The boat sailed steadily down the river toward Wall Rose, carrying the refugees who had survived the fall of Shiganshina District. Despite their escape from the Titans, a heavy atmosphere of grief, loss, and uncertainty hung over everyone on board. Amid the gloom, however, one thing remained out of place—Katsura, still standing absurdly on top of the boat's roof, though most people had started ignoring him.
Eren sat near Mikasa and Carla, who lay resting with her injured leg still wrapped up. Armin, as always by Eren's side, stared ahead at the towering Wall Rose, which grew more visible with every passing moment. Its immense height and formidable appearance promised the protection humanity desperately needed.
"We're almost there," Hannes murmured as he steered the boat. His face looked tired, but there was a glimmer of relief in his eyes. Glancing at Carla, lying weakly, he turned to Eren and Mikasa. "I'll make sure you're taken care of. Since Carla's injured, I'll use some 'inside connections.' It's not perfect, but we won't be stuck in the stables like the others."
Mikasa nodded slightly in gratitude, her eyes speaking for her as she continued tending to Carla. Eren, on the other hand, still burned with anger and determination, though he couldn't help but feel relieved that his mother would receive better care. But his desire for revenge against the Titans would not be easily extinguished.
As the boat approached the port inside Wall Rose, the refugees began to stir restlessly. Some whispered to each other about their losses, while others stared blankly ahead, still unable to grasp the harsh reality of what had happened. But suddenly, a familiar, boisterous voice echoed across the boat.
"Here it is! You've all arrived at Captain Katsura's port of freedom!" Katsura declared, posing dramatically with one foot on the ship's mast as if he truly were the captain of this vessel.
Hannes sighed deeply. "What is with this guy? I don't know how he still has the energy to yell after all this."
Eren gritted his teeth, barely holding himself back. "Katsura, stop causing trouble!"
Before Eren could yell further, they finally reached the port inside Wall Rose. The docks were crowded with refugees, some confused, others just trying to find a place to rest. Soldiers from the Garrison Regiment rushed around, organizing the crowd and trying to maintain order amidst the chaos.
"We need to move quickly," Hannes said as he helped Mikasa gently lift Carla off the boat. "I've got a friend here—they'll find a place where Carla and you can rest."
They made their way toward a more secluded area, where it seemed Hannes had access to a special route. It wasn't luxurious by any means, but it was far better than the overcrowded stables packed with refugees. An old warehouse, once used for military supplies, had been turned into an emergency shelter for a few important individuals—or for those with "special connections" like Hannes.
"This isn't the best place, but it's a lot better than the stables," Hannes said, guiding them inside. "You can rest here. Carla needs time to recover, so don't worry about anything else for now."
Carla was laid down gently on a pile of straw that had been set up as a bed, while Eren and Mikasa sat nearby. Armin looked around the small warehouse, his expression slightly more at ease despite the underlying tension still visible on his face.
"Are you sure we'll be safe here?" Armin asked quietly.
Hannes nodded. "As long as we're within Wall Rose, we're safe. The Titans can't breach these walls—at least not for now." Though he tried to sound confident, there was a hint of doubt in his voice.
Eren stared at the floor, his expression filled with hatred. "But it won't last forever. I swear... I'll kill every last Titan. I won't let them keep destroying our lives."
Mikasa looked at Eren with a gentle yet firm gaze, offering him silent strength. "We'll fight them together, Eren."
However, just as the mood grew heavy, the sound of fast footsteps and creaking boards above the warehouse grabbed everyone's attention.
"Hahaha! Behold! Captain Katsura's new headquarters! Prepare yourselves, crew, for the revolution of freedom begins now!" Katsura's voice boomed from above, as he pranced across the warehouse beams, pointing toward the sky.
Eren clutched his head in frustration. "Why does he have to keep causing trouble wherever we go?!"
Hannes stared up at Katsura with a blank expression. "I don't know how much longer we can deal with him."
Mikasa, though still embarrassed by Katsura's antics, remained silent, though it was clear she felt awkward. Armin could only watch in awe, wondering how someone could act like that in the midst of such chaos.
Despite Katsura's ridiculous behavior, he had brought a little bit of laughter and lightness to the otherwise heavy atmosphere. Some of the refugees around them, tired and broken as they were, couldn't help but crack small smiles at the sight of Katsura's wild antics.
Meanwhile, Carla smiled faintly from her simple bed. "At least… in the middle of all this, we can still laugh a little."
And in that moment of chaos, though they knew their struggles were far from over, at least for now, they could rest and prepare for the challenges ahead.