Episode 9: False Memories
思い出が彼らの目を通り過ぎて急いで
"So, Sasha?" Kristina spoke, having learned her name when she introduced herself and her group to the princess, obviously lying about their true identity.
"Yeah?" Sasha spoke, stuffing her mouth with the bread that Kristina had lent her. Currently, the group and the heiress were sitting under a tree on the farm where she had grown up.
Kristina wasn't anxious about going to the farm under such stern observation by the palace guards. She had seen them search all the households on the farms for her, and once she was certain that there was no threat for her, she had led the people there.
Of course, she hadn't told them about her real identity too. She couldn't risk her freedom that easily. She didn't even know them personally – they had told her that they were visiting the Stohess district for the first time, and wanted a cheap living area. Being the kind-hearted entity that she was, she had taken it upon herself to make sure that they got some space to live.
Fortunately, maybe, they found a cottage next to Kristina's childhood cottage; the place where she had made the best memories with her family; where she used to freely run around the green under the sun, beaming with life. That little living space was something her heart was dearly attached to.
She continued with the conversation, "Do you want more bread?"
"Huh?" Sasha was taken aback, and recovering from the pleasant 'shock', she eagerly nodded in amazement, "Of course! You're the sweetest!"
Kristina giggled, handing her the loaf. Truth to be told, she felt guilty at the back of her mind, having left her family in despair – practically having betrayed them. She wanted to take her mind off that guilt, and being with these strangers was just the right idea.
"Kristina, huh?" Levi questioned, "Where's your family?"
"I-I don't have a family," she lied, her body tensing up, "I lost my family years ago."
"I'm so sorry to hear that," Armin frowned.
"How did that happen?" Connie asked.
"Uh, um," she blurted out the easiest idea from the top of her head in nervousness, "They were killed during the rumbling."
"The rumbling? But wasn't it only for the rest of the world?" Jean implored.
"...It caused some destruction here too," Kristina reminisced about what Historia had described to her, "The walls were broken, releasing titans, and they trampled on the civilizations and people who lived close to the walls. It caused immense damage to humanity - not only in the rest of the world, but on this island too."
"That's right…" Hange spoke, "We… weren't born at that time, so we aren't sure how serious it was."
"It truly was devastating for the entire world. My p-parents got trampled on," Kristina lied through her teeth, "And everyone suffered."
"Are you okay?" Sasha, sitting next to her, gently rubbed her arm.
"I'm okay, it's been a while. Sometimes, sacrificing yourself is the route to freedom," Kristina smiled in dismay.
Freedom.
An unfamiliar smile appeared before Mikasa's eyes; a young boy with his arms spread out, eyes lit up with burning passion and joy, and an ear-to-ear grin on his face. It felt as if she was looking right at him, but his features were blurred; like it was a very old memory that wouldn't completely resurface. And the most puzzling part was that she didn't recall having recorded that memory.
However, one name accidentally slipped out of her mouth,
"Eren."