Sana stood in front of her gathered team, her expression grave as she addressed them. "I want to bring it to everyone's notice that I've been summoned to court in front of Dhalis Zachary tomorrow. The capital needed for this project can't be taken care of by the Survey Corps alone, and some higher-ups are actively preventing us from acquiring the funds easily. There are many who want to stop us at any cost. Convincing Zachary is our only option. It won't work on our sheer determination alone; we need a well-thought-out plan, and I swear I will make this work, no matter what. I want each of you to give it your all."
She paused, letting the weight of her words settle before continuing. "No matter how tight the security is, I don't want anyone to drop their guard."
With that, she turned and left, holding a stack of official papers in her hand.
{Meanwhile, Layina is with Farlan and Isabel at Levi's barracks.}
The hours passed swiftly as the team worked through their preparations. The time was limited, and with each passing moment, the project drew closer to its starting point. Every minor detail needed to be accounted for, and the weight of the task at hand felt more intense than they could have imagined. For many of them, a project like this had been nothing more than a distant fantasy — until now.
Sana made her way to Erwin's office, ready to discuss the next steps of the plan.
"Erwin-san," she began, her tone a mixture of determination and uncertainty. "Can we win this case? And will I be able to complete this project...?"
"You have my trust," Erwin interrupted, his voice calm and steady.
Sana looked at him, surprised by his certainty.
"You don't need to worry about anything. I will take full responsibility, even if the project fails. But what I need from you is this: trust yourself, and focus solely on maximizing the chances of success." His words, firm and supportive, worked to ease the anxiety that had begun to knot in Sana's stomach.
She let out a quiet breath, relieved by his confidence in her. "I'll give it my 100%," she replied softly, her voice steadying.
After collecting the documents from his desk, she made her way toward the door, ready to continue with the preparations.
"And one more thing," Erwin added as she reached the threshold. "I think it's best if you stay at Levi's barracks tonight. You'll go to court with him tomorrow."
Sana nodded, acknowledging his concern. "Layina is already there with Isabel and Farlan, thank you for arranging that," she said, before leaving his office.
Sana was escorted by several soldiers of the Survey Corps as they made their way to Levi's barracks. It was dark by the time they arrived, the only light coming from the lanterns that flickered in the evening air. They knocked on the door, and within moments, the door opened to reveal the soldiers ready to receive them.
Sana was safely escorted inside, the soldiers who had accompanied her departing soon after.
The barracks, as expected, were neat and organized. The atmosphere was calm, though the usual bustle of activity had died down for the night. Layina was already asleep with Isabel, and the room was quiet except for the occasional sounds of soldiers resting after a long day of training.
"Farlan, where are Layina and Isabel?" Sana asked, noticing that the two weren't anywhere in sight.
"Oh, yeah. Layina's sleeping with Isabel tonight," Farlan replied casually. "I think they were tired after playing."
Sana's face shifted with concern. "And what about milk? Did she sleep hungry?" Her voice was laced with worry.
Farlan quickly reassured her. "No, no, Sana. She's not hungry. We fed her milk before she went to sleep," he explained, trying to ease her panic.
Sana nodded, but her concern didn't quite fade. "I should go back now. I think they need one of us at the barracks," Farlan said, moving toward the door.
Sana stopped him, placing a hand on his arm. "Farlan, don't go anywhere at this hour. You should come to the court with me tomorrow. It's not a good idea to go alone tonight," she said firmly.
"Yeah, she's right. You should stay here tonight," Levi added, his voice quiet but insistent.
Farlan glanced between them before nodding. "Alright, I guess I'll stay here for tonight," he said, moving to stand near Levi.
Sana smiled faintly before saying, "I'll be back in a minute. I want to check on Layina." She made her way toward the room where the baby and Isabel were resting.
As she left, Farlan called out, "We'll be on the terrace if you want to join us." Sana nodded in response, but her path was already set. She was determined to see Layina.
Meanwhile, downstairs...
Sana moved quietly through the barracks, not wanting to disturb the soldiers who were resting after their long day of training. The quiet was comforting, and it gave her a moment to gather her thoughts.
When she reached the room where Isabel and Layina were sleeping, she entered as silently as possible. Isabel and Layina were snuggled together, and to ensure Layina wouldn't fall off the bed, Isabel had piled a number of pillows along the edges. Sana smiled softly at the sight. Isabel may act playfully at times, but she was clearly a thoughtful and caring person.
Sana leaned over and gently kissed Layina's forehead, her heart warming at the peacefulness of the moment. She then adjusted the blanket over Isabel, ensuring she was covered properly, before quietly leaving the room.
As she headed for the terrace to join Farlan and Levi, she couldn't help but feel a sense of calm. Despite everything weighing on her, there were moments like this—small, tender moments—that helped her find a little peace.