The world around me flickered and shifted, the burning sky and marching titans dissolving like smoke. reality came crashing back, harsh and unrelenting. my body trembled as if caught in the aftershocks.
Strong hands were gripped my shoulders, shaking me firmly, pulling me back to the present.
"Do I look like that brat to you?" levi's gravelly voice cut through the haze, low and steady. there was no bite to his tone, only concern as he pulled me to my feet, steadying me as I swayed slightly.
I blinked, disoriented, staring at him. "What do you mean?" my voice was hoarse, barely audible.
Levi's expression softened slightly as he sighed. "You were mumbling his name, eren's name."
I didn’t… did I? levi’s voice told me he wasn’t lying, and that made my stomach twist. but I was sure I hadn’t said anything. I couldn’t have. could I?
levi studied me carefully. "You looked like you were somewhere else entirely. What's going on?"
Before I could answer, hange at my side spoke, her eyes filled with seriousness. "penny," she said softly, her voice almost hesitant. "What just happened? Are you hurt?"
I opened my mouth to respond, but movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention. eren, supported by armin, was walking toward me, his body still weak from exhaustion. mikasa was right beside them, her gaze flickering between me and the others. they stopped a few steps away, the tension in the air growing heavier with every second.
The weight of their stares pressed down on me. concern. it was all there, unspoken but unmistakable.
They all wanted to ask what happened. I could feel it in the air. But how could I explain something I didn't understand myself? was I losing my mind?
"I'm fine," I said quickly, forcing steadiness into my voice. It felt like a lie, even to me. "Just an adrenaline drop after everything that happened."
"More importantly," I said, my voice sharper than intended as I forced my gaze away from them. I gestured toward the exposed titan face in the wall. "What does this mean?"
The tension shifted, curiosity and unease replacing the immediate concern for me. armin furrowed his brow, muttering something under his breath, while mikasa stayed tense.
But before anyone could speak, movement behind us drew my attention. I turned, catching sight of a man approaching from the shadows of the rubble. His robes were long and ornate, and his eyes carried a fervent, almost unsettling gleam. one of the Wall worshippers.
