Chapter 1179: Concessions
After wresting back control of his body, though not before sending the [Space-Time Elemental Star] flying, Vahn released a sigh of relief when he saw a gateway of some sort open to consume what very likely may have been his most powerful attack. As it erupted in the distance, he shifted next to Artoria, supporting her slightly battered body as she stared resolutely towards the slowly receding tree nearby. It was clear she had been intending to release her Noble Phantasms to its limits as, instead of the characteristic bluish-white glow that often accompanied her attacks, small particulates of golden light had started to radiate from Excalibur's surface.
Seeing Vahn appear next to her, Artoria produced a tired and apologetic smile, remarking, "I need to learn how to fly..." Though it almost sounded rather comical to heart her say something like that in this instance, Vahn understood that she was very serious. With that in mind, he gave an understanding nod and, even if Artoria's disposition didn't really allow her to fly that easily, he knew a number of ways in which she could achieve the feat. If nothing else, he could always just forge her a pair of greaves that would allow her to create footholds in the air, at least until she was able to use [Shundo] and [Koku Shundo] on her own...
As the void-bound tree slowly dissipated back into nothingness, Zelretch and Solon could both be seen floating in the air, albeit using very different methods. The former was able to fold space, making it into a solid platform that he could freely manipulate without even having to move. As for the latter, they had angelic wings of light protruding from their back while, on their wrists and ankles, he could sense they used golden rings to stabilize themselves. Fortunately, other than staring back, neither made any attempt to press the attack and, as his instincts were no longer sounding alarm bells in his mind, Vahn assumed they had reached a temporary ceasefire of sorts.
While thinking about whether or not to press the attack himself, it became apparent that Zelretch intended to mediate the affair, shaking his head, his aged voice echoing, "This has certainly been educational. Mutual respect is possible only when both sides understand the capabilities of the other. Now that your squabble has reached an interlude, I would suggest setting the matter aside and returning to a more diplomatic method of resolving your differences..."
Though Solon didn't seem to like the way Zelretch had phrased his words, they ultimately gave an affirmative nod before stating in a voice that lacked sincerity, "I apologize for my behavior, Sage Emperor. It has been several centuries since anyone had the audacity to threaten me directly so I had become incensed as a result. Now, I understand you are not simply a blustering fool..." It was apparent that Solon wanted to go on but, after receiving a sharp gaze from Zelretch, their words began to trail towards the end as they lowered themselves to the platform. After stepping on the ground a sharp pain ran through their abdomen, the location where Vahn had stabbed through their body with his tail, but this only caused their brows to twitch before they recovered their composure.
Vahn hadn't appreciated Solon's words in the slightest but, as it was true he had provoked the rather petulant Magus, he decided to just ignore the biting remarks. When he saw the latter wince in pain after stepping onto the platform, this was the only real vindication he needed as, at least for the time being, he had no intention of exposing all his cards before the two powerful Magi. It was very possible that he could defeat Solon, especially since the latter seemed to rely largely on powerful artifacts, but it would be next to impossible to egg out anything but a pyrrhic victory against Zelretch.
Unless he locked the space around them completely, preventing even his own use of [Shundo], there was virtually nothing he could do against the wielded of the Second Magic. As this wouldn't do much to prevent Zelretch from accessing his infinite reserves of Magical Energy, Vahn would rather not face him until he was nearing the peak of Tier 4, or had stepped into the realm of Tier 5. Even then, he would need a much better understanding of Space and Time Laws if he wanted to avoid being toyed with or completely overwhelmed after cutting off his own means of escape...
Misunderstanding Vahn's silence as him being rather level-headed, Zelretch gave an approving nod before turning his attention to Artoria for a brief moment. He could tell she wasn't seriously injured or, despite his best attempts to calm the situation, it was very likely Vahn wouldn't have been very agreeable. Still, the fact that Artoria was able to essentially tank an attack that could easily wipe out a small island was rather surprising to him.
