Sana had gathered the courage to reveal her truth, a truth she had hidden for so long. She stood before them, her heart racing as she prepared to speak the words she had never dared to say aloud.
"I want to tell you something," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "Maybe you'll hate me after this, because I've kept it from you for so long. But I was waiting for a time when you would believe me, when you would understand me. It's not like this is the perfect moment, but I would have told you in the underground, if only I hadn't been so happy to be with you all. I forgot... I forgot I needed to say this."
Her breath caught in her chest as she paused, collecting herself before continuing. "I'm not from this world."
There was a brief, stunned silence before Farlan's voice broke through. "What? Hah, you're doing another prank, right?"
"No," Sana responded firmly. "It's the truth. I already know what's happening in this world. I knew about all of you even before I came here. I knew we would join the Survey Corps. I wasn't supposed to be a part of this world. I've changed the future of this place. I don't even know how I ended up here. But now, I want to be with you. You're the best family I've ever had. Please… don't hate me."
She lowered her gaze, her heart aching as she continued. "I come from a world that's far more advanced than this one. We can talk to anyone, no matter the distance. We have submarines that can explore the depths of the oceans. There are things in my world I can't even begin to explain to you. We have your God in my world, yes, but he's just a human like me, not a divine being like you think. And there are people outside these walls. The titans… they're human."
Sana's voice faltered slightly, the weight of her words hanging in the air. "Please, don't tell anyone else. If you do, they might come after me. I've told you this because… you're my family. No one else would trust me without proof."
Levi's eyes narrowed as he processed her words. "So, you wanted to tell us this when we were here the first time, right? And I interrupted you?"
"Yes," Sana admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. " I just… I didn't know how to say it."
Levi had suspected it would be something about Erwin, but this… this was different. He had known that Sana carried a burden, but hearing this truth left him with a mixture of disbelief and empathy. Was she really carrying all this weight alone? To know how the future would unfold, to watch people die, and not be able to change it—it must have been unbearable.
He could feel the frustration and sadness in her voice. Perhaps what she had said to him before, those harsh words, had been born from this constant struggle within her. It was a lot to carry for anyone, let alone someone as young as she appeared to be.
She watched them closely, anxiously awaiting their reactions. Her heart raced, but she kept her composure, despite the storm of emotions threatening to overtake her.
"Do you all have any questions?" Sana asked, though she wasn't sure if she was ready for their responses.
Isabel, her eyes wide with curiosity, broke the silence. "Can you fly like birds in your world?"
Sana chuckled softly, a relieved breath escaping her. "Yes, we can fly, but not exactly how you're imagining it."
Levi, ever the stoic figure, softened just a little. "Don't worry," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "I'll make sure no one dares harm you, not without your permission."
Sana smiled, the weight in her chest lightening just a little. "I'm glad you all aren't angry about me keeping it a secret."
Farlan gave her an understanding smile.
Levi crossed his arms, a small smirk playing at his lips. "Ha, who told you I'd let you go easily for that? You should be prepared for punishment."
Sana laughed softly, the tension in the air easing, but she didn't say anything in response. Her thoughts were elsewhere, distracted by an unfamiliar feeling she didn't want to acknowledge. Was it possible that she felt something more for him? No, it couldn't be. She wasn't the kind of person who wore her emotions on her sleeve, and now wasn't the time to complicate things further.
The night had already fallen by the time they made their way back to the barracks. Isabel, predictably, was hungry, and it didn't take long for her to cause a bit of chaos in the kitchen before she was fed. With their bellies full, they settled in for a restless night, knowing they would be summoned by the king the next day. What for, exactly, no one knew, but none of them were particularly eager for the unknown.
There was a meeting happening between the captains and the commander, but they were left out of the loop. Sana, though, had something else on her mind.
The photograph. Erwin's photograph. She quickly got up from her bed, heart thumping as she rushed to the storeroom. The photograph was there, thank goodness. The sunlight here made the image a bit clearer than it had been underground. She carefully took it with her before heading back to her room.
The next morning came quickly. The team was given new uniforms to wear for the king's audience, a different design than their usual ones. Sana couldn't help but admire the new look—it was elegant, though she had mixed feelings about attending a formal event. The idea of bowing down to the king made her stomach churn, but she didn't say anything.
As they all gathered, the ceremony began. The new commander of the Survey Corps was about to be announced, and the tension in the room was palpable. It was surprising—Erwin becoming commander so soon. But perhaps it was the king's way of showing that he trusted Erwin to handle the situation.
Sana watched as the names were called, including two new captains: Mike Zacharias and Levi. They were awarded medals for their bravery during the first expedition, and it was clear that their contributions hadn't gone unnoticed.
Then, the moment came. The king addressed the room.
"The new commander of the Survey Corps, who will succeed Keith Shardis, is Erwin Smith."
Sana couldn't help but feel a swell of pride for Erwin, even though she wasn't the one being celebrated. He deserved this, and she knew he would lead them all to greater heights.
But then, Erwin made a surprising request.
"Sir, I would like to form a technical department for the sake of humanity," he said, catching everyone off guard.
The king overseeing the ceremony, raised an eyebrow. "Isn't there already one for research on titans?"
Erwin shook his head. "It's not enough. I want to make it part of the Survey Corps, but it should be funded separately. And I promise, no one will be disappointed. This will not just benefit the Survey Corps, but the king and the people as well."
Dhalis Zachary said.. "Very well. Your dedication is unquestionable, Erwin. If the Owner able king would agree?"
The king nodded.
"One more thing," Erwin continued. "I'd like to suggest a name for the head of this department."
Everyone fell silent, waiting for his next words.
"Sana," Erwin said, "She's the most suitable person to lead it. And I would like to request her security, as I have a feeling she might be targeted, though I cannot prove it yet."
This was asked in front of Dhalis Zachary so anyone else can't question it.
If they would then they would be kept under suspicion because this was for the sake of humanity.
Though Sana was amazed to know that Erwin was aware of what would happen if the royal family knew about her but still he took a bet.
Sana's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected this—hadn't expected to be thrust into such a prominent role so quickly. She stood up, trying to compose herself as all eyes turned to her. She felt a surge of doubt—was she really the right person for this? She hadn't proven herself in this world yet.
But she had no choice now.
As the ceremony concluded, she was told she could choose the members of her team. The decision would be hers alone.
Later, as they gathered for lunch, Sana made a decision. She would give Levi and Erwin gifts at the celebration the following day. She had already chosen what to give them, a small token of her appreciation for all they had done for her.
The weight of responsibility hung heavy on her shoulders, but for the first time in a long while, she felt like she might just be able to handle it.