Hello, Drinor here. I'm happy to publish a new Chapter of Attack on Titan: A Warrior of Devils
If you want to Read the Following TWO Chapters, Write 'www.Patreon.com/Drinor' in the Websearch.
Chapter 22 (The Trial of Eren Yeager) and Chapter 23 (Strawberries and Goodbyes) are already available for Patrons.
Commander Erwin's piercing blue eyes studied Jaime intently. They stood atop Wall Rose, the evening sun casting long shadows across the bloodstained battlefield below. The air still carried the acrid smell of titan steam and gunpowder.
"Let's begin," Erwin said, his voice carrying the weight of authority. "Cadet Jaime, Commander Pyxis mentioned you had some interesting theories about the Colossal Titan. I'd like to hear them directly from you."
Jaime took a deep breath, organizing his thoughts. "Yes, sir. During the attack, I noticed something peculiar about the Colossal Titan's appearance—"
"Was it the steam? The muscles? The lack of skin?" Hange interrupted, practically lunging forward. "Did you notice any particular odor? Was there—"
"Oi, Four-Eyes," Levi cut in, his tone flat. "Let the brat finish a sentence before you start drooling all over him."
Hange dropped back into her chair with a pout. "But Levi, this is fascinating! We finally have someone who made detailed observations!"
"Indeed," Erwin agreed, his eyes never leaving Jaime. "Please continue, Cadet."
"Thank you, sir. What caught my attention was the golden lightning that appeared just before the Colossal Titan appeared," Jaime explained. "The same type of lightning we saw when Eren transformed."
The room fell silent. Even Hange stopped fidgeting.
"Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting, brat?" Levi asked, his eyes narrowing.
"I believe the Colossal Titan is like Eren—a human who can transform into a Titan."
"FASCINATING!" Hange exploded from her chair, sending it clattering to the wall floor. "The implications! The possibilities! If what you're saying is true—"
"Sit down, Four-Eyes," Levi commanded. "And pick up the damn chair."
"But Levi, don't you see? This could explain everything! The intelligent behavior, the strategic timing—"
"Which brings me to my next point," Jaime continued, fighting back a smile at their interaction. "The Colossal Titan's actions were too precise to be random. It specifically targeted our cannons along the wall, it didn't try to eat like those in the ground tried to do."
"Elaborate," Erwin prompted, leaning forward slightly.
"The Titan appeared, destroyed our primary defenses, and then vanished in a massive steam cloud. It's like it knew exactly where to hit us and how to escape without being caught."
"Wait, wait, wait!" Hange interrupted again, now pacing frantically. "You're saying it disappeared? Just... poof? Like magic?"
"More like... whoosh," Jaime replied, making a sweeping gesture with his hands. "The steam was so thick you couldn't see anything, and when it cleared, the Titan was gone."
Levi rolled his eyes. "Very technical terminology there, brat. 'Poof' and 'whoosh.'"
"ANYWAY!" Hange practically screamed, unable to contain herself any longer. "Back to the disappearing act! This means the shifter—oh, can we call them shifters? I'm calling them shifters—could have simply used their ODM gear to escape in the confusion!"
"Exactly," Jaime nodded, grateful for the redirect. "Which means..."
"The Colossal Titan is someone with military training," Erwin finished, his expression grave.
"Not just military training," Jaime added. "They would need to be skilled enough to use ODM gear effectively and know the wall's defensive layout. That narrows down the possibilities considerably."
"To anyone who's graduated from training in the last few years," Levi pointed out. "Still a lot of suspects."
"But how many of them were actually present during both attacks?" Jaime asked. "Shiganshina five years ago and Trost today?"
Hange stopped pacing, her glasses glinting in the light. "Now that's an interesting question! We could cross-reference the deployment records from both incidents!"
"Already done," Erwin said, pulling out a document. "There were only a handful of soldiers present at both attacks, mostly Garrison troops stationed at both walls."
"With all due respect, Commander," Jaime interjected, "I don't think it's a Garrison soldier."
"Oh? And why's that?" Levi asked, his tone challenging.
"Because the Colossal Titan appeared right after the 104th graduation ceremony. If I were planning an attack, that timing would be perfect—everyone would be distracted, positions would be changing, and chaos would be guaranteed."
"Are you saying it's one of the cadets?" Hange asked, her voice unusually serious.
"I'm saying we shouldn't rule out any possibilities." Jaime met Erwin's calculating gaze. "The enemy could be anyone."
"You seem to have given this a lot of thought," Erwin observed. "Almost as if you were expecting something like this to happen."
Jaime felt the weight of their collective attention.
"Permission to speak freely, sir?"
"Granted."
"Since I heard that Wall Maria. I've spent every day trying to understand our enemy. And the more I thought about it, the more things didn't add up."
"Like what?" Levi prompted.
"Like why the Colossal Titan only destroyed the gates instead of breaking down the walls themselves. Like why the Armored Titan didn't appear this time. Like why they would attack humans at all when regular Titans seem to do that just fine on their own."
"EXACTLY!" Hange slammed her hands on the desk, making everyone jump. "These are organized attacks! There's intelligence behind them! Strategy! Purpose!"
"Oi, Four-Eyes, the desk didn't do anything to you," Levi drawled.
"But Levi, don't you see? This changes everything! We're not just fighting mindless monsters—we're fighting people! People who can turn into Titans! People who—"
"People who might be someone we know," Erwin cut in, his voice sharp.
"Sir?" Jaime asked after a moment of silence.
"If what you're suggesting is true, then we have to assume our enemy is among us. They could be anywhere, anyone. Which means this conversation needs to stay between us."
"Agreed," Levi nodded. "Last thing we need is mass paranoia in the ranks."
"But we can't just do nothing!" Hange protested. "We need to study Eren's abilities, compare them to what we know about the Colossal Titan, gather data—"
"And we will," Erwin assured her. "But carefully. Methodically. Without alerting our potential enemies."
"What about Eren?" Jaime asked. "Should he be told about this?"
"Not yet," Erwin decided. "He's already under enough pressure. For now, we focus on understanding his abilities and keeping him safe."
"And keeping an eye on anyone suspicious," Levi added, giving Jaime a pointed look.
