I stood still in my position as Antoris raised his hand like we hadn’t just come out of a barrier moments before, but he did silence most of the crowd as his aura overpowered everyone present.
"The ranking exam is concluded, I personally announce the results of Kazu Xiao, as platinum rank. He will be under the supervision of Reiner as he was the one who sponsored him and requested to form a permanent party with the Xiao. As I’ve said there will be no objections, speak however you like but it will change nothing under the laws of Vectus’s monarch," he stated leaving the crowd to murmur between themselves.
Regardless, the matter was settled. I managed to somewhat get what I wanted from this whole thing, and it didn’t take long before everyone present to begin to leave the arena. Reiner was practically pulling Lilith down the steps to meet up with me and Antoris still in the arena. Although Xander and Cayto remained in the stands watching with mixed opinions.
Reiners boots hit the ground and his sneer was already fixed in place. “Don’t think you can trick me old geezer. You seen it too in that bubble of yours? Heh. I told you, this guy is something else,” Reiner remarked as he approached us with an arrogant stride.
“Well, Reiner I wasn’t attempting to trick anyone, I was just doing my duty to fulfill what my Monarch requested… but yes, Kazu is quite interesting. I must admit, I felt overwhelmed by him, not specifically our spar which was impressive but something beyond him. It was like I saw The Xiao that brought destruction to Aterius centuries ago… I certainly could have been wrong but under my Monarchs Grace I also share some of his memories, but we knew that testing and acquiring Kazu was the most important thing. But now I wonder, what kind of person he really is behind the unmoved mask he wears, I'm interested in finding out. Kazu, I do hope we can become acquainted as time passes," Antoris stated and gave me a small but honest smile.
Reiner only scoffed like he didn’t agree. "Tch, I don’t know anything about that… the only thing I saw fighting him is that creepy hollow look in his eye, its like he wouldn’t hesitate to end you at any moment… heh, it’s actually kind of exhilarating," Reiner said which caused Lilith to hit his arm.
"Kazu isn't creepy! He’s the strongest! That's why we have to stay together! If we do that Kazu will be happy!" Lilith said with a small but happy smile. Although it entirely didn’t make sense to anyone here but once again the strange girl voiced her thoughts in her own unique manner.
Antoris couldn't help but to chuckle at her, while I found myself staring blankly at her but at the same time Reiner was looking at her like she was the most irritating thing on the planet. “Oi, brat don't go yapping your mouth until you say something that actually makes sense,” Reiner sneered.
Regardless of that fact Antoris only gave a small chuckle as he gave Lilith a glance.
"Now, Reiner that’s no way to talk to someone who’s taken two unlikely people like yourself and Kazu as company, but it also makes me wonder just why this young lady decided to join you," Antoris mused at his observation as Lilith cluelessly blinked, however, Antoris didn’t press the question any further. "Well, I suppose it isn’t important right now, I've made my decision regardless of what happens,” he said before turning his attention to Reiner. “I expect you to help Kazu build his reputation within the guild so he can be recognized as one of the top benefactors. You will be strictly limited to guild request within Vectus. The word of a Xiao within the guild will spread like wildfire, the Monarch and I know many of the other Monarchs won’t agree but in Vectus they can not deny my Monarchs wishes,” Antoris added but only got an annoyed scoff from Reiner.
"I already knew that old geezer. But yeah, he’ll be just fine,” He retorted which caused Antoris to smile a bit at him.
"Very well, I wish you three luck in the future, and I expect much from you Kazu Xiao. I have other business to tend to, don’t forget to pick up your new plate on your way out. I will see you again, " he said with a wave of his hand before turning away and leaving the arena with Xander and Cayto who followed shortly after him.
Regardless, Reiner, Lilith and I turned to the crowd of people who had funneled out of the arena and picking up their designated Guild Plating from the pedestal where the guild announcer handed them off.
The lady seemed to have an uneasy look on her face as I collected my guild plate, and she certainly didn’t give me any pleasantries as I collected it. After the exchange I was in possession of a shiny platinum plate with my Rank and Name etched into it.
Once we exited the guilds arena, Reiner led us back into the busy lobby filled with people who either looked at guild requests or simply rested at the various tables.
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Still, we found ourselves at the board that held various requests to be filled. Most consisted of Mana beast extermination requests, whether that was nests or individual species, the reward and risk was also dependent on rank.
“Heh, I can't believe you landed yourself as a platinum rank. That makes things a lot easier for me at least we’ll get some decent fights and money. We'll start off with as many of these extermination requests as we can and go from there," Reiner remarked as he pulled one of the requests off the board and quickly scanned it before handing it to me.
