Xerxes was met with huge unexpectations when he left the tent; a swarm of people began rushing towards him. Whether it was people who were spectating or people who were involved in the tournament, there was a large amount of respect given to him.
He met everyone with smiles and thanks; regrettably, he wished that he could involve himself with them a bit more, but he was focused on making amends with Thornfum.
Xerxes quickly started moving through the crowd, as his body ached with exhaustion from overusing the copious amounts of mana he had to in one surge.
Eventually, he was able to get somewhere relatively quiet, and he instructed Airi to search for either Thornfum or Leiyas' mana signature, as Claudia was resting in the tent, so she wasn't able to help.
Heeding his order, Airi flew as high as she could, trying not to be seen by anyone, as Airi, after all, was Xerxes' trump card.
Waiting for a few minutes, quite nervously, Airi immediately reported something: "I spot them only a few hundred metres away, and Thornfum… seems over the moon."
Xerxes was baffled; he didn't know what Leiya could have possibly said, but if it was anything that could make him relax even in the slightest aspect, he didn't mind.
**
After Thornfum blew off some steam and ranted about Xerxes till Leiya's ears were on the verge of collapse, he finally piped down and rested.
Leiya then asked him a question: "Xerxes told me that you were going to craft him a sword because you admired his skills and that you hadn't seen anyone like him at his age, so why are you being so rebellious? Why can't you just listen and make everything go smoothly?"
With all the stress of the past, the present and the future weighing down on Leiya, she wanted to genuinely understand why Thornfum couldn't simply be civil at a bare minimum.
Thornfum spoke proudly, "Ya' see, I don' need someone noble, someone heroic or whatever to wield one of my blades; I jus' want it to be seen in glory. Don't get me wrong, I know the zombie lad is strong, but he jus' pisses me off. Where does he get off thinking he's such a great leader? He ain't nothin' like that! He doesn't have a clue what he's doing."
Leiya then reiterated her question, "It still doesn't answer the question, Thornfum. Yes, he may make you angry, but why? Who is a good leader in your eyes?"
There was no hesitation, not even a singular pause, before he answered.
"As much as I hate her, Reinwald Furdia, the mastermind behind the Bloodrein," Thornfum said simply, whilst reminiscing on the past.
"She was my leader," Thornfum said, emphasising the 'was'. "She was my mother, and she damn right made it clear that I wasn't a 'son'; I was more of an apprentice to her, someone who she wanted to see her skills flourishin' in me. She thought 'cuz of her age, she wouldn't be able to live up to her potential."
Thornfum put a hand on his chin. "But how does someone who forged a wall out of the dead men's weapons across Eros for miles long even amount to that? How does someone who was a tier one in earth even do that? How does someone who was the tutor to Mazium Forbringer do that?"
Leiya wasn't exactly sure how to respond, but she could empathise at the bare minimum. It was a matter of family issues that had caused him to turn this way.
Aemon was someone whose strength appeared insurmountable, someone who she needed to surpass, and it was drilled into her since day one; she only wondered, 'Could it be the same case for him?'
She could only see how similar Thornfum and she were, but the issue she believed Thornfum had was him not receiving the belief to grow stronger than that; he hadn't seen anything stronger. To him, his world was narrow, whilst Leiya's had become so vast, Yves being a catalyst to that.
Leiya simply asked, attempting to get a read on him, "Do you not believe in yourself, Thornfum? Is that why you try to appear better than you are? Do you think you have to be expressive at all times because it makes you feel like you are..?"
She could slowly see the cracks in Thornfum opening like aged stone; it was a barrier he had created, forged – as he had been taught all of his life to do.
Thornfum spoke with visible frustration, "Nah, I believe in myself; I ain't got a single doubt in my dwarven strength. What I got my doubts in is the zombie lad and his ability to be a full-fleshed leader."
Leiya's voice seemed to be more urgent, just wanting to know why, and so she asked, "Why? What's your problem then? You're telling me her feats about your mother, you're telling me all of this, but what does it actually show?"
Thornfum then spoke coldly, "It shows that I've been wronged by someone I viewed as a leader before; they jus' leave. When somet' seems more convenient for them and their status, they'll leave. What about when Xerxes finds his way back to Layne? Is he gonna' leave? You don't even gotta' answer, 'cause I know, so why put my belief into somet' that I know will end?"
"M'mother's strength was something I admired, but to hell with it."
Leiya had feared that very same thing: when Xerxes returned to Layne, would he forget her too? But thinking of his smile, of his dedication and his words that night after they awoke in the Baratheon Kingdom…
The words splashed her face like cold water, eliminating all doubt: 'I won't go anywhere. It's just who I am. I'll never leave you, not after everything.'
"If you think Xerxes would just leave, then you're wrong, and you clearly don't know him, nor what he's been through. Unlike us, Thornfum, he hasn't even had a functional family; he hasn't had anyone he can exactly look up to in strength. Xerxes is a product of his surroundings, his determination, and I won't let you assume other than that," Leiya affirmed adamantly.
Thornfum paused, looking at her—for once, trying to get out of his constant doubt of people. "All m'life I've been ridiculed by the people of the adventuring district; my mother left me like I was some parasite she was relieved to, and you expect me to believe that he'll not go? You keep interrogating me like the bailiffs when I ent' paid m'taxes, so lemme' ask you: how do you expect me to believe in him?"
Leiya replied, "You wouldn't know unless you tried. I know it's a hard ask of you, Thornfum, but you have a goal to gain the materials to craft a sword; Xerxes needs to win, and I need to as well, and how unfortunate would it be not to. You fear things ending, but truly think, deep down: who else gets stabbed through the stomach to keep fighting for victory?"
She then pressed forward, "If you're afraid of something going away, of something ending, then dreams and belief wouldn't have value. We value things, people, experiences because they have an end. You may not realise it in the moment; I know I didn't, but Thornfum, I guarantee you: the time spent closing yourself off from the party in pursuit of something else will haunt you."
Thornfum, finally hearing enough, said, "Fine, FINE! I hear what ya' saying. But I want a reward for all my efforts!" he exclaimed boldly.
Leiya raised an eyebrow. "Go on…"
Thornfum closed his eyes, crossing his arms with a smile. "The magnificent beauty, my damsel in distress, my sapphire hottie must go on a date with Thornfum Furdia once Xerxes gets back to Layne!"
Leiya sighed; thinking about it, she didn't imagine the first date of her life having to be with Thornfum—she definitely had something else in mind, to say the least...
But if it was beneficial for the party, it would be a small sacrifice. "I'll consider it, you perv…"
Thornfum then raised his hands, jumping in the air, successfully applauding himself. "I've got a date with Leiya! I've got a date with Leiya!"
And just as he was celebrating, Xerxes finally came into view.