"Speaking of suspicious," Hange suddenly turned to Jaime, her eyes gleaming maniacally behind her glasses. "How did you get so good at killing Titans? Twenty in one day is quite impressive for a cadet."
"I had a good teacher," Jaime replied carefully.
"Oh? And who was that?"
"A drunk who liked to wave knives around and tell stories about the good old days, well him and what I learned in the Training Corps."
Levi's eyes narrowed slightly at that description, but he said nothing.
"Well, whoever they were, they taught you well," Erwin said, standing. "Thank you for your insights, Cadet Jaime. You've given us much to consider."
"Thank you, sir. Is there anything else?"
"Just one thing," Erwin's expression was unreadable. "Your theory about the enemy being among us... what made you first consider that possibility?"
Jaime met his gaze steadily. "Because if I were trying to destroy humanity, that's exactly what I would do. Hide in plain sight, learn our weaknesses from the inside, and strike when we least expect it."
"Interesting perspective," Erwin said with a little smile.
"Oh, one more thing! When you saw the golden lightning, did it make any particular sound? Was it more of a KRAKOOM or more of a BZZZZT?"
"Hange..." Levi warned.
"What? It's a legitimate scientific question!"
"It was more of a WHOOSH-BOOM," Jaime replied with a straight face.
"Did you hear that? WHOOSH-BOOM! I need to write this down!"
"I swear to god, Four-Eyes..."
"Do you have any theories about who the Colossal Titan might be?" Erwin asked, ignoring their banter.
Jaime shook his head. "Only speculation, sir. But whoever it is, they know our defenses, our procedures. They're not just some random threat - they're strategic."
Erwin nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "Your observational skills are impressive for a cadet. Where did you learn to be so... perceptive?"
There was a weighted pause before Jaime answered. "The Underground City teaches you to notice things, sir. You either learn to read situations quickly, or you don't survive long."
Levi's eyes narrowed slightly at this, his attention suddenly more focused.
"The Underground?" Erwin's interest seemed to sharpen. "How did you end up there?"
"Born there," Jaime replied with a casual shrug that didn't quite match his eyes.
"WAIT!" Hange burst in again. "Back to the Colossal Titan! You said the steam was different? How different? Was it hotter? Denser? Did it smell-"
"Hange," Erwin's calm voice cut through her excitement. "Perhaps we should continue this discussion somewhere more private. Cadet Jaime, would you join us?"
"After he gets some rest," Commander Pixis interrupted, appearing with his usual timing and enigmatic smile. "The boy's been fighting titans all day. Let him recover first."
Erwin nodded in agreement. "Tomorrow morning then. Report to my office at dawn."
As Jaime turned to leave, Levi's voice stopped him. "Oi, brat."
"Sir?"
"That bastard that talked about the good old days... he teach you how to use ODM gear too?"
"Yes, sir."
Something almost like amusement flickered across Levi's face. "Tch. Get some rest, kid. You look like shit."
As Jaime walked away, he could hear Hange starting up again. "Levi! You know something! Tell me! Tell me! Tell- OW! Why did you hit me?!"
"Because you're annoying, four-eyes."
Jaime found himself smiling as he made his way down the wall. The smile faded when he saw the carnage below - the price of their first victory against the titans. His mind wandered to Annie, wondering if she was safe, if she'd survived the battle.
"Jaime!" Agnesa's voice cut through his thoughts. She was running toward him, relief evident on her face. "We've been looking everywhere for you! Are you okay? What did the commanders want?"
"I'm fine," he assured her. "Just discussing theories about the titans."
"Well, come on then! Everyone's gathering at the barracks. They're saying we might get medals for today!"
Jaime shook his head. "I think I need to find my friends first, and then I will take a rest. I need to sleep."
Agnesa's expression softened. "Yeah, it has. Get some rest, Captain."
"I'm not your captain anymore, Agnesa."
She smiled. "You'll always be our captain. You kept us alive today."
As Jaime walked away, his thoughts drifted to tomorrow's meeting.
Annie
The moon cast long shadows in the narrow alleyway as three figures huddled in the darkness.
"A titan shifter," Reiner whispered, his voice trembling with barely contained excitement. "After all this time, we finally found something. Who would have thought that Eren of all people is a Titan Shifter?"
Bertholdt nervously glanced around before speaking. "Do you think... could Eren be the one? The Founding Titan?"
"No," Reiner shook his head firmly. "Think about it. Eren's from Wall Maria, just a regular kid from Shiganshina. No royal blood."
"But how can we be sure?"
Reiner let out a frustrated breath. "Because if he had the Founding Titan's power, all those pure titans would be dead by now. You've seen his rage, his hatred for titans. The moment he transformed, he would have commanded every titan to drop dead."
Annie stood slightly apart from them, her back against the cold stone wall. Her eyes were fixed on some distant point, but her mind was elsewhere – with purple eyes and gentle smiles.
"The military will hold a trial," Bertholdt continued, wringing his hands. "They'll decide whether Eren lives or dies."
"Good," Reiner's voice took on a calculating tone. "That means they'll keep him in one place. We can use that."
"Use what?" Bertholdt asked. "The entire military will be watching him."
"Exactly. They'll be focused on Eren, not on us. We can-"
"We need to be careful," Annie's voice cut through their discussion, sharp and cold. It was the first time she'd spoken since they'd gathered. "One wrong move and we'll expose ourselves."
Reiner turned to her, frowning. "You've been quiet. What's on your mind?"
"Nothing," she replied too quickly. "Just thinking about our next move."
But her mind was screaming Jaime's name. She could picture him now, probably already piecing things together. He was too smart, too observant. He'd seen the Colossal Titan up close, seen Eren transform. How long before he made the connection?
"Annie?" Bertholdt's concerned voice pulled her back to the present.
"We need to wait," she said, forcing herself to focus. "See how the trial plays out. The military's divided – the Survey Corps will want to use him, the Military Police will want to kill him."
"And the Garrison?" Reiner asked.
"They'll follow whatever Commander Pixis decides," Annie replied, thinking of how Jaime had impressed the old commander. Her heart twisted again.
"Annie," Bertholdt's voice came out soft, uncertain. "I... I wanted to ask you something."
She turned her cold gaze toward him, making him fidget even more.
"Why... why did you choose him?" Bertholdt's voice cracked slightly. "Why not..." The words died in his throat, his face flushing red.
