I followed the guild employees as the sun fell below the horizon and the bright lamp posts that illuminated the Guild grounds began to glow in their place along walls the path I followed with my escorts.

They didn't say much of anything to me during our walk, but I didn't mind much, I simply had a lot on my mind. Eventually we entered the Guildhall that was still missing well over half of its staff and was shown to a room on the upper floor of the Guildhall, surprisingly it wasn't what I expected it to be. In fact, it was quite sizeable and comfortable for three people, there was a large bed and desk in the corners of the room

"... you guys really went all out huh?" I asked while we stepped into the room with Lilith and Reiner resting in the arms of the two guild employees.

They both nodded and set the two on the bed with care, "Theitus's Orders were to provide you with everything we can offer. We've also been informed the Assets and the Redmanes will return before daybreak," one stated before he scratched at his head looking a bit embarrassed. "May I speak freely, Kazu."

I turned my attention to him after my glance at the room, not all that bothered by what he said but simply a bit tired of their formalities. "... you don't need to ask me to speak freely, just say whatever is on your mind," I said with some humor before he straightened himself and looked to me with an air of seriousness.

"The Xiao deserve respect! there isn't a single clan from Mythral who would accept such a thing so easily," he stated clearly before he continued with a more hushed statement. "... Right now, Mythral is at it's strongest since we witnessed the return of a Xiao. That alone has reignited our hope in this age... You may not have seen the impact you had on Mythral but all of us including Theitus knew you would lead us back to our former glory. We believe in you, Kazu," he added which caused me to listen with my full attention.

I was certainly caught off guard by his words and didn't expect any of that. Still, despite my brief moment of speechlessness I could understand his perspective from Mythral's history. "... I'll keep that in mind, And it's not only just me. Theitus has done a lot to turn this around, I'm glad you all are helping me... for your former glory or not." I said to the man who simply looked like he found some peace in my response.

"The pleasure is ours." he stated with finality as both the Redmanes present bowed in sync. "If you have no other orders we will take our leave," they added with no intention to relax with their formalities.

"... You can go. That is all. I guess," I said to them before they left the room with the acknowledgement of my words and the door closing behind them.

After their departure I sat at the desk opposite of the bed Reiner and Lilith were sleeping on and I leaned back taking in the silence I been surrounded in lately, I didn't feel fatigued or even felt the need to rest despite all that had happened in the past few days or so. "... is it wrong for me to feel a bit overwhelmed by all of this?" I asked myself with a bit of humor after my brief moment of silence, I couldn't say I had so much thrown at me all at once like this before, perhaps my musing was because I had finally let everything sink in and it was starting to hit me.

[Notice: The creator is feeling overwhelmed: There is no plausible reason to feel such a thing: Suggestion: The Esoteric Manifestation can be used at any given time: This will drastically help to clear the creators mind and allow for the continued development of the creator]

My Esoteric Restrictions spoke, and it was expected, in a way I was talking to them. "... I guessed you would have said something like that but right now I really don't think that's necessary. It just feels strange to be in a situation this big, and on top of it I got Redmanes treating me like some kind of superior who knows what to do at any given time." I remarked with some more humor to myself noting the Esoteric Restrictions advise. "... Even what they said, its like Theitus was waiting for a chance to take advantage of an opportunity that would benefit Mythral..."

[Affirmative: There is a high chance that is the case: The Being known as General Theitus acted in accordance to his position: General Theitus served as The Apostle of Mythral since the Age of Gods: The Esoteric Restrictions analyzed upon meeting him precisely seven hundred and thirty days ago: He held great sadness for Mythral's state and absence of the Tian sovereign: It is a given he would do all he could to find an opportunity to revive the Tian Sovereigns Domain: General Theitus made the most logical decision choosing the creator to lead the way forward.]

I took in the Esoteric Restrictions words that were hard to argue with and sighed a bit, but I was grasping things I looked over in my time back in Mythral, one being Theitus was an Apostle of Mythral. Which made sense the more I thought about it, but it also brought up the mystery of the Tian Sovereign, the massive statue that sat in Mythral’s center was how I recalled whomever this being was, one that was mentioned numerous times now and even in my past life this being seemed to have a profound impact on me, but what really came to mind was just how familiar he was to me. "The Tian Sovereign... he really reminds me of Indrath… I wouldn't mind if he had some words of wisdom, that sappy old man" I said thinking of Indrath, while I stared out of the window near the desk as if he was somewhere out there in the distance, and at the moment I really did believe they were the same person but didn't understand why Indrath hadn't mention that.

[Unknown: The being Indrath wasn't able to be analysed: Notice: The Creator is no longer feeling overwhelmed.]

My Esoteric Restrictions informed me. "... You really do get to the point, whatever..." I mused before a final sigh left my lips. "Open the Esoteric Manifestation." I added a few moments after which caused me to return to the state of my Esoteric restrictions where the sound of the large wheel turning overhead could be heard again.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

The hours that passed in the Esoteric Manifestation almost felt like resting, this was because in a way this was similar to someone cultivating and while I couldn't see the passing of time here it passed just like dreaming, the information collected over the course of my time here helped me to become even more accustomed to it.

Still, even if no information on my past self came up, things like how to use my new abilities were gained and how to form a communion with specifically Reiner was learned, the method didn't include Lilith, but I assumed it would work for both of them, considering it was similar to the time I cultivated with Isabelle.

