章節 762: Induction
Once all the girls had been taken out of the room, Vahn sat down in an adjacent room with Chloe, Haruhime, and Mikoto as two unknown girls sat across from him, both wearing thick and comfortable blankets he had given them. They had previously been chained to walls, held up by their wrists and left to hang limply without a single shred of clothing to cover their bodies. Lefiya had already healed their physical wounds but Vahn knew it would probably take a while for their emotional and psychological states to recover. Fortunately, it seemed like one of the women was mentally strong and seemed to care deeply for the girl who had originally requested to meet him.
The woman, who had introduced herself as Cassandra Ilion, had long dark hair and eyes that seemed simultaneously dark blue and also very pale at the same time. She had a thin, almost emaciated, figure with modest breasts and a strange posture that made her back arch slightly, even though she was slouching forward. The woman supporting her, Daphne Lauros, had burgundy hair, styled in a short, almost boyish style, and light yellow eyes. Unlike Cassandra, who had droopy and sad eyes, Daphne's were sharp and angular, possessing a confident glimmer even though she had likely experienced great hardships. Though her figure was also very modest, she seemed like a strong girl at a glance, especially with how she appeared to be trying to protect the demure Cassandra to her right.
Once the introductions had completely, Cassandra, looking up with slightly glowing eyes, explained the reason why she had wanted to meet him. It wasn't the first time Vahn had seen such a glow, as it was very similar to Ina's, so he patiently listened as she said, "It may be difficult to believe...but I have the ability to see the future..." When Cassandra said this, her body tensed up and she even closed her eyes, almost as if she were waiting to be ridiculed. Seeing this, Vahn just blinked once before turning to Daphne with a questioning look before turning back to Cassandra and saying, "That is a powerful ability. I'm sorry you had to suffer at the hands of Apollo because of it..."
Opening her eyes, Cassandra had a face full of confusion as she asked, "You...believe me...?" Without any real thought on the matter, Vahn nodded his head and explained, "Sure. You wouldn't be the first person I've met with such an ability, after all. The only real questions are, how does your ability manifest, and how accurate are the visions...?" For the first time since they had met, which hadn't really been that long, Cassandra and Daphne both smiled as the former brought her hands together, as if she were praying, and said, "Thank you for believing me..."
After a small bout of crying, Cassandra eventually collected herself and said, "I don't understand my own ability that well, but I've been having a lot of visions about you, Vahn. It was me who had warned Apollo about the eventual destruction of his Familia and it is also my fault that so many people had to suffer..." At this point, Daphne comfortingly grasped Cassandra's shoulder, supporting the downtrodden girl who seemed to blame herself for everything that had happened. This was one of the pitfalls of having the ability of foresight, as it made people rationalize that everything they failed to prevent was somehow their responsibility...
Raising his hand, even though both girls flinched, Vahn began to pat their heads and diffused calming energy into their minds while using his [Grooming]. In a calm and soothing voice, he smiled and said, "One day, you will learn that these things are generally beyond your control. There are no absolute abilities and, even if you have the power of foresight, you should have noticed that the future is constantly changing. You cannot blame yourself in a situation where you were made into a victim, especially if that situation was something outside your control from the start...just the fact that you feel guilty about what had happened shows that you are not truly the one at fault. If you had the power, I'm certain you would have done everything you could to help them...right?"
Cassandra tightly gripped the blanket around her while even Daphne began to crinkle her nose slightly, moisture building in her eyes. In truth, they had actually tried, time and again, to oppose the decisions made by Apollo. Unfortunately, the contract he bound the members of his Familia to were almost inviolable, essentially making them slaves from the very moment they had been forced to join. Hearing someone tell them it wasn't their fault, while comforting them at the same time, was a little overwhelming for the traumatized girls...especially since Vahn was very different from the men they had interacted with in the past...he was calm, gentle, and seemed to empathize with their plight...almost like he truly understood the pain they had experienced...
It took a little longer this time, but Cassandra managed to calm down enough to explain, "I had a vision where giant plant-like monsters were wreaking havoc within the City. In my vision, I saw you leading many of the girls that had come here to save us, fighting back against these monsters..." Vahn nodded his head, urging Cassandra to continue, leading her to hesitantly explain, "You must not kill those monsters within the city. If you do, the number of deaths that will come about, as a result, is unfathomable...I don't know the details, but I've seen so many people dying right after the vision of you fighting against those monsters...please, you have to think of a way...please...I don't want to see so many people dying...!"
Letting go of the blanket covering her body, Cassandra clung to Vahn's hand with the expression of someone that had seen far too much tragedy in one lifetime. Considering that she was only around seventeen years old, while also possessing an almost Pure Light Affinity, it couldn't have been easy for her to bear such a heavy burden, especially while suffering under the hands of Apollo. Though there wasn't much strength in her grip, Cassandra still tightly grasped Vahn's hand as if she were afraid that letting it go would be the end of everything.
