Chapter 3

As the group continued their trek through the dimly lit corridors of the headquarters, the

tension from earlier slowly began to ease. The initial shock of Demetri's presence was

giving way to a cautious curiosity, though the Scouts remained alert, their eyes darting

to the android every now and then. Tiana walked beside Levi, feeling the weight of his

presence and the occasional glances he shot her way. Erwin and Hange were deep in

conversation about potential collaborations, while Isaac hovered close to Tiana, his

expression a mix of protectiveness and lingering frustration.

Suddenly, Demetri halted mid-step, his glowing blue eyes narrowing slightly as if

focusing on something unseen. "Alert," he announced in his calm, even tone. "I am

detecting a malfunction in the structural integrity of this facility. There is a broken pipe

valve within the wall to our left. If not repaired promptly, it may cause significant water

damage to the lower levels."

The Scouts froze, immediately on guard. Levi's hand moved instinctively toward the hilt

of his swords, but Tiana quickly raised a hand to calm them. "It's alright," she said.

"Demetri's sensors are highly advanced. He's just… trying to help."

Erwin raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "A broken pipe valve, you say? We've had

some issues with the old plumbing here, but it's been difficult to pinpoint the exact

problem."

Tiana nodded, turning to Demetri. "Demetri, run a full diagnostic scan," she instructed.

"Let's get a clear view of the damage."

Demetri's eyes pulsed with a soft blue light as he processed her command. "Initiating

diagnostic scan," he replied. "Scanning… Scanning… Analyzing structural anomalies…

Assessment complete. The valve is located approximately one meter within the wall at

this point. It appears to be corroded and is leaking water into the surrounding

framework."

Tiana's expression grew focused, her mind already running through potential solutions.

"Okay," she said, more to herself than anyone else. "We'll need to replace the valve and

seal the leak before it causes more damage. Demetri, prepare to remove the paneling."

The scouts watched in stunned silence as Tiana spoke in rapid, complex scientific terms

to Demetri, her words flowing effortlessly. Hange leaned in closer, trying to catch on, but

even she struggled to keep up with the technical jargon.

"What… what are they saying?" Hange whispered to Erwin, who merely shook his head,

just as bewildered.

"Your guess is as good as mine," Erwin replied, his tone amused. "But I think we're

about to find out."

Tiana turned to one of the Androsian soldiers who was carrying her belongings. "Hand

me the toolkit," she requested, and the soldier immediately obliged, pulling out a small,

pink case adorned with colorful stickers of flowers, stars, and cute animals.

Levi raised an eyebrow at the sight, his expression a mix of surprise and something akin

to amusement. "Is that your… toolkit?" he asked, his tone flat but with a slight hint of

incredulity.

Tiana grinned, undeterred by his skepticism. "Yes, it is," she said, popping open the

case to reveal a neatly organized set of tools—all in various shades of pink, each one

with a small, sparkly charm attached. "Just because I'm fixing pipes doesn't mean I

can't have a little fun with it."

Hange chuckled, clearly delighted. "I love it!" she exclaimed. "Practical and

stylish—what more could you ask for?"

Tiana nodded to Demetri. "Demetri, use your laser to cut away the paneling. Let's see

what we're dealing with."

Demetri's right hand transformed with a smooth, mechanical whir into a small, precise

laser cutter. He aimed it at the wall and, with a steady hand, began to slice through the

paneling, the thin red beam cutting cleanly through the metal. The Scouts watched with

a mix of awe and unease, clearly unused to such advanced technology.

Within moments, Demetri had removed the paneling, revealing a network of old,

corroded pipes. A steady trickle of water dripped from a damaged valve, staining the

surrounding stone with moisture.

"Got it," Tiana muttered, slipping on a pair of pink gloves from her toolkit. She quickly

selected a set of tools and began working with the fluid precision of someone who had

done this a thousand times before. "We'll need to replace this valve entirely and seal the

joint. The corrosion's pretty extensive, but it's manageable."

Hange watched, utterly captivated. "You're really something, Tiana," she murmured.

"I've never seen anyone work like this… and with so much style!"

Tiana flashed a quick smile, her hands moving deftly as she removed the damaged

valve and replaced it with a new one. "Thank you, Hange. I've always believed that

even the most technical work can have a bit of flair."

Levi watched her closely, his eyes narrowed in concentration. He had to admit, there

was something impressive about the way she moved, her confidence and skill evident in

every precise motion. "You're fast," he remarked, unable to keep a hint of respect from

creeping into his voice.

Tiana glanced at him, her smile widening just a bit. "In my line of work, speed can be the

difference between success and disaster."

Within three minutes, she had completed the repair, her hands moving with practiced

ease as she tightened the new valve and sealed the joints. "Alright, Demetri," she said,

stepping back, "weld the paneling back into place."

Demetri's laser transformed into a welding torch, and he carefully reattached the metal

paneling, sealing it seamlessly with quick, efficient movements. "Repair complete," he

reported. "The integrity of the structure has been restored."

The Scouts stood in stunned silence, clearly impressed. Hange was the first to break

the silence, clapping her hands in delight. "That was incredible!" she exclaimed. "You

just… fixed it. Like it was nothing!"

Tiana shrugged modestly, packing up her toolkit with the same efficiency she had

shown in her repairs. "Just another day at the office," she said with a wink.

Erwin nodded, clearly impressed. "You've certainly proven your worth already, Dr.

Belrose—Tiana," he corrected with a small smile. "We could use more people like you

around here."

