Though she had started off somewhat awkward, it only took a few minutes of talking about the subject she was most comfortable with for Olga to slowly relax. Since it was pretty interesting, Vahn had no trouble following along and, with his own knowledge of Astronomy, he was able to continue the conversation by asking pertinent questions. By the end of their conversation, Olga had a genuine smile on her face as, other than her father, she never really had anyone she could about Astronomy with in great detail. She had cut herself off from most of her peers in the branch families and, with students often pestering her on the same subjects over and over, it was rare for her to be able to talk about her own interests and findings...
At this point, almost everyone else in the castle was already asleep, the only exceptions being the two of them and Da Vinci. Vahn knew it had been a long day for Olga and, though she had woken herself up by talking about something that interested her, it was beginning to get late. Though it would take her some time to fall asleep, a hot bath and a comfortable bed would go a long way toward helping her achieve this goal. Then, as she drifted off into her dreams, Vahn expected she would look back on today's memories fondly, albeit with a bit of bias.
Since he didn't want to push her too much in one day, Vahn waited until there was a natural lull in the conversation before politely stating, "This conversation has been very pleasant, Olga. I can see you have a lot of passion for your research..." Then, even though Olga had a somewhat sad look flash across her eyes, Vahn rose to his feet and swept the dishes on the table away as he remarked, "It is about time for us both to retire, I'm afraid. There is plenty of time for such discussions in the future...you don't have to rush everything all at once..." As he said this, Vahn helped Olga to her feet and, taking the initiative himself, extended his arm to escort her.
The walk to the Inner Sanctum wasn't too far, around five minutes by passing through the corridors that were supposed to be used by Servants to move about the castle quietly. Vahn didn't mind using these passages for himself as, rather than walking the 'official pathways', it was much faster to take these built-in shortcuts. As for Olga, she was silent since the end of the conversation but, compared to how fidgety she was earlier, this was a drastic improvement. He knew she was still lost in her own thoughts but, as being introspective wasn't really a negative quality, Vahn just guided her toward her room at a slow and leisurely pace.
It wasn't until they reached the door to her room that Olga came back to her senses and, seeing the increasingly familiar portal, her face formed into a small frown. Then, somewhat surprisingly, Olga took a long and slow breath, mustering up her resolve to say something Vahn knew would be rather problematic. Since he didn't want to punctuate the otherwise successful evening with an event that would send her down the veritable rabbit hole once again, Vahn preempted Olga's words by casually extricating his arm and saying, "You have worked hard today, Olga. Make sure you take a warm bath and rest properly. I have other matters to attend, so I will see you later..." As he said this, Vahn lightly caressed Olga's head, an action that caused her to make a complicated expression that seemed both happy and troubled at the same time...
Not wanting to keep Vahn from his other duties, as he had already spent a lot of time and effort on her throughout the day, Olga gave an understanding nod before producing a wry smile as she said, "Don't push yourself too hard...make sure you get some rest later..." Though she committed a slight faux pas by not addressing him with any form of honorifics, Vahn genuinely didn't care about such things in a non-political scenario. Olga would undoubtedly realize her mistake while replaying these events in her mind so Vahn just continued to smile politely as he removed his hand and began to walk away. He was aware of the fact that Olga followed his retreat the entire way so, instead of just going back to his room, Vahn decided to check in on Da Vinci before getting some rest himself...
---
After Vahn's figure had disappeared, Olga entered into her room before closing the door behind her and collapsing with her back against it. Though she had put on a strong front toward the very end, her heart was beating so furiously she could feel its steady pulse in her ears. Talking with Vahn had been a lot of fun and, after everything he had done for her, even if it was all just a means of tricking her, Olga felt like she needed to repay him. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that her livelihood and future was in his hands but, instead of treating her like a 'plaything', as was far too common in these kinds of situations, Vahn treated her respectfully. Though his status was a lot higher than her own, he never held it over her and, as if he was genuinely concerned about her, went out of his way to avoid pressuring her too much when her heart and mind were in a chaotic state...
