Gabi and Falco

"What a big building!"

"I've never seen anything like it!"

"Me, either!"

"It's yer lucky day, kids!"

"Y'all fixin' to eat?"

"Yeah!"

Mr. Braus turns to the two strangers behind him, Falco and Gabi, also known as 'Ben' and 'Mia'. "What's wrong, Mia? Got the jitters?"

For many reasons, Gabi is tense. As Kaya told them, a Marleyan works here in the restaurant. However, now that they're in the city, they have a good chance of encountering soldiers. Surrounded by devils, even in a Marleyan restaurant, does not comfort Gabi one bit. "Um, no..."

"You're so nervous, Mia!"

"I know! What a total bumpkin!"

"N-No!" Gabi nervously leans over to Kaya, whispering, "Kaya! Does a Marleyan captive really work here?"

"It's true," She whispers back. "so get a grip. Soldiers use this place, too."

"It'll be good to know another Marleyan," Falco adds.

"Mr Braus! Thank you for coming!" The group faces a young man with light hair and dressed in a chef's attire. he must be the one who invited the family here.

"Thanks a bunch for the invite!"

"Oh, my. You sure brought a crowd."

"Since it's on the house, I brought the whole gang. Sorry."

"It's fine. Welcome, everyone. This way, please."

"That's Nicolo, the Marleyan who invited Mr. Braus," Kaya whispers to the Warrior candidates. "See if he can help you."

"Mr. Braus isn't a soldier, so why was he invited?" Gabi questions.

"His daughter...my sister was the girl who saved me. Nicolo was at her grave and wanted to treat me and him to the food she loved. ...I think Nicolo liked her a lot."

Gabi's head explodes. "A Marleyan and an Eldian?! That shouldn't happen!"

Kaya shakes her head. "It didn't...she already had someone."

"Who?" Falco asks.

Kaya looks down, bearing a sad smile. "...A really cool soldier that saved her that day."

Elijah

"Nicolo," I say his name for probably the first time in over a year. He approaches us in the main lobby, confused to see us.

"You guys? What, is it urgent? My hands are full with some customers."

I nod as I look in the direction of the dining room, knowing exactly what Nicolo means by 'some customers'. "We know."

"Yes," Hange says. "But you can get back to work if you want. It's just...we'd like to talk once you're done."

"Talk? About what?"

"Oh, you know. Like any concerns you have-"

"They're investigating our detainment," Onyankopon interrupts. "We're hoping you can help."

"...Yeah, all right." Nicolo leads us into a different room than the one the Braus family occupies, more ornate and such for a more private affair, say, soldiers meeting here. "You can wait here."

"Oh? What a fancy room."

"I bet it's reserved for MPs."

"You can say that again." I agree with Connie.

"Huh?" Jean reaches for a bottle of wine on the shelf filled with various alcohols. "Is this the wine all the soldiers are gossiping about?! They say only higher ranks can get it!"

Connie looks over Jean's shoulder. "Yeah? Aren't we high-ranking in the Scouts?"

"Yup! We deserve a bit of fun, too! A sip or two-"

Nicolo suddenly snatches the bottle away from Jean. "Don't touch that!"

"Ch-Chill out, Nicolo. We're just screwing around. No need to overreact."

From my spot by Armin and Mikasa, I can see nervous sweat dripping down Nicolo's forehead. Something must be up with that wine...but what? "This... This good stuff would be wasted on Eldians!"

"Nicolo, you're still saying stuff like that? The booze don't give a damn what race we are!" Jean grabs Nicolo's garb threateningly.

"Don't touch me, Eldian. Just because I've been nice doesn't make us pals."

"Have you forgotten what you are? You're just a-"

"A filthy captive, huh? That makes us even, Eldian."

"Jean," I order. "Let him go." At my command, if not anything else, Jean releases Nicolo. The Marleyan scurries out of the room and down the hallway, probably next door or even to the kitchen. In either case, I look back to the shelf. Something is up with that wine...a reaction like that wouldn't be over something so little. "Hange, may I go talk to the Braus family?"

"They're here? Yes, go ahead. I'll send for you when it's time to talk to Nicolo, if those two haven't scared him off."