He wondered if she had been able to recover Avalon, implying that Vahn had either come to an accord with the Einzbern family or had already 'dealt' with them. Since he had seen the interaction between Vahn and Goldolf Musik, it was easy to assume both conclusions. If not for the fact that Vahn was present, he would have looked into the matter directly but, feeling that such action could alert the Sage Emperor and cause a misunderstanding, Zelretch held off his curiosity for the moment...
Now that things were beginning to calm down, it was Solon who decided to advanced things along, stating in their characteristically cold voice, "For the time being, the standing policy of the Mage's Association will be neutrality with the potential for future cooperation. So long as you do not cause unnecessary troubles to the Association, I will not interfere with your affairs. However, even if you do not follow the policies laid out by the Association, we will be forced to act if your actions threaten our interests and the ongoing ceasefire with the Holy Church. Until this matter with Angra Mainyu has been settled, you would do well to avoid causing too much trouble..."
Hearing Solon's words, essentially parroting and twisting his own, Vahn had a less than amused expression on his face as he remarked, "It is not my policy to seek unnecessary conflicts. However, that does not mean I will shy away from them. If the Mage's Association and its affiliated families cause trouble, do not blame me for taking the necessary actions to protect myself and the people in my charge. With the errant practices and deeply rooted corruption of the current system, do not pretend the blame is mine when the Arisotractic families and other factions find trouble with me."
Even before Vahn had finished speaking, Solon's gaze had become icier than before, their voice shaking a bit as they venomously stated, "You may very well be an Emperor, but that does not give you the liberty to say whatever you please...without the Mage's Association-" Before they were able to continue further, Vahn held up his hand, causing Solon's aura to spread outward rather violently when he stated, "Just remember where the accountability lays when the time comes. Don't expect me to play nice when others are proactively trying to harm me and those I have chosen to protect. If you want to be their patsy and act as the champion of corruption, that is your prerogative. Mine is to do everything I can to make the world a better place without making excuses..."
Before another fight could break out, Zelretch suddenly began laughing uninhibitedly, drawing the attention of everyone present as he mused, "You two mix as well as oil and water. Let's stop these petty attempts to offend each other and move on to more interesting matters, shall we? I'm certain everyone here has better things to do than argue over platitudes and philosophies." With that said, Zelretch gave a sidelong gaze at Solon, earning a scornful look from the latter before they ultimately looked back at Vahn and stated, "I have rarely interfered with matters outside of the Clock Tower. So long as you do not cause any damage to the properties belonging to the Mage's Association, I do not care about your squabbles with the other families..."
Though he couldn't simply accept Solon's words at face value, Vahn gave an understanding nod before answering, "That is all I can ask for. I have no desire for wanton destruction so, as long as the Mage's Association is not actively engaged in practices I do not approve of, I have no reason to seek trouble with them..." Even if he knew his words could exacerbate things further, Vahn had already decided the be transparent when it came to things like this. He hated things like human experimentation and the like so, if there was ever to be direct cooperation between him and the Mage's Association in the future, they would need to make concessions from the start.
Understanding the meaning behind Vahn's words, Solon felt like they were going to have an aneurysm as they looked toward Zelretch with eyes that said, 'are you hearing this?'. This was met with a wry smile as, knowing full-well what Vahn purported to be, Zelretch understood the Mage's Association may very well accede to his demands in the future. With the imminent emergence of Angra Mainyu, things would only become increasingly chaotic and, if the Aristocratic faction had their way, the larger Magus community would be the ones to suffer for it. This would become the catalyst for a Civil War within the Mage's Association, something that had been cooking for nearly seventy years, ever since the end of World War II and the rapid modernization that followed...
Once again playing the role of mediator, Zelretch had a tired smile on his face as he explained, "Vahn, though you certainly have ground to question the policies of the Mage's Association, you are in essence blaming the corruption of Aristocratic families on people who were never directly involved with them. The policies of the Association have always been in the interest of ensuring that Thaumaturgical practices and Magecraft are passed down to the next generation. It does not exist for the purpose of regulating the political affairs of affiliated families and the entire Magus community. If my friend here was to try and force their personal views on the various Lords that have established themselves within the Association, it would have long torn itself apart, resulting in the persecution of Magi by the Holy Church and the rapid decline of the Magus community..."
