Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

In preparation for the upcoming 'Imperial Gala', Vahn was meeting with Solon and a disgruntled Zelretch as they discussed implementing the Virtual World and assigning Companions as part of the standard curriculum. Since he would effectively be taking over the Mage's Association after the gala, it was necessary to implement rapid changes to emphasize this fact to the faculty and student body.With this in mind, Da Vinci had already prepared a localized Nexus specifically for use within the Clock Tower. As for the matter of Companions, there were several factories that could produce several thousand of the adorable creatures daily so, with the 'Purge' being a recent event, it wouldn't be that difficult to issue them throughout the entirety of the Mage's Association.As Solon had mellowed out considerably after becoming Vahn's Subordinate, much to Zelretch's chagrin, there was virtually no resistance against the idea of implementing the updated system. It had already become a hot topic amongst members of the student body and, while they wouldn't openly admit it, many of the faculty members were also eager to delve into the Virtual World. The rumor it could emulate advanced Thaumaturgical processes with a negligible margin of error was too tempting to pass up as, using it, they could effectively test their theories without wasting any actual resources.The only person proactively against the idea, for various reasons, was Zelretch as, with his ability to freely traverse between parallel worlds, he had already seen several versions of the same tech. In almost every instance, Virtual Reality was either the result or the direct contributor to societal collapse, as, with a virtual environment to meet all of their needs, people quickly lost motivation to live normal lives. He had even seen instances of virtual cults give rise to Cyber Daemons and Artificial Deities, entities that could influence the Virtual World and reality in equal measure.Vahn assured him that their system was different than the ones he had experienced but, as many of those very systems started off with similar intentions, he was skeptical. After all, once the global population had been placated by the system, making it impossible for them to function without it, it could be used to manipulate them with considerable ease.When this was pointed out, Vahn could only shake his head as, while Zelretch's words struck at the truth of the matter, the system designed by Da Vinci was far more comprehensive than what most people could rationalize. The Empire also took a 'hands-off' approach to governance while also proactively encouraging people to engage in the real world. There were always people who sought real thrills so, if they promoted a system that elevated a person's status based on real-world accomplishments, people would quickly compete for a better ranking.With a system that focused more on a person's merits than concepts like hereditary wealth and given status, future generations would be demonstrably more capable than their modern-day counterparts. There was even a system designed to track a person's Parameters, Skills, and other metrics so that they could distinguish themselves in a society that seamlessly blended the virtual world with the real world. Since there were people who would literally spend thousands of hours speed-running the same game for nothing more than recognition within a small community, Vahn had little doubt that the system designed by Da Vinci would be a success.Since it was all but impossible to change Vahn's mind after he had already drawn a conclusion, Zelretch ultimately gave up with a defeated sigh. He had started looking a lot older these days and, though his red-eyes still blazed with fervor and borderline madness, everyone that closely associated with him could see that he was beginning to lose his edge. Though he wasn't down and out just yet, it felt like each passing day made him less relevant as, with Vahn forcibly seizing control of the present, most tangential timelines were influenced by the echoes of his choices.Fortunately, while it became increasingly tiring to try and reason with Vahn, the latter never failed to provide delicious tea and a plethora of otherworldly delicacies. Zelretch could still remember the first time he had been treated to 'Dragon Steak', the most delicious and mana-rich foodstuff he had ever had the privilege to sample. Thus, while he would sometimes have the urge to just go 'all-out' against the immovable Emperor, he managed to restrain it...This time, while discussing the upcoming Imperial Gala and the implementation of the Virtual World, Vahn had prepared baked apples. These had been grown selectively by the Dryads that now called Avalon their home and, as a result, they were even more delicious than the already legendary