I nod and exit the room. As I do so, two kids run out of the Braus' dining room, nearly running into them. Figuring the kids might have eaten more than they could chew, I chuckle as I turn and knock on the door...

...If it had to come out, it's now.

Gabi and Falco

"Hmm? The restroom is the other way."

Gabi and Falco follow Nicolo to a cellar, where he stands by a wine shelf in distress. However, that doesn't concern the kids. "That's not why we're here, Nicolo."

"We came from Marley," Gabi exclaims. "We're Warrior candidates."

Nicolo turns to the pair in shock. "What?!"

"We think there will be a huge offensive against the island soon."

"Until then, hang in there! And let any of your Marleyan comrades know!"

"H-Hold up! What are Warrior candidates doing here?"

"The island devils raided Liberio. We got aboard their airship as it retreated and rode it here."

Nicolo's face turns to pure horror when he thinks, "Did you...kill anyone? A female...soldier."

"Yes, I did!" Gabi excitedly says.

"Gabi..." He says warningly, but she ignores him.

"I've only killed a few, but our real revenge has yet to begin!"

"Wait! Hey!"

"We won't let this spinless devils get away with-"

"Gabi, stop!"

"What!?"

"So it was you...who killed her? You're the one who killed Sasha?!"

Nicolo grabs the bottle he took from the Scouts and swings it. Falco gets in the way, taking the brutal hit in the place of Gabi. As they land on the ground, Gabi turns to Falco, the boy now unconscious as blood mixes with the wine. "Falco?! Are you okay, Falco?! Falco! Falco! Get up! Get up!"

"Shit!" Before she can do anything else, Nicolo grabs the kids and vaults up the stairs...

Elijah

As I walk inside, I'm immediately met by a pair of arms wrapping around my waist, "Elijah!" The culprit being sweet Kaya. The guilt is already sitting in as I pat her head.

"Hey, kiddo. You been keeping up with your hunting like I taught you?"

She nods excitedly. "Mhmm!"

"And my Mother's bow? You keeping it in shape?"

"Yep!"

"Military been rough for ya, son?" I look to Mr. Braus, and he looks at me with a smile, adding more to my guilt. "Heard things have been that way for the past month."

I nod as Kaya releases me and takes her seat back at the table. "It's been crazy, sir. Since...the funerals, and the other day just added more to it." I look around the table, from Sasha's Father and Mother...to Kaya and the other orphans. A month's worth of regret swells in the bottom of my stomach, but if there was any time to tell them, it's now. "I'm sorry I wasn't there. Jean and Connie told me you came to visit...her, but...I just couldn't. I couldn't face any of you, only because if I did...I'd have to tell you all the truth. A truth all of you had the right to know from the beginning, but I didn't want to give you any false hope."

I feel a hand on my shoulder, but I can't look at the man who I think highly of. "It's alright, son. You can tell us."

"..." I reach into my jacket pocket for an opened envelope. "It's-"

SLAM!

The door suddenly opens and a young girl is thrown inside. Alarmed, I look towards the door, Nicolo holding a boy in his left arm and a knife in his right hand. Wait a minute...that's- "Nicolo! What'd ya do to Ben and Mia?!"

"She's the one who killed Sasha," Nicolo points the knife to the girl. "She took your daughter's life. Though she's just a kid, she's a trained Marleyan soldier. She got aboard the airship leaving Marley and shot your daughter. She shot Sasha."

I look at the girl, as she bleeds from her nose and mouth, my earlier recognition turned out to be true. She's the same girl who shot Sasha, the same girl who served me and Mikasa wine the night before. Gabi, her name is if I remember correctly. The boy has to be Grice. I heard the two escaped prison some time ago, and figured they'd turn up eventually. Now they're here, ironically with the family of the girl she shot.

"Mr. Braus," Nicolo says as he hands the knife to him. "here. If you can't kill her, I will. And I don't know why Elijah hasn't done it." I can practically taste the venom in his voice. "Is that all right?"

I try to diffuse the situation. "Nicolo. Drop the knife. Now. No one is killing anyone."

He sneers at me. "How can you just stand there when-"

"Wh-What the?!" I hear Armin exclaim. "Come here, guys!" Soon enough, the other Scouts enter the room. Great...now it's a full house. As Jean enters, his jaw drops once he sees Gabi.

