(Insignificant Clan member POV)

The guild hall, as usual, was full of noise and bustling with activity around the tables, request board and receptionist counter where many different people could be seen. It was a sight I had known for years as a Patron clan serving the Monarch of Abris.

My few Clan members bumped shoulders around the table we occupied with some laughs and a few cups of alcoholic beverages. “Did you hear about that Xiao that joined the guild a year ago? I heard he could possibly become one of the big four… well five, if that happens. But still it’s pretty ridiculous,” My Clan member said before taking a large gulp of the drink that he had in his hand.

“Everyone knows these days the guild’s big four are delinquents, hard to believe the Monarchs even let the guild continue operating… Vectus gets a little attention and all of the sudden it’s allowed to recruit whoever they want. it’s like spitting on our Monarchs authority,” Another clan member remarked bitterly but by now everyone across Aterius had heard and had the same opinions on the matter.

However, that didn’t change anything. Monarchs had come to an agreement on the Xiao serving the guild as a benefactor, although patron clans only knew that much and were left to accept it. “Come on guys, it's not like it affects us anyways. The guild is just here to help us profit and monitor Mana anomalies. Let’s be honest he’s in the hound’s party. he has always been under close watch, it’s fine,” I spoke up, but my few clan members disagreed.

"If you think the hound is leading that party then you’re wrong. I was in a dungeon with them recently, the Hound and that Girl were practically chained… and the one holding the leash was the Xiao, even now, thinking about that amber gaze gives me the chills," another member chimed in his experience with the party.

There were many other stories about them that traveled around, even I once saw the Xiao, that cursed monster. And yet when that hollow amber gaze pierced my very being I couldn't help but feel terrified by it, I didn’t exist in his eyes. There hasn’t been an issue between them and Clans in dungeon raids, but I was sure every rumour had some truth.

“Oh please! You all sound stupid. That Xiao is pathetic, I’ve heard the ridiculous rumors of him being untouchable and that he actually has some skill behind this scary glare he has. it’s all bullshit. He’s like any other filth from cursed clans… worthless garbage,” the fourth member of our group spoke up with a disgusted sneer. “If that trash ever comes near me, I'll let him know exactly what his kind should do, heh… I might even be the one to end his pathetic life for him,” the fourth man added with a small growl, although his words were met with some laughter from us.

“Pfft. I’ll let you know if I see him, I’d love to watch,” one of us said which only caused the fourth to snort in response. After all his threats were nothing more than words of someone who might of drank a little too much.

I firmly believed that Xiao lived up to every rumor ever said about him, my parents told me a story meant to scare me into behaving as a child. it was about A Xiao, with blackened sclera’s. A being that would devour everything in its path and if we stayed out to late, it would swallow us to. I was a young child and believed it, so I listened, but when I saw his gaze, there was something else he exuded, a feeling of absolute death and domineering strength. I couldn’t help but feel a pressure that didn't leave me for days afterward.

And yet amidst our laughs and small comments the room filled with noise suddenly went cold as a presence entered the guild hall, it was like a fist squeezed my throat the moment I saw who had walked in. It was the very Xiao. My attention went down to my mug with disgust and fear lingering within me.

"Lucky you, it’s him... it's the Xiao, now’s your chance,” one of my Clan members said in a low whisper to the guy who was all eager to go after him.

The last thing I wanted was to start something in the guildhall but that didn’t stop the fourth member from standing up. “Your right,” he sneered before taking a step forward and even unsheathed his blade in the process. “… I heard some filthy Xiao thinks it has the authority to walk around like it owns the place. There’s a reason our Monarchs annihilated your kind. It makes me sick to even have to look at you. Maybe I should show you where your place is,” he sneered which caused everyone present to stare in their own way, some were in anticipation others in a sense of fear like me.

The Xiao and his two members halted in place, the hound was the first to snap his attention toward my clan member with a dark glare, “Oi, who the hell do you think you are talking to,” he snarled at him.

"Mind your own business hound. The only one I'm talking to is that filth over there,” my clan member responded with a growl, but it didn't take long before he was met with a scowl from the girl who clinged onto the Xiao’s sleeve.

However, that left the Xiao who never even gave the slightest hint that he cared, the only thing he had in his eyes was a cold and hollow glare that held no emotion. One that never bothered to acknowledge the existence of the man calling him out.

