Y/N closed her eyes, but still she had the feeling that she was blind. Flashlight blinded her through her eyelids. But...
She opened her eyes. She was still sitting on the roof, her fists clenched, her nails dug into her skin. She raised her head. And she became scared.
All around her were titans. Pure titans. Hundreds of titans. And she was alone. She was still herself. She looked down at her arm - the black suicide armband was still on. «So, this isn't a dream, but how... It doesn't matter, now I need to get out of here»
She didn't move, considering her options, trying not to draw the attention of the titans until she was sure what to do.
Slowly removing her backpack, Y/N pulled on the levers on her chest, and the ODM move from her waist to her back between her shoulder blades. «I've adjusted the balance, then I need to adjust the carbines... and do it quickly»
From her backpack, she took another holster with a gun and attached it to her free thigh. Taking special hooks from her backpack, she inserted them into the hole where the blades used to be attached. Also, she took a small balloon and attached it to her lower back. And... put on a breathing mask. «If I had glasses like Hange's, I'd pass for a madman»
Turning her backpack into a bag, she stood up. «Let's go»
***
The guys stood and watched as hundreds of titans appeared in the city. But there were tears in their eyes, because they had lost their friend. They couldn't believe that they were getting less and less.
- «We need to retreat, take more thunder spears... we... we can't cope with what we have...», Jean said, trying to remain calm, although it was hard for him.
- «I can't believe she's gone... we... we didn't even say goodbye...», Mikasa spoke with tears in her eyes. «We have lost her, forever! And... and Eren... we can't lose him too... She was our friend... Why didn't we save her...»
Armin was silent. Only tears flowed down his cheeks. He felt empty in his chest. Y/N is gone. The girl he loved is gone. The girl who gave him meaning. A girl who believed in him unconditionally, even when he didn't. The girl to whom he once devoted his heart. Now, he hated himself for trying to forget her, for trying to replace her. This feeling of incredible grief and loss drowned out every other thought in his head, screaming to rush into battle, escape, and...
- «Guys», Connie said uncertainly. «There's some movement...»
They focused on where Connie was pointing. Indeed, a group of titans were heading somewhere in one direction, as if surrounding a certain territory. They came closer and closer, narrowing the formed ring, until suddenly... They were all immersed in a cloud of greenish smoke. After a couple of seconds, a figure emerged from the smoke, moving on the ODM. They couldn't see who it was. The man moved on the ODM simply incredible - quickly and deftly. Even too fast.
- «We must help him, whoever it is! There are still a lot of titans! How did he get there? Only soldiers with black armbands went there!» Connie said.
- «Yes, it's strange, and...», began Jean.
And suddenly they saw something unusual. Namely - how this soldier coped with the titans.
One of the titans tried to get to him, but - something flew out of the ODM and wrapped around the arm of the titan who wanted to grab the man, and... squeezed, cutting the arm of the titan into thin strips of tissue, leaving him without an arm. And all this in seconds. And then - a man glided over the head of a titan and, clasping the same cable around the neck of a titan - decapitated him. Only this time, the cable caught fire either with flames or something else, which finally finished off the titan. All the burning cables again hid in the owner's ODM, and he calmly continued on his way.
- It's impossible...
The soldier was heading towards headquarters, killing titans here and there along the way. When he got close enough to the guys...
- «This is... THIS IS Y/N! BUT HOW?! SHE... WAS ONE OF BLACK ARMBAND ONES!» Mikasa said as she prepared to go after the girl.
- She... she's dead, it's someone...
- «Armin, it's her. Only her ODM didn't look like everyone else's. And it's her style to do something out of the ordinary... And she's the only one smart enough to avoid death... from that», Jean interrupted him, also heading for Y/N.
This whole situation was so confusing for everyone. They were all glad that Y/N... was it Y/N... survived? But how... How could she survive what hundreds of soldiers didn't survive...
Y/N dealt with one titan after another, heading towards the headquarters. She didn't even think about what she was doing, dealing with them instinctively, as Levi had taught her. «If you think too long while fighting a pure titan, then you might make a mistake... your time is limited», her thoughts were preoccupied with another question - why is she still alive?
In a second, she went from «one of the suicide bombers» to «the only survivor», and she didn't understand - why? What was wrong with her? She didn't do anything... «The serum didn't work. Everything remains as it was. What am I missing...» She flew and thought until a crazy thought struck her that made her legs buckle. She just didn't reach the headquarters a little and collapsed onto one of the roofs. There were no more titans in the area. She was alone. She was shaking with realization... «How could I have been such a... idiot! I kept telling myself that I had taken everything into account... But... the answer was right under my nose... There were always three components... and... every week I looked at what I lacked to solve... I'm still an idiot...»
