Bab 1346: The Value of a Promise

After a bit of deliberation, it was decided that, alongside Shiki Tohno, Vahn would be summoning Attila, Iskandar, Ozymandias, Nero, Bedivere, and, now that the current, former, Knight of the Round Table had been able to acclimate to the modern era, Lancelot.

At the time of his death, Gawain had regretted not allowing Lancelot to accompany them to the Battle of Camlann so, while he had some misgivings, he was not against calling upon his former comrade. As for Gareth, she had filled the void left by her treacherous mentor with her current Master, Vahn, and she had no intention of changing allegiances. Rather, the amount of fulfillment she got from following her new Master was something that, at times, kept her awake late into the evening...

With Galahad simply not caring in the slightest, the only opinion worthy of consideration was that of Mordred. She, however, didn't think much of Lancelot outside of a general acknowledgment that he was a powerful, albeit foolish, Knight. Since a repeat of history was all but impossible, especially with Lancelot existing as a Heroic Spirit, she didn't mind if a dozen were summoned, much less one.

This actually brought up a good point as, if he was so inclined, Vahn could summon similar instances of the same Heroic Spirit, each pulled from different, near-identical, timelines. His only reason for not exploiting this was the fact that, on a fundamental level, it just seemed 'wrong'. Exceptions could be made for people like Scáthach, as she shared a unified consciousness with versions of herself, but it would be invalidating the originality that distinguished most Heroic Spirits.

While people like Artoria might claim that they wouldn't be bothered by such things, as the ambition of the Empire preempted individual comfort, he knew it would bother her. She would, at times, stare 'menacingly' at Jeanne's, Okita's, and Lakshmibai's breasts, three girls that had very similar features to her own, albeit far more mature. If he summoned a version of her that, for reasons known only to the creator of the Nasuverse, had larger breasts, Artoria may very well be the one to pick a fight...

Since issues of status and identity would also become a problem, it was ultimately better to avoid summoning multiple instances of the same person. Though exceptions could be made in the case of Alter and Lily Class Servants, Vahn felt this was venturing into dangerous territory. Just imagining a Lily version of Scáthach filled him with a primal and inexplicable fear as it was already bad enough that he got thrashed by her adult self. He also had the distinct impression that the Lily version would be just as sensual as her adult self, making her a nightmare of promiscuity he would rather avoid.

This, of course, didn't mean he would avoid taking advantage of the Lily Class as, instead of calling upon the Iskandar that Artoria was familiar with, they had decided to summon the child version of the same Heroic Spirit. The chances of the adult Iskandar acting as he pleased were exceptionally high while, prior to his conquering days, he was known as a prodigious, kind, handsome, and, as could be expected, an ambitious yet idealistic youth.

Though he would never voice it, Vahn had a few expectations for the young Hero and, once things had started to settle, he hoped that one of his daughters may grow fond of the youth. His children really were growing quickly and, while he would never consider forcing them into anything like an arranged marriage, that didn't mean Vahn couldn't stack the deck.

Vahn feared what would happen if they ventured out into the world only to find that even the most powerful amongst humanity paled in comparison to their own strength. Most of the people that vie for their affection would be doing so with malicious intention so, if they found someone amongst the people he summoned, he could avoid interference from outside parties as much as possible...

With this in mind, Vahn had secretly invested a bit of his free time looking into the pasts of various heroes and, when the time came, he intended to summon a few to 'set an example' for the younger generations to follow. If they assumed new identities and distinguished themselves among those of a similar age group, Vahn felt the young Heroic Spirits would be able to guide future generations in a way adults simply couldn't emulate...

---

After finalizing a few details amongst the members of his Court, it didn't take long for Vahn to find himself within the Welsh Dragon's chamber, a place he was becoming intimately familiar with as of late. This time around, he had the usual entourage of Artoria, Gray, Merlin, and Da Vinci but, making a special exception, he had allowed Aoko, Arcueid, and Ciel to enter the chamber.

