EREN'S CUSTODY

Everyone was shocked. News of Sana's death had spread like wildfire, but there was no time to sit and grieve. The Survey Corps had to secure Eren's custody by any means necessary, or all of this would be for nothing.

---

"Commander Erwin, are we not going to seal the gate like last time?" a soldier from his team asked hesitantly.

Erwin turned toward them, his eyes sharp and calculating. "I need to confirm something," he said. His voice was calm but carried a weight that silenced any further questions. "And we must secure Eren's custody. This time, he will have to prove his worth to the government. There's no better timing than now."

The plan was set to be executed at dawn. Eren was placed under strict guard, with orders that no one but the assigned soldiers could approach him. But unbeknownst to most, Erwin had ensured additional, secret precautions for Eren's safety.

---

**Late that night******

Levi hesitated at the door of his home. The air felt heavier than ever before, the silence almost deafening. Finally, he knocked softly.

The door creaked open, revealing Farlan. The moment their eyes met, Farlan froze. His face was a canvas of guilt and sorrow.

Levi stepped inside without saying a word, his head lowered. He moved to the sofa and sat down silently. The atmosphere was suffocating, broken only by the faint, muffled sobs coming from upstairs. Isabel was crying.

"Farlan," Levi finally spoke, his voice subdued, "where's Layina?"

Farlan's voice was barely audible. "Levi... I... I'm sorry. I failed."

Levi's expression remained unreadable as he stared at the floor. After a moment, he spoke again, his tone soft but firm. "It's not your fault, Farlan."

"But it is!" Farlan's voice cracked as he struggled to hold back tears. "I could've stopped her. I shouldn't have let her go!"

Levi's grip on the edge of the sofa tightened, his knuckles white. "Farlan," he said, his voice still calm, though it trembled slightly. "It's no one's fault. You know how persuasive Sana could be. If she decided on something, she wouldn't let anyone stop her." He deliberately avoided speaking of her in the past tense, as though clinging to the last fragile threads of denial.

Farlan broke down completely, his tears flowing freely. Levi remained silent, his own grief a storm brewing just beneath the surface. After a moment, he stood and placed a hand on Farlan's shoulder.

"You and Isabel need to leave the Scouts," Levi said, his voice steady but strained. "Stay here in Wall Rose. I want you all to be safe. Layina is still young. She doesn't even understand what's happened to Sana. She deserves a chance at a happy life. You both take her care."

Farlan looked at him, his tear-streaked face filled with anguish, but he nodded. Levi gave him a small, almost imperceptible nod before heading upstairs. He paused briefly at Isabel's door, listening to her muffled sobs, then stepped into his own room.

The room was exactly as Sana had left it. Her clothes were still strewn across the bed, a habit Levi had often scolded her for. Now, those same clothes felt like remnants of a life that had been ripped away. He sat on the floor by the bed, clutching her shirt. 

The night stretched on. Levi didn't cry. He couldn't. His grief was too profound for tears. His hollow eyes stared ahead, lost in memories of Sana's laughter, her determination, her stubbornness.

---

**Morning***8**

The first light of dawn painted the skies over Shiganshina. Soldiers gathered as the plan to reclaim Wall Maria was set into motion. 

---

The plan was set: a massive boulder needed to be dislodged from the uphill using a crane. Once it reached the base of the hill, Eren would transform into a Titan and lift it to seal the breach in the wall. However, there was a significant obstacle—current technology made it impossible to mobilize such a massive boulder to Shiganshina. As a result, the decision was made to abandon Shiganshina temporarily and focus on reclaiming the rest of Wall Maria. 

Eren stood among the gathered forces, which included the Garrison, the Scouts, and the trainees. Mikasa and Armin were by his side, as always, ready to support him. Yet, one key figure was absent—Levi. Though his team was present, Levi himself was nowhere to be seen. 

Meanwhile, Commander Pixis and Commander Erwin were hard at work, organizing formations and dividing troops to minimize casualties and ensure the plan's success. The crane's role was limited to dislodging the boulder; gravity would handle the rest as the boulder rolled downhill. From there, Eren's task was to lift the colossal rock and seal the breach. 

Before the operation began, Erwin approached Eren, explaining the strategy in detail. He emphasized the importance of Eren focusing solely on his objective, reassuring him that the Scouts and Garrison troops would be there to support him. 

The operation commenced with the crane being moved from position near the powerhouse. In the meantime, a quiet conversation took place among Levi's squad. 

"Eld, have you seen Levi Heichou?" Gunther asked. 

"No idea. Maybe he's at his place that he has recently bought near the barracks. He always shows up for official summons, but don't know what's taking him long today." Eld replied. 

"I don't want to overthink it, but doesn't it feel like Levi Heichou has been acting strange since we returned?" Petra added hesitantly. 

"You're not wrong," Eld agreed. "And Isabel isn't here either. Something might've happened." 