Hearing Zelretch's explanation, even though it sounded like he was shifting the blame, Vahn decided not to press the matter too much. With what he had learned from Rin and Luvia, it had been apparent from the start that the biggest source of corruption within the Mage's Association was, as could be expected, the various Aristocratic families. Though the Aristocratic faction was the most vocal, every Faculty was controlled by someone with the title of Lord, meaning they also hailed from an Aristocratic line. This included the leaders of the Democratic and Neutral factions which, at their very core, were extensions of the three more powerful 'Monarchal' families, the Barthomeloi, Trambelio, and Valualeta families.
If not for the backing of the other two most powerful families, the Aristocratic faction would have obviously squashed the Democratic and Neutral factions in their inception. Instead, they all just played a political game amongst themselves, using lesser Aristocratic families and commoners as pawns to maintain the status quo while loosely adhering to the policies set out by the Association to avoid having to be held truly accountable for their actions. After all, without the umbrella of the Mage's Association, most Magi would be hunted down by the Holy Church who, if they could get away with it, would completely bury Magecraft in the annals of history, obscuring the existence of Mystery and purporting that their version of history, bastardized from various cultures, was the singular truth.
Deciding it was best not to lay the blame entirely upon Solon, as it seemed like the latter more or less isolated themselves from the world, Vahn just shook his head, saying, "I may have said too much. Know that I will do what I can to change things without harming the interests of the Mage's Association. Though there will undoubtedly be conflict between myself and your affiliates, what I offer as compensation should more than reimburse any potential damages. As for the matter of Angra Mainyu, that is something we will have to discuss in greater detail later. I already have my own plans for dealing with his emergence..."
With Vahn taking a step back, much of Solon's excess frustrations faded away, almost to the point of causing them to sigh in relief. Instead, their expression became less dour as they also decided to take a step back, stating, "I also owe you an apology, as it was my decision that originally led to this confrontation. So long as you are not trying to active attack and weaken the Association, I will continue to observe and monitor things from a neutral standpoint. I have already given a warning to potential dissidents so, if they still seek trouble with you, that is their own prerogative, not the stance of the Association. How you deal with them is between you, so long as the battle does not involve the Clock Tower and the Spirit Tomb...now, you should be leaving this place soon. That golden-haired brat is going to cause a riot if you don't make an appearance..."
Seemingly finished with this discussion, Solon turned away from Vahn and Artoria, flapping their wings of light as they quickly alighted to the temple. This left Zelretch with a wry smile on his face, covering for his friend as he explained, "Solon distanced themselves from politics nearly twenty-six-hundred years ago. Since then, their main focus has always been protecting the interests of the Mage's Association and trying to prevent Mystery from fading away as a result of the Holy Church's machinations. They aren't the best at socializing...do not let it bother you too much..."
Understanding there was likely more to the story, Vahn gave a curt nod in response to Zelretch's words before making his way back to the elevator platform with Artoria. He wasn't that surprised when Zelretch didn't follow after them as, with how he had been urging the conversation forward, it was clear that Solon was more injured than they were letting on. The peculiar Magus was able to keep it concealed well but, as the person who had caused their injuries, Vahn knew it would they would take some time to recover fully. With the potent combination of Source Energy and Space elemental energy, it didn't matter how good your regeneration was, at least until you could purge them from your system completely...
---
As he had expected, Solon had indeed brought a prompt end to the conversation as it became increasingly apparent that they could not recover using normal methods. Now, even though they were annoyed when Zelretch appeared behind them, Solon continued the arduous process of removing their various artifacts. At the same time, they complained, "I can't believe you brought a monster like that into my garden...that man has the blood of a Dragon even more potent than the heart of that woman..." Even now, Solon could vividly remember the cold eyes possessed by Vahn during their short exchange. It was almost like looking into their own eyes in a mirror, seeing the lines of death covering their own body and feeling the fragility of their life...
