I couldn't move. My limbs were tiny. Weak. The air was cold. And worse—I couldn't stop myself from peeing.
A wave of shame hit me as I slowly became aware of the world around me. I wasn't dreaming. I wasn't in my old room, curled up with my phone after another anime binge.
No. I was small. Helpless. And the next thing I noticed—someone was lifting me.
I blinked against the light, my vision still blurry, but the shapes were there. A woman's soft humming filled the space, gentle arms wrapped me tightly in a warm blanket.
Wait… not a blanket. A cloth. Simple, thick, and comforting. I was wrapped up like a baby.
Because… I was a baby.
I tried to make sense of it. The sounds, the warmth, the overwhelming size of everything. Someone spoke above me, the voice full of joy:
"He's here… He's perfect."
The woman holding me—tired, but glowing with happiness—looked down with eyes I didn't know. Her smile trembled.
"He has Erwin's eyes," she whispered.
I froze inside. Erwin?
Then another voice—calm, steady—spoke. "We'll name him Elias. Elias Smith."
Smith?
The name struck me like lightning. My heart pounded. My brain, though foggy, began to race.
Smith… Erwin Smith?
That name. That man. The cold, brilliant mind from Attack on Titan. I remembered it all. His speeches. His sacrifice. His strength.
And now… they just called me Elias Smith.
A wave of disbelief rolled through me. I was reborn. And not just anywhere—I was in that world.
"I want to see him!" another voice called out. A young boy. Confident, polite, but curious.
A moment later, I was carefully passed into the arms of someone else. Small hands tried to hold me steady.
I blinked.
Blond hair. Blue eyes. A calm gaze far too mature for a child his age.
That was him. That had to be Erwin. My older brother.
"Hi, Elias," he said softly. "I'm Erwin. I'm your big brother."
Big brother…
That phrase sank deep into my heart. A brother. A family. Something I never had before.
In my past life, I was an orphan. No parents. No warmth. I had to figure everything out alone. My world was filled with emptiness—some days, even silence.
But now… arms held me. Voices laughed around me. I was part of something. A family.
"Careful with his head," said the woman who had given birth to me—my new mother.
Or rather… Erwin's mother. But now… mine too.
And the man who stood beside her? That was Albert Smith. My father in this world.
He had kind eyes and a quiet strength. As he looked at me, his expression softened.
"You're part of our family now, Elias."
It felt surreal.
Just moments ago, I had memories of bustling streets, lonely nights, and anime finales.
Now, I was a newborn. In the world of Attack on Titan.
And I had just peed on myself. Without control. Like a real baby.
As if that wasn't enough, I suddenly felt movement.
Wait—no. No, no, no. Don't tell me…
"She's ready to feed him," someone said softly.
Milk? From… her?
I buried my face into Erwin's tiny shirt sleeve, mentally screaming.
This is too much. I want to disappear.
But deep inside… past the shame and confusion, something else stirred.
Warmth.
Not just from the blanket or the arms holding me. But something deeper. For the first time in two lives…
I felt like I belonged.
---
I don't know how much time passed while I lay bundled in Erwin's arms. The warmth of the room, the quiet rustling of cloth, and the low murmurs between adults created a strange comfort. My senses, though still dulled by this newborn body, latched onto every detail like lifelines. In my previous life, I never had a moment like this—no parents, no family, just city noise and silence between the walls of that orphanage.
But now, I could hear soft laughter, the clink of metal, the creak of a wooden chair. The smell of old wood, clean linens, and a faint herbal scent that must've come from my new mother's sweat or a salve the midwife used. This world felt real. Too real.
So this is what a home sounds like…
From the corner of my eye—well, what little control I had over it—I noticed Erwin watching me intently. He held me like I was something precious. His grip was gentle, his tiny arms trembling slightly with the effort.
"Do you think he understands me?" Erwin whispered to his mother.
She smiled and stroked his golden hair. "Maybe not yet. But he knows you're here. And he'll remember your warmth."
Erwin's eyes widened at that, a hint of wonder flickering there. "Then I'll always hold him warm."
Even if I couldn't speak, my thoughts were screaming.
He's so serious already… no wonder he becomes Commander one day.
A sharp sound interrupted my train of thought—my stomach grumbled.
No. No!
The midwife approached again with a knowing smile and gently took me from Erwin's arms. "Looks like someone's ready."
I turned my head instinctively but groaned inside.
This part again?
I wanted to fight it. Cry out. Object like a proper adult. But my body didn't listen. It was hungry. Needy.
The shame hit again. I couldn't believe I was living through this.
I lived two decades! I had dignity! And now… I'm back to this?!
But… I gave in.
The warmth of skin, the rhythm of a heartbeat, and the gentle rocking lured me into something I hadn't felt in years—security.
I closed my eyes.
Somewhere in my mind, the orphaned boy I used to be finally slept peacefully.
---
Later that day, I lay nestled in a small wooden crib tucked into the corner of the main bedroom. The house wasn't big, but it was clean and full of life. Footsteps echoed gently along wooden floors. Voices spoke in hushed tones from beyond the walls.
I was alone for the moment, but I didn't feel abandoned.
Outside, I heard a knock on the front door, followed by a new voice—a man, rougher than Albert, and louder than anyone I'd heard today.
"How's the little one?"
Kenny?
No. The voice wasn't his. I didn't recognize it from the show. Not yet. But it was enough to remind me…
This is the world of Titans. That means danger is always close.
Still, today wasn't about that. Today was about being alive.
A few moments later, Erwin peeked his head into the room, carefully creeping toward the crib. He was quiet for his age. Thoughtful.
He stood by the crib, resting his chin on the rail.
"Hey, Elias," he said, in a low whisper. "I'll show you around the house when you're bigger. It's not very big, but… we have a nice roof. You can see the sky."
Thanks, I thought. I've only seen gray ceilings lately.
Erwin reached into the crib and gently patted my arm. I instinctively wrapped my tiny fingers around his thumb. He blinked, then smiled.
I think I smiled too.
Then something even more unexpected happened.
Erwin leaned in and whispered like it was a secret only we could share:
"We're going to change the world someday."
And in that moment… I believed him.