"Coming," a faint voice called from inside the house. Carla hastily bent down to smooth Eren's ruffled hair. The door creaked open, revealing a tall, blonde man dressed in a white, full-sleeved shirt, a brown waistcoat, and greyish-colored pants. "Speak of the devil !" Jacob said with a warm smile, with a welcoming gesture. "Please, come in, Doc."
As Jacob's gaze fell on Carla and Eren, who were still busy with Eren's hair, he exclaimed, "Ahhh, Karol, look who's here!" He beckoned his wife, who was sitting on a small wooden chair, sewing images onto a fragment of cloth. She approached Jacob, walking gracefully towards them, her grey eyes looking tired yet lively. Her bangs parted perfectly down the middle.
"Who is it, darling?" she asked, her gaze falling on Grisha. "Ahh, Doctor, what a pleasant surprise. Please, come in."
Carla and Eren finished their task, and Carla was the first to enter the house" Karol!" She exclaimed, hugging her sister warmly. Eren, however, was a bit self-conscious about his first worn sandals his gaze fell on a mud stain so he started to clean it with his bare hands but had ended up messing up.
"Carla, you're here too!" Karol said, hugging her sister back, while Eren remained busy with his sandals. Carla's eyes sparkled, and her smile widened as she said, "Karol, look who's here!"
Karol's expression turned confused, but as Eren finally entered, her eyes widened in surprise. Tears began rolling down her cheeks as she whispered ,"Eren!" She instantly recognized him by his striking green eyes, which had always been as beautiful as ever. Her smile was gentle and warm.
Eren, hearing his name, raised his gaze from his sandals and looked at the people who had been staring at him . " Eh?" He thought to himself unsure of what was happening.
Karol approached Eren, falling to her knees as she hugged him tightly. "You've grown so big and handsome, Eren," she said, her voice filled with emotion.
Eren struggled to understand her emotions, but thought to himself, "Damn, ever since I met everyone, they've only said how big I've gotten, but this is the first time someone called me handsome."
Jacob looked delighted to see the reunion and went forward, ruffling Eren's freshly combed hair. "He sure has grown into a fine man" he said with a wide smile at Eren.
Eren hesitated to hug Karol back due to his dirty hands, but did so anyway, carefully touching her clothes to avoid making a mess.
As Karol cried and hugged Eren, he couldn't help but look at Jacob with a hint of disappointment. "So, he's the Ackerman Mom told me about," Eren thought to himself. "He doesn't look all that tough. Should I invite him for a one to one hand combat?" But his thoughts were interrupted when Karol kissed him on the forehead, making him blush slightly.
Eren's gaze finally met with a little girl sitting on a wooden chair, looking shy and demure. She had a petite and delicate appearance, with a slender build and a small stature. Her dark grey hair was left loose, framing her heart-shaped face, and her grey eyes sparkled with a hint of curiosity. She wore a traditional Ackerman attire, a full-sleeved shirt that extended to her feet, similar to Karol's.
Carla approached Mikasa, hugging her and giving her blessings while Karol was still busy hugging Eren. The scene was filled with warmth and love, a stark contrast to Eren's initial thoughts of dueling Jacob.
Mikasa's cute voice finally broke the silence as she whispered in Carla's ear, "Ummm, Aunt Carla, who's that?" Just before Carla could reply, Grisha intervened, "Mikasa, this is my son Eren. He's only 8 years old, just like you." Grisha continued introducing Eren,"He only has one friend in Shiganshina, I hope you two can get along."
Mikasa simply replied with a soft "yes" and then showed Carla her freshly sewn drawing on the cloth - an "A" symbol, which Carla appreciated, knowing it was an Asian tradition for children to inherit a sign, usually on their wrists, identifying their link to their clans and we're to passed on to the next generations.
Karol finally loosened her grip on Eren and welcomed him inside. Eren, feeling awkward, sat beside Grisha without saying a word to anyone. He wondered what he should do - ask for a duel with the fellow Ackerman, sit quietly, or try to make a good impression?
