Hi dear readers!

This was such an eventful weekend. I'm sure you will all agree. The last chapter was just tear-jerking and full of revelations (as always). It was definitely the end of an era. Don't want to spoil anything here, but I would really love to talk to you about the ending. Were you satisfied or not? Message me and let's talk.

Anyway, as a treat, I made this chapter quite long and eventful as well. This was a year or two before the events in the Prologue and the setting our story will revolve in. I don't want to spoil much but there is a reason why I made it that way (just you wait :P )

Alright, here goes the chapter! Please don't forget to leave your comments and reviews.

Enjoy reading!

Disclaimer: Attack on Titan/Shingeki No Kyojin is created by Hajime Isayama. I do own one character here.

CHAPTER 3: FREEDOM - GIFT

It was nearly spring and birds have been parading again, gliding in the sky. Levi was sitting on the castle rooftop and took in the sight while sipping tea. His mind wandered back to the memory of two significant people he was at the same spot with not too long ago, back when things were about to get messed up.

Flashes of Isabel's head drenched in blood, Farlan's severed body on the ground ruminated Levi's mind.

…because I gave them the option to die.

Levi clutched the rim of the teacup tightly.

But Erwin was right. There's no point in looking back. I won't allow myself to regret, but I swear to your souls…I will fucking kill those damn titans - all of them.

Suddenly he heard a knock on the door. Miche Zacharius, one of the section commanders in the Survey Corps appeared.

"Levi, Erwin requests an audience with you."

Levi sighed. He took one last glimpse of the sky and saw a flock of birds in a formation as they navigated east. He turned to Miche, "On my way."

"Hey Levi, we were looking for you everywhere." Hange said in an exaggerated voice.

Everyone was seated down at Erwin's meeting room – him as the captain of the special operations squad , Miche Zacharius, and Hange Zoë as the section commanders, and Moblit Berner as executive officer.

"With your shitty four-eyes, I highly doubt that." Levi countered, while sipping his tea.

Miche sat down and sniffed. "What's the meeting for, Commander?" He asked curiously.

Erwin who was gazing outside turned to his group and showed them a sketch of a woman. "We're doing an ambush mission."

"Ambush mission?" Moblit asked in haste, "What for?"

Erwin pointed at the sketch. "According to an intel, this girl was passed around – sold and bought – among noble families in Wall Sina, but for the past few days she was rendered missing, only to find out that she abducted by a syndicate."

"Why can't the Military Police do it?" asked Miche, "Isn't this their job, especially if it happened in the central district?"

"Because those shits know nothing," Levi said, crossing his arms. "Tch. Glorified bastards." He muttered.

Erwin sternly looked at Levi and continued, "Well, for one, yes. Only a few people can be trusted, especially in the central district. I think you know why. And second, this girl is special."

"How so?" Hange asked, eagerly.

Erwin looked at the sketch and then to his team.

"Believe it or not, she's rumored to have healing powers."

For a moment, everyone was silent with mixed reactions on their faces. It was utterly recognizable: Hange mouth dropped in awe, Miche's face looked puzzled, Moblit was on the verge of laughter, and Levi well, Levi was as stoic as ever.

Hange eyes widened, "You mean…she can….she is…"

Erwin interrupted her thoughts, "That we're not sure yet. But most probably, possibly, she is one."

The last words in her commander's sentence struck Hange hard. She suddenly stood up and raised her fits in the air as if she won some sort of contest. "WOOHOO! I can't wait!" He rushed towards Erwin's side and looked at him with puppy dog eyes, "When can we see the titan? I mean human? Human-titan?" she said sprightly.

Erwin surprised at Hange's reaction calmed her down, "Yes. I know how excited you are. But nobody should know about this – again, highly classified. Select only two members in your squad," His eyes turned to Levi who eyed him back. "Except for the Special Operations Squad -we deploy everyone. "

Levi's eyes widened by a fraction.

Erwin continued, "Tomorrow at dawn, we commence the operation."

Moblit raised his hand and Erwin nodded for him to speak, "Commander, where is the location of this 'healer'?"

Erwin paused for a moment, then glanced at Levi who glanced back, "Locked in an abandoned house in the Underground. We don't know exactly where, but we'll find her."

Levi sighed but showed no emotion, nonetheless.

When everyone else was gone, Levi stayed, sitting down trying to solve the puzzle that is the mind of Erwin Smith.

"Why the sudden interest on the healer?"