Though she wasn't sure where the certainty came from, perhaps as a result of her discussions with the other girls in the castle, Olga felt that Vahn wouldn't have refused her invitation if it was sincere. This thought caused her face to turn cherry red and, knowing Vahn had deflected so as not to put her on the spot, Olga felt an extreme giddiness that caused her brain to buzz. With this realization, Olga did just what Vahn had expected her to do, replaying their entire conversation and gauging his reactions through her perspective lens. Through this process, Olga was able to convince herself that he was being very cautious around her, not because he didn't appreciate her, but because he was concerned for her...
Using the context clues and taking into consideration each of Vahn's actions, Olga was beginning to understand how he viewed her, at least a little. From this understanding, she was able to conclude that Vahn wanted her to become a stronger and more confident person before their relationship was able to develop to the next level. Though he could make her do whatever he wanted, he was instead trying to shape her into a more 'suitable' woman, turning her into a competent ally instead of using her at his convenience. Since he had surrounded himself with women who had strong personalities, making her one of the only odd ones out, Olga felt rather ashamed of herself, even as she released a sigh of relief.
After reaching this conclusion, which ran parallel to the truth, Olga bumped the back of her head lightly against the door, looking toward the ceiling as she murmured, "So he is giving me a chance to prove my worth without pressuring me into having sex..." Since it would interfere with her work if she was constantly worried about what Vahn 'might' do to her, Olga felt like he was trying to create an environment where she was able to focus without distractions. The fact he had chosen a Magus Tower in the northeastern region of the castle, far from everyone else, seemed to lend veracity to her suspicion. Though the truth of the matter was that Vahn chose that location for no other reason than it was the highest unoccupied Magus, Olga lacked a proper understanding of the castle's layout and was prone to making assumptions...
Realizing she wasn't in any 'danger', something that seemed to be a common trait after entering into this alliance, Olga found herself lightly stroking her head. When Vahn caressed her, it made her heart flutter a bit as, not only was his gentle action very comfortable but having such a handsome person smiling at her was a burden of its own. When Olga had first seen Vahn, she had experienced a great shock as, during all of their discussions, neither Rin nor Luvia had mentioned his appearance. At the time, it didn't really matter to Olga as, having prepared herself to marry Allard, her expectations for her partner being handsome had been buried. Since Vahn was an abnormally handsome man, Olga couldn't deny that her maidenly heart had been heavily impacted the first time he smiled toward her.
Remembering their first meeting, and all the subsequent times she had embarrassed herself, Olga's face became gradually redder. Then, deciding that sitting against her door was also embarrassing, Olga decided to follow Vahn's advice, rising somewhat unsteadily to her feet. She was actually very tired so, the moment Olga started thinking about relaxing, it felt like her fatigue had caught up with her. She began the rather tiresome process of unfastening all the clasps and buttons of her attire, letting the garments drop almost silently against the thick red carpet of her room. With the exposed areas of the floor formed from an ivory white stone, accented with literal gold and covered from floor to ceiling in complex magical formations, she couldn't even fathom how expensive such a room would cost in the outside world...
With the rest of her clothes discard, Olga stepped into the bathroom wearing nothing but a set of pale yellow lingerie which, if Vahn had seen, would undoubtedly match his expectations of 'battle underwear'. Though not made from lace, Olga's brassier and panties were formed from high-end silks that, while comfortable, weren't exactly practical due to how quickly they would wear out. As she still had the expectation that Vahn might make a move on her at any point, Olga had at least wanted to be 'prepared' since, more often than not, she wore rather plain and cheap lingerie due to her family's finances...
Seeing her reflection in the crystalline silver mirror, Olga spent a bit of time looking herself over before undoing the braid on the left side of her head. She felt her figure wasn't that bad and, though she didn't exercise as much as she should, her dietary habits gave her a lean and lithe body. With her uncommon hair and eye color, Olga felt that she would stand out amongst even other beautiful girls her own age. However, when comparing herself to the other women around Vahn, Olga's confidence couldn't help taking a nosedive.
