After meeting a prim and prissy yet energetic girl named Carmen, Juka continued his mother's errand; to get groceries for a strange 3-course meal, Juka didn't question his mother's wishes and was doing as he was told. So he went to the nearest butcher in town, traded off his wild meat and got enough money to buy what he needed and a bit more, So Juka walked around until he found a shop, he bought rice, lamb, fish, chicken, and some bread and after that he decided to visit a local blacksmith that he knew very well, his Dad was childhood friends and long time guild members with the current owner of the little establishment and the owner was very fond of Juka since he was a little boy.
"Hey Uncle Toby," Juka called out down into the deepest depths of this little black smithery, "Anything good on sale?" he inquired. Not too long after he called out there was a loud metallic CLANK, like someone had set down a metal tool on an anvil and right after there were thundering steps coming up the stairwell, and a tall muscular man with a goatee and no hair on his head emerged and walked over to the counter that Juka was standing at and welcomed him with a warm embrace. "Juka, It's been too long, " Toby said while still maintaining a firm grip on Juka's shoulders, "How've you been?" Toby asked. " I've been doing great Uncle, " Juka responded, " And how about yourself, are you doing well?" Toby wanted to say that things were good but that would be lying, and he wouldn't want to lie to his nephew. "Honestly Juka, things haven't been going so great at all, I'm kinda short-staffed and the orders from adventurers are starting to pile up," Toby said quite disheartened " Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the time I get to refine my skill and contribute, but it's just too much for these old bones." Juka nodded his head " That kind of pressure is enough to make any man crack." Juka looked around the workshop and let out a sigh, "You push yourself too hard sometimes Uncle. You look like you haven't seen a bed in months" he said quite bluntly and Toby knew that he hadn't been taking care of himself within recent times in order to fill the requests made by adventurers and gladiators alike.
Toby sat down at the cash register and stroked his beard a little, "Your father always had an eye for these things, you're very much like him my boy....I do admit that I've been swamped and I haven't had much time for rest, but those monsters aren't going to give up and that means that I can't afford to either"
Toby then switched gears. "Anyway, enough about me...how've you and your mother been up in Stonehenge?; heard there's been a few monster sightings up in those parts"
"Well Mom and I have been doing alright since Dad died...I take care of most of the heavy-lifting jobs like hunting and collecting fire-wood, but Mom isn't a slouch when it comes to an axe or slinging up a few traps if the need arises" Juka explained "Though at times she seems a bit.....off"
Toby raises an eyebrow "Off? Off how?"
"I dunno, she'd just stare at an old letter and mutter softly" Juka recalled the last time his mother held a hand-written letter, It was to inform of her husband's passing "The old girl's lost her fire.....hard to blame her for still being in shock after losing Jason...Everyone copes differently" Toby gently clutches a bracelet and sighs a bit before speaking again. "He was a cheerful guy, your father; Always knew what to say to lift everyone's spirits and ignite hope in our hearts"
Juka always heard stories about his Dad from his old party-members like Kristen the Water Witch, Ronald the Barbarian, The Phantom Twins Kayden and John and their Priest/Healer Averon (His mother). They always called him a great man and an even better leader, Juka always wanted to meet him and finally have the relationship he craved.....deep down, even though he said he was okay with his death.....he felt cheated of something important, something precious