AN/ Hi! Thanks for all the reviews, favs, and follows! It gives me energy to keep on writing.

I'll be updating on either Saturday or Sunday. But next week possibly Friday because I'll go on vacation. If there should be any changes in the update schedule I'll let you know. Otherwise enjoy :D


It was certainly a poor sight for 'the return of the heroes'. They all looked battered up and the looks the people gave weren't forgiving either. Lyla silently watched a person who looked like the Commander cry out in front of an old lady.

A man tutted as he spoke, "Tsk tsk, those idiots. Always wasting our taxes on things such as expeditions."

Before Lyla or Mikasa could stop Eren struck the man with a stick.

"Wha-What's your problem!?" The man raged. Lyla gave Mikasa a look and Mikasa pulled Eren out of the way while Lyla gave a hasty apology before following them. After they gotten away Lyla said,

"Please think before you act."

"Are you siding with that man?" Eren exclaimed

"No, I don't think the Survey Corps is a waste of money but people have different opinions. You can't just accuse people for that, especially in a physical way."

"Hmph, you're only 17 years old and you're acting like my mom," Eren complained.

"I have 7 years more experience than you so listen to me."

Eren still looked disappointed and Mikasa kept quiet. Lyla did understand Eren, she herself wanted to go out of the walls and see the world outside so many times. And of course Lyla knew well that Eren cherished the Survey Corps and wished to join it but she wasn't quite sure if she was happy about that. Although she was in no position to force him to give up, she still wished him to be safe. The Jaegers and Mikasa were her family she wanted to protect.

When they got home for lunch Mikasa set a bomb.

"Eren wants to join the Survey Corps."

Silence filled the room. The next moment Eren's mom Carla turned pale and Eren dropped his bowl of soup while Lyra choked on her water. Grisha was the only one calm in this situation excluding Mikasa who caused all this havoc. After somewhat regaining calmness, Carla fled to Eren and started,

"Eren, what are you thinking? Do you have any idea how many people died outside of the walls?"

"I know!"

"Then why….!"

"Eren," Grisha cut through Carla's words. Eren faced his dad.

"Why do you want to go outside of the walls?"

At his question, Eren remained silent for a moment before answering, "I want to know. What it looks like outside. Besides, if there aren't any people continuing, the lives that were sacrificed loose its meanings."

Grisha silently looked at Eren before standing up. "The boat will leave soon. I need to go."

"Wait! You need to tell Eren…!"

"Carla, a human's curiosity isn't eliminated by persuading. Eren, when I return from my appointment I'll show what's in the basement you've been longing to see."

Lyla was a little bit surprised at this. He was so keen on hiding it all this time and now he's showing it? Eren's face lightened and he waved his father good bye with a big smile. But as soon as Grisha disappeared Carla said in a disapproving tone. "You can't join that silly Survey Corps."

"What!? So you think the Survey Corps is silly too? In my eyes, I think the people who can live like stalk everyday are more stupid!" With this Eren sped off. Mikasa followed him. Lyla gave a heavy sigh and patted Carla on the shoulder.

"I'll go get them."

"I can always count on you. Lyla, Eren's such a young reckless child. Help each other in hard times okay?"

Lyla nodded her head.

When Lyla caught up with Eren he spotted the bullies picking on Armin. Eren saw this and shot forward.

"Cut it out!"

The bullies merely snorted at him but fled away at the sight of Mikasa and Lyla

"Hey, hey! Let's clear out! Mikasa and Lyla are with him!" Oh yeah, run away juniors, Lyla thought.

Eren saw this and said in a triumphant manner, "Hah! They run away at the sight of me."

"They weren't. It was Mikasa and Lyla," Armin silently corrected. That was a little cruel. Sometimes Armin can hit you in the bones.


"So I told them that humanity would someday have to go out of the walls and they hit me."

"Ha! Why would they bully you for saying that," Eren said in a frustrated tone.

"Well, we were safe for 100 years because we kept to the walls."

"It's risking your own life. What's wrong with that?"

"No, never do that," Mikasa's firm tone sliced through the air.

"Speaking of it! You traitor, how could you tell mom?" This started a small quarrel and it ended as Armin pulled out a book he sneaked out. It was about the world outside the walls.

"It says that the ocean is a huge pool of salt water!"

"Huh? Then wouldn't the merchants dry it out?" Eren said in a disappointed tone. At his words Armin said with bright eyes, "It's so large that even the merchants can't dry it! Let's all together go and see the ocean one day!" Eren laughed at Armin's words, "Yeah, lets." Even Mikasa smiled. Lyla listened to all of this and quietly intoned,

"Right, you guys never saw the ocean before…" She then halted in her thoughts. She has never seen the ocean before either. And yet she could almost remember certain blueness and a salty smell. She stared out in the open as if she was longing for something. What was this feeling? It felt like she was missing something and yet she couldn't put her finger on it.

