17:26 PM
Floch shadowed Hannah until he made sure she was with Sandra and the others. His attention was suddenly directed towards a smoke signal that went up above them, taking it as a sign to head towards the offices upstairs where Jean, Marco, Armin, and Mikasa waited for him.
"Took you long enough, where were you? we just sent the signal." Jean grumbled at the creaking door as Floch stepped inside.
"I'm glad you miss me, I was taking care of personal matters. What's happening now?" He replied nonchalantly as he took a seat.
"I thought It'd be best if we started loading the injured in advance, we now just have to figure out who's going out there to send the word." Marco explained.
"It must be someone capable, someone who's skilled enough to maneuver their way around a town chock full of titans," Armin spoke.
Jean, Marco, and Armin looked between each other, while Floch turned towards Mikasa's direction to find that the girl was more than ready to volunteer herself, however he had other plans.
"Marco and I can't leave, and neither can Mikasa. Us three are vital to this castle's defense, as for you two... Well, we can do without you Jean." Floch said with a smirk at the end.
Jean felt annoyed at his comment. "Tsk, the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Floch didn't bother to answer as he turned to Marco.
"What about Reiner and Bertholdt?" Marco suggested.
No.
"They're... also required here." He answered carefully.
Armin looked troubled initially, he clenched his fists and lowered his gaze to the ground as several thoughts flooded his mind. He furrowed his brows as he took the attention of everyone in the room by stepping forward. "I'll go with Jean, everyone here has done their part except for me. I refuse to sit around doing nothing while everyone else has done their best to protect us!" He declared.
Floch blinked before shrugging. "Sure."
Good titan bait for Jean.
Armin was surprised by his simple answer, briefly believing that the redhead would oppose him going out there. Mikasa and the rest weren't as agreeable about it as Floch though.
"Absolutely not!" Mikasa hissed.
"Why not?" Floch asked her. "He's more brains than brawn and no offense, but he is not useful in a fight. However, what he lacks in combat he makes up for in mobility. He's fast and agile, he can do this." Floch added in encouragement as Armin's face lit up.
"Floch..." Armin muttered, feeling touched by his honesty and the confidence he had in him.
"Are you sure? Mikasa would be our safest option here..." Jean trailed in uncertainty.
"Only if you're willing to gamble the safety of everyone in this castle, our numbers are dwindling fast, and not that many can put up a good fight," Floch replied.
"I will not allow you to put Armin at risk, his strategies could help us defend better!" Mikasa argued furiously
"Mikasa," Armin spoke, she turned to him as her features softened at his determined expression.
"I have to do this, for everyone's sake! I can't sit back here and do nothing while everyone fights, I've already done that before and I nearly paid a heavy price for it. I am a soldier, I have sworn to serve this kingdom and everyone in it haven't I? If my actions will be a benefit to humanity then I will not hesitate to do what's necessary! I must help whether you agree or not!" He spoke out solemnly as he hardened his resolve.
"Armin..." Mikasa muttered with a frown, though her protests stopped.
"So that's it then, Armin and I?" Jean asked.
Floch nodded. "Yes, I'll give you five minutes to get ready. We'll start moving the injured. Mikasa, escort them both outside and check if the canon teams need anything, we have to make sure everyone can return safely."
"Does 'everyone' include Eren?" Mikasa spat with narrowed eyes.
Jean frowned, yet to get over the fact that Eren was one of the Titans. He grit his teeth and looked outside through the windows grimly.
"I did say, everyone. If push comes to shove he'll be allowed out of the cell to fight, for now, he'll stay there where he is safe from the fear and ignorance of the others around him. I assure you, Mikasa, I don't wish Eren any harm, far from it." Floch responded diplomatically.
Though not entirely convinced, the girl chose to back down for now. They all left the room one by one, leaving him all by himself to contemplate his thoughts. Trost, Eren, Franz, Hannah, Louise, the warriors, Erwin, and the Corps, it all weighed down on him immensely. He sighed as he picked himself up from the chair and walked out of the room, there was still much to be done and the day wasn't over just yet.
17:38 PM
Armin fastened his belts as he tried his best to calm his nerves, though the trembling of his hands was beyond his control. Jean looked back at him from the corner of his eye before giving him a light tap on the shoulder, the blond looked up to see him offer a reassuring grin.
"Don't worry ya little bookworm, we'll be fine," Jean said.