She didn't notice how someone landed behind her, she didn't hear footsteps, she didn't hear how they addressed her. She pulled the mask off her face and hung it around her neck. She lowered the carabiners and looked down at her palm and... «Nail cuts... No, I couldn't... Not that... Am I...»
- «Y/N! YOU'RE ALIVE!», Mikasa was about to rush to her friend, but Jean stopped her.
- Wait... Something's wrong... She's... strange...
They all stood and watched Y/N, who didn't notice them and was staring at her hand like crazy. And then... she took her knife, which was holstered on her thigh as usual, and...
- Y/N! STOP, WHAT YOU...
But she cut her hand. She winced, leaving a deep gash in her palm. Now both Armin and Mikasa rushed to the girl, but Jean understood that they shouldn't need to touch her... Something was happening to her and... he thought that she herself didn't fully understand what... or did she understand?
And... then the cut on her hand began to exude steam and... healed, as if nothing had happened. Y/N looked at her hand as if spellbound. She did it. She... found a solution. She raised her head, looking at the guys who were shocked by what they saw.
- «Y/N... how is it...?», Jean began to say, but...
The shelling began in their direction. They all flew to the air.
- «We need to find Eren! We can't let him and Zeke meet!» Armin yelled.
They all exchanged nods, and, splitting into two groups, they headed towards the wall where Zeke was. As they approached, they spotted an Armored Titan on the ground, stuck in Founding Titan's crystal form. Y/N headed towards Mikasa and Armin, but didn't make it in time. Everything around shook. She landed on the nearest rooftop, seeking her balance. She leaned on the chimney, trying to focus. There was only dust around. Dust from broken walls. And this dust... something towered. Hundreds... thousands of Titans... were free. And...
«What the hell is this?!»
A pile of bones without end.
«It's alive? Is that... Eren?! But... isn't that too much...»
Y/N looked around.
«He destroyed the wall Maria... Why... No... Eren... is that what you were thinking about... Idiot...»
Suddenly her surroundings changed. The roof, the city, the battle... Everything was gone. She was somewhere. Sand. Bright light. And a voice.
- I SPEAK TO ALL THE DESCENDANTS OF YMIR.
And everything is back as it was. Y/N shook her head, trying to figure out if she was hallucinating or for real. She saw Mikasa and Armin nearby, who were also at a loss, judging by their appearance.
And it started again.
- My name is Eren Jaeger. BY THE POWER OF THE FOUNDING TITAN, I SPEAK TO ALL THE DESCENDANTS OF YMIR. THE WALLS HAVE LOST STRENGTH AND THE TITANS IN THEM HAVE AWAKE. MY PURPOSE... TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF PARADIS ISLAND WHERE I WAS BORN AND GROWED. BUT THE WHOLE WORLD WANTS TO DESTROY THE POPULATION OF PARADIS ISLAND. THE HATE CREATED FOR LONG YEARS WILL NOT BE LIMITED ONLY TO THIS ISLAND. IT WILL NOT DIE UNTIL ALL DESCENDANTS OF YMIR BEEN DESTROYED. I'M AGAINST IT. TITANS FROM THE WALLS WILL PASS TO ALL LANDS OUTSIDE PARADIS ISLAND AND WILL TRAMPLE THE ENEMIES UNTIL THEY ERASE ALL LIFE FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH...
Y/N shook with fear, but she found strength.
- EREN! I KNOW YOU HEAR ME! I FOUND HEALING! I CAN FIX EVERYTHING, ALL OF THIS... IT'S NOT NEEDED, WE CAN...
Handle...
She returned to Shiganshina.
- He didn't hear me... or... didn't want to hear...
Y/N fell to her knees, she was scared. It felt like the ground was slipping from under her feet. Still, Levi was right to kill Erwin... He saved him from this... And... where are Levi and Hange now... Did they hear that... She closed her eyes as hard as she could, trying to wake up... This day turned everything upside down. First she knew that she was going to die. Then she came to terms with the idea. Confessed to Armin her feelings after so many years. Forgive him, let him go. She deliberately went to her death, in the hope that this time she would die. But... she survived. Again. And, she found a solution. A decision that could save them all. And then... Eren carried out his plan. And now - everything that happened was no longer important. The whole world was preparing for destruction.
