A Gamer Into Trails

Before the three of us now stood two of the most prominent figures in all of Zemuria. They have been around for decades, if not, even centuries. To the left was the Crimson Roselia. On the outside, she was just the leader of the secluded Hexen Clan, a bygone clan of witches. They've been around since the Middle Ages, and even during the Great Collapse, but now, there aren't many of them left. And to the right, was the Divine Wolf. Just like Roselia, he too was another Holy Beast. The SSS named him Zeit once he was formally recruited to be a part of them.

I was fortunate to come across Master at such an early age, let alone become her apprentice. This allowed me to grow rather close to her two granddaughters, Emma Millstein and Vita Clotilde. Emma I have interest in pursuing a physical relationship with. She has already confessed that she wanted to stay by my side, despite me forming a royal harem. She told me she didn't mind that. Right now, all I need to do is respond to her. I don't know if that will happen anytime soon, considering we're both still young.

I did push things a bit too far with Elie earlier in the day, but it only developed that way because my two older girlfriends, Angelica and Ennea, were already showing interest in pursuing me in a romantic way. That much was clear when they sent me those lewd photos. I only took a gander at two of those five photos, and only a small glimpse of the recording they sent me. But it was clear as day they wanted to progress our relationships to deeper levels. Elie witnessed that herself, and she resolved herself to meet their own resolutions.

I don't know how things will progress from here, but I for one, am not in a rush, considering my own position in this matter. I am in a relationship with several girls, and things are progressing nicely and steadily. Angelica was the first, with Ennea coming in at a close second. Despite it not being official yet, Emma is the third, while Elie just became the fourth. There is also Sara's matter now to continue, and if I respond to her, she will become the fifth girl to enter a relationship with me.

In the sidelines, there is Alfin and Kloe too, both who had just recently became my fiancés. Apart from that, there is Aurelia's matter, but that will be settled in due time. Eight girls overall, huh? That was quite a hefty harem, if you ask me. I don't know if it will just end there, either!

The reason I brought this up is because of Roselia's other granddaughter...Vita Clotilde...

Vita was an entirely different package. She wasn't like the other girls. She was one of the strongest enemies you would encounter in the games. And a scary one at that. Well, perhaps "strongest" wasn't the right word there. Maybe, one of the most cunning enemies? She was Emma's older sister, and developed herself enough to sit on one of the seats of the Anguis, the ringleaders of Ouroboros. Vita always knew to think twice, or even several steps ahead to make sure her goals were met. She sat on the same seats as the primary antagonist of the Sky trilogy, George Weissman.

And to my surprise, Roselia, Emma and I encountered Vita while we were in the depths of Valflame Palace during the celebration of the new year. What I saw down there was plainly obvious. Vita was with a particular group of people, who call themselves the Liberation Front. She had grown quite close to Crow after coming across him not too long ago. I've met Crow once personally when Vita took him to Grancel Castle. He is as big a hoot as he is in the games, and has a wonderful personality, for the most part. You just can't forget he's on the path of revenge, to take down a single individual that had a deep connection to yours truly. Giliath Osborne. That was one of the climaxes of the first half of Cold Steel. Will that scenario play out this time around?

That I didn't know. After all, I'm already taking most of Cold Steel II out of the picture by me personally laying claim to the Vermillion Trials. The Infernal Castle is bound to rise up again. Who knows, I might even become a rival to Crow, just like how Rean became Crow's rival, before they realized it was better to team up later on.

Just seeing Roselia and Zeit standing side by side like this made me think of how Vita currently was doing. She said that she was going to give us a surprise soon, right? It was very azure-like in that phantom image of hers, so I bet she was inside the Azure Trials when he contacted us. It should be time for Crow to finish those soon...

"Okay, I'll bite. Names aside, to which it is nice to finally meet you like this, Zeit, what are you two really up to? Is it alright if I tell Lechter and Tio here more of your disposition, Master?", I asked, looking at the golden-blonde haired girl whose hair was as unruly as ever. It was very curly and wavy, and it stretched well beyond her feet. I always wondered how she never trips on it, haha!

"What, can't your Master seek out an old friend and catch up with the bygone times? I didn't think you'd accept a name so casually like that. Zeit, is it? Isn't that name a bit misleading? You govern all aspects of Reality, not Time.", Roselia responded with a playful smirk.

"Be as that may, it is fine to address me however you desire. Zeit is an acceptable name, so you can address me as Zeit from henceforth.", Zeit said, accepting the name nonetheless. This caused Tio's eyes to sparkle even more.