While continuing to observe Solon with an unwavering gaze, something that was beginning to increasingly annoy his old friend, Zelretch explained, "There is a good chance that man may have come from the Outside. Though it can be defined by several Thaumaturgical principles, even the basic movement skills he uses are close to True Magic. I believe it would be wise to come to an accord with him in the future, forming an official alliance instead of allowing things to continue in this tense manner..." Even if Vahn didn't currently possess the power to threaten him, Zelretch felt that his potential was beyond comprehension. If he could be trained properly, it would only take a few decades for Vahn to reach a point where, with a few exceptions, there would be nothing left to rival him within this world...
Hearing Zelretch's words, Solon was slightly shaken as, if Vahn truly had come from the Outside, he was an existence they lacked the means to even comprehend. This would explain why he had no lines of death anywhere on his body, even though he didn't seem 'invulnerable' in the least. It was very likely that he possessed multiple bodies, or existed as something closer to a Divine Spirit than a being of flesh and blood. These, however, were just assumptions as, if he had truly come from the Outside, there was no way of knowing if their 'logic' even applied to him.
Feeling a powerful migraine coming, Solon released a heavy sigh while placing the [Seal of Yggdrasil] around the neck of a mannequin. Then, pulling their robe over their head, allowing their long green hair to get caught in the fabric for a short moment, Solon's fair white skin came into view. Their entire body, with the exception of their hands and feet, was covered in a series of intricate red runes that had been carved into their flesh like a full-body tattoo. Even their small and pert butt was covered in runes, causing Zelretch to smile in amusement until his eyes passed over the rather vicious wound that ran clear through Solon's body. Though Solon would even be able to regenerate from having their head or heart crushed, the wound left by Vahn's tail was still present and, periodically, small flashes of azure lightning would dance across the seared flesh...
Though they had been about to lambast Zelretch for staring at their backside, Solon ultimately huffed when the old man began looking at the wound piercing their body. Seeing the concern in his face always annoyed them so, in their characteristically icy tone, Solon muttered, "I don't need you to worry about me, you old bastard..." With that said, Solon's body expanded slightly before quickly losing its complexion moments later. Everything, including the hole left by Vahn, became covered in a greyish-brown substance, similar to unfired clay. In mere seconds, Solon's body had become almost indistinguishable from a statue which, a few seconds later, began to crack and fracture.
As this wasn't the first time he had seen this process, Zelretch had a rather plain reaction but, as he found it amusing to tease Solon after the fact, he liked to stick around until the end. Thus, in an effort to speed up the process, Zelretch tapped his cane against the ground, causing a ripple to spread through the surrounding space. The fracturing 'statue' became extremely brittle when the ripple passed through it, causing the majority of the fragments to break away while a few smaller pieces clung to the slightly moist and reddened skin of Solon. Now, though they hadn't been all that tall, to begin with, Solon looked even younger and, with their body having yet to 'harden' properly, they glared toward Zelretch as an invisible force prevented them from crashing into the floor.
Without minding the ire in Solon's eyes, Zelretch continued to smile in a slightly amused manner as he asked, "How long will you take to recover?" This caused Solon to sigh in exasperation as they shifted to a seated position and answered, "That wound was more serious than I expected. I will need to consume various treasures to accelerate my growth again...will you help me?" Even though asking for help was the thing Solon hated to do most of all, Zelretch was one of the few people they trusted as, without his intervention, they would have died like most others who had failed to reach the Reverse Side of the World during the Great Migration...
With his lips curling up at the sides, something that caused Solon's brows to twitch, Zelretch gave a curt nod and answered, "Of course. So long as you continue to pursue your ideals, I will never break my promise..." As these words left his lips, Zelretch pulled out a small golden link, tossing it through the air for Solon to catch. Since they had yet to regain full motor control, the link ended up hitting them on the forehead, causing Solon to flinch before adopting a pouting expression that caused Zelretch to smile even wider. Then, after picking up the link with their rather dainty fingers, Solon placed it near a small gap in the complex formation covering their body, absorbing the piece of pale gold into the area where their heart was located.
