My time with Reiner and Lilith seemed to make the meaningless watch shift enjoyable enough. Although hours later Xander returned with a small bundle of something wrapped in a cloth. "Hey, I found some free grub if you guys want some," he said with a wolfish grin as he invited himself to join us.

I merely glanced at him for a moment before Lilith took her opportunity to crawl from my shadow to snatch whatever was being offered. "Lilith will have some," she said clearly still sulking, but the food was enough to distract her for a moment.

Xander sat next to Reiner with his sword leaning against the wall he rested against. “You really know what you’re doing huh Kazu?” He said insisting I take the food he held in front of me as if he was thanking me in some way.

I took it without much thought, and it wasn’t a second after Xander smirked as he continued with his train of thought, “We did bring our own rations but fine,” I remarked as Reiner took the initiative to comment on what Xander said.

"Heh. Kazu knows what he's doing with everything. There is no point in even wondering," Reiner remarked with a hint of amusement in his typical growling.

Xander chuckled in return, "Yeah. You've been with him longer than I have but I didn’t think I’d be saying that. I’ve never had anyone tell me how to utilize my great sword in combat by doing it in a way I would never consider. That's pretty damn impressive," Xander said with a grin as he tossed a small portion of the food in his mouth.

I could tell Xander was more than convinced of my capabilities although that great sword he carried around with him was more or less a weapon Zenki Ryu had complete mastery over.

Regardless of how I made it work, I still answered with the truth. “I would hardly consider it impressive…” I said before considering his comment. "I was taught Zenki Ryu with a similar sword to yours although this large blade wasn’t double edged. I simply found a way to utilize it to its fullest,” I explained to him like I had done so for Reiner some time ago with a different subject related to Zenki Ryu

Although to Xander this was his first time hearing that set of words, and as expected he raised a brow clearly confused but at the same time his interest was there. "Zenki Ryu… you say it like I’m supposed to know what the hell that is," he said causing me to give a glance his way.

"It was better to just be direct… Zenki Ryu is a battle art that has a mastery over all forms of martial arts. That's the short of it and I know I'm simplifying the information, but I suppose that is all that is needed,” I said as Xander rubbed the back of his head avoiding his own cluelessness.

“Alright! I get it.” he remarked leaving a momentary silence between us before I glanced his way.

“When we finish this expedition, I can teach you the basics. It isn't the easiest battle art to learn and your nothing like Reiner in terms of magic but still the benefits outweigh the time and effort it will take to master it even if that is a small fraction of it’s complexity and requirements,” I said leaving him to scoff with humor even if his intrigue was written across his face.

"Seriously!? Well, if you’re offering. I wouldn't mind," he said like he wasn’t actually interested despite how much he wanted to learn from me.

Although Reiner laughed in response. “Heh. You won’t be so damn eager after you're forced to listen to Kazu's tedious lessons... I sure wasn't," he remarked with a grin.

Xander only stretched his arms as if it would be nothing but a simple chore. "Hah, that’s fine with me but I’ll ask the obvious, why bother?” He asked curious why I had suggested that in the first place.

I couldn't help but glance back at him for a moment wondering myself how he didn’t understand my intentions. "… you already know the answer, the Guilds plan to form a Clan to raise their standing in the world. We’ll be spending more time together when that happens. So, I might as well help you out," I said which left Xander to pick his ear with his pinky.

“Gotcha, even if I think their plan won’t get their desired results. All Monarchs are greedy things clinging onto their position… still that kind of crap doesn’t affect benefactors in the slightest. At the end of the day, I’m my own person. I just go where my gut tells me to go, and those lessons don't sound like a bad idea. So, clan or not your offer isn't unwanted, Kazu," he said while his wolfish grin and eyes locked onto mine.

I merely watched Xander’s moment to voice his selfish mindset. Although that wasn’t a terrible thing to have and it was obvious his drive came from that, in other words he wanted to do it out of sheer will to surpass his previous shell of skills and become stronger.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“I suppose your right but there’s a chance I might not be able to remain within the guild if we don’t achieve Vectus’s Monarch plans. After all that is the agreement me and Antoris had between us. So, let's just focus on meeting their expectations,” I mused to which Reiner scoffed.

"Tch. Who cares. If you leave, so am I… I’m better off with you. We don’t need anyone else." Reiner remarked like it was the most obvious thing in the world, but he never failed to reaffirm our growing bond.

“… I couldn’t agree more but Antoris’s way creates less problems for us, and having the support of his Monarch and the guild is convenient," I said which left Reiner to think on what I had said and agree in his usual growl.

