The day of the expedition finally arrived. The Survey Corps. Soldiers all lined up in front of the gate in Wall Rose, mounted on their horses. People are swarming the group either with amazed faces or disgusted expressions all directed at the group.

On the very front, Commander Erwin is there to lead the formation in which Rie thought as much. What she can't accept though is where she was put at.

"Why the hell am I in this guy's squad?" Rie pointed her thumb at Levi, looking annoyed. She only heard of this now apparently , a certain "trainer/guardian or whatever" did not inform her of this the past 2 months and now she is questioning said "trainer".

"You should be glad, Rie! Levi is known for being humanity's strongest soldier and his squad are only made up of soldiers handpicked by him!" Hanji raised her hands up in defense.

"you picked me to be in your damn squad?!"She turned her head to Levi. The (short) man only looked in front of him, not caring about the glare the 16 year old is giving him.

"I bet you only put me here to torture me,huh?" She added ,her frown getting worse.

"Good to know you're not entirely an idiot" was Levi's only reply. Rie gritted her teeth and her glare more deadly. Sadly, she knew she can't do anything about it. Free reign she was given but she needs to follow orders from these three officers.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well considering you're naïve to the point that you don't know what reproduction really is except scientifically considering your age, It's good to know you still have a brain" Rie fumed at it. Some other soldiers tried explaining it to her when she was asking after the night they talked about this. Some provided confusing answers that made her learn nothing while some explained it although not too clearly.

Instead of getting embarrassed by it, Rie still doesn't understand why people react to it. They explained that it's an expression of love by lovers and they take pleasure in it. Rie stopped thinking about it since no one really solved her questions.The concept of romantic love itself boggles her. What is the difference of it when compared to familial or friendly love?.

Instead of answering back, Rie turned to Hanji who once again quickly put her hands up in defense.

"Why am I placed in a squad in the first place?! Just so you know, I don't do teamwork. I've always killed Titans on my own, they will just get in my way"

"Well,Rie. That is why we put you in a squad. Learn to cooperate with others . You acting on your own could cause us trouble"Hanji took on a serious tone.Instead of asking her to do it, It was more of an order.An order Rie hated.

Rie had no choice but to follow , she returned her gaze infront with a frown still present in her face. At this moment, an auburn-haired woman approached her.

"Hi. Rie Vricht, right? I'm Petra Ral. Part of the Special Operations Squad led by Captain Levi. We'll be comrades from now on so let's trust each other okay?" Petra smiled ,helding out a hand for her to shake but Rie ignored the hand. She also noticed her avoiding eye contact or rather not looking at her eyes.

"Trust doesn't come with the title of being comrades but sure whatever Hanji's orders" Rie replied.Petra seems taken aback by the answer but she continued to talk anyways.

"We're a group. You just don't trust us because it's someone's orders…You've got to have faith in us and in our abilities"

"Like I said" Rie looked at Petra who flinched a little but did not go unnoticed by Rie.

"I don't trust you. I doubt you would go and save me when I'm about to get eaten by a titan"

"That's not true!…"

"oh,but I'm pretty sure Erwin wouldn't let me die anyways. He'll probably ordered you guys to stop me if ever I act on my own and get myself in danger. Anyways my point is, I can handle myself. I shouldn't have been put in a squad. Teamwork…is way beyond me" Rie looked in front of her again.

"…and like I said. We are a group now. We act as one. If we don't then we can't achieve anything. There are things you can't do alone especially now that you're part of the Survey Corps. In order to achieve something successfully, you must have faith in us." Rie glanced a look at her face, Petra showed a fierce and determined look in her eyes. Rie groaned inwardly and did not replied back.

"Hey, you speak up!" A man with dirty blonde hair spoke. His expression somewhat resembles Levi's. Is he trying to copy him?

"Saying stuff like you can handle things yourself, who do you think you are, huh?"

"Stop it Oluo. She's ignoring you now, can't you see?" A man with blonde hair told the man named Oluo. Oluo look to see that Rie is indeed ignoring him, her face directed at the crowd and not looking at her right where Oluo is.

