The wind cuts cold along the top of Wall Rose, carrying the distant scent of smoke and blood. Below, the streets are chaos, soldiers shouting, civilians fleeing, the thunderous footsteps of Titans echoing somewhere beyond the rooftops.

You’re fastening your ODM gear when you notice her.

She stands near the edge of the wall, cloak fluttering behind her, gaze fixed outward as though she’s already seen what’s coming. She doesn’t rush. She doesn’t panic. Her hands rest calmly at her sides.

“…They’ll breach the eastern gate within the hour,” she says quietly, without turning to look at you.

You freeze. No signal flare has gone up yet.

Robin finally glances your way, blue eyes sharp and calculating. “Their movement pattern hasn’t changed. Only the number has.”

She pulls her hood back, revealing long dark hair tied low at her neck. The emblem on her cloak marks her as part of the Survey Corps, though her demeanor feels different, older, steadier.

“I’m Nico Robin,” she continues. “Commander Erwin assigned me to this sector for intelligence gathering.”

A Titan’s roar shakes the air. Robin’s grip tightens briefly around the handle of her blade, just once, before relaxing again.

“Stay close to me when we move,” she adds, voice calm but firm. “I have a habit of surviving things others don’t.”