apples that had been present prior to their arrival. A single slice, while not enough to fill a person's stomach, provided them with enough nourishment for three days as, due to how the human body processed ingested magical energy, a single apple could effectively provide upwards of 60,000kcal.Since they were all 'monsters' who had effectively infinite Magical Power, Vahn, Zelretch, and Solon were able to freely engorge themselves on the lightly baked, cinnamon covered, apple slices. This, combined with their choice between a mellow and fragrant tea, turned an otherwise tense conversation into a relatively pleasant experience. Even Zelretch found it hard to stay mad while, at the side, Solon absentmindedly nibbled on the slices with absolutely no consideration for appearances.Compared to the past, when they covered their body in various Artifacts, the current Solon could generally be found wearing nothing but a white robe, their usual medallion, and a total of three rings. This was a stark contrast to the dozens of Artifacts they previously wore but, after gaining a set of Magic Circuits, most had become redundant. They already knew how to activate complex Spells after thousands of years of research so, while the Artifacts could still be used to enhance their capabilities, they had been making a concerted effort to improve using the Quest Board.Ultimately, the main reasons behind Zelretch's annoyance with the changes to Solon were the fact he also wanted access to the Quest Board but, much like Aoko and Arcueid, the Familia Crest had absolutely no effect on him. As a Tier 5 entity, Vahn was unable to give his Blessing to the elderly Magus and, as his pride wouldn't allow him to become subordinate to another, Zelretch had no choice but to listen to Solon drone on and on about their progress, all while he was forced to sit on the sidelines...---After confirming the plans to implement the Virtual World and distribute Companions, Vahn shifted the topic, asking, "Will the two of you attend the gala? I won't force you but, considering what it represents, your presence would be welcome. I have already confirmed Director Atlasia's participation so it would be problematic if you elected not to attend, Solon."Though even the thought of attending a social gathering made them feel nauseous, Solon didn't hesitate to nod their head, lazily muttering, "I will attend..."Seeing his long-time companion instantly acquiesce, Zelretch couldn't help but release a sigh as he reclined his head back, staring up at the sky as he answered, "I will also attend. Even if I'm not a direct affiliate of the Empire, I would like to consider us more than acquaintances. This will be an important event so, while I will likely not attend future gatherings, I can make an exception on this occasion."Hearing Solon and Zelretch agree to attend, Vahn issued a relieved sigh within his mind as, with their participation, things became a lot easier. He knew that, despite their willingness to join the Empire, the vast majority of Magus families still disagreed with his methods. They merely joined with the intent of preserving their family and legacy so, by having a greater number of powerful and influential figures appear in support of the Empire, most dissidents would think twice about plotting against them.Since their straightforward response had saved him a lot of time in trying to convince them, Vahn gave an approving nod before saying, "Soon enough, I will invite both of you to visit Avalon on holiday. I, too, would like to think we have made considerable progress toward becoming friends so, to officiate things, inviting you into my home should suffice. I'm aware it is something you have been interested in for quite some time, so, when the opportunity presents, I hope you accept my invitation."Though Solon was admittedly interesting in touring Avalon, a place where thousands of Spirits now dwelled, it was Zelretch whom Vahn had directed his comment toward. The latter had been skulking around Avalon every now and then so, with the promise of a future invitation, his tired eyes regained some of their lost vigor as he offered a toothy grin and answered, "It would be a great honor to tour your home, even for a short period of time. I look forward to the opportunity and pray it comes even a single day sooner."As he had already made preparations for Zelretch's arrival, Vahn could actually invite the man at any time. The only reason he hadn't was due to the Empire's relatively shaky internal affairs as, after the fiasco involving Scáthach, things had become more than a little awkward. She had left an impact on a number of people so, learning the infamous Purple Monster had lost her life, many within the Inner Sanctum couldn't quite believe it. They, much like Vahn, didn't really know how to treat the Lily version of her while Ciel, having spontaneously