Seeing the blue glimmer in her eyes, Vahn kept his calm and simply asked, "Tell me...can you see it right now...?" The moment his words fell, Vahn noticed that Cassandra's look became distant, as though she were viewing something far beyond the perception of normal human beings. At the same time, Vahn ruminated over her words and wondered what could have happened for so much death to occur, even though the enemies shouldn't have been that powerful. The most probably causes should be related to poison, disease, or curses...considering it was the fight that resulted in the deaths, Vahn figured it could potentially even be all three. If the monsters released some kind of chemical that could contaminate the air, or get into the water supply, it wasn't that difficult to imagine a great many people dying. However, if that were the case, there were numerous countermeasures that could be implemented...
Cassandra's distant look turned into one of confusion as she muttered an 'Eh?' while still lost in her vision. Through this, Vahn could confirm several things, including that Cassandra's ability was actually very strong. As an experiment, Vahn 'decided' that he would burn the city down to quarantine it if things got out of hand faster than they could be contained. At the same time, Cassandra's face became pale and Vahn immediately dashed the thought from his mind before she saw something truly terrifying. The only reason he could even harbor such thoughts is that he 'knew' what kind of person he could become if he stopped caring about the means and focused entirely on the results.
When the image of the city burning was instead replaced by a pristine city, where people were walking around with happy smiles on their faces, Cassandra released a heavy sigh of relief and slumped even further. Vahn suspected that her issues with posture were actually related to the 'burdens' that she had been bearing, weighing down her physical body along with her mind. He knew that Preasia would probably be able to help her, and most of the other girls, and planned to ask if she would provide therapy for them in the future. Having similar experiences, Preasia would undoubtedly be able to help all the girls that had become victims slowly move forward...
It seemed like it would take Cassandra a while to collect herself, so Vahn calmly stated, "I won't put either of you into a dangerous situation, but I think you should consider joining one of the Alliance's Familia. I know some people that will be able to help you and, as long as you are within the Alliance's territory, we can protect you. This will also allow you to inform me if there is something in a vision you think could be important. My dream is to create a world where people can be happy, so your gift will be very helpful...though, even if you choose not to use it, I will never give up trying to make the world a better place." To punctuate his words, Vahn gave the most heartfelt smile he could manage, hearing notifications within his mind informing him that his Affection with both girls had increased marginally.
Cassandra seemed more than willing but, before she could agree, Daphne suddenly asked in a stern tone, "What happened to Apollo...?" Without missing a beat, Vahn plainly stated, "He used his Divinity to try and kill me, taking the life of his own Captain in the process. At this point, I imagine he is in Heaven raging about in his temple..." Daphne's sharp eyes widened slightly as she asked with an incredulous tone, "You...survived against a god burning his Divinity...!?" To this, Vahn just laughed in a light-hearted manner and explained, "You'll understand later, but I'm not so easily burned, Divinity or not. Just consider it an unfortunate matchup for Apollo that will remove him from the mortal world for a good hundred years, at the earliest."
Hearing this, it was Daphne's turn to release a sigh of relief before she nodded her head and said, "Cassandra is my best friend, and I've promised to protect her as best I can. I'll follow her wherever she chooses to go. Thanks for saving us, by the way..." Vahn was a little surprised by how calm and collected Daphne was, even though her appearance made her seem like a bit of a hot head. Still, he smiled in response to her before turning his eyes to Cassandra, awaiting her decision. When the latter saw him look over, she brought her index fingers up and began pressing them together as she sheepishly asked, "Can I...I mean we...join your...Familia...?"
Feeling his brain buzz a little at Cassandra's behavior, Vahn continued to smile before breaking the bashful girl's heart when he said, "The situation within the Hearth Manor makes it almost impossible to accept new members into the Hestia Familia..." These words caused Cassandra to slump even more than before, making Vahn avert his eyes to avoid the pale white flesh that was on full display. His reaction caused Daphne to pay closer attention to Cassandra's state and, seeing that the latter never covered herself since earlier, a blush covered her face and she tightly pulled the blanket shut while saying, "Pay better attention...haaaa..."
This time, Cassandra's face turned beet red and she tightly clung to the blanket while sneaking peeks at Vahn through the gap in her bangs. Her hair was long and sleek, with long bangs that covered her left eye, even though Vahn could clearly make it out with his own [Eyes of Truth]. He was starting to feel that she was somewhat similar to Preasia, especially with how her pale dark-blue eyes were firmly affixed to his face, almost imploring him without saying anything. Even so, Vahn calmly explained, "You'll understand in the future...just know that there are too many factors that prevent people from joining the Hestia Familia, chief among them being that it is the heart of the Alliance..."
