When Petra decided to take up arms and join the rebels, she was placed alongside the newly appointed Commander at the province of Orvud. Orvud was beyond miserable back then as she remembered. As for you, you came to know about it through mainstream news; a terrorist attack commenced or so they say. Farms were obliterated. The bits of urban area were torn into pieces. Elementary schools were pulverized. Children were included. It was for the common good that the royal government declared Orvud under a state of calamity and martial law.

But who were the terrorists spotted back then? Where did they come from?

No one knew. The information that must be revealed transparently to the affected citizens was kept confidential. To alleviate mass hysteria, an official statement from the neighboring country was released. Zeke Yeager, an Eldian diplomat, said that the bombing was instigated by Marleyan terrorists. He, alongside other prominent leaders in the said nation, bowed their head in front of the national television to apologize.

But who were the key suspects involved? Who, in particular, must be held accountable in front of the victims?

No one knew. The information that must be revealed transparently to the affected citizens was kept confidential. Only their bowing heads, as well Marley's promise to compensate for the damages, were shown to the citizens.

Petra wasn't able to finish the story because of your arrival at Levi's residence. A comrade from Stohess asked for her assistance as well hence you were left alone with the two.

Now as you sit on the couch with Isabel fidgeting nervously you do realize how imperative that case is.

"Before the operation that killed Furlan, Kenny was reportedly seen in the private conference held by Marleyan foreign affairs. To have him, the most powerful asset of the armed forces, at a table full of peaceful diplomats would be strange, don't you think? Unless allied nations are cooking something that'd require a blood bath." Levi then tossed a folder full of documents at the coffee table. First page was for the ambassador's profile. "Zeke Yaeger, despite a completely different upbringing carrying a different name, is one with royal blood. No one knows it aside from the royal family and people working beside them."

"If we were to put it in the church's perspective, they see Zeke as someone tasked to evangelize the prophecy to the rest of mankind. 'The royal sovereignty of Eldia—truly the rightful bearers of the tree—desire the prosperity not only of their own nation but of the whole human race,' or so they say," this time it was Isabel who spoke. "Have you heard of the Orvud terrorist bombing two years ago?"

Oh, of course, just a while ago with the Eldian rebel who got stationed in that very area. "Not that much except what was said on the news."

"Furlan knew what really happened in that place."

"What?"

"You know what the Eldian rebels claim about the massacre? That there were no Marleyan terrorists—no one but the state finding justification in flatting out the whole province so they could bring its entirety under their property?"

Your eyes widened. You might've gotten involved with the guerillas just recently but you didn't expect these two to have more awareness about their existence. The rebels are highly villainized here, after all. "Orvud is by far the largest base of Eldian guerillas right now. Royal government had to retract its soldiers from the area not long after the bombing because of how strong their forces are. Though I'm not sure what'd happen from hereon now that Kenny finally sat in the highest command."

"What the rebels say will always be deemed unreliable by the mainstream, but it's true. There were no Marleyan terrorists. Had the Eldian guerillas not interfered, the restoration of Orvud would be handled by the royal government and the church."

Levi called your name, "Able to connect the dots now?"

"Orvud was supposed to be conquered for the prophecy. Marley marked its allegiance by claiming the bombing as theirs…?"

"Indeed, and I can see this as a possible reason why Furlan got killed. Having to be involved in such an operation would be a piercing dagger for him. After all, the only thing that holds him back from leaving Kenny's side was the desire to pay back the favor of taking a runt like him under his roof." His eyes tightened as he looked down at the floor, "In principle, he holds the prophecy in disdain because of how unscientific it is; he said the impoverished farmers don't deserve to be subjected to danger in their livelihood for something that couldn't be strongly proven—well no, even if it indeed becomes proven, he'd condemn it just the same."

"Furlan and I went from the same foster home. While I got the privilege to have caring parents, Furlan was brought back many times. Kenny was the only adult who took him in without leaving." Isabel interjected.

You turned to Levi sympathetically, "I know Kenny is someone important to you. You don't need to be burdened in this."

"Huh," he huffed, "if anything, Kenny has been estranged from us after pledging loyalty to the royal family. He said it's all for our family's reputation; wants us to be one of the most powerful in the country. You know how that type of family disagreement ends up."

