Hannes' sudden landing on the boat instantly drew Eren and the others' attention.
After all, he had carried Mikasa back this way just minutes ago.
"Uncle Hannes? Why did you
I-It's that boy!"
Eren spotted him first
the unconscious boy slung over Hannes' shoulder
Evan Cross.
He looked terrible.
His once-white shirt was covered in dust and blood from fleeing through the collapsing district.
His clean face was smudged with grime, eyes shut, completely unconscious.
Before Eren could continue
Mikasa, who had been silent with her head buried for so long, suddenly snapped upright.
She rushed toward Hannes and stared at Evan's face in disbelief.
"No… no… he was crushed under the rubble… I saw it… he…"
"Whoa, Mikasa! Watch it, don't push me overboard!"
Hannes shifted his stance, then gently handed Evan into Mikasa's arms.
"I got the retreat order.
When I reached the gate, I found this kid there.
Looked fine at first, then fainted the moment he saw me.
So I brought him back.
Eren, do you know him?"
Eren nodded so fast his head blurred.
"Know him?! Of course!
He's the one who saved Mom and Mikasa!"
"Oh?"
Hannes glanced toward Carla.
Carla's eyes were already overflowing with tears of relief.
"Thank you, Mr. Hannes…
If not for this boy, I would've already been eaten…"
"Don't mention it. Your husband saved my life. I owe your family forever.
Anyway, good thing someone recognizes him.
Finding an unknown kid during a retreat is trouble enough.
Alright, I'm going to report to the captain. You all rest."
Hannes squeezed through the crowd and vanished into the ship.
Armin, watching everything from the side, looked at Evan in awe.
To rescue both Mikasa and Carla?
What kind of child could do that?
As close as he felt to Eren and Mikasa, Armin deeply appreciated anyone who had protected them.
Eren and Carla finally allowed themselves to breathe again.
From the moment Wall Maria fell
the invasion
the breach of the inner gate
and the appearance of a stronger Titan
bad news had crushed them one after another.
Now, finally
something good had happened.
But among the four of them
only Mikasa's expression remained unreadable.
She quietly cradled Evan in her arms,
trying to place her hands in the most careful way possible,
as though afraid to disturb his sleep.
Her movements were stiff
unpracticed
awkward even.
Yet her eyes were gentle.
Like an older sister carefully holding a younger sibling.
In that quiet moment, for the first time since the fall of the outer wall, everyone seemed able to breathe.
The ships slowly sailed forward
toward Wall Rose.
Three Days Later - Refuge at Wall Rose
The fall of the first human defense line spread like wildfire across the lands.
The royal government ordered all remaining survivors to retreat behind the second wall, Wall Rose.
Within Wall Maria alone, over ten thousand people were eaten by Titans.
Not counting the missing.
Not counting the maimed.
This disaster awakened the people
reminding them of the terror and humiliation of life under Titan control.
Three days later
The survivors arriving by boat were placed into temporary refugee areas near Wall Rose's port.
Huge piles of abandoned hay were turned into shelters,
and makeshift camps filled the area.
For over a hundred thousand refugees,
having any roof at all was already a blessing.
At noon the blazing sun lit up a once-filthy horse stable.
Now it was cleaned spotless
wooden tables, crude beds, cooking space
all arranged neatly within the thirty-square-meter room.
You would never guess this place once stank of manure.
All thanks to Carla Yeager,
who had cleaned it tirelessly.
Their assigned shelter housed four people:
Carla
Eren
Mikasa
Evan Cross
This was far better than the average refugee tent
thanks to Hannes' assistance
and Grisha Yeager's respected status as a doctor.
Most people would have gotten nothing more than a thin canvas tent.
At the moment, though it was noon
Eren hadn't woken up.
He tossed and turned, muttering feverish nightmares.
Carla and Mikasa tended to him anxiously.
Armin wasn't here; he was living with his grandfather.
As for Evan
he had awakened two days ago.
Now he stood at the stable doorway,
sunlight warming his face,
quietly thinking about his future plans in this new world…