A bright blue sky filled my vision. White clouds drifted lazily, and birds crossed the horizon with wings spread wide.
It's been so long… I thought. I've missed this sky.
"Eren? Eren, are you awake?"
The familiar voice reached me. I turned and blinked. "Mikasa…?"
She was kneeling beside me, her face close, her black hair falling over her shoulder.
"Why is your hair longer?" I asked without thinking.
"Longer?" Mikasa tilted her head, confused. "It's always been long."
I stared at her for a long time, taking in the pink flush of her cheeks and the soft strands brushing her collar. "Right… you've always had long hair." My voice faltered. Then why did I think it should be short?
"What's wrong?" she asked, eyes wide. "Why are you crying?"
I touched my face, surprised to feel tears. "I… I think I had a really long dream."
I tried to raise my hand to wipe my eyes — but couldn't. My wrists wouldn't move.
Chains bit into my skin.
"Wha—?" My breath caught. "Why am I tied up?!"
Mikasa opened her mouth to answer, but a cheerful voice interrupted.
"Hey, Eren!"
I looked up — and froze.
"Brother's finally awake!" Hange Zoe leaned over the carriage rail with a grin far too wide for this situation. "What an exciting moment! So, how do you feel?"
"…Not very good," I muttered, glancing meaningfully at my bound hands.
"Hah! That's not important." Hange waved dismissively. "Answer a few questions first. What's this?" She held up two fingers.
I stared. "…Are you serious?"
"Of course I am! Don't insult me — I'm a genius!" she said proudly. "Now, next question: how are you feeling? Are you irritable? Do you want to destroy everything?"
The last part was said with suspicious enthusiasm.
"…No," I said flatly.
Hange's eyes narrowed. She studied my face, then turned to Keith. "No hostility detected. Only calmness."
Keith nodded slightly. "Agreed."
Following their gazes, I spotted a tall figure riding beside the carriage — a soldier with sharp eyes and a stern face. He looked unfamiliar, but something deep inside me stirred with recognition.
"The communication is normal," Hange continued. "He's retained human reasoning."
"Good," Keith said.
"Can we untie him now?" Carla's anxious voice broke the moment.
Keith hesitated. Then, with a sigh, he nodded.
Hange brightened. "As you command!" She turned me around and unlocked the cuffs with a click.
"Mom…" I whispered, staring at Carla. Her face — kind, worried, alive — made my chest ache.
"You're really here…"
"What's wrong, Eren?" she asked softly.
"Oh, nothing." I forced a smile. "I just… don't understand why I was tied up."
"Well…" Carla hesitated, glancing helplessly at the adults.
Armin stepped in smoothly. "We were playing a Survey Corps game — 'Catch the Thief.'"
"I'm the thief?" I asked indignantly.
"Exactly!" Hange beamed. "And as the captured thief, you'll be coming to my room tonight." She leaned close, whispering mischievously.
I froze. "Huh?!"
"Captain Hange!" Carla scolded, cheeks reddening. "Please don't joke like that in front of a child!"
Hange laughed. "Ahaha, I just meant a full-body checkup! For science! Cough."
That… didn't make it sound better.
"Hello, Mr. Thief," she said, extending a hand. "I'm Hange Zoe, captain of the Second Squad, Survey Corps."
Her hand — the left one — bore faint red marks from a past handshake.
I hesitated, then took it. "Hello."
"Hmm, Brother Eren seems surprisingly mature!" she remarked.
I forced a polite smile. "Hello! I'm Eren Yeager, third-year, Class Two, Shiganshina Primary."
Hange blinked. "That's… ordinary."
"Can you grip a little harder?" she asked suddenly.
"Eh?"
"Go on. Humor me. Use all your strength." Her grin was far too eager.
Realizing I couldn't escape, I sighed and squeezed her hand firmly.
"Harder~ harder~" she sang, eyes sparkling with scientific delight.
When she finally let go, she flexed her fingers with satisfaction. "Hmm. Slightly stronger than Armin."
I stared, speechless.
Armin coughed. "Captain Hange, I think you're comparing him to the wrong standard. My grip strength's below average."
"I see, nerd." Hange's attention shifted instantly to Mikasa.
Carla quickly moved in front of her. "Please don't look at a little girl like that! Mikasa's just… stronger than most children. That doesn't mean anything!"
"It doesn't prove anything," Hange admitted, "but paired with Doctor Grisha's experiments, it's… intriguing."
Carla's lips trembled. She couldn't argue.
"Let's leave that topic," Keith interjected. He fixed his stern eyes on me. "Eren. Do you remember what happened before you lost consciousness?"
I frowned, searching my memory. "Before I fainted… Father took me into the forest. He said some strange things. Then… I don't remember."
Keith and Hange exchanged quick looks.
"What did he say?" Keith pressed.
The words came back slowly, echoing as if through mist — my father's voice, steady but breaking.
"Eren… You must help your brother."
"Forgive me. Your father isn't as strong as he should be. Whether it's saving Eldia, destroying the world, or taking a life — I can't do it."
"Changing the world takes an iron will. I don't have it. But you… you do."
"You're braver than I ever was."
"So please… save your brother."
The memory burned like sunlight through fog — and vanished.
"I… forgot," I said softly.
Everyone stared.
But in that silence, a flicker of something deep inside me stirred — something ancient and unfamiliar.
A whisper, buried in my blood, repeated those words again:
Save your brother.
And for the briefest moment, I could've sworn I heard Grisha's voice — and Zeke's laughter — carried on the wind beyond the carriage.