Third person POV :
In an empty field, Draco finally reached the Survey Corps, or at least he hoped it was them. The soldiers donned similar outfits to Estella's, which made him think he had found the right place. Curiosity drove him to survey the area before mustering the courage to approach someone.
" Hey, you. Do you know where I can find... What was his name ? Erwin ? I think ?". Draco asked, hoping to confirm his arrival at the right destination.
The Commander cast a curious glance at him before responding," That would be me. Who are you ?".
" Oh well, I didn't expect to find you as my first encounter. My name is Draco Malfoy. The Captain told me to find you. I suppose you could say I'm a friend of Estella Potter". Draco explained, trying to convey a sense of familiarity.
Hange's eyes widened in surprise," Does that mean you're from the same world as her ?".
" Yes. And before you ask any further, I have no idea how I ended up here. Estella found me when you all were busy with something, and there were these naked monsters everywhere, which was rather bizarre". Draco recounted, recalling the chaotic circumstances that led him to this strange place.
" I see. Well, I'll offer you the same proposition I gave Cadet Potter. Would you consider joining our ranks as a Survey Corps soldier ?". Commander Erwin suggested, considering Draco's potential.
Draco nervously gulped," Are you crazy ? There's no way I'll die at the hands of a naked giant !".
" Oh, well. That's a shame. In that case, we'll have to hand you over to the Military Police". Squad Leader Mike remarked, his tone indicating the seriousness of the alternative.
Commander Erwin nodded in agreement," Indeed. The last thing they would want is to dissect someone who possesses magic before carrying out the execution".
Upon hearing that, Draco's soul almost left his body, the gravity of the situation sinking in.
" W-wait... I'll join your stupid Survey Corps". He stammered, reluctantly accepting the proposition.
The Commander couldn't help but smile slightly," That's good to know. I'll inform Premier Zackly, and I'll assign you under the supervision of Captain Levi for training. Welcome to the Survey Corps".
" Bloody hell, what did I get myself into...". Draco muttered under his breath, a mixture of fear and uncertainty clouding his mind.
Hange laughed cheerfully," That's nice to have you here ! Hey, maybe you could share some information about your world with me".
Draco couldn't help but cringe slightly as Hange draped an arm around his shoulders. The carefree atmosphere that had enveloped the soldiers was shattered by Levi's urgent call.
" Four-eyes ! Come here ! Quickly !". Captain Levi's voice rang out urgently.
Startled, they turned to see Levi hurrying towards them, cradling a wounded person in his arms.
" Estella !". Draco gasped, his expression a mix of horror and concern as he rushed to help Captain Levi and examine the injured girl.
" What happened ?". Hange inquired, their analytical mind already assessing the severity of Estella's injury.
" The Female Titan attacked her, sir. I apologize; we failed to protect her". Oluo explained, a sense of guilt evident in his voice.
Commander Erwin surveyed the scene before turning his attention to Levi, who carefully laid Estella on the ground.
" The rest of your squad ?". Commander Erwin inquired.
The Captain shook his head solemnly, and the Commander's gaze shifted to Mike.
" Go and retrieve the bodies". Commander Erwin commanded.
Mike nodded, and Oluo promptly joined him, wanting to offer any assistance he could.
Meanwhile, Hange turned their focus back to Eren, whose condition was a concern to Mikasa.
" He'll be fine". Hange assured Mikasa, trying to offer some comfort amidst the chaos.
Mikasa heaved a sigh of relief, but her worry soon shifted to Estella," What about Stella ?". She asked with a troubled expression.
Hange glanced at Estella, assessing the wound on her head," Love, can you hear me ?". They called out, using one of their eccentric nicknames.
" Love ?". Draco repeated incredulously, his glare directed at the Squad Leader.
But Hange paid no mind to the comment, fully engrossed in examining the injured soldier.
" The head wound is quite deep and will require stitches. Her back... I don't feel anything breaking, so we'll hope for the best-case scenario". Hange explained, their voice serious yet tinged with concern.
" Well, what are you waiting for Shitty-Four eyes ?". Captain Levi demanded, his impatience surfacing.
