Reunion

They got up and smiled while they dusted themselves. The pedestrians and Thunder simply stood aside, chuckling.

"How cool of a surprise is that?" brightly said Thunder.

"Didn't expect this," replied Levi.

As they headed inside, Levi turned to Syllia.

"This morning you were still..... how?" he asked.

"I woke up after you left, Aya insisted on doing this surprise," she replied without taking her eyes off him.

"Found out when I brought Helian back there, thought I'd give you a ride," said Thunder.

"Helian?" asked Syllia.

"Levi was ambushed this morning as he was on his way to the adventurer's guild, Helian was the original target, he survived but his brother died," said thunder, his tone darkened.

"His brother died? How? What happened? Why was Levi targeted too?" asked Syllia in rapid succession.

As they gathered at the workshop's entrance, Thunder launched into a detailed account of the morning's events.

Joh appeared at the end of the recap, towel in hand.

"So here I am cookin' for everyone and while I'm waiting all I'm hearing is this dreadful story," said Joh.

"Joh!" exclaimed Levi.

"Come here boy, I was worried you know," said Joh as he extended his arms.

Levi cut through the group, giving a sincere hug to someone who stood up for him where few would.

After a second, they stepped back and shook hands.

"You look better," said Joh.

"Doesn't feel that way," laughed Levi.

Thunder gently tapped Levi's back as he looked at Joh.

"He's a fighter, I'm telling you!"

"Alright, tell me more, but first, let's eat."

They made their way to the dining room, which was quite modest.

Nearly everything in the room was expertly crafted by hand.

The walls had little on them, but there were some paintings around of what looked like him among his kids.

As they ate Levi couldn't help but look at them, while Thunder kept the conversation going by himself.

In a short moment of silence, Joh addressed Levi.

"My three sons, not a day goes by without them being in my thoughts," he said.

The atmosphere slightly became heavier, as a short silence filled the room.

To everyone's surprise, Levi broke it. "You all look quite happy."

"Those were good days. We always went for traditional paintings despite it requiring more time for us to stay still. Yet most of the time they turned out pretty well despite everything."

"I do feel that the artist truly captured the moment in these," said Levi.

Everyone nodded in agreement, especially Thunder with his unwavering good mood.

"Well, you can imagine why I'm not fond of you entering that wretched tower," said Joh.

Levi's expression softened, as he put down his fork.

"I'm sorry, it's just something I need to do and something I wish to do."

"To get richer and more powerful?" asked Joh raising an eyebrow.

"No, I truly want the adventure itself. I've gone through my previous life as if I were already dead. After I arrived here, I realized I could truly live."

Levi softly smiled at Syllia, who smiled right back, as if she truly understood him.

"And I do need to become more powerful. There are things I hold dear, whether it's people or this adventure, for those reasons I'll get stronger."

Levi turned toward Thunder.

"And not to become the king's or church's pawn."

Thunder's smile softened as well, as he also put his fork down and inhaled deeply.

"I'll be there for you, Leviathan. Just know, that even if you want no part in this: they will reel you in. The king I can handle, but the church is fierce and zealous. There might come a day you'll need to take part in this against your will."

Syllia who remained silent until that point waited for Thunder to finish before continuing.

"And I, for one, have also made up my mind about what I want to do."

Levi arched both his eyebrows, his head slightly moving backward in surprise. "And what is it?"

"I'll be joining you on your adventure inside the tower."

Levi raised his hand, ready to say something but froze in shock. Before he could oppose she continued.

"I've already sent a note home, and I've talked to Aya earlier she'll help me arrange everything."

"But why?" asked Levi.

Syllia took a sip of water before answering.

"Just like you, a moment comes where you need to be determined about what you want to do, and accompanying you in this insane but amazing adventure is what I want!" she said, as her smile warmed Levi's heart.

"I doubt you could stop her even if you tried," jokingly said Thunder.

"He's right," she immediately said.

Everyone looked at Levi, Syllia more intensely than the others.

"Fine," he finally said, making everyone exhale. "If I can't change your mind and you understand the risk..."