"The kid who shot Sasha! What's going on, Nicolo? I heard she was on the run! What do you think you're doing?!"

Nicolo holds the slightly conscious Grice up and the knife to his throat. "Don't move! Get back! I'm avenging Sasha! Stay put!"

"Stop..." Gabi looks up to Nicolo, crying, pleading, "Not Falco!"

"What is this brat to you?! He took the hit for you! Do you care about him?! I cared about someone, too! An Eldian! Spawn of the devil! One who loved my cooking more than anyone! She saved me from this shitty-ass war! She taught me that I like making people happy with food! Her name was Sasha Braus! She's the girl you stole from me!"

Gabi looks up in fear, but then a rage overcomes her. "People I cared about were killed, too! They were shot by your Sasha Braus! That's why I got revenge! She killed people first!"

"Who gives a damn who killed first?!" Nicolo presses more against Grice's throat with the knife.

"Open your eyes! You're a Marleyan soldier! That devil woman bewitched you! Don't lose to the devils!"

"Nicolo," Mr. Braus says right before I intervene. "hand me the knife." I turn to Mr. Braus in shock. He's not... Nicolo hands him the knife and stands in front of Gabi for a moment. She looks up, terrified that he might do...she's not alone. I don't want to hurt him to protect the girl.

"Mr. Braus...please..."

"Sasha was a hunter. Even as a wee girl, she killed varmints in the forest for us to eat. That was just our way of livin'. But I knew there'd come a day we'd have to give up that style of life, so I sent Sasha away from the forest. She went into the world, became a soldier," He looks to me, "found someone to rely on, shot people far yonder, and got herself shot." Mr. Braus hands the knife over to his wife, deciding not to take action. "In the end, though she left our forest, the world is a great, big forest where everyone's fightin' for their life. I reckon Sasah died 'cuz she wandered in the forest too long. We've gotta keep the younguns out of the forest. Otherwise, ain't nothin' gonna stop it from happenin' again. That's why it's up to us adults to shoulder the sins of the past."

"..."

"Nicolo, let Ben go." Nicolo relents and hands the boy to Mr. Braus as Connie and Jean apprehend him. Mikasa comes over and looks at Gabi's wounds. Hange does the same for Nicolo.

"Mia... You okay?" Mr. Braus asks Gabi.

"...Do you really...not hate me?"

"Gahhh!" Kaya suddenly grabs the knife and attempts to kill Gabi. However, I catch her arm while Mikasa holds Gabi protectively. She tries to fight out of my grip, however. "How dare you kill her! My Big Sister! You murderer! I thought you were my friend!"

"Kaya, stop!"

The weeping girl looks up to me, angry. "I thought you loved her! Why haven't you-"

"I can't kill her because she didn't kill Sasha!" Kaya stops fighting my grip...and the entire room goes silent from my outburst. No going back now. I take the knife from Kaya, and then face everyone apologetically. "Everyone... Sasha was in fact shot by Gabi, this is true...but," Reaching into my jacket pocket again, I hand the slip of paper to Mr. Braus. "Please, read it aloud... You all deserve the truth..." I look down to Gabi, who's looking up at me. "...Even you."

He takes it from me, unfolds it, and begins reading it aloud. "Section Commander Everett. It pleases me to inform ya that..."

"Dear?"

"...Sasha Braus will make a full recovery. I must admit, I thought it was foolish that you brought Ms. Braus in my care on you're assumption, but when I heard the same faint heartbeat you did... As you were aware when you brought her to me, young Braus' wound was close to a major artery and the bullet was still lodged inside the young girl. If it were to go straight through, it woulda been worse for the girl. The only thing that ya have to do is wait for her to wake. Though, I'm afraid I don't know how long it could take. As for the younger Eldian girl you rescued during the attack on Marley. While she'll live, I'm afraid I had to amputate both of her legs. But she will live. She, like you warned, proved difficult to work with. But in time, while she may not fully trust me or anyone, she was willin' to cooperate to recover..."

"...Zofia."