She sat, shackled by all these thoughts, not noticing everything that was happening around. She just stared somewhere into the emptiness of her closed eyes.
Not far away, Jean and Connie joined Armin and Mikasa. Together with them they dragged the Marleyan warrior boy - Falco. He was unconscious and bound.
- «It's all over», said Jean. «I never thought that Eren would decide to destroy all the people behind the walls. But if all of them disappear, then hate will disappear with them... He'll crush all the enemies that threatened our existence. Only free land will remain. The thing that was most feared across the sea happened. Because they called us demons and wanted to kill us all... In general, they themselves... are to blame... what they sow, they'll reap. There is nothing else left for us... Right?» He looked at his friends.
- «It's gone too far... This is an unheard-of act of genocide», Armin said desperately, staring into the void in front of him.
- «Then, should we stop... Eren?» Jean asked. «Eren rejected Zeke's plan to sterilize us. And he rejected the prospect of sacrificing Historia to preserve the strength of the Founder. That is, for the sake of our protection... Eren decided to sacrifice the humanity behind the walls... From this massacre, only we benefit...»
Realizing the situation, each of them had tears of despair in their eyes. They were all too absorbed in these thoughts that only after a couple of minutes they realized that the titans continued their attack.
- «Titans are... fighting soldiers? And the Marleyans... there aren't any?» Armin said in bewilderment when they all turned their attention to the chaos, «But how is it... I thought Eren controls the Founder, which means he controls all the titans...»
- «But they keep eating people, right? We need to save them!» said Jean, getting up and taking the boy with him.
- «Wait, Jean», Mikasa said. «What do you want to do with him?»
- «I'm afraid he inherited the Jaw Titan. And we won't be able to stop him», Jean began to say, «if we feed him to one of those who have turned, we can save one life. For example, Commandant Pyxis...»
- «No, my mother», Connie said, «let's feed him to my mother in Ragako, okay?»
- «Connie, Jean... according to Zeke, he's a cadet... Reiner's named younger brother and the rest of the warrior unit. If we kill a person close to them, then a new conflict with Reiner and the Cart titan will flare up. If Marley is about to fall, we shouldn't continue the blood feud with Reiner's team...», Armin said.
- «So... don't care about my mom? Is that what you mean?» Connie fumed, grabbing Armin by the shirt.
- No, that's not what I'm talking about...
- Do you have any idea how I feel when I return to the village where my mother is?! You ate Bertholdt himself! And came back to life, right?! Don't you dare stop me from bringing my mother back to life!
- Connie...
A hand landed on Connie's shoulder. Y/N joined them.
- «Connie, calm down. It's not Armin's fault what happened... You yourself understand that this choice was made for him», she gently looked into Connie's eyes. «The past is in the past and can't be changed, but...»
Suddenly, a group of titans appeared next to them, who were heading towards them. Connie, not understanding what was happening, tore the boy out of Jean's hands, and flew away on the ODM, leaving his friends on the roof.
- CONNIE! STOP! I CAN HELP YOUR MOM...
But he didn't hear it anymore.
- «WE'LL COPED WITH THIS AFTER!» Jean shouted. «It's hell! There are no more walls on the island! Something needs to be done about the titans!»
- «Why are you looking at me like that, Jean?» Y/N asked him.
- «What should we do, Y/N?» Jean said. «You're... senior in rank and...»
- «Why does everyone think that makes me a leader?» Y/N asked him, preparing the ODM for work. «Do what you think is right. I... I don't belong here, I...»
- Y/N? What are you talking about? You don't want to help, or...?!
- «My place isn't on the battlefield, I realized this a long time ago. But there are people who can help us! And you, for some reason, stubbornly forget about it!» Y/N snapped, turning to shouting, «Where's Hange? And, hell, did any of you notice that Zeke was actually here? Which means...»
- «Levi... His squad...», Mikasa said. «Do you want...»
- «Eren said that Floch took Hange to find Zeke, but since Zeke returned himself, then Hange is still out there somewhere...» Y/N said, «I'm not your help here, but...»
- «Eren said?», Armin finally decided to say at least something. «And how will you find them?»
- «Yes, Eren... It's... a long story. And about Hange and Levi... I know where Zeke was kept», Y/N said looking at the city. «You can manage without me. You're... more accustomed to being on the battlefield. There are still soldiers in the headquarters who will help you. I'll be more useful if I leave»
- «But Y/N... Floch and his people might still be there... or else... you'll have nothing to...» Jean began.
