As his familiarity with the world continued to grow, Vahn was quickly adapting to his new life and his new capabilities. Ultimately, the only thing that had changed since his time in Danmachi was the fact he lacked the 'benefit' of a Falna and the 'correctional' effect of his Development Abilities. Everything else remained pretty much the same as, even though he had to 'adapt' it to the new system, the basic premise behind the skills and abilities were fundamentally the same. This was the result of the Laws themselves having similar effects in most Records, especially those with comparable Tiers. Even though the Nasuverse was Tier 5, Vahn suspected that the 'pinnacle' most entities could achieve within the Root was near the peak of Tier 4, barely crossing the threshold into Tier 5.
Akasha obviously wouldn't want any entity within the experiment to become stronger than the system itself allowed. Vahn intuited that the primary reason people were even able to gain access to the Root was so that they could be 'removed' from the system after reaching the pinnacle of a certain concept. This would make them viable candidates for assisting in other experiments while helping to ensure they wouldn't become a danger to the experiment being conducted within the Root system. Unfortunately, either out of greed, or perhaps fear of the unknown, there were entities that had gone against the grain to establish themselves as pseudo-Administrators within the system. With the power they had 'stolen' from the Root, they were almost unrivaled within the system and, being unable to influence things directly, Akasha could only grit her teeth as she watched her experiment slowly fall apart...
Now that he had a better understanding of his own power within the Root, Vahn found himself considering whether or not he should treat the task assigned to him by Akasha seriously. After looking through the available quests within his Quest Function, it was at the very top of the list, possessing an SSS-Rank designation. Since Quests were graded based on the Records themselves, this meant Vahn would likely have to be near the peak of Tier 4 before he had any chance of actually completing the task. Though he would also have to determine whether or not the Seven were actually 'bad' people, Vahn decided there wasn't any reason to outright refuse the Quest so, along with two others, he ultimately accepted Akasha's task.
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[Quest: Return to the Root]
Rank: SSS
Objective(s): Ensure that Astario Vale Hoenheim(0/1), Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg(0/1), Kanada Vaisheshika(0/1), Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern(0/1), Eruru Alexis Emiya(0/1), Kyrie Alternis(0/1), and Aoko Aozaki(0/1) are returned to the Root Designation: Akasha.
Optional Objective(s): Disrupt any Holy Grail Ritual(Current:0), Remove all traces of the Akashic Verses from variable timelines(Current:0), Assist in the execution of other Type Directives(Current:0)
Rewards: 10,000,000,000OP, 1x(Proto-Archetype: ADAM), 1x(Proto-Archetype: EVE)
Failure Condition(s): Expulsion from the Record, Failure to Complete Main Objectives Before Leaving the Record
Penalty: N/A
[Repeatable Quest: Cup of Heaven]
Rank: S
Objective(s): Become a Master within the 'Holy Grail War' (0/1), Defeat the Servants of all Rival Masters(0/6), Obtain access to the Greater Grail(0/1)
Optional Objective(s): Obtain the Servant of a Rival Master(0/6), Destroy the Lesser Grail(0/1), Destroy the Greater Grail(0/1)
Rewards: 1x[Grace of the Root], 20x[Artificial-Command Seal]
Failure Condition(s): Expulsion from the Record, Death of Servant(Variable), Failure to Secure the Lesser and Greater Grails
Penalty: 1,000 Karma, Curse: [Bearer of the World's Evil]
[Repeatable Quest: The Title of Master]
Rank: B
Objective(s): Enter into a Master-Disciple relationship with any individual tied to the World's Fate(0/-)
Optional Objective(s): Convince your Disciple to become: Subordinate, Retainer, or Follower
Rewards: 100,000OP
Failure Condition(s): Expulsion from the Record
Penalty: N/A
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With the rewards for Akasha's task showing a great deal of promise, Vahn felt he wouldn't lose out if he managed to someday complete it. As for the other two Quests he had selected, they were both Repeatable and, though he wasn't sure how to travel to other timelines at the moment, Vahn was certain it would be possible in the future. Besides, with Akasha saying it was almost guaranteed that he would be involved in the Holy Grail War, Vahn figured it didn't hurt to get some extra benefits for his troubles. Even if he managed to get access to the Greater Grail, he had no need to reach the Root so Akasha shouldn't care if he took advantage of the Ritual for his own ends. As for the final Quest, Vahn knew he would undoubtedly have allies at some point and, with Rin showing increased interest in his 'True Magic', the chances she would eventually become his protege were high.