"Elijah-"

"I'm sorry." About halfway through Mr. Braus reading the letter, I dropped to the floor, bowing my head, not having the strength to look at...anyone. "I know what I kept from you all is unforgivable. Especially her own family. I didn't want to give any of you false hope from some stupid, selfish gamble of mine. But I know for a fact I heard her heartbeat after she got shot. I was only trying to save the girl I love. I don't know if you can ever forgive me. You are the closest thing that I have to...a family, all of you...and I betrayed that trust. I'm sorry...I'm so-"

"Stand up, son..." I look up, seeing Mr. Braus standing over me. As he instructed, I rise to my feet, but I still can't look at him in the eye. "...Thank you." Before I could even look up to the man, he hugged me tightly, and his wife soon followed. "You believed she was still alive, and ya fought like hell to save her... I couldn't ask for a better man to look over my daughter."

"Thank you, Elijah... Thank you."

I feel a small pair of arms wrap around my back. "My sister...is really alive..."

"..." I want to cry... I want to let my guilt and my regret just scream out...but there's no time for that. We still have a job to do. There will be time for sorrow later. After I'm released from Mr. and Mrs. Braus and Kaya, I turn away, motioning for Mikasa and Armin to bring Gabi along to our room next door. I pause at the doorway, looking down on Nicolo's downward face. I know I don't like how he cares for Sasah to such an extent, but I deceived him too, after all. "I'm sorry, Nicolo."

Nicolo nods then looks up to Hange. "Hange, try to rinse out that kid's mouth. Some wine got in it."

"Huh?"

"Though...it's probably too late."

A look of horror takes over Hange's face "What's...in the wine?"

"I think...Zeke's spinal fluid."

"..." Oh...shit...

"So...she's alive? And Zofia?" Gabi looks at her hands on the table, still shaken from what just transpired as I walk into the other room while I let Hange interrogate Nicolo. Sighing myself, I take a seat across the table from the young girl.

"Yes. Your friend's gonna be fine... Faclo Grice, right? Related to Colt Grice, who if I remember, is the successor to Zeke's Beast Titan, right? You two are Warrior candidates. Which one were you hoping to inherit?"

"...The Armored, from my cousin, Reiner..."

"..."

Jean

Jean picks up Nicolo and slams him against the wall. "What do you mean Zeke's spinal fluid is in the wine?!"

"I don't have proof, but... They packed the first scout fleet to the brim with it, well more than any scouting mission needed. And...around the time I secured my job here as a chef, I was told to serve it to high-ranking officers."

"By who?!"

"...Yelena. As far as I know, she's the only one in on it. Can't speak for the other volunteers."

Behind Jean, Hange looks over to Onyankopon. He shakes his head. "Th-This is the first time I've heard about it!"

"It doesn't make sense!" Connie exclaims as helps Hange in trying to save the Marleyan boy. "Don't Eldians freeze up if they drink his spinal fluid? That's what happened in Ragako."

"According to Zeke. Nobody witnessed it," Hange responds. "so there's no way to confirm it. But...the effectiveness of his little lie has been enormous. Because nobody has frozen up, no one is even aware they drank it."

"Yeah, but... You don't know for sure, right?"

Nicolo nods to Jean's question. "Yeah, I Can't prove it. But Marleyans know how Zeke's spinal fluid has been used in the past. About ten years ago, we conquered a capital in just one night. Hundreds of Titans sprung up in the city. Unless that's what she's plotting, I don't know why she wants it served to your military's top officers."

"So earlier, you grabbed the wine away because you were protecting us?"

"Who knows? I don't know what I'm doing. I came here to save the world from island devils. Now that I've opened my mouth, I'm sure my days are numbered. But, Mr. Braus... I don't think I can be like you, but if this can serve as atonement... Killing a child? What's wrong with me?"

"Nicolo... Hange, what'll become of Ben?"

Hange turns to Mr. Braus. "For now, we'll act assuming Nicolo's right. Everyone, take off your jackets and wash your hands. Under no circumstances should you touch your face or mouth. Onyankopon, tell Elijah and the others the same."

"Understood."

Elijah

"...The Armored, from my cousin, Reiner..."

"..." What? Did I just hear her right? She's...Reiner's cousin? I'm really sitting across the table from Reiner's little cousin? Clearing my throat, I stand up and walk over to the wine shelf, careful to remember the new information about them. Don't do anything stupid, Elijah.

"...Why did you protect me?"

