Girl in the mountain

A few years later...

---

Inside the house, a happy family of three is enjoying their time together.

"Look, Mom, I finished it!" the little girl named Mikasa exclaimed, eagerly showing her completed embroidery to her mother.

The woman, dressed in a simple linen outfit, with her hair casually falling behind her, couldn't help but admire the stitching.

"The stitches are beautifully done, Mikasa."

A bright smile spread across Mikasa's face as she received her mother's praise.

"Embroidery is a skill passed down in our family, When you have a child, make sure to teach her too." The woman gently stroked Mikasa's hair, whispering.

"Child? How can I have a child?" Mikasa's eyes widened with curiosity about the unknown.

Uh ...

The woman's face momentarily tensed up, a trace of embarrassment flickered across her expression, and she let out a light chuckle. "Well... you can ask your father about that," she replied.

Mikasa's eyes widened with curiosity, sensing that there was something she didn't fully grasp. She turned her gaze between her mother and father, eagerly awaiting an explanation.

Her father, who had been rinsing a rag, suddenly froze and exchanged a quick glance with his wife, realizing the awkwardness of the situation. The woman blushed slightly, yet her eyes sparkled mischievously as she looked back at her husband.

"Dad!" Mikasa couldn't contain her curiosity and stared directly at her father, hoping for a satisfactory response.

He scratched his head, struggling to find an explanation. After a while, he admitted, "To be honest, Mikasa, Dad is not entirely sure..."

A hint of disappointment filled Mikasa's eyes as she tried to make sense of her father's unclear response. She felt puzzled and couldn't shake off her lingering curiosity.

Trying to brighten the mood, her father quickly added, "But hey, Dr. Yeager will be here later to check on Mom. You can ask him about it, Mikasa."

Just as he finished speaking, a knock echoed through the door, breaking the tension in the room.

"It seems that Dr. Yeager has already arrived!" Mikasa's father exclaimed, leaving the rag behind and rushing to answer the door.

Mikasa's mother exchanged a knowing look with her husband.

---

Meanwhile, at the foot of a nearby hill, a middle-aged man with glasses and two children was walking briskly. The man, carrying a medicine box, was none other than Dr. Grisha Yeager, Mikasa's father mentioned earlier. The two children following him were his son, Eren Yeager, and an orphan named Jin, whom Grisha had recently taken under his wing.

Jin quietly trailed behind Grisha, while Eren lagged behind, lost in his thoughts. Suddenly, a cold and emotionless voice echoed in Jin's mind.

Ding!

Titan Essence discovered. Would you like to pick it up?

Simultaneously, a soft-glowing orb materialized, hovering near Grisha's body. Jin instinctively reached out and picked it up.

The orb vanished, and a voice resounded in Jin's mind once again.

"Congratulations! You have obtained the Titan Essence and gained +3 Spirit."

Jin felt a surge of enlightenment in his mind as if his brain had been empowered. He opened his attribute panel to examine the changes.

[Titan Essence System]

[Host]: Jin Kazama

[Physical Strength]: 10 (+5)

[Spirit]: 10 (+3)

[Strength]: 10 (+3)

[Agility]: 10 (+3)

[Titan Power]: None

[Titan Skills]: None

(Note: Normal adult attributes are around 20)

Jin smiled faintly, realizing that despite his current youth, he possessed exceptional abilities. Even in the face of adults, he could hold his ground. Following Grisha closely had proven to be a wise decision, as he discovered that Grisha's possession of the Attack Titan enhanced his own abilities.

Ever since he found out about Grisha's power, Jin had become attached to him, like a loyal companion. Initially, Grisha found it somewhat uncomfortable having Jin constantly by his side, given his responsibilities as both a doctor and the burden of reviving the Eldian people. However, Jin's good behavior and maturity made Grisha gradually accept his presence.

Today, as Grisha set off, Jin naturally followed suit. His heightened senses urged him to hasten their pace. However, Eren voiced his discontent and began to slow down.

Eren, preoccupied with his dream of venturing beyond the walls with his friend Armin on a flying plane, strongly resisted going along on this visit.

"I can't walk anymore," Eren complained, collapsing onto a rock by the roadside.

Recognizing Eren's stubbornness, Grisha looked helplessly at Jin. "Jin, let's take a break. There's no rush. We can rest for a few minutes."

"Sure," Jin nodded, finding a place to sit.

Jin understood Grisha's predicament. Although Grisha desired to fulfill the mission of saving the Eldians, he knew that if he failed, the responsibility would fall to Eren. Eren's stubbornness could become a powerful weapon against the vow of renouncing war held by the Founding Titan.

After a twenty-minute break, the three of them resumed their journey. They trekked through the mountains and forests for another hour until Jin spotted Mikasa's house.

Halfway up the mountain, stood Mikasa's modest wooden house, surrounded by a fence, with a thatched roof. Lush green vegetables grew in abundance around the property, radiating life.

"Eren, later Daddy will introduce you to your new friend, Mikasa," Grisha said to his son.

"Mikasa?" Eren questioned.

"Yes, she's a girl around your age who lives alone in the mountains, with no friends. You and Jin can play with her" Grisha explained.

Eren sneered, "Heh! Let's see if she's just a crybaby. I don't want a troublesome friend."

Grisha couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile, turning to Jin. He thought that Eren could benefit from Jin's character, but unfortunately, Eren possessed a stubbornness that made him cling to his own beliefs.

Approaching the door, Grisha knocked and called out, "Mr. Ackerman, it's Dr. Yeager..."

However, there was no response from inside the house. Grisha's confusion grew as he knocked again, raising his voice, "Is anyone there? I'm Dr. Yeager."

Still, there was no answer. Jin's frown deepened, realizing that the current situation aligned precisely with the information he had in his mind.

Does this mean...?

Suddenly, a strange scent wafted into Jin's nostrils.