In preparation for the future, Vahn spent most of his free time meditating and creating granule-sized Elemental Stars. Since his 'Oblivion' still used a ridiculous amount of Source Energy, it was his most reliable means of draining his reserves. While they were replenishing, Vahn would focus on the [Mantra of Eternity] in order to slowly, but surely, increase the capacity of his internal reserves. He wanted to get to the point where he could realistically maintain Fenrir's standard consumption. As for Medusa, he already had the means to summon her with the aid of external items but, knowing Fenrir would probably pout if he called upon Medusa, Vahn decided to avoid summoning Medusa, at least for the time being. There was also the fact that, even more so than Fenrir, she would stand out in this world due to her unique appearance and distinct lack of common-sense...
When Vahn wasn't working to increase his reserves, the rest of his time was spent training his body as, with his status as a guide, it was easy to see that he had room to improve. Since this world didn't have the concept of gaining experience from killing monsters, he had to rely on pushing his body to the limits and slowly increasing his overall output. This usually involved using [Cantus Bellax], as he was currently incapable of using [Vis Maxima], to put an increased strain on his body as Vahn performed the same routine that Tsubaki had taught him many years prior. Though he lamented the lack of a sparring partner, it was still nice to work up a sweat in the early hours of the morning when Rin was still sleeping. He had tried to exercise during the day but she ended up 'yelling' at him when he made an off-hand remark about her gawking at him through the window...
With a subtle blue aura radiating off his body like an evaporating mist, Vahn finished completing a set of pushups before pushing against the ground and vaulting to his feet. Using the back of his arm, Vahn wiped the sweat from his brow before exhaling a tired sigh. In order to make any real progress in the development of his body, he needed to restrict the influence of [Magia Erebea] to the extreme. This required splitting his focus a bit more than his current mental power could support but, knowing it was for the best, Vahn continued to train every morning. As a result, even though it was a little hard to determine how quickly he was growing, Vahn's status had changed quite a bit since he arrived in this world...
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[Status]
Name: [Vahn Mason]
Age: 155 (Ageless)
Race: Human, Progenitor(sealed), *sealed*
Parameter: [Nasuverse: 1-5]
Strength: 32->33C
Endurance: ★
Agility: 38C+
Magical Power: 44->45B+
Good Luck: 11->13E
Circuit Quality: EX
Soul Tier: 4 (Divine Soul)
[Karma]: 100->119
[OP]: 3,141,903,713->3,141,419,213
Noble Phantasm: [Enkidu:SSS]
Origin: [?]
Skills: [Will of the Emperor:SSS], [Rakshasa Body:B], [Keeper of the Akashic Tome:B], [Eyes of Truth:A], [Chainbreaker:B], [Veil of the Traveler:SS], [Hands of Nirvana:S], [Type Omega:SSS], [Executor of Akasha's Will:SS]
Magic: [Magia Erebea:A->S], [Administrative Function: Space Lock:SSS]
Magecraft: [Magical Trigger:SSS](new), [Trace:SS](new), [Reinforce:B](new), [Gradiation Air:C](new), [Enchant:B](new), [Alchemy:E](new), [Shundo:E], [Cantus Bellax:D], [Sagitta Magicka:E], [Od Conversion:E](new)
[Magical Trigger]
Rank: SSS
Use: The activation speed of the user's Magic Circuits.
[Analyze]
Rank: SS
Use: The ability to interpret the internal structure of all constructs, including those that are Divine in origin.