Though their size didn't change by much, this caused their hair, which had previously been reduced to less than a centimeter in length, to quickly grow until it reached the small of their back. At the same time, a lot of their strength came back so, rather than sit on the cold ground, Solon rose to their feet, glaring at Zelretch one last time before shimmying back into their robe, feelings of frustration in their heart due to their skin always being tender in their larval state...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Artoria wants to fly xD...','Vahn and Solon are both kind of petty','Who would have thought that the guy that can peek into infinite timelines in a voyeur...?')
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Chapter 1180: Ambitions
Unlike the ten minute ascent, the elevator ride down was significantly shorter, taking less than a minute to complete. Even then, Vahn got to experience the rather peculiar sight of seeing the space around him shrink, slowly merging with reality in a way that was difficult to comprehend. With his current understanding of Space and Time, there was no way to emulate this phenomenon as, if the space wasn't stable, it would generally collapse. Though he knew 'anything' was possible, seeing the miraculous and inexplicable feats of others was always eye-opening. Now, especially after seeing what his Laplace-self was capable of achieving with his current level of power, Vahn had an almost irresistible urge to experiment and become even stronger...
If he had faced off against Solon before his training with Scáthach or lacking [Laplace's Key], Vahn knew there was no way he would have been able to get even a temporary advantage. Even if Alaya acted as his battery, it was clear that he had only scratched the surface of what the peculiar green-haired Magus was capable of. Just their ability to grow what appeared to be this Records version of Yggdrasil had sent alarm bells ringing in his mind. Though he had managed to evade the attack by transferring through space, Vahn had the distinct impression it would be exceedingly difficult to escape the vines if they ended up binding him. With Solon having dozens of other treasures on their body, with an unknown amount of Magical Energy, the only option Vahn would have had was to try and use [Enkidu] to seal them away or, if that failed, focus on escaping.
Understanding he still needed to become much stronger, even though he was admittedly stronger than he expected to be, Vahn surprised Artoria a bit by saying, "I now have a better understanding of this world's peak. It will take some time, but I'm looking forward to reaching it..." Then, looking his Knightly companion in the eyes, Vahn smiled as he reached out his hand, removing a few strands of hair sticking to Artoria's face as he added, "Let's become stronger, together...also, change your attire before we step outside..." Though his final words spoiled the moment, Vahn would rather others not see Artoria wearing battered armor with sections of her dress torn and frayed.
With a light blush on her face, Artoria changed into the same security uniform as earlier while Vahn continued to fix her hair. Then, once she was ready, Vahn caused her ahoge to stand up straight by sneaking a quick kiss in when she was focused on trying to calm down. This caused Artoria to cough awkwardly a few times while stepping back to gain a bit of distance as she said, "Master, I'd rather you not tease me in enemy territory..." Though she had a fair point, Vahn noted that Artoria hadn't said 'not' to tease her, just to choose a more opportune moment. This caused him to remember his promise to never embarrass her in public, causing Vahn's mood to become more serious as he led the way forward, though not before allowing Artoria to collect herself...
Waiting for them immediately outside of the tower's underground corridor was a series of Golems who, even without the ability to speak, Vahn understood to be their escorts. Since he and Artoria weren't affiliated with the Mage's Tower, they weren't given the leeway to wander through the halls on their own, especially in the underground mining city of Magi's Fair. Thus, with Zelretch tending to Solon, they had been left in the care of the building's automated maintenance and security Golems, even though this could be considered a rather serious faux pas. This time around, Vahn felt it would be a waste of time to harp over such things so, instead of inflating the issue further, he just followed the Golems to the exit.
