Somehow managing a grin in his state, Thornfum turned towards Xerxes, explaining his two conditions: "I need to enter the tournament, and I need to be on your team. My second condition is that this year in the tournament, we need to get first place."
Xerxes wasn't exactly against Thornfum joining the team—after all, there weren't many people he exactly knew who would want to join his team. The reason being, in this tournament, there was a maximum age limit of 21, and the only person under 21 he knew was... Nicolas.
Airi then asked Xerxes a key question, despite Xerxes already intending to win this tournament due to the great benefit it held in assisting his return to Layne. She asked, "There must be a specific reason Thornfum wants to win the tournament. Could it be related to the prize or even a personal vendetta?"
Xerxes mentally responded, "I ought to ask, just to know what I'm getting myself into."
Xerxes' focus shifted onto Thornfum. "Thornfum, I'm not opposed to you joining my team, but I need to know why. Why do you want first place?"
From what Xerxes had already gathered, from Thornfum's unusual way of speaking and narcissistic behaviour, always referencing himself as 'the great', he was quite an odd person.
But now there was a different look; he could see a bit of humility in Thornfum as he spoke. "My intention, Zombie lad, is t'obtain one of the rare materials that will be given away."
"Ya' see, last year when the tournament was commencing, I saw what Tristan had gotten. He was awarded a very rare material called riftshard, it's native t'Fedradia, and c'mon, who makes better swords than the people of the East? It's kinda' their whole thing. Now, this tournament, I've heard some rumours 'bout what this ore may be."
Xerxes replied, "Rumours from who?"
Thornfum quickly got frustrated, "Let me explain m'story first! That's besides the point as well, but if you do want some info, his name is Orpheus, you don't find him, he finds you!"
Then quickly brushing past it, Thornfum's eyes glimmered with admiration, "Nightsteel. Nightsteel is a metal that all national treasures have been made with."
Xerxes cut Thornfum off before he could continue. "What? What is a national treasure?"
Thornfum looked at Xerxes in awe. "Ya' freak, how don't ya' know what a national treasure is, ya' donut?!" he exclaimed, angered by Xerxes' ignorance.
He then went on to explain the significance of national treasures, which piqued Xerxes' interest more than he could have ever expected. "Nightsteel is the very same steel that the gods used t'craft their weapons. We, as mortal races, tried t'replicate this, and the best crafters of the time—the Great War of Succession—crafted 'national treasures' from this steel, for each one of the Aspects of that time."
"These weapons were continuously passed down through the years t'every single one of the Aspects that stand today. Ya' see, what makes this so special is that the limited reserves of that steel we have today are specifically only used t'create weapons for the Aspects—if anything does happen to one of those weapons. But throughout history, only one of those weapons has ever broke!"
Thornfum then erratically shook his head and crossed his arms. "But that's besides the point. If I'm able t'craft with nightsteel, then I'll become closer t'achievin' my dream of bein' a better craftsman than the gods themselves!"
Putting his hands on the sides of his hips, he spoke like his dream was in reach, "That's my goal! And it starts with winnin' this tournament—this is where ma' true abilities can be tested. Of course, ya' can keep the weapon. I've searched long 'n' hard for someone who can grow with a weapon of that calibre, and I think y'can."
Despite the immense power and privilege someone could wield from a weapon crafted of such material, Xerxes admired something else in Thornfum—his ambition. Even though it sounded unrealistic, foolish even, he understood what probably drove him toward such a drastic goal.
There must have been something tied to his past that has pushed him. And if he were like me in that sense, then I don't doubt that Thornfum can perform. Just like I want to reach my goal, I can respect a goal like Thornfum's. So...
Xerxes outstretched a hand to Thornfum. "Thornfum, I think this marks the start of our party. Though we'll need a fourth member to actually be allowed to enter the tournament, I think this is a start, and I know we can win."
Thornfum's eyebrow furrowed as he let out a sick laugh. "HAHAH! Thornfum Furdia always gets his way! To the start of Thornfum the Great's party, with his disciple, Xerxes Draedon: The Zombie Boy, The Executioner, Thornfum's BLADE! Haha!"
Xerxes sighed and spoke to Airi. "Maybe I spoke too soon..."
Airi sighed alongside Xerxes. "I have a bad feeling about Thornfum and your future relationship, but at least we're one step closer to entering the tournament..."
Letting out a nervous "Yeh," Xerxes decided it was getting quite late and that he needed to return to the tavern.
"Well, Thornfum... the Great, I need to head back to the tavern. I'll be working again tomorrow, but I'll try to meet you next time, with Leiya, if she's up for it. But feel free to come down if you ever need to."
Thornfum finally stood up, holding his shoulder. "I'm goin' t'get a friend t'sort this devilish mark on m'shoulder, but till then, disciple, I'll see ya' soon! I also appreciate you bringing your leader a maiden, known as Leiya!" Thornfum then began trotting along as he ran past the forest to some place Xerxes didn't know.
"Thornfums definitely going to piss me off.." Xerxes said whilst walking away.
***
A while later, Xerxes decided to return to the tavern, slowly using the spare key Bertha had given him as he crept back in and walked upstairs.
Xerxes walked to his room, the fatigue of utilising Airi's flames slowly setting in, pressing pains that made his core tight and his head filled with pressure.
Leiya was still awake, gazing out the window into the starlit night. Airi flew to her portion of the bed, where she had started to regularly sleep, as Xerxes asked Leiya, "What kept you up, Leiya?"
Leiya returned Xerxes' look, taking a deep breath. "I think I'll need to distract myself somehow, Xerxes. Everything is just playing on my mind, and if we train, then at least... at least I won't be stuck in my own thoughts."
Xerxes began walking to Leiya, sitting down at the side of her bed and placing his hand on hers. "You remember what I said to you, Leiya. I'll be here, and when you're ready to train, I'll be here. Let me be honest with you, things have been terrible recently. But just today, I met a narcissistic bastard. He's a dwarf, his name's Thornfum. He's agreed to join our party. And all of these beginnings; me going to the Fallen Kingdom, us forming this party...it's made me realise that no matter how much of a rocky start we have, the only thing that matters is how we finish."
Leiya looked at Xerxes. What she had noticed over these two weeks in Baratheon was that his face was never sincere, unless he was with her, someone he respected, someone he cared for like a person he had known all his life.
"What I'm trying to get at, Leiya, is that our stories, our destiny, will only be a tragedy if our start is what defines it. It would be a tragedy if we never got our revenge, if we never achieved our dreams. So don't look at the past or present—look forward into your future as if you can grasp it, as if it's already here."
Xerxes then rested his head back, looking at the stars, his eyes growing ever so tired from the training and work he had been doing. "I know you can do it, Leiya. Honour your name. Honour your family, because any person of the Truth family I know wouldn't stop now."
Leiya's vision blurred as she looked at Xerxes, who was dozing off. "You mean so much to me, Xerxes. Thank you for your words and your perseverance. Starting from tomorrow, I promise I'll try harder, I'll be better, and I'll begin training. And I'll help you get back home."
Xerxes gave a toothy grin. "That's the Leiya I know."
Leiya nodded, tears rolling down her cheeks. She immediately jumped towards Xerxes, hugging him, just like the kids they were.
Just before dosing off Xerxes said, "at this point, we can't be against each other, Leiya, because right now even if it is hard to admit, we need each other more than ever right now."
Leiya nodded her head, as they both slept, Airi also flew over, resting on them both as they all fell asleep, ready for the next day where things were about to change.