[Reinforce]
Rank: B
Use: The efficiency of converting Magical Power into a form that can increase the strength, durability, and maximum output of an object, person, or place.
[Gradiation Air](A/N: Should I call this Projection instead...?)
Rank: C
Use: The ability to project physical constructs using Magical Energy as a catalyst to give form to the imagination.
[Alteration]
Rank: B
Use: The ability to infuse Magecraft into any object, person, or place. Used in the construction of Ritual Spells.
[Alchemy]
Rank: E
Use: Allows the user to use Magical Power to manipulate the flow of and structure of matter.
[Od Conversion]
Rank: E
Use: Aids in the replenishment of Od by converting external Mana into internal Magical Power.
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Under the 'tutelage' of Rin, combined with his scouring of resources from the system shop, Vahn was able to get a basic foundation in many of the thaumaturgical processes, meaning he was able to use a variety of Magecraft at will. More importantly, he was able to learn why his own reserves were replenishing so slowly as, within the Record of the Nasuverse, there was a distinct disconnect between the Mana found within the environment and what existed within people. Though this shouldn't have been a restriction for him, it was the way in which his body was converting the energy that had been the problem. Vahn had always relied on the 'correctional' aspect of his Development Abilities in his previous world while, here in the Nasuverse, he hadn't even been familiar with the concept of Od and its methods of replenishment.
On average, a normal Magus would have around 25-40 Od, depending on their proficiency and how seriously they took their training during their formative years. Geniuses like Rin, owing to her lineage and upbringing, were capable of hosting several times this amount within their bodies. Compared to the average, Rin was anywhere between 25-30 times more powerful than other Magi. If she used her Crest to push beyond her limits, she was capable of outputting as much as 1400 Magical Power, though the strain on her mind and body could put her into a coma. As for Vahn, his Magical Power parameter was actually his ability to 'convert' his Od into useable Magical Power. The problem was, his Magical Power parameter was too high for his current Od which, somewhat surprisingly, was even less than Rin's...
Though Vahn was a Tier 4 being, comprised entirely of Source Energy, his body was still bound by the restrictions of the Record he habitated. His Source Energy could certainly emulate the effects of Od, but he still required 'developing' his reserves from scratch. The only reason he had been able to get away with his rather haphazard use of spells prior to learning of this fatal flaw was due to the strength of his Soul and the ability of his body to instantly regenerate. With the [Will of the Emperor] also protecting his mind, Vahn was practically able to 'ignore' the effects of Od depletion, something that could prove fatal to other Magi.
After identifying the problem, it was only a matter of time before Vahn was able to increase his reserves to a point that other Magi could never hope to reach. Currently, his actual Od was only around 109, nearly ninety points higher than what it had been upon discovering it even existed. With his Magical Power parameter, this meant Vahn could output as much as 10,355 Magical Power, dwarfing Rin's by a great deal. Using the same means of conversion, this meant that Rin's Magical Power, which was currently impossible to quantify through the means of Clairvoyance, was an admittedly ridiculous 2. Since she was considered a 'genius', Vahn felt that the standards of the Nasuverse were much lower than he expected, at least within the timeline he found himself in...
Thus far, Vahn hadn't approached Rin in regards to 'training' her, as this likely wouldn't end well, but he was already forming a plan within his mind to rapidly increase her strength. Though he might not be able to get her into the B-Rank like himself, it shouldn't even be difficult to get her above E-Rank in Magical Power. This would increase her potential output to 2000+, all while removing the need for her to rely on the precious magic gemstones she used to compensate for her own lack of power. It was this reliance on tools, which seemed to be commonplace amongst Magi, that kept her from reaching her full potential. Since she spent a lot of her efforts on channeling her Magical Power into objects, for later use, she wasn't doing anything to actually increase her base parameters. This was why, when Vahn forged a staff for Rin's personal use, he made sure it drew directly from her Od in order to increase the output of her actual spells. If she figured out how to use it properly, Rin's Magical Power would slowly increase as her damage output skyrocketed...