Though she felt as if her body was more developed than women like Artoria and Gray, Olga didn't think she even came close to matching up against their almost ethereal beauty. As for girls like Fenrir, Medusa, and Circe, they had an exotic appeal and, though the former two didn't have the most amazing figures, they had traits that made them stand out greatly. Circe's case was even harder to draw a direct comparison to as, not only did she have exotic traits, but her beauty, especially with her choice of apparel and her long pink hair, wasn't something that could be matched by mortals...
For a brief moment, Olga thought about how she might compare to women like Lakshmibai but, as soon as that thought crossed her mind, she released a heavy sigh. Following this, Olga decided it would only upset her if she spent too much time trying to mulling over her own looks. Since Vahn had shown an appreciative smile during their first meeting, something that had been carved into her heart and mind, Olga felt it didn't really matter how she stacked up against the others. She had her own strengths and, as Vahn had given her the opportunity to improve herself and make a positive impression on him, it didn't matter if she might only be a pretty tulip amongst extravagant roses...
With that thought in mind, Olga unfasted the clasp of her brassiere before slipping out of her panties, finding that the latter had a rather embarrassing stain in the fabric. Then, after giving her body one last look in the mirror, Olga turned the gem-like knobs that controlled the water that flowed into the bath. Instead of a single faucet, there were a total of ten holes located around the large marble bathtub that was covered in smooth enamel. Water would pour out of these holes, filling up the oversized bathtub with warm water over the course of a short twenty seconds. Olga found this rather extravagant and, with the bath itself having enough room to easily accommodate three people, it almost felt like basking in a small pool as she slid down the gentle slope and relaxed her tired body in the warm water...
Now that she was relaxed, Olga felt a sudden bout of tiredness that, with the warm water wrapping around her body like a comfortable blanket, caused her to briefly doze off. Though it was only for a short while, Olga had startled away moments later after sinking further into the bath and swallowing a mouthful of water. With how tired she was feeling, Olga was suddenly glad that Vahn had decided to excuse himself instead of allowing her to invite him inside. Based on how long he had been away with Luvia, Olga had the impression that he was something of a 'beast' in the bedroom, one of the wayward thoughts that had fueled her delusional mentality.
As just the thought of passing out during her first time was both embarrassing and extremely rude, Olga was glad she had been given a bit of leeway to prepare herself. Though she had taken up yoga a few years ago, she decided it would be a good idea to exercise her body a bit when she wasn't busy with her research. She knew that even Mordred and Sakura were training hard for several hours so, as a mature adult, it would be awkward if they accused her of being lazy. Since it would also be quite embarrassing for the two children to become stronger than her, Olga felt driven to increase the strength of her own body. Reinforcement wasn't exactly her specialization but, even excluding the 'Heroes' Vahn had summoned, it shouldn't be difficult to seek advice from Luvia and Rin...
The thought of physical training wasn't exactly pleasant, as she had somewhat abhored the laborious act in the past, Olga wanted to better herself in an effort to receive Vahn's approval. Every time she remembered his praise, Olga's heart would begin to beat a little faster. Since his only expectation for her was that she was working hard, something Olga felt like she had always done, she was looking forward to being praised in the future. It was a little embarrassing to have her head pat, as it made her feel like a child, but this was a tolerable offense if they were alone. She certainly wasn't going to ask him to stop as, even now, the memory of Vahn's pleasant caress brought a small smile to Olga's face...
---
After leaving Olga to her own thoughts, Vahn made his way to the hidden door in the Armory of Camelot, making his way down to the Workshop he and Da Vinci shared. He found the latter in the main workshop, meaning she had completed her earlier work and moved on to something else to occupy her time. Since she didn't require sleep, Da Vinci could work for days on end and, unless Vahn had her take breaks, there was a good chance she never would. It was hard to imagine how she had functioned as a 'normal' human but, considering it was Da Vinci he was talking about, she hadn't been normal since the very beginning. She had been born with her intellect and, if not for the Holy Church and Mage's Association isolating her, Da Vinci very likely would have lived into the modern era without any difficulty.
