Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With her first battle ending in such a decisive manner, a brief interlude was called in Theo’s Rite of Challenge. The Second Prince was in dire need of medical treatment, and, though a Captain of the Imperial Guard was nothing to scoff at, it was clear to everyone that Theo had surpassed that level by a considerable amount.

Despite the presence of more than a hundred Aristocrats, including many of the strongest people in the entire Empire, less than ten were able to follow Theo’s initial movement. To everyone else, it was like a second version of herself had teleported behind the Second Prince in an instant. She was even able to strike before Kacper had finished chanting his spell, but, demonstrating a masterful amount of control, she retracted it at the last moment.

Needless to say, Theo was much more than ’prodigious’. The speed and control she demonstrated put her on the level of a tactical weapon. She had already qualified for this classification due to her ability to summon Vrixho Nagasha, but, as that was a purely situational power, it had more meaning from a political perspective than a military one. Now, however, it was easy to imagine the youthful Princess sinking Superdreadnaughts with her own power. They hadn’t even seen her go all out just yet, but, comparing her speed to others capable of similar feats, it was hard to say who was faster...

Within the Hellas Empire, there was a special rank of General that had existed since ancient times. It was a special designation given to war powers who could directly contend against enemy fleets and armies without the support of the Imperial Military. This was a level of power typically attributed to natural disasters, so, in recognition of that fact, the sobriquet bequeathed unto such individuals was known simply as: ’Storm General’.

In the present day, there were only five individuals in the entire Empire who qualified for the title of Storm General. These were the Emperor himself, the First Princess of the Hellas Empire, the Admiral of the Northern Fleet, Jack Rakan, and, as could be expected, Vrixho Nagasha. Due to their unique status, however, none had been given the legendary sobriquet, as, for social and political purposes, their other titles greatly exceeded the ancient honor. The only person who would have qualified was Jack, but, prior to his appointment as Special Grand Marshall, he was publically recognized as both a Hero and an official Guardian of the Empire.

Now that Theo had demonstrated an almost incomprehensible amount of speed and control, many among the Aristocracy were curious to see if she could actually take down a Superdreadnaught on her own. They even appealed to the Emperor to have one of have her challenges modified to allow her to quantifiably demonstrate her power, as, even if she did fight against Jack, there would be no practical means to assess her strength.

Michael was very interested in his daughter’s strength, but, as such things were better kept private, he was against destroying military assets just to give others a clear understanding of her strengths and potential weaknesses. This would give some people reasonable justification to have her sent to the frontlines, and, after she completed her Rite of Challenge, refusing such calls would be difficult.

Since it was ultimately his decision to make, Michael refused such a demonstration, stating, "Theo’s power is a blessing upon the entire Empire. Her growth, however, had little to do with anything we provided for her. She reached her current level through her own efforts and it is my desire that she continue growing and improving at her own pace. Once this challenge has come to an end, she will be free to choose between continuing her duties as Imperial Ambassador or advancing her strength through private training and tutelage. I will hear no arguments on the matter."

With the Emperor putting his foot down, there was no longer any leverage to openly discuss the matter. It had now become a private affair, and, though his decision could be modified, it would be through private dealings rather than political dialogue. This was a setback for those with thoughts of how best to use Theo’s strength, but, as such things were par for the course when it involved the Imperial Family, they were used to it. They would just need to organize their case and approach the Emperor in confidence. He might care greatly about his own family, but, when it came to choosing between his children and the interest of the Empire, he was duty-bound to consider what was best for the entire nation...

After a prolonged discussion lasting nearly four hours, it was ultimately decided that Theo would be allowed to skip her second challenge. Her next bout would be against Jack, but instead of a private affair, their showdown would take place in the Coliseum. This was something that Theo, herself, had advocated for, as, not only did it allow her to demonstrate her power, it served the dual purpose of increasing her popularity while also improving citizen morale.

Generally speaking, it was improper for a member of the Imperial Family to participate in any public matches unless they were specifically being tried for a crime. This directly affected the image of the Imperial Family, as, even if it was meant to be a harmless exhibition, there would always be a faction willing to support anyone able to contend against the Aristocracy. They didn’t care about the actual consequences of their actions, as, in the minds of many, things would simply be better if the people in power were replaced by someone else...

Fortunately, Jack was a sensible man who publically admonished anyone who tried to prop him up as the leader of a new faction. He was the type that always considered the repercussions, so, even if he had a number of grievances with various members of the Aristocracy, he generally handled them within the bounds of the existing system. He didn’t want to see his country torn apart by a civil war that directly benefitted their enemies. Instead, he was determined to bring change by correcting the system from the inside. This would likely take more life than he had to give, but, by inspiring young minds to reach for ever-greater heights, he believed he would leave the world in a better state than how he found it...

With the details sorted out, the Imperial Guard took to the streets to announce the battle between their beloved Third Princess and the man who had risen up to become the Hero of the entire Hellas Empire. This wasn’t a match-up that anyone had expected, so, at first, there was complete disbelief within the public forums. It wasn’t until the Imperial Magistrate used the public broadcast system to verify the declaration that the city exploded into rumor and speculation.

Theo had always enjoyed a special place in the hearts of many citizens, as, ever since her debut as a child, her infectious personality and outgoing nature had distinguished her among other members of the Imperial Family. They might have given her the moniker of ’Tomboy Princess’, but, rather than an insult, it was a term of endearment. She had become both their pride and their hope for a better future, and, though it would be many years before she was crowned Empress, much of the dissent within the Empire had been quieted by her actions.