Levi sheathed his swords, his expression softer than usual. "Just make sure you don't

go around fixing everything," he said dryly. "We wouldn't want you to run out of things to

do."

Tiana chuckled, her eyes meeting Levi's with a hint of playfulness. "I'll try to pace

myself, Captain."

As they resumed their walk, the tension had noticeably lessened, replaced by a growing

sense of camaraderie. Tiana had made an impression, not just with her skills, but with

her spirit and approach to her work. And as she continued beside Levi, she couldn't

help but feel a spark of excitement about what lay ahead.

They continued to the briefing room and Isaac, still walking close to Tiana, couldn't help

but puff up with pride. His chest swelled, and his voice rose with each word as he turned

to the gathered scouts, particularly toward Erwin, Hange, and Levi, who were still

nearby.

"You know," Isaac began, his tone brimming with enthusiasm, "Tiana isn't just an

engineer. She's a genius. She's accomplished things most people can't even dream of.

Do you know she has six degrees? Six! And she got her first one when she was only

thirteen years old!"

The scouts exchanged surprised glances. Even Erwin, who rarely showed much

emotion, raised his eyebrows in mild astonishment. "Thirteen?" he repeated, turning his

gaze to Tiana. "That's… impressive, to say the least."

Hange's eyes widened, sparkling with renewed excitement. "Thirteen?! Wow, Tiana,

you're full of surprises! I mean, I thought I was smart, but you're on a whole different

level!" She laughed, her admiration clear in her voice.

Tiana felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment, a faint pink coloring her deep brown

skin. She wasn't used to this kind of attention, especially not from people she had just

met. "It was a long time ago," she said modestly, trying to downplay her

accomplishments. "I was just… very focused, I guess."

But Isaac wasn't finished. He was in full bragging mode now, clearly enjoying the

attention on Tiana. "And that's not all," he continued, his grin widening. "The engineering

department at the Androsian University was renamed after her because of her

contributions. She's the reason Androsia is so technologically advanced today. We owe

a lot of our progress to her innovations and inventions."

Levi, who had been listening quietly, glanced at Tiana with a mixture of curiosity and

something else—perhaps a flicker of respect. "The entire department?" he asked, his

tone flat but tinged with intrigue. "That's quite an honor."

Tiana's blush deepened. She cast a quick, imploring glance at Isaac, hoping he would

take the hint and stop, but he seemed completely oblivious—or perhaps he just didn't

care. "Yes, well… they were very kind," she said, trying to deflect. "It's not as grand as

Isaac makes it sound."

Isaac chuckled, clearly enjoying her discomfort. "Don't be modest, Tiana. You deserve

the recognition. You even taught there as a part-time professor before Marley launched

their attack! She's not just a genius; she's also an incredible teacher. Her students loved

her."

Hange looked like she might burst with excitement. "A teacher, too? Is there anything

you can't do, Tiana?" she asked, clearly impressed. "You've got to tell me more about

your work—your inventions, your research. I'm dying to know!"

Tiana let out a small, nervous laugh, trying to keep her cool. "I'd be happy to share," she

said, her voice soft but steady. "But really, I'm just here to help in any way I can. I'm not

used to all this… praise."

Erwin smiled gently, sensing her embarrassment. "It's clear you've accomplished a

great deal, Tiana," he said. "But I imagine you're here not for accolades, but for a new

challenge."

Tiana nodded, grateful for Erwin's understanding. "Exactly," she agreed. "I'm here to

work, to learn, and to contribute. Whatever I can do to help in this fight against Marley,

that's what matters to me."

Levi nodded slightly, his eyes still fixed on her. "Good," he said quietly. "Because we

could use someone like you. But don't let it go to your head. This place has a way of

humbling even the most accomplished."

Isaac frowned, sensing a slight against Tiana's capabilities. "Tiana's more than capable

of handling herself," he said defensively. "She's survived more than most. She's a

survivor, a fighter. She doesn't need to be humbled."

Levi's gaze shifted to Isaac, his expression hardening slightly. "No one's questioning her

capabilities," he replied evenly. "But this isn't Androsia. It's Paradis. And things work

differently here."

Tiana quickly stepped between them, sensing the tension rising again. "Isaac, it's okay,"

she said gently. "Captain Levi is right. We're in a new place, facing new challenges. I'm

here to learn as much as I am to help."

Isaac's expression softened at her words, but there was still a flicker of frustration in his

eyes. "I just don't want them to underestimate you," he muttered. "You've done so much

already."

Hange, ever the peacemaker, clapped her hands together. "Alright, alright, let's not get

too heated," she said cheerfully. "We're all on the same team here! And I think we're all

in agreement that Tiana is a valuable addition to our ranks. Now, how about we head to

the briefing room and get down to business?"

Erwin nodded, clearly ready to move things along. "Agreed. We have much to discuss

and little time to waste. Tiana, Isaac, Captain Levi, Hange—let's move."

As they continued down the corridor, Tiana felt a mix of emotions swirling within

her—embarrassment from Isaac's bragging, a strange warmth from the Scouts'

reactions, and a lingering curiosity about Levi's guarded yet intense demeanor. She had

come here to forge alliances, to fight, to learn. But she hadn't expected to find herself

intrigued by a man like Levi Ackerman—nor to feel the faint stirrings of something more

amidst the tension and uncertainty of this new world.

And as Levi's quiet footsteps echoed beside her, Tiana couldn't help but wonder what

else she would discover here in Paradis—about this war, about herself, and perhaps,

about the enigmatic captain walking at her side.