Popping his joints to release their tension, Vahn then proceeded to change into a jersey to cover his torso. Since he didn't want to 'trigger' Rin by walking around without a shirt on, Vahn was trying to be considerate of his current 'proprietress'. Though he could tell, at a glance, that she was no longer a virgin, it was obvious that Rin's experience with men was limited. She was a little too conscious of the fact they lived on the same roof and, though there weren't any feelings of genuine affection between them, Vahn was aware of the way she would view him at times. Though he could avoid this by changing his form into something 'less pleasing' to look at, Vahn didn't mind the attention that much since it made her easier to tease.
Within the Manor, Vahn could smell the scent of slightly burned eggs and an almost overwhelming fragrance of butter. Shaking his head, he went towards the bathroom to freshen up by taking a short shower, washing his face, and then finally brushing his teeth. As for his hair, Vahn never bothered to comb it as, with his 'image' always being how he saw himself, Vahn's hair had a natural 'styled' appearance. It was also extremely durable, to the point that the strongest winds and the hottest flames wouldn't be able to have much of an effect on it. Even if Vahn moved around at hypersonic speeds, it would only move as if touched by a gentle wind due to its inherent tendency to keep its shape in accordance with his 'image'.
After cleaning up, Vahn went into the dining room where Rin was already seated, this time at the side of the table. She had her eyes closed, refusing to look towards him, so Vahn gave a wry smile as he sat down on the opposite side. He always kept the table between them so it was obvious that Rin sat at the side of the table to reduce the distance, even a little. Since the table was much longer than it was wide, this put them in a distance where they could casually converse without issue. At the same time, however, it meant that their feet might accidentally touch if they were restless. Though this wouldn't be an issue for Vahn, he knew Rin moved around a little 'too much' whenever she-
"Stop. Whatever you're thinking right now, don't finish it..."
In response to Rin's sudden interjection, Vahn simply smiled before using his chopsticks to sample the tri-colored mess that represented Rin's attempt to make scrambled eggs. The balance between the butter, salt, pepper, and other spices, was all over the place. Regardless of this, however, Vahn dutifully at everything on his plate as Rin scrutinized him from across the table. When he was done, Vahn set his chopsticks at the side before softly stating, "Thank you for breakfast, Rin. You have improved a lot..." He couldn't outright say it was delicious, as that would have been a lie, but Vahn knew Rin would take what she could get in this situation. She knew better than anyone that it didn't taste good so it was more than enough to hear that she was 'improving'.
With a fresh smile on her face, Rin nodded happily before musing, "Of course, I am a genius after all. Just you wait, Vahn, soon enough even Master Chefs won't be able to match the quality of my dishes~." Though she said these words with 'confidence', Rin only just now took a bite of her own food. She had been watching Vahn eat previously so she now had to experience the taste of her own dish after it had grown cold. As a result, Rin's eyes rounded slightly as her chopsticks froze in her hands, mid bite. Vahn couldn't help but smile when he saw this before 'casually' pulling a freshly brewed pot of green tea out of his Inventory. He then placed a small platter of ginger and mint at the side before stepping up from the table and saying, "I'll take care of lunch, okay...?"
Rin, having failed to swallow the food she had prepared, gave a mechanical nod in response before hiding her face and muttering, "Make a little more than normal..." as Vahn left the room. Since he knew she would be able to 'understand' what he was thinking, Vahn imagined Rin happily eating a cheesecake, eliciting a contented hum from her in response. Then, as he entered into the basement to conduct his next phase of training, Vahn tied a small bag of cookies to the door of Rin's workshop before sitting down at his workbench and picking up a metal pipe. Using his left hand, Vahn set his palm around three centimeters from the pipe's surface as he muttered, "[Analyze]..."