Annie's eyes narrowed dangerously. "What's your problem? Do I need your permission to date someone now?"
"N-no, that's not what I-"
"Enough," Annie's voice was sharp as ice. "My personal life is none of your concern."
"Both of you, shut up," Reiner cut in, his voice hard. "We have more important things to worry about." He turned to Annie. "Does he suspect anything? Jaime's not exactly stupid."
Annie's mind flashed to earlier that day, remembering Jaime's words about the golden lightning before Eren sealed the wall with that giant boulder. For a moment, fear gripped her heart, but she kept her face neutral.
"No," she lied smoothly. "He hasn't made any connections."
"Really?" Reiner looked surprised. "I would have expected someone like him to piece it together by now."
"He's been focused on other things," Annie said, while internally her mind raced with possibilities. Maybe... maybe if she could fake her own death before he figured it out... It would hurt him, but wouldn't that be better than him discovering what she really was? Better than seeing the betrayal in those purple eyes she'd grown to love?
Bertholdt was still looking at her with that pathetic, wounded expression that made her want to punch him.
"The trial will be soon," Reiner continued, oblivious to her internal turmoil. "We need to be ready to move when the time comes."
Annie nodded mechanically, her mind already formulating plans. If she timed it right, made it look convincing enough... Jaime would mourn her, but at least he wouldn't hate her. At least she wouldn't have to see the moment he realized she was a monster.
"Annie?" Reiner's voice snapped her back to reality. "Are you listening?"
"Yes," she replied coldly. "I know what needs to be done."
Bertholdt opened his mouth as if to say something else, but one glacial look from Annie made him think better of it.
"If Eren doesn't have the Founder," Bertholdt whispered after a moment of silence, fidgeting with his sleeve, "which one does he have? Could it be... the Jaw Titan?"
Reiner shook his head firmly. "Think about what Eren told us. He was in Shiganshina when you broke the wall. If he had been the pure titan that ate Marcel, he wouldn't have had time to reach Shiganshina before the attack."
"Besides," he continued, lowering his voice further, "the tallest recorded Jaw Titan was nine meters. Eren's titan form is fifteen meters tall."
Annie's eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of Marcel, but she remained silent, her thoughts still dwelling on Jaime.
"Then... that means..." Bertholdt's eyes widened in realization.
"The Attack Titan," Reiner confirmed. "The weakest of the Nine."
Bertholdt's nervous energy seemed to increase. "But Reiner, if we kidnap Eren, we'll have to reveal ourselves. And if we return to Marley without the Founding Titan..." His voice trembled. "Just the Attack Titan might not be enough. They might... they might strip us of our powers."
"They'll execute us, you mean," Annie's cold voice cut through the air.
"No," Reiner's tone was confident, almost desperate. "We've gathered valuable intelligence about this island. Their military structure, their technologies, their weaknesses. Combined with capturing the Attack Titan, it will be enough."
He straightened his shoulders, trying to project certainty. "Our five years of suffering are finally coming to an end."
"Is that all?" Annie asked impatiently. She wasn't in the mood to waste her time with Reiner and Berholdt; she wanted to be somewhere else, with someone else.
Just as Annie was about to leave, Reiner's voice stopped her. "What about Jaime's background?"
She froze mid-step, her back tensing.
"He's too observant, too different from the others," Reiner continued. "Are we sure he's not-"
Annie's fists clenched so tight her knuckles went white. The memory of Reiner's bloodied face after Marcel's death flashed through her mind. She'd beaten him within an inch of his life then – right now, she wanted to make that beating look gentle in comparison.
"Careful, Reiner," her voice was deadly quiet.
But Reiner pressed on, his voice rising slightly. "We need to know if there's any chance he could be-"
"R-Reiner," Bertholdt interrupted, nervously watching Annie. He recognized that look in her eyes – the same one she'd had when she'd nearly killed Reiner years ago.
The tension in the alley was suffocating. Annie slowly turned to face Reiner, her eyes burning with barely contained rage.
"He's from the Underground City," she said through gritted teeth. Her mind flashed to the few hints Jaime had dropped about his past – the pain in his eyes when he mentioned the time before Kenny found him. Even she didn't know the full story of what he'd lost down there.
"That's all?" Reiner challenged.
"That's all you need to know. I have checked him. He is not the one with the Founding Titan." Annie's voice could have frozen fire. The last one was a lie, but they didn't need to know that.
Reiner stared at her for a long moment, then asked the question that made even the air seem to still: "If it comes down to it, can you kill him?"
Bertholdt's sharp intake of breath was the only sound in the alley.
Annie felt something inside her crack. The question she'd been avoiding, the nightmare scenario she couldn't bear to contemplate – thrown in her face so carelessly by Reiner.
Her silence spoke volumes.
"Annie," Reiner's voice hardened, "if you can't-"
"Don't," she cut him off, her voice trembling with rage. "Don't you dare question my resolve, Reiner. Not you. Not after everything."
She took a step toward him, and despite being much larger, Reiner instinctively backed up.
"I know what needs to be done," she said, each word sharp as a blade. "But if you ever suggest using Jaime as a target again, what I did to you after Marcel won't compare to what I'll do next."
"Annie, please," Bertholdt stepped between them, hands raised placatingly. "He didn't mean-"
"Yes, he did," Annie's cold gaze never left Reiner. "But he forgets that I'm not the one who starts playing soldier and forgets who he really is."
The barb hit home. Reiner's face tightened, anger growing in his eyes.
"At least I know where I stand," Reiner's voice hardened, anger seeping through. "I might act like their big brother, but I won't hesitate to kill every single one of those cadets if I have to."
Both Annie and Bertholdt caught the slight tremor in his voice, the barely perceptible uncertainty that betrayed his words.
"Really?" Annie's voice dripped with venom. "Just like you didn't hesitate to believe your mother's lies about your father wanting you? How did that work out, Reiner? Did playing warrior make daddy finally love you?"
The color drained from Reiner's face, replaced by a dangerous flush of rage. His eyes darted to Annie's closeness to the wall, perhaps calculating if he could pin her there before she could react.
