›–––––––‹
›–––––––‹
Everyone in Levi's Squad was back at the castle except for Levi, who was on his way back.
[Gunther]: It looks like they didn't find any soldiers who've used their Maneuver Gear without permission..-Gunther explains- Then who did it?..
[Eld]: No idea..Right now, I'm more worried about the upcoming induction ceremony..-Eld said, taking a sip from his cup- How many among the new troops will be crazy enough to join us?..
Gunther looks up at (Y/n) and Eren feeding the horses in the stables. The two look at each other with a smile while feeding the horses.
[Gunther]: Hey, Eren! Hey, (Y/n)! Are any of your comrades planning to enlist with us?..
[Eren]: There are. No, there were..I don't know about now..-Eren sighs sadly-
[Levi]: Attention!..-They both turn to see Levi on his horse, rushing his words to his group-
[Levi]: Get ready..We're going out on patrol..-They nod. (Y/n) and Eren quickly approached them and saluted-
[Y/n and Eren]: Good morning, Captain Levi!..
[Levi]: Listen, (Y/n), Eren..Never fall two horse lengths behind me. Don't forget that the only reason they're not locked up is because I'm looking at both of them..
[Y/n and Eren]: Yes, sir!..
[Levi]: Let's go..-Levi then gallops away-
(Y/n) and Eren looked at each other for a few seconds before getting on their horses and advanced, behind Levi. Everyone was now galloping in silence, thinking on how many people would join the Survey Corps after the whole Trost incident.
›–––––––‹
The Cadets were gathered at the graduation ceremony. Annie, Armin, Sasha, and Connie were leaning against a wall when Jean walked over to them.
[Armin]: Jean..You're really joining the Survey Corps?..-Armin questioned-
[Jean]: Yeah..
[Sasha]:...-Sasha pushes herself off the wall and exclaims- Why, all of a sudden?..I mean..Aren't you scared?..
[Jean]: Huh? Of course I don't want to join the Survey Corps..
[Connie]: Th-Then why..-Connie asked-
[Jean]: It isn't that I decided the Titans don't scare me..And I won't say something like, ''The best should join the Survey Corp.''..I'm not as eager to die as some..
[Connie]:....-Connie sighs, looking back down on his knees- You mean Eren?.. He already joined the Survey Corps just like (Y/n)...
[Soldier]: Trainee, line up!..Line up before the stage!..-A soldier orders, to which, everybody gets ready-
[Jean]: I'm not risking my life because someone convinced me..-Jean begins- This is a job you can't do unless you decide for yourself..
With that, he walks off. The rest eventually line up as night fell. There stood Erwin on the stage as he begins his speech to everyone.
[Erwin]: I am Erwin Smith, Commander of the Survey Corps. Today, you will choose a military branch. Put bluntly, I'm here to persuade you to join the Survey Corps. During the Titan attack, you learned how terrifying they can be. And how limited your own power is. However..This battle brought humanity closer to victory than it's ever been. Through the existence of (Y/n) and Eren jaeger. By risking their own lives, the two have proven themselves, without doubt, to be friends of humanity. With his help, not only did we stop the Titan's advance, but we have a way to discover their true natura..
This grab's everyone's attention as they look up.
[Erwin]: We believe that in the basement of his Shinganshina home, there are answers about the Titans that he himself doesn't have. If we can reach that basement, we will find a clue that will end this century of Titan rule...
Bertolt's mouth hangs as Reiner mumbles to him and to his friend.
[Reiner]: The basement?..
[??]: We've already advanced that far?.If we learn what they are, we can end this!..
[Armin]: No matter how much he wants recruits, I can't believe he's publicizing this information. Or does he have some hidden motive? What is he trying to see?..-Armin thinks hard, staring up at Erwin-
[Erwin]:...-Erwin looks amongst the crowd, explaining once again- We will head for the basement in Shinganshina. However, that requires us to retake Wall Maria. In other words, our objective hasn't changed..-Petra and Mike came over with a map in their hands. The two unfold it to reveal the districts and walls- But with the Trost gate sealed, we'll have to take the long way around, from Karanes to the east. The four years we spent laying a route for a large army have gone to waste. In those four years, more than sixty percent of the Survey Corps lost their lives. Sixty percent in four years.. An insane figure...
[Erwin]: Any trainees who join will participate in our excursion beyond the walls, in a month. We expect thirty percent won't return. In four years, most will be dead. But those who survive will become superior soldiers with a high survival rate. Knowing these discouraging facts, any still willing to risk their lives, remain here. Ask yourself..Are you willing to offer your beating heart for humanity? That is all. Anyone who wishes to join another branch is dismissed..-People begin to talk to one another, debating if they should stay are leave-
[??]: Commander..Don't you think you scared them a little much? All of them will leave!..
