Capítulo 1236: Status
Unlike before, when he had been momentarily delayed by the guards placed outside of the Clock Tower, Vahn was able to freely enter without issue. He didn't mistake this as them showing him any kind of respect, however, as he could already sense what was going on within. Even if he couldn't, however, the paling complexion of Lord El-Melloi II was enough to discern that something was wrong but, rather than pointlessly voicing his suspicions, the latter could only pray that the Director intervened quickly.
It was currently near the end of February so many of the Clock Tower's students had already come back from their holidays and extended visits home. They had now resumed classes but, unlike the past, there was a palpable tension in the air as nearly half the lessons were related to combat and battle tactics. Since the fate of the world was on the line, the average student was being prepared as an expendable soldier while the most elite amongst them polished their skills further by venturing into the Spirit Tomb: Albion.
Due to his last visit, Vahn had become rather famous within the Mage's Association but, rather than show the same curiosity as before, the hallways were empty, almost as if the entire school had been placed on lockdown.
Vahn could sense the teachers and lecturers within keeping the student silent while, near the central region of the Clock Tower, a large gathering of moderately powerful individuals were waiting in the periphery. It didn't take his near-perfect imagination to realize they must have determined he would be arriving today after observing Olga visit her father alongside Lakshmibai. They were also keeping a close watch on Lord El-Melloi II so, once he began preparing for their arrival, it seemed that their enemies had done the same.
Rather than showing any fear, Vahn decided to tease the aging Magus, commenting, "It seems your prestige doesn't quite match Luvia's, Lord El-Melloi II..." This caused the raven-haired man to release a dry laugh as he replied, "I dare not compare myself to Lady Edelfelt..." Though he was tempted to say his status was much lower than an Empress, the matter of Vahn's union with Luvia was not yet public knowledge. Here in the Clock Tower, the walls may very well have ears so it was best not to banter too much.
With a curt nod in response to Lord El-Melloi II's remark, Vahn continued forward until the reached a central hall of sorts, decorated by a 10m tall statue of a Magus, complete with robes, a pointed hat with a wide brim, and an ornate staff that looked similar to a dragon. There were several halls that connected to this central hub, allowing students to quickly navigate to their next class without too much trouble. It was often occupied by members of the student body who had free time as, on one side of the wide hall, there were a few vendors that sold snacks and other foodstuffs.
Today, however, the hall was largely empty, the only exception being a woman standing with her back to the group as she looked up at the Magus statue. She stood around 160cm tall, minus the soles of her riding boots, and chestnut-brown hair. With garb reminiscent of the early victorian military-style, consisting of a white petticoat, dark-red knickerbockers, and brown riding boots. She also had a metal gauntlet on her right hand while, in her left, she was taping a batton against her thigh in a rhythmic fashion.
Adopting a smile that didn't even remotely reach his eyes, Vahn turned his head toward Kenshin and Lord El-Melloi II before giving a small nod. This caused the former to move to the front of the group as the latter, keeping the pretense of civility, stepped forward to give a polite bow, saying, "Madame Barthomeloi. His Imperial Majesty, the Sage Emperor, Vahn Aldrnari Mason, has come seeking-"
Rather than allow Lord El-Melloi II to finish, Lorelei interrupted his words by loudly swiping her baton into the palm of her gauntletted hand. She then looked back, her hazel-brown eyes reflecting a cold light as she venomously stated, "You will be silent, Waver Velvet. I have already suspended your title as Lord until my investigation has been completed. You will be placed under house arrest until your loyalty towards the association can be ascertained. Leave now, as it will be your one and only chance to do so."
Though she did not have the power to strip the title of Lord from someone, Lorelei had the authority as Vice-Director of the association to suspend the title during criminal investigations. In such cases, the title would temporarily go to the next viable candidate for Lord until suspicions could be cleared. Since Lord El-Melloi II had not named a successor yet, it would return to Reines for the time being, making it much harder for her to scheme behind the scenes unless she intended to abandon the Department of Modern Magecraft Theory.
