Abyssal dream

Levi was in a world light barely reached, where emotions softened and flourished.

He had been staring at her despite being so close. Like a sunset he couldn't take his eyes off of, burning his retina with beauty and quietude.

Lost in her eyes, where the depths' pull was stronger than the one they floated in.

He ran his fingers up her arm, touching her shoulder and caressing her neck. 

His other hand held her while she mirrored his movement.

The depths he was in were comforting and soothing.

Nothing reached him, yet he embraced the skin he touched and the body he gazed.

As he held her hand on one side and caressed her face on the other, he tried pulling himself closer.

But, as he tried getting closer distance grew. The pull in her eyes grew weaker, but his attraction was stronger. 

As he was pulled away, desperation overcame him, as if he was fighting for his life; as if being pulled away meant he would lose everything and anything.

His legs were pulled first and his hand's grasp on hers grew tighter. As the pull grew stronger, he tried holding on better.

From the eyes he stared at light emanated, its glow brighter and fiercer.

Until he realized before him was a ceiling, with his left arm extended toward it.

As he brought his arm back, he touched his face, wiping tears he didn't quite know how they had gotten there.

He closed his eyes again, realizing his right hand was holding on tight to someone. He felt tired and exhausted, and the place he dreamed of he wanted to find again.

Almost instinctively, he brought the hand he was holding to his chest, holding it tightly with both hands as he tried to find sleep again.

"Leviathan?"

He tried ignoring it, but while his eyes were closed, his mind couldn't find that place he was in again; where the Goddess was waiting.

A hand was gently placed on his cheek, it was warm and relaxing.

The heat that radiated was pleasant and blissful. 

He held on tighter to that person's hand, but after a few minutes the exhaustion was gone. 

He opened his eyes, the bed he was in was new. 

He wasn't in Thunder's room, but it was another mansion. Levi could tell from the height of the ceiling which was even higher than Thunder's. 

While there was a clear lack of gold designs, there was incredible woodwork depicting dragons flying around the ceiling.

"I feared you wouldn't wake up anymore," said the person next to him.

Levi smiled as he turned his head.

The person who was sitting on the bed, who's hand he was holding tight on his chest, and who was holding his cheek wasn't Syllia.

"...Who are you?!" frowned Levi.

He realized her hand on his cheek wasn't just warm, but glowing.

"What are you doing to me?!" 

"Relax, remember me? I was in the throne room," she said.

The throne room.

Like a flash, the events of the throne room rapidly unfolded in his mind.

"The princess?"

"Haha, yes, but not really," she replied.

"You were up on the platform with the king, I remember," said Levi.

"Oh, I was. What I mean is I'm an illegitimate child. Nobody really refers to me as a princess around here," she laughed. "Feel free to call me that, it feels pretty good," she smiled.

As she was closer now, he could see how breathtaking she truly was. 

The way she spoke and held herself upright, the way she moved and smiled: it was all refined. 

Her smile slowly pulled him in, while her eyes were easy to get lost in. As his heart beat faster, he held her hand tighter.

He extended his arm, caressing her cheek with the back of his hand.

But as he leaned into it, it felt like claws held his heart. 

Levi quickly let go and grabbed her glowing hand that resided on his cheek, throwing it away.

"What charm were you casting on me?! Where's Syllia?!"

As he spoke, he quickly undid the covers, sitting upright.

"It's not what you think," she replied.

"What is it then? Who do you work for?" asked Levi in a harsh tone.

"Is this how to thank someone who's been by your side for weeks?" said a voice that had just entered the room.

As he turned, Thunder was entering the room.

"I'm happy to see you finally woke up, Levi," smiled Thunder.

Levi quickly shook his head as he took in the information.

"Wait, weeks? What do you mean, how long was I asleep?" 

"Must've been what, almost a month now? Maybe a bit more?"

"Where's Syllia?" asked Levi again.

"She's fine, she was badly injured but she's recovering. She's in another room," replied Thunder.

Still frowning, Levi looked at the girl again. She smiled, tilting her head slightly.

"That's Aya, and she's dear to me so don't cause her too much trouble alright?"

"But, she was casting a charm, while I was asleep-" started Levi.

"-She was just soothing your pain, emotionally and physically. Sounds to me like you're falling for my sweet Aya..."

"Wha- But the light..." blushed Levi as he looked at Aya again.

"I'm just teasing you, don't worry about it," laughed Thunder.

Levi's face was red, but the tension he previously felt had gone away.

"Are you related?" asked Levi.

Both of them looked at each other and laughed.

"How could you tell?" asked Thunder.

"You laugh the same way, and she looks more like you than that king," said Levi.

"Yeah, it's a bit complicated but she's basically my sister," replied Thunder.

"Everything's complicated these days, I feel like..."

"Wait 'til you hear about how you're a noble now," laughed Thunder.

While Levi's frown wrinkled his forehead, Thunder just couldn't stop laughing at his expense, slapping his knee as he got closer.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us, Levi, lots to do and little time to achieve it."

"What do you mean?"

"We need you to become stronger before the church figures out what you are capable of," said Thunder.

"And what is that?" asked Levi.

"You're upsetting the power balance, Levi. They'll make a move soon."