lost her mentor, now apprenticed directly under Vahn.It would take some time for the reality that the original Scáthach was no longer with them but, in the meantime, Vahn had started using the time he once used to train with his Shishou in order to mentor quite a number of people. He now taught a class consisting of Fenrir, Gareth, Mordred, Sakura, Mash, Astrid, Zoë, Ciel, and, of course, Scáthach.Though he still hadn't fully accepted everything that happened, Vahn had been taking small steps forward with each passing day. It was at moments like this that his expansive support group came in handy as, without their constant care and guidance, Vahn would have holed himself up for days on end, basically throwing a tantrum. Instead, he had dozens of people pushing him forward, the principal offenders being those like Fenrir, Artoria, and, for completely different reasons, each of his children...Vahn always wanted to set a proper example for his children so, rather than let them see him at his lowest, he forced himself to bounce back after explaining the situation to them. Though they had never known Scáthach in the same way as everyone else, Vahn knew they would feel begin to feel doubts if they were left out of the loop. He liked to be open and honest with them so, while it wasn't easy, Vahn had talked with each of his children, explaining the situation so that they might understand why everyone was behaving differently than before...The hardest part of being a parent was taking into consideration how your children interpreted your behavior when you were experiencing things they might not understand. You constantly had to remind yourself that, even though you were hurting, your responsibility as a parent superseded everything else. If you took the time to wallow in self-pity, ignoring the people who relied on you more than anyone else, the negativity would only spread without end. It was easier to be honest with them as, while they may not understand exactly why you are hurting, they would still be able to empathize with you.The feeling of inclusion was a powerful factor when it came to raising your children as, if they felt involved, even in matters completely unrelated to them, they learned the importance of sharing their own troubles. Bottling things up was never healthy and, while it was important for everyone to have their secrets, keeping them at the expense of the people you loved was rarely the correct choice...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'If there is a leaderboard, someone would do their best to get to the top of it...','Zelretch is hella jaded','No matter how uncertain you feel, you should never compromise the feeling of certainty your child has toward you. You are their rock. While you may be shaken and tossed about by the tumultuous seas of life, you are the anchor that keeps them from being swept away in the same current...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Following the conclusion of his meeting with Solon, Vahn, accompanied by his new entourage, consisting of Okita and Altera, made a quick stopover at the Edelfelt mansion. Though he could send her a direct message, Vahn preferred to deliver news personally as, with the ability to teleport, other methods just seemed impersonal. He also knew Luvia herself would appreciate his visit so, with the silent and attentive white-haired duo standing on his flanks, Vahn teleported into the foyer where, as per usual, an entire team of Maids and Butlers were waiting to greet him.Despite the 'The Fall', and the penultimate collapse of the global economy, the Edelfelt family had continued to prosper. Luvia unashamedly made use of the Empire's resources and, though her core forces still consisted of the Edelfelt elites, they had recruited tens of thousands in support of relief efforts all over the world. Since they were one of the only military forces in the world that still had operational aircraft and a small naval fleet, it hadn't taken long at all for Luvia to cement her family as one of the most powerful forces in the world.Though they were intrinsically related to the Empire, the Edelfelt family was given autonomy to act in their own interests. As a result, they had been able to help people with the stigma of being directly associated with the Empire. The fact they still used technology from the 'old era' encouraged a lot of people to rally behind them and, though there were quite a number of opportunists that had tried to take advantage of this, the solidarity of the Edelfelt combat forces prevented any major uprisings.After a short trek through Luvia's fortress-like mansion, renovated as a courtesy of the Dwarves, Vahn found himself in an auditorium-sized training room. There he found Ulla happily clapping her hands while at the side while, on oversized wrestling ring, Oliva and Luvia were flying around