As he could already sense her long before reaching the surface, Vahn wasn't surprised by the fact that Luvia had been waiting with a fair number of faculty members, including Lord El-Melloi II, a man with pale hair that was undoubtedly Lord Animusphere, and another with maroon-brown hair who, similar to Loki, had the peculiar habit of walking around with their eyes almost fully closed. Each of the men was dressed rather fashionably, albeit with the latter wearing a rather heinous shade of green that was accented by black fur. Since he also had an angular bowler hat, Vahn felt he was an abnormal individual, even without the overwhelmingly malignant mana swirling around in his body...
Though Vahn understood the affinity of a person did not ultimately determine their alignment, he couldn't help but furrow his brows slightly when sensing this particular energy. However, as he was amongst the allies that Luvia had collected, Vahn decided not to mind the matter for the time being as he could always deal with the matter after getting a better understanding of the situation. With the Magus community in its current state, Vahn knew there were a number of individuals who used less than forthright means to obtain resources and conduct their research. Even some of the younger students he had passed along the way, 'commoners' included, had an aura of malignancy lingering around them that indicated they were not inexperienced with taking lives with malicious intent.
Shelving the matter for the moment, Vahn habitually opened his arms as Luvia, with a radiant smile on her face, ran over and practically tackled him while happily exclaiming, "My Emperor~! We were beginning to get worried that something had gone wrong...!" Though she usually put on an elegant front in most situations, Luvia's habit of completely ignoring the situation would appear when she was riled up. Thus, even though everyone present had awkward and troubled looks on their faces, she didn't care at all as she happily clung to Vahn, rubbing her cheek against his with a monstrous strength in her arms...
---
With much to discuss, and infinitely better places to carry on a conversation, it wasn't long before Vahn, Luvia, Artoria, and Gray were all riding back towards the Edelfelt Mansion. He explained what the meeting with the Director had been like, earning him an incredulous yet excited look from Luvia who, after listening till the end, happily mused, "My husband is so domineering~." When she heard that Vahn had actually been able to get an advantage against the Director, requiring Zelretch to step in, Luvia was beside herself with feelings of vindication. Just knowing the man she had chosen was already capable of such feats, even though he wasn't even at his full power, caused her body to burn up...
Not minding Luvia's 'appreciation', Vahn indulged in the feeling of her body leaning against his, even though it felt rather awkward with Gray and Artoria staring back at him. Unlike normal vehicles, the inside of this armored car had the seats facing each other, making for easier discussion while also allowing those within to avoid having their backs to each other. Some 'business' was better carried out in the back of a car in transition than elsewhere and, though Vahn had yet to see just what Luvia did to maintain her Empire, he knew she was often very busy. She had been making a lot of time for him over the last two days but, as she seemed very happy, he selectively chose to ignore discussing such things when they were together like this.
After reaching the Edelfelt Mansion, accompanied by a few other cars, Vahn and his entourage made their way to the prepared banquet. It was still early in the afternoon, nowhere near dinner time, but this entire celebration was rather prompt and, due to other time constraints, there wasn't much time to host it later. Vahn noticed that many of the foods he had been fond of during the earlier meal were present once again, indicating that one of the intended purposes behind the banquet seemed to be trying to understand his food preferences. This was a rather humorous thought but, with Luvia and her Grandmother both having rather 'peculiar' personalities, Vahn wouldn't be surprised if this was the truth.
Before he could ask about it, Luvia understood the question in Vahn's gaze as he looked around, whispering in a quiet voice, "Grandmother doesn't often appear in front of others. As the Head of the family, it is up to me to host and attend social gatherings like this. Remember, Vahn, all of this going forward is 'our' fight...if we rely on the previous generation for everything, we'll just become wastrels like the other members of the Aristocracy." Though she knew Vahn had similar principles, it was also very apparent that he spoiled his children considerably. Luvia was hoping to curb some of that behavior as, though spoiling the young is the privilege of the old, you should never give them free handouts when they are perfectly capable of achieving things on their own.
