Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

By the time Vahn had finished detailing the events surrounding Scáthach, leaving out most of the sensitive details, Aife had become slightly catatonic. She had always felt a powerful rivalry towards her younger sister, who, from the time they were young girls, had excelled in everything. There were many factors that increased the tensions between them, especially when it came to Cú, but, despite having fought an actual war against each other, she never harbored hatred toward her sister, only a desire to claim victory.As a result of her incredulity, Aife ended up shaking her head, stating, "You're lying...you must be.", even though she could tell that Vahn was speaking the truth. She just couldn't accept that her sister had died, even if part of her was relieved that Scáthach finally found the peace she had sought.Vahn had been gauging Aife's reaction through the entire conversation, so, seeing how shaken the red-headed woman was, he felt slightly relieved. Scáthach had rarely talked about her older sister, as the two had spent much of their life separated from each other, so it was a relief to see that Aife still cared. Unfortunately, it was a little too early to allow her and the Lily version of Scáthach to meet, as there was no way of knowing what kind of sequelae would come about as a result.Rather than refute Aife's words, Vahn allowed his true feelings on the matter to come to the surface, his eyes showing the melancholy that still existed within his heart. This was enough to cause a light layer of moisture to cover Aife's eyes, but, other than adopting what could only be described as a pouting gesture, she didn't cry. She simply chose not to believe his words, even if, in her heart, she knew her little sister was gone.Before things could devolve any further, Vahn explained the situation surrounding Archimedes and the agreement he had reached with Shirou and Musashi. This didn't seem to matter all that much to Aife, however, at least until he added, "Your sister's legacy still exists in this world. One day, when the conflict between our two sides has settled, you will come to learn the full story surrounding her final moments. Even if you choose not to continue the fight, you must show me that you're able to live in this world without causing unnecessary harm...I will not tell you how to live, but, if it infringes upon the rights all people deserve, expect repercussions..."Though she was still honor-bound to fight for Archimedes, the fact he had already died allowed Aife to make her own decisions. She was intending to join the Empire, both as a matter of course and to ascertain the truth of her sister's death, but, after hearing Vahn's words, she realized it wouldn't be a simple matter. His words made it clear that, even if she ended up surrendering, that didn't mean she would be allowed within Avalon. She was still his enemy until she had proven herself worthy of trust, a stark contrast to how things had been done in her own era. Considering how commonplace things like treachery and betrayal had been, however, she could somewhat understand his concerns...In truth, Vahn was tempted to accept Aife into their ranks, as, with the six [Seal of Binding] he had obtained long ago, he could effectively designate himself as the Master of any Heroic Spirit. Though this required the target's acquiescence, often requiring the death of their former Master, he didn't imagine Aife would refuse his offer after her previous defeat. The only thing that prevented him from using them was the fact that his Unit Management made the item virtually useless for anything other than 'forcing' a target to obey.While it would certainly make things easier for him, Vahn felt it was important to have something like the 'Heroes Faction'. He was hoping to use them as the foundation to develop the counterpart to the Mage's Guild he intended to establish in the near future. It was important for people to feel as if they had the means to 'escape' the confines of the Empire, and, though all people would be bound by the Common Law, they could experience 'freedom' by rising through the ranks of the Mages and Heroes Guilds.Though it was possible to create the Heroes Guild using his own forces, people would be more open to the idea of joining the force that, for a time, directly opposed the Empire. This was why Vahn had encouraged Shirou to build his own faction, traveling around the world and uniting people towards a common goal. Even if this goal was to 'resist' the Empire's control, it wouldn't really matter, so long as the Common Law was still upheld.With this in mind, Vahn refused Aife's request to join the Empire before it even left her lips. She had a flashy Noble Phantasm that would leave a deep impact on people. Thus, having her on the side of Shirou and Musashi would be optimal, especially given their small numbers. There had already been instances of mutated animals reported throughout the world, so, pretty soon, 'monsters' would likely begin emerging. The people would need something to rally behind and there were few things more inspiring than seeing an entire army of crystalline warriors holding the line.Aife was unaware of Vahn's true intentions, but, with the intent of setting out to prove herself worthy of his trust, she carried a copy of the Common Law with her upon leaving the Ivory Castle. While she didn't accept the fact that Shirou and Musashi had become their de facto leaders, she still intended to meet with them, helping to convince the others. The Empire's forces were too strong for them to directly contend against, so, rather than fight an all-out war, shifting their focus to Vahn alone would save them a lot of time and effort. It was time they stop hiding in the shadows, becoming the Heroes they purported themselves to be...