"But I agree with her," the redhead hesitantly concurred, "if it weren't for Kenny then the three of us would never—"

Levi's silent glare was more than enough for Isabel to not finish that, "If it weren't for Kenny, Furlan would still be here living peacefully—perhaps even in a place far away from us. I would prefer not seeing him here if that means he'd be alive somewhere. The only regret I have is that I never pushed him away from that geezer when I sensed his desire for freedom."

Isabel obviously wasn't prepared to channel her grief in this talk either. She came here with both of you to investigate according to the data gathered. After wiping the tears off her face, she cleared her throat, "It seems like we have the dots connected except one; I can't find anything about the name mentioned in that conversation. Who is Anna?"

Your breath hitched a bit loudly, having the two shoot you a look of surprise. "Do you know that person?"

Aching to change the topic, you flipped over the documents Levi had provided only to freeze again because it was your father on the second page.

"Who is this," you trailed on the two to gauge what they know—eyes shot wide and devoid of glint.

"I don't know who Anna might be so I gathered every Anna I could grasp. The rest of the documents are the other prospect Annas that they might be talking about."

And it seems like Levi hit the jackpot.

You let the man continue nonetheless.

"This is a dead soldier who worked alongside Kenny, killed with his family for reasons unknown. It's hard to gather information about him. All I know is that his child, Anna, was included in the news—" Levi cut himself off upon realizing something. He called your name sternly, "you've been acting weird since Furlan's death. Are you hiding something from us?"

"Anna is—" how would I even say it? "—a child I used to know."

Indeed, it's as Erwin said so. You are the person you chose to be, the name you go by and the path you're about to take. If anything, Anna is someone you used to know, barely so.

"Anna survived the fires back then and because she was the daughter of a high-ranking soldier, the royal family offered to take her in. A close neighbor fostered her for a while but she ran away from them while recovering. That family was heavily penalized for negligence. He and his son had to give up their life in the urban and were forced to reside in an unpopulated countryside because of their failure to bring Anna back."

In reality, Carly took you in, hid you well, and made you choose a name of your own. The punishment Erwin's father had faced for not bringing you back was something he took with pleasure. That's why you grew up in that measly province.

"Penalized? Is this Anna very important to them? If that's the case then she might be—"

"More likely. A few days ago, guerillas released a statement that Anna is within their highest ranks—betrothed to the commander. The royal government is yet to release a response."

Isabel gasped, "That commander? The one who managed to defeat vast forces of military in Orvud years ago?"

"This dead soldier, according to what I gathered, was a henchman directly in charge of the confidential operation concerning Eldia's prosperity. If this was the case, then Anna might've something linked to that operation."

"Still, there are dots we couldn't connect," Isabel intervened confusingly, "how is Furlan's death related to Anna?"

Your gut wretched at the realization: Furlan knew your identity even before you did.

Why did he die, then? Did he try to protect you? What does he know?

Then a heavier bullet daunted you: the language written in his cadaver.

Out of everyone, why are you the only one who understood? What was Anna's link to that operation?

Slowly but surely, another possibility teetered you to the edge of horror.

Levi and Isabel tried reaching out to you but to no avail. Petra, who asked them to contact her once you're done (or if something happened), was immediately summoned. She brought you back into the underground worriedly. After all, she thought you'd be uplifted by seeing your two friends. Erwin got a bit surprised at your demeanor as well, but then an emergency leader's assembly was called upon your arrival.

"After our press release about Anna, the intelligence unit of the royal family took serious steps in tracking where it came from," said Gunther, a full-time guerilla posing as the public information officer. "More HQs reported heightened military presence along the area."

The venue was a small room in an abandoned apartment complex. Seated across the center table was the Commander. Beside him was Petra, his chief of staff. Representatives from different provincial units were here, too.

"Then it really confirms that Anna is an important wildcard in this mission. Something to be used against the government and conservatives to distract them from our offensive," confirmed Miche, another full-time rebel.

"The Commander's tactical strategy involving Anna as our bait will thereby commence for the next few weeks. We must have our units informed immediately."