Lyla realized that the mood had suddenly grown heavy and said briskly, "Should I tell you a story? It's about the ocean." All three of the kids gathered around with sparkling eyes.

"Once, there was a scholar. He believed that there was a kingdom called Atlantis under the ocean…" Lyla wound up a story that came into her head. After finishing her story Lyla looked at the kids. Everybody, even Mikasa's eyes were round with amazement. Armin said excitedly, "Could there really be a kingdom in the ocean?"

Lyla smiled as she got up. "Well." You must get out of the walls first. Lyla stared at the sky. "One day I'll…"

"What did you say?" Eren asked. Lyla jolted as if she were being woken from a dream. She looked at Eren and smiled, "No… It's nothing. Let's go home."

"Okay. You know what? I think you're really good at making up stories. I like them. Don't you agree Mikasa?"

"…Yeah," Mikasa answered a bit shyly.

"Now Eren, Mikasa. Armin you should come with us too." Lyla took hold of their hands. Armin followed them with a big smile. They started walking when a loud crash resounded through the district. Lyla's eyes widened with shock when she turned to where the sound came from.

'What was that…?' She barely caught the glimpse of green. It didn't feel good. Armin started running and the rest of them followed, shouting his name. When they got to the crowd everybody was staring in one direction in horror. At the end of their gaze was a titan. Another wave of shock surged through Lyla as she saw the skinless titan.

"That titan…" It was so huge, taller than the wall. As the titan kicked the door with its foot, pieces of the wall flew across.

"Eren! Mikasa! Armin!" Lyla tried to shield them, hugging them tight. The streets turned into turmoil. Titans flooded in through the broken gate and people started to fled from them as fast as possible. Buildings crumbled under the pieces of the wall and some people were crushed by it. Lyla saw all of this in pure devastation. At that moment Eren bolted up and ran through the streets.

"My house…!"

"Eren!" Mikasa ran after him. Lyla caught Armin getting Hannes for help. Clever guy. She then bolted after the other two. She had a bad feeling. Their house was on the closer side of the gates. What if the bad dream she had last night indicated this?

Just as Lyla dreaded she found the shattered house as soon as she rounded the corner. Carla was buried under the collapsed building. Eren was desperately trying to remove the wreckage that was pinning his mother to the ground. Mikasa immediately started helping him out while Lyla spaced out, trembling violently.

'So… After all….'

Dooms day has found its way. Only this thought swam through Lyla's mind. Just then Eren's frustrated cry rang through Lyla's head.

"Shit! Shit!" Eren was trying so hard to remove the log that was crushing Carla but it did not budge. It was then when Lyla snapped out and started helping Eren and Mikasa. This was no time to space out like that.

"A Lever! We need a lever!" Saying this, Lyla started scanning the area. After finding a suitable log she used it to lift the debris on top of Carla. But it would only move slightly and not enough.

"Kids, leave me here and run!" Eren ignored his mother's words. "My legs are broken from the collapse. I can't run even if I get out of this."

"I'm going to carry you!" Eren said, tears pouring down his eyes.

"Why won't you listen to me! At least listen to my last words! Mikasa! Lyla!"

Lyla and Mikasa stared at each other with trembling eyes. At that moment Lyla spotted a titan coming their way.

"Oh god…" Lyla added effort to lifting the remains. Somebody landed besides them. It was Hannes.

"Hannes! Take these kids and leave!" Carla shouted out. Surprisingly Hannes smiled at her words.

"You shouldn't underestimate me. I'm gonna kill that titan and save all four of you."

Hannes pompously started off but only turned back all pale and panicked. He hooked Mikasa with one arm and slung Eren on his shoulder with his other.

"What are you doing! Mom's still….!" Eren protested. Lyla stared at Hannes.

'You said you would kill the titan. You said you would save all of us!' Tears started rolling down her cheek. Lyla again tried to clear the debris away with the lever.

"Lyla," Carla called her. Lyla turned her head to look at her. She said smiling, "Go. Protect them." Lyla stared at Carla, her eyes quivering. Carla's eyes were calm, unwavering. She gave a subtle nod. Lyla let out a cry of despair as she crumbled to the ground.

"I'm sorry…."

"Thank you." Carla said still smiling. With that Lyla followed Hannes. When she turned around the titan was clutching Carla. She could hear the cry of pain from Eren. Lyla quickly covered his eyes.

"Don't watch!"

She looked back again and Carla was now on the verge of being eaten. The moment the titan took Carla to its mouth, Carla's struggles, the people tripping over each other to flee, everything played out in slow motion. The outcry of the people muffled against Lyla's ears. She would never be able to forget this day. The moment the titan stripped Carla's life as it broke her spine, Carla's limp body no longer fighting, the red blood that spurted as the titan bit into Carla's body. Everything would be engraved in Lyla's memory, haunting her forever.

Lyla turned her head as she ran forward. Tears streaming down her face nonstop.

'I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.'