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Dat Quest doe...','Vahn has around a fifth of Rin's Od but can output nearly ten times the amount of Magical Power xD...','The taste of Hubris is surprisingly salty')
https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu <-(p.atreon link)
paypal.me/Einlion
Discord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE
Surprisingly, even after staying at the Tohsaka Manor for more than a month, Rin never came to him to ask for help with her own research. Vahn was actually a little surprised, causing him to feel somewhat awkward around her as he had been 'expecting' her to ask for a while now. She seemed determined to conduct her research alone and, though she would often check on him to see what he was working on, that was the limit of their interactions regarding Magecraft. The only other times Vahn met with Rin were during their meal times but, as of late, she had been rather quiet and dismissive...
Knowing Rin had many secrets he wasn't privy to, Vahn could only continue his own training as her mood continued to decline. Any attempt he had made at broaching the subject often ended with Rin holing herself up in her room, only to reappear the next day as if nothing happened. It only took Vahn experiencing this twice to stop asking about it but, even after the fact, he was still a little worried about her. He wasn't sure if her mood was related to the changing of the season, perhaps having lost someone she was close to around this time, or if it was the result of an upcoming event. Though they had become a little closer, Rin hadn't actually opened herself up to him and explained anything that happened in her troubled past. Vahn knew he could have given her a few 'pushes' to improve their relationship but, primarily as a result of his own inhibitions, he kept mum on the issue.
It wasn't until the morning of Vahn's thirty-ninth day in the Nasuverse that something changed, coinciding with the transition of the seasons between Fall and Winter. Vahn had been outside training his body when Rin, wearing a long jacket to protect against the cold, appeared outside before the sun and even risen. Bringing his routine to a stop, Vahn furrowed his brows slightly but was preempted from asking any questions as Rin said, "I'll be leaving to meet with an associate of mine from the Mage's Association. While I'm gone, you shouldn't leave the house. We can't be certain your presence hasn't already drawn the attention of some troublesome individuals..."
The last part of Rin's statement was very quiet but, regardless of whether or not she had wanted him to hear it, Vahn understood there was 'something' going on behind the scenes. He had detected a surge the Mana flowing through the earth as of late and, even without Rin drawing his attention to them, Vahn was keenly aware of the fact that people with an abnormal amount of Od had been frequenting the area. Though his senses were somewhat limited within the Manor, the result of Rin's barriers, that didn't apply when he was training in the grounds. Vahn's domain was slightly over 4km in radius so he could sense the presence of any enemies within fifty square-kilometers.
Choosing not to badger Rin, when she obviously wanted to keep things a secret, Vahn returned a casual smile to her before saying, "Take care of yourself, Rin. I'll make you something delicious when you get back..." This caused her to hide the lower half of her face within her scarf before she turned away and re-entered the Manor through the back door. As she turned away, however, Vahn's smile faded away as he placed an [Effigy of the Hero] into her purse and began to focus his mind. One of the things Vahn had been developing lately, anticipating something like this would happen, were his stealth capabilities. If he were back in Danmachi, even gods would be hard-pressed to detect him without using the Arcanum. He used to be able to blend into the natural world, hiding his presence even from animals that were right in front of him...
Waiting until Rin had left the Manor's grounds, Vahn's breathing slowed to the point that it had stopped completely. He didn't actually need to breathe but, as it would appear 'very' odd to anyone viewing him, Vahn often went through the motion of breathing, even if his purpose was usually just to draw in Mana from the outsides. Now, however, he was removing any traces of his existence that could be detected, regardless of how complex the magical formation. Rin had activated a formation that normally lay dormant, likely meant to protect the Manor while she was away, but Vahn knew it also served the dual purpose of informing her if he left. Though she knew he was far more powerful than she could conceivably hope to be, Rin still worried about him in her own way...
After a little under fifteen minutes, Vahn could sense Rin getting on a train so, even though he hadn't 'completely' erased his presence, he determined it was better to ask for forgiveness than wait around doing nothing. With that in mind, Vahn disappeared from the Tosahka Manor's backyard like a phantom, completely bypassing the proximity barrier. It wasn't until much later that he would find out that the barrier only detected things that directly passed through it, making it functionally useless against his ability to teleport short distances...