like luchadores as they performed a variety of acrobatic feats. This wasn't entirely unexpected but, seeing that Ulla had also been dressed up in an adorable little leotard, Vahn couldn't help but adopt a wry smile...Almost immediately after he had entered the room, Olivia slid underneath Luvia as the latter used the ropes of the ring to vault through the air. She managed to land nimbly after missing her catch but, before she was able to turn around, Olivia snaked up behind her with surprising agility, her arms wrapping around Luvia's waist. In the next moment, despite their height difference, Olivia managed to bend backward, performing a perfect arch as Luvia was suplexed into the ring. As a result, her legs froze in a rather compromising position but, fortunately, things came to a swift end when the referee slid across the ring on their stomach, quickly counting her out.With her victory determined, Olivia raised her first toward the sky, a victorious smile on her face as Luvia pretended to be knocked out. This caused Ulla to fret a great deal as, while she was happy her Grandma had won, she was sad that her mother had lost. Her doll-like face formed into a worried expression and, seemingly determining her mother was more important than the match, she climbed up the side of the ring, shouting, "Mommy!"The moment she heard her daughter cry out, Luvia rose to a seated position, a vibrant smile on her face as she caught Ulla out of the air. Then, while happily rubbing her cheek against the latter's face, she chimed, "Ah, my darling Ulla, your voice awakened me~! I feel ten times stronger than before, ohohohoho~."Though they were both well aware of the fact Vahn had arrived, Olivia and Luvia were still putting on their play so, hearing Luvia's comment, Olivia crossed her arms proudly and claimed, "You'd have to be at least eleven, no, thirteen times stronger if you want to defeat me, kukukuku~."Hearing her Grandma's remark, Ulla showed a serious expression and, as this wasn't her first time in this situation, she hugged her Mother tightly as she said, "I believe in you, Mommy! You have to go for the legs! If you go for the legs, you can win...!"As if her greatest secret had just been exposed, Olivia took a few faltering steps backward, surprise visible in her countenance as she exclaimed, "No! How did you learn about my injured left knee!?" Then, seemingly realizing something, she lightly pat her own chest before adopting a taunting smile and saying, "Well, it's too late! The referee already declared my victory! If I rest properly, my leg will be good as new before our next match...!"With an expression that looked like she had swallowed a bug, Ulla glared at her Grandma before rising to her full height, a diminutive 85cm, as she shouted, "I'll just have to defeat you myself...!"Moving 'faster than Olivia could react', Ulla launched herself toward her Grandma's right leg. She still had a bit of trouble determining her left from her right, at least when it came to other people, but, in spite of this, Olivia fell to the ground, a howl of pain escaping her throat. Then, as Ulla did her best to perform a leg lock, Olivia helped position her arms and legs properly, lending a rather ridiculous quality to the whole scene...While Ulla was busy 'defeating' her Grandmother, Luvia reclined onto her elbows, leaning her head back to smile at Vahn. This brought an even bigger smile to his face as, despite knowing Luvia had a lot going on, the fact she always made time to play with their daughter made him feel even more attracted to her than normal. There was nothing more beautiful and endearing than a good mother so, when they both had a free moment, Vahn decided he would reward her plentily.With her 'weakness' targetted, Olivia ended up tapping out, unable to bear the pain of Ulla's leg-lock. Afterward, Ulla copied her Grandmother's previous display, raising her tiny fist high into the sky to proclaim her victory. Just as she was about to cry out, however, she noticed Vahn standing at the side of the ring and, seemingly losing interest in the match, shouted, "Daddy~!" before running over without hesitation.Catching his airborne daughter out of the air, Vahn spun around a few times before pulling her close and giving her a firm hug as she happily wriggled about in his arms. This prompted Luvia and Olivia to rise to their feet and, after being waved away by the latter, all of the staff within the room quickly cleared out.While leaning against the ring's ropes, her hair done up in two drill-tails, Olivia cheekily asked, "Are you stopping by for business or pleasure? My afternoon is free so I can help out with both if you'd like~."Since he had already grown accustomed to Olivia's 'propositioning', Vahn just rolled his eyes at her before explaining, "Solon and Zelretch have agreed to attend the gala. After this event, the