Chapter Text
I feel as if I’m floating. I could feel my surroundings, the air that surrounds me caressing me as if I’m a feather floating. I could hear water flowing somewhere and knowing its presence drapes in a sense of comfort and love. I could feel the earth moving, the cracks and tremors it makes as the mantle slowly moves beneath me. I could feel heat somewhere but it’s never hot, it was comforting and warm.
I opened my eyes and was invaded by a bright light. As my eyes adjusted, I could see that I’m in a field of tall grass, it stretches from all directions.
I felt another human’s presence I turned to see a man standing a bit far from me. I could make out that it’s male but he’s too far away to see what he’s wearing but for some odd feeling I can sense that he’s smiling at me, beckoning me to come. I know him but at the same I don’t. I slowly lift my feet from the ground, moving ever so slowly. The said man holds his hands stretched to welcome me and I could feel warmth wrap around me.
“Who are you?” I asked. Barely a whisper, I am not sure if he ever heard it or the wind carried it away.
“I will wait for you. Come and find me.”
That is all the man said before everything went dark.
Levi woke up to the sound of his alarm.
It took him a few minutes to realize that he’s awake. He knows he was dreaming something good but he can’t remember what it is; however, he could feel a sense of calm – feeling that he never felt for quite a long time.
Ever since everything in his life crumbled, he is always fighting for his life since he ran away from his abusive uncle. He’s always sleeping with a small knife under his pillow; he finds it ironic since that very knife is a present from his uncle. The very same uncle who throws punches and kicks him as if he’s a punching bag ant human.
A soft but firm knock tear him from his reverie.
“Levi, wake up! It’s the start of school remember?!” at that the voice was gone. Levi could hear a sound of feet padding downwards to where the kitchen is located.
That voice belongs to Levi’s friend, Erwin Smith. He knew him since he was a child and when Levi ran away, Erwin took him in. His family welcomed Levi as if he’s a distant relative. He even has his own room like he’s part of the household.
Levi was lucky. That was the only luck he has in his whole life, though.
Levi groaned and stood up. He went to the bathroom to prepare for school. He’s in his last year in high school and even though it’s his last it is still far until graduation.
Levi can’t wait to finish high school. He doesn’t have any plans yet but he wants to work, if someone wants to hire him. He doesn’t have the cleanest record in his school, he’s been suspended and in detention for far too many times to count. His only saving grace is his intelligence and skills, that is, fighting skills.
He’s known as the school’s strongest, even the largest student in the school can be taken down easily. Since he’s smaller than the average, bullies tend to navigate their way to him. But they didn’t know that Levi fought his way out of his uncle’s grasp, even after he got away he still needs to fight. That was the only way he could live from this cruel yet beautiful world.
Levi went down stairs for breakfast which usually consists of toasted bread, butter and coffee. After eating breakfast Erwin and he went to school.
“Will you go to the opening ceremony?” Erwin asked.
“No.” Levi replied.
Erwin sighs but didn’t say anything. He was used to Levi not going to the opening ceremony, the blonde has been trying to get him to go to it for the past three years but the raven haired was stubborn.
“You know where to find me” is all Levi said before parting ways.
Erwin nodded and went his way to the gym.
While Levi went to the roof of the school, students are not allowed up there but when did Levi follow the rules?
As he sets foot to the school’s rooftop, he looked up seeing that the weather is awfully bright and sunny he went to the middle of it and lay down. For someone who’s considered a clean freak, he loves to lay down on the dirty ground of the rooftop and just stare at the expanse on top of him. It makes him feel free looking at the blue sky or the birds flying.
He didn’t notice that he fell asleep but was woken up by a loud bang. He pried open an eye. He almost groaned when he saw the same bullies who never get enough of his punches.
“Hey, faggot! I heard you punched my junior here.” A brawny guy spoke his deep but stupid-sounding voice.
Levi was about to ignore him when he noticed that the sky was getting darker, rain threatening to pour down any minute now.
“Hey! Are you deaf?!” the same guy screamed.
“Hah, fucking pussy. Do you think you can escape us this time?” another guy said.
Levi dusted his pants and grimaced at the dirt before glaring at the people who disturbed his peace.
He smirked when a few of them flinched.