My Esoteric Manifestation closed after the sun had begun to rise, causing me to come out of my own little world and find Lilith and Reiner still asleep on the bed. The room was quiet aside from their snoring and the morning breeze that filtered through the window.

I was a bit surprised to not find Lilith wrapped around me like usual, but I was completely fine with it. Regardless, I stood from the desk where I sat and stretched out my arms. "... I wonder how long they'll be out," I remarked to myself not overly bothered, usually they'd be up shortly after I was but this time it looked like that wasn't going to be the case.

They had more than earned a break after what they went through so I was fine with giving them some time to themselves. I would start the day without them and stepped toward the window to adjust the curtains to block the sunlight from hitting the bed.

However, as I did outside of the window sat two peculiar black birds, who looked to be almost waiting for someone. Of course, these black birds weren't just any random birds. These two birds were none other than the pets Lilith insisted she would keep around, since I healed them and now, they really didn't leave at all, but I didn't miss that these two were staring at me as if they had a message for me.

I opened the window thinking that they wanted to linger around Lilith, and both perched themselves onto the windowsill without a moment's hesitation. The one that was a bit larger than the other look to be leading the other and, in some way, held a note of pride in his feathered form.

"Good morning, Great Master Kazu Xiao. The sun is quite beautiful this morning, it is a pleasure to finally be able to speak with you, I am your humble servant, Yami, the King of Shadows," the large black bird spoke to me and to be honest I was more than a bit shocked to see him talk at all.

I took a second to collect my thoughts and make sure I wasn't just hallucinating because this bird spoke with the voice of a man. "... Huh? I'm really not seeing things." I remarked to myself before I returned my attention to the black birds that were on the windowsill. "... Yami? Lilith gave you that name huh? Since when could birds talk," I added not knowing what to think about this.

Yet the larger bird, Yami, responded in the rather prideful manner he seemed to have. "That is correct, Great master. You should be familiar with Yoru as well, although it was not Lilith who gave us these names it was you, when Lilith said them the first time you didn't correct her, so these were the names thar were given by you. As for how you can hear me now, has much to do with your evolution if I'm to guess," he explained as he held his wing out to the other bird, who took it and made a bow in front of me. "Forgive, Yoru. she has yet to understand speech like we do but she will grow just as I have, she enjoys listening to Lilith talk, albeit a bit shy."

I was a bit perplexed, even if Yami was explaining things as he understood and yet even if he couldn't fully comprehend it himself the Esoteric restrictions were sure to inform me in the usual blunt fashion.

[Notice: the Creator formed a Communion with the beings: Yami and Yoru the King and Queen of Shadows: When the Creator healed them: This was a Unique Circumstance: The levels of their strength and Intelligence have been enhanced and will increase in direct correlation to the integration of the Communion: Currently Yami and Yoru are under the Creators current level by Ninety five percent]

"... So, they have five percent of what I'm currently capable of?" I mused to myself understanding the Esoteric restrictions explanation. "... Interesting," I remarked before looking back to the pair waiting for me to answer. "It's Alright, to be honest I didn't even know I could do something like this... but I'll take it... So why are you here. I'm assuming you didn't just come here to say hello," I said knowing they had some sort of purpose here just by how Yami had spoken.

"Very true, Great Master Kazu Xiao. You should know, the guildhall seems to be back to normal operations, those from Clan Kanmori have resumed their identity as guild employees and the messenger from Mythral is soon to arrive, in the next few hours I would expect," Yami stated with a few useful bits of information.

"Is that so. I guess being a bird you see quite a bit... having someone around who can gather Information for me would be helpful," I remarked seeing a useful purpose for the pair. "I'll be confined to the guild for the next couple of weeks probably, why don't you and Yoru gather what you can for me... I'd like to know what Clan Mugen and the other Clans have planned for my trial, the Monarch here in Vectus made it sound like they would be using this Trial to also ruin Vectus's reputation, I can’t let that happen, because I need the guild to stay here with the bonds I’ve made." I explained which caused both birds to listen intently.

"Understood, Great Master. Although we must tread carefully, those known as Apostles see much more than they let on, the ally you call Antoris has noticed us sometime ago now, I truly believe that man wants your complete trust. My Great Master has interesting choice in allies, an entire Domain has fallen into your hands. Kukuku... It is an honor to serve you," Yami stated with a gleam in his eyes as he looked over me, one that seemed to be full of reverence, but the pair didn't hesitate to depart with an almost inaudible flap of their wings and into the sky.

I watched as the pair vanished into the clouds and let a low hum escape me. "... There are some interesting things going on lately... Wait till I tell Reiner about our Yami and Yoru," I mused knowing if I told him the birds Lilith kept as pets were actually able to speak, he would probably growl and sneer that it is a load of nonsense and try to interrogate one of them just to prove his point, if he could even hear them. "... Whatever, with them I can gather more information than we have right now... honestly this is pretty amazing, My Evolution was far more powerful than I realized..." I remarked with some sort of smugness that made me feel a bit exhilarated at the thought.

Still, despite meeting my newest friends, the day hadn't started and there was no sign of Lilith or Reiner waking up yet. So, I decided I would start it without them, the message from Theitus was apparently a few hours away but being stuffed into a room all day would only make the time pass slower and I needed to stretch a bit more after being in my Esoteric Manifestation state for as long as I was.

With that thought, I left the room and closed the door behind me.