Hearing Lorelei's words, Lord El-Melloi II took in a deep breath but, as he had already expected this to happen at some point, he did not waste his time trying to argue. Instead, he gave the pretense of a courteous bow before turning his back and sending an apologetic look towards Vahn. This earned him a simple nod in response, causing Lord El-Melloi II, now Waver Velvet, to release a tired sigh as he slowly made his way toward the exit. Though he suddenly felt an additional weight in his pocket, he didn't show any discernible signs of noticing this, understanding it was likely a parting gift from Vahn to keep him safe.
Once the sound of Waver's footsteps faded completely, Lorelei turned around with a scrutinizingly sharp gaze as she squinted her eyes and asked, "I wonder what matter has brought His Majesty to the Clock Tower? I would think an Emperor would have the basic courtesy of informing our staff of your arrival so we could properly receive you..."
As Lorelei spoke, her eyes passed over each member of Vahn's entourage and, though she was able to keep calm on the outside, the truth of the matter was that her heart was already beating rapidly. This wasn't due to her fear, however, but more so the result of her excitement after seeing so many powerful figures lined up together. Now that Vahn lost his intermediary, there were several ways in which she could spin this situation in her favor. Though it would be a hard-fought battle, she was confident her side would emerge victorious, despite the rumors that Vahn had battled against the Association Director to a standstill.
Rather than answer Lorelei's question, Vahn returned a taunting smile as he rebuffed, "How curious. To think you know of our status yet, rather than introduce yourself and try to open a civil dialogue, you attempt to goad us? I wonder if you even know what courtesy is, Madame Lorelei...?" As the last two words left his mouth, Vahn's smile curled up condescendingly, causing Lorelei's brow to twitch as she tightly gripped her baton. Though it was not incorrect to address her as Madame Lorelei, she required everyone to address her as Bathomeloi, feeling that her own name was just an attachment.
Resisting the urge to attack directly, Lorelei clenched her teeth for a few seconds before adopting a smile of her own as she stated, "I seem to have forgotten myself...very well then, Your Majesty, allow me to educate you. This humble one is known as the Head of the Bathomeloi Family, Vice-Director of the Mage's Association, and the Wizard Marshall, Bathomeloi Lorelei. Some have also taken to calling me the Queen, or the Supreme Mage of the Modern Era. You claim I lack courtesy, yet here I am, receiving His Majesty personally, despite the fact you have no authority or status to speak of within my Clock Tower, nor the Mage's Association as a whole."
Seeing how she subconsciously puffed out her diminutive chest in pride while speaking, Vahn was tempted to laugh but held it in due to the mild annoyance he felt. Though Lorelei had pointed out that he lacked any status within the Mage's Association, she had still addressed him as Majesty. It was clear that she had no intention of digging an excessively deep hole for herself, meaning she had likely been warned by Lord Barthomeloi or other sources to show due caution.
Deciding not to waste too much time, Vahn maintained his smile as he casually remarked, "A Queen, is it...? I suppose that makes you the fourth most prestigious person in this room. That is quite the accomplishment..." Then, before Lorelei could offer a rebuttal, as it was very clear she wanted to say something, Vahn added, "Our purpose here is simple. Though you may be the Vice-Director of the Association, you will have to recuse yourself from this matter as the accused. Since your prestige is without question, I'm afraid the only person qualified to handle Arbitration, in this case, is Director Solon. As I'm certain we are both very busy people, I trust you have already informed them of our arrival, yes...?"
Though some looks could kill, Lorelei seemed to lack this capability, despite attempting fervently to bore holes into Vahn's skull with her gaze. She knew that Vahn was talking down to her and, though his status could certainly be considered higher than hers, that was only if he established himself. The Emperor of a tiny nation had no power within the Association so, as the second most powerful figure in said Association, Lorelei did not appreciate Vahn's words. He even had the audacity to say she was only the fourth most prestigious person present, lowering her status even further and implying that the status of people within his Empire was inherently higher than those in the Mage's Association.
As Lorelei was considering the pros and cons of attacking Vahn within the heart of the Clock Tower, her choice was made for her as a voice other than her own answered, "I do not appreciate the fact you have once again brought trouble to my Association, Sage Emperor..."