"HUH?! Who do you really think you are, ignoring me?! I'll have you know that I-"

Oluo suddenly stopped. Rie glanced a look to see that he bit his tongue so hard, blood is flooding out of his mouth.

"Amazing. He bit his tongue again" A black-haired man with a neat hairstyle said.

"How many times has it been, Gunther?" The blonde man asked Gunther who only shrugged.

"We are now commencing the 36th expedition. Today marks a new journey for humanity to move forward!" Erwin's voice rang out through the whole street. All soldiers paid attention and prepared themselves.(A/N: btw,IJustTypedARandomNumber)

"ONWARDS!!"

The expedition has started. Horses galloped to the direction of the gate. More and more horses goes outside of the Wall. Rie observed the entrance. She anticipates the moment she gets past it.

'Finally…I can't wait to get out of this walls though I will come back to it after this..'

The moment she got past the Wall, she breathed and released it. Her shoulders relaxed and a blissful expression is present on her face.

"How are you doing, you brat? Bet you're scared for your first time outside" Oluo spoke to Rie. Rie and the other three members of the Special Ops Squad stared at him.

"Oluo..Have you forgotten? Did biting your tongue also affected your brain?" The blonde man looked in pity at Oluo who only gave a confused look.

"Huh? What do you mean by that ,Eld?"

'Ah. So his name's Eld' Rie thought.

"She came from outside the Walls"

"And I've been killing titans outside for the last 3 years..No way I'm scared..I missed this." Rie smirked at them and the sun only made her red eyes glow.

Ever since Rie got outside, she's been a little bit expressive. Petra thought as much since the time when they met her, she expressed hatred towards the Walls and glared at every person she came across to.

"10-meter to the right! Wah~ Hey there big guy!"Hanji said blushing and waving a hand to the titan.

Rie was about to stop her horse and aim her gun but Petra stopped her. Rie shot a glare. The titan could be a threat to her that's why she won't let it live but the damn woman is stopping her.

"Leave it to the other squads. They can handle it"

Rie figured she was right. Of course, they can handle it. She almost forgot these are soldiers who face death everyday, just like her. She relaxed and Petra was glad she decided to do so.

"Commence the wide range formation!" Erwin's voice was heard by all soldiers and was followed. Different squads went to their own positions while others remained in the middle.

Being in the center of the formation, Rie and the special ops hasn't really encounter a titan since it was either dealt with by the right or left flank or being avoided by signaling a red flare.

"Boring" Rie muttered

"You wouldn't say that if you-..oh right"Oluo stopped his sentence , remembering earlier conversations with the girl.

"If I encountered a titan, is what you're about to say, right?" Rie once again smirked but Oluo was about to deny when Petra spoke up.

"Captain, A 14-meter Titan has made it's way inside the formation" Petra waited for orders while keeping her gaze on the titan slowly walking to them.

"Do it" Levi ordered but just before Petra could act, they heard a gunshot and the titan fell down.

Rie blew the smoke coming from her gun. The rest of the members stared at her.

"..Whoah. She can really kill titans with a gun" Eld mentioned which the other three members can agree on.

"You acted without orders" Levi glanced a look at Rie who put her chin up and looked down at him.

"I just did what I always do."

"Back then, you are alone here outside but now you are in the Survey Corps and is under my command as the Captain. Whether you like it or not, you take orders from me" Rie gritted her teeth at that. He is right after all…She guessed she was acting kind of childish, trying to defy orders from the same people she willingly gave herself to, thinking she was above others.

…yeah It only occurred to her now but there was a good reason she acted like that. I just don't trust them. Angelica always used to tell me this that she noticed that I have a natural instinct to not trust other people. How could I not? I know they lie, they do things for their own greed,Always thinking about themselves, they..

Rie shaked off the thought. She stared at the backs of the five members of Squad Levi.

The expedition continued on.

As time passed, Rie find herself thinking.

'Wait, why are we even doing an expedition now? What are we supposed to do? Go out and just hunt for titans?'

"Petra Ral.What is really our goal for this expedition?" Rie suddenly asked Petra.