Armin gave a weak smile as he nodded in return. "Right!"
Mikasa walked over to him, still drowning in uncertainty over letting another childhood friend go into danger. She held his hand from behind with a glum expression as she buried the lower half of her face into her scarf, Armin squeezed her hand back upon seeing this.
"Mikasa..." He muttered.
"Be safe, Armin."
He hummed. "Remember what you said, we can't win if we don't fight. We'll make it out of here all of us! Keep Eren safe for me will you?"
The girl moved her head up and nodded, giving the boy a brief hug before the duo set out to inform the soldiers stationed at the wall. Jean looked down at them with a twinge of jealousy as he scratched the back of his head and looked away awkwardly.
"Tsk. What about me? No words of encouragement? I'm risking my life out there too, you know?" He grumbled.
Mikasa turned over in his direction and gave him a small smile in return. "You too Jean, stay safe."
His cheeks tinged red as he looked back at her in surprise.
"R-right, Thanks!" He stammered before turning around and grabbing of an unsuspecting Armin.
"Come on now! We're burning daylight let's go, Armin!" He spoke quickly in a fit of embarrassment as the poor boy was dragged along with him.
"J-Jean!" Armin shouted in panic as two of them jumped off the side of the castle.
The two boys zoomed across town, inspecting the aftermath of the initial attack. The vacant streets were riddled with debris and blood, Armin frowned as they pushed further and further up north, quietly lamenting over the remnants of a failed evacuation. Today was a grim reminder for humanity, but soon enough they would be out of this hell. Without warning, Armin found himself tackled into a rooftop courtesy of Jean himself. He momentarily panicked as the taller boy covered his mouth with their hand, he shushed him as they hid behind the cover of a chimney. Jean peeked from the side to find a titan crossing the intersection where they were just about to go, as Armin now peeked with him, his eyes widening in shock at their proximity, he would have been a goner if he kept pushing that way.
"Thanks, Jean."
"Don't worry about it, come on we need to drop down to the other side, this way is no good. We're gonna have to cut east through the river, I can see a bunch of them huddled by the main entrance and Its surroundings." The boy advised before he stood up and jumped away.
Armin briefly looked back at the castle before he jumped after him, nobody said this was going to be easy.
A few minutes later...
"Their signal faded, do you still have eyes on the people there?"
Rico Brzenska hummed. "Yes, There's a lot of them on the rooftops, somewhere between ten to fifteen personnel."
"Weren't there more?" The soldier was puzzled.
"Possibly inside." Came her short reply.
"Tough luck, there's no way they'll approve a rescue mission at this point. Maybe those Survey Corps nutjobs will be up for it though." He shrugged.
"Regardless, we'll do what we must-"
Rico paused, the distinct hissing of gas alerting her. The officer next to her looked puzzled as she took a step back, suddenly two cadets appeared in front of her, both looking ragged and out of breath. The soldiers around her quickly swarmed them as they tended to the two boys, the blond one muttered thanks as he was offered a canteen of water.
"Name and affiliation cadets!" He ordered them as they came to attention.
"Cadet Armin Arlert, One hundred and fourth southern division, serving under the jurisdiction of the vanguard!"
"Cadet Jean Kirstein, One hundred and fourth southern division, likewise!"
"I see, you two must have been through hell to get here. Let's get you both medical, ge-" The officer began before being cut off by Armin.
"There's no time for that sir! We are here to send word to the commanders in charge! We have many wounded that need to be evacuated, we need help to rescue our comrades!" Armin yelled much to their surprise.
The man furrowed his brows. "That's not happening, sorry. We need every man and woman we have to help defend against the armored titan's attack." The officer replied stubbornly.
"What kind of bullshit is that?! We fought to the death on your orders and this is what we get in return?!" Jean growled.
"Watch your tone, boy." The officer narrowed his eyes sharply.
"To hell with that!"
"Soldiers, arrest this cadet immediately! We cannot tolerate such blatant insubordination." The man ordered as the men moved in.
"Hold on!" Armin shouted as he stepped between the tense Jean and the two soldiers, a troubled look on his face as the gears turned in his mind. "W-we have more than just wounded at the castle, we have stumbled on a great weapon, a weapon that's effective against the titans! It's the reason why we survived this long in the first place!"
