Chen Si remembered all the care Carla had given him and Mikasa over the past few days. She showed no favoritism toward her own son, Eren, and even treated Chen Si and Mikasa better. She truly was a selfless mother.
Damn it, why was this wooden beam so heavy?
"Eren! Why do you never listen to your mother? Chen Si, you've always been the sensible one. Why won't you listen this time? At least listen to your mother one last time! Mikasa!" Tears poured down Carla's face as she shouted at Chen Si and Eren, then turned to Mikasa.
Mikasa clenched her teeth and lowered her head, tears dripping down one after another. She felt as though she was about to lose another member of her family.
Dina Fritz was already almost upon them when Hannes flew down in front of them using his Vertical Maneuvering Equipment.
"Hannes, hurry and take the two children away!" Carla shouted urgently.
"Don't underestimate me!" With his standard-issue blade in hand, Hannes charged straight at Dina Fritz.
He owed Doctor Yeager a great debt, and now was his chance to repay it. But when he stood before the twelve-meter-tall Abnormal Titan, fear instantly shattered all his courage.
He stood frozen, watching Dina Fritz walk slowly toward him. That terrifying smile and the way she looked at him like an ant made him turn without hesitation, scoop up Eren and Mikasa, and prepare to flee.
"Chen Si, run!" Hannes shouted at him, carrying the two children.
Hannes, you fucking-!
Chen Si was utterly speechless, but he understood that fear could destroy not only human reason, but people's hopes as well.
Those who could face their fear head-on were few and far between. Chen Si stayed where he was. Hannes ran a couple of steps, then realized no one was following him. He stopped and looked back at Chen Si in panic.
"Aunt Carla, I won't leave you behind. I won't give up hope," Chen Si said, taking a deep breath.
The kitchen knife he had picked up earlier was useless against a Titan. Even if he managed to cut a few centimeters into one, the blade would probably crack. But chopping wood? Anyone with hands could do that.
"Chen Si, what are you doing, child? Run!" Carla shouted, utterly bewildered.
She knew Chen Si was strong, but all three of them together had failed just now. What good could he do by staying behind alone? What happened next left Carla stunned.
Her lips parted slightly as she saw a sudden blue glow appear in Chen Si's eyes. Normally, it would have been difficult to notice, but right now, they were facing each other directly.
Chen Si raised the kitchen knife, arcs of electricity flashing along its blade, and swung it at the overlapping wooden beams, cutting straight through them.
The weight of the beams was instantly halved. The blue light in Chen Si's eyes grew even brighter. Usually, the electricity flashed only for an instant when he used it, but this time he was giving it everything he had.
Chen Si heaved up the severed beam and tossed it aside, then pulled Carla out from beneath the rubble.
Some distance away, Mikasa hurriedly struggled free of Hannes's grasp and jumped down. Only then did the stunned Hannes come to his senses.
Mikasa reached the swaying Chen Si first and caught him, holding him up. Hannes hurriedly hoisted Carla onto his back.
Carla was overwhelmed with emotion. Looking at Chen Si's exhausted face as he hovered on the verge of unconsciousness, she scolded him:
"You foolish child! How could you risk your life like that for me?"
"Aunt Carla, you're the only family I have left in this world..." With that, Chen Si passed out.
Tears spilled from Carla's eyes at his words. She could feel that Chen Si had truly accepted their family as his own.
Frantic with worry, she tried to check on him, but Hannes stopped her.
"Let's get to the Inner City first." Carrying Carla on his back and holding Eren's hand, Hannes fled toward the Inner City gate, while Mikasa carried the unconscious Chen Si on her back.
On the way, Eren looked back at Dina Fritz, who was looking at him as well. As their gazes met, Eren vaguely felt that something unseen had changed.
Thanks to Hannes's connections in the Garrison, they managed to board a boat bound for the territory inside Wall Rose.
Before they boarded, Mikasa told them of Mrs. Ackerman's death. Carla was consumed with guilt, and Eren's hatred of Titans deepened.
Before the boat departed, Hannes stood on the shore and looked at Carla and the unconscious Chen Si, filled with guilt. He clenched his fists. I couldn't even measure up to a child. His cowardice had nearly gotten Carla eaten by a Titan.
"Eren, Aunt Carla, Mikasa, you made it back!" Armin greeted them aboard the boat.
"What happened to Chen Si? Why did he pass out? Where's Mrs. Ackerman?" Armin asked in confusion when he noticed Chen Si lying with his head in Mikasa's lap.
"My mother died..." Mikasa's eyes dimmed. Grief threatened to engulf her, leaving her struggling for breath.
"How... could... that..." Armin's pupils contracted sharply.
Carla wrapped her arms around Mikasa, tears glistening in her own eyes.
"Your mother was a wonderful woman. I'm so sorry, Mikasa. Come live with us from now on."
"Thank you, Aunt Carla." Tears spilled from the corners of Mikasa's eyes.
With Eren supporting her, Carla limped over to Chen Si.
"It's all my fault! I'm too weak. I left Chen Si to save Mom all by himself. He ended up like this because he was saving her..." Eren said through clenched teeth, blaming himself.
Although Carla was not a doctor, she had picked up some knowledge as a doctor's wife. She felt Chen Si's forehead and checked his pulse, then let out a relieved breath.
"Thankfully, Chen Si is all right. He only passed out from exhaustion."
"Really? That's great!" Eren exclaimed, pumping his fist in delight.
Mikasa also breathed a sigh of relief. She quietly watched Chen Si lying in her lap, a small glimmer returning to her dim eyes. She silently vowed that she would protect Chen Si, her only remaining family, from now on.
Carla frowned as she looked at Chen Si, who had yet to wake. She still remembered what she had just witnessed, and she knew there was more to him than met the eye.
But after spending these past days together, and after Chen Si had saved her life, she had decided to keep this child's secret. She knew all too well how much the current Royal Government feared anything connected to the unknown.
About ten minutes had passed since Chen Si fainted when he slowly came around. The boat was preparing to depart. He felt full of energy, and his body was completely fine. Realizing he was lying in Mikasa's lap, he felt warmth well up inside him and took her hand as she rested with her eyes closed.
Mikasa startled and snapped her eyes open. Seeing Chen Si awake in her lap, she opened her mouth in delight. "Big brother, you're awake!"
Why did the scene of Mrs. Ackerman's death seem so familiar?
Chen Si's head ached a little after he woke.
"Thanks for taking care of me, Mikasa." Chen Si sat up, and Eren hurried over as soon as he saw him.
"Chen Si, thank goodness you were there! Otherwise, my mom would've been in danger. And you were so brave! Even the people in the Garrison weren't as brave as you. You were amazing!" Eren rattled on excitedly.
At his words, Mikasa's eyes dimmed a little.
Smack! Carla rapped Eren on the head with her knuckles.
"Chen Si needs to rest right now. Why are you making such a racket?" After speaking, Carla looked at the downcast Mikasa beside her.
"Oh..." Eren said, looking aggrieved.
"Here, Chen Si. This is some fruit Armin's grandfather brought with him. Have some to get your strength back." Carla handed it to him.
"Thank you, Aunt Carla." Chen Si obediently accepted it and nodded to Armin's grandfather in the distance.