"Because. I don't have a reason." Mikasa answers. I wonder who she's speaking for, herself or the both of us.

"I'm the one who almost killed your comrade. I'm the one who bludgeoned the guard. Falco didn't do it. Kill me, not him."

"We won't kill you," Armin says, though I think he's slightly speaking directly to me.

"But you want to, don't you?"

"I don't want to kill you," Armin sighs. "Kill this, kill that... It's all you think about. Just like someone I know." The door to the room closes, accompanied by footsteps. We face the newcomer, our eyes widening as the fourth child from Shiganshina enters. "Er-"

He holds his hand up, already cut and bleeding.

Hange

"Floch?!"

"Commander Hange." Floch storms the room, followed by the other armed members of the Jaegerist faction. He holds Onyankopon at gunpoint. "I'm glad you're here. I imagine you know where Zeke's at. We'll have you take us there."

"Wair," Hange takes a deep breath. "We have no intention of fighting you. Didn't you get the proposal from the corps?"

"We rejected your proposal. We don't negotiate with the military."

"And why is that?"

"It's Eren's decision. Pyxis would never leave the fate of the island in our hands. I'm sure he's frantically devising a plan to take the Founder from Eren while we're on the move."

"You're imagining things. Or is that what your comrades in the Garrison Regiment said?"

"Does it look like I'm one of your lackeys that'll answer you?" Floch points his pistol at the others. "I suggest you get moving before I prove to you that I'm not."

"What?" Nicolo suddenly walks into the room, surprised by the commotion...and the man standing alongside the rebels. "Griez? Did Yelena put you up to this?"

"Nicolo, you're too obsessed with Eldians. I knew this day would come eventually. I was right not to tell you how to reach them."

"Floch, listen!" Hange exclaims. "We don't have time to be fighting among ourselves! WIne with Zeke's spinal fluid was spread through the military! Zeke fooled us all with this plan of his!"

"So what?" Floch says, bearing a smug grin. "It'll just make the idiot MPs into bigger idiots. Can we go?"

Hange gasps. "I never said the Military Police drank it! No way! You guys...knew about the wine?!"

Flcoh turns around, grins, and shushes the prisoners. "Use your inside voices, please." He points his pistol at the Braus family. "This is a restaurant, you know?"

Elijah

"We're going on ahead." Was that...no, Floch?! That means the Jaegerists are here too. How did they find us? Who ratted us out? Nicolo couldn't have, not with the Braus family here. Another chef maybe? If he or any of his sheep even think about hurting them...

"Okay." Eren then eyes the four of us, having made us sit quietly at the table and keep our hands there. Ironically, given my present feelings, I sit between him and Gabi. She sakes with fear beside me, rightfully so. This is the Eren Jaeger that killed hundreds in Marley right in front of her, and I'm sure as a Warrior candidate, she knows what a cut like that on his hand can lead to at any moment.

"That voice... Floch must've come," Armin says. "You came here with Floch?"

"Yeah. I wanted...to talk with you guys. Conflict isn't necessary to solve Eldia's problems. Hange and the others are fine. We're just moving them."

"Eren, we're the ones who wanted to talk. What made you go attack Marley all on your own? Did Zeke and Yelena really talk you into joining them?"

Eren leans back in his chair, lowering his gaze. "I am free. The things I do and the choices I make are all decided by my own free will."

"So your actions after meeting Yelena were all you?"

"Yes."

"No," Mikasa says "You're being manipulated! You wouldn't get kids and innocents involved, even if they were enemies! Plus, I know you care about us more than anyone! Don't you? The reason you saved me in the cabin... The reason you gave me this scarf...is because you're kind-"

"I said, 'Keep your hands on the table.'" Hurt by Eren's cold tone, Mikasa sat back down and placed her hands back on the table. Eren continues to speak as if nothing happened. "I spoke with Zeke in Liberio, brother to brother. Zeke knows more about Titan than even Marley does. Armin, aren't you still visiting Annie? Do you think that's your own free will?"

"Wh-What?"

"If memories are what shape people, a part of you is Bertholdt now. Within you is an enemy with feelings for another enemy. Armin...Bertholdt has got into your head. You're the one manipulated by the enemy." Eren turns to me, then glances at Gabi. "Sasha's murderer is still alive."