Each of the three girls had some form of natural resistance against the Welsh Dragon's Curse but, with the presence of Vahn and Merlin, this wasn't really necessary. As for why he had allowed them to enter the most secure region of Avalon, well, it was largely to grant Arcueid closure and Ciel some relief. The moment the two women met each other, a very solemn atmosphere spread between them and, taking even longer than the Court proceedings, Vahn's entry into the Welsh Dragon's Chamber had been delayed by the necessary clarification of a few things for Arcueid's benefit...

Needless to say, Arcueid was a little shaken to know that the first person she ever loved was about to be revived; literally days after she dedicated herself to another. Though she had long given up on pursuing him, the memories of their time together were something she had cherished, even during her self-imposed isolation...

Despite all of this, Arcueid didn't regret her decision as, no matter how much she loved Shiki, only tragedy awaited them. His Mystic Eyes of Death Perception had been slowly driving him crazy and, even if she extended his life by turning him into a Dead Apostle, the corruption of Vampiric Impulse would have resulted in the creation of a monster. She didn't want to have to kill him after being the one to prolong his life so, when the opportunity had presented itself, Arcueid abandoned her first love and sealed herself away once again.

It was Vahn that finally diverted the flow of fate, pulling her free from the endless stream of eternity that persistently threatened to drown her in its ruthless currents. He not only liberated her from the loneliness that had plagued her for centuries but, in the course of a single day, changed her fate in a way she never thought possible. Now, she wasn't even a True Ancestor anymore; her craving for the blood of others a distant memory, one she hoped to forget completely in due time.

Arcueid had so much appreciation for everything that Vahn had done that she didn't even know how to put it into words. His existence was akin to a person that had awakened someone from an endless nightmare, one which they had no hopes of freeing themselves from. He replaced the darkness, pain, and loneliness that had embodied her existence with hope, warmth, and a large number of people who, in a short period of time, showed her greater sincerity than she could have imagined. He even taught her what it meant to be a woman, something she had always feared but, deep down inside, craved...

Now, as she watched Vahn stand in the middle of an incredibly complex magic circle, Arcueid stood with her hands together; a sincere prayer for everyone's happiness emerging from the bottom of her heart. At her side, Ciel was on tenterhooks in anticipation while, opposite the blue-haired zealot, the red-haired Aoko stood with a thoughtful expression on her face. This was a significant moment for all of them, albeit for entirely different reasons. Then, with considerably less flair than expected, the light around Vahn increased in intensity before a familiar figure, one which overlapped perfectly with each of their memories...'popped' out of thin air...

---

After entering into the Throne of Heroes and isolating Shiki's name, Vahn wasn't surprised to find that the man formerly known as 'Death' qualified for the Assasin, Faker, Lily, and Alter Ego Classes. Shiki was known to use a series of small knives and daggers as his primary weapon so it would have been a little strange to find a Saber or Lancer version of him within the current time axis.

Unfortunately, due to him having died from natural causes, granting Shiki the [Transmigrator] perk and resummoning the original was a little difficult. While it wasn't much different than what he had done in the past, Vahn had seen some of the sequelae following Shiki's death, including the fact that Ciel had one of his eyes transplanted into her own with an exceptionally powerful seal.

The simple fact of the matter was that Shiki's death was too close to the current time axis as, in the case of Heroic Spirits like Mordred, there was always some 'variance' involved with the legacy. It was much easier to make changes within time periods that were closer to the Age of Gods as even Alaya had tweaked things to a considerable extent. Now, however, Vahn's presence served to stabilize the present so any small changes to recent events could have a drastic impact on the present moment...

Unsurprisingly, Vahn found that the [Transmigrator] perk itself, at least for his timeline's Shiki, wasn't even available. This was an important discovery as it meant the summoning of enemies and recently deceased allies, while not impossible, couldn't be achieved as easily as hypothesized. Rather, in order to transplant a person into his current sphere of influence, relative to the time axis, Vahn would need to prepare a vessel for them to inhabit, similar to Iris.

