The ceremony finished with no particular incident except for Eren taking too long to kiss Historia's hand. Lyla had her suspicion that he remembered part of Grisha's memories.
After about a week Hange called Lyla to her office.
"Chief Commander Zackley gave permission. He said that you can show your powers in front of the people next week when you're ready."
Lyla nodded pensively.
"Then two days from today," she said. Hange nodded her head as well.
"I guess I have to tell the journalists then."
Hange pulled out a new piece of paper and dipped her pen in the ink bottle. Hange gave another nod, signaling Lyla that she was dismissed. But Just as Lyla placed her hand the doorknob Hange called her.
"Oh, right, Lyla."
Lyla turned around. Hange started slowly, trying to pick her words carefully.
"How's everything with Levi? I mean, how did he take the news?"
Lyla sighed out.
"He is upset. But it doesn't seem like he'll try to stop me now. We agreed on the term of doing our jobs… I think. And my job right now is to go to the Underground City to find a solution."
"If that's what you say." Was all Hange said.
After two days, the townspeople have gathered at the Central Square, where they held Queen Historia's coronation. Lyla waited nervously for Hange's cue. She was wearing her military uniform like always. Lyla was torn between the thought of wearing something different, something more traditional as a Magician and just wearing her uniform but in the end, she decided to just wear her uniform as she was still in the military and a member of the Survey Corps.
"Lyla, it's time."
Lyla took a deep breath. She stretched her hand and shot a ray of crystals which instantly silenced the audience. The crystals shaped into a stand for Lyla to walk up. Lyla noticed the not-so-neat shape due to her lack of control but only inwardly sighed.
The people stared at Lyla for a moment, then started whispering among themselves.
"She's just a girl"
"She looks pretty ordinary"
"Perhaps it was just all bullshit. That Magician thing."
"The news reporters have fallen into the hands of the Survey Corps and is feeding us lies. Lies the military government wants us to believe."
"Dear wind, please do me a favor" Lyla softly sang and the wind stirred around her.
"Carry my voice far and wide, to the people in deny."
When Lyla spoke again, everyone could hear her voice loud and clear.
"Citizens of the Walls!"
Everyone fell silent.
"I am here to confirm that everything is true. I am the Magician."
A wave of murmurs went through the crowd.
"PROVE IT!" someone shouted out. Lyla slightly smiled and said, "Isn't this stand I'm standing now proof enough?"
She proceeded to create a few more crystals. Everyone gasped in awe.
"As I said, I plan to find the solution. To find a way to turn those titans back into humans once again. That is why I ask you to wait 3 months more."
"But we don't want to wait!" a man shouted and a few others shouted along.
"We want to return to our home!"
"We want a life!"
Then someone piped up.
"Perhaps she's a spy! The newspaper said she's from outside of the walls. Perhaps she's trying to trick us!"
Others started nodding along with the person. And soon all the angry people started to gang up shouting.
"HANG HER! HANG THE SPY! HANG THE TRAITOR!"
Hange took hold of Levi who was ready to fly out and kill every one of them should they dare lay a finger on Lyla. Mikasa also noticed this and helped Hange ground Levi.
Lyla merely sighed and shouted out.
"SILENCE!"
And like magic, the crowd was once again silent.
"I only wish to restore those who were once human."
"But they are monsters!"
"humans forced to turn into monsters," Lyla corrected. "Are you willing to kill those who have been transformed into something dreadful against their will? Even though there is a chance to save them?"
"But…but we want to go back to our home!"
Lyla again sighed.
"Very well. Let's say that the Survey Corps do kill all the titans in Wall Maria. Then what? The Marley Empire will keep sending titans anyway. Will you then ask us to kill them as well? It's a never-ending fight. The only solution is to find a cure so that someday no one will be able to create another titan."
"I don't see why the Survey Corps can't clear out the titans while you're finding the solution. It's only yourself who's working on the solution, isn't it?" a woman asked.
"That is true, but the problem is, if I find the solution, how do I know that it actually works?"
The crowd murmured. Some nodding their heads. Lyla continued.
"I would need test subjects. The more the better."
"So the titans in Wall Maria are the test subjects," the woman who asked earlier said reasonably.
"Yes," Lyla answered. Finally nodding, the woman turned around.
"I see a point. I guess I have some work to do if I'm going to stay here for three more months."
With that, the woman left and soon all the others started to walk away. Lyla let out a long breath and came down the stand.
"That went pretty well, despite some moments in the middle," said Hange. Levi inspected Lyla from head to toe.
"Anywhere hurt?" he asked. Lyla shook her head.
"No, I'm fine. It's weird how easily people change their minds."
...
...
In another two days' time, Lyla was all packed and ready to go to the Underground City. She got on the carriage that will take her to the entrance and was surprised to find Levi sitting there as well.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I'm going with you," stated Levi matter-of-factly.
"But…but how… why… I thought we agreed on doing our own jobs," said Lyla. Levi answered in an even voice.
"And I am. My job is to keep you safe."
"What? No, your job was to keep an eye on the titan shifters and interrogate them!"