"My intuition tells me that she's something else."

"Don't tell me you're thinking like four-eyes?"

Erwin was just silent.

"Look Erwin," Levi said, trying to make sense to his commander. "I trust you, but I can't risk the lives of my squad just because of some healer we're not really sure of and who fucking knows where."

"If you trust me," Erwin calmly said as he looked at the disapproving captain, "then you do. No questions asked."

Levi shook his head. Erwin looked outside the window.

"I know you care about your team, but I also know that it's something else because going back to the Underground City means –"

Fuck. Here we go again.

"Fine," Levi interjected, as he proceeded to the door. He opened it and said to his commander, "I'm going." and left.

The next day.

The plan was for Squad Levi to stay behind, as the syndicate most probably will be suspicious about it. As the Survey Corps are doing the chase and luring them all together, it's up to Squad Levi to find their hideout.

Levi carefully observed the direction of the chase. He noticed that the syndicate was luring the Survey Corps to the west side of the Underground City, which only means….

"It's on the east side," Levi's scrutinizing eyes searched beyond the houses and structures. "Follow me closely." He said without looking at Petra and Gunther.

"And no casualties. Don't you dare die." He turned his head towards Oluo and Eld.

"Yes, captain!" his squad said in unison.

He pulled the trigger of his 3DMG and lunged himself towards the once familiar territory.

Everything was dark – it has been for the past years. I haven't seen the light since that day…

Flashback

"So you're a lunatic scientist, huh?"

"Don't you know that you're not allowed to engage in any experiments inside the Walls?"

"And what is it that we heard about your daughter."

"Please don't touch my daughter. Take me instead."

"What will we do with you?"

Gunshot.

Screams.

Cries.

Papa…

You are a gift, my daughter.

Muffled sobs can be heard in a small house hidden at the far end of the Underground City.

"What are you crying about, little sweetie?" jeered a tall guy sitting on a table, reeking in smoke and alcohol "Don't worry. Tomorrow, you'll be with your new master."

The door suddenly opened, and a fat guy entered, "Jairo, the rich man in the fancy coat said our payment is ready for tomorrow." He looked at the girl gagged and shackled on the floor.
Well, as long as the package is safe and fresh."

Jairo's laugh covered the entire room, "Adamant those rich bastards are." He took his knife and went to the girl. He crouched and traced his sharp knife on the girl's face. "They wouldn't know if she's fresh…" He smiled, showing his fangs and yellowish teeth.

He then whispered in her ear, "Maybe I'll give you a taste first."

The girl closed her eyes shut.

No no no…please.

Jairo closed in on her with his hands cupping her face. "You know, orientals are rare finds nowadays."

The poor girl shook her head and moved aggressively to avoid contact, but the guy was too strong. He pinned her down by sitting on top of her.

"Don't worry, this'll be over before you know it." Hi laughed wickedly and stuck his tongue out.

The girl whimpered in pain as he sat on her. She felt his tongue grazing on her neck and his hand ripping the top of her dress.

No, I don't want to be a gift.

And there it was again.

Gunshots.

Screams.

Cries.

But this time, it felt real. The girls shook with horror as she heard the familiar sounds of violence.

She heard the door swing open and felt the man shift on one side, with a loud thud on the floor. She kept her eyes shut.

"Jairo, you never learn." A man's voice echoed in her mind.

She heard another gunshot and blades piercing through human flesh with blood splattering all over.

She felt a cold steel brushing her leg. "Oi, are you alive?"

The girl slowly opened her eyes. To her horror, she saw the man who attempted to rape her drenched in blood but was still breathing. She slowly looked up and saw a shadow of a man wearing a cloak with blades pointing at her.

The girl tried to take a closer look but her vision was blurred. All she saw was the cloaked moving towards her with blades raised. She tried protecting herself with her hand and shut her eyes once more, welcoming the idea of sweet death. She was ready.

However, instead of pain greeting her, she felt her hands and feet loosened from the cuffs and heard shackles falling on the floor. Confused, she opened her eyes and looked up at the cloaked man – underneath it were cold, steely grey eyes looking down at her.

"Can you stand?" The man asked. She nodded and hastily removed the cloth gagging her mouth. The girl held on the wall for support and feebly stood up.

"What's your name?" She asked her savior. The cloaked man just stared at her and turned to the door.

"Tch." Levi grabbed the girl's hands and forced her to stand. "Stand back. When I say run, you run." The girl whispered. "O-okay."