That alone made my member angrier as he raised his blade and pointed at him. “I know you heard me. Pay me some respect and turn around,” my clan member yelled at him.

The Xiao turned with his amber gaze falling onto him. I swore that I could feel the blood within my veins freeze at that very moment. “… huh, do you want something?” He retorted flatly without the slightest change in his demeanour.

My member clearly had a moment of doubt in his confidence before he tightened his grip on the hilt of his blade. "Yeah. Rumor has it your something special. Your kind is filth, useless trash who should be dead. I’m going to show everyone exactly what you are," he sneered and stepped forward.

The hound smirked in amusement as the girl on the Xiao's arm released her grip on his shirt as if they both knew exactly what was going to happen next.

“Heh, dumbass.” Was all the hound said before my clan member confronted the Xiao with a roar.

“Thundering strike!!” he yelled and immediately unleashed a powerful slash down upon the Xiao, but the swing that should have easily cleaved him in half was nothing more than a blur of lightning.

The whole guild was stunned by the sight of the attack that failed to hit anything, his blade was embedded in the marble floors of the guild hall and at the feet of the Xiao, who didn’t even move as if the attack wasn't even worth his time.

My member looked baffled as he realized that he had just completely failed.

“… You didn’t actually think you could hit me, did you?” The Xiao remarked with mockery and yet that Amber gaze of death and domineering strength never left my member.

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There was a second, I thought my member would come to his senses after being outclassed but he gritted his teeth together in embarrassment and anger as he considered his next action.

(Kazu Xiao’s POV)

A year had passed and things within Sura only got interesting. Although random encounters with the Clans didn’t happen often, in fact they usually stayed clear of me and my companions which suited us just fine, we had no reason to associate with the Clans beyond the occasional Dungeon raid.

Regardless, the man in front of me wasn’t anything to concern myself over, he simply was weak, but that didn’t stop him from ripping his blade from the guilds floor and tried his best again.

Despite the flashy physical energy, he willed into his blade, it was mere child's play. Even the speed of his battle art was below a B-Rankers average, it was a quite pointless display of power. Eventually his slash came down onto me and once again I simply watched it miss me completely. “Are you finished? worthless trash,” I remarked merely repeating the words he previously insulted me with and caused him to pull his blade back for another strike.

"You’re mocking me!? I'm going to kill you!!" He yelled in fury and swung his blade numerous times with the same result.

It was unfortunate I really couldn’t do much in situations like this because of the terms of my contract but it wasn't a bother. It was just another day in Sura, nothing to get to worked up over.

It wasn’t until the unmistakable dominance of Antoris’s aura surged through the guildhall and immediately caused everyone in the hall to fall into silence as they all looked to him at the top of the staircase that led to his office.

"May I ask why you are ruining the guilds floors? And insulting benefactors of the guild, those my Monarch gave the authority to be here? Should I send a bill and official complaint to your clan?” Antoris stated loud and clear for the man to hear as he made his presence known.

“… Of course not! I just had too much to drink!! Forgive my actions Antoris, my clan can’t afford to cause trouble,” The man begged immediately as he fell to his knees and lowered his head in respect.

Antoris’s sharp eyes glared down at the man as he sighed with displeasure. "Then I suggest you think about that, this is your only warning,” he said before turning his attention to me. “I see you’ve returned Kazu. Come along, I have a guild request, specifically for your party.”

I had no reason to question or answer Antoris, I had already stepped away from the man who fell to his knees and toward the staircase.

Reiner and Lilith were quick to follow after they mocked the man as they passed him. “Heh, your lucky. Dumbass,” Reiner sneered as Lilith stuck her tongue out.

Regardless without another word we followed Antoris to his office where we all took our usual seats opposite of his desk. “You should be more careful Kazu, remember Clans can be rather difficult to deal with,” Antoris stated calmly as he clasped his hands together. It was clear he was both worried and serious about it.

A side of Antoris I saw more of these days, in fact I believed that Antoris had become somewhat like our guardian in the passing year. He constantly looked out for us and offered advice when he felt the time was right, at times he did go out of his way to make sure we were comfortable and well provided.

"Oi, you know damned well. We didn’t start it.” Reiner growled at Antoris as if he was about to scold us on the matter, but instead Antoris chuckled in response.

