high body temperature, made her an ideal companion for sleeping, something Nero had confirmed several times.Feeling everyone's mood improve, Vahn's own tensions relaxed. He was hoping that Spenta would be the glue that brought Nero and the others together. Even if they didn't like Nero, there was no way they could refuse Spenta as she was the literal manifestation of 'All the World's Good'. The one time Vahn had sent Spenta away, as he had been rather busy, he ended up being filled with so much regret that he ultimately dropped what he was doing to go spend time with her.Now, until Nero was able to relinquish her facade, Vahn would surround her with caring people who would never stop trying to peel back her protective layers. At the same time, he would try to become a good Master to her and, if necessary, a surrogate father. Though would never refer to himself in such a manner, as that would likely cause even more problems, that didn't prevent him from treating Nero with the care she seemed to desperately need. Then, when she had finally opened her heart to others, he would reward her until she was completely satisfied...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'There will always be someone pained by your actions...','Boudica got that glare only a Mother can pull off...','Spenta is 'literally' the goodest girl...at least in the Nasuverse (UwU). She still has a long way to go before reaching Fenrir, however~')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1369: Tension