---Having heard the details from Shirou, Musashi, and Caenis, Atalanta quickly returned to Chang'e's Moon Rabbit Palace. She harbored little hope that Jason would actually acquiesce, but, if she could convince him that his death was assured if he didn't, he should at least 'pretend' to obey. Then, they could only hope that the Sage Dragon Emperor didn't have the means to see through Jason's usual facade, dooming them all as a result of his inability to lower himself to others.With her speed, Atalanta was able to quickly reach her destination, bounding up the steep terrain of Chang'e's territory as if it were flat ground. When she reached the top, she landed silently near the same ledge she had jumped from previously, her cat-like ears twitching as her nostrils flared almost imperceptibly. This allowed her to ascertain whether or not Jason had summoned anyone else while she was gone, something she would rather avoid due to her general dislike towards the majority of the Argonauts.Fortunately, with the exception of a considerable number of rabbits, there didn't seem to be any new presences within the palatial structure. Thus, with silent movements, Atalanta followed the wine-like aroma that always permeated Jason's body, quickly tracing the pungent fragrance back to its source.Since Atalanta produced virtually no sound while moving, Jason nearly spilled his drink after seeing her enter the periphery of his vision. As a result, he adopted his characteristic scowl, shouting, "I told you not to sneak up on me like that! Can't you wear a bell or something!?"Hearing Jason's remark, Atalanta's face formed a deep frown as, in the distant past, he had actually tried to 'gift' her a collar with a bell attached. Shortly after that, she ended up leaving the Argo, but, due to the nature of his Noble Phantasm, she now found herself accompanying the hateful man, this time with her very existence on the line.Feeling a palpable bitterness on her tongue, Atalanta glared at Jason, venomously stating, "I came back with information pertaining to the continuation of your life. Now, I don't feel like explaining it to you."With those parting words, Atalanta turned tail, alighting from the room with swift movements that were impossible for someone like Jason to follow. This left him glowering with an expression that alternated between red and white as he tried to forcibly calm himself. He knew Atalanta would just ignore him if he ended up lashing out at her, so, while he wanted nothing more than to drag her back by the tail, his reason, combined with the fact she was much stronger than him, kept him at bay.Understanding she wasn't likely to disclose the information to him, Jason turned to Medea, a tired look on his face as he said, "Go and find out what Atalanta has learned. Return to me as soon as she discloses the information to you. Don't dally...go..."With a demure bow, followed by a smile that never seemed to reach her eyes, Medea answered, "Of course, Master." Afterward, tiny, faerie-like wings appeared behind her back, allowing her to quickly follow after Atalanta, a resolute look replacing her previous smile. Since it was a matter pertaining to her 'beloved' Master's life, Medea couldn't forgive Atalanta for being so selfish as to keep the details to herself. She intended to give the cat-like woman a piece of her mind, albeit after politely inquiring about the details of her previous excursion...Knowing Medea would carry out his orders without fail, Jason released a tired sigh before plopping onto his throne and muttering, "I miss the open seas..." before closing his eyes and recalling his past glory. He missed being able to freely travel, going on various adventures with his comrades as they fought against the forces of nature to claim fame and fortune. Though some had treated his group as a band of pirates, the fact he was a King, supported by many Demigods and Heroes, gave him the moral high ground in most situations.Jason missed those simpler times, a time when City Lords and Kings would flock to the Ports every time his ship neared their cities. They would come bearing gifts of gold, wine, and other treasure, all in the hopes of requesting his assistance or preventing trouble. These offerings always gave Jason an overwhelming feeling of supremacy, as, during those days, he had been a disenfranchised prince, his throne claimed by another. Despite that, other Kings and Lords lowered their heads to him, dreading the consequences of triggering his ire...Due to his reflection, Jason didn't notice when a woman gracefully sat at his side, a jade vase in hand as she dutifully filled his cup with fragrant plum wine. This broke him free from his reminiscent state, forcing a sigh from his lips as he unhesitantly accepted the proffered cup and said, "I usually do my best not to appear weak in front of others. Thank