"Just 'Petra' is fine.Well, our goal is to reach the gate of Wall Maria and find a way to cover it. Although the losses were sometimes too much that we have to return before we reach it, we still have to try to seal the hole in order to reclaim Wall Maria from the Titans" Petra explained

"Okaaay then. Seems pretty easy considering there's not much titans around" Rie scanned her surroundings ,confirming what she just said. There were no red flares that says a titan has been spotted to be seen since the last 5 minutes.

"It's only just beginning. Here is where the challenge is"Gunther suddenly spoke that made Rie turn her attention to him. He pointed at a forest far away.The forest of giant trees again.

"Oh."

"Up to this point, there are far less titans we encountered than what's past it for the last few expeditions we had" Rie only nodded, somehow eerily quiet.

"These number of Titans were making us retreat early but I guess it decreased when you were here"

"I..feel that it is important for you to know this" When Rie said that, all members put their attention on her even Levi is listening closely.

"When you haven't found me yet here…I was the one luring Titans here." Petra turned her head to her in confusion.

"Sure, I kill them when they get too close to my home but if not, I lure most of them in the forest. I made sure to lure lots.When you retreat because of these titans? That was the success of my plan."Silence.

" I don't want you lot to find me and take me back but you guys sure as hell broke through that forest I laid out as a "wall" " Silence.

Rie couldn't blame them. She was the one making their expedition as a fail. The one making them retreat. Most of all, She was the one who lead their comrades right through their death or rather she was the one who led death to them. Now, they're working with said person and was supposed to work with her?

But what did Rie feel about it? She feel remorseless. She can't feel any guilt when she is supposed to. She could care less about the lives that was taken because of her actions.

Weird.After all, in that day…She did say she doesn't want anyone dying in front of her but here she was leading death to others and she could care less. Perhaps..what she said that day was wrong..The anger she felt.The Sadness she felt. Those emotions only occurred to her when Angelica…died.Perhaps..She can only care about others who 'she can see' in her eyes"*

That's right,It made more sense to her. She never really did care about others even way back. She can only see Angelica,Mikasa,Eren and Armin…but those four are gone..

There is no one she cares about now.Yes. Truly no one.

"Ah! Two 15-meter to the left and one 9-meter infront of us!!" Petra sudden shout broke everyone out of their thoughts.

"Eld, Gunther. Can handle it?"Levi asked the two men behind him ,they nodded and saluted before heading off to kill.

Rie observed them. She watched as Eld jumped from a tree branch and sliced the nape of the 15-meter.He landed on the bark of a tree,digging in his hook onto it as he observed the other 15-meter.The titan noticed him and tried to grab him but Eld swung past it's arm and over it's head before swinging down his blades to hit it's nape.

Rie switched her attention to Gunther who circled the titan and slicing a neat 'X' mark on it's nape.The 9-meter titan fall to it's side,steam coming out of it's body.The two men proceeded to head back to their own horses.

The ride through the forest was a long one. Rie didn't remember the forest being this big or wide for horses to take this long to pass through. So far, on their side, there are no casualties. They have already encountered 7 titans and Rie is getting annoyed.

Why? Oh ,why the hell not?

Rie expected to show her own skills in the field. You know? How she kills titans and using 3DMG and all that but…

The damn midget never once gave her an order to engage and kill off the titans. He always give them to the four. She was getting impatient.

Is he doing this on purpose? What? To torture me?!"

Rie glared daggers at Levi,trying to bore a hole on his head.The other four members noticed the dark look in Rie's face.It looked like she was ready to kill the subject of that glare the next moment.

With utmost caution and delicate words,Petra approached Rie.

"Rie, What seems to be wrong?" Petra smiled, trying to ease off the incoming danger most likely coming from the silver-haired girl.

"Trying to see if death glares really live up to it's name" Rie replied, her glare much worse than before and Petra swear she saw a dark aura emanating from her.

They knew what made Rie so annoyed.They notiiced it too. Captain Levi was a man who believe in the saying actions speak louder than words. They could not believe that Rie was put into their squad when Levi hasn't even seen her skills so they thought that he would order her the whole expedition to see her skills firsthand but to their surprise ,he didn't.