With Vahn's arrival, Da Vinci herself seemed to decide it was time for a break as, instead of finishing what she was working on, she placed down her tools and removed her goggles almost immediately after his intrusion. Then, with a youthful yet elegant smile, she mused, "Sorry about earlier, Master. I couldn't pull myself away from my previous project so don't think I was just ignoring you~." After her apology, Da Vinci stretched her body before removing her exoskeleton and tapping a series of gemstones around her collar. This caused her attire to change from her renaissance style dress to a more comfortable, and admittedly adorable, cocktail dress. It had a creamy beige color, a distinct contrast to the vibrant reds and blues of her normal attire, accented with various ribbons and frills that accented her youthful appeal considerably.
On bare feet, Da Vinci playfully 'pranced' toward Vahn who, after entering into the Workshop, had been watching her with a casual smile and crossed arms. She stopped right in front of him, standing only 144cm tall as she looked up with her sapphire-like eyes, asking, "Do you have time...?" Though her words could have various interpretations, Vahn knew what Da Vinci had in mind when she asked such a question. The only times she would ask such a question was if she wanted him to accompany her to collect some data or, show him something she wanted his impression of, or, as was often the case since the development of her [Sage Emperor's Companion], galavanting about the bedroom in order to 'stress test' her new bodies...
Though he knew she had already determined his answer before he even spoke, Vahn humored Da Vinci by picking up her impossibly light body, smiling as he said, "I've got time..." With that said, he carried her off to her private workshop where, after she had changed into her more mature body, Da Vinci explained some of the changes she had made to Ark before showing him a new prototype. She had produced a second-generation Vanargandr-Type golem that had the ability to interface with other networks and transmit the data back to Ark's secondary Nexus. She intended to have it collect data and samples on-site when they went to meet with Type: Mercury and, if possible, Da Vinci was going to use it to interface with the internet to begin 'mapping' the entire network.
As everything Da Vinci showed him was extremely interesting, Vahn attentively listened to her entire explanation. There were many things he didn't understand, as she would sometimes go on a tangent that was hard to follow, but he understood the more important aspects without any issues. Then, as if to reward his attentiveness, Da Vinci brought an end to her explanation by spontaneously stealing Vahn's lips. At the same time, she pressed a button near Ark's terminal, causing a blast-shield to fall as the entire workshop entered into lockdown. Then, riling Vahn up a great deal, Da Vinci playfully mused, "I programmed a few golems to clean up any messes we make...shall we put their efficacy to the test, Master~?"
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn nopped out hella fast xD','Olga never left the rabbit hole','Olga smartly never compared herself to Da Vinci (>,...,<)...')
https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu <-(p.atreon link)
paypal.me/Einlion
Discord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE
While releasing a rare yawn, Vahn was making his way back towards the heart of the castle, feeling both refreshed yet mentally fatigued at the same time. Da Vinci was, with no other way to describe her plainly, 'very' quick on the uptake. Not only had she gained experience from their first few times together but, now that she had some expectations towards what to expect, her new body was very 'proficient' when it came to collecting more data. It even had A-Rank Endurance, allowing Da Vinci to persist for nearly seven hours straight before the 'core' she had created to absorb his Magical Energy had reached its threshold. This not only gave her a better understanding of the energy makeup of his bodily fluids but, as time passed, Da Vinci would become increasingly more adept at finding uses for said energy.
After returning to her more youthful body, though not before calming down a bit beforehand, Da Vinci performed the rather awkward act of using an instrument to pull out a pale golden crystal from her older form's body. When Vahn saw this, he had been more than a little surprised as, though it was very small, it could be seen at a glance that the substance was the same as the [Divine Energy Cube]. Since she was able to analyze its structure, Da Vinci had given her most recent body the ability to crystallize Vahn's own 'divine energy', extracted from his semen.
