Chapter 172: This is what winter feels like [1]

It was a cold day.

Snowflakes gradually fell from the sky. The ground, covered by sleek snow sheets.

Carl adorned a white sweater with tears and holes etched on it, and a pair of worn-out brown boots.

Looking at his side, it seemed like Emi had finished her preparations.

Finishing up his shoelace, Carl stood up.

"Let's go Emi."

"Un!"

Creaaaak....

"Huuu..."

Carl rubbed his shoulders from the cold breeze. Despite bundling himself up, it still wasn't enough.

Looking around, the people living in the slums looked at him with pity in their eyes.

He was used to this sight by now. People pitied the two siblings, and yet none would rise to the occasion and help them.

Bunch of hypocrites.

But not all of them were like that.

"Good morning, Carl. Going somewhere?"

There was a kind old man who would always try to give them food.

"Yes, Mister Eren."

"You seem cold, here."

Old man Eren crouched down and wrapped a red scarf around his neck.

"Oh, thank you."

"You're welcome, and this is for Emi."

The old man extended his hand.

He offered a flower.

For whatever reason why the old man gave it to him, Carl was unsure.

But it was a beautiful flower.

Emi didn't need the scarf since she was already bundled up enough.

A pink fur coat. New boots, and a similar red scarf draped around her shoulder.

"Thank you."

"Mhm."

Carl accepted the flower and turned towards Emi.

"Here, Emi. Don't forget to say thank you."

"Thwank kyuu!"

Emi accepted the flower and looked at it with stars in her eyes.

"Hm?"

Old man Eren tilted his head.

"What did she say?"

"She said thank you, Mister Eren."

"Oh, it's my pleasure."

Old man Eren flashed the two siblings a warm smile.

"Goodbye, Mister Eren."

Carl strode off while holding Emi's hand.

"Say bye to Mister Eren, Emi."

"Bai... Bai...!"

Carl nodded with pride and the two continued in their steps.

The walk to the gate wasn't far. About a ten–minute walk from the slums.

As soon as they were near, Carl spotted the two familiar rankers, all bundled up and waiting for them.

"Oh, thank you."

"I've got some for Emi as well.... But it seems like she's already bundled up enough. But..."

Cid rummaged for his pocket.

"Here, just a spare, whenever Emi needs it."

It was a scarf.

A white scarf.

"Thank you very much."

Cid and Amelia exchanged glances again and nodded their heads at each other.

It was as if they were exchanging thoughts.

How peculiar.

Car quickly adorned the new set of clothes Cid had given him.

As soon as he finished, he looked ahead. Cid and Amelia were already ahead of him and a wagon was waiting for him and Emi.

"Come on, Emi."

"Un!"

Holding onto her hand, Carl strode off and neared the two rankers.

Carl helped Emi up the wagon and the two siblings sat next to each other.

On the opposite side, Cid and Amelia sat next to each other.

Their bags were stowed to the side, and everything seemed to be ready for departure.

It was then when the driver turned his head and asked.

"Where to?"

Cid and Amelia looked at Carl, giving him the signal to instruct the driver for directions.

Carl was the only one who knew where their village was. And so, he gave the driver proper directions on where to go first.

Just like that, the wagon started to ascend. Carl's gaze lingered on the city gate.

The human domain, Vale City.

.....He didn't have many pleasant memories of the place.

It was a place he would rather not want to remember.

All of a sudden, he felt Emi's head laying on his side.

Immediately, he rested her head on his lap.

"Pshh... Pshh..."

His little sister was sound asleep on his lap.

Carl gave her a warm smile and caressed her hair.

His little sister was the most important person to him.

Everything he'd done up to this point was all for her.

The siblings couldn't live in the kind of conditions the city had given them.

He wanted to return home.

Back to their village.

Was he confident the village was still there?

No.

He wasn't.

But still, he didn't want to hope that the village was there anymore.

To hope that there was still a place he and Emi could return to.

If the village wasn't there, then there was nothing to be done.

It was all he really needed.

A confirmation.

And a closure.

Just like that, their journey began.

The start of a long journey.