"And for us to have higher leverage in exploring more of the royal family's weakness, an investigation unit will be reinforced for that specific operation. We'll start by unveiling Anna's upbringing before the flames."

Finally, the commander spoke, "Petra will oversee the respective matters raised. The combat unit will be tasked to equip Anna in defending herself. Our bait must know how to fight so she'd be able to keep up with us."

"But you mentioned before that Anna has been hopping from one unit to the other. How come she wasn't able to fight?"

Well, for starters, it was a lie.

"She's been hopping, not Strattman traitor taught her basic combat but she hadn't experienced the brutal encounters between the MPs and the guerillas just yet." So that was why Carly was strict about that. "Setting that aside, enforce heightened security for our armies. Those who still live an identity aboveground must take extra precautions," with that, Petra nodded. "Expect more rampant witch-hunting by the royal family. Kenny Ackerman is a ruthless one. It's needless to say that we'll be subjected to a much harder disposition. Don't let your resolve waiver nonetheless."

"Yes, sir."

"Do you have anything to say, Anna?" Miche mused upon noticing your grim demeanor.

You must tell them what Levi and Isabel had found out in Furlan's body. That way the investigation will go faster. You don't want Petra to experience much difficulty. She'll bother going to Mitras and investigate if you don't, but— "n-no, nothing."

"Well then," Erwin fixed his composure and gestured to stand up, "meeting adjourned. Come back to your respective posts immediately."

"Yes, sir," they responded in unison.

You gulped in anxiousness.

Was it because of the mistrust? No, not on the movement. Your mind was occupied by the words on the cadaver and the voice inside you—the conquest devil. You're well aware that one of its powers might concern memory control and alteration. What more, though? Would it be able to control human responses? Human anatomy that made Furlan's artery snap inside him?

How are they related to Anna? What's that poor child have to do with Eldia's alleged prosperity? Where is this horseman? Is it possible to…

Is it possible to have that devil inside you?

You are the person you chose to be, the name you go by, the path you're about to take—but see, would you be able to see it this way if that was the case?

"There's a devil inside Anna," you muttered out of the blue. "They want to cut Anna open and get the horseman inside—the devil inside Anna." You shot Erwin a look, and other leaders stopped in their tracks as they witnessed your impending doom. "There's a devil inside Anna! A devil is arising inside!"

Despite Erwin's surprise with that, he knew that face well. You're about to lose yourself—that is if you still have it with you. "Look around your surroundings. You're not in danger right now."

"I am! There's a devil inside me! You are in danger too! It's asking me to kill you!" The line between Anna's identity and yours—one you're so careful to distinguish—is starting to blur. That was when he knew you are lost.

"Is she okay?" Petra muttered.

"Everyone, get out. Now." Erwin ordered, and so they did. The intimidation transcended their worry.

When only the two of you were left, he knelt so you'd be on the same level. As you were shaking in your chair he gently inquired, "Are the voices getting louder again?" His fingers glided to fix strands of hair glued on your sweaty forehead.

"The voices are conquering me. The conquest devil inside. The voices are conquering my memory. What if I was the one who—" you can't even bring it to say it, "this is why I can't be Anna. I must be a different entity of my own. Go away from me, it might kill—"

He cupped your cheeks then urged you to look at him properly—feel how warm his hands are, how you're safe because he's here. "But can you hear my voice too?"

"The voices inside are louder."

"But can you hear me nonetheless? My flower has always been sharp with sounds."

As strange as it seems since you're completely flushed in panic, something in Erwin's voice slowly calmed you down. The tension in your muscles eased; the creases in your forehead decreased. Your cheek propped on Erwin's palm, limp upon having it tamed.

"Can you feel me?"

"I do," you mumbled, eyes on the ground.

"How do my hands feel?"

"Warm."

He hummed in concurrence, the vibration of his voice tingled your head towards more tranquility, "Can you hear me?"

"I do,"

"How do I sound?"

"Cold. Gentle."

"And where are you right now?"

"With you,"

"And that means?"

"I'm safe."

"Great," he held onto your chin so you'd look at him, "must be tired, aren't you? How about sleep?"

You're safe. You're safe. You're safe.