Da Vinci had theorized that, while he was not a 'God' at the moment, Vahn still had godly energy as a result of being a Tier 4 entity. Since there was clearly 'something' going on when he was having sex, she correctly deduced that he generated divine energy during intercourse, owing in no small part to his wealth of experience and the 'melding' he had performed with Freya in the past. Though it might not be one of his primary 'focuses', Vahn obviously placed a lot of focus on the act when he was with one of the various women surrounding him. As he was always doing his best to make sure they were getting the most out of the experience, he had been cultivating 'Sex Laws' intuitively over the course of his relationships...
Recalling how Da Vinci had teased him, calling him a 'Sex God', Vahn shook his head with a wry smile before clearing his mind of such wayward thoughts. Then, pushing against the seemingly immovable stone doors adorned with heroic figures, Vahn stepped into his own Throne Room, startling two of the girls within. One of them quickly jumped up from his Throne after seeing who had entered into the room, her eyes spinning around in their sockets as she thought of an excuse. After all, it was a grave offense to sit upon the Throne of a King, much less an Emperor.
Seeing Mordred's somewhat pale complexion, combined with her floundering disposition, Vahn had a stern look on his face, contrasting the glimmer of amusement in his eyes. Then, while letting his aura spread through the Throne Room, the place where he had the most power, Vahn walked toward Mordred, his steps sounding like thunder in the young girl's ears. From the side, Sakura also had a pale expression on her face as, even though she understood her status as an Imperial Princess, this was her first time feeling the 'presence' of her Otou-sama. The only person who wasn't affected was Fenrir who, understanding her Master better than anyone, knew he wasn't actually upset.
With the current Mordred being 131cm tall, there was a 54cm difference between her height and Vahn's, making her head only come up to around his diaphragm. From his advantageous position, Vahn looked down at his mischevious daughter, asking, "How did it feel...?" Though he spoke softly, his words seemed to ripple through the air, causing the surrounding void to tremble slightly. This caused Mordred's expression to pale, even more, a thin layer of cold sweat building upon her brow as she stammered, "I...I...I'm sorry...Chichiue..." Contrary to her usually bold disposition, Mordred now looked like nothing more than a child who had gotten caught pulling a prank...
Though he felt a little guilty taking things this far, Vahn still raised his hand slowly, causing Mordred to flinch as she tightly closed her eyes and balled her hands into fists. Then, instead of the expected strike, a comfortable warmth began to spread through her head as Vahn's hand began to gently ruffle her golden-blond hair. As if it had been an illusion, all of the pressure vanished in an instant, followed by Vahn lightly remarking, "Until you understand what it means to sit upon that Throne, you shouldn't play around it unless I'm present." With that said, Vahn picked up Mordred's light body, only 26kg, before carrying her the short distance to his Throne.
After sitting Mordred on the armrest, Vahn took a seat upon his Throne, something that caused power to swell from within his chest. It was almost impossible to restrain his aura completely while seated upon his Throne but, instead of pressuring those in the room, it instead gave them a sense of 'awe'. Then, while Mordred was still processing what had happened, Vahn gestured to Sakura who, after seeing things play out better than she had expected, felt a bit weak in the knees.
With Mordred and Sakura both sitting on his armrests, Vahn had a contented smile on his face as he mused, "My two precious daughters...listen closely to my words." Since he felt that this was a good opportunity to be a good father, while simultaneously carrying out his duties as Emperor, Vahn spent a good hour explaining his vision of the future to the two attentive girls. When they would start to get bored or distracted, he would gently ruffle their hair, sending threads of stimulating energy into their minds to keep them focused. Though it ultimately didn't matter all that much if they decided to play their own parts, as Vahn only wanted them to be happy, it was still important that they know their own place in the grand scheme of the future.
When his explanation was finished, Vahn used his telekinesis to move Mordred and Sakura so that they were seated on his lap. Then, embracing the two girls, he reiterated, "I have great expectations for both of you...however, so long as you are happy, that is what is most important. If you ever feel sad or lost, know that I will always be here for you..." Even though Mordred and Sakura weren't his biological children, Vahn had no intention of treating them any differently. Regardless of the path they took, he would always be there to support them, even if that meant guiding them back toward the light if they strayed away...