The moment these soft words echoed throughout the chamber, Lorelei felt two sources of pressure as her face formed into a grimace. Then, along with Vahn, she turned her head toward a petite figure with green hair, overside robes, and enough accessories to fill a jewelry store display case. Next to this figure, a very tall old man, wearing formal robes and wielding an ornate cane loomed over the smaller figure like a mountain.
Before Lorelei could greet the Association Director, Vahn preempted her by adopting an informal tone as he said, "It is a pleasure to see you in good health, Director Solon and Marshall Zelretch..."
Vahn had placed emphasis on the words 'good health', causing the edge of Solon's mouth to twitch as Zelretch released an awkward laugh. Since it hadn't been that long since Vahn left Solon in a sorry state, the peculiar green-haired Magus was not at all amused by the unnecessary reminder.
With Vahn offering his greetings first, Lorelei suddenly lost the opportunity to do so as Solon quickly replied, "Tell me, what is this about?" Solon was not fond of leaving the sanctity of their temple, even if it was for official business. If not for the fact that Vahn could turn the entire premises upside down if a fight were to break out, they wouldn't bother to meddle directly. Now that Vahn had shown up a second time in just as many months, it was becoming increasingly clear that the Sage Emperor was intending to become a permanant thorn in their side.
Not missing the opportunity, Vahn immediately began explaining how the Barthomeloi family had been pressuring the Animusphere, Archisorte, and Belfeban families without just cause. He also took it upon himself to remind Solon of their own decree, stating that conflict between factions would not be tolerated. This remark earned him a grimace from the deceptively youthful Magus while, at the side, Lorelei had become red in the face as she gripped her baton hard enough to leave indents in the magically reinforced metal.
After listening to Vahn's accounting, Solon couldn't help but internally retort, ("This brat might as well accuse her of being Angra Mainyu's manifestation...haaaa..."). They then looked toward Lorelei, an admittedly creepy action considering the blindfold on their face, before turning back to Vahn and stating, "This matter does not require Arbitration. I will not vouch for the Vice-Director's methods, as I am well aware that she can be heavy-handed at times...however, as you are not affiliated with the Mage's Association, you have no grounds to make this request. Any private matters between the two of you should be settled outside of the Association, much less the Clock Tower."
Though Vahn was slightly annoyed by Solon's words, he noted that the mysterious Magus had worded things in such a way that any conflict between him and Lorelei was a personal matter, meaning she could not drag the Association into it. She also seemed to realize this as her face had paled considerably, despite the raw fury in her eyes. Now, if she tried to drag other factions into their conflict, it would constitute an abuse of the power and authority she had been granted as the Vice-Director. She could still use her own forces and connections but, if any of her actions could be traced back directly to the Mage's Association, which was preparing for war, it was the same as treason.
At this point, the baton in Lorelei's hands had lost its initial shape as she hatefully glared at Solon and Zelretch, saying in a low tone, "At a time when the affiliates of the Mage's Association should be standing together, you show favoritism to an external force...my father will not be pleased to learn of this betrayal." As the Barthomeloi were one of the oldest Magus Families affiliated with the Mage's Association, and had even been one of the main factions behind the construction of the Clock Tower itself, she could only construe Solon's actions as a complete betrayal of their trust.
Hearing Lorelei's words, Zelretch released a sigh while Solon, even with a blindfold on, was visibly angered by her words. Then, in a voice considerably icier than even Lorelei's, they stated, "You would do well to remember your place, Lorelei. There is a reason your family has never been able to stand at the peak of the Mage's Association. When you run back home, perhaps you should ask that old monster propping your family up why I'm still the Director...!?"
Now, as if Vahn wasn't even present anymore, Lorelei's focus was entirely fixed on Solon and, if they were alone, she might have even charged the diminutive Director directly. With Zelretch at their side, however, Lorelei could only grit her teeth as, despite her own Magecraft being infinitely close to the level of True Magic, she was not one of the Five Mages. Thus, after taking several deep breaths to restrain herself, she remembered the original task she had been assigned, one given to her by the very same 'old monster' that Solon had referred to.
