Chapter Text
"We're here." Jean shakes him awake and urges him to get down from the carriage.
"Mmmm. Isn't the town supposed to be five hours away from Odiha?" Connie whined, clearly unsatisfied with the amount of sleep he got through the commute.
"It's actually been longer than that, you've even slept through the detour. Now get up! it's just about time for us to get acquainted with the some of the townspeople."
Connie groaned in response but still complied.
"Mr. Kirstein and Mr. Springer, how wonderful to finally meet you! My name is Efua." the small girl introduced herself "and this is Nanya." gesturing to an even smaller girl beside her. "We're part of the group of local volunteers here overseeing all the reconstructions and help you've been giving us. We directly report to the leader of this town, he sends his apologies for not being able to meet with you today as he's caught up with some other obligation at this time, but he promises to meet with you tomorrow."
"It's alright. Tomorrow is fine." Jean assured her. "And, thank you for all your hardwork!"
"Alright then, since we've gotten over our formalities, how about we start?" Connie chirped
"Right this way!" Both girls said in unison.
...
"Everything here seems to be in order." Connie announced during lunch
"We try." Said Nanya with a very proud smile.
"The school is almost finished and the hospital was been up and running almost immediately after it was built last year." Efua explained
"That's really good to hear." Connie nodded approvingly
"Hey Efua, isn't there supposed to be a sanctuary taking care of those injured?" Jean asked shootimg Connie a look.
"There used to be, but it had been converted into an orphanage. It's a little bit up the northern part of town. People initially admitted there moved out and preferred to live normal lives after recovering. Most of them were still capable so they decided to up and leave and let the little help we were receiving at the time be focused on the orphaned children who were unable to fend for themselves." Efua explained
"The rest with more complicated injuries who were unfortunately unable to return to their old lives were the ones you met earlier in the hospital. But we can take you to the orphanage this afternoon once you've settled in your lodgings for the week." Nanya added
"Thank you, Nanya." Connie gave her a small smile a bit of disappointment hidden deep in his eyes, but Jean having lived with him for over a decade knew him well enough to read his mind.
This was going to be harder than we thought.
...
It had been a long day for Pieck and Reiner. Odiha was a large city. There were lots of people to meet and even more work to take care of. Personal relations is no joke. Reiner and Connie got here a week earlier but still didn't get half the job done so when she and Jean arrived she had to immediately step in and take over Connie's place so both guys could focus on another matter at hand.
They reside at this hotel where a large unit is reserved for them and other members of the alliance all year round. This flat was exclusively for their use alone. They were always welcomed in the city with such kindness and generousity, actually come to think of it, they were welcomed everywhere with kindness and generousity. Perks of the job and the after effects of their efforts and sacrifices in the war.
Two days have passed since Connie and Jean had left for Kalkoda, a town east of Odiha, roughly a 5-hour travel by horseback. She knew they were most probably safe and well, but she's just not used to being away from Jean. They've never been apart this long before but she understood that this mission was more fitting for Connie to go on than her.
I won't be able to sleep If I keep worrying about him-- for all of them for that matter but I can't help it. She didn't want to think of what could go wrong but she couldn't deny that this could just be setting them up for another possible heartbreak and that, regardless of extent of damage, would hurt everyone.
She sighed and decided to get out of bed.
"Reiner, why are you still up?" Pieck asked as she saw him on the counter when she came out of her room.
"I couldn't sleep. And what about you?"
"I couldn't either. I came out to make myself a cup of tea. Would you want one?"
"Sure."
Pieck heated the water and took out two cups and laid them on the counter where Reiner was and sat opposite him.
After a few moments, Reiner broke the silence.
"How do you think they're doing?"
"I honestly have no idea. Jean's been on edge the moment he knew about this."
"I see what you mean, Connie's the same. I worry for the little guy."
Reiner was seemingly lost in his own thoughts yet again.
"What do you think would happen if they don-- " Pieck started but was abruptly interrupted by movement just outside their door. Someone was trying to get in.
She glanced at their clock. It was almost midnight. Establishments usually close at half past eight o'clock here in the city of Odiha, and this inn wouldn't even be able to accept guests past nine.
Who would come to us at this hour?
Reiner was taken from his trance and looked at her, probably thinking the same thing.
He nodded to her and they quietly came to the door; Pieck just grabbed the nearest thing within grasp, a vase; It would probably do. Reiner on the other hand, didn't pick a weapon, clearly still more than capable of fighting in hand-to-hand combat-- they were trained all their lives after all.
