Juliet Diekman is the daughter of a well-respected Marleyan scientist who works alongside the military.
In a new proposal, he is asked to go on an expedition to Paradis for research purposes before planning their big attack. He agrees, only if his b...
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THE SHIP GLIDES INTO THE harbor at Odiha, its metal hull creaking as it nudges against the dock. An eerie stillness clings to the air, not a single soul in sight to greet them. The town, once bustling with life, now lies dormant under a thick blanket of silence. The wind is unnaturally still, the only sound being the soft lapping of the waves against the shore. It feels as though the world is holding its breath.
As the group disembarks, the Azumabito technicians begin their work on the flying boat with quiet determination, their murmurs of coordination barely audible. The tension between the crew members is noticeable, each movement measured, their eyes flickering over the empty streets as if expecting something—or someone—to emerge from the shadows. But no one comes.
Amidst the preparation, Annie finds her place at the far edge of the dock. She settles herself near the water, her legs dangling over the side, her boots skimming just above the dark, rippling surface. Her gaze, steady and unfocused, falls upon the water as if the gentle waves could offer her some form of solace or answer to the storm of uncertainty within her.
The cold breeze catches her blonde hair, lifting strands that dance along her face, but she doesn't move to brush them aside. Her blue eyes remain locked on the water, distant and unblinking like she's seeing something far beyond the quiet harbor—a reflection of memories she'd rather forget. There's a calmness to her posture, yet beneath it, quiet unrest simmers, much like the sea beneath her feet, restless even in its stillness.
From the shed with the flying boat, Mikasa reaches into a weathered wooden box, her fingers brushing the cold steel of the ODM gear. She lifts it with ease, the familiar weight settling in her grip, and turns toward Reiner and Juliet. "You guys are a little rusty," she says, her voice steady, though a flicker of tension hides beneath it, "Might be a good time to practice."
Reiner takes the gear from her, his fingers tracing the scuffed metal as he nods. "What about Annie?" he asks, his brow furrowing as he glances toward the edge of the dock.
Juliet, standing beside him, is already looking in Annie's direction. Her eyes linger on her figure sitting alone, the way Annie's shoulders remain tense, her gaze locked on the water as if she's lost in a world of her own. The silence that surrounds her feels almost impenetrable.
"I'll be back," Juliet says, her voice soft but resolute. Without waiting for a response, she steps forward, her feet quiet on the ground as she makes her way to Annie.
Juliet steps quietly along the edge of the dock, her shoes softly tapping against the concrete. The sound of her approach is faint, but Annie hears it, the familiar rhythm pulling her from the quiet depths of her thoughts. She glances over from the corner of her eye, already knowing who it is before she sees her. Juliet's presence beside her is like the softest of intrusions—unspoken, yet undeniably there.