“Asshole, you’re the one with a pipe. Who do you think is the pussy here?”
“Fuck you! I’m going to beat you up so bad – ”
“Are you done threatening?” Levi said looking bored while picking nonexistent dirt on his nails.
The brawny kid flushed red from anger and charged along with his underlings all carrying a pipe, bat or a piece of wood.
Levi has his knife, he could just slit their throat but murder is the one thing he could never do.
The short man easily dodged the first pipe swung towards him and punched the gut of his next assailant to his right.
It was not a fair fight to say the least, seven against one. But Levi didn’t care, he knows once he takes down the brawny kid, the others would scramble away. So he dodges each attack until he reaches the brawny kid standing at the back like the coward he was.
Levi could see fear flash from his eyes, he smirked. This is too easy.
He lifts his whole weight as he turned around and landed a firm kick at his opponent’s nape. The brawny kid stumbled, obviously rattled from the kick staring at the ground unfocused.
Another kid tries to hit him with a pipe; Levi dodged it and kicked the kid’s face. Another three came at him. A swift kick to the left, a punch to right, Lev grabs the third’s arm and punched the side of his elbow hard breaking the bone or the joints. The kid grunted in severe pain but Levi never got the chance to relax, another two charged at him.
Now, the rain started to pour down thunders booming somewhere.
The two people who attacked Levi went down grunting with a broken rib, the other with a broken knee cap.
The brawny kid got up, still shaking from the kick he received. His eyes still unfocused, the part of his brain that’s controlling his eyesight was traumatized but he could see the outline of Levi in front of him.
“Hahaha! You’re dead midget” as the brawny kid blindly took out his gun.
His stance is poor and is obviously a newbie in holding a gun, but pointed at Levi otherwise.
“Shit.” Levi cursed quietly, slowly backing away. He’s almost at the edge of the roof.
There’s a good chance he won’t be hit by the bullet but it’s still unnerving, scenes from his uncle pointing at him at blank point as he kicks an unmoving kid flashes through Levi’s mind.
“I’ll kill you piece of shit.” The brawny kid said as he fired the gun.
Levi tried to dodge it but was tripped by a pipe lying on the floor. He tries to scramble for balance, and then he realized there was no floor but an open space dropping him from the fourth floor of the building.
Is this how I’ll die? Will I get peace if I die? Sorry Erwin. Levi thought.
His life flashes through his life the dark place he had been, all the blood he saw ever since he didn’t if it was his or not until the serene dream he had.
This was the reason why there’s no one allowed in the roof. There are no railings to protect someone from falling.
Levi closed his eyes accepting death and its scythe as he cuts through Levi’s remaining lifeline.
The last thing he heard was a booming sound and a flash of white light.
♣♣♣
Chirp. Chirp. Chirp.
Ugh, so noisy.
Chirp. Chirp. Chirp.
Shut the fuck up. Ow! Why does my body hurt?
Chirp. Chirp. Chirp.
A bird?
Levi opened his eyes, bright light flooded his senses. What the fuck? Is this heaven? Levi thought. He almost laughed to himself, he was sure he was going to hell.
He looked at his surrounding expecting concrete but there was no sign of concrete but he’s at the base of a cliff. He stood up, his body aching from his last fight. He stopped.
He remembered everything, the fight, the gun and he was sure he was falling to his death. He searches his body for any gunshot but there was none except for some bruises and cuts but no bullet holes.
The bastard can’t even shoot properly.
He scans his surroundings. All he could see is trees and bushes, he’s in a forest.
Where the fuck am i? I was supposed to be at school.
Levi tries to remember if there’s a forest near the school but he knows there was none, he was living in a city with concrete as its jungle not trees.
His mind wants to panic from the unknown surroundings but forced himself not to.
There’s something wrong, I know it. This is not the school grounds. Where the hell am I?
He tries to walk forward even though his body is aching. He doesn’t know where to go all he could see is a never ending green.
Levi walks straight, trying to find a pathway or safer paths through the forest. He walked for a couple of minutes but there’s still no sign of any clearing or pathway. He’s exhausted and thirsty but forces himself to move forward.
After another stretch of distance he heard a sound of rushing water.
River!