Turning her attention back to Vahn, Lorelei surprised him by being the first to say, "You may not be affiliated with the Mage's Association, but I wish to issue a formal declaration of challenge against you. I wonder if Your Majesty has the courage to accept?" Then, seeing the mild surprise in Vahn's eyes, she added, "I'm afraid that this matter can only escalate to all-out war if we cannot settle our personal differences..."
Understanding the threat in Lorelei's words, Vahn was tempted to smile but, as this was not his battle to fight, Artoria was the one to step forward, her aura and dignity radiating through the chamber as she answered, "You lack the qualifications to issue such a challenge. Since you are nothing but a pawn acting as an extension of your family, I, Empress Artoria Aldrnari Pendragon, shall accept your challenge on My Emperor's behalf. Show me your courage, Supreme Mage of the Modern Era!"
A lot of thoughts were running through the heads of everyone present as they heard Artoria's outburst, Solon and Zelretch included. The latter then broke the silence by laughing like a madman as Solon began to rub their temples due to the sheer exasperation they felt. As for Lorelei, her mind was like a supercomputer that had just been tasked with finding a way to divide by zero. There was a lot of information running through her mind but, no matter how the circuits fired, she wasn't quite able to make sense of what she had just heard. The only thing she knew was that 'the' King Arthur had just challenged her to battle, one of the potentialities they had planned for.
As if reading from a script, Lorelei fixed her expression as she answered, "I accept your challenge, King of-" Before she was able to finish, Artoria interrupted, saying, "We are an Empress and you will address us as such. You are also incorrect in saying we challenged you, as it is clear to everyone here that you were the one to issue the challenge. As for our terms, the battle will take place precisely one month from today. Take care to prepare properly, as I will afford you no leniency after your affronts against the Empire and the underhanded means you have used to suppress others."
Lorelei's face looked like she had swallowed a fly as, without the other side challenging her, she did not have the grounds to make her intended wager. Fortunately, Artoria had set the time of their duel an entire month from now so she still had a number of cards to play. Unless the Director went out of their way to intervene, she could spread the rumor of their wager and publicize the event so that it would be difficult for them to back out. If she manipulated the information properly, she could even make Vahn and Artoria seem arrogant, claiming they were so confident in their own victory that they offered up their own allies without making any demands in return.
Thinking down this line of thought, Lorelei allowed a malicious smile to spread across her face as she gave a mock-bow towards Artoria and stated, "Your Majesty's words have been taken to heart. Trust that I will make ample preparations, as per your request..." With that said, Lorelei gave one final look toward Solon and Zelretch before snapping her gauntletted hand, a curious action until Vahn noted the strangely pliant bumps at the tips of her fingers that allowed for the necessary friction.
In response to Lorelei's snap, the fifty people who had been waiting in the periphery filed out, some sending glares toward Vahn's group while the majority had prideful expression as they pretended to ignore them entirely. Then, in neat columns, they followed after Lorelei as she quickly made her exit, her face blackened from the pure, unadulterated, wrath she was feeling.
To everyone's surprise, the only exception being a peculiar duo, Lorelei suddenly lost her footing as the heel of her riding boots miraculously came loose. With her superhuman reflexes, she avoided the fate of falling to the ground but the expression on her face became reminiscent of a baleful wraith as she looked back and glared at the smiling Solon. Since Lorelei's animosity was clear as day, they had used a simple counter-curse against her, one which would cause her to experience sudden bouts of misfortune whenever she directed animosity towards them. If not for the pacts they had made with the founding families, Solon would have already killed Lorelei for her audaciousness.
Due to her hatred of Solon peaking, Lorelei nearly lost her balance once again when she tried to remove her riding boots entirely. This time, she fell backward but, just as before, managed to catch herself before falling down. Unfortunately, despite her outfit being designed for ease of movement, the tension in her knickerbockers suddenly reached its limit, causing a slight tear in the back that made her face turn white as a ghost. Though her petticoat covered the exposed area, she had never felt more rage and embarrassment in this one moment than any point in her entire life.
Knowing things would only get worse for her if she continued in this manner, Lorelei used a simple spell to forcibly calm her mind as she quickly led her group away from the area. Since they were all personally trained by their Master, none of Lorelei's subordinates showed any sign of amusement as they dutifully followed her retreat. Instead, they allowed their own rage to pile up like coal, waiting to be ignited at a moment's notice when their Master needed it.