" I'll need the necessary equipment. Moblit". Hange called out to their dedicated assistant.
" Of course, Squad Leader". Moblit replied.
Without a moment's hesitation, Moblit nodded and darted towards one of the nearby trolleys, filled with medical supplies. He swiftly gathered the required equipment.
" What could be... the worst-case scenario ?". Mikasa asked worriedly, her eyes fixed on the unconscious Estella lying on the ground.
" Losing her memory, maybe that she couldn't walk correctly... A lot of things that we won't know for sure until she woke up". Hange replied, concern etched on their face.
" She will. She's strong. There's no way what you said will happen". Draco stated firmly, his voice trying to be reassuring.
" Let's hope that you're right". Hange retorted, trying to hide their lingering doubts.
As the group waited for Moblit to return with the supplies needed to stitch Estella's wound, Commander Erwin took the opportunity to address Levi," Levi, Malfoy here will join the Survey Corps, I decided to put you in your squad for you to train him. I'll talk with the Premier about this".
Captain Levi's eyes twitched with annoyance," Tch, wonderful, another brat... You have a lot of things to learn, Malfoy. And don't expect me to be nice to you, is that clear ?".
Draco glanced nervously at the Captain before nodding," Y-yeah... Um... Sir".
Moblit returned, bringing everything Hange needed to treat Estella's injury. With skillful hands, Hange stitched the wound delicately, careful not to cause her any further pain. Once the stitching was done, they gently placed a bandage around Estella's head and then rested their hand on her forehead.
" Now, she needs some rest. She won't be able to ride a horse, so we'll have to put her in the cart". Hange stated with concern.
" I will do it". Mikasa immediately offered, her protective instincts taking over as she carefully lifted Estella into her arms, treating her like a precious jewel.
" Be careful". Hange instructed, their voice laced with concern, as they handed Estella over to Mikasa.
Draco quickly followed behind, helping Mikasa place Estella gently in the cart next to Eren.
" You're the boy she talked about". Mikasa suddenly said, her voice filled with a mix of curiosity and caution.
Draco nodded, his pale features showing a hint of acknowledgment," I suppose I am. What was your name ?". He asked, his voice cool and detached.
" Mikasa Ackerman". She replied, her eyes fixed on Draco.
" Oh yeah. I heard that Potter mentioned you before, along with Armin and Eren, when he sent a Patronus to ask you to protect her. Quite a task, that you didn't manage to accomplish well". Draco muttered under his breath, the last part almost escaping his lips.
Mikasa's stern expression intensified," I wasn't here. And if I was, it wouldn't have happened this way," she retorted, her voice holding a tinge of regret." Why are you talking about her brother in such a way ?".
Draco's silver eyes flickered with a touch of annoyance," I don't think that's your business". He simply replied, his tone laced with indifference.
Their conversation was abruptly interrupted when a voice called out for Mikasa, breaking the tension that hung between them.
" Mikasa !". Armin's voice echoed through the air, filled with urgency.
Mikasa turned around to see Armin, Jean, Connie, Sasha, Reiner, Bertholdt, Krista, and Ymir hurrying towards them. Concern etched across their faces as they approached.
" We heard what happened ! How are they ?". Connie asked, his voice filled with worry.
" How is she ?". Jean inquired, his eyes searching for reassurance.
" Eren is fine. As for Estella, she's currently stable. We'll know more when she wakes up," Mikasa replied, her voice carrying a mix of relief and uncertainty." But, Armin, you're hurt too ?". She added, noticing his injuries.
Armin brushed off his injuries with a dismissive wave of his hand," I'm fine. It's nothing to worry about".
Sasha's voice quivered with anxiety," And what do you mean by 'if she's really alright' ?".
Draco's earlier indifference gave way to a tinge of concern.
" There might be underlying damage that we're not aware of yet," Mikasa explained, her gaze shifting towards Estella's unconscious form." We need to be prepared for any possibility".
Reiner clenched his fists in frustration," Damn it... It wasn't supposed to happen like this".