They both heard footsteps closing in.

"Captain Levi!" Petra called, as she entered the room.

"Petra, move!" he ordered, but it was too late. Jairo who was stealthily trying to escape already motioned towards her and rapidly drove the knife onto her arm before she was able to retreat. He withdrew another knife and aimed for Petra's neck.

The girl froze.

Gunshot.

Screams.

Cries.

Instinctively, Levi charged at him. He swiftly stole the knife from Jairo's hand and darted it onto his back. The man immediately fell down and growled in pain, but he was able to hold on Levi's foot and thrust another knife on the captain's shin.

"Run!" He shouted. Like cold water, the girl jumped back to her senses as she watched the horror manifesting in her sight. The girl gave Levi one last look and dragged her shaky knees out of the building.

Levi growled in pain as he removed the knife on his shin and charged towards Jairo. He slammed him on the wall and positioned the tip of the knife to his neck. Jairo sneered as he struggled out of Levi's grip, "So we meet again, Levi."

"Too bad I'm the last person you'll see," Levi said lividly.

Jairo laughed and looked at Levi straight in the eyes as if reliving a memory, "Did I ever tell you, your mother was the best I've ever…"

As if lightning electrocuted him, Levi's rage blazed in him like wildfire – his eyes seething with anger.

"GO TO HELL!" He shouted. He immediately drove the knife in Jairo's neck as far as he can, repeatedly.

"You have no right…" He continued to mutilate the body in front of him, blood sputtering everywhere. "..to talk about…"

"…my mother." Levi darted the knife on Jairo's head.

Levi let go of the disfigured body and leaned on the wall. Slowly, he sat down and closed his eyes as he tried to finally catch his breath. He took out his handkerchief and wiped his bloodied hands.

The girl went to Petra who has her arm weighed down and was still dripping in blood.

"You're wounded." The girl said in concern. She held Petra's right arm and looked at the crimson blood oozing out of the laceration. Petra removed the girl's hand on her wound.

"It doesn't matter. Where's the captain?" She asked worriedly, looking at the now quiet building.

The girl's eyes widened and looked back at the building.

I got to go back. I got to save him.

When she was about to get back inside, Eld's arms were already on her, restraining her to enter the building.

"Commander!" Petra exclaimed. Right in time, Erwin and the other members arrived at the scene.

"We have a casualty," Gunther said as he supported Petra. She was a mess – much weaker and paler due to loss of blood. "and Captain Levi is still inside."

"I see," Erwin said as he assessed the situation. People were already clamoring at the scene.

"Let me go!" the girl shouted. She struggled to move but to no avail. "I have to save him."

Erwin looked at her with an inexplicable expression. "I know you want to." He turned to the people around and back to her, "But we cannot do it here, and you know it right?"

The girl stopped struggling.

"Oi, what's all this commotion about?" Levi appeared. He was dragging his other foot and left trails of blood.

"Captain!" Petra exclaimed. Gunther hurriedly asked Oluo to help Petra as he came to aid his injured captain.

"Be careful next time," Levi murmured, eyeing his comrade's injury. Petra smiled weakly at the captain.

Erwin smiled and pat his beloved comrade's shoulder. "It took you long. We thought you're a goner."

Levi scoffed, "Even death itself is afraid of me."

She looked at her savior and at the commander. The commander caught her eye.

"Arisa," Erwin said, crouching in front of her. The girl looked feebly at his blue eyes matching with her hazel ones. "You're coming with us."

"Yes." She said in almost a whisper. Never mind the chaos that happened a few moments ago, Arisa looked around and saw several soldiers surrounding her, including the commander and her savior, Levi - they say? They were wearing the Wings of Freedom insignia. And for some reason, she felt a tinge of hope.

Am I free?

"Captain, we have to tend to that immediately." Gunther went to him, carrying a first aid kit.

Levi looked at his damaged leg, it hurts but it's not worrisome. "It's far from hell. A bandage would do."

As Gunther treated his injury, Levi quietly scanned their trophy for this mission and looked disapprovingly at the girl's filthy state. She was walking unsteadily along with the soldiers surrounding her on all sides. He noticed the shackles cupping both hands and feet were being dragged on the ground, exposing her pale arms and legs which were all covered in fresh and livid bruises.

Tortured. Levi thought to himself.

She was barefooted in tattered clothes with a soiled, and bloodstained scarf loosely attached to her neck. Her black hair was waist-long and was terribly unkempt.