"You're damn right you can't change my mind!" she smiled.

"Well, it was a good answer, Levi. For a moment there, you sounded exactly like my sons," said Joh.

Joh abruptly rose from his seat, prompting curious glances and shrugs exchanged among the others.

He opened a drawer that was a bit further, taking a locked box out of it. 

He brought it to the table, quickly wiping the dust with his hand as he searched himself for the key.

Joh sighed in relief when he found it, meticulously opening the box as everyone waited, curious about what this was about.

"What is it?" asked Levi.

Joh opened it all the way, revealing its content to be jewelry. 

He got three pieces out using a towel, laying them on the table as he breathed heavily, his hands shaking as he held them.

"These belonged to my sons."

Levi's surprise didn't stop there.

"I'm giving them to you now," he said with a warm smile.

All three of them were earrings with stones slightly glowing. They were shaped like long pentagonal prisms at the end of an extremely thin metal string. 

All three of them had a different color: blue, black and purple.

"I couldn't," whispered Levi as he looked at them.

Even Thunder had lost his smile, his face in utter shock. His eyes had widened, and his mouth was agape.

"Joh, these are..."

Thunder was at a loss for words, prompting Syllia and Levi to frown.

"What are they?" asked Levi.

Thunder replied under his breath. "Primaevil artifacts."

Joh spoke up, "I collected one for each of my sons. I've worked extremely hard, creating the most refined works in the kingdom."

"Levi, I don't even possess a single one of those," said Thunder, as he stared at the stones.

"Are they a big deal?" asked Syllia as she extended her arm to touch one.

Before her hand made it halfway, Thunder grabbed her wrist in a split second.

"You can't. Touching them could attune them to you," he said as he let go.

"He's right, they're for you Levi. I only have one condition."

"What is it?" asked Levi.

"Don't come back to me the same way my sons did."

Levi's eyes lowered as he grasped how heavy this gift truly was.

As he looked at them, everyone simply stared at him. Thunder simply nodded, gesturing that he should take them.

Levi extended his arm, taking the first one closest to him.

As the tip of his finger touched the jewelry, static electricity went from his finger to his heart. 

It felt as if something had grabbed it, like claws clenched his heart. 

It lasted for not more than a second, before it went completely back to normal, leaving no trace of pain.

Levi looked around, Thunder impatiently said "Go, go, the other ones too".

Levi went through the same process with the two other earrings, holding them in his hand as he took a closer look.

"Don't worry, this isn't everything. I'm the best blacksmith in Sungrove, I have more than earrings for you."

"You shouldn't have, this is too much..."

"Rubbish! Nobody ever hires me to make weapons or armor anymore. Ever since my sons death I've withered away making stupid tools, I felt young again."

Levi got up and hugged Joh, tapping his back a few times before breaking away.

"You're a hugger, noted," said Joh, making Levi laugh.

"I guess I am."

"And don't worry," said Joh to Syllia's attention. "I've got things for you too, but I need more time to finish, you'll get it before your adventure starts."

"Thanks a lot, Joh,"

"All I ask is that you come to me when you need repairs or upgrades. Especially if you find that sweet tower ore."

Joh said that last sentence with a creepy tone, as he giggled and rubbed his hands together.

"The rarer the better... I can't wait to work like this again... You better come back here every once in a while! With ore!"

Levi laughed loudly, "We'll make sure to come visit you once in a while. We'll put this workshop to work."

"Ah. So this is what we're doing huh?"

Everyone turned to the entrance of the room.

It was Aya, with her lips pushed forward in a pronounced pout, he arms crossed on her chest as she entered the room chin high.

"So we leave me out there in the streets, I have to make it all the way here with someone who's pretending I'm not even there as I monologue in the carriage, and when I finally make it here dinner's already over and the surprise gifts already given."

Levi shared a guilty look with Thunder, as they both bit their lips and diverted their gaze around the room. 

"Yeah. Okay." Softly said Aya. "Play that game. You're all coming back with me." Aya's face was right next to Thunders', as she was now basically throwing words in his ears.

"That. Includes. You. Thundy."