- «Shut up...», said Y/N, holding on to the pendant around her neck. «They're alive... They... can't die...»
And, she disappeared into a cloud of dust, leaving them to watch her trail.
- «She's mad. And what she did to herself... I still don't understand what it was...», Jean said. «Now she's on her own, we must protect the city. Heading to headquarters»
- «She won't leave them, she couldn't», Mikasa said.
- «Y/N...», Armin muttered under his breath.
Only now he understood everything that had happened between them. And where they end up. He didn't returned a kiss, because he thought that she would die and... it would be better that way. But she remained alive. And for her, it was just an answer. The answer is that he doesn't share her feelings. And... now, she's gone. There was more going on in her life than he thought. Her inventions, her communication with Eren... He thought he knew her. But... she was still the enigma he had fallen in love with. And which he wanted to solve.
***
Y/N remembered very well where Zeke was taken. When she reached the edge of town, she looked back. Her entire universe collapsed. She wanted someone to tell her everything was going to be okay. What they'll get out of this. What they can handle with it. That in all this darkness there are still grains of light, that there is still hope...
She found a solution, but too late. Eren didn't hear her. But if he knew she could save them... all of them... But she needed help herself. She seemed to be going crazy. Her brain worked like crazy, jumping from one thought to another. She hadn't slept for the third day, her heart was pounding like crazy. But at the same time... she felt as if she could breathe easier. It's as if the invisible chains that have held her captive for so many years have finally fallen and now she's free. She couldn't understand where this feeling came from... Perhaps it was that she was no longer afraid to turn into a titan, or perhaps it was something else that was holding her back...
She found an ownerless horse and set off.
***
- Are there any survivors? Y/N was right...
Jean, Mikasa, and Armin made it to the headquarters, which the Titans had already surrounded, destroying the building in an attempt to reach the soldiers hiding inside.
- «Listen! Move to the top floor! Let's gather the titans there and attack! Carry all the thunder spears we have! We have to do something!» Jean commanded the surviving soldiers inside the headquarters. «Let's not release the titans deep into the island! If you care about your comrades who have been turned into titans, then lay them to rest here!»
The cleaning of the city was carried out within an hour. The fires were extinguished an hour later. Pure titans were destroyed. The city has become almost safe.
Armin and Mikasa were heading towards Sasha's family, who returned to the headquarters after surviving the attack on the city without loss.
- «I'm glad you're all alright, Mr. Braus», Armin said as he and Mikasa made their way down to the basement with the others.
- «Thank God you're safe too», Mr. Braus said, «I'm sorry to call now, but...»
They went down to the basement and a girl from the Marleyan warriors, Gabi, was waiting for them there.
- What are you doing here?!
- «I don't want to fight anymore», Gabi said. «I just want... to bring Falco back. Give him back and we'll disappear... Where is Falco...?»
- «We... can't...», Armin began to say, «He... was kidnapped, and... our comrade got desperate and... decided to feed him to his mother, who was turned into a titan»
- «But how?» Niccolo asked, «How did his mother become a titan?»
- «That was four years ago», Armin began, «All the people of Ragako village were turned into titans, but Connie's mom couldn't walk and... she's still there, lying. Connie has been looking out for her all these years in the hope that there will be a way to turn it all around...»
- «I'm sorry...», Gabi fell to her knees, tears in her eyes. «I can't leave Falco... Look! Can't Eren Jaeger restore Connie's mom to her human form? After all, the Founding titan can do everything, right?!»
- «I don't know, I think if he could, he would restore the human form to all the soldiers turned into titans by Zeke today», said Armin.
- «So, if you don't know, ask!» Gabi screamed. «Ask Eren! You can't kill everyone outside the walls, right?! There is another way! You can simply destroy military installations around the world! He's omnipotent! He took off the armor of an Armored titan! And...»
- WHAT? WHERE'S REINER?!
- It doesn't matter now! He can't move because he's badly injured!
Armin leaned over to Gabi, taking the girl by the shoulders.
- Gabi, listen. When did the armor of the Armored Titan disintegrate? When?! At what moment?!
- ... Along with the destruction of the walls...
Armin realized that Eren had freed all the titans. Everyone. «Annie... She's... free...»
- «Gabi, I'll get your friend back», Armin told her, getting up and heading outside.