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Poor Waver...','Dat fourth-highest status though...','Solon is very petty for someone that has lived for nearly three millennia...')
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Capítulo 1237: Teatime Tensions
After waiting for Lorelei and her entourage to depart, Vahn, having observed Solon and Zelretch closely suddenly asked, "Did you get shorter since the last time I saw you...?" This caused Solon to lower their head as they tightly gripped their fists and answered, "That does not concern you...now, leave my Clock Tower. You only bring trouble to my doorstep..."
Vahn didn't actually need to ask in order to confirm that Solon's body had changed a lot since their previous encounter. Even though he couldn't see through all the mysteries of their body, his memory and imaging were perfect. Compared to before, Solon was a full 4cm shorter and, rather than extend down to their feet, their hair now only reached the small of their back. It was clear that their previous battle had cost Solon more than he expected, causing Vahn to feel strangely guilty, yet prideful.
Since there were other matters he wanted to discuss, Vahn shook his head, infuriating Solon further as he stated, "There are some things I wanted to discuss with the both of you. After your interaction with Lorelei, I suddenly have a better impression of you, Association Director."
Though Solon didn't seem to appreciate Vahn's words, Zelretch began to laugh openly, his aged and raspy voice echoing through the hall with its deep timbre. Then, before Solon could refuse, Zelretch roughly pat the petite figure on the back, sending them stumbling forward as he answered, "I can't speak on behalf of my friend, but I would relish the opportunity to partake of tea in the company of an Emperor and his Empress. There is much we stand to learn about each other. Perhaps, fate willing, we can even become friends in the future."
After hearing Zelretch's words, Solon turned back with what could only be described as a pouting expression as they venomously stated, "You old bastard...what are you planning...?" In response to this, Zelretch looked at Solon as if they were truly pitiable as he answered, "Can even the wise and powerful Solon no longer see reason? You do not see the benefit in befriending someone with the ability to call past Heroes into the present? Don't tell me...you've gone senile...?"
The moment Zelretch finished his words, Solon moved like a phantom before using their tiny fist to smack the back of the old man's head, shouting, "You dare!? You're the senile one, you old bastard!"
Seeing the comedy routine enacted before him, Vahn had trouble finding any words so, as the tiny green-haired figure began to pummel the willowy old man, he could only watch alongside everyone else. It wasn't until Zelretch had been left with a few visible bumps and bruises that Solon stopped hitting him. Then, as if nothing had happened, they smoothed out their robe before saying, "I have better things to do than entertain some errant Emperor..."
Despite saying this, Solon pause for a brief moment after before adding, "If it is only for the duration of afternoon tea, I will humor your presence a while longer..."
After Solon finished speaking, Zelretch lightly tapped his cane against the polished stone floor with a small trickle of blood flowing from his nose. This caused an ornate wooden door to appear out of thin air which, when opened, connected to a rather time-worn study that was filled with old books, preserved specimens, and various artifacts. It gave off a particularly ancient feeling, much like what people experienced when first stepping inside a museum or a restored building.
Vahn wasn't worried that the two were trying to trap them so, without any fear, he passed through the door and, after confirming there weren't any dangers, allowed the rest of his entourage to enter.
As the study wasn't particularly large, the presence of seven people made it feel more than a little crowded. Once Zelretch extended his hand, however, this was no longer a concern as the walls and ceiling seemed to expand outward while the bookshelves retained their size and structure. It was a strange sight to behold but, after a few seconds, there was plenty of room for fifty people, much less seven.
Showing no signs of exertion whatsoever, despite forcibly expanding Space-Time, Zelretch took it upon himself to explain, "This is my private study. When I take on a student, I generally handle much of their education here. Sadly, I haven't been able to find anyone suitable for quite a while. Forgive me if the air smells a little stagnant."
Solon, hearing Zelretch's remark about students, didn't seem all that happy as they quickly retorted, "Nobody forces you to break your students' minds. If you were serious about it, you wouldn't have any trouble rearing a plethora of capable Magi. Don't pretend others are at fault when you already know the outcome of your so-called mentorship."
