Attack On Titan- Wings of liberty*

Back inside the protective walls, the early morning sunlight filtered delicately through the small cracks in the wooden shutters of Sana's modest room. The golden rays danced across the worn floorboards, but they did little to lift the weight pressing down on her chest. She lay awake, eyes tracing the intricate patterns on the ceiling, her mind a restless whirl. All night, a single thought had consumed her, looping endlessly in her head like a haunting melody—She should have invented a long-distance communication device by now.

The thought burrowed deep into her heart, a gnawing ache she couldn't escape. If only she had acted sooner. If only she had created something that could reach Levi while he was on his expedition. A letter would take too long, and a call would be too fleeting. She had always been the one to think of solutions. But now... now, her failure to act seemed like an unforgivable lapse.

She clenched her fists, the tension rising in her muscles as she tried to shake free from the cruel grasp of self-recrimination. She needed to focus, to keep moving forward. But it was hard to silence the whispers of doubt in her head.

Just as she felt herself slipping back into the pit of despair, a soft, familiar knock echoed at her door.

"Coming," she called out, her voice hoarse with the weight of sleepless hours. She quickly brushed her fingers through her wavy, shoulder-length hair, hoping the motion would shake off the remnants of her restless night. She crossed the room and opened the door, finding Farlan standing there, his face a comforting mix of warmth and quiet determination.

"Good morning," he greeted, his smile light but steady. "I'm here to escort you to breakfast."

Sana blinked, her mouth forming a small, surprised laugh despite the heaviness still in her chest. "Farlan, really? I'm perfectly capable of walking myself downstairs."

His grin widened, the corners of his mouth twitching with mock seriousness. "Nice try. But I'm under strict orders. Levi would personally murder me if I didn't take care of you while he's away. Trust me, I value my life."

She couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips, the warmth of his words easing the weight in her chest.

"Thank you, Farlan. You always know how to lighten the mood," she said, a faint blush warming her cheeks.

With an exaggerated flourish, he extended his arm, and she accepted it. Together, they descended the creaking staircase, Farlan ensuring she stepped safely on every plank as they made their way down.

When they reached the dining room, Isabel's cheerful voice rang out in greeting. "Good morning, Sana! Breakfast is ready. You're getting the deluxe treatment today!"

Sana's heart tightened at the sight before her. The table was laden with an assortment of carefully prepared dishes, each one chosen with her dietary needs in mind. She hadn't realized how much she missed these moments of simple comfort, these quiet reminders of the love and care that surrounded her. Her little family had always been her anchor, and seeing their effort now, felt like a balm to her frayed nerves.

As they sat down, Isabel launched into a dramatic retelling of her escapades at the market, her exaggerated gestures drawing laughs and playful jabs from Farlan. Sana listened, her heart swelling with a mix of affection and gratitude. They weren't bound by blood, but they were her family—her steadfast anchor in a world that had become so unsteady, so filled with shadows.

After breakfast, they shifted into the rhythm of their day. Despite Farlan and Isabel's insistence that she rest, Sana couldn't bear the thought of being idle. She quietly folded a few clothes before retreating to her workspace, her sanctuary of invention. The hours slipped by unnoticed as she sketched blueprints for her next creation, her hands moving with a precision born of both passion and necessity. The steady hum of her thoughts, her designs, was a welcome distraction.

But then, just as the sun had climbed high into the sky, an urgent knock shattered her focus.

Farlan's eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. "I'll handle it," he said, his voice tight with caution. He rose swiftly from his chair and crossed the room to answer the door.

When he opened it, Alisa stood there, her face pale and strained, her breath shallow with panic.

"Alisa? What's wrong?" Farlan asked, his concern deepening.

The young woman's voice trembled. "Sana-san... I'm so sorry to disturb you, but there's been a serious malfunction at the powerhouse. No one can fix it. Two people have already been hurt trying. The higher-ups are threatening to cut our funding if we don't resolve this immediately. We're desperate."

Farlan's eyes hardened. "No. Absolutely not. Sana is not going anywhere near that powerhouse."

Sana appeared in the doorway then, her calm voice cutting through the rising tension. "What's going on?"

Alisa quickly explained the situation, and Sana's expression shifted. Her eyes sharpened, and the familiar fire ignited within her. "I need to help," she said firmly, her voice steady but filled with determination.

"No way," Farlan said, his gaze locking on hers. "You're not putting yourself or the baby at risk. It's too dangerous."

Sana placed a hand on his arm, her touch gentle but resolute. "I won't do anything reckless, Farlan. Let me assess the situation. You can come with me if you're that worried."

For a long moment, Farlan stood there, the conflict evident on his face. His protective instincts warred with his trust in her. Finally, with a reluctant sigh, he nodded. "Fine. But I'm staying by your side the whole time."

Before they left, Isabel was instructed to stay behind and care for Layina. Sana exchanged a quiet glance with Isabel, a silent reassurance passing between them, before stepping outside with Farlan.

As they approached the powerhouse, the air was thick with tension. A crowd had already gathered, workers milling about, their faces etched with worry and exhaustion. Whispers rippled through the group as Sana approached.

"She's pregnant?" someone murmured.

"Is that Farlan with her, her husband?" another speculated.

Sana ignored the comments, her attention focused entirely on the malfunctioning structure. She crouched down, inspecting the machinery, her eyes sweeping over every detail. Farlan remained by her side, his presence a constant, steadying force.

"I'm not touching anything," she reassured him, her voice soft but firm. "Just looking."

Within moments, her sharp gaze locked on the issue. She quickly called over two workers and began explaining the problem in concise, precise terms. Her confidence seemed to ease the tension in the group, the workers nodding and springing into action under her direction. For a brief moment, it felt like they might have averted the worst.

But then—

A deafening crash split the air, followed by a horrible, primal roar. Chaos erupted in an instant.

From the horizon, a massive boulder came hurtling toward them, thrown with terrifying force. The crowd scattered in all directions, screams of panic filling the air.

Sana turned to flee, but it was too late. The boulder struck her with devastating force, and in an instant, she was gone—vanished beneath a mountain of debris.

"SANA!" Farlan's anguished scream tore through the cacophony. His heart pounded in his chest as he ran toward the rubble, his hands shaking as he clawed at the debris. Blood stained his fingers as he dug with frantic desperation, the world blurring around him, but all that mattered was finding her. She couldn't be gone. She couldn't.

Dust filled the air, making it hard to see. His throat burned, but he didn't stop. His hands were slick with blood, his body trembling, but still, he kept digging, pleading silently with the universe to bring her back.

A monstrous roar shook the ground, and Farlan froze, his head snapping up. A massive, ape-like Titan loomed on the horizon, its silhouette stark against the sky. It hurled another barrage of rocks, each one striking with terrifying accuracy. But he couldn't focus on that now. His world had shattered in that moment.

The soldiers arrived moments later, shouting orders to evacuate, but Farlan didn't hear them. The noise of the chaos faded into the distance as a new fear took hold. Isabel… Layina.

Without a second thought, he turned and ran, desperation flooding his every step. He had to get to them. He had to protect what was left of his family.

The nightmare of 850 had returned, and this time, the walls would no longer hold.