Seeing that Cassandra wasn't entirely convinced, falling into a deeper melancholy, Vahn released a sigh and decided to bit the bullet as he honestly admitted, "Listen, I'll be as frank as I can out of consideration for the two of you...honestly...I can't really be trusted around women that have tragic pasts and begin showing affection for me. Though I wouldn't actually do anything, I'm weak against girls that fall in love with me after I start taking care of them...I can't let the two of you stay in the Hearth Manor because you're both attractive young women that I would probably become romantically involved with at some point...I'm a father now, and there are already numerous women around me that I love...so please, forgive me this time...I will do my best to help you find happiness, but I can't be the one to give it to you..."
Vahn bowed low to both girls, causing Chloe and Haruhime to snicker and giggle since they were very aware of the 'truth' behind Vahn's words. As for Cassandra and Daphne, the former seemed to be lost in a vision while the latter had a flushed face as she pulled the blanket covering her body securely around her shoulders. Even so, Vahn was aware that her Affection had increased again, nearly causing him to sigh while he kept his head bowed. At least this way, even though it was very embarrassing and borderline shameless, he would have a 'reason' to refuse their advances if they genuinely started falling in love with him. He couldn't just take in every attractive girl with a tragic past into his home and eventually knock them up...with the standards of beauty in this world, there would never be an end to things if he didn't show more restraint...
Ultimately, it was decided that Cassandra and Daphne would both join the Loki Familia, which seemed to be the 'go to' Familia that Vahn kept 'throwing' people into. However, unlike normal Familia members, Cassandra would have a unique 'protected' status and Daphne would simply be assigned as her personal caretaker. Though Cassandra was a very skilled healer, making her an incredible asset on Expeditions, her prophetic powers were simply too useful to endanger her life. She also disliked fighting and, though Daphne looked like the type that would pummel monsters with her bare hands, she actually confessed that she hated fighting and was more suited to the role of a bodyguard. She had several support-class magics and skills that allowed her to increase her Agility and Endurance, especially in a pinch.
Once that had been decided, the Alliance started helping the Elven women get situated within the Elven Settlement and, after making a few other preparations, Vahn ended up in a room with Cassandra, Daphne, and Loki. The two girls had been informed about his ability to discern more from a Status Board than even gods but, even without being told that, neither had seemed to mind too much if he was in the room. They had already been given a change of clothes and it wasn't a big deal to expose their backs, especially after everything else they had already experienced. It was also a simple truth that both girls considered Vahn a 'safe' person to be around, even after his earlier 'admission'.
Daphne, being the more confident of the two, had volunteered to go first and, after covering her front with a cloth, exposed her back that currently had the Apollo Familia emblem on it. The most notable thing, however, was the fact that Daphne's body was covered in scars and clear indications of torture though, fortunately, not as badly as Preasia's had been. When he saw this, Vahn released a heavy sigh and said, "If you want, I can help you get rid of all those scars later...it will be a little embarrassing, but I can promise you that there won't be a single mark left when I'm finished..."
When she heard this, Daphne looked back with an unperturbed expression, remaining silent for a few seconds before she said, "I'll leave it to you..." After that, she turned her face away and Vahn did his best to ignore the jump in her Affection as he watched Loki modify the crest until there was a strange clown on Daphne's back, indicating she was now a member of the Loki Familia. Finished with this, Loki looked up with an uncharacteristically serious expression and asked, "See anything I missed?" Though she was a mischevious trickster by nature, Loki knew the girls had already gone through a lot and now wasn't the best time to mess around. Vahn gave her an appreciative nod in turn and looked at the hieroglyphs on Daphne's back, more than a little surprised at what he saw...
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[[STATUS]]
Name: Daphne Lauros
LV. 2
POW: F348
END: G288
DEX: D506
AGI: E492
MAG: H189
Skills: [Endeavor:Innate(sealed)], [Elios Passion:C], [Laurus Wreath:E], [Riposte:D]
Magic: [Guardian Eos:Innate(sealed)], [Raumure:D], [Faerie Healing:E]
Development Abilities: [Abnormal Resistance:D], [Mind Fortification:(sealed)], [Escape:(sealed)]
[Elios Passion]
Rank: C
Use: Raises Agility, especially when fleeing from an enemy.
[Laurus Wreath]
Rank: E
Use: Heavily increased Endurance when exhausted or in a near-death state. Efficacy of skill based on the mental state of the user. Modifies physical appearance slightly.
(Active and Passive Trigger)
[Riposte]
Rank: D
Use: Allows the user to deliver a precise counterattack after deflecting a blow.
[Raumure]
Rank: D
Use: Self-Enhance Magic that raises Endurance and largely increased Agility based on Magic.
Chant: Follow the sky of the sky. Everything is to escape from the haze-blooms, laurel bushes, Raumure~!