you, Chang'e, for never looking at me with eyes filled with scorn...truly, you are a good woman...haaaaa-"Hearing Jason's compliment, Chang'e released a peal of sonorous laughter, sounding much like a gentle, soothing, bell. This brought a smile to Jason's face, allowing him to relax a bit after stressing out over the last few hours. He hated being cooped up in one place for a long period of time, but, if he had someone like Chang'e at his side, it wouldn't be all that bad. She was caring and attentive in a way that Greecian women couldn't quite match, something he was coming to appreciate more and more with each passing day.If not for their difference in status, Jason wouldn't hesitate to make Chang'e his woman. Regrettably, the current dynamic between them meant that 'he' would become hers, something his pride didn't allow. Though it might not matter to some, as the end result was pretty much the same, it was a very important distinction, at least within Jason's mind. The other party being a Goddess only made him want her even more, as, if she agreed to become his, it would elevate his status even higher...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Loki would be proud','Jason would do surprisingly well in the Record of One Piece...Cavendish, is that you!?','There is a meeting point between Pride, Hubris, Vanity, and Conceit. Jason exists at that intersection. He is basically a CN protagonist...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After Aife's attack, things became relatively peaceful within the faux Ivory Castle produced by the Moon Cell. Though a number of Attack Programs could be seen wandering in the distance, they didn't seem willing, or able, to enter within established territories. Thus, while waiting for Shirou and Musashi to return, Vahn spent much of his time idling about with Artoria, listening to reports from his Commanders, and aiding Da Vinci in her research.During this interval, the situation within the Moon Cell had been conveyed to everyone back in Avalon, including the fact that a version of Shirou had been summoned. This had come as quite a surprise to Rin and Luvia but, far more than either of them, Illya wanted to meet with her 'brother' once again.Prior to her death, Illya had been preparing to forge an alliance with Shirou and Rin, setting aside her past struggles in the hopes of spending her final days amongst her family. She knew the Holy Grail would eventually claim her life, as she had been its vessel, so it was a great tragedy that, just when she thought happiness was within her grasp, it was taken from her. Gilgamesh had slain her Servant before ultimately murdering her, all while Rin and the original Shirou were powerless to do anything but watch...Vahn promised Illya that she would be able to meet with Shirou, but, due to her nature as a Beast of Gaia, leaving the planet was out of the question. Cath Palug's existence was tied to the planet itself, so, even if Illya tried to leave, the Bounded Field surrounding the planet would prevent her from doing so. Even if she could break through it, her power would quickly fade away, much like the Gods who borrowed their 'Divine Authority' from Gaia. This was a failsafe to prevent planets from warring against each other, imposed upon them by the Root System, expressed through the various Gods of the Sun.Though he didn't completely agree with the structure of the Root System, Vahn had slowly come to understand its significance. It was difficult to create a system that allowed people to advance without limits, especially while placing restrictions on how they were allowed to act. He struggled with exercising authority over a single planet, much less an entire multiverse. As a result, he was, slowly but surely, beginning to understand why entities like Akasha and her Superiors behaved the way they did...Ultimately, just like what he was trying to do with his Empire, Vahn would have to delegate various responsibilities to other people. He would one day possess the power to govern all things, but, in exchange, he would have to sacrifice many of the things that made him happy. He imagined this was the reason why powerful Gods often created lesser Gods to govern in their stead, freeing up time for them to pursue the things that interested them. It was an exceptionally selfish thing to do, but, when you were looking at things through the lens of eternity, even billions of years of wanton philandering seemed inconsequential...As this thought crossed his mind, Vahn eyed the sleeping Artoria laying against his chest, her golden hair slightly messy as it clung to her smiling face. They hadn't had sex, as doing so inside the Moon Cell seemed rather senseless, but it didn't stop them from cuddling with each other.Seeing the smile on Artoria's face, Vahn couldn't help but produce one of his own, promising he would do everything within his power to protect, not just her smile, but everyone's. It wouldn't be easy, but, eventually, they would find the correct answer together. The Path always created a way forward, so, as the physical manifestation of the incomprehensibly powerful artifact, there were no limits to what he could accomplish...