"You're acting different," he growled. "More emotional than usual. Is that what this is about?" His eyes narrowed maliciously. "Did Jaime finally fuck-"
The soft click of Annie's ring opening cut through the air like a blade. Before either man could react, she'd pricked her finger. Golden electricity danced around the small wound, illuminating her face in a glow that made her cold fury even more terrifying.
Bertholdt let out a strangled gasp, stepping back.
"Choose your next words very carefully, Reiner," Annie's voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried the weight of a titan's roar. "Because if you ever speak about him like that again, I will kill you where you stand. Mission be damned."
The electricity continued to crackle around her finger, a deadly promise waiting to be fulfilled.
Reiner stared at the golden sparks, then at Annie's eyes. Whatever he saw there made him step back, the anger draining from his face.
"I... I'm sorry," he said quietly. "That was out of line."
Bertholdt released a shaky breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
Annie maintained her glacial stare for a moment longer before releasing her ring's mechanism. Steam rose from her finger as the small wound healed.
"We're done here," she said, her voice arctic. Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving the two men in the shadowed alley.
"What if... what if we're wrong about all of this?"
"We're not," Reiner's voice was firm. "We're warriors. We have a mission."
Warriors. The word echoed in Annie's mind as she walked away. She'd been so young when they gave her that title, too young to understand the weight it would carry. Now that weight was crushing her, suffocating her with every thought of Jaime.
The moonlight caught the last wisps of steam rising from her healed finger as she disappeared into the darkness, her heart thundering with rage and fear. Reiner's words had struck too close to everything she was trying to protect, everything she was afraid to lose.
She touched her ring again, this time gently. It wasn't just a weapon anymore – it was a reminder of choices yet to come, of sacrifices she might have to make. And of the one person she couldn't bear to sacrifice, even if it meant betraying everything she'd been raised to be.
She stopped in a shadowy corner, letting her mask slip for just a moment. His face filled her mind – the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, how he'd look at her like she was something precious, not a weapon. The way he made her feel human.
"I'm sorry," she whispered to the darkness, to the ghost of his smile in her memories. "I'm so sorry."
A single tear rolled down her cheek, quickly wiped away as she reconstructed her walls. She was a warrior, and warriors couldn't afford to love. Even if it meant breaking both their hearts.
Tomorrow, she would resume her role, play her part. But tonight, in the safety of shadows, Annie allowed herself one last moment of weakness, one last dream of purple eyes and gentle hands, before locking her heart away behind walls higher than any that protected this island.
The mission came first. It always had to come first.
Even if it killed her inside.
In her mind, she began crafting scenarios of her death – each one designed to spare Jaime from the truth of her betrayal.
Better to die a hero in his eyes than live as the monster she truly was.
Their suffering, Reiner had said. As if these five years had been nothing but a trial to endure. He didn't understand. How could he? He hadn't found something worth protecting within these walls. He hadn't found someone who made him question everything he'd been taught to believe.
He hadn't fallen in love with the enemy.
Eren Yeager
Before him stood a woman. Her long dark hair danced in the wind, but it was her eyes that captured Eren's attention – a striking purple. She wore a simple white dress that reached her ankles, its fabric catching the dying sunlight like fresh snow.
Facing her was a small boy, no more than three years old, dressed in a brown vest over a white shirt that had seen better days, and short pants that showed his scraped knees. His black hair was tousled by the wind, and tears streamed down his round cheeks. But those eyes – Eren felt his breath catch. They were the same remarkable purple as the woman's, the same shade he'd seen countless times in Jaime's gaze during training.
"I don't want to go! I want to stay with you!" The child's voice cracked with desperation, his tiny fists clenched at his sides. The way his lower lip trembled, the defiant set of his jaw – it was unmistakably Jaime.
"What's happening?" Eren called out. Neither figure acknowledged his presence.
The woman knelt down, her dress pooling around her like spilled milk on the dark earth. Her face bore an expression of such profound sorrow that Eren felt his own heart constrict.
"I'm really sorry, sweetheart," she whispered, her voice musical even in its grief. "But you have to go, you have to forget." Tears gathered in her eyes, turning them foggy like morning mist over purple mountains.
"No!" young Jaime sobbed, his small body shaking. "Please, don't make me!"
Eren tried to move closer, to understand, but his feet seemed rooted to the spot. He could only watch as the woman gathered the boy into her arms, her movements gentle.
She pressed her lips to Jaime's forehead in a kiss. The boy's purple eyes widened for a fraction of a second before his small lashes fluttered closed.
As Jaime went limp in her arms, the woman began to hum. The melody floated through the air. She cradled the sleeping child, rocking him gently as tears silently tracked down her cheeks.
Something about the scene struck a chord deep within Eren's consciousness. The tender way she held the boy reminded him painfully of his own mother—of gentle hands checking for fever, of warm embraces after nightmares.
The humming grew fainter, the images beginning to blur at the edges like a painting left in the rain. The last thing Eren saw before darkness claimed the dream was the woman pressing one final kiss to Jaime's forehead, her tears falling like stars onto his peaceful face.
Eren's consciousness returned slowly, like swimming up through murky water. A groan escaped his lips as he shifted, his muscles protesting every movement. Sunlight filtered through a high window, casting unfamiliar patterns on stone walls he'd never seen before.
For one disorienting moment, he wondered if everything – the breach, the boulder, becoming a titan – had been some fever dream. But as his vision cleared, he noticed Armin slumped in a wooden chair to his right, the boy's blonde hair falling over his face as he dozed. His usually neat clothes were wrinkled, and dark circles shadowed his eyes. On the left, Mikasa sat in a similar chair, her red scarf slightly askew, her head tilted at an angle that would surely leave her neck sore.
The reality of everything crashed back into him like a wave. He reached out, his hand trembling slightly, and shook Armin's shoulder.
"Mmm... five more minutes," Armin mumbled, shifting in the uncomfortable chair. His training corps jacket, draped over him like a makeshift blanket, slipped to the floor.
"Armin," Eren's voice came out rougher than he expected, his throat dry.
Armin's blue eyes fluttered open, taking a moment to focus. When they did, they widened almost comically. "Eren!" he shouted, launching himself forward with surprising speed.
The force of Armin's hug knocked some air from Eren's lungs, but before he could recover, Mikasa jerked awake at the noise. Her dark eyes found Eren's, and she joined the embrace, her arms wrapping around both boys.