He hurried his steps willing his tired feet to move further. He walked another few minutes following the growing sound of the river.
He finally reached the end of the forest and saw a small clearing where he could hear the river and see a small part of it.
When he arrived, he stopped. The river was not the kind of river he expected it was as if it’s mad, the stream was violent and strong he could practically feel the current of the water. If he ever goes down that river, he would surely die and never be found. He trailed the river’s path trying to find a calmer part.
He tried to trail under the trees, the sun was scorching hot and he doesn’t want to sweat any more than necessary, he doesn’t want to die of dehydration.
As he walks along the river path he spotter a figure swimming near the riverbank. Levi scrambled quietly to the person standing in the middle of the river. It was a man, his back facing Levi.
When he got closer, he noticed that the part where the man stands is unusually calmer than the rest of river. As if the water is stagnant only on that part.
The man seemed to notice his presence and suddenly turned his way. Levi hid behind a tree by instinct.
“I know you are there. Come out.” A voice said.
Levi was a little surprised, the voice a little bit boyish but fierce. He contemplated whether to come out or not.
What if he’s a cannibal? Levi thought. It was funny and a little untrue but he’s cautious none the less.
“I said come out, human.” The man in the river called out again, this time a little bit sterner and hostile.
Levi pushed away any fear creeping all over his body and slowly stood up, revealing himself to the man who’s still standing in the middle of the river; his arm ready to reach his knife who’s, thankfully, still there.
He remained motionless when he saw the man. It was not a man but boy same his age.
A boy with a long, up to the chin, wet brown hair swept to the back and his teal eyes staring back at him dangerously. Levi somehow knew that this boy was not to be messed with but somehow it held warmth and gentleness.
He slowly worked his eyes down trailing the boy’s body. It was magnificent, probably better than Levi’s. His arms are pack with muscles, he could see it’s outline stretching throughout the boy’s arm, the boy’s pectoral muscles are also somewhat evident and his abs are sculpted beautifully on his belly.
Levi knew it was not any result of a workout in a gym but years of hard labor. He also noticed scars littering the boy’s tan skinned.
Nobody talked or move for the whole time, both men sizing up each other.
After some time, the boy speaks up.
“You are not of here. Which Land did you come from?” the boy asked.
“What land? I’m from Trost.” Levi replied. He doesn’t have any reason to lie to the boy.
“Trost?” the boy tilted his head a little, clearly confused.
Cute. What?
“I have never heard of any Land named Trost. Your clothing is not of this world. What is your name, human?” the boy asked.
What’s with the human, shit? “I’m Levi.”
“Levi? Even your name is uncommon of this world. I am Eren. You must be from another world.” The man is still unmoving in the river.
“What the fuck are you talking about? Where am I really? I’ve been lost in the forest for hours.” Levi said annoyed, he’s confused and the boy in front of him is like speaking in tongues.
Eren gave him a confused look before he answered, “You are in the Land of the Kingdom of Sina and I believe you are not of this world. What is the name of your world?”
Levi groaned on frustration, the boys answer didn’t give a single clue where he is.
“I’m from America. Earth, whatever.” Levi grumbled.
“Earth…” Eren repeated before smiling brightly. “You must be the one I am, rather, we are waiting for. Come, let us go. We need to meet the prince.”
That moment, memories of the dream Levi had that morning came flooding in his mind, the boy in the middle of the field.
At that Eren moved from the middle of the river. There are two things Levi noticed, as the boy, Eren, moves the water behind him transformed from calm to raging like the rest of the water. When Eren stepped into the riverbank, gone is the calm water that he was swimming with earlier.
Two is that Eren is naked, revealing his glorious body as he rose up from the water. His skin is still glistening with drops of water and Levi can’t get his eyes off of him. He dared to look down Eren’s body and all he could say is a breathy, wow.
He was openly ogling the boy but the boy didn’t seem to mind as he dresses himself. Then he turned exposing another glorious part of his body, his round and plump butt.
Can’t this guy get any more perfect than this?
