The Rainlands: Grand Delusion

Chapter 44: You're Safe Here

"Hah!" Levi burst awake with a gasp. The longing in his heart, the bitter taste in his mouth, were all too familiar. I...I thought I was over that. But it was so real. He opened his eyes to a white ceiling illuminated by soft warm light. Turning his head to the left, he saw a window, and through the curtains he could see sunlight reflected off the snow. A giggle came to his right and he almost jumped though he was firmly tucked into the bed by blankets. What!

"Levi. It's really you. I can't believe you found me all the way out here. How did you even know where to come, I only told you Tao was a Northerner." The soft, light voice was impossibly familiar. Levi was scared to look, scared it wasn't real, that he was still dreaming. "I'm right here Levi. You're okay now. I'll keep you safe." More words, more untrustworthy words. Levi's heart ached. He couldn't believe it. But when he turned his head to the right, it was true!

"Sis!" He cried out. She was different, older, more mature. It had been so many years after all. She had grown from a teenager to a full-fledged woman in the North. It contrasted sharply with Levi's memory of her, but when she nodded, the familiar way she tilted her head was just so...so her. "I-It's really you?"

"Yea Levi. It's me." She cracked a smile, reaching out and taking his hand over the blankets. "But that's what you were expecting right? I'm more interested in what you're doing here. Why did you leave Eastrain? How did you even leave? Did you steal a Dragonboat from Dan?" She sounded disapproving but Levi didn't notice. He was too excited. It was starting to hit him. I'm in the North! I'm not dreaming, I actually found Sis!

"I...it's a long story." Levi wasn't really sure how to answer. Eleana arched a brow, and he remembered how it felt to speak to her. You can't keep anything from her, she could make anyone turn to her side. Well, anyone except Elder Daen.

"We have plenty of time." She said dryly, with a little laugh. "You only just woke up. I'm sorry to even be here, disturbing your rest. How do you feel? Do you want to sleep some more? Oh, I forgot, water? Tea? Food? The doctor says you almost froze to death. You're lucky we found you, the way you were dressed, you should have died. What were you thinking running into a blizzard without winter clothes! Although I suppose you wouldn't know about the storms in the North." Eleana bit her lip, realizing she wasn't giving Levi time to answer. Her worry made him feel warm inside, and he remembered how she had always protected him on the island. Until she was gone.

"Water would be nice. I don't feel hungry yet." Levi murmured softly, his throat suddenly reminding him how dry it was. Eleana immediately reached over to the side and pulled a pitcher from a little desk by her chair. Pouring some water into a cup, she handed it to Levi who weakly tried to raise his arms. For a second, he was afraid his fingers wouldn't respond, but Eleana held the cup over his hand and after a brief moment, he curled his fingers around the handle. "It was warm before the storm. I didn't have any other clothes. I wasn't planning on leaving Daya without buying some. But then they took Jasmine and I had to go with Mist and Illios..." He stopped talking as he remembered everything that had happened. Jasmine! Where is she, is she alright?

Eleana's eyes narrowed. She took the empty water cup from him gently.

"Jasmine. That's the name you call her by huh..." Eleana's eyes were deep, unreadable. She caught the panic on Levi's face and quickly reassured him, "Don't worry, our men brought her back as well. She hasn't woken, Sergeant Rei said you told him she was drugged. We had the doctors examine her and they agree...but they couldn't do anything but keep her hydrated." She spread her hands wide, helplessly. "Care to tell me what you were doing in the North with an unconscious girl? That doesn't seem like your style Levi, the way I remember you, getting bullied and such, I always thought you'd have trouble getting a girlfriend but now look at you...running around with a sword and even dare I ask...my men say there were two dead warriors. Fried like toast on a flame."

"I..." Levi once again found himself struggling to explain all that had happened. "I've changed Eleana. When you left, I was just a boy, like you said. But now...I...damnit. How do I say this. Eastrain's gone. I got everyone killed." Levi was frank about it. He thought he could handle it, but even with an iron grasp on his emotions, hot tears still found their way to his eyes. Eleana frowned, tapping her wrist with a finger softly.

"You got everyone what? Killed? What are you saying Levi?" She grew serious. "What's happened to Eastrain?" Levi felt shame coursing through his body, but he explained what had happened anyway. It was my fault. I have to tell her.

"Jasmine came. And Anton, her retainer from the Capital. During the Wishing Festival a few years ago. I was so excited. I spotted them first and got Elder Shisshion and Dan to save them from the River Guardian." Levi said, stopping to see if Eleana understood that they needed a Dragonstone. She just continued to tap her fingers and Levi continued. "Afterwards, I...I got upset at the festival. Jonah and the boys burnt my lantern so I left. And I found Dan's boat at the dock..." Levi couldn't keep going. He had to stop and Eleana quickly poured more water and handed him the cup. Her brown eyes wandered his face as he drank, figuring out what had happened.

"So, you found Dan's boat. And if he left it out then the Dragonstone was still inside." Eleana put the picture together without Levi even needing to explain the details. "You took the boat. But then what happened?"

"There were men from the Deathless City trying to find a way across the Yura. I found Jasmine and Anton on the other side but I..." Levi almost stopped but then he swallowed and kept going, "I left the boat out. The men found me and Anton died trying to save me. I got away with Jasmine but they used the Dragonstone to reach Eastrain. And then...and then..." Levi finally couldn't take it anymore. No matter how he tried he couldn't hold it back. No...I shouldn't be crying. But even if I am, I'll finish the story at least. Like a man. He broke into sobs but kept going. "They were strong. By the time I got back, most of the town was dead. You have no idea...you weren't there...the masks...all dead...bloody...oh Raingods...I wish I hadn't seen it!"

"Levi! Levi! Relax! You're not in Eastrain! It's okay! Most of those people were pricks anyway. Just take a moment. Breaaath!" Eleana exhaled slowly, pouring him more water, giving him time to collect himself. Levi glanced around the room, squeezing his eyes to try to hold the tears back but just ended up squeezing them out instead. When she saw he was calmer, Eleana sighed. "Okay, now there were some people worth saving on that godforsaken island. What about Elder Shisshion? Dan? Did you see what happened to them? Actually, how did you even get back to the island in the first place if the men took your boat?"

"Dan...I didn't find him. He could have been one of the masks in the square...so many dead...Elder Shisshion sacrificed himself. He summoned the River Guardian to try to hold the Deathless City back. But he wasn't sure how long it would hold them. I had another Dragonstone. Swam back in the storm." Levi didn't want to speak anymore. Eleana just nodded like she understood.

"I see...I see...he actually summoned it with his life. Impressive, I guess he was better than Elder Daen after all. And you swam all the way across the Yura with just a Dragonstone? Levi...you really have changed. But that still doesn't answer the question, what are you doing all the way up here? With this...Jasmine?" She was taking all of this better than Levi had expected. I didn't realize she hated Eastrain so much. I guess it makes sense considering what they tried to do to her.

"Where is she?" Levi asked, but before Eleana could answer, there was a knock on the door. Eleana uncrossed her legs, glancing over her shoulder as a voice came.

"Milady, the girl, she's woken up!" A husky voice said and Eleana looked at Levi while calling back.

"Got it. Thank you, Rei." She replied before standing from her chair. She was wearing a dress which went down to her ankles, and for the first time Levi noticed how elegant her clothes were, and the strange new way she carried herself. With poise and pride, completely different from when they were orphans at Eastrain. "Well Levi, shall I show you to your friend? That is, if you can get up. Don't rush yourself. You're safe here."