And just like that, most of the crowd started to walk off, including Annie. Eventually, almost everyone left except for Jean, Reiner, Bertolt, Christa, Ymir, Sasha, Connie, Armin, and Mikasa.
[Jean]: Damn it..Come on, you already decided! Don't make me hate myself any more..
[Sasha]: If I don't leave now, I'll have to face them again...
[Connie]: I left the village to join the Military Police..My mom will be happy. If I the Military Police, the whole village will think better of me..
[Jean]: We all already know..We've seen it...
[Sasha]: How the Titans..
[Connie]:...Eat humans!..
›–––––––‹
[Erwin]: Can you die if you're ordered to?..
Less than 40 people didn't move from their spot. Erwin studied each of them.
[soldier]: I don't want to die!..-Erwin closes his eyes, then re-opens them and smiles-
[Erwin]: I see. I like the looks on your faces. Then I welcome everyone here to the Survey Corps! This is a true salute! Offer up your hearts!..-Erwin goes and does the salute, right on his heart-
(SHINZOU WO SASAGEYO)
[Armin]:...-Armin looks around, a small smile forming on his lips- Everyone..
[Jean]: This is terrible.. The Survey Corps..
[Sasha]: I'm scared! I want to go home..
[Connie]: I don't even care..-Connie shakes his head-
[Ymir]:...-Christa also whimpers, making Ymir turn and whisper to her- If you were going to cry, you should have left..
[Erwin]: You have done well to endure your fear..You are brave soldiers. You have my heartfelt respect..
It was now the next morning. The group was at the stables, being taught how to ride one as they salute.
[Ness]: Salute! I'm Squad Leader Ness..-Ness goes to stroke his horse- And this is Shallot, my horse. She loves to chew off your hair, so be careful if you don't want to be bald. Nice to meet you all!..-Shallot goes and tries to chew up his hair- Hey! S-Stop it, Shallot! Hey, someone grab her!...
The training that began the next day consisted mainly of studying the long-distance scouting formation that Commander Erwin devised, rather than field training. Strangely enough, despite its detailed nature, Eren Jaeger's position was nowhere to be seen.
[Ness]: You new recruits will be here. You'll be between the cart guard team and the recon support team. You job will be to ride alongside the spare horses and relay messages..
›–––––––‹
[Gunther]: The Special Operations Squat will be here. Standing by in the center of the last ranks..We're pretty far back. It's the safest place in the formation. We're even better protected than the supply carts. Well, this time, our goal is just to go out and returm. This expedition is so short because it's practice run for your journey to Shiganshina..
[Eren]: Um..-Eren shifts in his spot, fumbling with his fingers- I still don't know what this power should be used for..
[Gunther]: Did you understand what the Commander's question meant?..-Eren furrows with his brows, confused-
[Eren]: Did you all understand?..
[Oluo]: It may be a lie to claim we understand everything..But I think..-But he gets interrupted-
[Gunther]: It's possible this mission has another goal. But the Commander decided it was best not to reveal that fact to the soldiers. So we should just focus on getting there and back..Believe in the Commander..-With that, Gunther stands and walks off- That's all the training for today..Prepare to go back..
Everyone gets on their horses and gallops back to the castle. (Y/n) and Eren were working in the stable, neither of them spoke, only the horses were heard.
[Eren]: (Y/n)..-He calls her, making her look at him- Are you okay? Today you were very quiet..
[Y/n]: Yes, I'm fine..I just have been lost in my thoughts..-She smiles as she pushes her hair behind her ear-
[Eren]: Is it possible to know what?..
[Y/n]: I have had very strange dreams. But it's nothing... You think that I went crazy?...
[Eren]: You did not go crazy, (Y/N)..Also you are not the only one who has been dreaming about strange things..-He said with a small smile, as he walks over to her. He placed her hand on (Y/n)'s cheek gently- So don't worry, you're not crazy..
[Y/n]: Thank you, Eren..
The two held hands and started to leave the stable, they saw Oluo leaning against the wall while he drank something. They noticed a group passing in front.
[Eren]: Th-That's..-He turned to Oluo- Sir, can we go talk to our classmates?..
[Oluo]: Get going..
[Y/n]: Thank you!..Hey, Armin, Mikasa!..-They both started running towards them. Armin and Mikasa stopped at the sound of their voices. Armin turns around with happiness while Mikasa turns in worry-
[Mikasa]: Eren!, (Y/n)!..
[Eren]: Feels like it's been a long time!..
[Mikasa]: Eren, did they do anything bad to you?..Like investigating every square inch of you? Or psychological torture?.. They did something bad to (Y/n)!?..