Rather than refute Solon's words, Zelretch began stroking his beard with a mad glint in his eye as he stated, "What I have to teach is something that cannot be comprehended by most. I always warn my students about the dangers beforehand. Despite this, they willingly try to go against fate, knowing what outcome awaits them if they fail. Do not fault me for believing in the potential of my students, old friend. If they cannot overcome this limitation, obtaining True Magic was beyond them from the start."
Though he wasn't exactly part of the ongoing conversation, Vahn didn't agree with Zelretch's words, saying, "The failure of a student is not inherently their own. You cannot call yourself a Teacher if you willfully allow harm to befall those who have placed their trust in you. Though it may hubris on their part, it is only because you allowed them to develop such a mentality that tragedy awaits them. To blame their failures on fate disqualifies you as a Teacher, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg. There are no limits to a person's growth, so long as they are guided properly and with due consideration."
Zelretch's action of stroking his beard came to a halt when Vahn began speaking. Then, after hearing what Vahn said, he smiled with a sagely look on his face as he answered, "There is a grain of truth and wisdom in your words...Sage Emperor, indeed. I will not deny my own negligence in the matter, but, it is also true that most people cannot overcome their fate. I may be able to guide a person along a certain path, but that would never allow them to reach the pinnacle. True power can only be obtained through one's own efforts. If it is given arbitrarily, the true tragedy is what will happen to those who obstruct their path after the fact..."
Vahn knew well the dangers of what could happen if you granted others power, as it was something he actively worked to avoid. Thus, while he could not respect Zelretch as a Teacher, it was apparent that the man hadn't thoughtlessly guided his students. His sin was allowing them to walk a path he knew would destroy them, hoping he would be proven wrong. In a way, Zelretch was an expression of the person he could become if he decided to take a back seat and simply observe. He was like the half-way point between Vahn's current self, and the objective observer that was Ouranos.
Deciding there was little value in pressing the matter, Vahn gave a curt nod in response to Zelretch's words before taking a seat at the larger of the two desks furnishing the study. Things like etiquette weren't particularly important in situations like this as, in many regards, the status of Zelretch and Solon could easily rival that of an Emperor. Since Solon had already taken a seat, once again putting into perspective how small their body was, Vahn decided to simply take one of his own.
After a few awkward moments, Vahn and Artoria were seated on one side of the desk while Zelretch and Solon were seated on the opposite side. As for Kenshin, Gray, and Gareth, Vahn had pulled out a circular table for them to sit at before pulling some hot tea and cookies out for them. This didn't go unnoticed by Zelretch who, having intuitive mastery over Space and Time, couldn't help but feel a powerful curiosity towards Vahn's ability to produce items without any spatial fluctuations. Even the mana in the environment was completely undisturbed as if he was producing items, quite literally, out of thin air.
Solon had also taken note of Vahn's ability but, as their understanding of Space-Time was middling, at best, they were unaware of just how ridiculous his simple act of producing tea and cookies was. When Zelretch performed a similar feat moments later, Solon gave a small nod, believing they were similar actions, despite being several orders of magnitude apart.
Once everyone had sampled their tea, calming the awkward atmosphere slightly, Solon decided it was their place to initiate the conversation, asking, "So, what did you want to discuss? You should know that I'm not particularly fond of you. Unless it is an important matter, I'd rather you not come to my Clock Tower at all, Sage Emperor."
Hearing Solon's words, Vahn raised his brow before casually retorting, "Your brash and irresponsible behavior is the sole reason for the bad blood between us. I'm certain you have your reasons, but people like Lorelei wouldn't be able to do whatever they pleased if you took your responsibilities as Director seriously..."
Before Solon could have another outburst, Zelretch loudly cleared his throat before looking directly at Vahn and saying, "Much has transpired in this world before your arrival. It is easy to lay the blame when you lack the proper context. I'm certain you did not come here to discuss matters of the past, I believe it would be more productive if we move on to more pertinent subjects..."
As talking with Solon was like speaking with a petulant child, Vahn took a deep breath to calm down before nodding in approval. He also wanted to hurry back to Avalon so, rather than point fingers and lay blame, he directly stated, "The Empire wishes to negotiate a treaty with the Mage's Association."