"Can't... breathe..." Eren wheezed, though he couldn't help the smile tugging at his lips.
Both of his friends immediately pulled back, Armin looking sheepish and Mikasa adjusting her scarf to hide her own smile.
"How do you feel?" Mikasa asked, her eyes scanning him for any signs of injury or distress. She'd pushed her chair closer to the bed, one hand hovering near his arm as if afraid he might disappear.
Eren flexed his fingers, rolled his shoulders. "Good, actually. Just a bit stiff." He looked around the unfamiliar room with its stone walls and sparse furnishings. "Where am I? And the wall – did I... did we do it? Did I manage to seal it with the boulder?"
"The wall is sealed," Mikasa confirmed, and Eren didn't miss the pride in her voice. "You did it, Eren. You saved Trost."
The relief that flooded through him was so intense it made him dizzy. He slumped back against the pillows, releasing a breath he felt like he'd been holding since he first learned of his titan powers.
"The others?" he asked, memories of the battle flashing through his mind. "Jaime? Is everyone okay?"
Armin's expression sobered slightly. "Most of the survivors are in Trost now, clearing the..." he hesitated, "clearing the city. Jaime's there too, helping Jean and the others."
Eren didn't miss the way Armin's voice caught on 'survivors,' or how Mikasa's hand tightened slightly on the bed sheet. The victory had come at a cost, then. He closed his eyes for a moment, remembering faces from training, wondering which ones he'd never see again.
"How long have I been out?" he asked, noticing for the first time that he was wearing clean clothes – a simple white shirt and loose pants.
"Two days," Mikasa answered. "The Military Police wanted to take you into custody immediately, but Commander Pixis and Commander Erwin intervened. You're in a secure room in the military headquarters now."
"The Military Police?" Eren frowned. "Why would they-"
"Because of your power," Armin cut in, his voice dropping lower despite them being alone in the room. "Eren, there's going to be a military tribunal to decide..." he trailed off, exchanging a glance with Mikasa.
"To decide what?" Eren pressed, though part of him already knew the answer.
"To decide whether you're a threat or an asset to humanity," Mikasa said, her tone carrying a hint of steel. "But don't worry. We won't let them-"
A knock at the door interrupted her, making them all jump. A soldier Eren didn't recognize poked his head in.
"The Commander would like to know if he's awake yet- oh," the soldier straightened when he saw Eren sitting up. "I'll inform him right away."
The door closed with a soft click, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.
"Armin," Eren said quietly, "what exactly happened after I sealed the wall? I remember carrying the boulder, and then... nothing."
Armin leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. "You collapsed after sealing the breach. Your titan form began to dissipate, and we had to cut you out. You were burning hot, like you had a fever, but the doctors couldn't find anything wrong with you physically. They've been monitoring you ever since."
"Jaime convinced Commander Erwin to keep you here, they wanted you to put you in a cell, but he told them that waking up here would be better for you." Eren made a mental note to thank him later, well, for many things. The list was growing longer.
Eren absorbed this information, his mind racing. A tribunal. The Military Police. It seemed sealing the wall hadn't been enough to prove his loyalty to humanity.
He was about to ask more questions when his stomach let out an embarrassingly loud growl. Armin chuckled, some of the tension leaving his shoulders.
"I'll go get you some food," he offered, standing up. "You must be starving after three days."
Armin left the room.
In the silence that followed, Eren found himself remembering fragments of a strange dream – purple eyes and a lullaby that seemed just out of reach.
"Mikasa," he started, "while I was unconscious, I had this weird dream about-"
The door opened again, this time revealing a uniformed figure that made both of them straighten instinctively. Commander Erwin Smith stood in the doorway. Behind him, Captain Levi's shorter form lurked like a shadow.
"Eren Yeager," Erwin's deep voice carried both authority and curiosity. "We have much to discuss."
Eren met the Commander's calculating gaze, feeling like he was being measured, evaluated.
Commander Erwin Smith pulled a chair closer to Eren's bed. His piercing blue eyes never left Eren's face, studying every micro-expression with the intensity of a hawk tracking its prey.
"First," Erwin began, his deep voice filling the room, "I want to know what you remember about obtaining your titan abilities."
Levi leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his sharp eyes flicking between Eren and Mikasa. "Try not to shit yourself while answering, kid."
"I..." Eren swallowed hard, "I don't remember anything about getting these powers. The first time I transformed was in Trost, when I was..." He trailed off, the memory of being swallowed still fresh.
"Convenient," Levi muttered.
Erwin raised a hand slightly, silencing his captain. "Your father was Dr. Grisha Yeager, correct? When was the last time you saw him?"
The question caught Eren off guard. He noticed how Erwin's eyes seemed to gleam with a hungry sort of curiosity.
"The day Wall Maria fell. He left that morning and never returned."
"I see." Erwin leaned forward slightly. "And you have no memories of him returning later? Perhaps during the evacuation?"
Eren's brow furrowed. "No, I... should I?"
"Walk me through it again," Erwin said, his voice calm but commanding. "Every detail you can remember."
"We were out of gas, sir. The supply team had barricaded themselves in the fortress, and Titans were everywhere. Armin..." He swallowed hard. "Armin was about to be eaten by a titan with a long beard. I jumped in and..." His hands clenched into fists on his knees.
"And then?"
"I threw Armin out of his mouth, but the titan... it swallowed me whole." Eren's voice grew quieter, haunted. "I remember falling into its stomach. The heat was unbearable, and the smell... There were bodies floating in the liquid, sir. Some still moving. I saw a girl, couldn't have been more than twelve, reaching out..."
Erwin's face remained impassive, but his eyes never left Eren's face. "What happened next?"
"Darkness," Eren said. "Complete darkness. And then..." He looked up at Erwin. "The next thing I knew, Armin was in front of me, looking terrified, and the Garrison Regiment had cannons and muskets aimed at us."
"They were going to execute you on the spot," Erwin stated.
"Yes, sir. If it hadn't been for Jaime and Commander Pixis..." Eren shook his head. "I'd be dead. Jaime bought us time with his quick thinking, and Commander Pixis arrived just as Captain Weilman was about to give the order to fire."
Erwin leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "And you have no memory of transforming? No sense of how you controlled the titan form?"