Though Sakura seemed to enjoy the contact quite a bit, tightly hugging her Otou-sama in response, Mordred showed an 'annoyed' expression that couldn't conceal the happy light in her eyes. Then, as if she refused to show weakness in front of her little sister, Mordred wiggled out of her Chichue's grasp before hopping off the Throne and exclaiming, "One day, I will be the Empress that reigns over the entire world! Don't worry, though, I'll still allow you to live in the castle, Chichiue~! Even if you become an old man, I'll take care of you properly..."
Toward the end of her statement, Mordred had a somewhat awkward smile on her face as she rubbed the underside of her nose with the back of her index finger. Sakura had looked back at her with a pouting expression on her face, causing Mordred's confident exclamation to sound more like a bluster. Fortunately, her Chichue once again came to her rescue, lightly patting Sakura's back as he gave an approving nod and stated, "I look forward to the day you are able to sit upon this Throne, Mordred. When that time comes, I will be the proudest father in the entire world..."
Hearing her Chichue's supportive words, Mordred's face gained a rosy hue, followed by an awkward laugh as she answered, "O-of course...just make sure you keep that seat warm for me..." Then, with her face becoming even redder, Mordred coughed to cover her embarrassment before scampering out of the Throne Room. She was closely followed by Fenrir who, after giving her Master a curt nod, quickly gave chase. This left Vahn alone with Sakura and, though there was no special meaning in such an occurrence, it seemed to make the young girl very nervous.
To avoid stressing her out too much, Vahn set Sakura down on the ground before taking her hand in his own and saying, "Let's go visit your Okaa-chan..." These words were like having a weight lifted from her heart and, instead of paling, Sakura gave a cheerful smile before answering with a happy 'Nn!'. As much as she loved this Otou-sama of hers, Sakura felt uncomfortable if she was the only person around him as, unlike the memory fragment she had grown accustomed to, he always had a somewhat 'scary' presence around his body. This was largely due to Vahn always having his [Will of the Emperor] active and, even though he didn't put any pressure on Sakura, her overabundance of Magical Energy made her extremely sensitive to potential threats.
Even with her memories erased, that didn't mean Sakura's body and Soul had forgotten what had happened in the past. She would often feel 'safer' in small and dark places and, though her Otou-sama's presence made her feel extremely secure, there was a part of Sakura that instinctually feared him. When other people were around, this feeling would completely disappear but, when it was just the two of them, it almost felt like she had nowhere to run. She didn't understand these feelings at all as, just by hearing that they were going to see her Okaa-chan, Sakura's fear had vanished. Just the awareness that she didn't 'have' to be alone with him made the fear go away, even if it was just the two of them walking the empty corridors for several minutes...
---
After dropping Sakura off with Rin, followed by them having a light lunch together, Vahn set out to retrieve Gray as, even though there was no particular rush to do everything in 'one' evening, he felt compelled to do so. His intuition told him that, after establishing contact with Type: Mercury and revealing himself to the Mage's Association, his life would enter into a new chapter. Currently, Vahn was considering forming an Avatar just so he could have a version of himself in London while his counterpart remained in the Ivory Castle. However, after talking with Da Vinci and asking why she never used more than one body, Vahn wasn't sure if this was the best choice...
As he already used his two 'crystals' to bolster his Od regeneration, the only real benefit to having an Avatar in the Ivory Castle was if he wanted to spend time with everyone. This, however, would split his focus considerably as, with the time dilation and his interactions with others taking precedence, it would be difficult for him to take action in the 'real' world. Training with Scáthach would be virtually impossible, as there was simply no way for him to remain focused on other tasks, while any kind of intimacy he experiences with the girls would always be 'tainted' by his focus on other matters.
Vahn didn't want to split himself like this again as it not only increased the pressure on himself but the pressure others experienced just knowing he was using more than one body. He would already be working hard, something that would motivate the more driven individuals in the castle to work harder, so increasing his mental strain wasn't the best idea. Vahn could still remember how troubled the women back in Danmachi were and, as there was also a very real chance that someone would be able to trace the location of Avalon, he decided to keep his jewels slumbering instead of maintaining an active link.