Vahn was once again reminded that his understanding of the Throne of Heroes was still shallow. He really needed to review the data that Da Vinci had been able to extrapolate from the information he had provided. The Throne of Heroes was one of the Empire's most powerful resources and, more so than almost anything else, he would need to understand it if he wanted to avoid tragedy.

After making a mental note to discuss his conjecture with Da Vinci later on, Vahn took a few deep breaths before his body, similar to how a cell would divide, split into two. Then, using the memories of the waiting girls, Vahn reproduced the twenty-year-old version of Shiki. The most familiar version of him would have been his sixteen-year-old self but, in order to make things easier for Arcueid, this was the simpler solution. It would also be easier for the matured spirit of Shiki to inhabit a body that was a little closer to his actual age; all while avoiding the awkward scenario of returning the twenty-eight-year-old version of himself to the perpetually sixteen-year-old Ciel's side...

Once everything was prepared, Vahn breathed out a tired sigh as he had the distinct impression that Shiki's presence would invite a fair amount of drama. Vahn didn't know what had happened to all of his former companions and harem potentiates but, with the reemergence of the young Hero, it was only a matter of time before they converged once again. After all, for reasons he would undoubtedly learn in the near future, every one of Shiki's love interests had some form of immortality.

Since he wasn't going to go back on his word, Vahn finalized his selection, transplanting the Ego of the original Shiki into the vessel he had prepared. This would undoubtedly be a jarring experience for the former protagonist as, prior to his death, Vahn knew he had shared a pretty emotional scene with his entourage. He couldn't really imagine what it would be like to believe you are dying, only to find yourself transplanted several years into the future, all while your body regressed in age...

As this peculiar thought was going through his mind, Vahn found himself back in the real world, the body of Shiki already floating in front of him. He had, fortunately, prepared clothes for the young man as, despite having been told to stay out of the summoning circle, Ciel tackled the man out of the air at the very instant his eyes opened. This caused Vahn to shake his head but, seeing the blue-haired loudly wailing in the very confused Shiki's arms, he decided not to mind it too much...

(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'At this point, I'd say Vahn is a confirmed schemer','Wibbly wobbly, timey whimey bullshit','I kind of feel bad for Shiki xD...')

https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu <-(p.atreon link)

paypal.me/Einlion

Discord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

komentar 59 komentar

Pilih

Bab 1347: Ripples

Having given in to despair, to the point she placed herself under a semi-permanent state of hypnosis, Ciel was, as could be expected, an emotional wreck upon seeing her former lover, no back from the dead. In a manner reminiscent to Illya from the previous evening, years of pain and anguish could be heard in her strained voice; tears pouring from her eyes without any signs of stopping.

Shiki was more than a little confused with everything that was happening but, while he had a lot of questions, the crying girl in his arms took precedence. He was compelled to hold her close as he gently stroked her back, coaxing her with soft words in a futile attempt to stop the endless stream of tears staining clothes he didn't remember wearing. Rather, everything about the present didn't make any sense to him as, standing behind a rather 'intense' looking man, two people he almost convinced himself were illusions stood observing him...

Seeing Shiki only spare him a momentary glance, followed by him staring toward Arcueid and Aoko in abject disbelief, Vahn was tempted to release a light chuckle. Ciel's current state made this nigh-impossible, however, so he settled on turning toward the waiting duo, saying, "Take these two to the surface. I'm certain you all have a lot to talk about. When you're finished, make sure he gets to sleep so that the memory link can activate properly."

Hearing Vahn's words, Arcueid was broken from her momentary daze, albeit much slower than Aoko who, like a phantom, appeared standing over Shiki and the crying Ciel. She had a sly grin on her face as she looked down at the confused man, musing, "You have a lot of gall to make a woman cry for you. Come, let Sensei give you a loooong talk about the meaning of propriety~".

Without waiting for Shiki's response, Aoko pulled Ciel off of him by the scruff of her outfit before dragging the confused man by his leg across the hard stone floor. It was only at this point that he gained enough wherewithal to muster up an actual response, followed by him exclaiming, "Aoko-nee, is that really you!? Please, let me go, I can walk on my own...!"