---Though not entirely unexpected, Vahn was surprised when nearly forty-eight hours had passed, yet, in spite of this, Shirou and Musashi had yet to arrive. As a result, he found himself sitting on the edge of the bulwark, Artoria at his side as they both looked out over the horizon for any sign of the group's arrival.With less than five minutes left, Vahn, with his arms crossed, began to lightly tap his bicep with his index finger. His ability to read the Flow of Fate allowed him to ascertain whether or not they were actually going to show up, but, in spite of this, Vahn continued waiting. He knew for a fact that the duo had taken his words seriously, so, based on their failure to appear, it was pretty obvious that something had happened.Once the countdown in his mind reached zero, Vahn released a small sigh before saying, "It looks like we'll have to handle this matter personally. I can't say I'm surprised...things never seem to go as smoothly as I'd like."Hearing Vahn's words, Artoria released a sigh of her own before dutifully manifesting her armor and asking, "Are we going?" in an inquisitive, yet resolute, tone.Nodding his head, Vahn answered, "I'm interested in the Moon Cell but I have no intention of just idling around here for days on end without accomplishing anything. There are many things that require my attention back on Gaia so let's wrap this up as quickly as possible."Following his words, Vahn began to levitate from the bulwark, accompanied closely by Artoria as they alighted into the sky. They had already conveyed their intentions to Gawain and Kenshin, so, even though it seemed like they had spontaneously left, the Ivory Castle was already in a state of high alert. There was even a powerful, dome-like, barrier that now protected the entire structure, courtesy of Da Vinci, so, even without their protection, the Ivory Castle wouldn't fall so easily...After ascending a few hundred meters into the air, Vahn gazed out over the 'horizon', viewing the various paths that had come into existence over the last two days. He could see a veritable ocean of Attack Programs littering the area, including many airborne enemies, so, rather than fly to their destination, he turned his eyes skyward and said, "Transfer me to the nearest foreign territory."Immediately after his words fell, Vahn found himself at the base of what appeared to be a large mountain, courtesy of the Control Program. His authority as the Chief Administrator allowed him to move freely within the Photonic Abyss, and, though he might not be able to teleport directly into someone else's territory, teleporting nearby wasn't an issue.Seeing the rather sizeable mountain, Vahn assumed the enemy was moderately powerful, but, even after expanding his domain to try and sense them, nothing appeared within his perception. This indicated they could either hide from his senses or, far more likely, they simply weren't home. As a result, Vahn teleported to the only 'interesting' location within the mountain, the mouth of a large cave that was structured similarly to the entrance of a temple.Unlike the mountain, which was covered in a layer of ice and snow, the interior was exceptionally hot, almost like standing at the mouth of a volcano. Vahn could also sense that, the deeper you went, the hotter things became, eventually reaching upwards of 15,000 degrees after reaching the heart of the mountain. Since this temperature was achieved through magical means, even the majority of Heroic Spirits wouldn't be able to tolerate the heat. Vahn, however, could even bathe in the flames of Zhūquè without being burned, so, while Artoria had started to sweat a little, he was entirely unaffected.After confirming that the mountain was, indeed, empty, Vahn scanned it with his domain one last time before saying, "It seems we missed whoever owns this place. Since there aren't even Attack Programs here, I doubt they would appreciate us snooping around too much. Let's go to the next location before returning here later on."Since she was already feeling uncomfortable near the mouth of the cave, Artoria had no qualms about leaving the strange temple behind. As a result, they took to the sky once again, moving to an area beyond the scope of the mountain territory before having the Control Program transport them to the next location.To the surprise of both Vahn and Artoria, their next destination was also a series of mountains, albeit much smaller than the 13,000m tall mountain from before. It also lacked icy peaks, instead, possessing a verdant forest of blooming cherry blossom trees, each glowing slightly. There also appeared to be a small village, reminiscent of one of the rural Japanese villages that could be found in the far north of Japan, places that still focused heavily on tradition.Since he was quite fond of cherry blossoms, Vahn found this particular territory rather appealing, but, before he could appreciate it fully, a 'pulse' of sorts emanated from the large temple located within the valley between two mountains. When this pulse struck them, Vahn found his telekinesis canceled, forcing him to fall a few meters before he was able to create a foothold within the void itself. Even this only lasted for a short period of time, however, causing him to eventually just drop to the ground alongside Artoria.With a thoughtful expression on his face, Vahn looked around the area, muttering, "This place is even closer to a Reality Marble than the false Ivory Castle. There is some kind of 'authority' that