Arisa staggered with her last effort, but her legs felt heavy and so as her body. Like an old, useless ragdoll, she fell almost lifeless on the ground.

Levi gazed at her once more as the soldiers came to her aid and carried her. Just as then his cold grey eyes darted to her hands covered in bandages.

It was sundown when Survey Corps arrived at the headquarters just outside Wall Rose. The members all proceeded back to their quarters and will report in the evening. Meanwhile, Erwin called Hange, Miche, and Levi for a briefing.

Erwin sat on the chair with his chin resting in his hands, deep in thought.

"What do you think?"

"We have yet to know," Hange said. "But I'd like to do some test on her if that's okay."

"But we have to know her abilities first. We have to draw it from her. Do some baseline first, Hange." Erwin replied. Hange nodded.

"Tch. What exactly do we get from her?" Levi crossed his arms and propped his leg up to avoid hitting the bandaged leg. "If she's a fake, I definitely won't hesitate."

Damn, this mission. He thought.

"Now, now, Levi. You don't have to be so crass about it." Hange said, diffusing the obviously fuming Levi.

"Anyway, we'll deal with her tomorrow," Erwin said as he stood up. "I understand she's in her room?"

"Yes, sir," reported Miche. "She's already resting. Soldiers are guarding her room as you ordered."

"Hange, you're in charge of her."

"Copy that, commander."

"As for you, Levi…" Erwin looked at the captain, "..take a rest. You need to cool down and heal."

A young Arisa was sitting down on a chair with her dad fiddling on an instrument with a needle.

"Papa, what is that?"

"It's something that will help you stay alive."

"You mean I won't get sick anymore?"

"Yes, never again. And you get to help people too."

"Like a titan-killing hero?"

"Better than that. You will be a gift to humanity."

"Gift to humanity?"

"Remember the story we read before? About fairies that heals people. It will be something similar to that."

"Really, papa? I can heal people?"

"Yes, dear one. You're a gift."

"Is that something good?"

"Of course. When you receive gifts, what do you feel?

"I like them. I feel happy."

"…and you will be the gift that they'll receive. And they'll be happy."

"I like seeing you happy, Papa. But will that hurt?"

"Just a bit, but you'll get used to it."

Gunshot.

Screams.

Cries.

I feel being tossed around, used, and exploited by people.

Is this what a gift to humanity feels like?

Is my purpose just to be used to make people happy?

I see myself in the mirror covered in blood.

I feel the rumbling of the ground.

I looked at my reflection. Bloodied as she might be, she is smiling at me.

"You can use your gift to fight. Listen to your heart. Bury those memories."

"Kill."

"I can..."

"KILL!" Arisa jolted upright. She wiped her eyes and noticed tears were flowing from her eyes.

"Hey, are you okay?" Hange said, peering on her eyes, "I didn't know you have golden eyes. I could have sworn it's different yesterday. Interesting…"

"Huh?" Arisa asked, confused. "My eyes aren't…"

Hange continued talking with much enthusiasm, "Anyway, I'm Hange Zoë, section commander of the Survey Corps and full time researcher, unless I have other paperwork given by Commander Erwin then, I guess that takes my time off my research, but, my specialty is titan research."

Arisa looked around her. It was a different scene. She isn't in a dark room or cuffed at all. She was in an actual bed with light, window and sun. She wasn't in the underground anymore.

"Where am I?" she asked.

"You are in the Survey Corps headquarters." Explained Hange. "Don't you remember? We rescued you yesterday from Underground. So, about my titan research…"

Why can't I remember anything?

Arisa closed her eyes trying to make sense of what was happening. Memories were flying on her mind and she can't quite grasp which ones are significant. She held her head between her hands forcing her mind back to yesterday.

Just as then, memories of the cloaked man with cold, grey eyes staring down at her, gunshots, blood, Wings of Freedom, and a man with blue eyes telling her,

"You're coming with us."

"Where is he?" Arisa asked while Hange was continuously explaining about her titan research.

Hange stopped, "Who's he? We have a lot of 'he' here. Speaking of reproductive systems, titans don't actually have them so we don't know if they're male or female titans…."

"Oi oi oi, shitty four-eyes, you are boring her to death."

Leaning by the door was Levi with his crutches.

"The cloaked man…" she finally said gazing at the man who just entered. "…with cold, sad grey eyes."