The voice inside you was tamed. Following suit, you leaned your head on his shoulders and buried your face in his neck. His gentle smell had your head lighter.

Amidst that, you heard him whisper your name, "You are the beautiful name you go by right now—not Anna, not anyone. And nothing will conquer you if I'm here."

"Nothing will conquer me if you're here," you wrapped your arms around him and nuzzled your head further. He could feel your tears forming up his neck.

You were supposed to give him cold treatment—at least until you sit and talk about his previous remarks—but you're just so tired, and he exuded utter calm, and he managed to turn the voices down.

Nothing will conquer you if he's here.

As soon as you woke up from that, you realized that there was no time to waste. You have to unravel what happened to Furlan and add more of the two leads: the Marleyan forces claiming the Orvud massacre and you.

The training grounds were located inside the underground as well, one of which was an open space where guns and aiming boards faced opposite to each other. Practicing guns seems to be so normal. Maybe the rebels opted for this place because police rarely reach it (or maybe it's their task to have them not reach it).

Fully beyond the normalcy that you sought.

"You only slept for two hours. Rest more," the Commander countered upon your announcement.

"You just told the crew that the bait needs to know how to fight so it could keep up."

"The Strattman traitor taught you how to fight, no need to rush."

"She didn't teach me how to hold a gun. I'd appreciate it if you won't cradle my fragility, Commander."

And you just know he wouldn't be able to deny you. He's easily amused—if not amazed—to your defiance every single time. If you tell Erwin something you're resolved to do, he'd see to it that it's done—just like those times you were dead set on conquering his bed back in Mitras.

Hellish months of training ensued and the improvement was quite impressive. You can't go to the surface to investigate further but you didn't waver. It was either you pushing your consciousness beyond limits or just the desire to distract yourself from all sorts of possibilities regarding the conquest devil.

Or perhaps it's Erwin not giving you any hint of mercy just as you asked so because recently, he decided to go overboard—even your pleas for a tap out didn't reach him.

Positions akin to torturing prisoners during interrogation, only without the involvement of knives, go for half a day. While you're at it, he'll be sitting there with legs crossed. He'll talk to you about the most random stuff; the agenda is to have you stay mentally sane despite physical torture. Then he'll shift to crueler parts—he'll ask questions that you must not answer no matter how painful your position gets.

At one point one of your joints cracked and Erwin paused the training. You thought that'd be it for today but when he realized the crack wasn't that grave,he persisted for a few more hours. You continued without complaints, though, and he was deeply impressed. That's why he always did the aftercare so gently. If he approaches you or catches your utterly exhausted figure in his arms, you'll know he's calling it a day.

Not that you don't understand, but see, you have your limits too.

And this was it.

"No, I won't do this!"

"You've already mastered the art of not getting disoriented during a crisis hence we're going to the next part." Erwin mused as you glared at him, horrified, "You've been impressive all this time. I'm disappointed at you cowering like this."

"Because you're failing to explain why!" you held shakily onto the knife, "There's no way hurting a comrade would ever be rational!"

He was asking you to stab him. To fucking stab him.

You asked if it was supposed to be a play pretend but no—he was asking you to pierce the blade in him.

His stare was dry, a message that he would not proceed until you did what you were told. This was the first time you got genuinely scared of him in the long course of his brutal training.

"Rationality is what you're missing right now. It's being blurred by your personal perception of me," he sounded sardonic, "What if someone among our ranks turns their back on us? What if you've come to know and befriend them before they did? What would happen then?"

"But you're different from them!"

"And that's why you have to start with me. If you could use your weapon on me then you could with anybody else," he took a step towards you; you took a step back until you could no more. He had your knife pointed directly at his torso, "Come on. Use your brain and realize the rationale of what you have to do."

Amidst the shaking, you tried to bargain, "Why are you even so certain that there'll be a traitor among our ranks—"

"Do it."

"No!" you screeched, "I'd rather die! I'd rather die than stain my hands with your blood!"

"So much for being valiant about giving your dear friend justice. Don't venture a mission as heavy as that, then. You might as well sit like a doll to be protected beside me."