Ignoring Shiki's cries, Aoko continued to drag him, even after reaching the stairs that led to the surface. Then, only after her figured disappeared behind the bend, did she shout out, "Are you waiting for some kind of invitation, Princess!?" This brought Arcueid back to her senses and, after giving a polite bow, she too alighted from the Welsh Dragon's Chamber...

Seeing the curious group depart, Vahn had a slight smile on his face as he shook his head and muttered, "I should take better care of Bell the next time we meet...".

Without mulling over the thought for too long, Vahn turned his attention back to the summoning circle, now powered almost indefinitely as a result of a Spiritron-Link that tethered the formation itself to Maxwell's residence. Now, he didn't even have to trouble the solitary Conceptual Entity who, if left to his own devices, spent most of his time just idling about within his manor's garden...

---

Finding himself in the familiar void, Vahn wasted little time in approaching the Throne's terminal to check the Parameters, Skills, Noble Phantasms, and other aspects of the people he intended to summon. This time around, he wasn't going to let Merlin pull a fast one on him so, after searching up the name suggested by the flowery Magus, Vahn couldn't help but snort through his nose.

Seeing confirmation of his suspicions, Vahn internally retorted, ("Well, at least everyone else is the proper gender. The real question is whether or not Nero has an appearance similar to Artoria...it really wouldn't surprise me, knowing that clown...")

At this point, Vahn was absolutely certain that Merlin was messing with, not just him, but Artoria herself. Though it was all but certain that Nero had some tragic and endearing past, especially with how they were presented in history, Vahn had misgivings about summoning other Emperors. While she would undoubtedly make a great ruler, as Nero had been an Emperor beloved by their people, Vahn wasn't really trying to find people to govern humanity...

Fortunately, Nero qualified for nearly every Servant Class, the only exceptions being Foreigner and Moon Cancer. She also had an exceptionally powerful Skill, [Imperial Privilege: EX], even in her Lily form. This Skill allowed her to effectively ignore other Skill requirements and, by virtue of nothing more than their own insistence, make use of virtually any other ability, even those derived from Divinity. It was a pretty ridiculous Skill, even eclipsing Scáthach's [Wisdom of the Haunted Ground], albeit for a very limited period of time.

Such a powerful Skill obviously came with strict requirements and, the more it was used, the greater the strain on the body. Still, so long as they lacked the means to completely overwhelm her with something like a Noble Phantasm, Nero could effectively fight with the same degree of mastery as any opponent, instantly. This was a truly enviable Skill to possess and, with both Nero and Ozymandius possessing a version unique to themselves, Vahn intended to study it a bit; after all, he too was an Emperor...

Since it was all but guaranteed that Nero would cause a bit of a scene, Vahn decided to put off her summoning until the very end. For now, he would get the easier summons out of the way, starting off with the eponymous Knight of the Round Table, Bedivere. He was one of Artoria's closest allies in life and, if not for his presence, the Round Table itself wouldn't exist. For this reason, he was the undisputed first member of the Round Table, even if lacking the strength and prestige of later members, chiefly Lancelot and Gawain.

Having already checked the attributes of every Knight of the Round Table during his previous visits, Vahn didn't spend too much time perusing Bedivere's data. The purpose behind him being summoned wasn't to serve as reserve combat force but, just as he had in his life, Bedivere would now become Castle Steward within the Ivory Castle. It was a role they had yet to fill and, having already decided to summon all of the Knight of the Round Table, Vahn felt it was only fair to start with those closest to Artoria.

After confirming his selection, Vahn found himself back in the real world as the pure ether from the summoning circle began to coalesce into a figure. Before it fully formed, he gave a knowing look toward Merlin, eliciting a smile from the whimsical man who, even without laughing, caused Vahn to imagine he was. Thus, as Bedivere formed before him, Vahn interrupted the atmosphere by saying, "Artoria, you should ask Merlin about Nero's appearance. I'm certain it is a topic you will find intriguing..."