With a curt nod, Vahn continued to guide Luvia toward the head of the table, this time taking the main seat for himself to make things clear to those present. There were a number of people he had never met before and, though they had short introductions earlier, this would be his first time really interacting with his would-be allies. From his 'education' with Loki and Fortuna, Vahn knew there was no such thing as permanant allies unless you had some form of unbreakable bond or a great deal of leverage over the other party. Thus, while he could 'trust' most of the people gathered together by Luvia, at least for the moment, that could change very quickly depending on the circumstances.
Once everyone had assumed their places around the table, with the sole exception of Gray, as she had been feeling a little sick in the presence of Lord El-Melloi II and an icy beauty with brilliant blond hair and pale white skin. This woman gave off a similar vibe to how Eva tried to present herself but, rather than being a 'tsundere', it was very apparent that this woman, introduced as Lord El-Melloi II's wife, Reines El-Melloi Archisorte, was a sadist by nature. Her sharp, icy blue eyes seemed to reflect a cold light that, from experience, Vahn knew to mean she was the type who enjoyed the suffering of others. Though this didn't necessarily make her a bad person, as there were a number of functional sadists in the world, this did nothing to lessen the incongruous vibe he felt when she would cast her gaze upon him.
Though simple introductions had already been made, Luvia took it upon herself as the Hostess to rise to her feet, her disposition becoming hat of an elegant noblewoman as she stated, "It is my pleasure to host such distinguished guests, especially on such short notice. In an effort to facilitate smoother conversations, allow me to take this moment to make clear the status and association of everyone present. Though today is your first time meeting him, I'm sure everyone here is aware of the identity of this handsome gentleman~." As she spoke, Luvia gestured towards Vahn in a polite fashion, smiling radianatly as she introduced, "He is none other than the reputed Sage Emperor, Vahn Aldrnari Mason. Please keep in mind that this is not an arbitrarily assigned title and, though the details must remain a secret, trust that he is, indeed, an actual Emperor~."
As even the Association Director and Zelretch had referred to Vahn as the 'Sage Emperor', there was no great stir amongst the Aristocrats attending the banquet. For some, this wasn't even their first time meeting an Emperor so, even with such a status, Vahn wouldn't win any favors without being able to provide actual benefits. The only two people to react differently than the others were Lord Animusphere, who offered a polite bow and a smile, while Reines, showing a lack of decorum, used her arm to support her head as she mused, "I have never met an Emperor from another world, much less one with the prefix of 'Sage'. I'm curious, what does it take for someone to gain such a title...?"
With Reines interrupting her introductions, Luvia was the one to answer in lieu of Vahn, crossing her arms with a challenging look in her eyes as she stated, "My, Lady Archisorte, you would do well to remember where you are currently. Though we may have gathered here to officiate our alliance, it isn't too late to change the terms..." Still riding the high of Vahn's 'victory' against the Association Director, Luvia wasn't as lenient as she otherwise would have been in such situations. She might not be able to do anything about Vahn's current relationships but, having a married woman even think about flirting with him felt like a slap to her own face.
Hearing Luvia's words, Reines was slightly taken aback but, without letting it show on her face in the slightest, she instead giggled elegantly before musing, "So protective...I already expected as much, but the two of you are already a pair...?" As these words left her lips, Reines looked around the area, noticing only now that Gray was missing from the surroundings. From what she had heard from her husband, there was little doubt the monochromatic girl had betrayed them to shack up with Vahn.
Though Gray leaving wasn't particularly bothersome, as she had never been fond of the woman who clung to her husband like a tumor, the fact she had done so in the pursuit of another man was a small hit to Reines' pride. Now that she saw Vahn in person, it was easy to see that he was quite the catch but, having already chosen Waver as her toy, Reines thought she might be able to get even with her husband's traitorous little ward by getting a rise out of Vahn. She was supremely confident in her own looks and, so long as she could get an understanding of his character, Reines believed it wouldn't take too much effort to gain some leverage in their future alliance by forcing him into a compromising position or two...
