Attack On Titan- Wings of liberty*

They had arrived at the castle. The journey had been long, and though they were finally here, a sense of unease settled over Sana. She didn't know why, but the courage to speak to Levi—especially in front of anyone—wasn't there.

As everyone else headed inside, Isabel turned to her with a cheerful call.

"Sana, come on! Let's eat something!" Isabel said.

But Sana shook her head, her voice quiet. "I'm not hungry yet. Go ahead without me. I need some fresh air."

The truth was, she just needed to be alone. She had so many thoughts running through her mind, and her heart felt heavy. Why couldn't I just say what I needed to say? she thought bitterly. She had tried so many times over the past week to apologize, but every attempt felt useless.

The others were treating them with so much kindness now, much different than before. Perhaps it was because they were no longer seen as outcasts or "underground punks," but they were still the same people. That much hadn't changed. She couldn't shake the guilt gnawing at her.

Resting her head against the cold stone wall, she let her arms fold across the top of her knees. Her mind began to drift.

What would Levi think of me now? she wondered. Does he think I'm someone who looks down on the people from the underground? She didn't mean to make him feel that way, but her words had come out wrong, and now she feared they had left a permanent mark on their relationship.

Her thoughts turned to the larger question of why everyone inside the walls had to suffer this way. Why couldn't they live freely like the Marleyans? Why were they all trapped in this endless cycle of death and despair? Eren had sacrificed so much, yet nothing seemed to change. The world was still broken.

Sana shuddered as she thought about the terrible reality of it all. Could I ever be brave enough to sacrifice someone's life for the greater good? she wondered. I don't even want to think about it. The thought of seeing someone die without knowing why... it just shatters me.

The night had already settled in before she realized how much time had passed. She took a deep breath and made her way inside, hoping to catch up with the others, but they were nowhere to be found.

They must be in Erwin's room, she thought. They're probably going through the documents. I can't keep interrupting. I've already made enough of a mess of things.

She retrieved a small piece of food from her bag and sat down, her thoughts heavy as she chewed absentmindedly.

Levi was lost in his own thoughts, his mind focused on the mission ahead. He could only hope that Erwin and the others succeeded in their search for the necessary documents before the commander returned.

Suddenly, there he was—Erwin.

"What are you up to here all alone?" Erwin asked, his eyes sharp. "Aren't your subordinates with you?"

Levi stiffened, his teeth gritted. "They're not my subordinates."

Erwin raised an eyebrow but didn't press the issue further. Instead, he changed the subject. "So, how are you adjusting to military life?"

"Lousy," Levi replied, his voice flat. "All anyone ever talks about is the Titans, with those stifling looks on their faces. It gets exhausting."

Erwin nodded. "Of course. The Survey Corps attracts people like that."

"I'm sure you're at the top of that list," Levi muttered under his breath.

Erwin smiled as if he didn't take Levi's sarcasm to heart. "Your fight today was brilliant. You took down an abnormal Titan so easily on your first expedition. With someone like you around, the others will feel safer."

Levi's expression didn't change. "Back then, there was a soldier who fought the Titan first and got eaten. I watched how it moved while it devoured him. That's how I figured out how to fight it."

"I see," Erwin said, his voice softening. "As you've realized, the Survey Corps was built on countless sacrifices. We still don't know much about the world outside these walls."

There was a pause before Erwin asked, "Do you know where Sana is? I wanted her to meet Hange."

The mention of her name made Levi's stomach tighten. Why? I didn't wanted him to take her name from his mouth.

Just then, Isabel's voice called out. "Levi! Over here!"

Levi turned, grateful for the interruption. "Sorry, I'm late!" Isabel said, breathless. "I finished changing. You can come back now!"

Levi didn't respond to Erwin, his focus now on Isabel. He muttered under his breath, "What kind of reason is that, you idiot?"

"Teehee! Sorry! I panicked!" Isabel laughed, clearly relieved.

With no more to say, they both headed back toward the area where they were supposed to rest. But as Levi stepped forward, his foot froze. There she is.

Sana was standing at the edge of the room, her gaze fixed on the floor, her eyes filled with an emotion Levi couldn't quite place. She's been avoiding me. She looks uneasy.

Farlan noticed Levi's hesitation. "Oh, Levi, you're back," Farlan said, his voice light.

Levi sat down beside Farlan, but his eyes never left Sana. She was hurting, and he could see it in her eyes. Just once... Levi thought. Just once, I wish she'd talk to me.

Farlan continued, "We didn't find anything. The only option left is that he must be carrying the documents with him. We'll have to kill him."

Levi's face hardened. "You can say that, but he won't go down easy."

Sana sat alone in the corner, her heart racing. I just need one opportunity, she thought desperately. I'll apologize. I'll fix everything. I know I hurt you, Levi. I never meant to. But I can't stand the thought of leaving things like this.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice. "You got a second?"

Sana's head jerked up, and there stood Hange, her expression kind but curious.

Sana took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. "Hange-san," she said, her voice soft. "What is it?"

"I was watching you during the crucial moment," Hange said with a wide grin.

Sana knew exactly what Hange was referring to—the battle with the Titan. But she didn't feel like she had done anything impressive. The others had handled it. She had barely moved.

Levi, who had been silent until now, looked at Hange with a slight frown. "What do you mean by 'crucial moment'?"

Hange gestured enthusiastically. "When you defeated the Titan! It was incredible! I was so excited, I could hardly contain myself!"

Levi nodded, his expression unreadable. "Thanks."

Hange beamed, clearly delighted. "It was amazing! And you should be proud of yourself!"

The conversation drifted from there, as Hange and Levi discussed their experience with the Titans. Isabel joined in, praising Levi's fighting skills, and Hange offered Isabel a friendly gift in celebration.

Meanwhile, Sana remained quiet, unsure of her place in this conversation. She wasn't the one who had done anything remarkable, and honestly, she preferred to stay in the background. She wasn't one for attention.

Levi finally spoke up, his voice sharp as ever. "I'm tired. I need some rest."

With a bright smile and a cheerful goodbye, Hange left them, inviting them all for a meal after the expedition if they returned alive. Her infectious energy seemed to lift the mood, but for Sana, the pain in her chest remained.

As Hange walked away, Farlan nudged Levi. "What's the big deal in teaching them some simple tricks?"

Levi's voice was cool as always. "I don't want to be responsible for anyone's life but yours three."

The conversation turned to the mission again, but Sana wasn't listening. She was still lost in her own thoughts.

Later, the squad was briefed on the formation again. Afterward, Farlan and Levi discussed the documents, while Isabel began to realize the importance of the expedition. She even said she didn't want to steal the documents anymore, her compassion shining through.

Farlan teased her lightly, but soon, the group settled in for the night, preparing for what lay ahead.

As morning broke, Sana found herself standing outside near the castle's main gate. She saw Erwin standing alone, deep in thought.

She approached him, her voice tentative. "Do you think today is a good day to go out?"

Erwin looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Why do you think so?"

Sana glanced up at the sky. "The weather might not be on our side."

Erwin thought for a moment before nodding. "I'll talk to the commander. But we can't stay here much longer. Supplies are running low."

He walked off toward Shardis, and soon the two men were deep in conversation.

Erwin's request to delay the expedition was quickly shot down. Shardis was insistent that they couldn't waste any more time. "We don't have enough time, Erwin. We need to reach the destination as soon as possible. The weather is fine today—don't worry."

And so, with no change in plans, the group prepared to depart. Sana's heart beat faster. She had tried and failed to influence the course of events. Now, all she could do was pray that they would survive the coming journey.