Fading Light

Two weeks had passed since Eren's return to Odel District, leaving a trail of mixed emotions in his wake. Carla, still reeling from the news of her son's departure, couldn't help but feel a deep sense of heartbreak and regret. She knew that her own actions had contributed to Eren's decision to leave, and the weight of that knowledge hung heavy on her conscience.

Meanwhile, the Ackermans had also returned to their humble wooden house in Wall Maria, nestled among the trees that now donned vibrant hues of orange and red as autumn took hold. Mikasa, though she detested living in this very spot, never dared to voice her discontent to her parents. She knew that their family's cursed bloodline, which bore the name Ackerman, bound them to this fate - to live and die in this very place.

As the days went by, the Ackermans settled into their routine, their lives a quiet monotony amidst the rustling of dead leaves that surrounded them. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of decay and rebirth, a poignant reminder of the cycle of life that played out in the world beyond their tiny existence. And yet, despite the bleakness of their circumstances, the Ackermans persevered, their resolve strengthened by the knowledge that they were not alone in their struggles.

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Year 843

Mikasa's POV

"Mikasa, come help me with the vegetables!" Karol called out from their small farm beside the house, where she was busy harvesting the season's crop.

"Coming!" Mikasa replied from inside, hastily hiding the sketch she had requested from Armin - a drawing of her and Eren sleeping together, a cherished memento she kept hidden away. With a sense of secrecy, she tucked the sketch into her drawer, her heart racing at the thought of being discovered.

As she joined her mother outside, Mikasa was greeted by the warm sunlight and the earthy scent of freshly harvested vegetables. After harvesting the vegetables he helped Karol cut the eggplants and lettuce, their hands moving in tandem as they worked side by side in the kitchen. The rhythmic chopping and the gentle rustle of leaves filled the air, a soothing melody that calmed Mikasa's nerves, momentarily distracting her from the thoughts of Eren that lingered in her mind.

Jacob's face lit up with a triumphant smile as he walked through the door, holding up the freshly caught trout. "Look what I've got!" he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with pride.

Karol and Mikasa's faces broke into wide smiles as they took in the sight of the gleaming fish. "Well done, Jacob!" Karol praised, wiping her hands on her apron. "We'll have a fine dinner tonight!"

Her eyes shone with excitement as she took the trout from Jacob, examining it with a critical eye. "It's a beauty," she said, her voice filled with admiration. "You're a skilled hunter, Jacob."

Together, the family set to work preparing the trout for dinner, their hands moving in harmony as they cleaned and seasoned the fish. The aroma of sizzling trout soon filled the air, making their mouths water in anticipation.

The warm glow of the setting sun cast a cozy ambiance over the dinner table, where the family savored the delectable flavors of sizzled trout, hearty stew and freshly baked bread, accompanied by refreshing glasses of lemonade. Laughter and conversation flowed effortlessly, their faces aglow with happiness.

But in an instant, the serene atmosphere shattered. Karol's body convulsed in a violent coughing fit, her chest heaving in pain as she clutched her mouth with her hand. "Mom, are you feeling alright?" Mikasa asked, concern etched on her face, as she poured a glass of water from the jug.

Karol forced a reassuring smile, her eyes sparkling with tears. "Don't worry, sweetie, just the usual coughs... nothing serious." But her words faltered as another coughing spasm seized her.

Jacob's expression turned grave, his eyes narrowing. "Your coughs have gotten worse, Karol. I'll contact Grisha to check up on you." He patted her back, his touch gentle but firm.

Karol's smile wavered, her voice laced with a hint of desperation. "Darling, trust me, it's nothing... we'll just be bothering the doctor... it'll get better in a while... trust me." But before she could finish, a brutal coughing fit wracked her body, and a block of mucus and blood spat out of her mouth, leaving the family in stunned silence.

The room fell silent, the only sound the labored gasps of Karol's ragged breathing. Mikasa's eyes widened in horror, her gaze fixed on the blood-stained cloth. The warm glow of the setting sun seemed to fade, replaced by a chilling sense of dread.

Jacob's face set in a firm mask, he cradled Karol's fragile form, his eyes locked on hers. "We're getting you to Grisha, now." he whispered, his voice low and urgent.

Mikasa's eyes widened in panic as Karol's body went limp, her mother's head lolling against Jacob's chest. "Mom... Mom..." she said, her voice trembling as she tried to rouse Karol, but she didn't respond. Jacob swiftly laid Karol on their bed, his face set in a determined expression.

"Mikasa, try your best to wake her up," he instructed, his voice firm but laced with worry. "I'll go get Grisha. It'll take a while to return, but I'll be back as soon as I can."

With that, Jacob turned and rushed out of the house, leaving Mikasa alone with her unconscious mother. The silence was oppressive, punctuated only by Karol's shallow breathing. Mikasa's hands shook as she tried to revive her mother, her mind racing with fears of the worst. She gently patted Karol's cheeks, calling out to her, but there was no response. The wait for Jacob's return seemed interminable, the minutes ticking by like hours.

Mikasa's eyes never left her mother's face, her gaze fixed on Karol's pale lips, willing her to wake up. She took Karol's hand in hers, feeling the fragile bones and cool skin. The room seemed to grow darker, as if the shadows themselves were closing in on them.

As the minutes ticked by, Mikasa's anxiety grew. She tried to think of everything she could do to wake her up, but her mind was a blank. She felt helpless, unable to do anything but sit and wait.

Just as she was starting to lose hope, Karol's eyes flickered open. Mikasa's heart leapt with joy, but it was short-lived. Karol's gaze was unfocused, her eyes cloudy with confusion and pain her teeth clenched.