[Faerie Healing]
Rank: E
Use: Provides light healing effect to target, allowing minor wounds to be treated. Also cures weak poisons.
Chant: Faerie light, gentle breeze, recover, cleanse, purify~!
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After reading her Status, Vahn had no doubt that Daphne was definitely 'suitable' to being a protector, especially considering that almost all of her abilities modified her Endurance and allowed her to help others. He could even imagine her wearing one of the black suits worn by the guards in the high-class shopping district within Babel Tower. However, when this thought crossed his mind, so too did another thought. Vahn began to wonder what form Daphne's [Pactio] would take and if it would be beneficial for the two girls if he broached the subject. Unfortunately, as a result of his earlier admission, Vahn knew it would be an exceptionally awkward and misleading situation...
At this moment, Cassandra, who had been lost in her own little world, released an 'Eh!?' and began to blush deeply as focus was restored to her eyes. She looked directly at Vahn with her one revealed eye and began pressing her fingers together as she said, "I...I don't mind..." Both Daphne and Loki were confused by Cassandra's words but Loki quickly picked up on what was going on. The mischevious grin she had been keeping at bay appeared on her face as she lightly elbowed Vahn's ribs and asked, "What, not satisfied with the flower garden you've already gathered~?"
Loki's words caused Daphne to misunderstand and, though she hadn't cared that Vahn was observing her bare back previously, she hung her head and shrunk into the chair while closely protecting her front. Seeing this, Vahn pinched the bridge of his nose and simply stated, "I was thinking that a [Pactio] would help guarantee their safety. It would enhance their capabilities and allow Cassandra to inform me if she had any important revelations..." As she had already been thinking about it previously, Loki nodded her head and said, "Yes, it is undoubtedly a good idea. However, I heard about your little 'confession' earlier...seems like you're inadvertently bullying these girls~?"
Before Vahn answered, Daphne, who had been listening closely, keyed in on how Vahn said it would help protect them. Judging by Loki's words, she would have to do something embarrassing, she doubted it would be as embarrassing as having Vahn treat her body later. Considering that Vahn would talk himself out of it, even though it could potentially guarantee their safety, Daphne looked up and plainly stated, "This thing, [Pactio], I want one...if it can help me protect Cassandra, I don't want to pass on the opportunity..." Jumping in, even though it didn't look like she would ever be able to muster that much energy from her frail body, Cassandra shouted, "Yes, me too, please!"
With Loki's laughter as the background music, Vahn had released a long sigh and began explaining the specifics of a [Pactio], including how it was a closely guarded secret. Both girls had already accepted contracts to protect Familia secrets when they agreed to join the Loki Familia, so it was 'relatively' safe to disclose the information to them. Neither seemed like the type to release such information anyways, so Vahn was open and honest with them, even though it earned him a 'glare' from Daphne. Even so, she still agreed after Loki asked Ais to come in and demonstrate her own [Pactio].
Following that, Vahn drew two [Pactio] circles and shared a kiss with Daphne and Cassandra, putting both of their Affections for him firmly at 84 and 92 respectively. It had been a very 'transformative' day for the two girls, especially after they literally transformed into their raiments. Cassandra ended up have a one-piece purple dress that had a 'very' high slit on the left side. She also had a pointed-purple hat that made her look like a witch out of a fairy tale. As for her artifact, it happened to take on the form of a crystal ball which, unsurprisingly, enhanced her foresight and made it closer to actual Divination.
Daphne's outfit wasn't quite what he expected, as she didn't end up with a black bodyguard outfit and instead ended up looking more like a knight. She had an ornate metal cuirass that covered her torso, matching pauldrons on her shoulders, and gauntlets that completely covered her arms with plating, leaving on the joints exposed. She also had sabatons, covering her feet, calves, knees, and the lower half of her thighs. However, somewhat embarrassingly, earning him Daphne's ire, there was no armor protecting her 'bottom' at all. Instead, she had what looked like a pair of small red shorts that were barely larger than underwear protecting what remained of her dignity. As for her weapon, it took on the appearance of a straight silver rapier with a rose-shaped guard. It's effect allowed it to pierce almost anything and, based on how much power she put into the thrust, the length of the blade could increase greatly.
After suffering under the stink eye of Daphne for a short while, Vahn explained the other benefits of the [Pactio], demonstrating his ability to buff them, call him to his side, and telepathically communicate. Though she was a little bothered by the fact he could 'summon' them whenever he wanted, Daphne could understand how useful the abilities were. If they were ever in any danger, they could just send a message to Vahn and he would be able to immediately save them. Truthfully, it was one of the best protective measures she had ever heard of, making the fact that she had to kiss Vahn more tolerable. Besides, as she melancholically reminded herself, it wasn't as if he had taken her first kiss...