Carla approached Eren, sitting beside him, her hand on his shoulder. "So, little Eren's finally come for a visit," Jacob said, his eyes fixed on Eren. Grisha replied, his voice conveying guilt, "It's not his fault, it's because of me we couldn't visit..." But Jacob reassured him, "Don't worry, Doc, it's all in the past now."
Eren tried to speak, but his voice cracked, making him want to kill himself. He cleared his throat and continued, "Ya...don't worry, Dad. Let's look ahead. What's happened has happened. There's no redoing it, so no need to think about the past."
Karol gasped, her hands covering her mouth, "Carla, I never knew our Eren was so mature!" Carla kissed Eren's head, her eyes sparkling with pride, while Grisha patted his head, appreciating Eren.
The room fell silent as Karol asked, "So, when did our Eren return from Wall Rose?" Carla had already shared the news of Eren's soldier training, and Karol's curiosity was piqued. Eren replied smoothly, "I returned yesterday at dawn, Aunt."
Jacob's eyes narrowed, his interest sparked. "But the cadets are currently being trained in Wall Maria, aren't they?" Eren's gaze shifted, his eyes locking onto Jacob's as he explained, "I'm not training as a cadet I'm old enough to join them, Uncle. I'm being trained by Captain Levi and..."
The room seemed to hold its breath as Jacob and Karol's eyes widened in shock. "Wait... Captain Levi? You mean humanity's strongest soldier?" Eren nodded, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Yes, and guess what?he's my cousin."
The couple's faces paled, their minds reeling from the revelation. As Eren's journey unfolded like a tale of legend - training with Captain Levi's squad, connections to nobles and commanders, even the king himself. And then, the fight against Kenny, the infamous Ripper. Jacob's voice trembled, "Kenny the Ripper... he's an urban legend... He was like a freedom fighter ... Thousands of military police officers have fallen to his blade, and you... you survived?"
Eren nodded, though his eyes hinted at a hidden truth - that the real battle was between Levi and Kenny, and he had merely held Levi back. Carla and Grisha exchanged worried glances, unaware of the depths of Eren's struggles. As Jacob spoke, Carla's grip on Eren tightened, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's all our fault... our son went through this."
The air was heavy with guilt and concern, the weight of Eren's experiences settling upon the room like a shroud. Grisha's eyes, too, filled with regret, as he wrapped his arm around Eren, holding him close. "My son, my dear son... I had no idea ."
Eren's expression turned stern as he tried to calm his parents down. "Mom, Dad, don't worry. I'm not the same Eren you once knew. The day I left you guys I promised myself that I'd become strong, really strong. And I'm not there yet." His voice conveyed a mix of enthusiasm and seriousness.
Carla regretted her decision to send Eren to become a soldier, but she knew it was the only way and there was no backing down now. Karol rose from her seat diverting the topic, saying, "Well, I'll prepare supper then." Eren tried to stop her, but she cut him off with a warm smile. "My son, this is your first visit, and don't worry, my cooking is really good. You'll love it." Her confidence was palpable.
Eren nodded, feeling a bit hungry, as Carla went to help Karol with the cooking. "Mikasa, sweetie," Karol called out from the kitchen, holding a handmade basket. "Can you get me some blueberries from the forest?" Mikasa, who had been quietly observing the scene, nodded and stood up.
Just as she was about to leave, Grisha stopped her. "Eren, you should accompany her too. You two can get to know each other better." Eren knew that Grisha wanted to give Jacob the money, but he needed an opportunity to be alone with him. Grisha saw this as the perfect chance.
Eren nodded and headed out the door, where Mikasa waited. "The rain has stopped, huh," he said, as they left the house together. The two of them walked in silence, an awkwardness hanging in the air, until they reached the forest. Eren picked up a stick lying beside his feet, and they ventured deeper into the woods.
Mikasa, usually shy, broke the silence. "Ummm, Eren..." Eren turned back, his gaze meeting hers. "Hmm?" he asked, his confidence unwavering.