Without even considering it, Solon immediately answered, "That would be impossible at this current point in time. To enter into a treaty with the Empire, the Mage's Association would have to officially acknowledge the existence of your country and its power structure. You have done nothing to merit this kind of recognition. Instead, you-"
Understanding that Solon was going to start lambasting Vahn unnecessarily, Zelretch placed his cup haphazardly on its saucer, breaking the small plate and interrupting the conversation. He then began to laugh in a pretense of embarrassment before waving his hand and causing the localized Space-Time around the cup to reverse, causing the spilled tea and broken saucer to return to their original state. Then, after smelling the aroma of tea within his cup, he mentioned, "As my friend has stated, it would be impossible to enter a treaty...at least for the time being..."
After his statement, Zelretch enjoyed the rich flavor of his tea before releasing a contented sigh and adding, "It is possible for the Mage's Association to recognize the existence of external factions and third parties. However, this is significantly different than entering an official treaty with an Empire, as I'm sure you are perfectly aware. There is also the matter of how other factions would respond if we were to suddenly enter into an agreement with a largely unknown party. It could easily destabilize the current power balance, something that is best avoided given the current predicament."
With Zelretch clearly being the voice of reason between the two, Vahn began to largely ignore Solon as he nodded his head and explained, "I understand your reasoning. However, let's not pretend that all treaties and agreements have to align with certain rules and restrictions. Even if you do not intend to publically acknowledge the existence of the Empire, this would not prevent you from doing so in private. Besides, the Mage's Association isn't a country either, even if you intend to claim the whole of the British Isles as your dominion."
In response to Vahn's words, Zelretch smiled in amusement while, at the side, Solon, aware that they were being ignored, asked in a cold tone, "What benefits does the Association stand to gain?" Since the only thing that really mattered was the terms and benefits of an agreement, not the parties who were involved, Solon dropped pretenses entirely when asking their question.
Hearing Solon's question, Vahn has a business-like smile on his face as he answered, "Despite our differences, we're all in the same boat as far as the matter of Angra Mainyu is concerned. As you are no doubt aware, the Empire has the ability to manifest Heroic Spirits and give them physical form. In the coming battle, we will serve as the vanguard against Angra Mainyu as, despite your best efforts, we all know how things will end if things stay as they are..."
If Solon's eyes had not been hidden, Vahn would have been able to see the murderous and resentful glint contained within. Despite this, there was also acceptance and indignation as, much like Vahn implied, they had no reliable countermeasure against Angra Mainyu. Rather than resist directly, the current plan involved trying to retreat to the Reverse Side of the World until things naturally fell into balance once again. This, however, had all kinds of problems associated with it as, even with their power, it was impossible to guarantee survival for extended periods of time in such an unstable and chaotic world.
Though they wanted nothing more than to cut Vahn up into tiny pieces, Solon clenched their fists hard enough for the nails to bloody their palms as they stated, "There is no guarantee your Empire would be able to put up a fight, even if you called upon history's mightiest Heroes..." Even as these words left their mouth, Solon felt awkward making such a statement as, better than most, they knew how ridiculous some Heroic figures could be.
Vahn didn't miss the uncertainty contained within Solon's voice, causing him to smile as he squinted his eyes and stated firmly, "The Empire will emerge victoriously. This can be taken as an inviolable truth as, if we cannot stop Angra Mainyu, no one can. What you can do is help us, rather than get in our way. The Mage's Association has no place in the future if they cannot even take sensible action in the present."
Understanding that Vahn was threatening them, Solon began to emit a powerful aura but, before things got out of hand, Zelretch used his cane to whack them lightly atop their head. This caused Solon to frown deeply as they rubbed their crown and exclaimed, "Are you actually buying this!?" To this, Zelretch gave a nod and, with a serious expression on his face, stated, "We do not need to bow to the Empire, but there is no sense in fighting against them. Fighting amongst ourselves will only make the destruction of the world an inevitability. If there are mutual benefits to be had, I believe it is best to discuss the matter seriously...irrespective of personal feelings."