Petra knew the girl was about to blow any moment and it could cause trouble so she chose her words carefully.

"Rie, You are..still new.. but I believe your skills are rather special so I think you will be put to a test much later on" Petra smiled, hoping she chose the right response. She didn't know how the girl's mind operates so she doesn't know if this will simmer her down but she hopes it will.

" 'kay." Was Rie's short response and Petra released a breath she did not know she was holding.

Rie knew that Petra may be lying just to stop her from murdering the little midget but she may have a point. Maybe Levi was reserving her for later so she chose to believe in Petra Ral's words for now.

It wasn't that much longer that they encountered another titan. Although it was different from what they encountered ,there were five…and they are all blocking the path, right and left…even in front. There's no avoiding them.

Levi's eyes scanned through every titan. Two in the left 10-meter and a 6-meter, Two in the front both 15-meters and one giant hell ass 19-meter on the right.

"Captain.. orders?" Gunther asked staring at the titans. The two from the left already noticed them and headed their way to the group.

Levi continued to observe, the other three are not minding them. Abnormals, I suppose? They're just standing there and the other one in the front is crouched down.

The 19-meter is just staring at a tree. It's back facing them. Levi moved it's horse to it planning to avoid the four by passing by the big ass titan.

Rie can't stop fidgeting on her horse. She stared heavily at the titans. Her survival instincts are going wild. These titans needs to be eliminated, it feels like the next moment she'll be stepped on by this 19-meter.

But no, Captain Levi planned to avoid them and just pass by. She knew there was nothing wrong with that since she was taught that when outside, Gas and blades are limited . Once you're out, you're a goner.

That statement didn't intimidate her since she survived without those but she can admit that it was much easier to move around and survive using these things.

She just really had a bad feeling and if they could care less if her survival instincts say she's in danger than the more she cannot trust them.

"Hey,Captain Levi? I know we're supposed to pass by them but…I think that's not such a great idea. My instincts tell me to kill them off" Rie stated

"To hell with your instincts!"Oluo blurted out and Rie glared at him. Her instincts were not to be underestimated. These were her primary guide. Her help to survival outside.

"Don't worry Rie. Trust the Captain or just trust us" Rie already grew tired of hearing that over and over again. Can't they understand that I just won't?

"Yeah like that could make me breathe" She muttered

Suddenly, The 19-meter moved it's head and stared at them. The group was alarmed and their blades was ready but the titan didn't do anything. It just stared at them.

As if there was a Go signal, All five titans suddenly targeted the group. The titan that was crouched down, jumped to the group almost hitting Rie's horse and the horse panicked.She made it calm down but she was ready to fight

"Fuck it! I'm killing 'em!" Rie said before jumping off her horse and used her 3DMG to circle around the group of titans who was now targeting her.

"Rie!" Petra shouted.

"Stubborn brat"

Levi gritted his teeth at the girl. Nevertheless, he made no move against the titans.He observed Rie fight them off.

Rie was high up in the air,ready to slash at the crouched titan.To her surprise, the titan jumped at her with it's mouth open ready to close it when she's inside. Rie acted quick and propelled herself to a nearby tree, missing it's mouth by a close margin.

"Come here" Rie smirked at it,waiting for it to strike. As she planned,The titan jumped to the tree she was on but she flew high up in the air again,The titan crashing to the tree.

The tree's branches fell and almost hit Eld and Gunther but they evaded at the last minute.

"Oi-" Levi wanted to reprimand the brat but she wasn't listening at all. She was too busy having fun killing these off.

Rie hooked herself on a bark of a tree ,Looking at the two normal titans. The other abnormal is running around and the 19-meter is just staring.

She targeted the two normal ones. Using the tree as her platform, she pushed herself off and used her gas to speed herself. She sliced the foot of the other titan heading up to it's nape and hit the other one's nape in one swift motion.

"Wah~ That was so fast!" Rie exclaimed she did not notice her wires was getting tangled up and she hit the ground with a painful thud.

"Ah. Ouch." She said in a blank tone, you cannot believe she is really in pain.