"Mom, can you hear me?" Mikasa asked, her voice shaking with emotion.

Karol's lips moved, but no sound came out. Mikasa leaned in closer, her ear inches from her mother's mouth.

"Mikasa..." Karol whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Yes, Mom, I'm here," Mikasa replied, tears streaming down her face. Karol's gaze was locked onto Mikasa's with a desperate intensity. "It hurts... Mikasa, my heart... it hurts really bad," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Mikasa's heart shattered as she beheld her mother's anguished expression. She felt a lump form in her throat as she said,"Mom I don't want to lose you again."

The words spilled out of her mouth before she could comprehend their significance. Again? What did she mean by again? The question swirled in her mind like a maelstrom, but she had no time to ponder it.

Karol's eyes drifted shut, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. Mikasa's pleas fell on deaf ears as she tried to rouse her mother, her voice cracking with desperation.

Time lost all meaning as the minutes ticked by like hours, each second an eternity. The daughter sat beside her mother waiting her gaze fixed at the wooden floor beneath as tears rolled down her cheeks like raindrops on a window pane.

Finally, the door burst open, and Grisha rushed in, his face etched with concern. Carla followed, her eyes red-rimmed from crying, and Jacob brought up the rear, his face ashen.

As Carla beheld Karol's fragile form, she burst into tears, her body shaking with sobs. She enveloped Mikasa in a warm embrace, comforting her as they both wept. "Oh dear, this can't be happening..."

Grisha stood still, his eyes fixed on Karol's pale figure, her slender body laying motionless before him. His expression was etched with concern and a hint of despair. He took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving Karol's face, as he began to examine her with a gentle touch.

Mikasa's tears soaked into Carla's shoulder as she whispered, "Mom...please don't leave me...." Her voice cracked with anguish, her heart heavy with fear.

Carla's tears mingled with Mikasa's as she whispered, "We're here, dear...don't worry Karol will be alright..we'll get through this together..." Her words were laced with a desperate hope, a longing to undo the fate that seemed to be unfolding before them.

The room seemed to vibrate with tension as Grisha's hands moved swiftly and precisely as he examined Karol, his eyes scanning her frail form with a mix of concern and intensity. He checked her pulse, her breathing, and her heart rate, his brow furrowed in concentration.

After a few moments, he straightened up, his expression grave. "I think I know what's wrong with her," he said, his voice low and serious.

"What is it, Grisha?" Jacob asked, his voice filled with worry.

Grisha hesitated, as if choosing his words carefully. "I believe Karol has Acute Myocarditis," he said finally.

Mikasa's eyes widened in alarm. "What's that uncle?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Grisha's expression still as he turned to her. "It's an inflammation of the heart muscle," he explained. "It's rare.....but it can be caused by a viral infection or an autoimmune response."

Grisha seemed to know everything about this disease bringing a glimpse of hope that was shattered when his expression turned grave. "But....I'm afraid Karol's condition is far more serious than I initially thought." His gaze shifted at Jacob knowing that the disease was on its last stages and it had been there for a while,"Why... Why didn't you tell me about her symptoms earlier?"

Jacob's eyes widened in alarm. "We thought it was just exhaustion...we had no idea..."

Grisha's voice was firm but laced with a hint of disappointment. "Acute Myocarditis is a serious condition Jacob . If you had informed me sooner, we might have been able to prevent it from progressing this far."

Jacob's face contorted in anguish holding back a dam of tears. "How could this have happened? She was fine just a few weeks ago...and now you're telling us her life is in danger?" Disappointed in himself for not taking the symptoms seriously.

Grisha's eyes locked onto Karol's frail form. "The condition can progress rapidly if left untreated. I'm afraid Karol's days are numbered if we don't act fast."

Carla felt a chill run down her spine. "What can we do Grisha ?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Grisha's expression turned resolute. "We need to administer medication to reduce the inflammation and rest her heart. She shouldn't do any physical work and I suggest bed rest." Grishas expression was cautious as he continued,"I'll need to monitor her closely, but I fear we're running out of time."

Jacob's determination kicked in. "I'll get the medication, whatever she needs. I'll bring it all back, and we'll get her treated."

Grisha's jaw clenched, his voice barely above a whisper. "That's the real problem, Jacob...the medication is the real problem."

Mikasa's soft sobs paused, her eyes questioning. "Uncle...what do you mean?"

Grisha's words dropped like a hammer. "This medication is only available in Mitras...and it's not accessible to common folks like us. It's too expensive, and even if we could afford it, we can't get to Mitras undetected. It's only meant for nobles"

Jacob's face set in determination. "Don't worry, Grisha, I'll do everything I can to bring it back. I'll somehow get there."

Grisha's expression turned grim. "And what if your identity gets exposed as a tresspasser and an Ackerman? They'll kill you in no time. And even if you manage to get the medication, we won't have enough time to treat her. She'll be long gone..."

Grisha's words hung in the air like a death sentence the silence was palpable which was broken by Jacob's sudden collapse onto the wooden floor, tears streaming down his face. "Then there's nothing I...I can do...I'm such a useless person..."

Grisha's yell cut through the despair. "There's no time for this, Jacob! We need to do everything we can, now!"

As Grisha comforted Jacob, his gaze fell upon Carla and Mikasa, sitting beside Karol's frail form, their faces etched with hopelessness. Their family, once full of life, was now on the brink of collapse.

In this darkest moment, Grisha's mind racing, he remembered a special someone that might hold their only hope...