Mikasa hesitated, a smile creeping onto Eren's face. "You told Mom you wanted to become a soldier." Eren's smile widened. "Yeah! I'm going to join the Survey Corps and explore the outside world with my friend."
Mikasa's cheeks flushed, her interest piqued. "The outside world?" Eren flung the wooden stick, his eyes sparkling. "The world beyond the walls. That's why I'm training - to kill all the Titans lurking outside."
Eren looked back, meeting Mikasa's curious gaze. "And what about you?" he asked. Mikasa paused, unsure of her dreams. "Eh? Me?" Eren nodded. "Your dad is a hunter, and your mom grows vegetables. What do you want to do?"
Mikasa stood there, shaking her head in disagreement. "Eren, I... I don't know." Her voice barely above a whisper.
Mikasa thought Eren might be disappointed, but his response surprised her. "Well, it doesn't matter if you don't have a dream... Hey, want to explore the outside world with me?" Eren's eyes flashed with excitement as he grasped Mikasa's tiny hand,"Trust me, it'll be fun."
Mikasa's face flushed even more as Eren drew closer her heart beating at an abnormal rate as she could barely look into Eren's green eyes. "Okay," she said muttering all her courage.
Eren's expression turned serious. "Hey, don't tell anyone, this is our secret, got it?" Mikasa gently smiled, her crimson cheeks visible. "Okay." Apparently this were her first time talking to someone else beside her parents and her relatives.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, Eren asked, "Berries, right?" Mikasa looked confused," Eh?", her enthusiasm making her forget their original task. Suddenly, she remembered as she nodded, feeling embarrassed.
As they chatted, Eren realized Mikasa wasn't as hard to approach as he thought. Mikasa asked pulling Eren out of his thoughts, "Eren, aren't you scared of the Titans?" Eren replied, "No, why would I?" Mikasa explained, "Well, dad told me they eat humans and are really tall and scary."
Eren's gaze met Mikasa's. "Well Mikasa there's this thing called Omni-directional mobility gear. It helps us soldiers fly like birds and kill Titans in mid-air by cutting their napes." Mikasa respond," Eren but still they..." Suddenly, a loud scream interrupted her.
Eren thought someone was in danger and ran towards the sound. Mikasa grabbed his arm, stopping him. "Eren, my dad told me not to go deep into the forest. It's dangerous." Eren's emerald eyes met Mikasa's. "Someone's in danger. I have to help them, or I won't be able to call myself a soldier."
Eren freed himself and ran towards the scream, discovering five wild dogs had killed two campers and were eating their bodies. Mikasa caught up, witnessing the same horrific scene. Eren whispered looking at Mikasa, "On my signal, run for it." Mikasa, scared, backed away, crushing a piece of decayed wood beneath her shoes.
The sound of the crack drew the dogs' attention, their black and fearsome eyes fixed on the two children. Mikasa grabbed Eren's arm, trembling in fear. "Don't worry, it'll be fine," Eren said, trying to reassure her.
Before she could think or react to anything Eren suddenly shouted, "Run, Mikasa!" and charged towards the wild dogs, drawing a dagger from the back of his trousers. "Wait, Eren, don't...!" Mikasa shouted, but her plea fell on deaf ears.
The dogs attacked, their jaws snapping wildly. "Hahhhhhh." Eren took a deep breath, steeling himself for the fight. With a fierce cry, he slashed the the dagger through the first dog's chin, emerging from its black eye. "One down" he thought, as blood bursted it's scent filling the fresh air.
Mikasa collapsed on the ground, her legs unable to move from shock for a moment she got paralyzed unable to comprehend the magnitude of the situation they were in. "Why won't I move? I have to help Eren," she thought, fear etched on her face.
Eren dodged the next dog's attack and slit its head from its neck. "Two down" He charged towards the third dog, kicking it straight in the face followed by a swirling kick in the ribs. The dog flew into a nearby tree, its spine breaking with a sickening crunch. "Three down"
Suddenly, Mikasa shouted," Eren watch out!" Erens gaze fell on the 4th dog that had already jumped towards him it's mouth wide open. Eren's grin was evident," Idiot." Eren said piercing the dagger right through his heart as blood rushed out of his body, the dog died right there falling on Eren slamming him to the ground.