[Y/n]: No way, Mikasa..
[Mikasa]: That short guy went too far..Someday, I'll see him pay for it..
[Eren]: You don't mean Captain Levi, do you?..-Eren raises a brow as Levi watches the four from afar. Louis called out to him from afar, and without a second thought, Levi walked up to him-
[Connie]: Hey, (Y/n), Eren..-Connie waved along with Sasha-
[Sasha]: It's been so long!..
[Y/n]: What? Everyone's here?..-(Y/n) and Eren looked at everyone in amazement- But if you're, then..
[Eren]: That doesn't mean you joined the Survey Corps, does it?..
[Connie]: Is there any other reason we'd be here?..
[Eren]: So only Jean, Annie, and Marco joined the Military Police?..-Everyone sighs sadly when Marco's name is announced. But everyone looked behind the two of them, making (Y/n) and Eren turn around as well- No way..Not you, too!..
[Jean]: Marco's dead..
[Y/b]:.....What was that?.. Did you say Marco's dead?..
[Jean]: Seems not everyone gets a dramatic death. I don't even know how he died. He died without anyone knowing, or anyone seeing...
[Eren]: Marco..-Eren muttered Marco's name. Everyone goes silent, mourning over Marco for a bit when Ness calls-
[Ness]: Hey, new kids, get over here! Your uniforms are here!..
At this, everyone cheers up except (Y/n) and Eren, the two kept looking at the ground at the news of Marco's death. Everyone goes and places their new cloaks on, feeling complete. (Y/n) and Eren imagine Marco as one of them. (Y/n)'s eyes shone with future tears.
›–––––––‹
[Eren]: Are you really..
[Mikasa]: Yes, we'll also be participating in the mission..-Mikasa replies along with Jean turning-
[Jean]: Hey, (Y/n), Eren..-The four turn to him- I heard that when the two of them became Titans, they tried to kill Mikasa. What does that mean?..-As Jean starts to get protective, (Y/n) and Eren jump while Mikasa defends them-
[Mikasa]: No, Eren and (Y/n) was trying to hit a fly..
[Jean]: I wasn't asking you..Mikasa, it looks like the wound on your ckeek is pretty bad..-Mikasa touches her wound-When did you get that?..
[Eren]: I've heard it's true. When I became a Titan, I tried to kill Mikasa..
[Jean]: If you heard, then you don't remenber it, right? In other words, you had no idea you even had this Titan power, and you don't have the means to control it..
[Eren]: Yes, that's right..
[Jean]:....-Jean stares at him for a moment, sighs, and turns to everyone behind him- Did you hear that? This is the situacion. Humanity and our lives depend on him. We'll probably die just like Marco, without Eren ever realizing it..
[Mikasa]: Jean, what's the point in asking Eren these questions now?..-Mikasa states, jagging her eyebrows together-
[Jean]: Listen, Mikasa..Not everyone's like you, willing to die for the sake of (Y/n) or Eren with nothing in return..-He turns to the four- We should know what we're dying for. Otherwise, we will hesitate when the time comes. We want something in return from him. So let me see what he has to offer. And whether it's worth my life..-Jean looks at (Y/n) and Eren before stomping towards them, causing Eren to place (Y/n) behind him. He shudders at Jean's touch- So, (Y/n), Eren.. I'm really counting on you...
[Y/n and Eren]: Yeah...-They answer firmly, looking around-
Later on the day, the city bells ring out as the Survey Corps get ready to depart.
[soldier]: Sir, it's almost time..-A soldier mutters, turning his body, and screams- We've driven away all the Titans in the area..Thirty seconds until we open the gate!..
Behind Levi, (Y/n) was next to Eren looking forward. They then hear gasps coming from their left. Curious, they look over to see two young children gazing and admiring them.
[girl]: It's the Survey Corps!..-A young girl gawks as her brother adds-
[Boy]: They call the emblem on their back the Wings of Freedom!..
[girl]: So cool..
The two send them warm smiles before turning back at the sound of a soldier's voice announcing.
[soldier]: It's time! Humanity will take another step forward. Show me what you can do!..-The soldiers raise their blades and fist up in the air, letting out hollers- Open the gate!..-The gates gradually open for them-
[Erwin]: Advance!..-With that, everyone runs out of the walls with their horses- We will now begin the 57th expedition beyond the walls! Onward!..
›–––––––‹
Preview...
Entering long-range scouting formation, the Survey Corps advances beyond the walls. However, they suddenly encounter a mysterious Titan that possesses intelligence.
Next episode: ‹Female Titan: The 57th Exterior Scouting Mission, Part 1›