The Rainlands: Grand Delusion

Chapter 40: Time to Part

"No, Levi. I told you, we are your guides. It's time for us to part. Besides, we have friends back in Daya, and this darn forest has begun to piss me off. Illios and I will go back and deal with it. Even the trees must have a heart." Mist's grin was positively bloodthirsty, Levi hadn't expected to see such a ferocious expression on her face. Illios nodded, clapping his big hand on Levi's shoulder.

"You need to stay focused. We'll draw their attention so you can break through. Remember what you came for." The big man removed his hand and flourished his spear, flicking his head back the way they came. "Shall we Mist?"

"What?" Levi was aghast. He had kind of expected something like this to happen, for Mist had indeed warned him, but not so soon. "I don't even know where Jasmine is, you haven't shown me how to find her! And are you crazy? We've been fighting all night. You'll die out there! Come north with me, they're slowing down the farther we go. Maybe if it gets cold enough, we can escape!" His pleas fell on deaf ears. Mist waved a hand at Illios as if telling him to go on.

"One second Illios. Levi, listen, listen. Jasmine is right up ahead. You must believe me. However, she is surrounded by men, and she cannot wake up. Be merciless Levi, you understand? You must be terrifying, more terrifying then those you fear. Only that way can you survive. Her life is in your hands. As for us, we will not die so easily. Even if this forest does not have a single heart, I am not above ripping apart each tree until they bleed and fall silent again. Remember, Levi, you are powerful, your only failing is that you fail to realize it. Stop acting like a sheep or a wolf, you are fighting for the throne, you must be as an Emperor is, indomitable, unstoppable! You are lightning, now go burn down your enemies!" Mist yelled and then stalked away with Illios. The two of them walked into the yawning darkness and Levi took a step to follow, but stopped, remembering that Jasmine was behind him, waiting for him.

"Damnit!" He cursed. At his back, the thick wall of thorns and branches swayed and loosened. From the darkness, he heard the sounds of steel hewing through wood and feet breaking branches. They're actually fighting their way back. Turning, he faced the wall of branches which had grown thinner, the forest's attention was divided. Without waiting another second, he sprang forward and unleashed his lightning blade on a hole in the wall! Like magma boiling through ice, the crackling lightning blackened the vines and seared the thorns off before the steel blade disintegrated the remains. A gap appeared, and Levi dived through, rolling wildly, his hand bruising as his sword rapped against the webbing of his palm. However, he did not let go, and on the other side, he came up and ran!

Go! Go! Go! Don't stop! DON'T STOP!

Levi crashed through the undergrowth, an angry god, smashing things aside and burning down anything which he couldn't avoid. The forest seemed sluggish, slow and a cold wind blew in from the north. Up in the sky, the first tinges of sunlight illuminated heavy, dark clouds. Is it going to rain? He was running headfirst into winter itself as the chilly air blew across his sweat and the bare skin of his arms. However, it felt like heaven. Run. Run. Run!

Several minutes and a mile later, it began to snow. Levi was scared. He didn't know what to expect from this storm from the North. Would it be a Shatterstorm? Would the snow be contaminated, make him change and melt? However, he couldn't stop even if he wanted to. The forest continued to fight him even as the first flakes fell. A little sting on his neck. It's snowing. He felt a wet splotch grow as it melted and trickled under his hair. There was no burning pain. He didn't feel any different. Just wetter and colder. It's safe! The trees slowed and the forest grew sparse. The ground changed, the wet loamy dirt becoming hard crunchy frozen rock and snow underfoot. Instead of greens and browns, everything became white, a winter wonderland. After a minute went by without him swinging his sword, Levi's mind finally slowed down enough to realize he hadn't had to fight for a while now.

They...they stopped? He looked around. The trees were different. Instead of the leafy ones which covered most of the East he was now surrounded by needles and cone trees, pines. They were quiet and still, and with an exhausted effort, Levi turned back to look over his shoulder. He saw a few leafy trees in the distance swaying innocently. It was only possible to tell that they were leaning towards him if one happened to be looking closely. But these new pines did not seem to attack, and the sudden calm was disarming. It had grown bitterly cold, and already now that he had stopped moving, he could feel the chill spreading into his fingers. I need to put on more clothes!

He quickly took his bag on and dressed himself in more clothes, his tired fingers twice dropping his shirt in the snow. Up above, the storm swirled about and covered the whole sky, turning everything into a thick grey color which blocked out the sun. It's like a dream...so much snow...

"Jasmine!" Levi shook his head. He had almost nodded off where he stood. Instantly he hoisted his pack once more and started marching again, trying to regain some heat and his wits. Mist said we were right behind her. But why haven't I seen Jasmine yet? Levi suddenly felt terrified. What if Mist lied to me? What if Jasmine isn't really here? I trusted them but I didn't even know them! Did I make a mistake? His panic spread and spread until it began to affect his judgement. But then...hope. Footsteps in the snow. Several sets of them, and a long sweeping trail behind hoofprints which could only be a sled pulled by a horse. By the Raingods, I've found them!

"They're close!" Levi whispered jubilantly then shut his mouth with a furtive look around. I shouldn't be talking out loud! His brain was jumbled, scrambled from the mad dash tonight. It all seemed like a dream, and he could feel himself slipping off the cliff of sanity from exhaustion. But I'm close. I need to hurry. The snow is wiping out the prints. But if I can still see them...it mean's I've almost caught up! Redoubling his efforts, Levi put on a burst of speed now that he had a direction. He sheathed his sword even though he knew it could be a fatal mistake but he really couldn't hold it in his hand any longer. The bitter cold was freezing his fingers and he could barely feel them anymore. Just a little break. If I see enemies, I'll draw immediately.

His footsteps crunching into the frozen ground became the only sound along with the shrill wind and the soft crinkling noise of icy flakes pelting the accumulating snowbanks. The silence, the lack of action was hypnotic, it lulled him, drew the adrenaline right out of him. I...I need to stay awake. I can't let Jasmine down. I'm so...so...close! He gasped for breath, but it came out as a little sigh. He was cold, ever so cold. At some point, he started shivering violently even under his clothes, and he wondered when the last time he had eaten could be. However, he didn't feel hungry at all, just bone, cold, tired. I...I can't go much further.

"No! No! KEEP GOING!" Levi shouted at himself in the howling wind to wake up. But it was hard, just moments later the soft warmth of sleep encroached once more, his eyelids grew from heavy to unbearable. He just...just wanted to...shut them....

"Give her more..." A faint voice drifted by on the wind. Levi wasn't sure if he imagined it or not.

"I can't! I've already given her enough to put two grown men asleep! She's just a..." Another voice on the wind. It sounds almost real. Not imaginary. But who's talking out here...?

"She's used to it. Just keep her asleep. She dreams too much when we let her-" The first voice ordered and Levi frowned. What are they talking about-

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" A scream ripped through the night and Levi jerked up, his tired mind finally comprehending what was happening. Jasmine! It's them. It's them! I've found them!