Chapter 4: Chapter 4: The Warning
Erwin dismissed the soldier with a quick nod. "Give us some privacy. We'll call you if we need anything."
As the door closed, silence filled the room. Erwin, Levi, and Hange stared at Niikaz, who looked all of twelve but stood there confidently, her gaze calm and focused.
Erwin leaned against his desk, arms folded. "So, you're telling us the Wall will fall within a week. Care to explain that?"
Niikaz didn't blink. "The Wall will fall, but you won't see it coming. There won't be any cracks to patch or breaks to fix."
Erwin's brow furrowed. "So it'll be breached without any visible damage? What are we dealing with?"
Levi's eyes narrowed. "I don't like riddles. If you're trying to waste our time, we'll show you out."
Her eyes flashed, and she spoke calmly but firmly. "I'm not wasting anyone's time. I know what's coming. Titans will break through, but not in any way you've seen before."
Hange's skepticism flared up, and she tilted her head, squinting at Niikaz. "So you can see the future now? Just like that? This isn't a storybook, kid."
With a surge of frustration, Hange grabbed Niikaz by the collar, pulling her close. "If you're making this up or messing with us, I'll make sure you regret it."
"Hange. Stand down." Erwin's voice was steady, and Hange reluctantly released Niikaz, though her expression was far from convinced.
Erwin's gaze bore into her, sharp and discerning. "Let's say this is true. If you can't stop it, then why come to us?"
Niikaz's voice softened. "Because you have to be ready. This isn't a typical Titan attack. You'll face something you can't predict."
Levi crossed his arms, a smirk flickering on his face. "So you came all the way here to tell us to prepare for a mystery?"
Niikaz shot back, her tone unflinching. "Ignore this warning, and you'll regret it. I didn't come here to convince you. I came here to give you a fighting chance."
The room fell silent as Erwin considered her words, his eyes searching hers. She seemed too sure of herself, and that gnawed at him in an unsettling way.
After a moment, Erwin nodded slowly. "Alright. We'll listen. But you'd better not leave anything out."
A flicker of relief crossed Niikaz's face, but her voice stayed calm. "Fine. I'll tell you what I know, but I need your word on something first."
Levi's eyes narrowed. "What's the catch?"
"I need your promise that you won't treat me as an enemy. Listen to me without assuming I'm here to harm you," Niikaz replied steadily.
Erwin exchanged a glance with Levi and Hange, who both gave a slight nod. "You have our word," Erwin said, his tone firm. "But only if you're completely honest with us."
Niikaz nodded, finally letting her guard drop just a bit. "Good. But there's one more thing we need to discuss."
Levi raised an eyebrow. "More than the Wall falling?"
She looked them in the eye, her tone deadly serious. "Yes. Something called a soul contract."