Chapter 20 - A Bit Too Far

                                        

                                              



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Location: Outside Shiganshina, Wall Maria
Year: 845
Time: Morning








I let out a yawn, stretching my arms overhead as I approached Shiganshina. The morning air was crisp, the kind that woke you up just enough without being too cold. 
As I rolled my shoulders, I mentally went over my options for the day.
More conditioning? 
Maybe. But if Eren, Mikasa, and Armin aren't up for it, I could just take them to—
My gaze shifted toward a familiar tree atop a hill.
—our usual spot.
It was a good day. 
The ground was dry, so no mud to deal with. 
The weather was nice. And—I subtly glanced over my shoulder before looking straight ahead again—no one was watching me. 
That was nice.
I adjusted my pace, deciding I'd stop by for some sweets before heading over to the Yeagers. It was always better to show up with something. Armin usually appreciated the gesture, Mikasa didn't mind either way, and Eren... Well, he'd complain but still eat them.








|| 𝙏𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙎𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧 ||








Meanwhile, at the Yeager Household
The air inside the Yeager home was tense, filled with heavy breathing and the sound of shuffling footsteps.
Carla Yeager hit the floor with a sharp thud, a pained gasp escaping her lips. 
She had barely managed to scream out, "Eren, take Mikasa and run!" before the breath was knocked out of her.
Across the room, three men stood between her and the children. They looked rough—scruffy, clad in well-worn cloaks, and carrying themselves with the air of men who had done this before. 
One of them—broad shoulders, a patchy beard—chuckled under his breath.
"This is almost too easy," he muttered.
"Relax." The second man smirked. "We're doing the right thing. We're heroes, aren't we?"
Eren stood in front of Mikasa, his small fists clenched tightly. Mikasa, barely understanding what was happening, gripped the back of his shirt, her wide eyes shaking with fear.
One of the men took a slow step forward. 
"Alright, kid, let's not make this hard. Just hand over the girl."
Eren's eyes burned with something fierce. He saw the knife sitting on the table nearby. His body tensed, thoughts racing.
"...No," he growled.
Mikasa whimpered. "Kiyotaka..."
Her eyes filled with tears as she cried out—
"Kiyotaka, help me—!"








|| 𝙏𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙎𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧 ||








Elsewhere in Shiganshina
"Ahhh..." I stretched again, covering my mouth with the back of my hand as another yawn slipped out.
The vendor in front of me chuckled. "Rough night, kid?"