[b]"As strong as me? Bahahahahaha!"[/b] Xanxus nearly doubled over in laughter, barely keeping himself balanced from the edge of his seat. He had nearly taken Darrian down with him, leaning in a bit closer to whisper. His speech had become slurred yet understandable, his voice deepened as it lowered and he placed the most serious look a drunk man could do. [b]"I'm telling you, schlumy; that waitress been lookin' at us since we came in. You can have her, unless she can cook some good food-"[/b]

[b]"Xanxus?"[/b] A new figure approached the table, standing behind Xanxus as the drunken man turned around to see who it was. The man, whose body save for his head and several other portions around his elbows and knees was encased within armor denoting him as a Wyvern Lord patterned differently than the Ylissean standard and bore [url=http://gyazo.com/b8c444cf2baa0986752dddad872aab80.png]a different coat of arms,[/url] possessed midnight green eyes and black hair. On his back were two lances; a Spear and a Brave Lance, respectively. [b]"The force is requesting for your orders-"[/b]

Before the man could continue, Xanxus raised both of his hands in a giddy greeting and rose, briefly hugging him as he placed his hands on the man's shoulders. [b]"Garrett! It feels like it's been a week since I last spoke with you!"[/b]

Garrett shifted uncomfortably. [b]"Uhm, it [i]has[/i] been a week."[/b]

[b]"Really?!"[/b] Xanxus exclaimed, confused. He scratched his head and, already forgetting what Garrett had said, grinned as he began to gently push Garrett towards their table. [b]"Come on, let's have a drink! You remember Darrian, right?"[/b]

[b]"Yes. Yes, I do remember."[/b] Garrett nodded, keeping his eyes fixated on Xanxus instead of looking to Darrian. He backed away from Xanxus and the table, indirectly refusing the offer of drinking and returning to his previous inquiry. [b]"Anyway, the force grows tired of idling around and requests for your orders. Shall we assist you in the hunt for the remaining Shepherds?"[/b]

Xanxus mumbled an 'aaawwwww' and sat back down in his seat, looking truly disappointed. [b]"What say I put you in charge until I come back? Tell them to sit a little while back at the headquarters for now and get ready for a major operation when I return."[/b]

[b]"Understood."[/b] Garrett nodded again, not speaking out against Xanxus and quickly taking his leave after bidding farewell. Xanxus turned back to Darrian, a wide smile on his face. [b]"He's a good soldier, that Garrett. We go back before I was old enough to enter a bar by my lonesome."[/b]

After a momentary pause, the subject from before re-crossed Xanxus' mind. [b]"Heh, the proclaimed uncle of the next Exalt. Might as well make me King already!"[/b]

---

Zaino thought that Ambra was trying too hard to sound like a 'proper person'.

In his lifetime, there had only been few instances where the way a person spoke irritated the swordsman, and for the most part, they were all of noble birth. He had used to always take a casual approach when it came to speaking and typically disregarded the formalities unless it was a figure of noteworthy respect like his mother, and he could tell that this woman hid an identical trait of speech as well. Then again, he [i]did[/i] try to kill her twice, and most people who are held at the end of a sword's blade tend to not act casual around the aggressor afterwards. During the period of silence, it had occurred to him that Ambra had been staring at him for a prolonged amount of time, causing him to grow somewhat uneasy before she spoke up.

[b]"A master of swordplay?"[/b] Zaino laughed, shaking his head. [b]"You're mistaken. I'm no master like [i]my[/i] master. I'm just a disciple, prosper or ruin."[/b]

At that moment, Zaino was hit by another revelation: what happened to his master, a former Shepherd, after the massacre? Was he still safe behind Regna Ferox' borders, or had he heard of the dire situation and went to impede their genocide? [i]No, he's wise, he wouldn't do that. Even if he did, he's strong, he couldn't have possibly...[/i]

The idea of his master as one of the many casualties bothered him visibly, only serving to worsen Zaino's already-painful and present headache. [b]"Even so, I refuse to stay in the company of impostors."[/b]