56 The Farhawk Family (1/2)

'Whoa, it happened again?! Though it was different this time... Instead of a temporary boost in strength, this time the Element of Self has permanently strengthened my soul. It truly is a mysterious power...' Lexa was lost in thought before she surveyed everyone's reactions, only to find that none of them had noticed. 'Looks like only someone on the level of that red furred freak's level could detect the Element of Self at work. Else, maybe it could be detected with the Conscious Eye if they had activated it.'

”Brother!” A familiar stoic voice cut into her thoughts. Lexa and everyone else at the table turned their heads to the Golden Cloud Inn's entrance, where the familiar bald headed Uncle Kil was walking into the inn, quickly taking an empty seat at the table.

”Uncle Kil!!” Andria immediately shouted in greeting, waving her petite hand in an exaggerated wave. Caught up in her excitement, Lexa swung her tail back and fort in rhythm.

”About time you returned.” Jonathan quipped.

”Hello, little niece, little lass!” Uncle Kil warmly greeted Andria and the kitten before glaring at Jonathan. ”I've been working on investigating that incident.”

”About that, has there been any clues, brother?” Alexander asked solemnly.

”Not much, we've had portraits of the two men made and shown them about town. But no one has recognized them.” Uncle Kil let out a defeated sigh.

Alexander was at a loss too and could only sigh as well. Seeing the conversation turning serious, he turned to his daughter and spoke with a hesitant smile. ”Why don't you and Lexa go in your room, let us grown ups talk for a bit.”

”Hmm...” Andria's lips immediately formed into a pout. She had just reunited with her brother and uncle and hadn't had the chance to play with them yet. How difficult!

Seeing her reluctance and knowing the severity of the conversation at hand, Lexa spoke up to coax her. ”Jonathan will definitely join us later, how about we prepare a surprise for him?”

”Really?” Andria's head tilted and her doe eyes looked at Jonathan in anticipation.

”Of course, I'll be up as soon as I can!” Jonathan couldn't refuse such a look from his youngest sister, though he wouldn't refuse anyway. He had always held a soft spot for this younger sister of his, unable to be as strict as he might be with the middle two. He thought this might be due to the large age gap between the two comparatively. ”Pinky promise?”

”Yeh, pinky promise!” Andria nodded her head happily and held out her pinky, which latched around his bigger one.

The two shook their hands in rhythm as they spoke in unison. ”May our pledge be seen by the Watcher in the Sky and heard by the Guardian of All!”

'Watcher in the Sky, Guardian of All?... I wonder what that's about.' Lexa refrained herself from asking and obediently leaped into Andria's arms as she reluctantly bid her father, brother and uncle farewell.

”Meow~ everyone!” Lexa added in her goodbye to Uncle Kil's surprise.

Uncle Kil's laughed brightly. ”You finally got a communicator? Hey, whose more badass, me or Jonathan?”