Understanding Reines' character, Luvia adopted a somewhat haughty disposition as she emphasized her own bust while answering, "It is earlier than I intended, but I suppose there is no harm in making the announcement sooner..." Even before she had finished speaking, Luvia's smile had curled up at the ends since Vahn had understood his own cue, rising to his feet. This caused everyone else at the table to rise, as it was customary to stand when the person at the head of the table stood, allowing him to calmly and clearly state, "Luvia and I are betrothed to each other, making her the Emperess-Apparent for my Aldrnari Empire."
In response to Vahn's announcement, everyone gave a light round of applause, some offering their congratulations as a matter of politeness. As for Reines, she also lightly brought her hands together a few times without her expression changing much. At the same time, however, her mind was racing to try and see if there were any ways to benefit from the current situation. Unfortunately, the status of the Edelfelt family alone was already much higher than her's, even without Luvia being made an Empress. There were no real benefits to be gained by offending her and, even if Vahn seemed to be a somewhat licentious man from the information she had obtained, he didn't seem like the type that would be easy to take advantage of after he took a stand...
After looking at Vahn's handsome appearance for a few seconds, Reines turned her attention briefly to her own husband who, while still very handsome, had started to gain early wrinkles due to stress. He would be turning forty soon and, unless they spent part of their rather small fortune to help him maintain his youth, it wouldn't be long before middle-age caught up with him. As she was had only turned twenty-three a few months prior, Reines had often considered what it would be like when she was in her thirties while her husband was in his fifties. It hadn't mattered to her in the past but, with their daughter growing up and them making little progress towards regaining the Archibald family name, it had started to bother her quite a bit.
With Vahn purportedly being well over a hundred years old, yet appearing in his late-twenties, his body practically sculpted from divine clay, Reines felt a small amount of resentment towards Luvia and her seemingly limitless good fortune. She had been forced to fight for her position since she was only six years old yet, even knowing how much effort Luvia put in to succeed, Reines couldn't help feeling a great deal of envy towards the woman who was only four years her senior. Not only did Luvia have a family that cared dearly for her, but the greatest setback she had suffered in life was when her first love interest died in some random country in the middle east. Even then, the two had never been an official pairing so, other than losing a friend, which was very common in the Magus community, she had lived a decidedly blessed existence...
Understanding that she needed both Luvia and Vahn for her own ambitions, Reines, for what felt like the ten-thousandth time, buried her resentment in her heart. It would probably be impossible for her to take advantage of Vahn but, when it came to the politics between families, Reines was very aware that there were other benefits to be found. If he was intending to build an Empire, that meant Vahn would need Ministers, Governors, and Landed Nobles to govern his territories. At the same time, it meant there would be an Imperial Family and, though she may not be able to benefit from targeting him directly, that didn't mean other avenues were cut off.
If Vahn had a son or daughter that could be paired with her own, it wasn't impossible that their families would become relatives in the future. Since Gray would, at the very least, be a Concubine, this also meant she had a bit of leverage at the heart of the Imperial Family that could potentially bear fruit in the future. Gray was an easily exploitable woman and, after 'seducing' her husband in the past, Reines knew she would be able to collect upon that debt in the future. For now, she just needed to stay in Vahn and Luvia's good books until she had a better understanding of the situation. Depending on the circumstances, she might not even have to rely on such underhanded tactics any longer.
Vahn seemed to a steadfast and forthright individual so it could be disastrous to rely on the 'usual' methods to gain leverage against him. This also meant that, if she at least pretended to be sincere, he would likely convince Luvia to help her family even more than she otherwise would have. Then, if she continued to play her part properly, it was only a matter of time before her family was elevated once again. With that in mind, Reines slightly squinted her eyes as a more 'sincere' smile spread across her face as she gazed back at Luvia and muttered, "Congratulations, Luvia...it seems this is truly an occasion worth celebrating..."
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaace~','Luvia be like, "Jackpot ($ v $)~!"','Politics can turn children into monsters (o___o)...')
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Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
306 Power
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