They remained there in silence for several minutes.
Neither of them wanted to let go.
For Zane, it felt as though he had finally come home.
For Levi…
It felt as though he had found a missing piece of his childhood.
Eventually, Levi pulled back and smiled.
“I still have a lot of questions.”
Zane laughed.
“I know.”
“I’ll answer whatever I can.”
Levi looked at him carefully.
“So… where have you been all these years?”
Zane’s cheerful expression faded.
“I’m sorry.”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Not yet.”
Levi could tell there was a reason.
Whatever Arthur had done…
It wasn’t something Zane was allowed to reveal.
He decided not to push him.
Instead, he changed the subject.
“So…”
“What exactly are you?”
Zane tilted his head.
“I don’t really know.”
“I was made by Arthur.”
“I know I’m an artifact…” This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
“But I’m also alive.”
Levi frowned.
“An artifact?”
Zane nodded happily.
“The necklace you put on.”
“I’m connected to it.”
“If anything happens to it…”
“It affects me.”
Levi instinctively grabbed the ruby necklace hanging around his neck.
“So that’s why it won’t come off.”
“Yep.”
“It belongs to you now.”
Levi looked at the glowing jewel.
“My father really made something unbelievable.”
Zane puffed out his chest proudly.
“He was amazing.”
Levi smiled.
“He really was.”
For a brief moment…
Neither of them spoke.
The room became peaceful.
Outside, rain gently tapped against the windows.
It reminded Levi of the nights when he would sleep with his teddy bear beside him.
He never imagined the bear had actually been listening.
Zane suddenly grinned.
“Oh!”
“I almost forgot.”
“There are a lot of things I need to teach you.”
Levi raised an eyebrow.
“Teach me?”
“Mhm!”
“The necklace isn’t just jewelry.”
“It can do much more than you think.”
Levi looked at him curiously.
“What do you mean?”
Zane’s smile widened.
“You’ll see.”
“But…”
“You have to trust me.”
Levi laughed softly.
“I think I’ve already decided to.”
Zane’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
He had waited sixteen years to hear those words.
Finally…
His master had accepted him again.
The loneliness he had carried for so many years slowly began to disappear.
And although neither of them realized it…
This reunion would change Levi’s life forever.