influences everyone that enters within, much like Ozymandias' and Nero's Real Marbles..."Though she had already reached a similar conclusion, Artoria nodded in affirmation, sword at the ready as she asked, "Do you think they are hostile?"Since he had already spread his domain, easily covering more than a third of the massive territory, Vahn quickly shook his head, explaining, "I'm certain the owner of this territory has already sensed us, so, based on the fact we're not already under attack, I don't think they are hostile. Rather, I get the impression we are being invited inside...?"Following Vahn's words, the trees in the surroundings seemed to shift, creating a path that was lit with tiny paper lanterns. It was actually kind of creepy, but, as it was also rather scenic, Vahn lightly hummed before extending his arm to Artoria, asking, "Shall we?"Not expecting Vahn's sudden offer, Artoria was momentarily at a loss, nearly linking her arm with his while still holding [Excalibur]. This caused Vahn's smile to widen, earning him a pointed glare from Artoria, who, despite herself, still linked arms with his. Then, even though they were clearly being baited into a trap of some sort, they enjoyed the rather pleasant scenery of the glowing cherry blossoms, complete with a large moon floating overhead in the spontaneous night sky...---While Vahn and Artoria were enjoying their moonlit stroll, a tall and curvaceous woman leaned over a reflecting pool, observing them with a thoughtful smile on her face. She was attired in what appeared to be a purple latex bodysuit, clinging to her figure and leaving little to the imagination. To conceal at least a little bit of her dignity, she had an insignia-clad cloth covering her chest, tied to her body with a rope that extended around her neck and flanks. She also had a similar cloth to cover her front and backside, but, due to the volume of her hips and thighs, this did very little to prevent the majority of people, men and women alike, from gawking.To complete her outfit, the woman wore form-fitting leather gauntlets and greaves, elevating her to the status of 'femme fatale' with the large katana dangling loosely at her hips. It, much like the woman herself, stood out quite a bit, as, instead of a normal sheath, it was largely covered in the fur of a tiger, appearing much like a tail. If not for the woman's long purple hair, tied loosely near her ankles, it would have been her third most distinguishing feature...With violet eyes that glowed within the low light of the room, the woman traced her index finger across the surface of the reflecting pool, disturbing the image as she muttered, "This must be the Sage Dragon Emperor mentioned by Shirou-chan...he certainly gives up quite the presence. And that woman at his side...she is also a Dragon? How peculiar..."For a brief moment, the woman considered whether or not she should pass judgment on the duo that had trespassed her territory, but, seeing them enjoying their moonlit stroll, she felt it would be wrong to interfere. Instead, she disturbed the surface of the reflecting pool, returning it to a neutral state as she called out, "Ibaraki-chan, we're going to have guests soon. Tell Kiyo-chan to prepare a banquet before informing the others to be on their best behavior~."In response to the woman's words, a petite figure with pale-blonde hair released a groan as she removed the large black stone slabs that had been pressing on her legs. She had been forced to sit in seiza with weights on her lap after previously upsetting the purple-clad woman. Now that she had been freed, she wasted no time in bolting from the room, answering, "L-leave it to me...!" without looking back. This caused the purple-clad woman to giggle elegantly, but, for a very brief moment, a glint flashed across her eyes as she looked toward the weight that had left a small hole in the floor...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Fine...I'll do it myself...','Into the Demon's den...','That glint though...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though a far cry from her peak capabilities, Atalanta still had A-Rank Agility, allowing her to cover vast distances in an exceptionally short period of time. She moved swifter than the wind, leaving few traces of her existence as she zipped passed various Attack Programs, the majority of which didn't even react to her presence. Only those with flight capabilities, or those designed with speed in mind, were able to trace her path. By the time they shifted from a neutral blue to a vibrant red, however, they already had arrows sticking out of their bodies, followed by small explosions that either killed or disabled them.Atalanta had always been skilled at hunting on the move, an ability that had allowed her original self to hunt down the legendary Calydonian Boar, a Phantasmal Beast created by Artemis to lay waste to the Calydonian region. She had been the only one capable of wounding the creature, a combination of Artemis' blessing, her reputed speed, and her ability to manipulate the wind to guide her arrows to their target. As a result, she drew first blood against the beast, allowing other Heroes to eventually deal a fatal blow, saving all of Greece in the process.Now, as a result of the skills her original self had polished, Atalanta moved with impunity through the Photonic