Lyla saw Eren's tooth flying out. Ouch, that's gonna hurt. What does he think he's doing? Lyla eyed the Captain in confusion mixed with fury and concern as the captain continued his ministrations in a painful way. However, realization dawned on her and she pulled Mikasa, who was trying to charge forward, back with the help of Armin.

"Stay put Mikasa."

This was some kind of act.

The Captain straightened up. "It's just my personal opinion, but pain is the best tool for discipline. You don't need to be educated with words, you need training. You're kneeling down anyway so it's easier to kick," he delivered a few more blows until Dok interrupted,

"Levi…It's dangerous. What if he turns into a titan?"

"Ha?" Levi gave a 'what are you talking about' sort of look and took hold a fistful of Eren's hair. "Weren't you going to dissect him? I heard he killed 20 other titans before running out of strength, with his intelligence, he's more a threat if he turns into an enemy."

Commander Erwin raised his hand, "I have a proposal sir. Eren's strength is highly unknown, so why don't we put him under Captain Levi's surveillance? Let whether Eren's a threat or a benefit be valuated after the results."

Chief Commander Zackley said, "Can you handle it Captain Levi?"

"I can definitely kill him." Lyla quietly snorted at this. Like she'll let him kill Eren so easily, she didn't care if he was the 'Humanity's Strongest Soldier'. She won't let him kill Eren. She heard Levi continue.

"The problem is I can't do anything less." Lyla heard a growl from Mikasa. She drew circles on her back. 'Easy Mikasa, easy girl,' Mikasa seemed to get the message by Lyla's look and leaned back.

"I've made my decision," the chief commander said.

And so that's how Eren joined Squad Levi.

...


Levi introduced Eren to the members. They all greeted him with joy, curiosity, and weariness.

"I heard that you have quite close friends?" Petra asked.

"Oh yes, Armin, Mikasa, and Lyla."

Levi left them at their own devices as he went into his office. The sky was lit in a beautiful orange and the evening sun rays were pouring through the windows. But none of these interested the Captain as he only noticed the piles of papers on his desk. He skimmed through the documents with a boring face until his eyes fell on a certain report. It was the report he requested before from a subordinate. He started reading the report carefully and soon a light smirk tugged at his lips. He stood up and went out. Handing a profile to Eld he said, "Find this cadet and bring her to me."


...

Lyla asked to Eld as she headed to Squad Levi's quarters, which was the old Head Quarters of the Survey Corps. "Did the captain mention why he wanted to see me?" Did something happen to Eren? That was the only reason Lyla could think of. Lyla wasn't able to figure out anything even after they arrived. She was able to see Eren who was watering the horses for the night. Eren looked at her with raised eyebrows.

'He looks good… and judging by his face I doubt that he knows what's going on.' Lyla arrived in front of Levi's office completely clueless and felt her body tense as Eld left her. She wasn't quite sure if she really wanted to see this 'captain' since she was still a bit sour at the fact that he kicked the crap out of Eren. Though she under stood that it was needed, she thought he went a little too far. Lyla took a deep breath to calm herself before knocking.

"Enter." With a monotonous voice allowing her entrance, Lyla went in. Levi was looking at some papers. She saluted and said,

"Lyla Peltner from the 104th Training Corps at your service sir. I heard that you requested my presence sir."

There was a moment of silence. Lyla felt the air in the room intensify. Sweat started trickling down her back. Finally Levi lifted his head and indicated the chair in front of him.

"Sit."

Lyla obeyed as she tried not to give a sharp look. Wow, such manners. Intimidating and annoying. How wonderful.

"I read a report about you and found it quite interesting." The Captain started as he picked up a few papers. "It says you killed 10 titans on your own when Trost fell. I also saw your performance during the Annihilation Mission. But what interests me most is your graduation result." He looked at a different paper. "Your training records are all high and yet, you graduated 11th. Why is that?"

Lyla swallowed. Would she be accused of fabricating grades if she confessed that she went easy on trainings that were graded?

"Anyway," Levi put down all the papers he was looking at. "I heard that you wish to join the Survey Corps from Eren. So…" Lyla tilted her head, "I want you to join the Special Operation Squad."

Lyla's eyes widened. "Excuse me sir?" she clearly sounded baffled. Levi tutted, "Tsk, I'm scouting you to join Squad Levi."

Lyla was still blank. She then quickly stood up and saluted.

"I'll do my best sir!" Though she couldn't quite imagine what it would be like to work under him.

"As should. I told Erwin about it so no trouble there. Eld will introduce you to everyone because I need to catch a meeting."

"Yes sir!"


"Ly~la!" Lyla staggered a few steps back, trying to keep her balance from Eren's hug.

"I'm so glad that you're joining the team!" He exclaimed. Lyla laughed stroking his head as everybody watched that with wonder.

"So you're the 'big sister' Eren talked so fondly of," Petra said with a smile.