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Not even a minute after she had left her house, Rin could 'sense' that Vahn was up to something, causing her to release a sigh that kicked up a large cloud of condensation. Even in the short time she had known him, it was easy to see that he had an almost overbearing desire to 'protect' others. This behavior continually reminded her of the one person she had been desperately trying to forget and, as her troubles were just around the corner, Rin couldn't help reminiscing about the past far more than she ought to. She knew this was only making Vahn even more worried about her but, as it had been some time since someone looked at her as someone needing protection, she also felt a little gratified by his concern...
With her destination being on the far side of the City, Rin elected to take one of the earliest trains, even though she would be forced to wait a few hours once she arrived at her destination. If she waited until the early-morning rush, most of the cars would be filled to the brim, causing her to have to cram together like everyone else. As there had been a man foolish enough to try and grope her in the past, Rin preferred to avoid traveling by train when she could. Though he ended up with a broken arm and a police escort, she still felt he had deserved a heavier punishment for having the audacity to even attempt the crime...
Shaking her head to clear the distasteful thought from her mind, Rin boarded the train before moving towards the front car and taking a seat close to the door. There were only a handful of people present so she had an entire bench to herself, a trait she shared with a few other lonesome passengers. Almost as immediately as she sat down, however, Rin felt something was 'wrong', causing her mind to wander to what Vahn must be doing. This thought overlapped with her prior memory, causing Rin to, for a brief moment, imagine what it would be like if Vahn was the one who tried to grope her...
It was fortunate that she had decided to wear a scarf today as Rin was able to hide her face from the view of passengers, her twin tails concealing her profile from view. She knew Vahn didn't see her in that manner but, after living together for so long, Rin was actually a little surprised that she had even 'expected' something to happen. Since the chance of him being what he claimed to be was almost certainly true, Rin even felt a little guilty for even thinking he might be 'tempted' by her passive attempt to draw his attention. It was obvious that he wasn't even considering such thoughts as, every time they interacted with each other, it was almost as if he saw her as nothing more than a child seeking attention.
After calming herself down, Rin released another sigh before listlessly leaning her head against the cold metal pole at her side. Though she knew it was 'disgusting', and that she shouldn't be putting her face on it, Rin didn't really care about such things at the moment. She wasn't looking forward to the rest of her day, even though one of the people she would be meeting with could be considered her closest ally. They would be working together in the events to follow and, though his own power was even weaker than her own, his connections and influence would be necessary for the success of their plan.
Thinking of the nigh-impossible task ahead of her, Rin's focus became split between the past, memories that were engraved into the deepest and most sensitive area of her heart, and the future. She even humored the idea of asking Vahn for help as, with what little he had shown off, Rin knew his power would be the equivalent of a trump card in her future battles. This would, however, expose Vahn's existence to the rest of the world, especially since there would be members from all three factions trying to intervene with the upcoming even, the Holy Grail War. When this thought crossed her mind, Rin couldn't help but quiet mutter, "Has it really been ten years...?" in a melancholic voice tinged with emotion.
During the previous Holy Grail War, the fifth in a long history of bloodshed, she had barely managed to survive due to her failure to properly summon a Servant. To make matters worse, she ended up nearly losing her identity when the Archer-Class Servant, Ishtar, a literal Goddess, fused together with her body. Though this gave her an edge against most other Servant-Master combinations, it was only due to the interference of her closest companion, Shirou, combined with that of his Saber-Class Servant, Artoria, that she managed to escape her fate of dying alongside Ishtar. The foolish and licentious goddess had fallen into a rage after the appearance of a second Archer-Class Servant, Gilgamesh, the Legendary King of Heroes that had spurned Ishtar's affections in the past. Even till this day, the hole in her abdomen, where Gilgamesh had pierced her body with his hateful blade, served as a constant reminder of how close she had been to death...