The officer ordering their arrest scoffed. "You must think I am stupid enough to believe that, are-"
"It's true! If you ignore us now, it'll be everyone's blood on your hands!" Armin shouted at him, the man's eyes widened as his heart skipped a beat. "You risk the fate of Trost- no! The fate of Humanity itself! Due to your refusal to allow us a word with high command." The blond boy continued his insistance, though the officer remained visibly hesitant.
"Get these two out of my-" The officer was about to say before being cut off.
Rico stepped forward, skeptical yet willing to listen. "This weapon you speak about, what is it?" She demanded, all eyes on her now.
Armin fidgeted in his spot, meeting her gaze nervously. "I- I can't say right now, I need to be able to speak to commander Pyxis. Until then, I can't say but it is real and it is back there."
Rico narrowed her eyes. "And you expect me to believe this why?"
"Because we sacrificed too much, we didn't come this far to just lie. Please, you'll have to give us a chance, this could change the outcome of the battle." Armin pleaded, Rico's eyes suddenly went wide as a thought occured to her.
She went quiet for a few moments, the tension rising as the lower ranking officer awaited her judgement. "Very well, It is rather questionable how they're made it this long considering how quickly the vanguard and assault team were wiped out." She spoke, relief washing over the two cadets. "You'll have your word with the commander."
The officer contemplated with a frown, turning around to address the woman privately. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" He whispered.
She challenged his gaze as she spoke. "What can we exactly do other than sit around doing nothing? It is worth the shot."
The officer's face scrunched in deep thought before ultimately caving in to their demands with a sigh. "Fine, you better not be spouting bullshit. Let them through."
"Tsk. That's right." Jean muttered quietly next to Armin.
Armin's face lit up with gratitude as he looked back at Rico, who escorted them to the lift. They entered an elevator as Rico pulled a lever, an awkward silence settling around them during their descent. Rico looked down at the crowd of soldiers below somberly, then spoke with her back turned to them.
"This weapon you spoke about, Is it real or were you bluffing?"
Jean and Armin shared a look before Armin replied. "It is, we swear we wouldn't lie about something like this."
"Hell, we all saw it with our own eyes," Jean added.
She hummed. "Alright, though it pains me I'll believe in you two, we can only hope high command does too."
An immense pressure struck them as the absurdity of the situation finally struck, Armin gulped, how was he supposed to explain Eren? The elevator came to a halt as all three exited, they made their way through the small town as Armin's head raced with several thoughts. Unbeknownst to them, a couple of cadets noticed their arrival.
"Hey! That's Jean and Armin over there!"
Krista and Ymir turned around in surprise, with the blonde feeling glad to see more survivors. While Ymir looked indifferent, she did feel some worry over the wellbeing of that bastard Forster. Morbidly wondering how could a pathetic little mouse like Arlert make it out alive but not him. Ymir glanced to the side, noticing that Krista was about to bolt out of her seat.
"Where do you think you're going?" She called out as she grabbed Krista by the arm and dragged her back down.
"Ymir! Let go, I have to go check up on them!" Krista said.
Ymir chuckled as she forced the blonde into a headlock. "Settle down princess, they're being escorted by an officer for a reason. You'll only make yourself look stupid."
Her words seemed to do the trick as Krista stopped resisting, she deflated in her arms defeatedly before slipping out of her hold and sunk into her seat.
"I'm just really worried about all of them..." She muttered sadly.
"Aren't we all?"
That redheaded bastard better survive.
"The people who have the ability to change something in this world, all, without exception, have the guts to abandon things important to them if they have to." - Armin Arlert 850 AD.
"Seriously? This is the new HQ? Couldn't they have picked somewhere that doesn't smell terrible?" Jean complained as they walked inside the building.
"This is the safest place in the case of a breach, Jean." Armin explained as they entered the halls to the war room.
They walked up the stairs only to be greeted by two guards in front of a double door, the two men sent Rico a questioning look upon laying eyes on the cadets. The white-haired woman advised them to sit by the side as she relayed information to the others.
"And I told you I won't accept anything like that, you may enjoy sending your men out to senseless slaughter but we do things differently here."
"Do you believe sitting around here waiting for our enemy to strike first will yield different results?"
"It will surely be safer than laying siege on what is now a dead city."
"They're going at it in there aren't they?" Jean whistled, as one one of the guards entered to relay the message.
"It's not easy to make decisions in a situation like this, we're talking about the entire fate of humanity here. Any wrong move made could be the first step towards our extinction." Armin answered stoically, though his nerves were nearly at their limit.
