Lyla gave a sigh as she changed into a fresh uniform and headed to the Captain's office. It has been four days since Lyla was appointed as the squad's new Second in Command and today's events were quite overwhelming. She still wasn't sure if she has the material to take this position, she still thought it was a hasty decision to make.

Her task wasn't hard on the body, just some paperwork. She would check through the documents he finished and if there was an error she would mark that part and return it to the Captain. Not that he made many. The Captain rarely made any mistakes as he worked with precision, making Lyla's job easier. But no matter how easier it might get, Lyla couldn't say that she was exactly happy about it since paperwork wasn't her favorite task but the tea was good even though she had to make it. She slumped in her chair but straightened up when the Captain entered.

"Here, review these and give it to me if there're any errors." He placed a stack of papers neatly on Lyla's desk. She flipped through the pages slowly, trying to focus. She knew that Levi barely made any mistakes and that carriage ride had tired her out more than she expected. She let out a sigh as she scanned the next page.

"Tired?" she heard a monotonous voice ask. Lyla sat straight and suppressed a yawn that was about to come out.

"No sir,"

"Tsk," The Captain gave Lyla a sideward glance, "Go get tea. We should have a cup before we continue."

Lyla stood up and prepared the tea while the captain finished the documents he was working on. Lyla made sure that the water didn't boil too much. After all, nobody liked over boiled tea, it would kill the fragrance of the tea leaves and make it bitter. She set the hourglass and watched the sand stream down. When she deemed the time was right, she poured the tea in two cups and brought it to the desk on a tray. Levi took a sip of it and gave an approving nod. They sat there quietly, enjoying their tea.

"How's your injury?" Levi tried to sound nonchalant but there was concern under his masked tone.

"Almost cured sir. The bleeding of my cut on the face has stopped as well sir," Lyla said and Levi gave her a surprised glance. Did bone fractures heal that quickly? "How's your ankle sir?" Lyla asked in return.

"Recovering," Levi stated shortly. There was a knock on the door.

"State your name and business," the captain said annoyed. He wasn't exactly happy that his tea time was interrupted.

"It's Eren sir, Commander Erwin wishes to see you, sir."

"Tsk, what is it now." Levi stood up and straightened his cravat. He turned to Lyla and said, "Finish these documents while I'm gone."

"Yes, sir,"

And with that Levi was gone.


After an hour or so Levi came back. He looked like he always did but Lyla could tell that something wasn't right.

"Wall Rose has been breached," Was all Levi said. Eren and Lyla's face grew pale.

"But… the 104ths! They're not armed due to Commander Erwin's orders!" Lyla exclaimed.

The Survey Corps did not get dispersed thanks to Erwin's crazy operation. But the Higher-ups were displeased with Erwin's decision. And Erwin seemed to have something in mind as he ordered to not train or even wear uniforms to the 104th Survey Corps. They were also moved to different quarters.

Levi quickly gave out orders,

"Eren, get the gear ready. A wagon will be coming for us."

He continued giving Eren orders quickly until Lyla cut in.

"Sir, what should I do?"

Levi froze. He then started slowly, "You're… staying here."

"WHAT!?" Lyla exclaimed almost forgetting that she was speaking to her superior. The Captain repeated himself, "You're staying here. You're injured and I do not want to risk anymore casualties."

"Sir, please reconsider. As your Second in Command I highly think I should follow you. Am I not supposed to be your shadow?"

"No, you're supposed to stay safe and fill in if I'm gone. You're injured and unable to use the 3DMG. You won't be any help in the field."

"You're injured too, sir,"

"That's different."

Lyla gave out a huff of exasperation and pulled out a paper.

"I've got a diagnosis sir, as I said before sir, my bruises are all gone and my fracture is almost healed."

Levi eyed it with surprise, "Well almost. It doesn't mean that you're fully recovered. When did you get this?"

"That time when you sent me to give Squad Leader Hange a message. Now can I go?"

"No, you're still staying here."

"Captain!" All her friends were out there defenseless and she just had to stay here? No way.

Just then a wagon pulled up and Armin shouted, "Captain Levi!"

Lyla hopped in before Levi could say anything and Eren quickly followed. Levi glared at Lyla and said, "You could be punished for disobeying an order."

"You didn't say it was an order, so I don't think I disobeyed any orders sir," Lyla said avoiding eye contact. Levi's eyebrow twitched. Eren watched this with wide eyes. Mikasa looked indifferent. Armin looked terrified as he waited for an outburst from the Captain. However, Levi just gave a 'tsk' and turned his head.

When they got to Hange's place she boarded with an unexpected person: Pastor Nick.

"What's he doing here sir?" Lyla asked out straightly. Hange draped an arm around Pastor Nick's shoulder.

"Nick here is a good friend of mine, we are good friends, aren't we Nick?"

The man didn't seem to share the same thought but he kept silent. Hange continued,

"Nick seemed to know something about the walls but he didn't want to share, so we decided we would show him reality and see if he wanted to share after that. This whole team doesn't make sense so it doesn't matter if another happens to chip in."

"No, it does make sense since Erwin himself selected the members," Levi stated, "Well I may be useless because of my injury, but taking care of a single human isn't a problem." He pressed a gun to the Pastor's side. "Let's be careful and make sure no holes are accidentally blasted."

Hange shook her head, "It's no use. I already tried threatening him. Anyway, there's something I want to tell you." She pulled out a piece of rock. Everybody stared at it curiously.