"No, sir. It's like... like trying to remember a dream that slips away the moment you wake up. I just knew I had to save Armin. That's all."
"Interesting." Erwin's eyes flickered to the window. "Very interesting."
Eren felt a chill run down his spine, remembering another recent dream with purple eyes and forgotten memories. But he kept that to himself. Some dreams, he was learning, were better left unspoken.
"So you don't remember how you got these powers?" Eren just shook his head, feeling a small headache.
"Tch. Either he's an excellent liar or completely clueless," Levi commented, pushing off from the wall. "If he joins the Survey Corps, Commander, you should know I won't hesitate to cut him down if he loses control. We can't risk-"
"Try it, shorty," Mikasa's cold voice cut through the room like a blade. She stood up, her dark eyes boring into Levi's. "Touch Eren, and I'll show you how far you can fall from even your height."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. Levi's expression darkened dangerously.
"What did you say, brat?"
"Mikasa, don't-" Eren started, but she continued.
"You heard me. Or do I need to kneel down to say it at your level?"
"Enough." Erwin's command cracked like a whip. "Cadet Ackerman, apologize to Captain Levi. Now."
Mikasa's jaw clenched, but she didn't back down. "I apologize for insulting your height, Captain. But I won't apologize for protecting Eren."
A ghost of a smile flickered across Erwin's face. "Interesting," he murmured, before returning to his previous intensity. "Eren, the military tribunal will decide your fate in three days. The Military Police want to dissect you. We want to use your power to retake Wall Maria."
"Commander," Levi interrupted, still glaring at Mikasa, "are you sure about this?"
"Look at his eyes, Levi," Erwin replied. "What do you see?"
Levi studied Eren for a long moment. "A brat with a death wish."
"I see determination," Erwin corrected. "The same fire that burns in every Survey Corps soldier who dreams of freedom." He turned back to Eren. "But we need to know we can control you. The tribunal will want assurances."
"I can control it," Eren insisted. "I sealed the wall, didn't I?"
"After trying to kill Cadet Ackerman," Levi pointed out bluntly.
Eren's face paled. "What? I... I tried to..."
"You didn't know what you were doing," Mikasa said softly. It wasn't your fault," she quickly added while trying to hide the scar on her face. Eren noticed and looked guilty because of it. Mikasa quickly tried to say that it was his second time using that form and that it was not his fault for not knowing how to use it right away.
Erwin watched this exchange with calculating eyes. "We'll need to prove you can be controlled. Levi will be responsible for that."
"Perfect," Levi muttered.
"Commander," Eren leaned forward, his green eyes blazing with intensity, "I want to join the Survey Corps. I want to kill every titan out there. I'll do whatever it takes to prove I'm not humanity's enemy."
Erwin's eyes seemed to pierce through Eren's soul. "Whatever it takes? Even if it means becoming a monster to defeat monsters?"
Mikasa tensed beside Eren, but he didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
A small smile curved Erwin's lips. "Then we have a chance." He stood up, his imposing height casting a shadow over the bed. "Rest well, Eren. The real battle begins at the tribunal."
As they turned to leave, Levi paused at the door. "Oi, Ackerman."
Mikasa met his gaze steadily.
"Nice killer instinct." With that, he followed Erwin out, leaving Mikasa and Eren in stunned silence.
Beside him, Mikasa retook her seat. Neither spoke for a long moment, both lost in thoughts of what lay ahead, and what price victory might demand.
Levi
As Erwin and Levi walked down the corridor, Levi's usual scowl deepened.
"Something's bothering you," Erwin observed, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Besides Ackerman's height comments."
"Tch." Levi glanced sideways at his commander. "That girl... during the battle of Trost, she killed ten titans solo. No ODM gear failures, no wasted gas, perfect cuts every time. Like she was born for it."
Erwin's thick eyebrows raised slightly. "Impressive."
"There's more," Levi continued, his voice low. "That other brat, Jaime. Twenty titans solo kills. Not counting the ones he took down with others." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Their movements... they're not just trained. It's instinct."
"Ah," Erwin's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Hange is interviewing the cadets as we speak, gathering information about both Eren Yeager and cadet Jaime."
"Why the interest in the other brat?"
Erwin stopped, clasping his hands behind his back.
"Commander Pixis spoke quite highly of him. Apparently, during the battle, Jaime showed exceptional leadership abilities. Organized defense positions, coordinated supply runs, saved numerous lives." Erwin's blue eyes gleamed with that familiar strategic light. "The Survey Corps could use someone with those qualities."
Levi fell silent, his mind drifting to memories he usually kept locked away. Kenny's face flashed in his mind – that dangerous grin, those calculating eyes. The way he moved, the way he killed, the way he taught...
"Levi?" Erwin prompted, noticing his captain's unusual silence.
"Just wondering," Levi said carefully, "if the brat has any connection to... someone I used to know." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Kenny took me in, taught me everything I knew before joining the Survey Corps. Never understood why. Now I see another kid who said about a bastard dreaming about the good old days..."
Erwin studied his captain's profile. "You think this Kenny might have trained him too?"
"Don't know," Levi admitted. "But if he did, the question is why? Kenny wasn't the type to help kids out of the goodness of his heart." His voice turned bitter. "Hell, I still don't know why he helped me."
"Perhaps," Erwin mused, "these questions are all connected. Eren's powers, Mikasa's strength, Jaime's abilities..." He turned to face Levi fully. "We might be looking at pieces of a much larger puzzle."
Levi pushed off from the window. "Just what we need. More mysteries."
"Knowledge is power, Levi. Every piece matters."
"Yeah, well," Levi started walking again, "let's focus on keeping that titan brat alive at the tribunal first. Then we can worry about why Kenny might be collecting strays."
As they continued down the corridor, Levi couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something bigger was at play. Kenny's face lingered in his mind, along with all the questions he'd never gotten answers to. Why had Kenny taken him in? Why had he taught him everything he knew? And if he had done the same with Jaime...
The implications made Levi's scowl deepen further. Whatever was going on, he had a feeling they were only seeing the surface.
Jaime
The stench of death hung thick in the air, a putrid miasma that penetrated even through the cloth covering Jaime's nose and mouth. The summer heat had done its horrific work on the bodies littering Trost's streets, turning them into bloated, festering masses of rot. Blackened blood oozed from burst corpses, attracting swarms of iridescent flies that laid their eggs in gaping wounds and empty eye sockets.