Regardless I left the subject at that and moved on with our idle chatter. Still, the three of them had a chance to rest, it wasn’t till hours later when Clan Aerith’s Lyra approached us as I kept watch. "Uh… Hey Xiao… the Clans are almost ready to head out again. Sorry that you guys had to be the one to keep watch but hopefully you all got some rest?" Lyra said with an awkward expression on her face.

I glanced over at the others who were either sleeping or lounging about while I sighed. "We slept plenty, there wasn't anything to report," I remarked not overly bothered about it in the least.

That gave her some relief before she gave a small smile, "I see, well I’m glad to hear that… I- uh- actually wanted to talk for a bit if that’s okay?” She said sheepishly as I only gave her a small glance.

“Hmm, it seems I have some free time. You have my attention. What would you like to talk about,” I said flatly to which she scratched her cheek awkwardly before sitting down across from me.

"Uh well, I noticed the sword Queen isn’t around... I actually respect benefactors a lot after I met her, I wanted to talk to her before we had to begin moving again but she isn’t with you all," Lyra said as she made herself comfortable.

I simply glanced at her before answering her question. "That is none of my business. It was quite obvious she wanted her privacy, all that matters to me is she is useful to my party," I remarked bluntly but Lyra wasn’t done just yet

"Uh... I see. You might not really care but I’m actually a pretty huge fan of hers, she’s quite famous in Luceria, there is no other benefactor that earned the title sword queen. Let alone Mastered Clan Aerith’s battle Art of Eternity," She exclaimed which left me to wonder why exactly she was telling me all this.

However, she didn't seem to notice my indifference as she continued on with her rant, "she also has had several occasions where she spoke face to face with Lady Ena, Clan Aerith’s Apostle, of course that was after she had put an end to a massive mana beast that Luceria had been struggling against. if she didn’t take action, I suppose Keegan and Kora would have dealt with it, but she was more than capable of handling it but still I suppose I kind of want to be like her, so my Apostle can see me too." she said like she was in awe and jealous of the sword queen’s exploits.

Regardless her rambling was interrupted as a scoff of irritation that came from Reiner who was close by and much awake as he joined the conversation. "Oi. if you want to talk about her so damn bad then go find her, you’re annoying." He snarled and caused Lyra to casually laugh it off.

"I should have expected the hound of black flames to be listening in, I get it. Is it weird I find it much easier to talk to a Xiao than you, despite the fact that the Xiao is also a monster?" She said with a sly smile leaving Reiner to glare back at her with his typical growl.

It was clear he was about to meet her comment with one of his own, but I did cut him off before that happened with a sigh. "… drop it, Reiner.” I remarked flatly and glanced back toward Lyra, "Astrid certainly sounds like a very interesting woman. But Reiner is right, if that’s all you wanted to talk about, I’m not particularly interested in Astrid and I'm sure you wouldn’t want to be seen talking to a monster like me," I said as I made my intentions clear, even if my curiosity about Astrid wasn’t in her strength or feats but rather her mysterious way of using an indistinguishable form of Magical Energy.

Lyra on the other hand couldn't help but smirk, “I’m glad you know that just because you are valuable to the expedition doesn’t mean my view of the Xiao changed. Still, I won’t question your tactics until this is over with, but your right I overstayed my welcome. So, I will be taking my leave now," she said while she stood to her feet. However, just as Lyra was about to walk away, she stopped for a moment. "I take back what I said about you being more approachable than the hound… elves have a keen sense for people and their nature even if I’m terrible at sensing it. I can tell you are something entirely different, you're hiding something, but I can't figure out what it is...” She said before she turned her cheek forward and leaving without a single glance back.

whether or not her intuition was a threat or not, I found it meaningless. After all what she saw wasn’t me but rather another part of me I barely had the time to dwell on.

“Heh, guess these pathetic S-ranks can see that you are stronger than them in every way.” Reiner scoffed as he made himself comfortable in his spot once again.

"It seems that may be the case, but I’m not the only one they see, both you and Lilith are among her deductions, that much is clear," I remarked which left Reiner to smirk at the thought.

"Heh. That’s still thanks to you, Kazu.” he said like it was an undeniable fact. Regardless, I simply mused with some form of pride knowing I had improved both of them.

Of course, Lilith was listening to the conversation from my shadow with a half asleep expression rested on my back.

It wasn’t long after our brief moment of discussion and time with my party wrapped up as the Clans were almost ready to begin their advance through the Labyrinth once again, even if it took them some time to do so.

Regardless Astrid returned to the group at that moment, she of course said nothing to any of us but nonetheless my party and I followed behind the clans into the eleventh floors corridor.