"Shit, don't make it sound so terrifying." Jean sighed.
Armin looked up at him sheepishly. "Sorry, Jean."
"Alright you two, come in." One of the guards told them.
The two boys tensed upon entering the spacious room, Armin could make out at least thirty people gathered around, with the commanders and captains sitting at a long table in the middle. The blond boy looked from left to right noting the many individuals from all three branches, The two boys quickly saluted everyone in the room as they awaited their word.
"Greetings cadets, state your names and affiliation." Pixis greeted them, his cheeks tinged in a slight red and a flask of alcohol in hand.
"Cadet Jean Kirstein of the one hundred and fourth southern division, sir!"
"Cadet Armin Arlert of the one hundred and fourth southern division, sir!"
"I see, at ease now," Pyxis said.
The two boys dropped their salute as they stood at the end of the table with everyone's eyes glued to them, Armin felt that it was a miracle he wasn't breaking down due to the sheer pressure from everyone involved.
"I've been told that the two of you are the latest arrivals from behind the wall, while I am glad to see more survivors something tells me you are not exactly bearers of good news," Pyxis said.
"For the most part sir!" Jean replied.
"Survivors huh? Why the hell has it taken you this long to evacuate? You're from that situation at the old HQ, aren't you? Who's your commanding officer over there?" Nile Dok commented from the side.
"N-No one sir! All of our commanding officers have either been killed or fled! We are currently under the leadership of another cadet by the name of Floch Forster." Jean stuttered.
Erwin felt immense amounts of intrigue as those familiar with the boy were taken by surprise at the news, Oluo and Petra sent each other knowing looks. The room suddenly went deathly quiet as an explosion rang in the distance, some of the men ran to peek out of the windows to inspect while the others dismissed it.
"What was that?" Oluo asked those next to him.
"Canon fire, most likely." Came Eld's reply.
"Anyway, You were led by a cadet? That name does sound familiar..." Nile trailed.
"He's one of the top MP candidates for this year's graduates, sir." A lower-ranking officer informed the man after checking over his folders.
"Start from the top, tell us exactly what occurred before you came here." Erwin suddenly interjected with a piercing gaze.
Jean suddenly froze in panic as the pressure got to him, seeing this, Armin quickly took charge as he steeled himself. Recounting how the titans were quick to shatter their defenses, followed by the utter chaos of their retreat deeper into the town. And before it could be brought up, Armin quickly clarified their severe lack of fuel at the time of the evacuation signal.
He paused, as flashes of Eren's supposed death appeared in his mind.
"It was at that point where cadet Floch Forster came and rallied all of us to storm the castle to refuel, only suffering two losses in the process. We separated into two teams to retake the armory back from the titans and to guard the outside, our efforts were successful with zero fatalities on both fronts save for some wounded!" The entirety of the room felt impressed at the near-impossible feats these cadets accomplished, earning them the respect of all of the officers. Though for Armin, the good part ended there.
"Why haven't you evacuated after securing the Headquarters? Assuming that the surrounding areas weren't completely taken over by titans yet." Pixis asked.
"Floch Forster led us to rescue a pocket of civilians stranded at Townsquare, sir! Though even with all of efforts we were too late to save most of them, we took both survivors and retreated as several titans gave chase to us. We suffered twelve casualties by the end of the mission, including one of the civilians." Armin informed.
"I see, your actions are commendable, though It is a shame to hear about our losses." Pixis replied in a somber tone. He took a large gulp from his drink before redirecting his attention back to Armin. "So, what happened next?"
Jean and Armin shared an uneasy look, both uncertain of the credibility of the next sentence. "Well... this was the point where something extremely unexpected occurred. Our defenses were struggling to hold them back, and just when things were about to get worse another titan showed up and began attacking Its own kind..." Armin trailed as everyone in the room was shocked into a thick silence as the whispers died out.
"A titan attacking it's own?" Pixis asked as the blond boy nodded.
"It showed no interest in us, it continued to fight other titans giving us ample time to fully pull out. It wasn't until it collpased that we learned... well... we found out..." Armin trailed
"Go on, get it out." Nike motioned impatiently.
"The titan in question was being controlled by one of our comrades from the inside, sir!" Jean took over loudly, shocking the room into silence again.
"Whaaaaaaaat!" Hange gaped as Levi clicked his tongue next to her.
