"Bring it."

The two calamities set their faces in terrifyingly blank masks, but after all these years, their pleasure was plain as sunlight.

The female charged him first and he shot himself away from his position to move to her side. Mid movement, her arm caught him in his stomach and he bowled over, diving headfirst to the floor. With nothing to catch himself with he resolved to roll and encircle her once again but a side sweep caught his calves and put an end to those dreams.

He spectacularly face-planted before he could even go one meter from his starting point.

"That works." Levi noted dryly.

Eren clutched his stomach in pain fairly certain that steam would be regenerating his wounds from training with these two. Mikasa had been shown the side sweep and it seemed her favorite thing to try on him.

At least she's not holding ba—ahh. That hurts.

Levi tapped one foot and Eren sprang up from lying on the floor to face him. Ready for another round.

Levi looked him over once, "200 punches, alternate."

Eren nodded and faced the wall.

"Mikasa, downstairs. You keep practicing." Levi unraveled the bandages on his hand and exited the room. Mikasa paused at the door for a moment and followed after him.

Left. Right. Left. Left. Right.

His joints popped as he jabbed an imaginary enemy. One hand close to the face, the other snapping out.

Left. Right. Right.

Armin was safe away in Mitras, only Mikasa was left.

Right. Right

A loud knock downstairs paused his training and for a moment he considered answering the door before Mikasa went to it. She spoke too quietly with the visitor for pick their words but the conversation was short and they soon closed the door on him.

"Eren! Letter!"

Snap

He bolted from the room scrambling to get downstairs to reach Mikasa, he leaped over the sturdy wooden stairs to snatch the letter from…

…Mikasa's empty hands. On the other side of the room, Levi Ackerman cut into the envelope with his fingers, taking time to look at the seal.

"Inner wall postage but no name or return address."

Snap Snap

"Announcement by the Assembly, soldiers and able-bodied civilians are invited for a selection of the newest weapon of Humanity named the Attack Soldier. To be held… here.

"What?"

"It's a warning. Pack up."

"From who?" They asked. Levi scowled and gave the paper another look.

"Don't know."

"You and Mikasa have to leave." Eren immediately remarked

"Eren… it's not safe here."

"I have to warn Dad when he comes back." Eren pointed out.

"He'll find you with us." Levi raised an eyebrow as he scanned the letter.

"We can handle ourselves and walking up to the nearest government nest is the first thing we don't want the founder doing. It's also the one thing my dad's going to do. Go.

"No. The next word out of your mouth gets you a fist. Head into your dad's basement pick up the liquids and be ready to leave when I get back with a carriage. No baggage."

He turned and walked out of their house and Mikasa immediately went into action.

I can't leave this city. Sorry Mikasa.

As soon as she was out of sight, Eren stalked to the door and leaped into freedom, seconds before a hand smacked down on his neck and he fell into darkness.

"Tsk."

Moblit Berner

The soldiers galloped after the Jaw titan vainly attempting to separate it from the female titan. Every time a soldier steered too close, either one would lash out and send either horse or rider tumbling.

No matter how they wanted to cast it, the secret of shifters was open to every scout in the chase and from the passion on their faces; confusion had given way to fury. They wanted answers, and they put all their anger into keeping up with those two. If the ranking officers hadn't explained to them why 'titans would target the king' as Hange claimed, they could work it out by themselves. The other thing they could work out was the stench of fear on their prey. Even after entering plain grounds the two titans hadn't once turned around to engage them in combat instead putting all their effort in escaping. The gap constantly widened but just for once it felt incredibly good to be the ones giving chase.

From up ahead, Commander Erwin fired a blue flare and called the troops to a halt.

"Soldiers! Retreat! Retreat to the camps!" Cries of protest broke out from the soldiers, eager to attack the fleeing titans. As they got louder, the officers sprang into action hurling orders at their disgruntled charges. Miche's voice was prominent in the crowd as they hooves kicked up dust and the formation broke. They bucked against each other and cursed over the rebukes of the officers but turning to the titans; A single look confirmed that they had no to choice but to obey. The command had delayed them for an instant too long and the cavalry would never be able to reach them after such a burst.

"It's too late! They're gone!'

"ATTENTION!" Miche's powerful voice broke through the cloud of dissent but Erwin from behind him looked at the scattered troops and turned back to the camp without losing a word to the chaos. The corps struggled to bring their horses under control and ride out of the dust created by the kicking hooves.

Grumbling rose in the ranks while Erwin entered the camp ahead of them. Desperate to quiet the tensions Moblit called on Dita Ness.

"Hey Ness! You saw the titan person, right?!"

Gasps broke out as the soldiers turned on Ness, wheeling their horses around to face him.

Ness shifted in discomfort on his saddle.

"It was a kid."

"No way!"

"That's crazy."

"What's his problem?"

"Go on", Moblit raised his voice to urge him. "Describe him." 'While you're still alive' he implied.

"Brown hair, pale-skinned uh… stubby nose, Quick for a child. Maybe ten to fifteen. I don't know."

"Can only kids become titans?" Someone wondered. Moblit perked to answer before Hange caught his eye and glared at him.

"Nah-" Gelgar missed Hange's cue and brought attention to himself.

"You're right Gelgar." Hange cut in with a stinging tone.

As he clamped up, Hange grit her teeth at the unwanted eyes, "Until it's confirmed, assumptions like that are too dangerous to stand by."