Once the matter of the [Pactio]s was settled, Loki finished converting Cassandra into her Familia before allowing Vahn to inspect her Status. Like Daphne, Cassandra also had two Innates, meaning she was capable of reaching the peak of Tier 2, including the one related to her foresight. Also, as she had professed before, Cassandra had numerous support skills and possessed a high talent for healing. Given the fact that she had a Pure Light affinity, this was easily justifiable and, as she wouldn't be entering into the Dungeon, Vahn had suggested she begin studying medicine. He would also be giving them both some basic study manuals for advancing their Magic skills, which would be the same as the ones used by future students...
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[[STATUS]]
Name: Cassandra Ilion
LV. 2
POW: I65
END: H101
DEX: H154
AGI: G228
MAG: F362
Skills: [Five Dimension Troia:Innate:D], [Healing Palm:E]
Magic: [Soullight:C], [Cure Ephialtes:D]
Development Abilities: [Midnight Harlot:Innate:(sealed)], [Treatment:E]
[Healing Palm]
Rank: E
Use: Accelerates natural regeneration and stamina recovery when applied to a region.
(Active Trigger)
[Soullight]
Rank: C
Use: Area healing spell that increases in both efficacy and range based on mana consumed.
Chant: Cleansing light of purification. Extend a hand to the drowning. Hear my words and grant me the power to save those experience misfortune. Please, return the light of the Sun to this land. Soullight~!
[Cure Ephialtes]
Rank: D
Use: Purification magic that can cure any ailment if the user has enough mana. Cleanses the body of poisons, abnormal status effects, curses, and other impurities.
Chant: Light of Purification, Cure Ephialtes~!
[Treatment]
Rank: E
Use: Increases the efficacy of all healing and support abilities, skills, and magic.
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(A/N: This chapter felt like it took 37 days to complete xD. I actually had to re-read it towards the end just to remember what the hell I wrote!)
(A/N: Alternate Titles: '*Pats away the sadness*','Vahn tries to deflect...','Vahn fails to deflect...')
https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu <-(p.atreon link)
paypal.me/Einlion
Discord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh
章節 763: Enrollment
Though the matter of Apollo's body being destroyed by his hands had started to circulate through the godly community, there was no great backlash, especially when the matters Apollo had been involved in came to light. It was also noted that, before Apollo had been killed, the latter had already used his Divinity to try and kill Vahn. This news was the source of an even bigger stir but, once again, it was dealt with very quickly when Hephaestus explained that Vahn had an absolute fire immunity as a result of his own pseudo-Divinity. Though there were some people that wanted to hold Vahn accountable, they were just a small subset of the godly community within Orario and they didn't have the power to enforce such a decision, especially considering Vahn's status.
While that was going on, Vahn himself was sitting in a massive circular room with Riveria, Takemikazuchi, Terpsichore, Tenjin, Anubis, and Tsubaki. They were just about to start admissions to fill out the remaining spots for students. Thus far, the bulk of their first batch of students was comprised of orphans that had come from various orphanages around the City. Vahn had already gone to pick up the majority of the children from Maria's Orphanage and Syr had helped them get situated in their dorms. Now, the majority of the Department Heads were gathered together to vet new students by evaluating their background, character, and, though it wasn't as important, their potential.
Anyone that wanted to bring their children into the School had to provide documentation proving their identities, including trade and occupation. Once that was cleared, the children would be brought into the room for a preliminary interview. Sadly, especially for older children, they were very likely to be barred entry into the School, at least for the time being. They simply didn't have the capacity to 'babysit' children and raise them in lieu of their parents, even if the latter weren't necessarily the best parents. There were numerous children that needed assistance and they were exactly the target for the first batch of students, even if the justification could be considered a little shady.
Vahn wouldn't deny that the 'ideal' students for learning what the School was going to teach were those that didn't have other influences. For example, they wouldn't accept the children of Nobles, as the latter group was easily able to provide education and other resources to their progeny. There was no real justification for the Alliance empowering children who already had power and, even if it was borrowed, authority. Instead, Vahn believed it was more conducive to the change he wanted to see in the world to target younger children, specifically those that didn't have any outside ties. They would be the most receptive to teaching because they would 'understand' exactly what they were working towards, especially after receiving the benefits provided by the School itself...
As for the last qualifier, it didn't actually matter that much and just served as a test to determine what the child may be suitable for in the future. This included having Vahn evaluate their elemental affinities, if there were any anomalies in their bodies, and if they were under external influences. Lastly, using a sphere that could measure a person's control over their magic power, the prospective students would place their hands against it and try to cause it to glow.
Those that passed this test had a higher chance of being accepted into the beginner Magic classes, though failing the test didn't disqualify anyone. After all, the whole purpose of the School was to allow the students to grow at their own pace, in the direction they chose. If a student genuinely wanted to become a Mage, they would be given the basic resources to train their control and magic power until they were able to join the actual Magic classes.