"You better get a hold of yourself four-eyes." He whispered to her.
Pyxis and Erwin were both intrigued by the information as everyone else sent them incredulous looks, Nile felt his patience reach Its limits as he glared at the two cadets, he contemplated on giving the word to have them escorted though he waited for Pixis to speak first.
"So this is that rumored weapon, isn't it?" Pyxis deduced.
"I know it sounds unbelievable but I swear that's the truth, our friend Eren Yeager demonstrated exceptional ability in controlling his titan and engaging the other titans. It is only thanks to his efforts that we managed to survive this long, we've suffered heavy casualties and evacuating on our own is out of the question." Armin spoke. "All we request is your support, help us return our comrades safely! I believe that we can still save Trost and all of humanity using Eren's Yeager's newly discovered powers!" Armin continued as he gave it all to convince them though many brows in the room were raised.
"My boy, while I do wish to believe you. You must understand the absurdity of your claim, are you certain that it was your friend in control of that titan?" Pyxis questioned.
Armin spoke again with newfound conviction. "We are sir! All of us saw him crawl out of it. For one reason or another, Eren can turn into one of them! If we can get everyone back from the castle he could help take back this town from the enemy! As you all know there is a massive boulder near the entrance of Trost that's big enough to seal the breach! He can lift it!" He argued.
Armin felt a sinking feeling in his stomach, they gave them every reason to make them believe in Eren's value to humanity. He knew the information about his ability would spread regardless, It was for the better that Eren is perceived as useful than to be executed on sight. Most of the officers were visibly annoyed with him though Pyxis and Erwin remained neutral, in the background one could hear the faint squealing of a certain mad scientist followed by a muffled slap on the back of the head.
"Would someone get these two out of here, I've had enough of this time waste! The last thing this room needs Is wild fantasy! " Nile barked as the guards moved toward them.
"Hold on now." Pyxis' voice boomed across the room.
The men stopped dead in their tracks behind the cadets as per his commands, as Erwin assessed them with his icy gaze. The commander of the Survey corps looked towards Mike Zacharias, seeing the man in question give him an affirming nod.
Pyxis turned towards him. "I'm curious about your thoughts, Erwin."
"Well, I do believe that we should take their word into account. As I've stressed earlier, considerable results cannot be expected without taking risks. The fate of humanity can only rest on the shoulders of men who take action, we cannot afford to wait any longer nor can we overlook the opportunity of acquiring a valuable asset for our cause. That said, the Survey corps will be taking charge of this rescue operation, with or without additional aid." Erwin spoke assertively.
Nile looked affronted as the old man sighed. "Humanity has suffered in silence for decades against this terror, never before in this century of horror could we have heard such promising news. Lives snuffed out like candles, families destroyed, territory taken, and yet onwards we carried on down this futile, destructive path. If we confirm the validity of this claim and bring back this supposed weapon. Regaining Trost could be a beginning of a new age for humanity, one of hope and glory! I do agree, Erwin. The Garrison will be providing support, I am curious about this titan boy myself hahaha!"
"Well said, All squad leaders send the word out to all of our troops along the wall. We are deploying as soon as possible." Erwin ordered.
The men and women in question nodded and were about to make their way out of the room before the door slammed open gaining everyone's attention.
"Commander Pixis! Part of the old HQ has exploded a few minutes ago! It's attracting some of the titans!" A Garrison soldier yelled.
Jean and Armin were both stiff in shock as they digested the news, their worry for their friends growing immensely. Erwin furrowed his brows as he stood up and made his way out of the room with the other scouts.
"Change of plans, we leave immediately! Our primary objective is to ensure the safety of Eren Yeager, the fate of humanity depends on it! Dedicate your hearts!" Erwin barked.
"Yes sir!" Each scout present called out before they raced out of the building.
"Ahhhh! This is so exciting! A titan cadet?!" Hange squealed as she followed after Erwin with her squad in tow.
"You two, with us," Levi called out to the cadets.
"Hey, Armin... You think they're okay over there?" Jean asked.
"They have to be." Armin replied as his face morphed into a frown.
'Everyone, please, be safe.'
"When people are faced with a situation they do not understand, It's easy for fear to take hold." - Armin Arlert 850 AD.