"Wait a minute! The kid and the titan had the same hair color!" Ness blurted.

"Then the other tall female one?"

"Tall, blonde and blue eyed!".

They all fell uncomfortably silent as they realized who else that described.

Someone laughed stiffly and the entire legion fell into a painful minute of awkward laughter at the absurdity.

"That's stupid."

"Yeah. It's stupid. Plus she's clearly female.

"It's not like he has daughter or anything…."

"Hahaha." "Hahaha"

Moblit winced and Miche cringed so painfully his neck seemed to twist.

Not a minute too soon, they were waved into the camp hurriedly by garrison aides. Erwin's grim disposition was prominent in the confusion of the officers around him. Two loud soldiers were arguing about their missing horses, others were in light uproar about a silly noble and sure enough they all gathered around one man, A noble folded into himself on the ground,

"It's what I was t-to-told to announce!" He wailed.

"By whom?!"

"And ask him if he took our horses!"

"I can't tell you!" the noble wept.

The soldier kicked him lightly in the back and he shrieked.

"Kick him in the head to help his memory." Erwin suggested mildly

"A lady of the King's court!"

"Hello? Care to fill us on kick-a-noble-and-lose-funding-day?" Hange slipped in between the noble and the soldier.

"Teenagers go on joyrides all the time, be quiet you two."

Miche snatched a scroll, scanned through it and passed it to Hange. Desperate not to miss his chance, Moblit peered over her shoulder at the message.

"By the order of… blah blah

All citizens are invited to the city of Ehrmich by His Royal Majesty… Blah blah

To apply and contest for the venerated honor of Humanity's Attack soldier.."

It was all very boring… Wait… Wasn't the titan called…

He turned to Hange and she realized at the same time.

Then Hange kicked the noble too.

-O-

"What is that kid's problem?"

"How fast can he get into trouble? And with the Assembly of all people? "

"Has he been captured?"

"Levi wouldn't allow it."

"I hope he's alright…"

"Everybody shut up!" Hange waved her hands at them, turning on the noble…

"YOU'LL ADDRESS ME AS MA'AM, SIR OR OFFICER! GOT THAT?!'

'Eh?"

"MA'AM, SIR, OFFICER!"

"DID THE ASSEMBLY SEND YOU?!"

"No!"

"YEAH? ARE YOU SOME SORT OF SPY?!"

"No… Ma'am!"
Hange whipped out a sword and sliced just above his head, sending him squealing to the earth. As he cowered she yelled at him again,

"STOP LYING TO ME! You are an enemy of the Walls!"

"N-no! I! I'm not! I'm really not!"

"THEN WHO SENT YOU CRAPSUCKER?!"

"I WAS SENT BY THE GODDESS!" He screamed back.

"WHO? HOW?"

"NO! I WON'T SAY ANYMORE!"

"NICE! THEN WE GET TO QUESTION YOU!"

"I won't talk!"

They hauled him off roughly and moved to confer.

Hange cleared her throat and scowled, "Someone in the assembly or king's court is aware of Eren. And…. What?"

"It doesn't exactly make sense that they inform literally everybody where he is?" someone countered

"If they wanted to seize or cease him quietly, they'd just ask MPs…." Multiple people snorted and rolled their eyes at the idea. Except Commander Erwin.

"Is someone warning him of a manhunt?"

"Or a trap? For anyone that knows too much?"

"Yeah… good point." Moblit agreed. "We probably shouldn't even be discussing this out here."

"Ignore that," Commander Erwin interjected, "He'd spent the entirety of our chase, spreading the word to the citizenry. We soldiers are well in our rights to discuss….. what are we discussing?" He waved vaguely to emphasize his point.

"Huh? Oh! Uhh… We're… about how only soldiers should be allowed to compete!"

"Only soldiers… mmm. How far is Ehrmich from here?" Erwin calmly slung his arm over Miche and another over Hange pulling them close into a huddle.

"Weeks? A week with a military supplies and horses?" In the background, other scouts jostled and silently struggled to join the huddle before it closed, desperate to be in on the next secret plan.

"We have to focus on the walls. No time to chase tales and pageants" The commander pronounced openly with a manipulative glint in his eye. He looked around to make sure they all got the message, satisfied he smiled-

"So…. Can we return to barracks?"

Erwin palmed his forehead with a groan.

Hange coughed lightly and grabbed Erwin by the elbow.

"Excuse us." She pulled him away from the crowd and stared at him.

"Erwin, let's stay out of this one."

"That's… unacceptable." He smiled mildly but his eyes strained at even the suggestion.

"We don't have to be everywhere, let's leave it to the garrison or the police. This just smells of a trap."

"If there's something that you want to avoid. I can arrange a quiet leave of absence for you."

"Don't be foolish!" Her whisper came out harshly, but she refused to turn away in apology. "Almost a sixth of our force is tied up in Quinta, we've been riding up and down the Walls for weeks, supplies are being pulled every way, our horses are being run ragged and the troops are unhappy. Can't we wait this one out?"

Erwin studied her in silence,

"Finding out the truth means a lot to you… but we have to rest. Order us to the barracks… please."

A/N: Hello There. My fault, completely forgot about uploading this chapter and I only discovered when I came to upload chapter 22. Ahh well. Do enjoy the story... It goes on! Don't forget to rec... and please review... even 'nice' would be accepted at this point. We also take card. Ahahah

Looking forward to that Bright Dawn!

Poor G