Attack on Titan: Core

Chapter 23: The Defeated and the Retaliated

Gunther's uncle: I see.

The Scouts have picked up the dead bodies they can find while the rest are just squished to death by her so they couldn't find them on who's body part or personal belongings belonged to.

Eren is still recovering from the damage of his battle. Mikasa is watching him closely in worry. There are multiple bodies wrapped in bloodied cloth and rope. The results of this exploration hit their souls and feelings hard. Some covered it up by their stoic faces.

Levi looked at the bodies of the other Scouts and saw one of the scout's dead bodies, he saw its badge and grabbed it. The recruits such as Armin and Jean are helping to pick up the bodies.

Jean: I can never get used to this.

Armin: The same goes for everyone.

Jean: How my comrades are going to die... How I'm going to die... That's all I can think about.

Armin: I try not to dwell on that. Since if I were to imagine my end, I probably wouldn't be able to fight anymore.

Jean just looked at him and answered in agreement.

Jean: Yeah. It's just as you say.

Sasha and Connie are feeding the horses to replenish their stamina so that there's enough fuel to get back to Calaneth. Connie is now questioning his life's choices and Sasha is just thinking positive again.

Connie: I wonder how long I'll survive.

Sasha: You've pulled through for now, right?

Connie: Yeah, for now.

Sasha: Isn't that a good thing? I mean, you're alive.

Connie: Then, can you say that facing the bodies of those who died?

Sasha didn't answer anymore as her mood fell. Suddenly the voice of Y/n came to them.

Y/n: Sasha, I can't help but agree with his question. You may say that to yourself, but can you say the same for others?

Y/n referred to the people who have their eyes in trauma and frantic. They loss someone who has become part of their lives. Y/n understands that as he too, lost his family, but from a murder.

The criminal was arrested and jailed for life. He was then orphaned in an orphanage by the Kyoya family before he was adopted and became an official and legal by law a part of the Kyoya family.

But he still can't move on from that incident even though the criminal was jailed. His mother has been murdered in cold blood since he was a baby. Until today, he can't move on from it.

But he uses her mother's final wish from her death to be stronger as he faintly remembers his former mother's dying words to him.

flashback

M/n: Please, Y/n... Be safe... Be strong...

His mother was crying in tears as she was about to die. She cradled the baby on her bloodied arms as tears starts to fall onto his face. 

M/n: Y/n... I love you... *cries* I'm sorry... it took me so long... It wasn't a lie... all of it... Please, Y/n... let me touch... your precious face...

Her mother's fingers touched his face as the baby was making noises as he remembers it faintly in his memories.

M/n: At last... I can say it to you... with all my heart...

As he can see the mother's eyes became lifeless with her bright eyes that shines like a star before it dwarfs into nothing but emptiness. He starts wailing and crying as a baby.