After a few more seconds, it seemed like the person on the other side gave up on picking the lock and... knocked.
Knocked? Not very stealthy, she thought to herself.
Pieck and Reiner shared one last look of confusion then...
...
The knocking grew louder and louder, someone was profusely turning the knob. Eventually, the knocking, turned into banging while simultaneously pushing the door in, it sounded as though the person on the other side getting very, very impatient and was attempting to break the door down.
"WHAT'S GOING ON??!!"
"You slept in you idiot!" The voice from the other side of the door shouted back at him.
Connie groggily opened the door.
"Hurry up we need to get down stairs. The head of the village will be here any minute now!" Jean lectured, smacking his half-awake friend into full consciousness.
"Ow! Jean! We're not in training anymore! You can't just smack me like when we were kids!"
"I wouldn't have to if you didn't always oversleep. Now come on, get moving!"
Jean waited for him to get ready and both walked together to the main hall.
"Hey Connie, any luck yesterday?"
"No. You?" He said looking little disheartened.
"None as well... But..."
"But what?"
"But it's only been a day. Don't lose hope just yet."
"Gentlemen! Good morning! I'm very sorry for delaying our meeting." The man looked very tired but had a very kind and apologetic smile on his face. He looked like he must not have been older than 40 but the gray to white hairs on the top of his head said otherwise. Either he was just younger than he looks or that he truly was young but problems had a hand in accelerating his aging.
"Mr. Kaatachi! Thank you for meeting with us."
"Nonsense, such important guests shouldn't have been kept waiting in the first place! Have you seen the village?"
"Only part of it, haven't yet to see the rest of the plans and technology which Kalkoda boasts of" Jean said returning the man's smile.
"Oh yes. You simply must see them. We have such wonderful people working with us. I've actually arranged dinner with all the brightest minds in our engineering team to meet with you. They have such extraordinary proposals that won't only be useful to Kalkoda but probably anywhere that need ideas on agriculture and construction!"
"We look forward to it then!" Connie said a bit intrigued.
Mr. Kaatachi was taking the lead, and showing them some of the inventions in the yard.
Jean elbowed Connie lightly and whispered, "We can ask him after we meet with his team."
"Duty comes first." Connie agreed.
After a long day Connie and Jean were sitting at Mr. Kaatachi's estate talking with a mix of volunteers and engineers while waiting for dinner. They found out that not everyone was a resident of this area alone but actually they're from different villages that just came together for a united cause. That is to help people recover from the consequences of The Rumbling and to speed up constructions and think of innovating ways to improve everyday life and make it easier for everyone.
Their job may be exhausting but they are all truly dedicated to the alliance and their cause. They also meet fascinating people and learn of new cultures and new technologies, but at the moment their minds were a bit preoccupied with a personal problem which holds them back from truly enjoying conversations they were having here in Kalkoda.
Jean was absent-mindedly nodding in agreement to one of the conversationalists that refused to leave his side, Likem was his name Jean thinks but isn't sure since this is probably the 5th person to talk to him this evening.
From across the room he sees Nanya introducing Connie to various new people but then Mr. Kaatachi suddenly appeared beside Nanya and was waving for Jean to come over.
"Mr. Kirstein! Please come meet our lead engineer, the brightest of my recruits, the one responsible for most if not all of Kalkoda's success!" Just then someone entered, follwed by loud cheers and happy greetings all around the crowded room.
Jean saw Connie's eyes widen so much it looked as though it would pop out of his head and when he followed his comrade's gaze, Jean couldn't believe his eyes. It was a tall woman, with unruly burgundy hair dressed in rowdy slacks that was covered in ankle deep sludge, the upper half of her clothing were also covered in dirt. Jean's jaw dropped and if he didn't know any better he would've shoved everyone out of his path to get to the other side quicker.
"I'm sorry I'm late everyone!" The woman announced to the room. Smiling widely a hint of humor in her voice like she was holding back laughter.
A few more seconds passed until Jean was finally reached Connie's side.
"Mr. Kirstein, Mr. Springer, I'd like you to meet--".
The woman made her way to stand in front of the two guests, cut off the person making the introductions and took their hands in hers, one after the other, and shook each of them vigorously, with a geniune smile plastered on her face, her good eye gleaming with happiness.
"Hi! My name is Hani. It's very nice to finally meet you!"
Connie and Jean looked at each other with a mix of confusion and horror, hearts sinking.