Regret was what you felt; you should've addressed his problematic stances before asking to be trained. Nevermind the rationale, the motif, even whether it's a mere provocation or not. You couldn't understand this level of cruelty right now.

"If I—" you gulped, "if I were the one to turn my back on you, what would you do?"

"What do you think?"

"Answer me!" you exclaimed, "Have me understand how much of a sick bastard you've become, Commander!"

"I said it before, didn't I? I have no other intention but to ruin whoever dared to go after you. With a motive like that, it's impossible for me to turn my back on you. However, if you were to turn your back on me," he pressed the knife further to him, "I wouldn't be able to do anything. After all, how is a corpse supposed to act?"

"What?"

You realized it, then—the agenda of this training.

"You have to choose your motivation resolutely. What is it that you really want? Not your excellence in physical combat could save you from faltering resolve." This time, the mocking of his features subsided. His face was grim—unrelenting, even. "There can be contradictions with the outside factors but never on your internal resolve. Be clear on me right now, where do you pledge your loyalty?"

"For Furlan's justice and the simple life the perpetrators had deprived of us."

"With Furlan's involvement in the Military Police, what if he ends up being your enemy?"

"No," you immediately spat in defense as if you never considered that possibility ever.

Oh, little does Erwin know.

You didn't answer further so he urged more, "You told me to not take you easily. I never would. That's the only way we could outlive this."

You dropped the knife.

"So, that was it? No justice for your friends anymore? No justice for the life they deprived of you?"

"No," you muttered dully, "I just need a tap out."

"I thought you already know better by now. I never granted you that since we started."

Indeed, and you've been so compliant with that. You never dared argue for anything despite how hard he was going. You collapsed due to exhaustion but never did you waver.

You didn't answer then.

"We're not getting past the training until you finish this one. Rest for now." Erwin walked away without a word.

After the talk about motivation, you were listless, devoid of purpose, just living inside the underground for the sake of it. Petra noticed the decline, too. She was pointing out how you don't smile anymore and how you're not overly amused with the simplest things.

It seems to her that you were lost, just as if something inside you had vanished.

But then,

That's always been the case, hasn't it?

There can be contradictions with the outside factors, but never with your internal resolve.

But how could that establish when the voices keep on contradicting every single aspect of your life? What if despite your unwavering sense of justice, you're the sole perpetrator and the lone enemy?

You distracted yourself for another month by training in combat until one day, you passed out. And oh, how taxing it was that even in a state of shutdown, Erwin's voice was still ringing.

"Seriously. You've been pushing your limits for such a short period of time. If your physical health declines, then all your training will go to waste," berated Moblit, the one foreseeing the medics. He still lives an identity aboveground as a volunteer doctor in impoverished communities.

"Moblit, why did you join us?"

"Honestly, it wasn't as noble as the others," he sheepishly answered as he addressed the wound on your shoulders, "I was just drawn at the rationale of it. I came from a well-off family and gained the education most privileged would gain but—" his smile turned rueful, "it isn't fair, don't you think? I believe kids at the farm have more potential than me. I want to see them attain what they really deserve, not just by privilege."

"So, it's possible to be here even if you don't have an experience as grave as what happened to Petra's family, is that it?"

"Yes, and I guess the best thing is that every reason is acknowledged. As long as you understand the struggle, you're welcome. The devotion will develop as you embark on the journey of being one of us." Moblit suddenly perked up at a thought, "I know you never really got the chance to immerse with the units since you just hopped from one after the other, but come with us to the farm one day. I suppose you'll understand what I'm saying by then."

It was rather a small gesture but that was it. What you've been finding for.

Contradictions must be everywhere but your internal resolve.

"Where's the Commander?"

"You had a fight, didn't you?" Moblit pointed out, though he realized he just tried to pry in so he backtracked, "I'm sorry! It's just that the Commander told us that if you come to find him, he must be informed immediately so he could put you on top of the list."

You nodded meekly.

"I'm sure it'll be fine. He has softened up a lot since you arrived, after all. You seem to love each other a lot."

"If you're referring to his demeanor, the Commander has always been a lighthearted person. A very approachable one, too."

"To you, of course," Moblit's sour face told you the opposite. "He used to be so grim. Now's the only time my fear decreased because he started smiling at us during meetings."