"Oh, there you are Levi!" Hange said completely disregarding Levi's snide remark. "So you're looking for him, Arisa?" Hange pushed Levi on the chair, "Here you go, the man with the coldest, saddest eyes." Hnage laughed at her comrade's description.

Levi gave Hange a deathly look, as she stood to the side and brought out her notebook and pen. "Go on," she prodded Arisa, "Talk to the man. Forget I'm here."

Arisa fixed her gaze at Levi's eyes, trying to understand his memories, but it was too much for her to handle.

Too much pain.

Too much loss.

She held her head trying to shake the cloud that is Levi's memories.

"Thank you for saving my life back there," she said as she placed her fingers down.

"I was ordered to, so thank the person who told me to save you." Levi noticed her bandaged fingers. "What's with the bandages?"

Arisa clenched her fist. "I-I…I need to cover my hands."

"Why?"

Arisa sighed. There's no hiding the truth now. She glanced at Levi's bandaged leg.
"You got hurt when you saved me."

Levi hid his leg. "Don't try to change the subject."

"I can heal you, and then you'll learn the truth about me," Arisa said, taking a glimpse of Levi.

"Yes Levi, go!" Hange prodded excitedly, Levi eyed her once more.

"Tch, fine. But one wrong move…" Levi warned.

"Kill me." Arisa finished the sentence.

Levi closed in on her and cupped her chin, steely grey orbs to hazel ones. "I'll most certainly will."

While removing the bandage on his leg, and propping his feet up on another chair, Levi closely observed Arisa's moves and how she'd "heal" him.

Arisa slowly removed the bandages on her hands. To Levi's and Hange's surprise, beneath the worn bandages were hands full of cuts and scars in different directions and degrees.

Levi stared at Arisa.

"I need a blade or a knife," Arisa said.

"What do you need it for?" Hange asked as she looked closer at the scene. "Are you going to cut Levi?"

"Oi four eyes, shut it." Levi glared at Hange.

"For myself." Arisa replied.

"Here," Levi brought out his own knife and handed it to Arisa. "Be careful, or you may find that sucker on your neck. I'd rather do it for you though."

Arisa smiled, "I know." She held her hand out, parallel to Levi's injured leg, and positioned the knife on her hand. She swiftly cut her palm with the knife, and in just a short while, crimson blood oozed out of it. Arisa turned her palm upside down and closed her eyes. The temperature in the room suddenly rose with the hot air circulating. Levi and Hange were both in shock as they saw Arisa's hazel eyes became unmistakably golden. Visible flesh-colored veins have appeared on the sides of and under her eyes. The blood dripping from her palms became clear as water. Hot steam appeared as it touched Levi's stitches, apparently dissolving the wound and repairing the skin. After a few more drops, Levi's once injured leg was as good as new.

An eerie silence enveloped the room. Hange jaw dropped and so as her notebook and pen. "What…was…that?"

Arisa turned to Hange, and looked down at her hands. Hange noticed her eyes were back to their original color – hazel, the lines surrounding her eyes were also receding.

"I don't know, but my papa said it's something that I was born to do - that I was made to heal."

Hange gulped as trying to process everything.

Levi stood up, his face bore a stoic expression. "That's a dumb reason. I'm sure there's something behind that power."

Hange held Arisa's hands. She tried to remove it but Hange was holding them tightly, "That is so cool! I want to understand and find out the truth behind your powers!" She exclaimed as if seeing a titan waiting to be dissected. "For starters, steam and regeneration – based on our studies, these are titan traits. So are you a titan? Can you heal fast like them as well?" She licked her finger, turned to a page, and started to write.

Arisa shook her head. "I don't know if I am. "

Hange snorted, "Well, of course, we have to look into that. We don't know yet what titans really are."

Arisa was silent for a while and continued, "And, no. I don't heal as fast. I still have scars, you see. I heal as a normal person would."

Levi looked at his leg, her hands, and now her face, "You can heal by cutting yourself. But you cannot heal yourself?"

Arisa was about to cover her hands with bandages once again, but Levi was fast enough to hold her left hand out before she hides it again. "And that's also why you're wearing bandages all along."

Arisa retrieved her hand, hid them under the sheets, and nodded. "I have to hide my hideous hands, and the evidence of this cur – I mean, gift."

She stared at Levi's eyes and as Levi gazed at her, his memories brought back a little girl with iridescent eyes and bandaged hands.

Levi shook his head and looked at the woman in front of her.

Impossible.

A/N: What do you think? Have a great week ahead!