Their discussion was abruptly cut short by a cold, commanding voice. "What are you all wasting time for? Take your positions. Your priority is to protect Eren while he carries the boulder," Levi said, his tone sharp and unyielding. 

The squad immediately snapped to attention and dispersed to their assigned posts. 

After twenty tense minutes of effort, the crane finally roared to life. Garrison troops valiantly kept Titans at bay as the crane made its way uphill. Despite several complications and the loss of three soldiers, the boulder was successfully dislodged. With a tremendous push, it rolled down the hill, crushing Titans in its path before settling at the base. 

Now, it was Eren's turn. 

Following Erwin's advice, Eren focused his mind entirely on the task ahead. Instinctively, he bit into his hand, triggering his transformation into a Titan with a thunderous roar that echoed across the battlefield. 

All soldiers, including Levi's squad, mobilized to protect him. With his goal crystal clear, Eren began his approach. He lifted the boulder and steadily made his way forward, the weight of both the rock and humanity's hope resting on his shoulders. 

The Scouts and Garrison forces worked tirelessly to protect the area from Titans. After transforming, Eren began his task but soon veered off course, chasing an approaching Titan with single-minded ferocity.

Mikasa and Armin rushed after him, shouting his name, but their voices were drowned out by the chaos. Eren's Titan form ignored them, driven by primal instinct. Desperate, Armin climbed onto Eren's Titan form and slashed at it, deliberately injuring him to bring him back to consciousness.

Eren regained control and, with renewed focus, lifted the massive boulder. Levi, with unparalleled precision, eliminated any Titans in his path, ensuring Eren's success. When the boulder finally slammed into place, sealing the breach, the soldiers erupted in cheers. But for Levi, the victory felt hollow.

---

**Back at the barracks.**

Eren, now exhausted and back in human form, was placed under Levi's custody. As they arrived at the barracks, Hange was waiting outside, her excitement undeterred after looking at Eren.

"Levi," she said, her tone light despite the tension in the air, "Can I have few minutes with Eren?" Hange asked.

"You will have plenty time afterwards." Levi said his tone a bit back to normal. 

"am I interrupting?" She asked. 

"Always," Levi replied curtly, tossing her a small set of keys.

Hange caught it, frowning. "What's this?"

"Sana's work," Levi said flatly. "Her projects, blueprints, everything she was working on. You're the only one who can make sense of it. Farlan will show you where to find it."

Hange's expression softened. "Levi, I—"

"Just take it," Levi interrupted, his voice sharp. "Before someone else gets their hands on it. I won't let her efforts go to waste."

Hange hesitated but finally nodded. She understood that Levi wasn't ready to talk about Sana's death.

---

**Meanwhile.**

Erwin stood before the top military officials, Zachary, Pixis, and Nile, in a dimly lit room. The gravity of the discussion was palpable. He took a deep breath before addressing them.

"I've gathered you here to share something critical," Erwin began. "I believe humanity exists beyond the walls. However, what lies out there might not be what we've hoped for."

Zachary leaned forward, his expression skeptical. "That's a bold claim, Erwin. What evidence do you have?"

"During our last expedition, we discovered ports being constructed along the shore," Erwin explained. "While this alone doesn't confirm human presence, it strongly suggests a level of organization and activity beyond the walls."

Pixis stroked his head thoughtfully. "Ports, you say? Interesting. But is that all?"

Erwin's face darkened slightly. "No. There's more. Sana, the late Captain of Technology and Development under the Scouts, provided critical intelligence over the years. Her insights were consistently accurate, enabling us to avert major calamities. But as you all know, she recently lost her life in the titan attack."

Nile's expression tightened. "Yes, a tragic loss for all of us. Her contributions were unmatched. But if her information was so reliable, why didn't you bring it to us earlier?"

Erwin's voice grew heavy. "Sana feared—and I now believe rightly so—that if the government within the walls learned of her knowledge, they would go to any lengths to silence her and anyone associated with her findings. She was convinced that the top brass knows far more than they've let on and would either deny all allegations or eliminate those seeking the truth."

Zachary's eyes narrowed. "You're suggesting that the government is complicit in hiding the truth?"

"Exactly," Erwin replied firmly. "Sana believed their policies—banning books about the outside world and silencing those who investigate—are deliberate attempts to suppress knowledge. Her death only underscores the dangers of pursuing the truth."

Pixis leaned back in his chair, a glint of intrigue in his eyes. "So, what do you propose we do?"

"Secrecy is paramount," Erwin said. "We need irrefutable proof before we take this to the government. Until then, we continue protecting the people within the walls and preparing for the day we can reveal the truth."

The room fell into silence as the weight of Erwin's words settled over them. Each man understood the stakes and the risks, but none could deny the determination burning in Erwin's eyes.

The weight of survival pressed down on everyone. For Levi, the battle against the Titans was nothing compared to the void left by Sana—a loss that no amount of victory could ever heal.