Mage's Association will unofficially be under the control of the Empire. I thought Luvia would like to know sooner, rather than later, so I stopped by immediately after my meeting ended. I'm glad I did, too, as I got to see just how strong my little jumping bean has become."To punctuate his statement, Vahn gave Ulla a kiss on the cheek, making a loud 'mwah' sound that caused her to giggle happily before returning the favor. At the same time, Luvia adopted a far more serious expression than before, asking, "Will they be announcing their full support of the Empire or is the intention to officiate the current Alliance?"Rather than go into the finer details, Vahn set Ulla onto his shoulders before saying, "Unless you are busy, we can talk about it later. For now, how about we enjoy a light lunch? It's getting pretty close to lunchtime and I have some time on my hands."Though he was generally very direct and honest with his children, Vahn didn't like talking about the affairs of the Empire in their presence. He liked to make them the center of attention, not bore them to death with long, and often droll, conversations.Understanding his intentions, Luvia hopped over the top rope, landing smoothly next to him with a smile on her face as she answered, "Certainly! I'll have the chefs cook up something scrumptious~!"Luvia wasn't particularly hungry but, as it was an excuse to spend time together, she wasn't going to pass on the opportunity. She and Vahn were generally very busy during the daylight hours so it had been a while since they dined together within the mansion. Though they almost always ate together during the evenings, it was hard to enjoy the moment to the fullest when there were between twenty and thirty people present...Before Vahn and Luvia could wander off with Ulla, Olivia reminded them of her presence by saying in a firm tone, "Wait a minute you two love birds. Before you eat lunch, make sure to wash up properly. Don't go teaching Ulla any bad habits or I'll put you into a full nelson when you least expect it!"Hearing Olivia's warning, Vahn just waved his hand, tiny beads of sweat pooling together from the bodies of Luvia and Ulla. At the same time, a fragrant aroma began to spread throughout the area, a technique he had stolen from Da Vinci. He had previously modified his 'Cleaning Magic' to have a deodorizing effect but, as the lack of an aroma caused a bit of incongruity, he spent a considerable amount of time learning how to infuse an aroma into his domain.With Vahn seeing through her plan, Olivia clicked her tongue before hopping up and using the ropes to bounce herself backward. She landed nimbly on one of the corner posts before pointing down at Vahn in a theatrical way and proclaiming, "You can't use magic to solve everything! Be a responsible parent and take Ulla to take a bath! Don't the Japanese teach the importance of skinship between a parent and child!?"Though Vahn was going to ignore Olivia's outburst, his plans changed when Ulla leaned against the top of his head, doing her best to look into his face as she said, "Daddy, let's go take a bath. I want to wash my hair and change my clothes."Since his children's 'orders' were absolute, Vahn nodded his head in affirmation, causing Ulla to bob happily. Before he alighted from the room, however, he looked toward Okita and Altera who, from the beginning, had been standing like a pair of statues at the side. The moment he turned his eyes toward them, they seemed to 'boot up', eagerly awaiting his next order.Nipping any of Olivia's plans in the bud, Vahn adopted a somewhat malicious smile as he said, "Will the two of you please keep the Edelfelt Matriarch company? I wouldn't want her to feel lonely while Luvia and I take Ulla into the bath. Don't worry, we won't be too long. Until then, however, ensure we are not disturbed."Hearing their Master's orders, Okita and Altera both nodded in understanding, the former saying, "I understand..." while the latter chimed a monotone, "I see...". Then, as if they had a highly advanced auto-targeting system, both girls locked onto the grimacing Olivia. She had been intending to invite herself into the bath but, as Okita and Altera were impossible to reason with, bypassing them would be all but impossible. If she made a serious effort to break into the bathroom, there was a very real chance they would become destructively hostile...Satisfied with Olivia's response, Vahn turned away as Luvia followed behind, her amused laughter echoing throughout the expansive room. She enjoyed the interactions between her Grandmother and Vahn, even if it sometimes gave her a strong desire to reward her Grandmother with a fist to the top of her noggin. She, like Vahn, knew that Olivia was 'mostly' just playing around but, as there was a part of her that seriously vied for a chance to get a taste of her husband's 'godly' capabilities, she couldn't drop her guard...