"4 down ."
But before Eren could push the dog to the side, the last dog turned towards Mikasa, who was still frozen in terror. "Mikasa!" Eren shouted, his heart racing. He moved the dead dog off him and ran towards them without getting the chance of pulling the impaled dagger out of the dog he killed earlier.
Eren's heart sank as he realized he might not reach Mikasa in time. The dog was closing in, its jaws snapping mere feet away from her. Eren's anxiety spiked with every step the beast took.
"No, not yet!" he growled, his teeth clenched in frustration. " Run damn it. Accelerate!" he yelled, his legs pumping furiously as he sprinted towards her, the forest becoming a blur as his legs moved faster and faster.
Eren barely outpaced the dog and stood in front of Mikasa, his eyes blazing with fury.
"How dare you!" Eren's voice was heavy with anger as he grabbed a small stick, broke it in two, and ran towards the helpless dog thrusting the pieces into the dog's eyes, emerging from its throat. Eren's chest heaved with exhaustion as it moved up and down, his eyes still filled with rage.
Eren's gaze met Mikasa's as she struggled to recover. He approached her slowly, his face still smeared with blood, and bent down beside her. "Didn't I tell you to run, Mikasa?" he asked gently.
Mikasa burst into tears, apologizing profusely. "I... I'm sorry, Eren! I'm really sorry" She wrapped her arms around him, placing her head on his chest as she sobbed uncontrollably. Eren smiled, comforting her by stroking her long, smooth hair. "It's alright. You aren't hurt are you?"
Despite his thrill in fighting, Eren had been afraid when the dog targeted Mikasa. But now, he was relieved that both were safe. They returned home with the blueberries basket, intended for making pie.
Their parents were alarmed by Eren's bloody face and clothes, and Mikasa's tears. Eren truthfully recounted their encounter, while Mikasa clung to Karol, still sobbing. Grisha checked for injuries but found none.
Jacob scolded Mikasa, but Eren took responsibility, explaining that he had rushed towards the scream without thinking. While they were out Grisha successfully persuaded Jacob to accept the money, and the Ackermans were grateful for Eren. Jacob decided not to scold Mikasa further, instead hugged and comforted her.
Eren, sensing the tension, intervened like Karol, diverting the topic with a wide smile. "Hey, Aunt, is supper ready? I'm starving!" He exclaimed, trying to lighten the mood.
Both sisters chuckled at Eren's attempt to change the subject as Karol replied, "Cutie, it's ready, but I think you should take a shower first. You're covered in blood and dirt." Eren nodded as Karol took him to the restroom.
Eren asked, "What about my clothes?" Karol thought for a moment before responding, "Mikasa's clothes will fit you perfectly." Eren's face flushed as he protested, "But I'm a boy, and she's a girl!"
Karol didn't listen, bringing him clothes similar to Mikasa's and her own, but in a different color. Eren was forced to wear them, feeling a bit embarrassed but also relieved to be out of his bloody attire.
When Eren emerged from the restroom, everyone stared at him in amusement. He looked like a girl, albeit with short hair, and his face was a deep crimson red. He was mortified, unable to comprehend the situation.
"Yeager, everyone's looking at you,"
Eren said to himself. Suddenly, Eren's gaze shifted to Mikasa who was also looking at him earlier but eventually shifted her grey eyes on the floor. Her face was redder than Eren's, and it was unclear whether she was trying to stifle a laugh or was genuinely embarrassed.
Just then, Grisha burst into laughter. "Eren, you look just like a girl! I think I'll start calling you my daughter from now on!" Eren's face flushed even more as he turned to Jacob, his words stuttering. "U-uncle, is there a shop nearby? I need to change as soon as possible."
Jacob tried to maintain a serious expression but couldn't contain his laughter. "Son, you see we live far from the city, so there are no shops nearby." Eren asked if he could borrow some of Jacob's clothes, but Jacob replied, "Son, I'd be happy to help, but... But I'm afraid.. they won't fit, and..." He burst into laughter before finishing his sentence.