Even then, not having enough magic power didn't disqualify you as those that pursued the path of Scholars, who looked into Magic theory, could also take the classes after passing tests proving they are ready. Vahn's 'ideal' School system gave the children almost limitless paths to take towards the success they themselves sought, even if it was partially guided by the Instructors who would be observing them on a daily basis. In fact, the easiest way to get into the next class was to receive a recommendation from the Instructor so you could take the test earlier.
To that end, Vahn had a vibrant smile on his face as the first child came in, a young girl around 6-7 years old with adorable little blue cat ears and an s-shaped tail who seemed very nervous as she gripped the hem of her dress with a death grip. She stopped right in the center of the room, looking as though she was about to burst into tears at any moment. Raising his hand, Vahn sent calming energy through his aura and tried easing her tensions as he softly asked, "Please, can you tell us your name, young lady...?"
Suddenly being spoken to, the young Cat Person actually began to cry this time and plopped down onto the ground with loud 'Nyaaaaaaaaaa-like' sobs. At this moment, Vahn realized that it probably wasn't easy for young children to actually enroll in the School. Most of the ones that made it to the interview stage would have at least one parent and, though they might not be well off, it certainly wouldn't be easy for them to be away from home so suddenly. He felt his heart twist in his chest until Riveria lightly elbowed him in the side and inclined her head towards the young girl.
In the next instant, Vahn had appeared next to the young child and, using his secret technique, began patting the top of her head in a gentle and soothing manner. At first, when she suddenly felt someone touching her head, the girl seemed very scared but, in less than three seconds, she had started to squint her eyes and sniffle. Her tears were quickly receding and she seemed to be calming down very quickly, even going as far as to close her eyes and begin purring after around twenty seconds. Vahn fought against the giddy feeling in his stomach and pulled his hand away, lightly asking, "Can you tell us your name now...?"
As he pulled his hand away, the girl followed it with her eyes before turning her head up and saying, "My...nyame is Nyelly...nyaa..." Vahn blinked, asking in a soft tone, "Nelly, or Elly...?" since it was hard to know when young Cat People were trying to speak. He wondered if his own children would have that same verbal tick as he smiled and heard the girl stutter, "N-n-nyelly..." without actually clearing up anything. To make things easier, Vahn wrote it down on a piece of paper and had her point to it with her small fingers, clarifying that her name was indeed 'Elly'.
After putting out a chair for the girl to sit in, Vahn returned to his own seat and the interview officially began. If he were being honest, he had already decided to accept the adorable girl into the School based solely on how cute she was. The fact she also had a dual-affinity of Water and Earth just increased the desire, even though it was her story that won all of them over. She was in a similar situation to Tina, being that she lost her Adventurer father in the Dungeon. Her mother had only been a normal civilian, however, so, after her Husband had passed away, she made ends meet by working at a laundry house. She had nobody to look after her daughter while she was at work and hoped that her child's future would be secure if she was able to attend the School.
Since she had passed the interview segment, Vahn then had the young Elly test her basic magic proficiency by having her place her palms against the large crystal sphere. Unfortunately, other than a very small light, the crystal remained dormant. Once again, Elly looked like she was going to tear up but, as Vahn had been next to her to observe the process, he just gave her some head pats to pacify her. When she started rubbing her head affectionately against his palm, Sis suddenly reminded him, (*Vahn...did you forget Milan and Tina telling you that on close family and spouses were supposed to touch the ears of a Cat Person...?*)
Hearing this, Vahn's hand twitched for a brief moment but, seeing how happy Elly was, he continued petting her as he said, ("There are a lot of things that will change in the future. Besides, I'll have to get used to small girls having a crush on me, regardless of what action I take. Don't worry, I won't let things get out of hand...") With that thought in mind, Vahn pulled his hand away and had the 'distraught' Elly sit in her seat as he conferred with the other Department Heads. Then, by unanimous consensus, Elly had been accepted as a student within the School. They let her return to her mother with the good news and then she would be escorted to her room before they separated.
Realizing it would probably be very difficult for the younger children, Vahn considered if he should pay a visit to the dorms during the evening and allow his aura to help them go to sleep. Eventually, they would adapt to the separation and it may even become a 'reason' for them to work harder, as those who performed well would have greater freedoms, especially if they were older students. For the time being, however, the only times they would return home would be during the two-week period between each semester. There were no major holidays in this world so the only event worth celebrating was the bi-annual Monster Feria's, which would likely be called the Alliance Faire in the future...
As the morning progressed, Vahn began to notice a very distinct trend in the students that were applying, or at least those that had been cleared to attend an interview. He already knew there were more females within Orario than males, as a result of the latter generally taking on more dangerous jobs and thus prone to death, but he hadn't expected that nearly 80% of the students applying were young girls. However, when he thought about it in greater detail, it made a lot of sense, especially when considering the 'standards' in this world.