He and Mikasa headed to the armory, where Armin began to equip the ODM. Hundreds of thoughts were spinning in his head, hundreds of problems that needed to be solved, but he was alone. And no one helped him solve all this. He thought that he could use help now.
- «Armin, wait...», Mikasa turned to him, «even if you rush to the Ragako village now, you still won't catch up with Connie. And if... you still catch up with him, then what? You say that there is no hope of returning his mother to a human form? Yes?»
- «If I have to, I'll say so. But... Y/N said that she could fix everything. But... hell, we still don't know what happened to her... How did she survive all this... Where is she now? Even if all this fails, I'll know that I did everything to stop him. Otherwise, we won't be able to win Gabi's trust. And we need it. It isn't known where Reiner and the Cart titan are now, which means it may depend on her whether we can negotiate with them», Armin felt his nerves were on edge. «The fight for the powers of one of the nine titans will not end on it's own. And in the worst case, the tragedy of two thousand years ago will be repeated... On this tiny island. I'm so tired, Mikasa. I'd rather get a good night's sleep now, but... we all need to give it our all. The history of mankind may depend on my decisions and actions. I'll tell Connie it might be better for his mother to stay a lying titan», Armin got up and headed to the stables where Gabi was supposed to be waiting for him. «I have to go...»
- «Armin...», Mikasa said softly. «What should I do?»
- «Help Jean», said Armin, trying to remain calm. «And learn to think for yourself, at least a little... Although I still don't understand why Y/N just dropped everything and left, but... at least she thought for herself...»
- And what should we do... with Eren?
It was the edge.
- «I DON'T KNOW! AND WHAT CAN WE DO WITH HIM NOW?!» Armin started yelling, losing his self-control, «COMMANDER HANGE AND CAPTAIN LEVI ARE PROBABLY DEAD, Y/N FLASHED AFTER THEM INTO THE VOID. FLOCH WILL BE BACK SOON AND DO A DAMN KNOW WHAT AN INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE IS HERE! ANNIE COULD WAKE UP TOO! THE MILITARY COMMAND IS GONE, THERE IS NO ONE LEFT! CHAOS IS ALL AROUND! HISTORIA IS PROBABLY IN DANGER AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE SHE IS! ALL VOLUNTEERS, NICCOLO AND HIZURU'S PEOPLE ARE NOW ALSO IN DANGER... HERE'S WHY! WE'RE HELPLESS! I DON'T HAVE TIME TO EVEN THINK ABOUT EREN, DO YOU KNOW?!»
- I'm sorry, Armin...
- «If Commander Erwin were here, he wouldn't panic like that...» Armin whispered softly. «Here's the answer... It wasn't me who should have been saved...»
After these words, Armin left, leaving Mikasa alone.
***
Jean sat on the top floor of the headquarters and looked at the ruined city. Around him were the remnants of the volunteers. Onyankopon asked him about the vision that Eren showed everyone, but Jean didn't want to talk. He was tired. And God knows what else was waiting for them...
- While I was almost falling under the rubble of the walls, you commanded the pacification of the titans, Jean...
- «Floch... Did you survive?», Jean was at a loss.
- «Thank you for your concern, but, perhaps, I will not die so easily... I'll last until the revival of the Eldian empire...», he approached Yelena, who was sitting far away from everyone. «Yelena, gather volunteers, we'll place them in custody»
- What?
Onyankopon and Jean abruptly jumped up from their seats, waiting for Floch to do the next. The Jaegerists began to gather volunteers into a crowd, pointing weapons at them.
- «Floch! Stop! Stop it!» Jean shouted.
- «Calm down, Jean», Floch answered him, pointing a weapon at one of the volunteers, «I just want them to understand. Some still haven't gotten it, but I think I can get the point across to them»
He shot the volunteer in the arm sharply, causing him to howl in pain and fall to his knees, holding on to a bloodied palm.
- «This is what awaits the volunteers who don't understand words», Floch said coldly.
- Who gave you the right to be the main one...
- «Thanks for asking, Jean!» shouted Floch. «Listen! A year ago, Eren told me about his plan! He was going to use Zeke to gain the power of the Founding Titan. I have gathered allies to help him. And today we have succeeded. You, volunteers have lost your commander, and the support soldiers have disappeared too! You have lost your home! The Rumbling is activated, the titans will trample your lands! You arrived on the island in the hope of reclaiming your homeland, but this hope has been shattered! But if you want to stay here and help us rebuild the Eldian empire, speak up! We'll welcome you with open arms as Eldian brothers!»