Grisha and Jacob's coordinated laughter filled the room, and Eren's face grew even redder. He thought that after hearing about his bravery against the wild dogs, his family would be proud and worried, but fate had other plans. Eren sat down next to Mikasa, who was still embarrassed herself. Earlier, she had cried on his chest for a quarter of an hour, and now they shared a dress, an unexpected twist of events.
"Hey Mikasa... I don't look like a girl, do I?" Eren asked, his face still red with embarrassment. Mikasa barely lifted her eyes, her gaze falling onto Eren. Eren really looked like a cute girl that outfit really suited him. Mikasa's mouth opened wide her cheeks got even redder as world around her stood still seeing Eren in a feminine clothes made her heart race. A faint voice came from her, "No, Eren, you don't." Eren felt a bit relieved, but Mikasa still wouldn't look at him.
Mikasa broke the silence, her voice barely audible. "Eren... thank you... for saving my life." Eren nodded, a smile evident on his face. "Well, you're welcome."
Supper arrived, and the two sisters presented dishes in front of the four people waiting at the table. The spread included a freshly caught turkey, freshly baked bread, a special egg dish Eren had never seen before, a blueberry pie, and lemonade. Eren ate slowly, feeling everyone's gaze on him and his outfit, which made him face even more red. His eyes met Mikasa's, who ate silently, her eyes still fixed on the wooden floor.
"Thanks for the food, Aunt; it's really delicious," Eren said, his smile widening as he continued eating again tying to divert the topic. Just as he finished his meal, someone knocked on the door. Jacob excused himself to answer it.
"Eren, son, there's someone at the door saying they want to talk to you," Jacob announced. Eren nodded, wondering who it might be. It was Thomas, Erwin's personal cart driver, with a letter summoning Eren to the interior as soon as possible. His Majesty had called him and Captain Levi to carry out one last assassination of a noble who had been the mastermind behind the recent Kenny ambush or was it an act to cover the whole story? who knows!
"Very well, wait for me here," Eren said, as Thomas burst into laughter upon seeing his outfit. "Master Eren, why are you wearing that?" Eren gave a creepy smile. "Don't worry, Thomas; it's a long story." Thomas panicked slightly and said, "Well, then I'll be waiting, sir."
Upon hearing the news, Carla grabbed Eren tightly, her voice trembling. "I won't let you go anywhere, young man! And you told me you resigned from being an assassin." Eren nodded calmly, "I did, Mom, but this task is necessary."
Eren shifted his gaze to everyone else, his expression serious. "I'm sorry, but it's an order from the king himself. We can't just reject it." Everyone understood the gravity of the situation, but Eren's past successes in multiple assassinations made him qualified for the task.
Carla's eyes held a mix of seriousness and unshed tears. "Promise me... Promise me you won't be reckless... Promise me you'll make it out alive." Eren nodded, standing up to say his goodbyes as he hugged Karol," thanks aunt it was really fun meeting you all, and the food was really delicious." Karol responded as she kissed his cheeks," well keep visiting my dear child we will be happy to see you here again." With that he turned towards the door.
Before leaving, Eren locked eyes with Mikasa, whose gaze showed concern and worry. He smiled reassuringly. "Well, then, see you later, Mikasa." Mikasa nodded, seeming to want to say something but lacking the courage.
With that, Eren departed, the sound of the rattling cart fading with each step. The Ackermans and Yeagers were left behind, worried about his safety.
As the cart disappeared into the distance, Mikasa's eyes remained fixed on the horizon, her heart heavy with concern. Carla's tears finally broke free, and Grisha wrapped his arms around her, offering comfort.
Jacob's voice broke the silence, "We'll be waiting, Come back to us safely." The group nodded in agreement, their faces etched with worry.
Mikasa's gaze never wavered, her eyes fixed on the horizon, as if willing Eren to return safely. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the landscape, a poignant reminder of the uncertain journey ahead.