"What, you talk to rocks now?" Levi snorted and Lyla gently nudged his side. Levi shot Lyla a look but just rolled his eyes. Hange said,

"This is a piece of hardened titan skin that fell off Annie. It didn't disappear even after Annie's titan was gone."

Everyone's eyes widened.

"Then…!" Armin started but Hange covered his face with her hand. "Let me talk. This means that if Eren can produce a titan and harden his whole body, we can retake Wall Maria. The problem is… can you do it Eren?"

"Uh…" Eren stammered. Can he do it? He had no idea. "I... Um…"

"Do it. It's not about if you can do it. It's if you will do it." Levi said. "So, what's your choice?"

"I… I will do it!"

Lyla nodded and gave a smile. She knew that Eren would manage.

Soon enough they pulled up to their destination. Again people were walking down the streets with miserable faces. Lost kids were crying in the streets and forgotten dolls rolled around the ground. The Pastor seemed devastated.

"This…this…" He started walking towards the people but was stopped by Levi.

"What do you think you're doing?" He looked at the streets, "This is what happens when the Walls fall. It's not like we have a choice now do we? This is what you did by keeping your little secret," He sneered. He pulled him back into the building.

"Now, do you want to spill your little secrets?" Hange said. Lyla thought he wouldn't and just as she thought the stubborn Pastor shook his head. Lyla shouted,

"But with your knowledge, we could learn so much more! Humanity will have a chance of winning this stupid game! Don't you care about humanity!?"

"Sometimes there're things that are above humanity." The Pastor said solemnly. Lyla couldn't believe it. Nick continued, "But bring her. She would have the key to everything. The heir of the true throne, the true king of the walls. Her name is-"

Just then Sasha burst in, "Sasha Braus! I have a message for Squad Leader Hange!"

But nobody paid attention to her as everybody was shocked who the true king was.

"Her...?" Lyla said in utter shock.

"Impossible…" Eren muttered.

"Find her, she is the key to everything," Pastor Nick said gravely.

"What? Who's the key? What's going on?" Sasha said in total confusion. Finally, Hange gave her attention and Sasha presented her with a roll of parchment.

"Looks like the inspection I asked for is done. I'll go take this to Erwin, you go save the others. It seems like they're at Utgard Castle.

So they took off.

Hange placed a steaming potato in Sasha's hand before leaving which Sasha bit in happily.


They arrived in perfect timing with the Survey Corps as the castle has turned into rubble and there were still a lot of titans roaming about. Eren shot out and had his first kill but before he could even celebrate he came falling to the ground.

"You don't have to engage in battle!" Someone shouted.

"Sorry," Eren muttered as he came by Lyla's side. Lyla ruffled his hair.

"It's fine. Just don't die."

She was also watching from the sidelines as her Captain had forbidden her in using her 3DMG even though he gave in in arming herself with it. Lyla could feel his gaze fixed on her from behind.

'Really doesn't he have things more important to do than supervising me? What's use in wearing the gear if you can't use it?' Lyla thought to herself as she pouted.

Levi stood there keeping a sharp eye on his Second in Command. Really he should be at Head Quarters along with Hange to report to Erwin but knowing Lyla, he was sure that she would use her gear despite her current state.

Soon enough the titans were cleared and they retrieved the remaining members of the Survey Corps. But what caught Lyla's eye was Ymir.

"What? Don't tell me…"

Krista nodded. Lyla touched her head as a headache started. So Ymir was a titan too. Just like Eren. They drove back to the walls in a heavy mood.

Lyla walked away from the group for a while, her Captain had been called for duty again and had to leave. Levi gave a stern order to Lyla in not to use her gear before he left.

As she walked along the wall she saw Reiner talk to Eren. Poor guy, he got his whole arm scathed. Just then there was a large bang and gush of wind swept through. Lyla took hold of the wall to prevent from flying away and before she could register what was happening she saw the Armor Titan and Colossal Titan emerging within the walls.

"Holy shit…" She muttered under her breath. Lyla then flashbacked to the moment where they were discussing Annie. Hange also expressed her suspicions for Reiner and Bertolt since their birth certificates were messed up and they were from the same hometown as Annie. She saw Reiner pick up Eren and descend down the walls.

"EREN!" Lyla heard Mikasa cry out. Lyla peered over the wall and saw Eren in rage.

"YOU DAMN TRAITORS!" Eren cried and with another deafening bang and a streak of green light Eren's titan immerged. He punched Reiner right in the face.

The grueling fight started and all Lyla could do was watch helplessly. Just then Bertolt lifted his arm.

"Everybody! Jump off the walls!" Hange shouted. All the soldiers did as told and the titan's hand collapsed down on the wall. Holding Ymir in one hand and another soldier in the other. He threw them in his mouth. Everybody shouted in shock. Krista looked terrified to the bones.

"Ymir…" She whimpered out. Hange grit her teeth.

"Everyone! Get ready for battle. Kill the Colossal Titan, the enemy of humanity!"

She knew that she wasn't supposed to use her 3DMG but this was different. It was an emergency. Lyla flew up in the air and the titan once again lifted its hand to strike. However, it was slow.

'You're so slow Bertolt. You're nothing compared to the other titans I've battled.'

"Now! Cut its nape off!" At Hange's command, all of them came shooting down. But before anybody could get near, the titan let out steam which burned the skin.

"Retreat!"

When they got down Armin tried to hook again but it didn't work.

"The gear won't work! What do we do?"


A/N It's been a while since I left an author's note. I just wanted to thank you, readers, for all the favs and follows!