Bertholdt quickly interjected, his voice filled with anguish," Yeah... It was her first expedition, and she was the first among us to be injured. How could this have happened ? It's just horrible".
Krista's eyes filled with worry as she observed Estella's motionless figure," What happened ?". she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mikasa's voice was filled with a mixture of sorrow and determination as she recounted the events," That filthy Female Titan attacked Captain Levi's Squad. It killed everyone, but Estella and Oluo managed to survive. The Captain and I tracked it down to retrieve Eren".
Armin's eyes widened in disbelief," Eren ? Why would it want him ?".
" I don't know," Mikasa replied, her voice tinged with frustration." I saw it trying to take Estella too, but Oluo severed its hand before it could happen".
Connie's voice trembled with confusion," It doesn't make sense. Estella is just human, with magic but no Titan power... I don't understand".
Armin's gaze shifted between his two unconscious friends, a profound sadness clouding his eyes.
" Now, I have a pressing question... Who the hell is this blonde guy who has Hawky's hand in his ?". Ymir asked, glaring at Draco.
Draco huffed," Rude. I'm not 'this blonde boy'. My name is Draco. Draco Malfoy".
Armin's eyes widened, recognizing the name," You're the friend she told us about !".
" Rox's friend ? Does that mean that you're coming from the same world as her ?". Jean wondered curiously.
Draco nodded," I am".
" That's cool to meet you ! The name's Reiner, and the boy next to me is Bertholdt". Reiner told him with a grin.
" Nice to meet you". Bertholdt said.
" I am Jean Kirstein". Jean stated, his eyes still locking onto Estella's sleeping figure.
" And mine is Connie Springer ! You've probably heard about me because Stella...". Before Connie could finish, Sasha put her hand in front of Connie's mouth.
" Don't listen to him, he's an idiot. Call me Sasha !".
" You're both idiots". Ymir stated with a deadpan expression.
" Ymir ! That's not nice ! Well... It's nice to have you with us, Draco. My name is Krista Lenz". Krista said.
" I see. And to be honest, I never heard about any of you except the Jaeger boy, Ackerman, and I think his name was Armin". Draco stated.
" Oh, yeah. That's me". Armin replied timidly.
Connie pouted sadly," That's not fair. Did she not talk about us at all ?".
" Maybe she did. I wasn't always there to listen to what happened. I only knew that Potter wanted Ackerman, Jaeger, and Armin to protect her". Draco said.
Ymir scoffed," As you can see, they did a good job when you see the state she's now in".
" That's exactly what I said". Draco retorted.
Armin looked at the floor shamefully, while Mikasa gritted her teeth.
" But they couldn't, they weren't here !". Sasha exclaimed, trying to defend Armin and Mikasa.
" When you talked about a Potter, I suppose you talk about Harry ? Her brother". Krista wondered.
Draco rolled his eyes," Of course, everyone knows Potty here too".
" Huh ? Why such a reaction ?". Connie asked with confusion.
Ymir smirked," I'm smelling jealousy".
Draco huffed," Me ? Jealous of Potter ? In your dream".
But the conversation was interrupted when they heard someone shouting.
" I cannot accept this, Commander Erwin !". Dieter shouted.
" Hey, you...". Peer's voice trailed off, looking at Dieter indignantly.
" We should recover them ! Ivan's body was right in front of us !". Dieter exclaimed.
" There was a Titan right next to him ! It could result in another casualty !". Peer retorted.
" Ivan's an old friend. We're from the same town! I know his parents. If nothing else, I'd like to bring him home !". Jurgen demanded.
" Don't be selfish !". Peer scolded the two soldiers.
" Squabbling kids ?". Captain Levi said, walking toward them.
" Lance Corporal Levi...". Peer muttered.
" If you confirmed he's dead, that's enough. Whether you have the body, dead is dead. It won't change anything". Captain Levi told them.
" No...". Jurgen murmured.
" We'll say Ivan and the others went missing. That's my final decision. Give it up". Commander Erwin stated sternly.
Commander Erwin and Captain Levi then began to walk off.
" Don't the two of you have any human feeling at all ?!". Dieter shouted.
