[We might actually have a chance to win against the titans]
When Eren opened his eyes the following day, he found himself in a bed within a room that felt utterly foreign to him. A wave of relief washed over him as he noticed someone he recognized dozing in a chair beside his bed. He was his closest buddy, and it felt like their friendship was solid and unshakeable, destined to stay the same forever.
Eren could tell without a doubt that Armin had stayed by his side all night long. He wasn't shocked that what went down had made its way to Armin's ears and likely to everyone in the Scout Regiment too.
Eren's actions yesterday definitely crossed a few lines, and what he couldn't shake off the most was the fact that he allowed the colossal titan to breach the wall. That was a tough pill to swallow for him.
He can imagine the possibility of Commander Erwin showing up shortly. Eren felt a chill run down his spine, breaking out in a cold sweat at the thought of being kicked out of the Scout Regiment. The idea was unbearable to him. Yet, the prospect of facing punishment was equally daunting, especially knowing that his captain, Levi, wouldn't show any mercy.
"This is all the damn titan's fault..."
Despite Eren's efforts to hold back, he still managed to rouse Armin from his sleep. The last thing he wanted was to face a lecture from him.
"E-Eren, you finally woke up," Armin said, his voice a bit rough around the edges. As he lifted his still-sleepy body, he wrapped his arms around his best friend in a sudden hug. "You have no idea how worried I was when I heard you almost got eaten by a titan."
Eren was well aware of how whiny Armin could get, but he was caught off guard when he suddenly wrapped his arms around him, tears streaming down his face. As he pictured the snot slowly dripping onto his shirt, a wave of discomfort washed over him. Eren instinctively tried to shift away, even if it meant roughly pushing Armin's face aside in the process.
"I'm good, seriously. You don't have to stress about me anymore, alright?" Eren tried to comfort him, but Armin's tears looked like they were on the verge of overflowing once more. So, he quickly shifted the conversation, asking, "So, how did it go? Did we manage to take down all the titans?"
As he wiped away his tears, Armin paused momentarily, gathering his thoughts before he replied, "I figured you were going to ask about Mikasa, but yeah, the Trost district has fallen."
Armin's face fell as he delivered the bad news, his gloom unmistakable in every word. He felt utterly helpless, realizing that, as humans, they were nothing more than tiny insects when faced with the overwhelming presence of the Titans.
Even though hope seemed slipping away, Armin held on tight and refused to give up. Deep down, he sensed that the moment for humanity to rise and fight back was just around the corner. He could feel the small book in his pocket, a comforting presence that made him believe his journal would be his secret weapon.
"Fuck!... Those damn titans! I swear, I'm going to take them all down!" Eren let out a string of curses, his teeth clenched tightly together, a sight that reignited Armin's concerns.
"Hey, Eren, just so you know, we're currently in the south, hanging out in the Ehrmich District. Those titans have ventured far. I wouldn't be shocked if they were already lurking just outside Wall Shina."
"Wall Shina... It feels like we're truly backed into a corner, just like livestock-"
"I hope you steer clear of anything that could put you or anyone else in danger." Armin quickly interrupted Eren's train of thought. He couldn't bear the idea of his best friend putting himself in danger by acting recklessly.
"Yeah? You expect me to just sit here and stay quiet while that damn tall titan could smash through the city gates at any moment?" Eren refutes, raising his voice. As he tried to rouse his body from the long stretch of lying down, he was taken aback to find that he only experienced a few minor aches scattered throughout.
Armin's help was not even needed, and here they were, sitting side by side. Eren thought he might have broken a few bones from what happened last night, but now it seemed like he had only sustained some minor injuries. He definitely didn't feel like sharing this with anyone else, either.
"I get that you're upset. Honestly me and Mikasa is feeling it too, which is why she's still out there fighting. But hear me out before you make any decisions. This time, we might actually have a chance to win against the titans."
Noticing that Eren was open to hearing him out, Armin began to share the story of what transpired during the time he was unconscious. After the three divisions came together and effectively utilized their skills to take down numerous titans that had invaded the Trost district, the higher-ups made the call to withdraw everyone once all the surviving residents had been safely evacuated.
Armin shared some interesting details about how he came across a few unusual things from the titan attack that happened yesterday. He discovered a few key points that could potentially uncover something they had overlooked until now.
"So, I brought my findings to Commander Erwin, and to my surprise, he didn't think I was crazy like I had anticipated. He said he would reach out to me again later to chat about it some more."
Eren couldn't help but feel a wave of surprise wash over him when he heard Erwin's name mentioned. He was a man whom he admired greatly, and he also happened to be his superior. As the commander of the Scout Regiment, he had forged countless legends, and in Eren's eyes, Erwin was the sole figure who managed to keep humanity's hope alive.
"So, what did you discover? Do you think this will help us beat the titans?" Eren wondered aloud as he became more curious. He pushed himself off the bed and moved over to the window to take a look outside.