Then the boy turned around as he finished strapping his small bag on his waist. He’s wearing a weird dress; Levi can’t describe and has never seen that kind of clothes before. The boy is like wearing a dark green robe; its sleeves are cut just enough to expose the boy’s muscular arms. But waist below it has a slit giving more space for the legs to move; underneath he’s wearing cream colored pants and a pair of boots. The robe needs to be wrapped by a long strip of lighter shade of green. The whole outfit complements the boy’s ethereal eyes.
Together, they walked through the woods.
“What is Earth like?” Eren asked looking like a child making Levi wonder where did that mature and sure man earlier.
“Earth? Similar to this place, it has rivers and mountains but my place is different. It has tall buildings and cars. The air is not fresh, it’s always noisy and you can’t see the stars because of light pollution.” Levi answered. He decided that the best and fastest way to get out of here is to befriend this boy.
“Tall buildings? Cars? Can you tell what this car you’re speaking of is?”
Levi looked at Eren ridiculously. How can this guy not know about cars? Did he live in the mountains all his life?
Eren seemed to understand what the other is thinking so he explained, “There are no ‘cars’ in our kingdom, we only walk by foot or ride a horse. We also have carriages that could bring you to places but that transportation is restricted for humans in higher position.”
“Why the fuck are you always talking about humans this, humans that? What are you, not human?” Levi replied.
“What is this word fuck means? And I am not a human. A human is someone with no elemental power like mine. I am an Elemental. I was bestowed of a power to controls water.”
Levi laughed disbelievingly, “Are you shitting me? Fuck is a good word, you should use it. Hah, so you mean you have super powers? Pft, yeah right.”
Eren frowned, “I am not jesting. What I say is the truth; I control the power of water.”
“Right, right. Whatever, and I am the savior of the world.” Levi joked, mocking Eren’s unbelievable story.
“You are.” Eren answered seriously.
Levi stopped walking and looked at Eren’s serious expression.
“Don’t fuck with me brat.” The smaller one said frowning on the ground.
“I do not understand what you are saying but it seems you are upset of something. I apologize.” Eren bent lower to see Levi’s face.
Levi looked up feeling guilt for unknown reasons, “No need to apologize.”
Eren smiled brightly, making Levi smile but stopped himself instead his lips formed a smirk.
“Then we should hurry and see the prince.” Eren said grabbing Levi by the wrist and dragged him along.
“Prince?”
“Yes, Prince Armin. He’s the current ruler of the Kingdom and the Land. Moreover, he’s my friend. He’s been waiting for you, too.”
“Is he, really?” Levi asked trying not to sound so confused.
“Yes, we should hurry. It is faster to ride in the river but I am afraid it will not be a pleasant experience for you Levi.” Eren said looking at the river beside them.
“River? You mean we swim down the river.” Levi looked at the river’s angry raging waves and gulped.
“It is almost night time. We should really hurry. Let us ride the river.” Eren offered scanning the woods as the sun sets behind the trees.
“No, are you crazy? That river would kill us.” Levi opposed.
“Do not worry. I will protect you.” Eren said and without any warning lifted Levi and jumped in the river.
Levi closed his eyes shut waiting for their inevitable death but when nothing happened he cracked open an eye and was surprised by what he sees.
Eren is carrying him bridal style while waist deep in the river. But the weird thing is that they didn’t get wet. They are just literally riding the river as the water cascades downwards.
Then Levi heard of a roaring sound, he reluctantly looked forward and saw the end of the river.
Fuck. It’s a waterfall. Fuck, I’m gonna die! Levi thought.
Meanwhile, Eren is enjoying every minute of it: Levi’s panicky face and how he unconsciously grabbed unto Eren for dear life.
“Do not worry, Levi. I am here. I will protect you.” Eren whispered.
Levi turned to face him. They looked at each other’s eyes, face so near to each other both men could feel each other’s breath.
Then, Levi felt his stomach rising to his throat. They’re falling.
Eren grabbed him by his neck and hugged him protectively.
The next thing Levi knew, they’re in the side of the river few meters away from the waterfall.
Levi scrambled to get down and glared at Eren. “Don’t ever fucking do that again, you hear me?”
Eren chuckled, “As you wish, but we’re here. Look!” Eren pointed forward and Levi followed Eren’s gaze.
“What the fuck?” Levi said as he stares at an unknown place.
The whole kingdom is surrounded by a very high wall and even outside he could see the castle.