" Hey, Dieter ! You're going too far !". Peer told him.
Dieter gritted his teeth without saying anything before walking away with Jurgen.
Jean sighed, the weight of their grim situation pressing heavily upon him," Looks like it's time to go".
Everyone swiftly mounted their horses as they prepared to make their escape. The cart jolted into motion, picking up speed as they fled from the approaching Titans. Mikasa vigilant for any sign of Eren and Stella.
Draco leaned close to Stella, his voice gentle as he tried to rouse her.," Stella, hey... Can you hear me ?". He asked softly.
Estella's eyes fluttered open, confusion evident in her gaze," Where... I... am ?". She murmured weakly.
" We're still outside, ready to come back. Do you remember what happened ?". Draco inquired, worry etched on his face.
" I... can't... Petra...". Estella's voice trailed off, her mind struggling to grasp the events that had unfolded.
" What happened ?". Mikasa asked, sensing the tension in the air.
Draco's concern deepened, observing Estella as she fought to stay conscious," It's difficult for her to stay awake".
Mikasa's eyes widened, understanding the severity of Estella's condition.
But their attention was quickly diverted as a soldier's voice pierced through the air, screaming the dreaded word," Titans !".
They turned around, only to see two Titans chasing after Dieter and Jurgen, who were riding desperately fast while carrying Ivan's lifeless body.
" That's... Dieter ! That fool...". Peer cursed, frustration evident in his voice as he shot a red smoke signal into the air.
" The rear line has sighted Titans !". A soldier near the Commander reported.
" Onward at full speed !". Commander Erwin commanded, determination in his eyes.
" I don't see any tall trees or buildings. Fighting out here will be difficult". Captain Levi stated, his eyes scanning their surroundings.
" We're better off outrunning them until we reach the walls". Commander Erwin retorted, displaying his strategic thinking.
Captain Levi clenched his jaw, realizing the wisdom in Commander Erwin's decision. He pulled back his horse, hoping to lead their group away from the approaching Titans. Meanwhile, Dieter and Jurgen continued their frantic escape, but they couldn't evade the Titans forever.
One of the colossal creatures took a swing at Dieter, forcing him to dodge and inadvertently dropping Ivan's lifeless body in the process.
Dieter's eyes widened in horror as he saw Jurgen getting ensnared by another Titan. Without a second thought, he turned back to rescue his friend, fighting the Titan with all his might. However, another Titan advanced towards the Survey Corps members who were ahead.
" They're going to catch us !". Armin exclaimed, his voice tinged with panic.
" Do we have to fight ?!". Jean wondered, feeling the weight of desperation in the air.
" 3D Maneuver Gear has limited utility in open areas. And look...". Armin's voice trailed off as he and Jean noticed more Titans emerging from the surrounding fields.
" They just keep coming !". Armin said, his voice filled with dread.
" We can't fight them all". Jean said, his voice laced with helplessness.
Unfortunately, Jurgen's fate was sealed as the Titan consumed him. Dieter, grief-stricken and filled with rage, continued to battle the Titan that had taken his friend. Mikasa didn't hesitate to join him, swiftly moving to kill the Titan that held Dieter captive.
Back at the cart, the situation was equally grim. The soldiers desperately debated what to do with their fallen comrades' bodies.
" Stop ! Just abandon the bodies. They'll reach us". Captain Levi told them sternly.
" B-but !". One soldier protested, unable to bear the thought of leaving their friends behind.
" In the past, many bodies haven't made it back. These guys aren't anything special". Captain Levi explained, though his voice revealed the pain he felt.
" Are we doing this ? Really ?!". Another soldier exclaimed, his sorrow evident as he looked at the lifeless bodies of his fallen comrades.
" We don't have any choice. Do it !". Oluo said, clenching his hand into a fist, his own grief and frustration mixing together.
With heavy hearts, the soldiers opened the back of the cart, one by one, dropping the bodies of their fallen squad members. Petra's lifeless form came into view, and Oluo gritted his teeth, unable to bear the sight. A flicker of sorrow passed through the Captain's eyes as he looked at his former squad members being discarded in this cruel manner.