"The girl who always has cookies and tells you bedtime stories along with lullabies," Gunther added. Whoa how much did Eren blabber? Lyla thought. Yes, she did sing them lullabies since both were suffering trauma from killing people, Mikasa especially since she saw her family die in front of her. She sang them to sleep every night to comfort them. Oluo stepped up and started babbling, "I'm Oluo Bozado and that's Gunther Shultz, Petra Ral, and Eld Jinn who's Second in Command. Now, if you want to get around here, think with that tiny head of yours. Although I highly doubt that a brat like you would survive long,"

"…Thank you?" Lyla answered blinking. This person… was it just her or did he talk and dress like Captain Levi? That cravat definitely looked like an imitation of the captain. Petra gave him a look.

"If you're trying to impersonate the captain please stop. It's embarrassing. Now let's eat dinner. We specially have canned peaches for dessert today." At her words everybody started setting the table. "Oh, by the way, Captain's coming late because of a meeting. Something about tomorrow's Joining Ceremony for the new recruits," Eld added in.

Dinner was accompanied with light conversation and was altogether delightful. After the last piece of peach disappeared and the evening started getting cozy Petra asked,

"Why do you always carry cookies? Is there any reason?"

"Well… It's my favorite and somehow it's nostalgic. It reminds me of childhood."

Oluo said, "We didn't ask how old you are yet. How old are you? 17? 18?"

"My goodness, Oluo! That is so rude!" Petra scolded him but Lyla shook her head.

"It's okay, I don't mind. I'm 22 years old."

Instantly silence fell around the room. All the members except Eren stared at Lyla with round eyes. Then something seemed to dawn on them as all of a sudden they started pouring her questions.

"How do you take care of your skin?"

"How tall are you?"

"She's four years older than me!" Petra exclaimed. This continued until Hange kicked the door open.

"So you're the one Levi took in recently. I'm Hange Zoe. Nice to meet you." Lyla shook Hange's hand. Hange made herself at home.

"Eren told me you were a damn good storyteller. So how about it? Care to share a story today?"

"Eh? Um... it is quite sudden, but I'll try my best," Lyla thought for a moment, then started, "Today's story is a story about how a man called a monster, saves humnaity."

"There she goes," Eren said as he sat with a smile.

At first, Lyla was a little bit shy, but as she unraveled her story, she lost all shyness as she was immersed in her own world. Soon everybody was engrossed in the story and suddenly Lyla leaped on the table.

"Arminette refused the noble's orders. She released Damian from his restraints and shouted 'Justice!'"

Eld eyed her uneasily as he whispered into Hange's ear, "I'm not sure how the Captain would feel about her going up the table…"

The others were already too into Lyla's story that they didn't notice that part. Hange waved off Eld's concern, "It's fine. He won't be coming until the meeting is over."

Eld seemed to accept this until his head snapped up, "Wait, how are you here if the meeting is not over?'

"Oh~ right, the meeting ended 30 minutes ago. Then Levi would be…."

At this point Lyla was animating how Arminette, who was a gypsy, fled from the guards. As she did so, she inched closer to the edge of the table but nobody, even herself, noticed.

"Arminette snatched the guards' helmets and threw them towards….!"

Just as Lyla was going through the motion of throwing something her body tilted. Everyone tried to catch her wide eyed but somebody firmly took hold of Lyla's arm and pulled her to the ground.

"Ca-captain!" everybody exclaimed.

"Tsk, I didn't scout a fool did I? Do your play on the ground where it's safe. It's late anyway. Go to bed."

Everyone seemed disappointed at Levi's words but no one would dare go against him, everybody except one.

"Levi~ don't be so hard. Why don't you join us?" Hange sat him next to her.

"Shitty four-eyes…." Levi complained but sat down anyway. Like this the story resumed its pace. Lyla depicted how Arminette found refuge in a cathedral. Obviously it was different from the ones of the Order of the Walls.

"Arminette pointlessly walked around the cathedral, only finding a statue of an angel." Lyla then made up some kind of song as she sang it with her hands folded together.

Levi soon found himself staring at her, totally mesmerized. He couldn't take his eyes off Lyla. Right this moment, Lyla looked so similar with the girl he had once known. Levi repeatedly found himself seeing her in Lyla. When she finished singing, everyone was dazed for a moment, then they all started clapping.

"Lyla~! You're great! Even Levi couldn't keep his eyes off you, right Levi?" Lyla blushed at Hange's words. Levi shrugged off Hange's arm that latched around him.

"Shitty four-eyes. Prattling nonsense again. Enough. Now on with the story."

"Ye-yes!"

The story was wrapped up rather hastily and Lyla followed Eld to her room. When they arrived in front of it, Eld gave her a few instructions.

"Now the room on the other side is Captain's office and next to it is his quarters. So try to be quiet as possible."

"What!?" Lyla silently exclaimed. "Shouldn't you be using this room then? You're Second in Command!"

"Well I was already kicked out for being noisy and everybody else has their own room so this is the only one empty."

At this moment Lyla was jealous of Eren who had to sleep in the basement. One wrong movement and she would be on the bad side of the Captain. And seeing him kick Eren that day in court…. Ugh. She would be dead if she got on the bad side.

"If you understood, hurry up and go to sleep." Levi's monotonous voice sounded from behind. Lyla and Eld both retired to their own rooms. Levi sighed and went into his office to finish his documents. After a while Levi pulled out a pendant from under his shirt. It was like a diamond, but a little different. It glowed bluish purple and was a shape of a raindrop. Levi stared at the pendant dangling from a rough leather string.