Abyss, bypassing a startling amount of foes along the way. She only began to slow after seeing a massive, plesiosaur-like Attack Program in the distance, its length more than 30m. It was also capable of swimming through the air, floating several hundred meters above the ground as it bombarded the terrain with massive, reddish-black, lasers.Hunting large game always got her excited so Atlanta wasted no time in drawing her bow, shaping Wind Elemental energy into three vibrant green arrows. Before she was able to loose them upon the massive creature, however, she sensed a strange fluctuation that made her hair stand on end. In the next moment, the 30m long Attack Program was bisected in two, its individual halves slowly sliding away from each other before ultimately exploding seconds later...Atalanta had already assumed the people engaging the creature were her quarry, so, rather than let the monster's death bother her, she quickly made her way over to the site of the battle, finding three women and one man spread out over the uneven terrain. They, or at least the man, also noticed her, his pale-gold eyes glimmering with a subtle silver light as he calmly stared back at her.Though generally not fond of men, for a variety of reasons, Atalanta didn't get the same impression as usual when seeing the white-haired man before her. He reminded her a lot of Paris, a delicate boy with a gentle nature. Unlike Paris, however, the man before her gave off the impression of someone that had born heavy burdens, much like a soldier that had spent an inordinate amount of time upon the battlefield.While she was somewhat interested in the man's story, Atalanta ultimately decided to simply ignore him, turning her eyes upon the muscular woman with horse-like ears, surprising the latter by asking, "Are you Caenis?"Due to the nature of Atalanta's existence, Caenis hadn't even noticed the feline woman 'sneaking' up from behind her, causing her ears to perk up in surprise as she spun around, spear brandished as she shouted, "Who are you!?" in a higher pitch than normal.Having dashed back more than a hundred meters by the time Caenis had turned around, Atalanta just ran her fingers through her hair, answering in a dull tone, "I am Atalanta. Based on your features, you must be Caenis, correct?"Hearing Atalanta's introduction, realization donned on Caenis, followed by her spear lowering as she offered a rare smile and answered, "I remember you now...yes, you are that little brat that ran around with the Argonauts back in the day. Did Jason send you to guide us?"Though Caenis didn't get along with most people, those like Atalanta were the exception. Not only was she a woman worthy of respect, but, much like herself, Atalanta had suffered greatly as a result of both men and God alike. She knew the original Atalanta for a brief moment, and, though they had only exchanged a few words, Caenis had come to empathize with the woman's plight. As for why she hadn't recognized the famous huntress, it was due to the fact that nearly sixteen hundred years had passed since their last meeting. Back then, Atalanta also had a relatively 'normal' appearance, bereft of the feline traits she currently possessed...Sensing no hostility from Caenis, Atalanta's grip on her bow loosened slightly, followed by a slight shaking of her head as she answered, "Not exactly...? I was sent to ascertain whether or not you had malicious intentions. That coward got spooked by your killing intent and has been panicking ever since."Hearing Atalanta refer to Jason as a coward, Caenis couldn't help but release a loud laugh as she shouldered her spear and said, "That pansy would be started by his own shadow if he saw it in the middle of the night. Though I wouldn't mind leaving that man to rot on a pike, I'm not going to kill him for no reason..."Though she wasn't exactly lying, even Caenis didn't quite believe her own words, causing Atalanta to frown slightly. Fortunately, Shirou had approached, leaving Musashi and Altria to finish off what few enemies remained. The Photonic Abyss seemed to produce a functionally infinite amount of Attack Programs, but, so long as you cleared out an area, they wouldn't respawn in the same location. Thus, by clearing out an area, you could give yourself some breathing room by establishing and growing a territory.Ignoring the glare Caenis sent his way, Shirou held up his hands in a disarming manner as he stated, "My name is Shirou...Shirou Emiya. We have come with the intent to share information. Many things have changed in the last few hours. Before Jason ends up doing something that causes trouble for everyone, we wanted to meet with him and explain the new situation. Tell him that he doesn't need to worry. Unless he starts a fight, none of us have the intention of trying to harm him..."Though she didn't sense any falsehood in Shirou's words, Atalanta got the distinct impression that, if it came down to it, the pale-haired man wouldn't hesitate to kill Jason. This was a problem, as, while she cared 'very' little about the arrogant man, she didn't want to just vanish into thin air. At the very least, it was strangely comfortable staying inside the mysterious abyss every Argonaut existed within prior to being summoned, so, if possible, she wanted to avoid Jason's death.Shirou could tell his words hadn't been able to