With the ability to transfer back to Avalon whenever he wanted, the only thing Vahn would really lose out on in the coming months was a bit of training and recreational time. Though he could still dedicate an hour or two per real-world day, equating to fourteen hours within the Projection, this would be significantly less time than he otherwise would have had. Even if he was only in London for a few hours every couple of days, this would eventually account for months and years later on down the line. If there was a big event going on, which required several days of concerted effort to resolve, that could translate to more than a month within the Projection...
Realizing that such thoughts would only cause him to worry unnecessarily, Vahn shook his head while pushing open the door to Artoria's room. His entry immediately drew the attention of the two similar women inside, causing the golden-haired variant to rise to her feet before the gray-haired young woman quickly followed suit. Vahn smiled toward the two as Artoria gave a small bow and said, "Good evening, Vahn..." Though she had called him things like 'Master' and 'My Emperor' in the past, Vahn had asked that Artoria refers to him by name when they weren't in a public setting. After all, even if they hadn't carried out an official ceremony, he and Artoria were more than 'technically' married to each other.
While Gray quickly tried to emulate Artoria's actions, Vahn gestured to indicate such things weren't necessary as he asked, "Am I interrupting anything...?" This was immediately answered by Artoria crossing her hands atop her lap in a polite display, shaking her head gently as she replied, "No...we were just talking. If there is something you require, we can make ourselves available..." Though there wasn't supposed to be any innuendo contained within her words, Artoria's face gained an almost indiscernible blush toward the very end. It hadn't been that long since she was last with Vahn, only a few day's time, but the presence of Gray was something that couldn't be discounted. In that regard, it had been more than a half-year since they were together, causing Artoria's heart to beat slightly faster than normal.
Not missing the subtle expectation in Artoria's mannerisms, Vahn's smile curled up at the edges but, as he wouldn't mind spending time with both girls, he had a promise to keep. With that in mind, he turned his eyes to Gray, causing her brows to raise slightly as he asked, "If it is not an inconvenience, I would like Gray to accompany me for a time. I do not mind keeping the two of you company but..." With Artoria appearing simultaneously relieved and despondent, Vahn let his words trail toward the end as a slightly guilty feeling swelled within his heart.
Vahn realized that, by asking Gray to accompany him, he was, in essence, leaving Artoria to remain in her room, alone. Before he could think too much into it, however, Artoria seemed to understand his concern, her ahoge twitching as a natural smile spread across her already beautiful face. Then, even though Gray herself hadn't said she was willing, Artoria gently stated, "Go...I'll be here when you return. Even if I had to wait for centuries, I would still be here..." Though it was an extreme statement to make in an otherwise low-stakes situation, Artoria felt like she was 'getting even' with Vahn for some of the things he would often tout...
Understanding that she was trying to tease him, all while being very serious, Vahn released a light chuckle in response to Artoria's statement. Then, ignoring his urge to counter-tease her, Vahn looked toward Gray, straightening his back as he asked, "Will you do me the honor of gracing this evening with your presence, Lady Gray...?" Even if such words were a bit extravagant, Vahn was just trying to give Gray a 'cue' to act upon as, contrasting the demure disposition he had come to know from their time together in the Space-Time Orb, she was clearly trying to act more lady-like. Though she was still wearing her runic cloak and mantle, which accented her beauty quite a bit, Gray also had a prim and proper black dress with gray accents. She was even wearing white hosiery, a stark contrast to the black stockings she usually wore...
Though she almost agreed instantly, Gray felt wholly unprepared to accompany Vahn alone, even if there was no guarantee they would do anything more 'intimate'. She suddenly felt a strong urge to bathe but, not wanting to keep Vahn waiting, she ultimately gave a small yet courteous bow before answering in a sheepish voice, "I would be happy to accompany you...Vahn." Even if her words felt like an executioner's ax coming down on her neck, Gray felt a bit of relief as she managed to get them out. Then, immediately following this, feelings of nervousness and excitement began to swell from within as she linked her arm with Vahn's, alighting from the room before eventually leaving the castle altogether.