Most young boys would either begin training at an early age to become Adventurers, Tradesmen, or Laborers. Since this training usually began around the same time as the requirement for the School, it meant the boys would usually already be doing other tasks and were far less likely to attend the School. As for the girls, most of them didn't aspire to be Adventurers, at least not at first, and instead focused on getting jobs with family businesses, stores, and shops. Females in this world were more likely to get into the service industry, making sure things were running smoothly, while the men would typically focus on the more physically intensive tasks. Though this wasn't always the case, it was the 'trend' that had defined the population disparity between men and women.
As this was the case, Vahn realized that the 'change' he was going to bring into the world would be a little more drastic than he had expected. Though Orario was the exception, many cultures around the world were Patriarchal in structure, with only countries like Telskyura being the exception. By empowering so many young women with the tools to 'change' the world, Vahn wondered if this power system would simply collapse in the future. Though he was certain it wouldn't be the case of women trying to 'seize' power for themselves, essentially reversing the status quo, it would still be interesting to see greater equality in the world...
There were other benefits to this, at least from Vahn's perspective, as he got to see a variety of adorable young girls from numerous different races. His Fatherly instincts were severely triggered by the end of the day, especially when a young Raccoon girl game in, standing only 83cm tall. She had reddish-brown hair, freckles, and the most adorable tuft of a tail he had ever seen. Though she wasn't the first Raccoon he had ever seen, they were still very rare in Orario and it was the first time he had seen a child.
During the interview, it was revealed that she was a street orphan that had just arrived at the city a few months ago and, having nowhere else to go, heard about the School from other orphans and decided to see if the rumors were true. As a result, she was immediately accepted into the School and, much to Vahn's surprise, she had one of the better scores on the magic evaluation. Though her Wind affinity wasn't the most impressive, the fact that she had been clear-headed enough to travel through the city and reach the School, while only being eight years old, showed that she was an intelligent young girl with a lot of potential.
When asked her name, she had very clearly enunciated it as 'Carmen Belfast', seemingly hailing from a small tribe located on the north-western regions of the Western Forests. Her family had fled to the City after Rakia Kingdom's force had started probing into the region, though it ultimately ended up with both of her parents dying along the way. The only relative she had left was her Uncle but, after trying his luck as an Adventurer, he too ended up losing his life. Thus, as a result of the machinations of fate, Carmen had ended up a street orphan that had been getting by on the charity of others...
Though he resisted the urge to outright adopt the unfortunate girl, Vahn arranged it so that she would have a little extra allowance given to her and, as she obviously had potential with magic, he gifted her a relatively plain bangle he had formed for such situations. It looked like normal polished iron but, at the very center of the bangle, there was a core of Orichalcum surrounding a thread of his crystallized blood. It would allow her magical power to develop a little quicker since its only effect was to increase the natural replenishment of mana. Vahn had developed nearly a hundred of these bangles and intended to give them to promising young children he met on the street, or by happenstance. Yes, it was a means of playing favorites, but most of the people he gave the bangles to really did deserve a break...
Once their student quota had been filled, Vahn spent a bit of time perusing over the still waiting families and looked for any students he could add on the waiting list for the next batch of recruitment. It was a little unfortunate that they would have to wait, but this system was still very new and they needed to get all the kinks sorted out before they could increase both the number of staff, and the students that would be attending. It would also help that, once there were already students that had familiarized themselves with the School, they would then be able to help future students adjust. Thus, for the time being, the total number of students was an even one-thousand, all ages between seven and twelve years of age.
The announcement that their quota had been filled had upset a lot of the waiting parents, especially since there were still several hundred that had been 'patiently' awaiting their turn. However, when the remembered who it was they were dealing with, few people made their complaints known and just retreated. Vahn secretly put letters in the bags of some of them, explaining that their children would potentially be accepted in the batch, before heading off to the dorms where the children were already being rallied together. Most of the rules would have already been explained to them, but he still needed to give his first speech as the 'current' Headmaster. He would be seeing these children grow and develop over the next few years and it was very important that he begin laying the groundwork for the future, now.
It was starting to get late in the day so it wasn't too surprising to see numerous children that were on the verge of dozing off as they assembled in the massive auditorium that was meant to be used for concerts, plays, and performing arts, in general. Though they were a bit noisy at first, Vahn smiled when the room became almost absolutely silent the moment he stepped out onto the stage. He was already letting his domain spread through the room so, after appearing, Vahn let a mix of calming and revitalizing energy flow over the gathered children. This helped those that were sleepy wake up and also gave students a better impression of him, especially since many already looked up to him.