"RIE! WATCH OUT" Rie heard Petra's voice and looked up to see a giant foot about to crush her. She can't move in time. She was still on the ground. Her mind just said to her to move out of the way so acting quick she scrambled to her feet but it's getting close. She'll survive with broken legs at least. She closed her eyes and hoped she made it out.

She felt arms wrapped around her waist and being pushed until they hit something , felt like a tree. She finally peeked one eye open and looked at thee one who saved her.

"Petra?" Rie stared in disbelief at the auburn-haired woman. She was at her side, breathing heavily. She held her arm and writhed in pain. Rie wasn't stupid to know that she hit the tree hard and her arm was used as a cushion that means she flew to her in the fastest speed her gear could manage to move her out of the way.

"Hey,..why?" She stared confusingly but then again she didn't care about the injuries she got but just confused at her actions.

"…ugh.We..we're…. Comrades… and I won't let you… die like this." Petra managed to say

Rie still doesn't understand. Why is she risking her life for someone she just met? Someone she doesn't even know if they were willing to do the same for her?

Seeing Rie's confused look, she managed to smile at her.

"You're already…a friend. Even if you don't consider us to, I consider you as a friend"

That statement left Rie's mouth agape. After a moment of silence, she only nodded. She left Petra there to rest and chased after the running abnormal.

It was hard since it was changing directions and when Rie finally got a hold on it, Levi swooped in and killed it and also the 19-meter in a second.

Rie stopped in awe. She breathed out a tired sigh. She watched as Levi landed gracefully on the ground. The titan's blood on his cape was evaporating quickly.

Levi suddenly made his way towards Rie with a glare much worse than his usual one. Knowing, and also confused, that was directed to her, she held up her hands in a defensive cross just in time to block his high kick.

But it caught her by surprise so she didn't had time to prepare to balance his force so it made her sat down.

"What-" She was cut off when another kick was aimed at her again.

"What the hell?!" She finally exclaimed before dodging a punch coming from him.

"You. Brat. If you want to go have a death wish then don't take us with you!" Another kick was aimed and she dodged.

"T-This is why I said that I should've worked alone!" Rie dodged a punch and backed away. Eld and Gunther who was calming their horses, watched the two. Oluo picked Petra up and watched the two also.

"As if you can handle being alone after what you displayed. Without Petra, you would've been crushed to pieces by that titan" Levi said and that made Rie silent.

" You almost killed my squad because of your actions. I don't blame you to act out of your own instinct but I won't let you do something when the result is my squad getting killed"

"….How am I supposed to know? I could care less about their lives! All I want is to survive" Rie suddenly blurted out.

The squad Levi members was surprised at her outburst. She really said that she doesn't care about them dying right in front of those said people.

"You had the nerve to say that after Petra risked her life to save you" With that ,Levi mounted on his horse and waited for the other members to follow through the expedition

•••

The whole ride was silent. After they passed through the forest successfully, the Survey corps camped at an open field to have a rest for a moment.

Squad Levi left to go eat while Rie excused herself to be on watch duty. Petra looked worried at Rie but their Captain is right. She risked her life to save her yet she says that she doesn't care. It was something she needed to reflect on. Rie climbed a branch on a nearby tree of a small forest and sat there.

"Oh Rie!"

Rie turned her head around to see Hanji smiling down at her . She did not say anything back nor did she complain about her sitting beside her.

"So, I heard from Levi"

Rie made no movement and so Hanji continued.

" He mentioned that you said you could care less even if they die…Rie, I-"

"Hanji , Are you a friend? " She cut off Hanji's sentence with a rather weird question in her opinion but still answered.

" I get it. It's something about your trust issues, huh? Rie, we are your friends. We won't harm you! We're both humans anyways seeking the truth outside these Walls or rather that is what I expect you to do" Hanji asked for a confirmation but met with silence

"Anyways, Rie ,you can trust us. How can we trust you too if you're not doing the same thing?...Look, If you can't trust anybody at all even Erwin and Levi then Trust me! I'm a friend!"Hanji exclaimed.

"..Petra said that I was her friend even if I don't consider her so."