Suddenly feeling a searing pain in her abdomen, Rin habitually rubbed her wound as another woman aboard the train gave her a 'knowing' look. Rin returned a polite, albeit embarrassed, smile before pulling out her phone and distracting herself with its contents. Unlike other Magi, she didn't completely shun technology as, from experience, it was easy to exploit the gaps in your opponents if you had more options available. Though she still rarely used it, primarily as a result of having few people she actively talked to, it still came in handy when she had nothing better to do. She had even started playing one of the more famous 'gacha' games that were on the market, using a bit of her vast fortune to get a few of the more adorable characters that others had to fight tooth and nail to obtain...
Before she realized it, Rin heard the train announce her stop so she stowed away her phone into her purse, hearing it hit against something 'hard' in the process. Curious, Rin opened her purse and began to check its contents, finding a strange human-shaped 'idol' at the very bottom. As there was no way she would have forgotten purchasing such a strange object, Rin allowed a small smile to adorn her face as she wondered how Vahn had snuck it into her purse. She couldn't imagine him rummaging through it while she was distracted so it was more likely that he had the ability to 'create' things at a distance. At this point, even if he tried to deny that he could use True Magic, Rin would have looked at him with an expression normally reserved for patients in a psychiatric ward...
Choosing to believe that Vahn wouldn't do anything that would bring her harm, Rin put the strange doll back into her purse before exiting onto the platform. It was much colder outside than the heated interior of the train, causing Rin to rub her palms together before adorning a pair of red gloves. It had always been her favorite color, even when she was a child, so Rin tried to incorporate the color into most of her wardrobe. It helped that high-end tailors tended to stock the color as it was the 'habit' of the upper-class to wear colors that stood out amongst the crowd. Rin didn't particularly want to draw the attention of others, even though she had already become 'immune' to having people idolize her, but she still wore predominately red clothing regardless.
After walking a few blocks, Rin once again felt something was 'wrong', causing her to turn her attention towards one of the nearby roofs. Though there was nothing there, she still continued to stare towards the sky for several seconds before finally dismissing the idea that Vahn had followed her. Even if he was overprotective, she didn't think he would actually stalk her to the other side of the City just to make sure she was safe. Thus, ignoring her own intuition, Rin continued forward until finally arriving at her destination, a small Cafe called the Lux Ravs. The sign showed that it was closed but, without minding it in the least, Rin opened the door before stepping inside. When it closed behind her, a circle of blue runes shone around the knob as a much larger formation, invisible to the naked eye, activated.
Though she had noticed the fluctuations of Mana around her, Rin could feel that there was no malicious 'intent' contained within. This was actually the same method in which she was able to sense what Vahn was thinking as, like most prominent Magi, she was very sensitive to when someone was directing their 'intent' towards her. If she lacked this capability, she would have died like many of the lesser-Magi that often become the ingredients used in the experiments of rogue Magi. As Vahn was 'literally' an existence that seemed to be comprised of Mana, at least from her perspective, Rin was especially sensitive to his presence and thoughts, even whilst sleeping...
After reaching the back of the Cafe, Rin set her purse on the floor before taking a seat at a circular table. She wasn't scheduled to meet with her allies until 8AM, so there was still well over an hour until either of them would show up. Since there weren't any serving staff within the Cafe, almost as if it had been completely abandoned, Rin pulled out a thermos of hot cocoa and a small bag of cookies from her purse. When she saw the neatly wrapped package, Rin's face naturally formed into a smile as Vahn had a habit of 'leaving' them around for her to find. He also seemed to be able to determine if she liked something as, after a month of living together, most of the treats she found waiting for her were things she relished quite a bit...
Just as Rin was beginning to regret showing up so early, a bell could be heard from the front of the Cafe as the magical formation in the surrounding 'shifted' slightly. Rin rose to her feet, preparing to greet the middle-aged man who had just walked in. He was a rather tall man, standing at 186cm, with straight brown hair that extended beyond his shoulders. There were two distinctive bangs framing the sides of his face while, at the very center of his parted hair, a thick strand clumped together like a 'point' that nearly extended past his nose. Flanking this wayward clump of hair, two piercing black eyes, set within a face that had just started to wrinkle with the passage of time, looked back at Rin with a distinctive lack of emotion.