- FUCK YOU!
The volunteer, to whom Floch shot off half of the palm, rushed at him, but... didn't have time.
Floch shot him without flinching.
- «Rest in peace, brave man, you didn't even kneel before a bullet, he died with honor, like a real volunteer», Floch said, turning to the rest of the volunteers, «That's just dying with honor is stupid. Wouldn't it be better to get on your knees? After all, it's better to live than to die stupidly... I'll give you time to think!», He turned to his henchmen. «In their cells!»
- «Jean, what's going on?» Mikasa quietly crept up to him, trying not to draw attention to herself.
- «Jean, I'll answer your question: I'm the representative of Eren. And if Eren wants to solve the problems outside the island once and for all, then I'll eradicate the evil from within», he turned and walked over to Jean. «So, after four years in hell, the survivors finally got it... you know what I mean? Freedom! No need to fight anymore. Live as you wish!», he smiled at Jean, putting his hand on his shoulder. «Jean! You wanted to join the military police and live happily behind the walls, didn't you? Go ahead, you're a hero! It's all over, you can become the old Jean, annoying and arrogant bastard»
- «What... What are you talking about...», Jean was confused from the Floch's words.
- «Floch... since you're here... Commander Hange and Captain Levi... where are they?» Mikasa asked.
- «Unfortunately, Zeke killed them both», Floch told them as if it was some kind of nonsense.
Mikasa and Jean exchanged glances. «So, Y/N will find nothing but pain and disappointment»
***
Y/N got to the forest where Zeke was being held when it was already deep night. She hadn't eaten since morning and hadn't slept in too long. She felt tired, but she couldn't stop. She drove around the forest and saw the signs of a battle. But... not a single body. She found the camp itself - there she found crates of Marleyan wine. «Knowing Levi, he probably didn't drink it. But his squad... Zeke turned them into titans and escaped... But... Where is Levi then?»
She was alone. In the forest of tall trees. All around was only dark night. She had a crystal lantern on her head, which she found at her home in the Capital. A gift from Lord Reiss to her father. She wanted to cry. She felt incredibly tired and lonely. She was scared that she could lose Levi too. Now she finally realized how much he was dear to her. But... it wasn't the same fear she felt when she was afraid of losing Erwin. She knew she could handle it. Now she knew herself. He taught her to understand herself. He taught her one truth - that they're by nature alone. And there's nothing wrong with being alone. But still... she didn't want to be alone.
She sank to the ground. She took a knife in her hand and again... ripped open her palm. And... a couple of seconds later... the wound closed up, steaming.
«I needed to believe in myself more. Levi was right. I behaved like a child, acted up, doubted... If I hadn't given up after one attempt... All this could have been avoided... We... we could have cured everyone of this leprosy... But... I was still alone. I shouldn't have been silent...»
She sat in the dark and scolded herself for her cowardice. For childishness. For self-pity. For weakness. For all her mistakes. For everything she did wrong, and for everything she didn't do at all.
Y/N spent about an hour in that forest. She found tea and a kettle in an abandoned camp - the only thing she could find intact. After drinking tea and thinking everything over, she again set off on her journey. Back.
«I won't be weak anymore. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Stop regretting the past. We can finish it all. And then... we'll live. I'll... live on»
She searched for the rest of the night. And, already almost falling asleep, by noon...
- Y/N? IT'S YOU?
Y/N quickly shook herself and turned towards the voice. Hange stepped out from behind the bushes, lowering their gun. Y/N, without a second thought, jumped off the horse and ran towards them.
- «HANGE!» Y/N said hugging the commander, «I'm already starting to lose hope of finding at least someone! When Eren said that you were taken away to hand over Zeke to them, I...»
- I'm fine, Y/N. I got out not without incident, but still...
- And where...?
- Levi? He's... alive. But... not in the best shape. Let's go.
Y/N led her horse along, Hange led her to a small clearing in the woods, where they set up camp. In the shade of the trees, she saw a bandaged man. Hange and Y/N slowly approached him.
- «Zeke turned his entire squad into titans, and... Levi had to kill them all. And then...», Hange began to explain. «Like he said... he screwed up. Zeke tricked him and... Levi miraculously survived, I think. But... when he'll recover is unknown. I... tried to help him as best I could, but I'm not a doctor and...»
- But I'm a doctor. I'll do everything to help him.