Chapter 06 | So Many Lights

"Levi?"

Krista dropped the leaf she had been nervously twirling. She watched as it caught a draft and sailed into the still waters of the pool she was standing over.

The pool stood in a small grove of trees far out in the wild rolling plains many miles beyond the security of the walls. The surface of the water was still, like glass – like a mirror. The deep greens and browns of the trees above were reflected in its depths. Levi stared into it as he crouched at the bank. He reached out and touched a water lily that had drifted too close to the edge. He gently shoved it with his delicate fingers so that it sailed back out towards the others in the center.

There's no way I can just tell her something like this… I need to show her. Krista needs to see this for herself.

His expression was strange. It was hard to read and it troubled Krista as she alternately regarded Levi and checked the area around them with a growing apprehension.

"L-Levi?" Krista whispered tentatively. "I-I do not know why you had us ride so far from the walls, but… I am certain it is not safe out here. Why at… at any moment – a Titan could… Levi a-are you even..?"

She stopped talking as she realized he was not listening. Either that or he was simply ignoring her. Krista became frightened and began to wonder if there was something wrong with her commander's state of mind.

He has gone crazy. We are way out here with absolutely no support – Titans could be anywhere… This is terribly dangerous. Oh, why does he not say anything? What is he thinking about and why did he bring us so far ou –

"Krista… there's no need to worry – nothing's going to happen. We're perfectly safe."

Levi's voice had a slight tremor and as he looked up at her, Krista was puzzled by his expression. It was an unsettling mixture of profound anger and deep irony.

"We won't see any Titans today."

He got up from the edge of the water and loosened the girths on their exhausted horses so they could be more comfortable. He watched them for a few moments as they munched the plants next to the pool. Then he sighed and pulled a pack of supplies from his saddle and patted the horse on its steaming sweaty flank.

"Thanks Rosco, you did good… enjoy the flowers."

Then, Levi slung the satchel over his shoulder and turned to Krista.

"Okay, let's leave the horses here – they need a break. Come on, follow me."

He took Krista's hand and led her out of the relative safety of the trees and into the wide open, rolling grasslands. Krista had never been this far from the walls before. Her breathing became quick as her eyes darted around looking for threats.

We have ridden all through the night and all the following day – for so many miles! And now here we are wandering even further out into the open grasslands. Is he trying to kill us both?!

In spite of her fears, Krista eventually began to admire the natural beauty she saw all around her. The grass and flowering shrubs and bushes caught the long rays of the sun as it settled slowly into the west. The countryside gradually became saturated with a warm amber glow. As they walked along it felt to Krista as though they were walking up a gentle steady incline. The rough trail began to get rockier and the rolling hills became more pronounced and rugged.

Krista looked up and out over the horizon that loomed far ahead of them. Her vision carried further on to the huge vast sky beyond that.

The ground has been slowly rising for the last several miles. I wonder, will it eventually touch the sky?

There truly were no Titans around, and as the sun began to droop low towards the horizon the grassy hills, clouds and sky took on an otherworldly honey colored hue, that made everything seem to glow. Colorful insects darted through the wildflowers that dotted the hills.

It is so beautiful out here. What a lovely, golden afternoon. Oh, it would be ever so nice if there were no Titans in the world. Then we could just go for peaceful walks like this whenever we pleased.

Krista looked over at Levi. He was walking just ahead of her setting a brisk pace. When he occasionally did turn to one side or the other, Krista noticed his expression was hard and focused. Pausing briefly, he looked back at her. As he did, Krista saw his eyes soften. It changed his whole demeanor causing a gentle, caring feeling to flow from him out towards her. Almost like the golden light all around them. Krista could feel it – but there was also a sadness to it that matched his tone of voice as he reached out to take her hand.

"We're nearly there."

They had been walking up the ever steepening terrain for several miles and finally, they came to the edge of a precipice overlooking a large, deep rift. The canyon ran for miles as far as the eye could see in both directions and dropped steeply for several thousand feet. Krista stepped back as the vertigo nearly overwhelmed her.

"Ooh!"

She felt Levi's hand grip her firmly by the arm and gently ease her back from the edge.

"Careful…"

"Is… is this what you wanted me to see? This strange huge scar in the land?"

Levi shook his head, the sun was setting behind the rolling hills behind them and the first stars were beginning to pop out in the sky.

"It's actually called a canyon – and no – it's not what I wanted you to see. It's what's beyond the canyon that's important. Now that it is starting to get dark, you'll begin to see what I'm talking about."

Krista leaned forward and squinted, staring way out beyond the far rim of the deep wide canyon.

"I… I am afraid I do not…"

"Look between those two peaks to the north and east – see them?"

She adjusted her vision.

"Y-yes – I do, they make a little 'v.' But they are so very far awa–"

"Good." Replied Levi, "keep watching there – that's where you'll see it."

Unsure but trusting her commander, Kristen continued to watch dutifully.

"O-okay…"

As she looked into the far distance Levi could tell she was nervous being so close to the edge. He stepped up behind her and put his hands firmly on Krista's shoulders. Then, he gave them a gentle, reassuring squeeze.

"It's okay Krista, I'll hold you steady."

As she continued to look forward Levi could hear her breathing slow and felt the muscles in her neck and shoulders relax as she took comfort from his support. Without turning around she whispered back to him.

"Thank you."

Levi leaned forward and spoke gently in her ear.

"You're welcome. Now – tell me what you see."

"Ah – I see the two peaks – that make the 'v' shape."

The muscles under Krista's eyes tensed slightly as she stared deeper – further into the cool blues and purples of the distant mountains.

"It seems like there are more mountains beyond but… uh, behind the two peaks… there is what looks like – um, it is quite hazy but I believe it is a deep, wide sunken area."

"Very good – that's exactly what it is – it's called a 'valley.' Keep watching right there."

"I – okay."

The sun was fully behind the hills now and the stars began to assert their presence more as the sky became a deep indigo blue. Suddenly, Krista gasped as she witnessed bright points of light pop up one by one throughout the valley behind the two peaks.

"OH! Oh my – Levi – lights – so many lights! There are lights appearing – everywhere!"

First one then another than three then six, then too many to count until they all merged into patches and finally a glittering bright carpet of lights covered the far off valley floor. They seemed almost magical and rose up from the ground to define fantastic buildings that clustered together and towered high into the sky. Krista could see the detail of these enormous structures as it was brought out by the intensely bright, tiny lights coming from their many windows.

"It is so beautiful – they are not like any lights I have ever seen… There is no flicker, no dull yellows or reds like fires – or lamps… they shine like bright diamonds. Oh, Levi – it… it looks like some kind of magical city!"

She turned to her commander with wonder radiating from her beautiful features.

"Levi – what is this?!"

Levi pulled Krista close and put his arms around her. She could feel the protective care in his embrace as he held her. Then she heard him whisper… it was laced with contempt, loathing and possibly – even a little – fear.

"That's where the Titans live."