Whisper of the Wind (1)

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, so did I.

"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.

Such as destiny has condemned them to be.

"How cold of you, Young Yeager," Ymir whispered, prompting me to look back as a reflex, knowing full well where her spirit must be. "They're still kids, you know. Little puppets who are simply being manipulated by this cruel society."

And?

What of it?

Scoffing at how devilish my mindset had finally become, I rode ahead and whispered, "I have no use for people who won't have a part in accomplishing my goal. Besides, it's not like I can use them."

Because if I did, it would change the whole story. Worse, the rumbling may not happen. Two nations will forever be at war until one finally succumbs to defeat.

And you don't want that, right, Ymir?

With nothing left to reply with, I finally focused on the task at hand and began to survey the surrounding land. The ground continuously shook as the voice of the Commander echoed, urging the soldiers to retreat. And with plenty of them still alive, it took a long time for me to find who I was looking for.

The Jaw Titan, one who was named Ymir.

And right when I saw her, just when she was about to take off and leave her dearest friend, instincts willed my arm to move, targeting the last bullet towards the said titan… before moving it in the last second towards my fellow soldier.

"Mina?" Krista whispers, eyes widening after seeing where my weapon is aimed at. "What are you-"

But before she could finish that sentence before anyone could even comprehend what I was trying to do,

I fired.

***

Ymir Fritz's POV

Humans really are… interesting creatures to watch.

They're selfish and greedy, predictable and brutal.

But there are also times when they act in a way that makes me question life itself, especially those who act kindly among chosen people.

And yet… even among everything I've seen in my lifetime, among every scenario I've witnessed in countless universes, watching the Young Yeager aim her gun at the future Queen of Paradis was hard to process.

Even more so when she actually pulled the fucking trigger.

"..."

Just what the hell were you thinking, you mad and idiotic lass?! I thought you wanted to save the younger version of your parents?!

"..."

Just… 

WHY?!

"Ugh…" Groaning in defeat after witnessing how the Jaw Titan instantly protected the young Queen, ultimately failing to support the Armored Titan in protecting Bertolt Hoover, even I have to admit: The daughter of Eren Yeager and Mikasa Ackerman is insane. Period. I might as well write a certificate proving that she is.

"Ymir…" Historia Reiss whispers, eyes tearing up after seeing the condition of her friend after taking the bullet for her. With the Jaw Titan unmoving due to it losing its legs, Historia cried. "Ymir!"

"Just what the hell were you thinking, Mina?!" A boy who was riding a horse questioned her, animosity leaking out of his figure. "You almost killed her!"

"But I didn't." 'Mina' replied, sending chills down my spine. It's been a while since I heard that voice, one filled with nothing but indifference and calculativeness. "Don't worry, I only targeted her legs. Her real body is safe and protected underneath this titan's nape."

"..." Astounded, Conny Springer terrifyingly laughed, his gaze never leaving the Young Yeager's face. "And you targeted Krista… just to capture Ymir? What are you…Just what were you thinking?! She's our-"

"Classmate? Comrade? A fellow citizen of our nation?" Scoffing at her classmate's antics, 'Mina Carolina' smiled. "There was no possible way for the bullet to reach Ymir, not in her titan form. And it's also a known fact that she's really protective of Historia, isn't that right?"

"So you used their relationship…" Connie whispers, eyes widening after each passing second. "Just to make sure that Ymir won't leave? Haven't you thought of how inhumane that was?!"

"Inhumane…" Eyes widening at realizing what that word implies in this sadistic and torturous era, the Young Yeager couldn't help but laugh, amused at her classmate's statement. And for someone who has watched her in three worlds, observing every act she had done and seeing every bit of failure she had experienced, all I can say is that right now, the Young Yeager had no choice but to react in this manner.

A laugh that portrays no sign of being genuine, as if it was mocking the person who had said it.

After all, in her eyes, is there any form of humanity left in this goddamn society?

None, she would have thought, and I would have to agree wholeheartedly.

"..." Bewildered at her response, Connie's eyebrows twitched, prompting him to open his mouth to tell her off.

But not until 'Mina' suddenly spoke, just as she stepped towards the Jaw Titan. Seeing such an act, however, only made the future Queen of Paradis react negatively as she tried to jump off of her horse. But unfortunately for her, Connie had to grab her before doing so.

"Connie!"

"There's titans surrounding us!" He reminds her, eyes anxiously surveying their surroundings. "The sooner we leave, the better!"

"But she's-"

And yet, before she could continue that statement, something dreadful occurred, as the voice that instantly claimed our attention produced no sympathy nor mercy.

Just a calculative reply, which only intensified the blank look of her eyes.

"So what if what I did was inhumane?" She whispers, prompting me to lower myself on the ground, grasping the battered state of her cloak. My act of trying to calm her down didn't even register, as something within me only focused on her face, which had turned pale for who knows how long.

This is bad. "Young Yeager-"

"Will we win this war through a fair and justified act?" She continued, forcing me to swallow the next words I would have uttered. " Will I even get the chance to protect those who are dear to me if I act in a naive manner and face everything head-on?" 

Chuckling, she lifted her left arm and used the weapon she was holding to stab the hand that was about to attack her. Another cry was produced, both by Historia and the Jaw Titan. "I don't think so. Besides, it's not like we haven't realized how precious Historia is to Ymir."

"They're everything to each other. So if that was the case, why do you think Ymir was about to run off and help the enemy?"

"Run off?" He asks, eyes trembling either from fear or from the inability to form a proper response. "She wasn't- Ymir wasn't trying to,"

"Oh, but she is," The Young Yeager interrupted, her dark and emotionless eyes boring into the poor lad's quivering state. "Even after giving her a second chance, even after ignoring the fact that she almost betrayed every single soldier in this goddamn land filled with nothing but what humanity has deemed to be monsters who would claim our lives without any form of hesitation, you would still try and defend her? Connie… you're too naive."

Naive in a way that means he has less experience and is idealistic in his thinking that everything can be achieved in a fair and just manner. There was a time when even I, a being who has traversed through countless worlds, witnessing its downfall on a repeat and in a never-ending cycle, thought similarly to the current boy whose gaze moved downwards in confusion and despair. The version of Connie Springer right now is still in the stage where he hasn't experienced loss in a major set-up.

But once he learns about what happened to his village, it is at that moment that he'll eventually open his eyes to how cruel this world truly is. Unfortunately, though, at this specific hour, it still hasn't come. This is why there is no way in hell there will be someone in this damn land who will step up and defend the young Yeager's actions.

No one but me, and ironically, even the creature who has the capability to understand and defend her, can't be seen by the humans who are currently judging her ways.

It's infuriating, an emotion I have never thought I'd ever feel after realizing how numb I've become.

Which is why… at the very least…

I have to remind her of what my presence signifies.

***