"Arthur, how are you?" Mikasa looked down at Arthur's visibly weakened face as she held him, her voice full of heartache.
"I'm fine, just a little tired." Arthur gave a bitter smile and shook his head. He reached up to touch the cut a flying stone had left on Mikasa's cheek, feeling just as much heartache.
Seeing that both Arthur and Eren had been rescued, Erwin immediately shouted to everyone.
"Everyone, retreat immediately!"
With their orders received, the Survey Corps quickly turned their horses around and headed back toward Wall Rose.
Although most of the Titans had been drawn toward the Armored Titan, a small number still pursued the Survey Corps relentlessly.
Soldiers were continually caught, stuffed into Titans' mouths, and eaten. Their unending screams battered everyone's nerves.
Soon, Mikasa mounted Earl with Arthur in her arms. Seeing his master return, Earl gave happy snorts.
"Hey, can you still move?" Levi asked Eren, whose hands and feet had fully regenerated.
"Yes." Eren nodded, then mounted a horse and rode beside Levi.
He glanced back at the pinned-down Armored Titan and Bertolt, his eyes filled with complicated feelings.
"Don't look back. Keep moving!" Levi turned Eren's head forward and snapped at him.
"Right!" Eren nodded and pressed on, no longer watching Reiner and Bertolt.
"Mikasa, how's Arthur?" Historia, lying on Ymir's back, caught up and asked anxiously.
"He's all right, just very weak."
"That's a relief." Historia let out a breath.
"Historia..." Arthur raised his head to look at Historia, his eyes full of apology. He had just remembered how he had treated her. Although that had been his other personality, he still felt deeply guilty and blamed himself.
"Arthur, leave the rest to us. We'll get you back safely!" Historia called to Arthur firmly.
"Okay." Arthur gave a slight nod,