The final hours
17:58 PM
The cold seeped into the streets grudgingly as the fires consumed Trost at an agonizing pace, concealing chunks of the orange sky behind a thick layer of smoke, rendering it difficult for one Floch Forster to monitor the distant walls. His face betrayed a hint of discomfort at the lack of response from the opposite side. Mikasa Ackermann stood guard behind him, both dreading the titans' imminent return yet ready to battle nevertheless.
Floch slipped the telescope into his pocket before having a quick glance at the cadets beneath who were hurrying around the courtyard. He grumbled and leapt down from his perch atop the castle wall indentation, notifying Mikasa of the current predicament.
"This is bad, I see soldiers along the walls, but there's no sign that they're coming to rescue," Floch said.
She seemed to have an air of apathy as she listened, unfazed by the news. "Armin is capable of completing this task. I have faith in him. If the worst comes to worst, I'll lead us out of here. I have more than enough strength."
In amusement, he blew air out of his nostrils. "Without a doubt, I'd rather not put all of my eggs in one basket though. We could escape right now, but if we're attacked and cornered, then that's the end of it. Let's save it for last; all I'm asking for now is for there to be scouts on the other side of the wall."
As soon as their eyes met, Floch could clearly make out a veiled scorn, a recognizable expression of distrust he was all too familiar with. Moments passed, and both stayed locked in each other's gaze. Floch was certain he knew exactly what it was about, and he didn't want to drag this game any further.
"You know, you can talk to me if you're really that bothered." He started, the girl was puzzled how he seemed to always know what she was thinking.
He was the target of her accusatory narrowed eyes. "It almost seems as though he is going to be buried in the dungeons given how hard everyone is trying to avoid the topic. I find his treatment questionable. He isn't a monster, as they claimed, and his abilities can be used for good- have been used for good. So releasing him right now shouldn't be an issue, if what you stated before is true." Her brow wrinkled in frustration. "I can't sit here pretending to agree; if you're unwilling, I'll take matters into my own hands."
Floch chuckled, pivoting on his heels to approach the edge as he studied the soldiers below. "I was starting to wonder why you haven't gone down there and ripped the place apart to free him, there's nothing to stop you."
She made a startled face. "You said-,"
"What I've said doesn't matter; have a look around you. We're both soldiers among children who are frightened of things they cannot grasp. The majority sees him as a monster; to me, he is an opportunity. To be clear, I don't care about whatever false notions they appear to have; fear frequently clouds better judgment.
Besides, none of that is what's keeping Eren imprisoned in the dungeons." He clarified as he turned to meet her eyes.
Mikasa questionedly lifted an eyebrow. "I don't understand,"
Floch remained silent for a brief time, his gaze rolling upwards to the sky as pictures of a bygone era flashed through his head, of a past which no longer existed, a past clouded in folly and blunders.
"The kid's a wildcard, as obstinate as hell, and lacking of any sense of self-preservation. If I take that chance, more people could die, I already have enough blood on my hands as it is. I don't want him turning feral at the first sight of some titan with smeared lips. Of all people, you must see some glimmer of truth in that, don't you?" Floch inquired.
The more she explored, the less inclined she was to disagree, and in the end, she understood that his statements held truth. Her imagination carried her back to the earlier times when she was knee-deep in grass out in the fields of Shiganshina, and she knew for certain that he was right.
"Eren is... passionate,"
"That passion distinguishes him; his flame burns brighter than most. When the time is right, we'll all be free of this hell, as I have already said, I hold nothing against him." Floch asserted.
His attention lingered on Sandra as she assisted the injured in boarding the carriage whilst he casually observed his teammates beneath. His eyes narrowed in suspicion when he abruptly observed movement from the adjacent building and caught a brief glimpse of Bertholdt Hoover in one of the rooms before he vanished behind the drapes.
'I got sidetracked too much, what in the world are they doing now?' In a panic, he thought to himself.
The moment a sense of dread overcame her, Mikasa stopped in place. Despite having only the tiniest hint as to where the threat might be coming from, her instincts compelled her to flee the area. Floch was disturbed by her behavior and cast an uneasy gaze in her direction as she peered around.
"What's wrong-"
A portion of the castle crumbled behind them, and the girl leapt forward at once to tackle him off the side of the building. A fiery explosion nearly engulfed them as it sent a thick smoke and debris flying everywhere.
Annnnnd done!
words words words, thank thanks, uh more words, answer to that, answer to this, yes, yes this is an authors note!