He's a Mess of a Man

Upright ~ Two

The group stumbled into a desolate wasteland. When Leviathan glanced over his shoulder, there was no sign of the gate. He staggered a little as a wave of dizziness washed over him. "Gotcha!" Lucio yelped as his arms steadied Leviathan, his eyes peering deep into his. "Hey! Your eyes are back to normal. I think that's good?"

"Hard to say. Leviathan just borrowed the powers of a Major Arcana. I didn't even know that was possible." Asra frowned at nothing in particular, "I suppose we have to keep going. As long as you're up for it, Levi."

"Yeah, how do you feel now?" Lucio asked.

The dizzy spell had passed. Leviathan carefully flexed his fingers and rolled his shoulders, "I don't notice anything out of the ordinary, at least not for now." - "I'm okay."

"If you start to feel weird, give a holler," said Lucio, "I know you're strong, but you don't have to tough things out. That's why I'm here."

Leviathan smiled, planting a light kiss on Lucio's cheek, "I know. Thank you." Scout tapped Leviathan on his shoulder, pointing to the broken line of low hills in the distance. Leviathan didn't see anything in particular, but Scout's tail was wagging up a storm. "Okay. Lead on, Scout." - "Our trusty guide's never led us astray before." With Scout in the lead, the group set off once more. Rust-red dust stuck to their feet and clothes, and a cold wind soon picked up.

"Hey, do those look like clouds to you?" Asra asked, "On the horizon?"

"It is hard to imagine clouds in such a dry and desolate place..." said Nadia.

"The Major Arcana's realms can be unpredictable. We shouldn't assume-" Asra's voice cut off as a thick bank of ice-cold fog overtook the group. It swirled around Leviathan, pressing on his skin like a smothering pillow.

"Asra?" Even Leviathan's voice sounded odd, strangely muffled and small. "Scout? Lucio?!" There was no answer. Leviathan could barely see anything but fog. Panic started to set in when he heard a low voice answer him.

"Be still. In your stillness, become whole."

This time, Leviathan was more prepared. He focused on the voice alone, letting it fill his mind. "Hermit? Is that you?" No answer except a heavy shuffle, followed by a light amidst all the fog. It was a lantern, lying on its side in the dust. Without thinking, Leviathan grabbed the handle. It was so heavy that he could barely lift it. After a few tries, Leviathan finally managed to hoist it aloft.

"Leviathan? Oh, please let that be you!" Lucio yelled.

"Lucio!" Leviathan yelled back. A gloved hand reached out through the fog, firmly grasping his.

"There you are!" Lucio yelled. Mercedes and Melchior bounded up after him, covering Leviathan's clothes and hands with slobbery kisses.

"Where did you go?" Leviathan asked.

"Nowhere! I was standing right next to you when everyone disappeared into the fog," Lucio scowled, "Been yelling your name for a while."

"Then the fog must be magical. It's meant to separate us," Leviathan thought.

"I couldn't see a thing... except that. Where did you get it?" Lucio asked, pointing to the brilliant lantern that Leviathan still held.

"I think The Hermit gave it to me," said Leviathan.

Lucio blinked, "Uhh... okay. I guess we can't look a gift lantern in the mouth." He placed his hand over Leviathan's, helping him hold up the heavy iron lantern. "Better?"

Leviathan smiled and nodded, "Yes."

"That's what I'm here for. Looking good and lifting stuff. Let's see if we can find the others." Without any visible landmarks, Lucio and Leviathan picked a direction and started wandering.