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The Hyenas became the Kings of the Jungle','Wrestling is real, I swear~!','The ultimate matriarchal technique, 'Cougar Stalking Dragon'~!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though he was tempted to stay inside much longer, Vahn knew it would be easier for them both if he left sooner. They had already drawn the attention of the challengers who had gathered on the near-side of the gorge so, after embracing for several minutes, Vahn ultimately released his hold on the Memory Fragment. This action broke through the last vestiges of his defense, tears flowing freely as he smiled and forced himself to say, "I pray for your happiness...I'm not sure how long it will take for me to forgive you for this but, no matter what, I will do my best to protect the legacy you left behind..."With what could only be described as a bitter and pained smile on her face, Scáthach nodded her head in understanding. This action caused a single tear to escape her left eye, tracing the curve of her face before collecting as the point of her chin. She made no effort to wipe it away so, before they parted ways for the last time, Vahn reached out, liberating the single droplet and freezing it using his Source Energy. Though it wasn't a 'real' tear, he could even manifest objects within the Virtual World so, with his Source Energy to sustain it, Scáthach's tear had been immortalized for perpetuity...If her were being honest with himself, there was a lot Vahn wanted to say but, knowing the person he wanted to speak to was no longer with him, he ultimately turned away. This caused the knot in his throat to become even more painful, but, as this was the path she had chosen, he decided to respect his Shishou's decision. He would probably never agree with her choice, but, in the grand scheme of things, it was hers to make.With Vahn turning away from her, Scáthach learned what it meant to have your heart broken as, in a vain attempt to have him stay just a moment longer, she reached out her hand only for his body to vanish into thin air. As a result, she moved through the location he had been standing moments prior and, nearly tripping over despite her usually perfect balance. Part of her couldn't believe he had just left so suddenly as, at least once, she wanted them to be together as lovers...Feeling an indescribable bitterness well up inside her, Scáthach fell to her knees, and, to deter the group nearing her position, she created a pitch-black barrier to obscure her figure and the sound emanating from within. She couldn't even remember the last time she had experienced such pain as, due to her nature as a Memory Fragment, she no longer possessed her troublesome Innates, including her [Wisdom of the Haunted Ground]. Though this had been part of her intentions from the start, as she wanted to live her life without their influence, Scáthach, for the first time in a very long time, experienced true regret...---Though injuries didn't translate between a spiritual simulation and the real world, Vahn wasn't surprised to find his real body had been shedding tears. Even the calming caress from the young woman whose lap he had borrowed was within his expectations so, for several minutes, he just lay there without saying a word.Now that he had left the orb, an extremely powerful seal prevented access so, unless he went to great lengths to break it, there was no way for him to meet with the memory fragment belonging to his Shishou. Thus, with the flow of time inside matching the central time axis, it would likely be years before they were able to meet again. By then, she would have undoubtedly changed more than he could imagine, but, as he too was bound to change, Vahn repressed his urge to forcibly unseal the memories of the young woman showing concern for him...Fortunately, as Arcueid had been comforting him throughout the inexplicably painful parting, it didn't take too long for Vahn to regain his composure. Despite this, he continued to lay on the younger Scáthach's lap, organizing his thoughts and, though it wasn't exactly fair to them, shifting his negative emotions toward his enemies.Had Musashi not cut off Scáthach's arm, Vahn wouldn't have been so easily convinced to summon five additional versions of her. If she had never learned about her Lily versions separation from the Land of Shadows, the chances of her putting this plan into motion were negligible, at best. Thus, without a 'simple' solution, there was a chance that several years would pass, time enough for him to potentially change Scáthach's mind on the matter.Now, Vahn had learned a hard lesson about what it meant to respect the intentions and desires of those around him. He had once convinced himself that, if the people he cared about chose to die of natural