That's something you could understand but never imagine. Erwin's grim has always been a temporary thing for you—scary but always temporary.

Would that change for you too? Is this another contradiction you have to overcome?

"Look who's here," Erwin diverted his attention from the stack of papers upon noticing you in his doorway.

This is the first time you came to his room and yet the familiarity is strong—bed beside a large window and office table placed parallel to it. You sat on the mattress without a word, drawn at the scenery underneath. Because the Commander's room is placed on the toppermost floor, the view includes various lamplights that barely brighten the underground town. The moldy rocks that cover the place exuded further grim.

"Finally ready to point a knife at me?"

"My loyalty will be to the movement. It'll be my primary motivation from now on."

"You didn't answer my question. How about Furlan?"

"Furlan was liked by them. My loyalty for his justice doesn't need to clash with that, and he can't turn his back on me further because he's dead."

"But the perpetrators who took your simple life away are—"

"Are nothing but the royal pigs who foolishly reason out Eldia's prosperity while violently taking things away from their subjects. The only thing I'm clear about right now is that my loyalty will never be for those who seize things they don't deserve. Furlan was the complete opposite, no matter how deep his affiliations were."

"If your loyalty to the movement is half of your loyalty to one person's death, what would become of you if it clashed? What if your dearest Furlan wasn't as heroic? What if this dear movement actually urged Furlan's death?"

Finally, he gave you an opening to address your issue with him.

"You're the dearest comrade I hold here, Erwin. And apparently, being the dearest in my life, you keep on showing behavior that contradicts how I perceive you. Must this contradiction waver my resolve in holding you with utmost importance? I don't think so, as long as my deep and innermost self is committed to standing by your side."

He was taken aback; you could see it in the smallest flinch on his face. Still, he countered, "Every person you value has the potential of becoming the dearest comrade—even the word dearest is subjective in nature."

"Having you as my dearest person is the only thing that's been constant in my fluttering life. Years didn't change that, even if you try so."

His slight surprise became more palpable. Not long after, it appears his concern got distracted by a silly one.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

He took his time looking at you before speaking amusedly, "Do you think we're still in the good old days where you can freely profess your affection like that?"

Of course, your connection with him isn't something to be seen in a romantic sense, but it wasn't something familial either. You couldn't put it into words—not that you have to. "Why not?"

"Well, in a room where both of us are alone, grown up, covered by the cold night breeze, pretending to be a couple, and with you sitting on my bed. Nothing wrong, indeed."

Oh.

That's when you turned around and realized the veracity of his statement. No one batted an eye—except Petra—as you entered the room because they know you are husband and wife. Your sudden fluster pulled out a smile from him. Finally, you realized the quite awkward change amidst the comforting familiarity.

"But to be fair, it was real. Even the voices inside my head couldn't counter that no matter how loud it gets. You won't get thrown away from my list of dearest, not anytime soon, so don't you worry about my resolve."

"I suggest you say that to me during the day, though, unless you want this night to turn into a completely different path."

You shot him a teasing glare, "Yeah? What path do you speak of, dear Commander?"

"Would you be ready for that?" Actually not. When you took time to respond, he sneered back, "I know, right? We'll get back to the talk of resolve later."

"Then let's talk about you first. You've been strange recently—asking me to hurt you all the while uttering your loyalty on me, provoking me by crudity, among many others. I've never seen this much conflict with you."

"War piles you up with countless contradictions. The longer you stay, the more of it comes. I believe the cruelty of my actions is important to the mission."

"No, it's not. Cruelty and strategic excellence don't have to coexist all the time. War just changed your ability to approach things, Erwin."

That, he wasn't able to deny. He looked down at the ground with a defeated smile, "There are many things war can do to us. That's why it's important to have an established and unbreakable motivation deep inside."

"Then the moment you joined this war, what was the resolve formed inside of you?"

"I told you, didn't I? It would be impossible for me to turn my back on you."

It was your turn to get flustered. It's the way he says everything so easily. The distance between the two of you might get farther due to this war, but it can't be snapped away with a firm resolve.

You shot him a genuine grin, "That makes us quits, don't we?"