"Let's return to the wall before deciding what to do about Arthur." Erwin glanced at Arthur's handiwork nearby-the heaps of Titan bones-and spoke after some thought.
"Yes, sir!" There was little else the others could say, so they nodded in agreement.
They then returned to the nearest stretch of Wall Rose.
"Mikasa, how is Arthur?" Historia came closer and looked at Arthur lying on the stretcher as she asked Mikasa, who was looking after him.
"He's fine. He seems to be asleep." Mikasa shook her head, then gently stroked Arthur's face, worry and concern showing on her own.
Historia walked over to Arthur and took his hand, silently telling him,
I don't blame you for that, Arthur. Please wake up soon.
"Mikasa, you knew about this, didn't you?" Historia suddenly asked.
Mikasa hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Historia felt somewhat hurt.
"Arthur asked me to... He was afraid it would worry you. I saw Arthur use this ability during the Battle to Retake Trost District, so only Arthur and I knew about it." Mikasa sighed, sounding a little downcast.
"So that's how it was?" Historia nodded, then looked at the unconscious Arthur with tenderness in her eyes.
"Ymir, did you have some purpose in hiding among us?" Elsewhere, Hange was questioning Ymir.
"No particular purpose. If you're asking why I enlisted, I suppose it was to protect Historia." Ymir curled her lip as she answered.
"Protect Historia? Did you know her true identity from the beginning?" Hange demanded.
"More or less. I heard about it from a priest at the church while I was stealing. I once had a fate I can't bear to look back on. I didn't want Historia to end up the same way, so I enlisted to get close