"I'm well aware Reiner,” he said as he moved on with the meeting. “An entire year has passed since you joined us Kazu. You’ve surpassed my expectations, and you are so close to being recognized as one of the top benefactors of the guild. It won’t be long till the big four is known as the big five. Not to mention you even managed to get Reiner to start behaving, I never would have thought that was possible before hand,” Antoris joked with some laughter at Reiner's expense.

It was clear that he was praising me for all the work I did during this year, but it wasn't anything to brag about, I did what I had to do. Regardless, I had little to say in return and he was well aware of that.

“You really helped the guild, so thank you for that," Antoris said with a small smile before he continued. "Still, I believe it's time we discussed the topic that will be taking place in the coming month. An expedition into one of the three, eternal Labyrinths, this is the one in Vectus. Unlike dungeon raids where benefactors of the guild accompany a single Clan, expeditions consist of three clans as well as a party of guild benefactors. The clans are yet to be determined but expect to see Graced Clans as they bid for the expedition rights, the reason I’m telling you this is because I want your party to represent the guild in the expedition, and this will be your final requirement to reach the status as a top benefactor," He explained and waited for my response eager to hear my answer.

I was silent for a moment before responding simply because it was the first time, I had heard about this kind of dungeon raid. “There isn’t a need to ask what you’ve already decided on. I'll do it. But feel free to give me the details on this expedition,” I remarked in my usual uninterested demeanour as my head rested on my hand.

Antoris smirked at my words before explaining further. "Well, The Labyrinth in Vectus is one of the three that were formed in Aterius. They are constructs burrowing beneath the surface of Aterius, they are filled with Mana essence and ancient riches but that also means they are overflowing with Mana Beast due to the heavy Mana essence residing within. Regardless, the expeditions have never reached the end of the labyrinth’s depths. And the time has come to make progress into its depths," he stated before going on, "The labyrinths are a source of prime mana essence, that the Monarchs want. So far, the deepest we’ve made it into Vectus’s labyrinth is the thirtieth floor. Although the floors leading there are monitored because of excavation and mining, but that doesn’t mean they are free of mana beasts, despite being guarded by clans. However, as you would expect the further in you go, the greater the rank of Mana Beast await simply because of the density of mana essence," he said making his explanation clear.

Regardless, I got his point, and it seemed the plans for the expedition were still in the early stage. There wasn't too much information he could provide for me at the moment.

"Makes sense Antoris, well whenever you need us you know where to find us," I remarked causing him to laugh in return.

"… You certainly don't waste words, Kazu. Expect me to contact you soon for another matter. I also hope your most recent dungeon raid went well. You all look well enough," Antoris said looking us over in our usual attire after some time away.

“It was nothing more than another Dungeon raid. No problems to report here Antoris,” I answered simply which was met with a smirk and a push of his glasses.

“That’s good to hear. Well, that is all I had to discuss with you all. I take it you’ll be taking a break from guild requests. You’ve already done several Dungeon raids in a month,” he said wrapping up the meeting with a small smile.

"Probably… we might as well, since you’ve signed us up for this expedition. It’ll be good to take some time off,” I remarked standing from my seat with Lilith and Reiner shortly following after.

"Alright, sounds good. Enjoy yourselves and I’ll be in touch,” Antoris said as we left his office and to the lobby of the guildhall where our most recent payment waited for us.

Despite the looks we received we made our way out of the guild and into the rather busy streets of Sura toward the Inn our room was at.

The same room we have been staying at for a year. We entered and immediately we could feel the difference in atmosphere between the room and the common rabble. The comfortable space of the room allowed us to relax and take a moment to unwind, although our room had its own aesthetic as clothes and other items were scattered everywhere.

"We're finally home, Kazu! Lilith is so glad to be back! Let's enjoy the rest of our day together, pleaseeeeee?" Lilith pleaded with her usual fluttering gaze as she wrapped herself around me, which had no effect on me. After all, it was just something I had gotten used to from her.

“Heh, for once the brats right. it’s nice to be home. Been awhile since we got to take it easy,” Reiner remarked with a smirk as he tossed his overcoat to the floor.

I more or less felt the same way and already found myself headed for the couch, where I threw myself onto it with an audible thud. “It’ll be nice to take a break after all the hassle we’ve gone through this year.” I said to them in agreement which left us all to sit back and relax. Lilith happily cuddled up to my side and Reiner took up the couch opposite of us.

We certainly earned a break, especially when they had been working so hard this last year.