Though their status wasn't all that dissimilar within the Magus Community, Rin still bowed politely before greeting, "Welcome to Fuyuki, Lord El-Melloi the Second. I hope your flight was a pleasant one..." This man, while having a slightly lower status than her as far as 'Family' was concerned, as her Senior within the Mage Association and one of the more prestigious Lecturers within the Clock Tower. Though he was born with low status, being only a Third Generation Mage, he had worked his way up through diligent effort and, even with lacking talent, his knowledge and resources were paramount to the success of their upcoming mission.
For the first time, Lord El-Melloi II's expression changed, a small smile breaking through the facade he wore before most others, Mages and Civilians alike. In response to Rin's greeting, he crossed his arm before placing his hand atop his heart, bowing in a gentlemanly fashion as his deep voice echoing, "Miss Tohsaka, it pleases me to see you in good health. Have you been enjoying your 'vacation' while I was away in London?"
Returning a smile of her own, Rin waved dismissively as she complained, "If I didn't have a deal with that Old Man, I wouldn't even bother returning to that dreary place. Seriously, I have no idea what possessed you to become a tenured Professor at that place that only smells like moldy books and iron." Though she said her words lackadaisically, the last few to escape Rin's mouth carried a heavier intonation that caused Lord El-Melloi II to sigh heavily before saying, "The Mage's Association is necessary to maintain the balance of the world...however, I do share your sentiment. It would be nice if someone were to breathe some fresh air into the Academy..."
As there was always a chance their current conversation could be monitored, as neither Rin nor El-Melloi had set up the meeting spot, both were speaking in code to avoid any potential trouble that might arise from a simple slip of the tongue. In truth, both were part of a conspiracy of sorts that, depending on how things developed, would replace the current Administration with Magi that were more invested in Modernization and the future. Currently, most of the most Senior members of the Mage's Association, including its affiliates, were several hundred years old. It was the consensus of many Fifth and Sixth Generation Magi that a change in the status-quo was long overdue. There were too many Magi who had failed to adapt to the times and, having amassed a ridiculous amount of wealth and power, it was almost impossible to implement any real change while they were still making the decisions...
With their introductions barely having concluded, the door of the Cafe opened once again, this time allowing a woman who fit the designation 'extravagant' to a tee. Not only was she wearing a luxurious dress that looked as if it had been stolen from the Victorian Era, she even had embroidered sleeve warmers and tall white riding boots that were adorned with solid gold buttons. Causing her to stand out even more, her hair was styled in the nigh-impossible 'drill-style' that only the highest-paid hairdressers could pull off. She even had large blue ribbons tied at the sides of her hair, dwarfing Rin's own particularly large black ribbons in size. When she laid eyes on the latter, the woman held the back of her hand towards her chin in a condescending manner as she asked, "Oh? I'm the last one to arrive? I half-expected Rin to sleep in...ohohohoho~."
Seeing her 'nemesis', Rin's face formed a deep scowl as her twin-tails seemed to move against the bounds of gravity. In a very unladylike display, she held up her right hand or, more specifically, her middle-finger as she said, "Screw you, Luvia. You're the last to show up and are already picking a fight!?" This elicited a peal of laughter from Luvia that didn't sound all that amused as she haughtily murmured, "How barbaric..." In response, Rin looked like she was about to enter a battle stance but, before things could devolve any further, Lord El-Melloi II sternly interrupted, stating, "Enough of this farce. We have not gathered here for the sake of a petty squabble...!" This caused Rin to grit her teeth in an effort to calm down but, apparently unwilling to let things lay, Luvia remarked, "Yes, Rin, please stop acting like a child so we can have an adult conversation, mmkay~?"
Immediately following Luvia's words, an explosion sounded out within the Cafe that served as the signal to a catfight that Lord El-Melloi II would later describe as, 'an event worse than the fourth Holy Grail War...'
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'I am one with the universe...','Surely he can't be 'that' overprotective...','Like Water and Oil...')
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