At the very front of the Auditorium, Vahn saw Roux, Fina, and Rye all sitting together, excitement on their faces as they waved towards him. Vahn returned a small wave of his own before, against the expectations of the student, he began to levitate off the ground and 'sat' on the air. Before they began to get too riled up, he lifted his hand, gesturing for silence as he said, "First of all, allow me to welcome you to the Sage Aldrnari School of Orario. I know many of you are very nervous about what it is you'll be doing here but, I assure you, these next few years will become fond memories you'll carry with you for the rest of your lives. Not only will you be cared for during your stay here, but you'll be able to increase your knowledge, develop individuals skills, and even work towards increasing your personal power. At the same time, however, it is my hope that you'll all happily work alongside each other, becoming life-long friends that will help create a better future for everyone..."
Vahn didn't expect all the children to understand things so early, but he still smiled and explained, "It is my dream that, one day, the world will be a happier place where everyone can smile together. Though it won't be easy, I believe each and every one of you is the key to making that happiness a reality. Know that, even if things don't always seem to be going your way, I believe that each person here has the ability to become wonderful people in the future. Some of you will one day be great leaders in their fields, becoming prolific blacksmiths, alchemists, craftsman, and merchants. Others, you will walk the path of power, focusing on mastering yourself and overcoming the various trials that will bar your passage towards the peak. Though your path may be that of a Knight, or a Mage, know that there are no limits to your growth, so long as you never give up on seeking even greater heights..."
While Vahn had been speaking, he was making gestures with his hands that showed small phantom images of Knights and Mages doing battle against titanic monsters. Sometimes, a little flair was necessary to keep the children focused and, based on how he currently had their rapt attention, it seemed his little trick had been successful. Continuing his words, Vahn stated, "However, no matter what path you walk, you'll discover that it is most important that you achieve a proper balance in life. Not only should you work hard, but you should properly relax, focus on expanding your mind, and build bonds with other people. To achieve this balance, expect that you will be required to study one of the arts that are taught here, be it painting, sculpting, music, theatre, and dance. It will be explained in greater detail later, but you'll quickly understand the importance of these things as you continue your studies here...please, I ask that you simply have patience and never shy away from doing things that will help you develop as a person..."
Coming to stand on his feet again, Vahn lightly clapped his hand, allowing the lights in the room to dim slightly as the members of the Terpsichore Familia came out on the stage and began a light-hearted and entertaining performance. Vahn sat in the back, adding special effects to the act using unnamed magic spells to create small illusions and beautiful displays of fire, water, and electricity. The children seemed to enjoy it greatly and had mesmerized expressions, especially when he had made a wispy blue dragon fly around, passing through their bodies like a phantom before it began doing battle against a phantom red dragon. By the end of it, Vahn had exhausted a great deal of his energy reserves, causing him to laugh since it had actually been more difficult than his fights the previous day.
After waiting for the children to calm down, Vahn smiled radiantly and explained, "If there weren't people in the world that focused on the arts, you wouldn't be able to see displays like this. In the future, many of those sitting around you may become incredible artists that can inspire millions of people with their performances. To that end, remember to always encourage each other...never berate one of your peers for their differences, regardless of if it's their appearance, character, or interests. I'm certain none of you here would like to be bullied and made fun of, just because you liked something different than other people...thus, one of the most important rules I have for you to follow is to 'never' bully your companions...everyone here is a fellow student, working towards a better future. You should support each other, not drag each other down...never, ever, forget that..."
To wrap up his statement, Vahn allowed himself to show a solemn expression as a small amount of pressure spread through his domain. Though this could also be seen as 'bullying' the children, Vahn knew he had to be stern at times if there was any hope of them actually getting along. In this type of environment, the children would undoubtedly form their own social circles and, try as they might, it would be impossible to prevent a few altercations from occurring. However, by taking a zero-tolerance policy against bullying from the start, Vahn believed that things would get better with time. Since none of the children here had 'backings' that would allow them to put on pretenses, it would hopefully never become a major issue that required them to expel any students...
Though he said a few more words, Vahn noticed that many of the children were starting to get sleepy again and, as it was already slightly past the time for dinner, he allowed them to make their way to the dining hall to enjoy a feast. For many of the children, they rarely got to eat their fill so, having a buffet of food items to choose from helped ease the mental strain and separation anxiety they were feeling. Vahn also stayed with them until it was time for everyone to be within their dorm rooms, allowing his aura to help those that were struggling to fall asleep.
As it was the first night, the number of crying children, especially those that had been brought here by their families, had exceeded more than half the student body. It had started with just a few but, as if the feelings they had been bottled up had been contagious, the sniffles and sobs quickly spread throughout the entire dorm, all while Vahn watched over them and tried to give them the comfort they deserved...
(A/N: This will be the last chapter for today, as I want to write some Fenrir's Journey. These last two chapters were over 4k words, and it was a buttload of information to work through before I was finished xD.)
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Godhand Strikes Again','Tiny and Intelligent Raccoon~','Vahn is such a Papa...')
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