Jean walked beside him, his usually confident posture now slumped, eyes haunted as they moved past what remained of their fellow soldiers. A child's severed arm lay near his feet, tiny fingers curled as if still reaching for help that never came. Krista followed close behind, her angel-like features marred by grief, while Ymir kept a protective hand on her shoulder, carefully steering her around a torso that had been ripped in half, intestines spilled across the cobblestones like wet rope.
Jaime's boots crunched through a mixture of broken glass and shattered bone as he stepped around another body, this one in civilian clothes now soaked crimson. The corpse's jaw hung loose, shattered by what must have been a titan's grip, tongue lolling obscenely from the ruined mouth.
"Stop it," Ymir's sharp voice cut through his thoughts.
"I didn't say anything," Jaime muttered, stepping over a fallen beam slick with gore and brain matter.
"You didn't have to. Your face says it all." Ymir's tone was harsh, but her eyes held understanding as she sidestepped a cadet's head, its features frozen in a final scream. "You're doing that thing again, thinking you should have somehow saved everyone."
"If I had just-"
"Bullshit," Ymir cut him off, making Krista jump slightly as she retched at the sight of a body crushed so thoroughly its innards had burst from every orifice. "You want to play god? Think you can control who lives and dies? Even with all your strength and skill, you're still just one person."
Jean paused in his walk, turning to look at them. Bodies lay scattered around them like broken dolls, some with ribcages peeled open and organs missing, others crushed beneath debris until they were little more than pulp in uniform.
"Ymir's right," he said quietly, his voice trembling. "There's nothing one can do against this."
Jaime nodded, swallowing hard as he passed what looked like the remains of an entire family, their bodies piled atop one another in death as if trying to protect each other. "Thank you," he whispered, earning a grunt from Ymir.
They turned a corner, and the scene before them made them all stop short. Five cadets lay sprawled across the street, their uniforms now more red than brown. One body had been torn completely in half at the waist, spine dangling like a grotesque tail. Another's chest cavity gaped open, ribs curved outward like bloody fingers, heart and lungs absent. Blood had dried black on the cobblestones, and various limbs were scattered about, gnawed clean of flesh by titan teeth.
"These ones..." Jean's voice cracked as he knelt beside a body whose skin had begun to slough off in sheets of putrid flesh. "We can't identify some of them. No heads."
Krista turned away, her small frame shaking as she vomited bile onto the street. Nearby, a severed head stared at them with milky eyes, maggots already writhing in its nostrils and mouth. Ymir pulled her closer, murmuring something in her ear while averting her gaze from a corpse whose abdomen crawled with rats.
A woman in a military uniform approached them, her boots clicking against the stone, leaving prints in the congealed blood. She held a clipboard, her face professionally blank despite stepping over a cadet's corpse whose skull had been crushed.
"Section D-7 needs checking," she said, marking something on her papers, deliberately ignoring the severed limbs and mangled torsos surrounding them. "Head north two blocks."
As they turned to leave, Jean suddenly stopped. "Maybe..." his voice held a desperate note. "Maybe Marco's okay. We just haven't seen him yet. He's smart, he probably found somewhere safe to-"
The words died in his throat as they all looked down the street. At the end of the road, slumped against a wall that was stained dark with old blood, sat a corpse. The right side of its body was simply... gone, as if something had taken a massive bite, leaving everything from shoulder to hip missing. The face, what remained of it, was turned slightly toward them.
Krista's gasp turned into a sob. Tears streamed down her face as she turned into Ymir's embrace. The taller girl held her tightly, her own face unusually pale.
Jaime felt his legs moving before he realized he'd decided to walk forward. Jean moved beside him, each step seeming to take an eternity. The summer heat pressed down on them.
It was Marco. There was no doubt, even with half his face gone. The familiar freckles on his remaining cheek seemed to stand out starkly against his gray skin. His one visible eye stared sightlessly ahead, as if still watching the battle that had claimed his life.
Jean fell to his knees beside the body, his hands hovering uselessly over his friend's remains. "Marco..." his voice was barely a whisper. "How... how did this happen? You were... you were supposed to join the Military Police. Live a safe life in the interior..."
Jaime stood rigid, his fists clenched so tight his nails cut into his palms. The pain was welcome, something real to focus on besides the sight before him. Marco had been kind and optimistic. He should have been alive.
"Someone..." Jean's voice shook with grief and rage, "someone saw what happened. Someone was the last person to see him alive. And they... they just left him here..."
A fly buzzed past Jaime's ear, heading toward Marco's body. Without thinking, he swatted it away, the simple protective gesture feeling both futile and necessary.
"We should move him," Jaime said softly. "He deserves better than this."
Jean nodded, wiping his eyes roughly with his sleeve. Together, they carefully lifted what remained of their friend. Marco's body was stiff with rigor mortis, making the task even more difficult. As they moved him, something fell from his jacket pocket - a small notebook, its pages stained with blood.
Ymir appeared beside them, having left Krista with another group of cadets. Without a word, she picked up the notebook and handed it to Jean, who tucked it into his own pocket with trembling hands.
As they carried Marco's body toward the collection point, Jaime couldn't help but think of all the dreams that had died in these streets. Marco would never join the Military Police. Never achieve his ambitions. Never smile again or offer another word of encouragement.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, too quietly for the others to hear. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you."
Later
The crackling of flames filled the evening air as the funeral pyre burned bright against the darkening sky. The heat pushed against their faces, but none of the cadets stepped back. They stood witness as the fire consumed what remained of their friends, their comrades, their family of three years.
Jaime watched the flames dance, seeing faces in the fire - Mina's gentle smile, Marco's encouraging grin, Thomas's determined expression, Franz's crying face. Hannah was crying near Jean; at the very least, she was still alive.
A small, warm hand slipped into his, fingers intertwining with his own. Annie stood beside him, her usually stoic face showing the faintest traces of emotion in the firelight.
"I'm sorry about Mina," Jaime whispered, his voice rough from smoke and grief.
Annie's grip tightened slightly. "I'm sorry," she murmured so quietly he almost missed it.