"Ah. Petra.. Yep she just trusts her comrades that much even if you're new"

" To be honest, I don't understand myself… What I said is true, for some reason, I can't bring myself to care about others. My sister and my friends are the only ones I care and with that care,comes with trust.."

Rie couldn't help but say her troubles to Hanji. Hanji was getting…too close to her like Eren and Armin were and she's starting to consider her as like them...

"How did You and the three friends you were talking about started to become friends?"

Rie widened her eyes at the mention of the trio and their memories together. Now that she mentioned it, how did they start becoming friends. She remembered being mean ,not like it changed over the years, to Eren and Armin. She considered them annoying but one day, he just declared that they're friends and Rie didn't know what she did but She thinks she agreed with him on that.

"He just said so"

"Then I say that we are friends!"Hanji exclaimed and Rie stared at her and for some reason, she agreed again just like what she did to Eren.

"Never seen a friend that is desperate for information about me"Rie saw the look in Hanji's face.

"You were that obvious. You were treating me like some….special Titan or something"

"Well, if you already know, then why won't you tell us?"

" Like I said before, What I know and what I need to know are not of your business. I assure you that it is a personal thing and it has nothing to do with the truth outside these Walls." Rie confessed

"Well, I'm your friend! Friends tell each other of their problems!"

Do they? Huh. I don't recall doing that to Eren and thee others. Oh, they're the ones doing that.

"Is that so?...but that would ruin the fun.

It would be interesting how you would find out something about me and if you did, you can come to me for confirmation" Rie, for the first time in a while, smiled.

In a way, I am using her to help me find something about myself..

"Eehh~??" Hanji pouted but was surprised and also glad to see Rie smile.

"I guess I need to fix my mistakes huh? For me, those were not mistakes but in normal standards, that would be wrong."Rie blurted out

" *sigh* I have to apologize to that midget?" Rie said before hopping down the branch. Hanji stared at her confused at what she just said.

Rie searched for Levi well half-searched since she doesn't really like apologizing to someone like him but she can say that what he said was right…in normal standards anyways..

She found the group eating and Levi drinking his tea in a manner that Rie found strange.

Who holds their cup from the brim?...Him, I suppose..

She approached the group and they noticed her. She was just staring at Levi. All of them waited for a response from the 16-year old. Rie cursed herself for not thinking on what to say before approaching the group but it's too late now to reprimand herself . She should say something before the silence become awkward.

"Are you going to say something or are you just going to stand there all day?" She heard Levi comment. She got annoyed but knew that this is not the right time to be so.

"Just so you know, my statement still stands. If you guys die, don't expect me to grieve" She looked at Levi.

"You didn't learn anything at all-"

"But… Since you did save my life…The least I can do is put my trust in you"

"and," Rie faced Petra "You said I'm your friend right?" She neared her face so close to Petra that the woman herself had to back away a bit.

"You better stick to your word…'cause I'll take it seriously" Rie half smiled and half smirked,Petra couldn't tell which. Her words made her pray that she won't do something unexpected or dangerous for her. Still, Petra can't believe that Rie smiled and she was just glad that they can trust each other now.

A few moments into the expedition, Erwin announced that they'll retreat before the casualties grow too large. The expedition covered more ground than the last one and they were satisfied with that…

"15-meter to the right!" Petra shouted to Eld who nodded to her.

"Petra! Behind you!" She heard Oluo shout and looked behind her to see a titan looking down at her.She jumped away just in time before it grabbed her and rolled down the field.It was about to grab her again and Petra scrambled to her feet.

BANG*

Sound of gunshot was heard. The titan fell to it's side. Petra stared at Rie who was already at her side.

"Be careful" was her short response before offering a hand to Petra which the woman took.

•••

They returned to the Walls with minimal casualties added and the soldiers went on to rest. Rie went to a nearby village and luckily found a tree. She climbed it and sat on it's branch. She caressed her gun and rested on the bark of the tree.

"So you are here"

"Erwin." Rie acknowledged his presence which was a first to her. She did not looked at Erwin and just rested her back staring at the lovely leaves of the tree.

"How was your first expedition?"

"Interesting"

"Mind making a clear answer?

"I learnt things about others, I guess. How you operate and everything"

"I see" She heard Erwin walked under her branch and stood, watching the kids play around.