Lilith didn't seem to care in the slightest as she turned her attention to me. "Kazu? Are we done yet? Lilith has been so bored!!” She exclaimed with some tiredness in her voice.
"We are done, we should head out and get this request over with," I said with the usual lack of interest. “I take it you know where to go Reiner. I don’t like wandering around aimlessly if I can help it," I said which earned a scoff from him.
"Heh. Yeah, the grove of Beasts is a popular spot. I don’t really care why but the place is constantly pouring out Mana beasts… free money," he remarked before turning away and headed toward the entrance of the guild with me and Lilith.
"Alright, let’s get going then," I said leaving the guild hall to complete the first of many requests I would have to do, in order to become one of the top members in the guild and fulfill Theitus's wishes for me.
(Antoris Vosse’s POV)
I sat in my office and stared at the ceiling above me. My core had finally calmed down after the encounter with Kazu and truthfully, I knew exactly why I was trembling, I was aware of the demon of the Great War.
And yet I made a deal with a Xiao that looked exactly like that very demon. In order to have every advantage for the coming changes in Aterius it had to be done. Still, my thoughts settled, and I became more comfortable in my seat where Xander and Cayto waited for any sort of response from me.
"Are you wondering if you made the right choice Antoris?” Cayto spoke up and as usual seeing right through me as I expected.
"Do you disagree? With my choice?” I asked which left him to glance at me with a smirk as the piercing blue eyes of his elven beauty held a mischievous gleam in them.
"I don't dislike it. The, Xiao is intriguing in every regard but he’s hiding everything about himself. it kind of makes me feel hot, just thinking about what I saw. Don't you agree, Antoris?" He snickered as I sighed a breath of air at him.
"I’m aware, but so long as he is willing to assist us, then I will do as my Monarch desires," I stated but I couldn’t say I wasn’t curious either. In fact. it was my duties to investigate. “I’m sure your aware Cayto but I’ll have you look into this, anything you find out please report it to me directly. A good start might be the young gold Rank, Miss Lilith. Who is accompanying them,” I added to which Cayto let out a breath of amusement.
"Hmph, already looked Antoris, her papers are legit, but I haven’t seen her around before. Still, I’ll happily take on this task, That Xiao has caught my attention," he said with an eager smirk one I could never understand if it was genuine or not. Although the Clan Aerith’s, Apostle, Lady Ena had a similar smirk, one that held a sense of amusement and self-indulgence.
Still, I cleared my throat in his moment of bliss. “Thank you. As for you Xander, I’d like you to continue searching for potential benefactors and serving the guild in general. Astrid is also busy in Luceria on my orders. That is all I ask of you for now,” I said which left him to only let out a small snort as he straightened himself.
"Yeah, whatever man,” he scoffed as he pushed his hand through his spiked hair that stood out in every regard.
"Thank you, with that being said, you both are dismissed,” I stated as the two of them left the office leaving me to lean back in my chair with a sigh.
Once again, I found myself unable to escape the thoughts of that memory that I shared with my Monarch. The moment I asked Kazu what his plans were was when I saw it, that terrifying existence that had once brought destruction to Aterius.
A world covered in fire and ash and an overwhelming amount of Magical Energy that devoured anything in its path. A monster. The demon of the Great War.
The words that crossed my mind during that moment in time didn't help in the slightest, but it was what my Monarch said. Despite everything it was only in that moment I felt the illusion of an Aura due to the memory. However, Kazu didn’t emit one himself.
I sat up in my seat with a sigh and threw my face into my hands.
“Is it worth dwelling on, Antoris? It was a mere coincidence it occurred. That being you envisioned has been dead for centuries. This Kazu lacks the power as that being despite his similar appearance. One thing is clear from that blackened sclera and that is he is a Xiao, it is quite a mystery after all this time,” my Monarch stated within my mind and caused me to feel a bit comforted by his presence.
"And yet, you took the risk of accepting him. It won’t be long till official objections start piling up on my desk,” I replied casually.
My Monarch mused for a moment before responding. “The threat is minor in the end. The benefits of having a Xiao and our last soon to be member will cause a growing attention on Vectus, that alone outweighs any negative consequences," my Monarch stated before I felt his presence shift from our casual conversation. “I will only say this once Antoris, that Xiao is different, unpredictable. Do not make him our enemy if we form an Alliance of mutual ground, I’m sure he will become a powerful ally to us,” My Monarch stated with a presence of absolute dominance and left me to feel that pressure with a single command.
"I agree. As you wish," I responded with some sweat trailing down my cheek, however our conversation ended there and left me to stare at the confines of my office.
The thoughts never ceased as my mind lingered over everything, in all honesty, I was filled with unease and a lingering fear.