"Mmm. I am glad you like it. You sure are a really big dog, huh?", Tio asked. If she could, the cat-like head accessory attached to Tio's head would twitch, just like how a normal cat''s ears would...

"Tio...Zeit said he was a wolf, did he not?", I questioned, letting out a sigh.

"Oh, right.", Tio said, quickly recalling Zeit's introduction.

"I'm more shocked at the fact you two are ignoring that a talking animal is standing before us! Like seriously. Now I've seen everything.", Lechter retorted, seeing Tio and I act so casually around Roselia and Zeit. Tio wasn't even surprised by the fact that Zeit could talk. Despite being a Holy Beast, I do believe most Holy Beasts had the ability to communicate like this. Roselia could in her Burning Sphinx form. Zeit could like this. Ragnard can use telepathy, while Agares can also speak in human tongue. The Holy Beasts all had wills of their own, just like how the Divine Knights also had wills of their own.

"Well, from your eyes, that may very well be the case. But I am far from your typical animal you could come across.", Zeit explained.

"Then what are you supposed to be? You were with us back at the palace. Granted, Claire was with you at the time so I couldn't head down into the depths of the palace with you, but you are not normal yourself. You let Young Master drink your blood. That's an image I can never forget.", Lechter asked with a serious look in his eyes.

"Well for one, I'm a witch, Errand Boy. I don't personally divulge in those kinds of acts too often anymore, but I am the Progenitor of a rather special race. Things fangs aren't just for show.", Roselia responded, and opened her mouth. She revealed two large fangs.

"So my eyes really aren't seeing things...Are you supposed to be a Monster or something then? Should we even see you two as such? This is a lot to take in...", Lechter continued to question the two's existence.

Well, I wouldn't blame him. From Lechter's eyes, both Roselia and Zeit were equivalent to Monsters. I am not sure how much context he knows about the Holy Beasts. So to Lechter, what stood before him was more of a Vampire, than a Holy Beast. Roselia was the last of her clan in that regard. She watched her entire clan perish while she was the only one left alive.

I am not sure if I should be counted toward that. Yes, I do know I have the [Child of the Progenitor] Title, and the True Dhampir Job, but that was bound to my Gamer System. Is that truly a part of me? Both Emma and Vita weren't truly her grandchildren by blood. Roselia was truly the last of her kind.

From here on, if things progressed in a weird way and Roselia somehow enters the royal harem, and we end up having sex down the road, and successfully copulate...Would that prevent her clan from perishing?

I could only shudder thinking of such a thing. Isn't she like, over a thousand years old?

"What's with that look you're giving me, Naoto? Surely you aren't thinking of something weird again, are you?", Roselia questioned, seeing me turn quiet for a moment.

"Hahaha...", I replied with a dry laugh, trying to dodge that topic. Eh, well, if it happens, it happens, I guess?

"Anyways, that really isn't the only reason why you two met up again, is it? One of your kind usually doesn't seek out another so casually.", I said, donning a more serious look in my eyes.

"Umu. Catching up was only part of the reason why I sought the Divine Wolf, or Zeit now, I presume. As for the rest, we were seeing what would come to happen.", Roselia answered.

"Indeed. Child of man, you have messed things up quite a bit, haven't you? Even I can't predict where things will lead now. We are reaching an uncharted path.", Zeit also answered with a serious look in his eyes.

"An uncharted path...", I uttered. So these two probably tried to see how things would play out from here, and even they couldn't tread that path?

Zeit is connected to KeA. He can exhibit those powers similar to what KeA can do. KeA is a manifest of the Sept-Terrion of Mirage, and that is what Zeit governs. As Roselia explained earlier, that is equivalent to the laws of Reality. It was a very potent Aspect.

"Indeed. There was one thing we could pinpoint at this time. It should be that time now.", Zeit declared.

"What do you mean, 'that time'?", Tio questioned, confused by what Zeit meant.

Zeit didn't explain, and kept silent. All he did was turn his paws around, and started looking westward. All the way to where Erebonia laid. It was quite a clear path on the left side from here in Crossbell City to Erebonia. A lot of the mountains rested beyond, in the north.

"It is as the wolf says. Vita personally messaged me not too long ago. The Azure Trials have been cleared.", Roselia declared, turning toward the same direction where Zeit was now looking at. We traced their gazes, and it was leading all the way west...