Though they had misgivings about their most treasured Princess fighting against the undisputed Hero of the Empire, most people were still looking forward to the fight. Logic told them that there had to be a reason for the match, and, though it had already been mentioned that the battle was the result of Theo attempting the Rite of Challenge, the fact it had been publicized at all indicated there was a chance she could win. This seemed completely ridiculous in theory, but, as they would find out the answer the following day, people began swarming around the Coliseum to secure their seats a full day in advance...

While a tumultuous fervor was spreading throughout the capital, the two most-discussed people in the entire Empire were having a casual chat in one of the Palace’s many gardens.

Since he felt too awkward to inquire directly, the Emperor had entrusted Jack with finding out more about Theo’s actions in Ariadne. People didn’t just become world-class powers overnight, and, even if the Sage Dragon Emperor did favor his daughter, her actions implied a deeper bond. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but, fearing his daughter might reveal some devastating truths, Michael had Jack act as a mediator. It would be a lot easier learning the truth in the form of a casual report than hearing it directly from his daughter, so, while part of him wanted to remain ignorant, his status as Emperor ’demanded’ that he know the specifics...

Though he wasn’t particularly fond of being asked to pry into the affairs of his ’little sis’, Jack was equally as curious about Theo’s time in Ariadne as her father. His blood still boiled every time he thought about his previous battle with Vahn, so, with a teasing smile on his face, he asked, "Tell me, rascal, is this Rite of Challenge meant to be retroactive or did you have something else in mind?"

As she had already been anticipating such a question from Jack, Theo adopted her characteristically mischievous smile as she answered, "You could say it’s a bit of both. At the same time, however, it is probably a lot different than what you and father are thinking. Though ’something’ might happen in the future, the only thing that really matters is that I’ve seized control of my own fate. Even without the support of the Sage Dragon Emperor, I will guide the Empire toward prosperity and help shape the future of the entire Magical World using my own power!"

Despite feeling surprised by the fervor of the young woman seated across from him, Jack didn’t let it show on his face. Instead, he adopted an approving smile, musing, "You’ve really grown up in the time that I haven’t seen you. I’m going to miss the brat that used to ride around on my shoulders every chance she got. It’s a shame, really, I was looking forward to documenting your ’growth’ with my neck and shoulders."

Having long grown used to Jack’s casual pervertedness, Theo wasn’t even remotely affected by his teasing remark. She could tell he was trying to measure her reaction in an attempt to obtain even more information, so, instead of displaying even a hint of timidity, she adopted a predatory smile as she mused, "Hmmm, be grateful you ever had the opportunity. Now, you should take the rest of the day to prepare yourself for tomorrow’s match. If you underestimate me, you might not even know how you lost~?"

Though her words were lacking a certain ’oomph’, Jack couldn’t help but display a similar smile as the thought of fighting a powerful opponent always got him excited. He could tell that Theo was hiding a tremendous amount of power in her body, so, while it would be difficult for him to go all out against her, it was bound to be an incredible fight. This was what his instincts were telling him, so, after a brief staredown with the comparably petite princess, he began laughing boisterously as he turned around and departed for the exit.

Seeing Jack walk away, a fiery glimmer reflected in Theo’s eyes as she followed his departure. It was surprisingly hard to restrain her urge to fight him then and there, as, for reasons she couldn’t wholly understand, her instincts were screaming at her to defeat him in battle. She had previously only felt this way towards her Master, so, dismissing other factors, it was most likely the consequence of her draconic heritage acting up. Her Master had helped to purify her bloodline, and, though it was still inactive, their separation had seeded a powerful longing in the depths of her body.

Theo had always been very fond of Jack ever since she was a child. He was her hero and the person she looked up to more than anyone else. Even now, this view hadn’t really changed, but, due to her recognition of Vahn as her Master, part of her vehemently resisted the idea of yielding to any other man. She knew her defeat wasn’t the same as submitting, but, regardless of the reality, a tiny voice in the back of her mind simply refused to accept defeat.

Unbeknownst to the person in question, Theo’s sapphire-blue eyes had developed a ring of silver around her slit-like pupils. Her usually vibrant and zest-filled eyes momentarily reflected an icy and resolute glimmer as a golden light appeared on the back of her hand. This caused her eyes to revert back to normal, but, even after raising her hand to take a better look, the golden light, shaped like a perfect triangle, continued to glow amongst two identical, albeit faded, icons.

Remembering her Master’s explanation of the Artifact he had gifted her, an expectant smile spread across Theo’s face. She was unable to use her Pactio without causing a fair amount of trouble for all of them, so, prior to their parting, her Master gifted her one of the three pieces of an Artifact known as the Tri-Force. The other two pieces had been given to Arika and Asuna, but, while Wisdom and Courage were both incredibly useful, Theo felt that Power was the most useful of the three...

Feeling a phenomenal amount of energy coursing through her body, Theo was completely unaware of the subtle changes occurring to her appearance. Her horns became slightly sharper than before, and, though it wasn’t noticeable due to the skin-tone mesh she was wearing, the lines of her body became more refined as a tribal-like pattern of runes spread across her forearms, calves, abdomen, and lower back...

(A/N: Alternate Titles: ’Conspiring Nobles? What a novel thought...’,’RIP Michael’,’Wasn’t there some kind of saying about absolute power...?’)