Though he had been enjoying himself previously, Merlin's face paled when Vahn unhesitantly tossed him into the deep end. He could feel the temperature drop at his side, finding Artoria was staring at him with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She didn't need a detailed explanation to know what Vahn was alluding to as there were very few things appearance-related that had any significance to her.

In an attempt to deescalate the situation, Merlin gestured in a placating manner as he said, "Now, now, there is no need for such hostility. We all agreed that Nero was a suitable-"

Before Merlin could come up with an excuse, Artoria cut him off by asking in a cold tone, "Remind me, Merlin, who was it to suggest Nero as a candidate? Who pointed out how fervently they cared for their people? My memory seems to have failed me...please, help me to remember..."

Fortunately, sparing Merlin the continued ire of Artoria, Bedivere had fully formed, attired in full battle raiment that matched the style of other members of the Round Table. What set him apart from them were his features which, rather than handsome, could be called beautiful as a result of his fair skin, angular face, leaf-green eyes, and pale-blond hair. In fact, perhaps as a result of his adulation of Artoria, Bedivere wore his hair in nearly the exact same manner, complete with a neat braided bun at the back of his head.

Seeing the somewhat familiar surroundings, combined with the presence of two 'very' familiar people, Bedivere was at a momentary loss. His first instinct had been to bend to approach his King and express his relief that they were still alive but, before his feet could move, Bedivere's eyes were drawn to his King's attire. Though this choice of garb alone didn't necessarily prove anything, there were a few noticeable aspects of the person in question that made it apparent they were anything but a King...

Since she was sensitive to the gazes of others, Artoria immediately turned her attention away from Merlin, her usual regal aura radiating out like the gentle rays of the sun. Then, causing Bedivere to question how they could have been so foolish, Artoria calmly stated, "Knight Bedivere, it is good to see you once again. You undoubtedly have many questions, all of which will be answered. For now, it is enough to know that I have always been female. Please, forgive me for keeping this from you..."

Though some people may consider it improper, Artoria had always treated her Knights of the Round Table as equals. She had no qualms about lowering her head if it was to apologize, much to the perturbance of those most loyal to her. As Bedivere fit this designation perfectly, he wasted no time in bowing even lower than Artoria, dropping straight to his knees as he exclaimed, "My King, please, do not lower your head to someone such as I. I...there are so...so many things I must apologize for. Your Majesty's words are like daggers that pierce me deeply...please, spare me this anguish...!"

Toward the end of his outburst, Bedivere had actually started to shed tears as, in his mind, having died after Artoria had been his greatest failure. History had not recorded it but, in the wake of his King's fall at the Battle of Camlann, Bedivere had watched over what he believed to be Artoria's corpse. For nearly three full weeks, he had not moved from his final post yet, instead of the death he believed he deserved; the darkness claiming his vision gave way to the present moment, one where his King was alive and well, regardless of their gender.

Even Artoria felt taken aback by Bedivere's behavior as he seemed distinctly different from the loyal Steward she had known much of her life. Fortunately, Vahn had been present from the very beginning so, while recuperating his mental energy a bit for future summons, he made a small exception, taking it upon himself to explain things to the distressed Knight. Then, as could be expected of someone who cried upon seeing their former Liege once again, Bedivere readily pledged his loyalty to the Empire...

---

While one drama was playing within the cavernous Welsh Dragon's Chamber, another had been taking place back on the surface. Here, after being pulled inside the Projection and taken into the Marble Phantasm of Arcueid, Shiki was brought up to speed on everything, his death included. This, however, wasn't a matter of importance to the mystic eyed man as, after being separated for more than a decade, Shiki was eager to know where Aoko and Arcueid had been. From them, he learned about many troubling topics, including the fact that they had both become the women of the man who had summoned him, the Sage Emperor, Vahn Aldrnari Mason...

(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Lamentation of the broken-hearted','Caught red-handed','Imagine coming back to life only to discover that two of your first crushes have been claimed by another man...')

https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu <-(p.atreon link)

paypal.me/Einlion

Discord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

komentar 39 komentar

Pilih