"It's not your fault," he replied, squeezing her hand gently.
The flames continued their grim work as the sun sank lower. One by one, cadets began to leave, their shoulders heavy with the weight of survival. Connie left with Sasha, both uncharacteristically silent. Reiner and Bertholdt departed together. But Jaime remained, along with Jean, Ymir, and Krista, watching as the fire consumed their friends.
Jean stood with his arms crossed, Marco's notebook tucked safely in his jacket pocket. "I'm joining the Survey Corps," he announced suddenly, his voice firm.
Jaime nodded. This wasn't a decision born of momentary emotion or survivor's guilt. This was something deeper.
"Marco would be proud," Jaime said softly.
"And probably call me an idiot," Jean added with a bitter laugh.
Ymir snorted. "You are an idiot. But you're an idiot who's finally figured out what matters."
Krista, who hadn't left Ymir's side since they'd found Marco, wiped her eyes. "We all have."
The sound of heavy boots on gravel made them turn. Keith Shadis, their former instructor, approached the pyre. His usually harsh eyes held something different - understanding, perhaps even sympathy.
"Sir," they saluted automatically, the gesture ingrained after three years of training.
Shadis waved off their salutes, his eyes fixing on Jaime. "I know that look, cadet," he said, his voice gravelly. "I've seen it in the mirror too many times."
Jaime met his instructor's gaze, seeing past the intimidating exterior to the weight of experience beneath.
"Did you know," Shadis continued, "that I used to command the Survey Corps?" He turned to face the fire. "I led expedition after expedition beyond the walls. Watched good soldiers - friends - die under my command. Some died following my orders. Others died saving their comrades. All of them died too damn young."
The crackling of the fire filled the silence as Shadis gathered his thoughts.
"I blamed myself for every death. Every failed mission. Every soldier who didn't come home." His voice grew harder. "And you know what that accomplished? Nothing. Worse than nothing. It dishonored their sacrifices."
"You want to honor your dead?" he continued, turning back to face the remaining cadets. "Then live. Fight. Make their deaths mean something. But don't you dare waste time wallowing in guilt. That's the biggest insult you can give them."
"But sir," Jaime's voice cracked slightly, "I was responsible for-"
"For what?" Shadis cut him off. "For not being everywhere at once? For not being able to predict where every titan would attack? For being human?" He stepped closer, his imposing figure blocking out the firelight. "You think Cadet Marco would want you crushing yourself under the weight of his death? You think Cadet Mina would want you to spend your life wondering if you could have saved her?"
Krista gasped softly at the harshness in his voice, but Ymir's hand on her shoulder kept her quiet.
"No, sir," Jaime answered quietly.
"Then stop." Shadis's voice softened slightly. "The dead don't need your guilt. They need your strength. Your determination. Your will to keep fighting."
Jean straightened, his hand unconsciously touching the pocket where Marco's notebook rested. "That's why I'm joining the Survey Corps, sir. To make it mean something."
Shadis nodded approvingly. "Good. Channel that grief into purpose." He looked at each of them in turn. "You've seen the worst humanity has to face. You've lost friends, comrades, dreams. But you're still standing. Still fighting."
The fire began to die down, the flames lower now, the heat less intense. Above them, stars began to appear in the darkening sky.
"Remember them," Shadis continued, his voice carrying the weight of years of similar losses. "Honor them. But don't let their deaths become chains that hold you back. Let them be wings that push you forward."
Jaime felt something shift inside him, like a weight being lifted slightly. Not gone completely, but easier to bear. He looked at the dying fire, at the ashes that had been his friends, and made a silent promise.
"Thank you, sir," he said quietly.
Shadis nodded once before turning to look at the burning pyre. "Whatever you choose - Survey Corps, Garrison, Military Police - make it count. Make it worthy of the price paid here."
The fire had burned down to embers now, glowing softly in the night.
"Well," Ymir broke the silence, "the old man knows how to give a speech."
"He's right," Jean said, his voice stronger now. "Marco wouldn't want us drowning in guilt. He'd want us to fight."
Krista wiped her eyes again, but she was smiling slightly. "For all of them."
Jaime looked up at the stars, thinking of Annie's quiet apology, of Marco's last smile, of all the faces he'd never see again. The guilt was still there, but it was different now - not a weight to crush him, but a force to drive him forward.
"For all of them," he agreed softly as the last embers of the funeral pyre faded into the night, and this time, Arthur wasn't there to remind him of what he had done.
Tomorrow
The tea shop's bell chimed softly as Jaime entered, the aroma of freshly brewed tea mixing with the musty scent of newspaper print. Every table seemed to rustle with the same headlines: "HUMANITY'S HOPE OR HUMANITY'S THREAT? The Truth About Eren Yeager."
Jaime's boots made no sound on the wooden floor as he moved through the shop, his eyes fixed on a figure in the corner. The man sat with casual confidence, one leg crossed over the other, his face obscured by the brim of a black hat. The sight of that hat alone made Jaime's stomach twist with memories.
Sliding into the chair across from him, Jaime kept his right hand under the table, fingers wrapped around the familiar grip of his bowie knife. With his left hand, he pushed a crumpled piece of paper across the table - the letter that had arrived last night, containing only an address and a time.
"You're late," He said without looking up. "I taught you better than that."
"You taught me to case a location before entering," Jaime replied coldly. "Twenty-three civilians. Four military. Two exits. One snake in the corner."
The man's laughter was barely more than a whisper. "Still counting exits? Good boy."
"I received your letter," Jaime's voice was ice. "What do you want?"
A low chuckle emerged from beneath the hat. "Now, is that any way to greet your old teacher?" The man's fingers drummed lazily on the table. "Can't a man just want to meet his dear student?"
"There's nothing wrong with wanting to meet a student," Jaime replied, his eyes never leaving the shadowed face. "There's everything wrong with you."
The laugh that followed was louder, drawing brief glances from nearby patrons before they quickly returned to their papers. "Good to see that sharp tongue of yours is still intact. You always did have a way with words, kid."
With a casual flick of his finger, the man tilted his hat back, revealing a face Jaime hadn't seen in years but had never forgotten. Kenny's eyes held that same dangerous gleam, his mouth curved in that familiar predatory smile.
"Hello, Jaime."
"Kenny."