As Armin pointed out, they were in the Ehrmich District, and Eren could instantly sense that life here was a notch above what he had experienced in the past. This was his first time here, but he could instantly tell that this place was headed for the same fate as the two districts that had already fallen.
"This information is not only crucial but also carries a certain level of risk. Commander Erwin has advised me to keep this under wraps, so if you're curious, feel free to join me. I'm sure Mikasa will be a lot more at ease once she sees that you're alright."
Eren was still trying to wrap his head around it all. It felt surreal, but deep down, he trusted his best friend. Armin never talked nonsense, and if there was even a chance that the information he uncovered could turn the tide in their battle against the Titans, Eren was all in. He wouldn't let this opportunity slip away.
Meanwhile, Kaiser, who had spent the entire night riding his horse, decided not to make a stop at Ehrmich District. Once he secured a decent and safe spot for Carla to call home, he set off toward the capital.
With Historia, Milch, and Alma by his side, he was eager to rush off and meet Annie right away. However, he paused midway, realizing that she might see his approach as a threat. He definitely didn't want to put her in a corner and risk derailing his plans in the process.
Kaiser chose to head back to where it all began, to his sweet home. The church that served as the headquarters for The Order of the Walls organization remained unchanged, its structure still standing as tall and impressive as ever. It was likely as old as the city of Mitras itself.
As soon as they dismounted from their horses, they were greeted by a sizable group of guards stationed around the entrance area. Inside the church, everything felt pretty familiar. Every now and then, they'd stroll past nuns engrossed in their tasks, going about their day with purpose. These women have shifted their focus away from the organization and now devote their lives to the sect that Kaiser established.
During that moment, one of the nuns leaned in to whisper something to Kaiser, and just like that, a smile broke out on his face. He then casually invited the others to join him in a nearby room.
In the inner area, Kaiser had issued specific orders to create a unique environment for his closest associates to reside. As a result, you'll find only nuns here, with no men around at all. On top of that, he often holds meetings with people from outside here as well.
In a room that doubled as both a workspace and a bedroom, Kaiser came across Frieda Reiss. She lounged on the sofa, her face betraying a hint of unease. As soon as she spotted them, she sprang up and rushed to embrace Kaiser, but just as quickly, she pulled away.
She still hadn't quite figured out how to act around Alma, especially compared to Historia, who had already confronted her past. Frieda would be shocked if she discovered what her little sister had done to her own mother.
"You're finally home! I heard about what went down in the Trost district," Frieda said, her face still showing signs of unease. She gently guided Kaiser to the sofa, settling in beside him.
Milch, anticipating a lengthy conversation, decided to brew some tea. She also asked one of the nuns to prepare some food for them. No one spoke up, fully aware of the exhaustion etched into their bodies, the hunger gnawing at them after a long night spent riding their horses without a moment's rest.
Not wanting to part from Kaiser, Historia settled onto the sofa beside him. Meanwhile, Alma chose to quietly retreat to the bed, opting for some solitude without uttering another word.
"So, you didn't just drop by to say hi, did you? What's been going on in the capital these past few days?" Kaiser asked, shifting around to find a comfortable spot to settle in.
"This is just a coincidence, I didn't know you went to the Trost district until I came here."
"Come on, sis, we all know you're feeling lonely in the capital without us," Historia said, a playful grin spreading across her face. For her, it was almost a pastime to push her older sister's buttons and watch her lose her cool.
"Oh, I get it. All those wild things you did with him have really helped you grow up, huh?"
"You did it again, sis! We all know how much you love when Kaiser's dick hitting your pussy."
"Alright, that's enough! You need to get some discipline," Frieda said, her cheeks flushed. She had completely fallen for Historia's playful antics. Despite that, she was determined to teach her little sister a lesson and aggressively approached her.
Historia displayed a sense of fear that felt entirely like an act, especially since the smile on her face remained unwavering. She cleverly turned this moment into a chance to hug Kaiser a little tighter as she playfully tried to hide behind him.
As the two of them went back and forth in a heated argument right in front of him, Kaiser couldn't help but feel that their sister's bonding time had reached its limit. With a hint of impatience, he turned to Frieda and asked, "So, are you going to fill me in on what happened or not?"
Frieda quickly redirected her attention away from Historia. Catching her breath, she replied, "I feel like everything is falling into place, as if someone is arranging it all. The atmosphere in the palace isn't great either, largely due to the growing concerns among the nobles who are starting to feel uneasy."
"I can tell there's more you haven't shared with me yet..." Kaiser's voice softened as he spoke, and he gently raised his hand to stroke Frieda's cheek. "You don't have to carry it alone anymore."
Frieda chose to overlook Historia's smug smile, directing her attention instead to the warmth blossoming in her heart. Despite that, the next thing she said wasn't exactly uplifting, so to bolster her spirits, she rested her head against Kaiser's chest.
"My father has this plan involving the power of the Founding Titan. I'm not entirely sure what he's up to just yet, but it seems like it's probably connected to the breach of Wall Rose."