After a while

They had left the ice cream parlor, Aya leaving a generous tip as she thanked the owners once more.

Levi was glad to leave, people's stares got to him.

Avoiding rumors could've been manageable if it wasn't for Aya reaching for his hand once in a while, or wiping imaginary ice cream off his face.

"Let's get going!" Aya exclaimed as she led the way to the carriage.

People respectfully kept their distance in the street, but still whispered among themselves as they walked.

Upon entering their ride, Grant tapped the window, and they were on their way.

"Alright, where to now?" asked Levi.

"The blacksmith district," said Grant.

"Hey! It was a surprise," replied Aya almost outraged. "Fine, you would've noticed anyway."

While they bickered, Levi had Joh on his mind.

Been a while since I've seen him, last time he was defending me against Grant... I'll have to thank him properly.

"It's not only Joh, there's someone else you're forgetting!" said Aya, as if she read his mind.

"It's obviously-" started Grant.

"-Shut! Not one word, you've ruined enough surprises," quickly stopped Aya.

Who else? If not Joh, I haven't met that many people. Unless it's someone from my own world? Another Apostle?

"You've got me curious, at least," replied Levi in thought.

Aya had a large grin, proud of her scheme.

Grant on the other hand deeply sighed as he closed his eyes and rested his head back, disconnecting from the conversation.

The scenery shifted through the window again as they made their way to through Sungrove.

"Is that?" asked Levi, who got out of his seat to look outside.

"Yes, one of the multiple entrances to the Tower."

Levi watched as a fair amount of people came and went through a gate. A singular path that made a straight line to it.

He couldn't see the entrance to the tower itself, but along the path were more stalls for all sorts of things one could imagine.

A lot of those who were taking that path looked like full-fledged adventurers. Their armor and weapons differed a lot, as some had heavy two-handed swords on their back and others daggers at their waist.

Yet they weren't the only ones, as merchants and what looked like church officials also walked around, creating a diverse mix of passersby.

As the moment had passed, he sat back.

"Multiple entrances? Is there more than this one?" he asked.

"A lot more. The blacksmith district has a similar one too."

Levi's gaze went back to the ever-shifting scenery. 

Levi, accompanied by Grant and Aya frowned.

A rumbling noise he knew too well made its way toward them.

Thunder.

Levi's eyes darted everywhere as he tried to figure out where the trouble was. 

"Relax, he's just being dramatic," monotonously said Grant.

The rumbling became more important until lightning struck right before the carriage, prompting the horses to panic.

The driver did his best to calm them, while Levi quickly opened the door and got out.

Thunder's apologetic smile only fueled the fire, as the driver spoke in curses.

Thunder's expression brightened when he saw Levi, completely ignoring the driver.

"Levi! Good, let's go!"

"What do you mean?"

As Thunder walked toward Levi, Aya got out behind Levi, using the step while lifting her robe.

"We're already heading there, don't you dare..."

As Thunder reached Levi, he quickly grabbed his shoulder.

"Close your mouth, and maybe tense your body a little since it's your first time," he said.

Without warning, Levi's vision blurred for a split second. A slightly burnt smell accompanied the new landscape unfolding before him.

They had jumped. 

He wasn't with the carriage anymore but on a roof. 

Instead of a loud thunderclap, all he heard was a 'snap' of fingers.

It felt as if the sky broadened, the clouds and the setting sun were only a background to a much bigger tapestry. 

The cascading ring city went much further than he could've imagined. Levi could see as the roofs went slightly downhill for kilometers until they reached a wall that went around the whole city.

The ring city that encircled the imposing Heaven's Tower was truly a sight, its scale barely reaching what Levi thought it looked like.

From this side, he could see the Royal palace, with its green landscape which truly stuck out from the white-stoned structures that composed most of the city.

He could barely see beyond the walls, but he could distinguish green plains that evolved into mountains further away, their white summit striking him despite the distance.

"Quite a sight huh?" 

"Quite," replied Levi, mesmerized.

They stood there for a few minutes, while the heavier winds ran through their hair and clothes that fluttered with the breeze.

"Alright, tense up..."

Quickly, Levi's muscles tightened as he held onto Thunder's shoulder.

With another 'snap' sound, their environment changed for another roof.

Without a break, a series of 'snaps' accompanied the scenery seemingly scrolling before his eyes until for once they finally landed in a street.

When they landed, Levi staggered, leveraging Thunder's shoulder for balance as his legs unsteadily found their footing.

"Yeah, line up a few of those jumps and it starts to feel like being drunk," said Levi while Thunder tried to help the best he could.

"Yeah, I remember feeling that way at first, you'll get used to it."

Thunder smiled, while Levi finally noticed where they were. 

"Joh's workshop!" 

Using Thunder's shoulder as a cane, Levi started walking forward, stumbling here and there while Thunder chuckled.

They were halfway toward the door before it was slammed open.

Blond hair, blue eyes and a warm smile he hadn't seen in a while. 

Her dress fluttered with the wind as she sprinted toward them. 

The shoulder he was holding on abruptly got away from him, as Syllia jumped in Levi's arm, bringing both of them to the ground.

"I'm so sorry," said Levi while Syllia buried her face in his chest.

He could feel her fingers tighten their grasp on his clothes, and her heart beating heavily as she stayed still.

"I'm just glad you're okay," she finally said.

At that moment, he could feel his grasp tighten on her back as well.