Hearing Levi's voice boosted Sana's spirits tenfold. It was the sound she needed to hear, bringing a spark of hope in the midst of the chaos. She stood up, holding the child carefully in her arms, and turned to face him.
"Are you running out of gas?" he asked, his tone steady as always.
"Where are Isabel and Farlan?" Sana inquired, worry creeping into her voice.
"Stay here for a while," Levi replied, his gaze sharp as he scanned their surroundings. "They'll be here any moment. They went with Hange's squad to help block the entrance. They're using wooden logs first, then the rock blocks. They've also brought the pulley with them, and the cementing supplies. Erwin had planned it all ahead of time."
A quiet sense of admiration for Erwin settled over Sana as she absorbed his words. "So, he had the entire scenario figured out from the start. How could I have ever doubted his plan?"
Sana watched as scouts worked tirelessly to fortify the entrance, while others engaged Titans that were trying to breach the area. The lumber was already in place, and the Titans from outside were unable to get in.
They had prepared the concrete blocks in advance, storing them in the Shiganshina District. It seemed the time had come to use them. She noticed civilians working side by side with the scouts, contributing to the effort.
"Where are the rest of the scouts?" she asked Levi, noticing the small number of them around. "I can hardly see anyone else here."
"They're still on Wall Maria's northern side," Levi answered. "They're helping the residents in the north, east, and west of the territory. Carrying people from the ground to the tops of the walls, where other scouts will escort them safely to Wall Rose via the bridge. Those were Erwin's instructions."
Sana barely had time to process his words when a fellow scout approached, calling her name. "Sana San, here's your new equipment."
One of her team members handed her the fresh gear. Sana passed the child to him, instructing him to carry her safely to the top of the wall, before quickly refueling her gas and changing blades.
"I should leave now," Levi murmured, stepping away to engage the Titans. He didn't need to say more—his presence was always enough to inspire everyone around him.
Many of the scouts had likely never seen Levi fight Titans before. Watching him work was like witnessing a storm—fast, efficient, and effortless. He made the impossible look effortless.
Sana, on the other hand, was still adjusting to the chaos of saving civilians while fighting Titans. The task was grueling, and every moment was tense. Despite her focus on the work, her thoughts kept drifting back to the baby. She couldn't explain why, but she felt an inexplicable connection to the little one. She just hoped the child was all right.
Everyone was working relentlessly. The sense of urgency was palpable as the daylight began to fade. The skies darkened, and the thought of losing any more people haunted her. The situation was already a nightmare, and nightfall would only make it worse.
TWO HOURS LATER
The scouts had successfully rescued everyone still alive, and they were safely on their way to Wall Rose. Garrison forces were stationed at the bridge, overseeing the rescue and ensuring as many people as possible were brought to safety.
However, Wall Rose's administration wasn't allowing many civilians through. Only those with a compelling reason were permitted to stay within the walls. It was a grim reality—the invasion had cost the lives of many, including fifty Garrison soldiers. The air was thick with loss, but the people pressed on.
The path to Wall Rose was straightforward but exhausting. Those who could walk would travel over the walls, crossing the bridge that connected Wall Maria to Wall Rose. From there, they would be placed in makeshift shelters.
With the majority of the civilians taken care of and the entrance securely blocked, the scouts finally had a moment to rest. The remaining tasks would have to wait until tomorrow.
Sana made her way to the location where she had left the baby. She approached the scouts she had entrusted with the task, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Where is the child?" she asked, her voice laced with urgency.
"Oh, Sana Heichou, she's safe with Alisa," one of the scouts replied. "I'll bring her to you right away."
Sana felt a swell of emotion at the news. "She's a girl, then?" she murmured, a mixture of joy and sentiment flooding her heart.
The scout soon returned, carefully bringing the baby into her arms. Sana looked at the child's face closely, a sense of wonder overtaking her. Something inside of her shifted as she gazed at the newborn. It was as if an unspoken bond had been forged in that moment.
She cradled the baby gently, feeling the weight of her smallness, and a single tear slipped down her cheek. In that moment, it felt as if nothing else in the world mattered but the child in her arms.
Sana leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to the baby's forehead. She held back, her lips hovering just above her skin. It wasn't just the act of kissing her—it was the instinct to protect something so delicate, something so pure. The child had a sacred, fragile air about her that filled Sana with a profound sense of responsibility.
As she busied herself with the baby, Isabel appeared, drawn by the sight of the small child. She smiled warmly, as did Farlan, who appeared beside her.
"For how long are you going to hold onto that child?" Levi's voice cut through the moment. He had seen Sana with the baby before, and it seemed as though the scene was becoming a familiar one.
Sana's smile was serene as she looked up at him. "I guess… forever," she whispered softly, her heart full of affection for the tiny life she now held so protectively.