---
Avalon was a mystical place with several interesting locations, each possessing great historical value and an awe-inspiring level of beauty. A large portion of the island was covered in apple orchards which, regardless of the season, would produce delicious apples due to the overabundance of mana in the environment. Compared to the outside world, Avalon was a veritable paradise for any Magi that wanted to increase their strength and power large formations. Any children that grew up in such a location would be intrinsically more powerful than their peers while, by consuming the apples on a daily basis, even normal humans would live long lives without having to worry about sickness and disease.
Amongst the many historical sites of Avalon, with the ruins beneath the Lake being one of the few exceptions, there was one place that Vahn had yet to take anyone else. This was because, with the exception of Artoria, others were simply disallowed entry, even if they went against common sense and decided to venture inward. Even the adventurous Astolfo and Mordred wouldn't venture into this place unnecessarily as you had to pass through a large graveyard and mausoleum, both filled with a solemn atmosphere and the presence of an abundance of Spiritual Energy...
Though this wasn't exactly the best place for a date, at least under normal circumstances, Vahn knew that Gray would undoubtedly feel at ease in such an environment. She had the same holy-elemental affinity as Artoria but, a stark contrast to the inviolable King of Knights, Gray also possessed a very potent death-elemental affinity. It was the presence of this energy in her body that caused her eyes to glow slightly in the dark and, though she had the same blond hair as Artoria in the past, it had become muted and gray with the passage of time. These were all things he had learned from Gray herself during the time they spent together in the Space-Time Orb as, while seeking comfort, she also confided many things in him...
Without having to ask why he was bringing her to a graveyard, Gray simply leaned her head against Vahn's shoulder, her bluish-green eyes glowing with a ghostly light. In truth, if she didn't 'harvest' a life periodically, her body would begin to suffuse with a cold chill while even simple movements would become painful. Even normal graveyards were rich in mana, which was why most humans felt frightened being inside one for long periods of time, while the Holy and Death elements coexisted side-by-side. After all, the dead were buried and given funeral rites so that they could rest peacefully, making graveyards extremely popular for the practice of Holy Sacraments and Necromancy...
By the time they reached their destination, an awe-inspiringly beautiful shrine that was located at the lowest level of an underground Mausoleum, Gray's body had begun to emit a ghostly aura that was impossible for her to rein in. Her eyes took in the surroundings, noticing twelve large stone coffins while, at the heart of the chamber, a much larger coffin was illuminated by holy blue light. There was no actual light source anywhere above the coffin yet, anyone who stood witness to the phenomenon would not find it odd. Instead, they would feel an overwhelming sense of awe, akin to witnessing a miracle far beyond human comprehension...
With Gray trembling slightly at his side, Vahn took her hands into his own as he turned her to face him directly. He knew she would never have expected for him to keep his 'promise' so soon, even if it was his memory fragment that had made it. This wasn't an 'excuse' as far as Vahn was concerned, however, so he actually felt a little guilty having made her wait this long. Thus, without hesitating for even a moment, Vahn unequipped his overcoat and undershirt, exposing his muscular upper body and earning a blush from Gray. Then, with a complex expression on her face, Gray's face became progressively redder as she opened her mouth, revealing pronounced canines as she buried her teeth into Vahn's exposed neck, a place that already had a surprising amount of bite marks present...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Tsundere Mordred','Vahn's Intuition(Plot Sense)','*Chu~*')
https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu <-(p.atreon link)
paypal.me/Einlion
Discord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE
ความคิดเห็นย่อย
คุณลักษณะความคิดเห็นย่อหน้าอยู่ในขณะนี้บนเว็บ! เลื่อนเมาส์ไปที่ย่อหน้าใดก็ได้แล้วคลิกไอคอนเพื่อเพิ่มความคิดเห็นของคุณ
นอกจากนี้คุณสามารถปิด / เปิดได้ตลอดเวลาในการตั้งค่า
เข้าใจแล้ว