With Zelretch speaking seriously, Solon took several deep breaths to calm themselves down before turning back to Vahn and asking, "What does the Empire offer? What do you want in exchange?"
Deciding to match the severe atmosphere with a serious expression of his own, Vahn answered, "In exchange for access to the Spirit Tome: Albion, the Empire will offer material goods and information pertinent to the Association's future development. We already have prodigious Magi like Merlin in our midst while our technological innovations would even catch the eye of the Atlas Temple. In the future, we will have history's wisest leaders, strongest heroes, and most powerful Magi among our ranks...I'm certain you can see the benefit in working alongside, not against, us..."
Solon was tempted to immediately refuse Vahn's offer, as giving them access to the most important asset of the Clock Tower was not a simple request. However, when they heard Vahn mention Merlin, their breathing began to accelerate. By the time Vahn finished speaking, Solon asked in a shaky tone, "You summoned that flowery idiot...?"
Though Vahn expected Solon to know of Merlin, he didn't expect the diminutive Magus to have such a...peculiar reaction. Even Zelretch had a distant look in his eyes, at least until he hung his head and began to rub his temples.
At this point, Artoria decided to enter into the conversation, supporting Vahn's claims, stating, "We were not the ones to summon Merlin. He had been called into this world during the previous Holy Grail War as the Ruler-Class Servant. Now, he acts as the Empire's Magus of the Court."
Vahn found it rather amusing that Artoria would go out of her way to 'deny' having summoned Merlin but, as if they had a sudden understanding, Zelretch and Solon nodded after hearing her. It was as if they had just found the missing piece of a complex puzzle, allowing them to solve the remainder in one go.
After collecting themselves, Solon stopped to consider their response for a few moments before saying, "I cannot deny that the Empire has the greatest chance against Angra Mainyu. However, the repercussions of allowing your forces access to the Spirit Tomb aren't something we can ignore. It would be seen as the Mage's Association bowing to the whims of the Empire, causing even greater instability among the affiliated families..."
Hearing Solon's reply, Vahn wasn't dissuaded at all, saying, "After this matter with the Barthomeloi family is settled, I'm certain it will be much easier to make such arrangements. For now, I will drop the matter if you are willing to arrange a meeting between the Empire and the Atlas Temple. Though they have cut themselves off from the rest of the world, I'm certain you, as Association Director, have at least some pull when it comes to communicating with them..."
Solon couldn't help but gnash their teeth in response to Vahn's words as, even though they were the Association Director, the other branches of the Mage's Association had their own power structure. It was very difficult to get them to obey directives so having Vahn mention it was very frustrating, to say the least. Still, simply acting as an intermediary wasn't too difficult. Rather than agree outright, however, they stated firmly, "I will arrange a meeting between you and Director Atlasia. Before that, you must bring Merlin to me...we have matters to discuss."
Vahn was slightly surprised that Solon had made a concession but, considering their earlier reaction, it was clear they had some kind of history with Merlin. There was clear exasperation in Solon's voice while Zelretch looked like he had aged a few years over the past few minutes. Despite this, neither seemed to hold any animosity toward Merlin, something that would have been apparent considering how easy to anger Solon was. Thus, after thinking over the matter for a few moments, Vahn nodded his head, saying, "Very well. Once you have made arrangements for a meeting with the Director of the Atlas Temple, I will have Merlin pay you a visit..."
Though they could not completely trust Vahn's word, Solon gave a nod of their own before picking up their teacup and staring at its contents, despite wearing a blindfold. This action of theirs caused a strange atmosphere to permeate through the room until, moments later, Solon finished their tea and said, "Teatime is over. I will not show you out..." After this, Solon vanished in a burst of light, leaving Zelretch behind to laugh awkwardly in response to his companion's uncouth behavior. Vahn didn't really care, however, so he just made casual conversation with the aged Magus for a few minutes before returning to the Edelfelt Mansion, retrieving Olga, and transferring back to Avalon for some much-needed rest.
(A/N: Any other chapters will be later in the afternoon. I'll be out for much of the morning so I woke up a bit earlier to get this one out before the reset. There will still be one EPIC and two Babel out by the end of the day.)
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