"Hange thought differently."
Lyla face-palmed. Levi must've looked like a lost dog so Hange let him go.
"You kept nagging her, didn't you?" asked Lyla. Levi snorted.
"As if. That's a thing Hange does, not me."
Lyla just sighed. They rode in silence until after some time, Lyla opened her mouth.
"Do you still have it?"
"Have what?"
"The necklace."
Levi was silent for a moment, then pulled out a leather string and at the end of it dangled a raindrop shaped pendant.
"After all these years… you still kept it," Lyla said with a soft smile.
"Of course I did."
"But I remember it had a silver chain."
"It did. But the necklace broke during one of the expeditions. I didn't feel the need nor the time to get another chain."
Lyla was again silent for a moment, then she started slowly.
"I'm older you know."
Levi stiffened at her words. Two lines from such a long time ago echoed through his head.
"Levi… when I grow up, I'll be yours and I wish… you'll be mine as well."
"When I grow up, and you think you're ready, give it to me again. I'll always be waiting."
Finally, Levi said, "Yes, you've grown a lot."
Lyla smiled hopefully. But it soon faded at Levi's next words.
"But I think we should wait a little bit more. When all of this is over and things are a little bit more settled, peaceful."
Lyla nodded disappointedly. Levi was right. Right now wasn't really the time to think about love and all. Levi saw Lyla's disappointed face and stretched out a hand. He started to caress Lyla's cheek with his thumb.
"Look, Little Bird, it's not like I don't want you or anything."
Lyla did not miss how Levi's eyes flitted to her lips if only a second.
"It's just… I want everything to be perfect," finished Levi. Lyla smiled and leaned into his touch.
"It's been a while since you called me that. Little Bird. Actually almost 8 years. And—"
Lyla looked at Levi in the eyes. She pulled his face close to hers.
"You can kiss me if you want to."
"What? Wait, I didn't—" Levi said in a flustered manner, his cheeks turning pink. Lyla just shook her head and smiled. She leaned forward and pressed her lips against his, effectively silencing his next words. Lyla's smile widened as she felt Levi snake his hand into her hair. She moved onto Levi's lap as she deepened the kiss.
They were both breathless when they parted. Lyla pushed out Levi's hair from his eyes and giggled at his half-dazed state.
"I don't know why you're suddenly so shy with your kisses," she said. Levi just huffed and looked away. To tell the truth, after finding out that Lyla was his Little Bird, she felt more… precious, sacred even. It was like she was his sanctuary despite how sappy that sounded. There was no way he was saying that stuff out loud.
"You know—" Lyla once again leaned close and whispered in his ear. "It's quite a ride to the Underground City." She started to kiss Levi's neck. "I think we have some time to… fool around."
Levi bit his lower lip to stifle a moan. He gently pushed Lyla off of him.
"No, we are certainly not doing it in the carriage. For Maria's sake, how did you change so much?"
Lyla giggled.
"Perhaps it's me maturing."
"No, I think you're turning into a brat more and more," Levi countered. Lyla again giggled.
Soon they arrived in the Underground City. Lyla looked around and stated.
"Nothing much changed here. Miserable looking as always. At least I'm glad we got the orphans out. It was really clever of Historia to make an orphanage for the children in the Underground City."
Lyla then pulled out the piece of paper she drew on. Levi looked over her shoulder and asked, "What's that supposed to be anyway?"
"Oh, it's like a coordinate. The problem is I don't know how to teleport and I can't even ask the wind to carry me to Maggie because I don't know where she is. I guess we'll have to walk," said Lyla in a disheartened voice. Levi, who didn't even consider any other option, just nodded his head.
Lyla pulled out a map which she obtained from Chief Commander Zackley, and started to convert the magic circle's coordinate onto the map.
"Somewhere around here," she mumbled to herself. "Okay, let's get going."
They walked through curvy, narrow alleyways with Lyla occasionally inspecting and rubbing the wall. They walked on like that until Lyla stopped in front of a small house. She rubbed on the wall to reveal another magic circle.
"Almost there," she said briskly. "I'm surprised we came here quite easily. No thugs jumping us or recognizing you Levi."
At Lyla's last sentence Levi raised his eyebrows in a questioning manner.
"Petra once told me you were an infamous thug in your Underground days. Never thought you to be the thug type but I guess that explains the 3DMG you got back then."
Lyla slightly frowned sadly at the memory of Petra but soon walked on.
At last, she stopped in front of another small house. Levi again saw a magic circle engraved in the wall.
"We're here," Lyla said. She then proceeded to knock on the door in a solemn manner. Soon an old woman opened the door.
"May the ancestors always watch upon you," Lyla said with a bow. The old lady faintly smiled and answered.
"As I you."
She pressed two of her fingers on her lips, and then on Lyla's forehead. Lyla straightened up and threw her arms around the woman.
"Oh, Maggie! I missed you so much. I'm sorry I took so long."
Maggie patted Lyla's back. "There, there. You're here and that's what matters. Come in."
Lyla walked right in.
"You too young man," Maggie added. So Levi also awkwardly stepped in.