"I assume you heard from the two?" Rie asked

"You assumed correctly. It was a good thing it was resolved quickly.Though…

What do you mean when you said to Hanji by normal standards?"

"Should I say it to you?"

"If possible. Or would you rather tell it to Hanji, your friend?" for some reason,Rie felt like Erwin is smirking

"Don't tease me like that but I did say that I will trust you guys"

Erwin waited for another response but silence met him.It wasn't another moment Rie started to talk.

"Honestly, Erwin, You may or may not have noticed this but I think differently than the others consider normal" Rie's right arm hung loosely.

"I noticed this before. I don't understand the value of another's life. I don't even see a human. In my eyes, everyone is part of a background. A black background. To me , they are just moving shadows. And I take pleasure in eliminating those shadows."

She reloaded her gun and aimed at a nearby kid. The child was crying, searching for it's family.

"This is how I think." Her aim stilled on the crying child

"Killing anyone was really trivial since I can't muster any guilt for these shadows" Her fingertip found the trigger.

"The records you found about me? The crimes that was recorded there wasn't even half of what I did"

A woman approached the crying child who happily hugged her. The lady was young seems like it's his big sister. Rie lowered her gun.

"I'm surprised the MP didn't come for you"

"Bunch of pussies. Can't handle a kid half of their age. Though I did get away because of a little connection I have"

"Well, I do hope you see us as humans" Erwin looked at the girl above him who was playing with a leaf.She turned over and smirked at the Commander.

"Don't worry. You guys are in a special category in my eyes, much more special than being seen as a human by me"

"I see"

"So?"

Erwin shot a confused look at Rie who looked annoyed at him

"Well, Here I am. Saying personal stuff about me to you..How 'bout you do the same?"

"…Would that please you?"

"Very" She smirked.

"It's just one question and I want you to answer it honestly" Rie added.

"What is it?"

"Why do you do this? I mean Why do you still go outside the Walls? Ya know what I mean"

"…It's for humanity to-"

"Bullshit"Rie interrupted

"I know that's not the reason. Knowing your personality, I doubt it's like that"She added,growing impatient at his games

"I don't understand you.It is-"

"Erwin."

"You are not going to let this go , are you?"

"Yep"

" *sigh*….It's.. a dream of mine.. To put it simply, I want to know the truth of these Walls. I know these Walls hide a secret and I want to know…No matter what it takes"

"No matter how many lives I have to step on"

Rie was actually surprised at it. He was willing to sacrifice everything just to achieve his dream even if he was hated. Even if he was called a heartless ,cold murderer. Kind of like her. She wants to know what happened. She would do anything just to find out. Even if she kills for it. Even if others hated her for it.

"Wah~…You earned it" Rie said in which Erwin stared at her with another confused look.

"Earned what?"

"My respect. Real respect from me" She smiled at him.

"So it's nothing important"

"Woah. How mean" Rie sarcastically said.

"….That dream of yours…You know you'll die early like that"She added

"I would risk my life for humanity to take a step forward to the truth"

"……That's… no fun. At least try to live…that way it would be more interesting"

"So it's for your interest?"

"That's how I know what to do next anyways. If something piqued my interest, you sure as hell know I'll be there"

"Anyways, if you're not planning on surviving then I'll have to make sure you don't head off to your death then"

"Oh? And how do I make sure YOU don't head off to your death?"

"Hm..I dunno..Not like I head to my own death since I want to survive but…Maybe you?"Rie smirked at him.

"I'm busy enough as it is and keeping you in line is hard enough.. Just try not to die then"

"Hah! You'll die first before me, I'll make sure of that though that means we'll be living long then"

Erwin nodded and walked away first, leaving the girl alone up the tree.

"Guess It'll be interesting from now on"

Hey guys! So last chapter was uploaded 1 month late, right? So I've been thinking and I decided that I would create a Christmas special chapter, if it's alright with you guys?Uhm..in explanation for Rie's "Vision" then maybe I would create a poem or something like that to explain what Rie sees in her eyes.So yeah that's it. THANK YOU GUYS.RR!