convince Atalanta, causing his smile to turn wry as he lowered his hands and added, "It's fine if you just pass on the information to him. If he just chooses to stay put, we don't have any pressing need to interfere in his life. Ultimately, the person he needs to worry about is the Sage Dragon Emperor. The latter has only given us forty-eight hours to reach a consensus. If Jason is unwilling to compromise...there is a good chance he will die a very painful and gruesome death..."Compared to before, Atalanta could hear the sincerity in Shirou's words, despite their gravitas. This made it seem like there was no room for discussion, implying that death was an absolute, impossible to avoid, outcome.With her own existence threatened, Atalanta showed a resolute expression, saying, "Tell me. I will do my best to convince him. That man is a coward who prioritizes his own survival over everything else. If he can be convinced that his death is a certainty, he should be willing to compromise..."Shirou didn't harbor much hope that Jason would actually acquiesce to the Empire's Common Law, but, as it would be unnecessarily cruel to leave him in the dark, he still explained the situation from start to finish. This left Atalanta slightly pale, her expression showing clear disbelief as it was hard to imagine someone as powerful as Shirou described. If not for the presence of Musashi, one who had easily cut down a veritable army of enemies, she wouldn't have been able to believe it...---Around the same time that Shirou was convincing Atalanta, Vahn found himself face-to-face with a woman possessing many shared features with his Shishou. It could almost be said they were twins, if not for the fact one had deep purple hair while the other's was closer to vermillion. Even their outfits were similar, with Aife wearing a skin-tight bodysuit that was sparsely covered in pale-gold plating. If not for her royal-blue cape and the small diadem she wore to represent her status as a queen, her aesthetic would have been virtually identical to Scáthach's...After the initial shock wore off, a period of time lasting less than a single second, Vahn initiated the conversation, stating plainly, "You are Aife, elder sister to Scáthach...tell me, what end did you expect, attacking my people and assaulting my fortress with such disregard? Though an honorable death is the right of everyone warrior, the fact you surrendered so quickly shows this was not your intention."Hearing Vahn's remark, Aife's face became somewhat red due to embarrassment and shame. This was always the worst part when surrendering to an enemy, as, more often than not, female warriors experienced great shame before they were finally released. She knew little about the Sage Dragon Emperor, as it hadn't been all that long since she was summoned. What she did know, however, was that he had an entire army filled with beautiful, and devout, women.Taking a few deep breaths to compose herself, Aife met Vahn's gaze without shying away, answering, "I came to meet with my sister. I had hoped to lure her out by making a scene. Unfortunately, as you can see, I seem to have overestimated myself...your forces are truly mighty, Sage Dragon Emperor..."Toward the end of her statement, Aife performed a courteous bow, as, after suffering defeat, things like titles and status meant very little. In her era, it wasn't uncommon for survivors to be stripped of their titles and land upon surrendering, the only exception being when the victorious party showed leniency. She had conquered many territories by taking advantage of this principle, gaining vassals by sparing and assimilating various clans into her own.Since Aife had a lot of similarities with Scáthach, Vahn was slightly perturbed by her elegance and the amount of emotion she displayed. Thus, in response to her praise, he took a deep breath of his own, asking, "You haven't heard from Shirou and Musashi, I presume?"Hearing the familiar names, Aife showed a contemplative expression before ultimately shaking her head and saying, "I have not personally conversed with either in recent memory. After we separated previously, I wandered around the area, slaying strange monsters before stumbling upon the mighty walls of Your Majesty's fortress. After that...well, it is as you see..."Seeing Aife draw attention to the golden accessories linked around her wrists and ankles, Vahn gave a small nod before pulling a chair out of his Inventory and saying, "Sit. This could take a while. Before that, however, allow me to explain what happened to your sister. Afterward, you will be free to go. I know of your culture and traditions, but, this is no longer your era. You are free to live as you please, so long as it does not violate the Common Law. Now, before you ask questions, allow me to explain the situation...starting with the death of your sister..."Though she had been expecting many things, hearing Vahn mention her sister's death was not one of them. As a result, Aife's mind completely blanked for what felt like several hours, unable to muster any thoughts at all as she passively listened to his recounting of events...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'I'm fast a fuck booooooi~','A meeting between a horse and a cat','RIP Aife's mind...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1445: Laying the Foundation