A/N: YOU DECIDE! Jean or Eren POV next!?

Hope you enjoy, reviews are much welcomed, and see you in the next chapter.

(Armin P.O.V)

Staring up at the stars, finding each constellation I memorized from my book, and thinking about how people came to make them, it all kept my mind off of the current situation I had to go through.

Eren had been my best friend since childhood. He'd been there to fight for me, to give me a reason to keep going, and he never strayed far from our friendship. He didn't care about all the punches he took for me, he didn't care how much pain he was in. He only cared about my safety, and making sure I lived another day, had a shoulder to cry on, and had a loyal friend to turn to in times of need. He, out of anyone, would make a perfect choice in this…

…

…were Jean not involved as well.

Jean was kind, his heart was in the right place, and he was as brave as any other soldier in the military. He treated me with respect and kindness, he made me feel important and that my thoughts meant something to him. He listened and could debate, he stole my heart in a way I never thought it could be stolen. Where I thought I was worthless and undeserving of love or affection, he came right back and showed me that Eren wasn't the only one who cared about me in that way.

So then…who should I choose?

I sighed heavily as I sat up, unable to leave the thoughts behind for even a moment of time. I couldn't decide who it was I wanted, but I dangerously got close to just going with Eren since I knew him longer.

But then I thought about what Jean did for me while I was in the infirmary and I rethought again about who I should choose.

The man had broken many rules and regulations, but he met me in the infirmary late one evening and handed me a book about the sea. I was ecstatic to have it and I almost jumped out of bed to hug the man for what he did for me. I thought for sure he was just trying to win brownie points in this little fiasco, but he just kissed my forehead and told me all he wanted was to see me smile and not worry about my pain.

It made my heart flutter…

…and break.

I just couldn't decide.

I woke up much too early this morning and snuck out from my home, leaving a note for my mother and father to tell them I left early – just so they were aware I wasn't kidnapped once again – and headed for the training fields. I first found the post but ignored it in hatred because of it's infuriating puzzle, but now I wanted to go back and study it again. Just to see if there was anything to unlock in the puzzle Mello had handed to us. Honestly, I had no idea if there even was a puzzle to this, but I had to believe there was.

So I went back.

I grumbled slightly and leaned against the post. "Why couldn't Mello just tell us what to do?"

"Because then you wouldn't learn." Came a familiar voice, jolting me slightly.

I looked around the post to see L and a tired Light walking up to me. L looked the same as ever, but Light looked as if he were ready to drop dead from exhaustion. It was no secret that L was a night owl, but since Light was chained to him he had to adapt as well. So far… results were poor.

Light stood there, half asleep and unspoken, as L hummed a laugh. "This post signifies the trials and errors it takes to get to your destination, Armin. Mello can't tell you how to get through them, you can only keep trying."

I took a breath. "But it's so difficult! Even the strongest of us keep falling on their asses due to the extreme pull of the earth! What can we do to get past it?! Especially with those stone rings he insists we carry!? It's been a month and a half and no progress has been made, even with all the training we've gone through!"

L's small and cheeky smile still stood. "Well, young Arlert, I can't answer that for you. But you were given help to do this in training, whether you believe it or not. You were given strength and discipline. When they work in tandem, you can reach great heights." He said as he looked up towards the blade, then back at me. "Why not give it a try?"

"I can't, Mello isn't here."

"I believe he said you needed a member of Haven to watch over you to prove you've done the exercise correctly. I am a member, therefor you may try."

I blinked at this before turning to the wooden box with the rings in them. "You think I should?"

He gave a pat on my back. "Go for it."

"Please do," Light said tiredly. "Maybe I can sleep for a bit before we have to go do chores."

I gave a short nod to the men before opening the box and looping the leathers onto my wrists.

"Remember," L began once again as he sat down to allow Light to lay down and nap, "When strength and discipline work together, you can reach greater heights."

I nodded once again before looking up towards the blade. I jumped onto the post, grabbing on with all of my might, and shimmied up. I only got about a quarter of the way there before I slid back down in failure. I tried again… and failed. And again I tried…

…and again, I failed.

I think I tried for another four times, each time getting a bit higher than before, until I finally gave in and gave up. The sun was rising anyway, and I needed to stop and rest for the training to come.

Sighing heavily, I went to take off the leather around my wrist… and noticed something peculiar.

The leather straps tied at our wrists were quite long and the rings dangled at the end in a way that almost hypnotized me. Together, along with my arms, they could reach around the post… …

A sudden realization hit me and I quickly looked over to L who was smiling at me with impish eyes.

"I swear, your family contains the smartest people." He said in encouragement. "It astounds me."

I smiled back before taking a step away from the post and tried a new tactic.

I threw the rings past the post and in the first try they looped together and tied into a tight knot. With enough strength, and plenty of discipline, I was sure I could make it to the top.

"Armin," L suddenly called me, making me look back in worry, "before you go up there, I want you to look at that blade and tell me what it is you want more than anything. Enough to work through trials and tribulations for, and to show that it means more to you than anything else on this earth. Your brother climbed that post because he wanted to keep you safe. That was his goal. As for your mother…" he admitted, "her goal was to do anything and everything for her family. For her husband and children. Now, what is your goal?"

I blinked and slowly looked up towards the blade in both worry… and excitement.

I'd known what my goal was for a long time now.

I pulled myself up and the leathers and rings held me steady. "I want to find the sea!"

And I climbed…

…

…and climbed…

…

…

…and climbed…

…

…and right as the sun peaked over the horizon of the wall, my hand made connection to the pommel of the blade and I pulled myself up and onto the top.

I'd done it!

I looked out over the horizon and was amazed to see a vast land mass in front of me that reached on for miles and miles before me. In the distance, way off behind the trees and valleys too far for me to reach, I could make out a blue tinge over-lining the trees that covered what I could only guess to be Haven.

The sea.

I took in a breath of the fresh air and revelled in the free feeling of the wind in my face. I barely noticed the cries of victory and cheering below me, but when I did I saw a tiny people all cheering for me from below. Out of the corner of my eye though, I could see Mello and Matt on top of the roof of the mess hall looking on in pure amazement.

I heard the man laugh below me, still on the roof. "Well, baby brother, you did it! You made it to the blade, and everyone witnessed it upon waking! I believe you've earned the rights to elite training! You and your companions down here!"

Another cheer rang out and I smiled.

Once Matt got them calmed down, Mello then announced something that almost made me fall right off the post.

"From now on, we will continue our training. But now, it will be outside the walls."

I could feel everyone's excitement from down below, but none heavier than my own. I couldn't believe we'd be leaving the walls for training!

Mello drew his blade and held it up with the other hand. "You'll have to learn how to use your new gear somewhere. And where better than outside the walls? For today, however, we celebrate!"

Another cheer rang out and I pulled the blade from the post. Using said blade, slipping the rings over my shoulder instead, I jammed it into the side of the wooden post and slid down expertly to greet my comrade's congratulations and pats on the back. Eren and Mikasa were most thoroughly impressed, along with Jean, Annie, and just about all the other trainees. I'm too sure none of them thought it possible for me to climb that post, but I'm glad it had been me.

Something in me thought it was only right I carry the family tradition. But I highly doubted even Mello knew our mother had done this exact exercise in a past.

So what else did this L character know that he wasn't sharing?

I saw the man himself smile at me before turning away proudly and dragging Light behind him. The look on his face said it all.

He definitely knew something.