𝑺𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒇 | A Yeager Story

[32] Whisper of the Wind

Mina's POV

I remember my mother smiling ever so gently when she talked about her days as a trainee. She would whisper words that greatly contrasted the current situation in my original world. Words like laughter, crushes, pranks, and camaraderie. Those days, as she had said, are the times she treasured the most.

Those stories of hers always contain names that felt unfamiliar yet, at the same time, something I can associate with the word 'home'.

"They're family." She once said to me, when I asked her for the hundredth time to tell me stories of her youth. My mother lay on her bed, eyes tired and sick but filled with happiness when reminiscing. "I treasure them."

"I hope that you'll find something like that too..."

Yes, mama. I truly did find them.

But unlike your story, I lost every one of them - including the man I thought would lead us to victory.

One by one, they all fell.

And in the end, I did too.

"They're family." My mother's words once again entered my thoughts as I rode in this vast land where titan corpses were laid around. Steam continues to rise from their bodies, indicating their current state. "I treasure them. I hope that you'll find something like that too..."

"And if possible... I want all of you to attain happiness."

"Now that I think about it..." I mumble to myself, eyes gazing far into the horizon. "Happiness... is not easy to obtain."

I once tried it, to acquire such a fleeting yet desirable emotion. I fought so hard to reach for it - to reach them - only to grab the space where they once stood as I lowered my gaze to see their lifeless figures. And as much as I want to grieve and weep for them and to bid them a safe journey in the afterlife, the life of being a soldier in a world where Titans would run rampant doesn't exactly give us the benefit of doing so.

All we can do is move on and fight for what they have fought for.

After all, in this cruel and sadistic world, acquiring happiness is something that we all must fight tooth and neck for.

And to do that...

To make sure that Eren and Mikasa will have a proper future...

Shouldn't I gather more allies to help me achieve that?

The ground once again shook, prompting me to gaze into the far distance, where a horde of Titans began to move simultaneously towards the Armored and Colossal Titan. It was an unimaginable sight to those who had lived inside the wall for their whole lives.

Specifically, everyone but me.

Truthfully, even though I loathe them both, and even though I want them to have the most painful ending there is, like Annie... Reiner and Bertolt are still children.

Both whose whole lives revolved around training and trying to please the adults.

But war is war.

There will always be sides to choose and sides to follow.

Unfortunately for them, they just had to land on the side where our enemies resided.

How unlucky, Reiner, Bertolt. I thought to myself before finally tearing my gaze off after witnessing the first titan to attack the Armored titan. Sadly for you guys, I have no interest in the people who have wounded my family.

There's only hatred waiting for those.

And as much as I want to understand where they are coming from, as much as I want to give them the benefit of the doubt, they must remain our enemies.