causes, he would not interfere. He had even gone so far as to decide that, unless they put in the effort to obtain it, he wouldn't grant anyone immortality. These were both sensible and relatively simple promises to make but, now that he experienced the bitterness that accompanied the reality he pursued, Vahn realized he had been childishly optimistic.In more ways that one, Vahn had become a very selfish person but, as he only ever wanted the people around him to be happy, he never considered this a bad thing. While this wasn't exactly wrong, it had done nothing to actually prepare him for the loss he was doomed to experience, so, in the future, Vahn realized he would need to be more resolute and decisive. Though he would never stop dedicating himself to the things he believed in, the final lesson bestowed to him by his Shishou was not one he would soon forget...---After organizing his thoughts, Vahn surprised Scáthach by suddenly rising to a seated position without notice. Then, before she could make any inquiries, he turned to her and said, "From now on, I am your Master in both name and purpose. I have been entrusted with the task of training you to the best of my ability so, if you choose to follow me, I will dedicate myself to guiding you in all matters, both martial and domestic. Tell me, Scáthach, will you accept me as your teacher...?"Though she was overwhelmed by a sudden bout of confusion, Scáthach wasted not time before bending the knee, her right hand covering her heart as she bowed her head and answered, "It would be my honor. I will not waste this chance you have given me, Master. With your guidance, I will aim to become one of the strongest in the world, second only to yourself..."Hearing Scáthach's affirmation, Vahn nodded his head approvingly before saying, "Listen carefully, as I am about to impart to you your first lesson..."Not expecting to begin so soon, Scáthach was momentarily caught off guard but, in spite of this, she managed a resolute, "Ha!" before raising her head and paying close attention to her Master's next words.Seeing how obedient Scáthach was, Vahn felt a host of incongruous emotions but, borrowing a page out of his Shishou's book, he kept a mask of abject calm as he stated, "My only desire is that you learn what happiness means to you and, so long as it doesn't infringe upon the happiness of others; I would encourage you to do everything in your power to obtain i. It is only when people have something they want to protect that they are able to obtain true power so, in order to avoid straying onto the path of corruption, find things worth cherishing. These things will become heavy burdens along your path but, without them, the only fate awaiting you at the end of your path is loneliness..."Though what Scáthach had done wasn't something he could easily forgive, Vahn knew she wasn't wholly to blame. If he hadn't changed his mind many years ago, forcing her to acquiesce to a life he had chosen, none of this would have happened. He was reaping the harvest of his own greed and, while he didn't regret the choice he had made, that didn't stop him from feeling bitter about it. Now, his only way forward was to move on and, though it wouldn't be easy, he would take care of Scáthach's legacy so that when her two halves became a singular whole, she would be able to see that there were other paths available to her.Hearing her Master's words, Scáthach committed them to memory while mentally carving them into her heart. She already knew the importance of using her power to protect and, though she had a feeling of incongruity while thinking about it, plenty of things worth cherishing came to mind, first a foremost being her Master. Thus, with a resolute look on her face, Scáthach took a deep breath before answering, "I have received your wisdom, Master. I swear, I will not let you down." in a solemn tone.Resisting the urge to educate her on the many ways her counterpart had let him down, Vahn just nodded in response to his eager pupil. Then, after telling her to pay attention to her lessons and ordering her to continue protecting the children, Vahn alighted to Avalon. In the future, he would train her alongside the others but, for the time being, Vahn had a strong desire to retreat into the Inner Sanctum. He still needed to explain the situation to the others but, afterward, he intended to hole himself up in the Menagerie until he was calm enough to interact with his children without causing them to worry...---Unaware of the mental anguish his mortal enemy was going through, the shaggy-haired man, Archimedes, was tirelessly typing away on a terminal within his laboratory, this one located so deep beneath the earth's Surface that it was possible to cultivate and rear various mythical plants and animals.After collecting information about Vahn, Archimedes had determined that he had a fixation on Spirits and other creatures so, rather than rely on golems and automatons, his next strategy was to infiltrate Avalon using artificially created Fae. The island was rumored to be a haven for all Spirits so, while humans may have trouble invading, it seemed relatively simple to send in a few Fae to infiltrate. He already had some success probing the waters around the island so, in the hopes of obtaining actual information about Avalon, he didn't mind investing the time required to nurture a few Spirits...While Archimedes was busy analyzing the data on his monitor, the woman Vahn and Co correctly presumed to be Musashi was busy performing routine maintenance on her cherished katanas. At the same time, the white-haired girl that served as the template for the entity known as Betty was sitting nearby with a large picturebook on her lap. She was accompanied by a haggard-looking man with deep-set eyes and a long face but, as if his presence didn't disturb her in the slightest, she happily read the contents of the book while he stared, unblinkingly, at the pages...After reaching the end of the picture book, Betty? snapped it shut and, with a smile on her face, turned to the man and asked, "Did you like it? This one was called Little Red Riding Hood."In response to her question, the gaunt man dutifully nodded his head and, though it didn't suit his face in the slightest, a crooked grin spread across his lips as he said, "I liked the part where the Huntsman cut open the wolf's stomach..."Though Betty? smiled in response to the man's words, Musashi spontaneously stopped polishing her katana to remark, "You're a real weirdo, you know that? You might not be so haunted by your thoughts if you stopped focusing on the morbid parts of every children's story you read. I mean, seriously, are you trying to infect Alice with your creepiness?"Hearing Musashi's words, the gaunt-faced man hung his head in shame but, in an effort to defend him, Alice jumped to her feet, shouting, "Mu-chan, don't be mean to Love-chan! He hasn't done anything wrong...!"With a little girl screaming in her face, Musashi raised both hands in a gesture of surrender before picking up her katana and saying, "You're right, Alice. I was wrong. Will you please forgive me?"Though she continued to puff out her cheeks for several seconds, Alice ultimately nodded her head after Musashi brought her hands together in a pleading gesture. Before she let her off, however, she stated matter-of-factly, "You have to apologize to Love-chan, not me. If he doesn't forgive you...I...I won't forgive you either!"Fortunately, even without Musashi's insistence, Lovecraft immediately chimed in, saying in a deep and brooding tone, "Alice, Musashi was only saying what was on her mind. You needn't go out of your way to defend me. I am well aware of my peculiarities and do not begrudge others for how they view me. Come, let Musashi go about her business. I hid away a slice of cake earlier so why don't we head to the kitchen to eat it...?"Hearing Lovecraft's response, Musashi gave him an appreciative smile and a thumbs up but, despite the temptation of cake, Alice wasn't appeased. She didn't like how everyone else was mean to Lovecraft just because he was different so, rather than let Musashi off the hook, she held up her oversized picture book, showing that the title had changed from 'Little Red Riding Hood' to 'Hansel and Gretel'. Then, before Musashi could 'escape' to go patrol, she stated in a firm tone that didn't leave room for argument, "Read for us. If you read for us, I will forgive you."Seeing no way out, beyond forcing her way through, Musashi ultimately ended up releasing a profound sigh before accepting the picture book from Alice's hands. It was her fault for saying something insensitive but, as Lovecraft was just too strange, she couldn't help herself. Since she didn't want to upset Alice too much, Musashi decided to just acquiesce to her demands as, while patrolling was important, it was also incredibly boring.While doing her best to ignore the palpable chill radiating from Lovecraft's body, Musashi took a seat on the nearby lounge, allowing Alice to sit in her lap while the gaunt-faced Lovecraft lingered over them like a ghost. This gave her a strong urge to refuse Alice's request but, as she didn't like being called a coward, Musashi opened the book to the first page, reading, "This all happened a long time ago, in your grandmother's time, or in her grandfather's..." in an exasperated tone.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Two selfish people','The clash between ideals and reality is rarely without its fair share of victims...','Life goes on, whether you like it or not')(A/N: I left a comment if you'd like some insight into why Vahn seems to be acting like a prick.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1405: Preparation