"Don't."

"You have killed for less, Elijah. Who was it you killed that day when you came for Historia's rescue? Do you still hear her choking on her own blood? Yet you allowed this brat to live after what she did. Not to mention Reiner." I see Gabi glance at me after the mention of her cousin's name. "You had him at the end of your blade, and you spared him. This brat killed the only woman who saw past the monster you are, and yet, she lives, too. Why's that? Because of some worthless 'promise' you made to Lyra?"

I grip the cloth on the table, my right arm shakes in my silent rage. "Don't you fucking-"

"A promise so worthless that you stood idly by as so many were killed in Liberio. Just how many more people have to die in your path, Elijah?"

"Eren!" Mikasa interrupts Eren from continuing, having enough. "What are you trying to do?!"

"Then there's you, too, Mikasa."

"Huh?"

"The Ackermanns were intentionally designed to protect Eldia's king. Back then faced with a life-or-death situation, you heard my order: 'Fight.' In that moment, instincts awoke from within you. By mistake, you thought I was the host you had to protect."

"...No..."

"No? No, what?"

"It wasn't...a mistake. It's because of you, Eren! I became strong because of you!"

"Ackermanns with awakened powers apparently get sudden headaches. It happens when their old self resists being forced to protect their host. Sound familiar?" My only recollection of this is when Mikasa suddenly had a headache back when we took Louise and Floch into prison. What does-

"...No."

"I'm saying..."

"No, I..."

"Your family was made to forget who they are and live only to protect. In other words, slaves."

I grit my teeth. "Stop, Eren!"

"Do you know who I hate more than anyone? Those who aren't free. Just like livestock."

"Eren!" Armin shouts.

"Just seeing you has always pissed me off so much, and now I finally know why. I can't stand the sight of a slave who obeys orders without question. Ever since I was little...Mikasa, I've hated you."

"Eren! How could you say that to-" Armin steps up on the table and raises a fist, only to be stopped by Mikasa. The three of us look at the act in shock while Eren looks so sure of himself.

"Mikasa..." I say in disbelief.

"Your entire life has been dictated by your Ackermann blood."

"N-No!" Mikasa releases Armin.

"It's all you really are." Mikasa's release of the boy allows him to hit his friend in the face.

Hearing the commotion, two Jaegerists enter the room, but I turn my pistol on them as Eren pushes Armin toward the wine shelf. "I'm all right," he tells them. "Hey, Armin. You and I have never fought before, have we?" Angered and quite the sudden change from the meek boy I know, Armin throws another punch, only for Eren to move faster. "Do you know why? Because it's not even close to a fair fight!" Armin is beaten to a pulp, and even though I want to, I don't intervene. Eren knows I can take him in a fight, I came close to Mikasa and the three Warriors we trained with in close-quarters combat, but I can't do shit with those two gunmen right there. So as Armin is dropped to the floor, Mikasa runs over to him, her face soaking with tears.

"Please...stop..."

"Like I said, if you guys tell us where Zeke is, there's no need for us to fight. Come along and behave. Take 'em."

"Yes, sir."

Eren turns my way, then looks to the frightened Gabi. "The kid who killed Sasah, too."

I stand protectively in front of the girl as I glare at Eren and keep my aim on the two Jaegerists. "What was that you said? You want to be free? So this is the freedom you want? Free to hurt Armin? Free to hurt me? To hurt Mikasa?! Tell me, Eren. Who's the real slave that bows to a bastard?"

Eren steps up to me, sneering, but his short stature does nothing to faze me. "Who are you...calling a slave?" Turning away, he gestures to follow. "Let's go."

"Where?"

"To where it all started...Shiganshina."

Levi

"Zachery was killed?"

"Yes. The Jaegerists effectively control everything inside the walls. We believe all the chaos is being caused by Zeke by way of Eren and Yelena."

"And?"

"The Jaegerists should soon be brought to Zeke, just as they've been demanding."

Levi raises his eyebrows at the two messengers. "Pyxis? He'll just roll over?"

"As you point out, the commander remains steadfast. He's now at work on a plan to create an opportunity while Eren is being led here."

"Most unfortunately...this is the only way to defend Eldia against rule by the Jaegerists and Zeke."

"To have someone else eat Eren, right?"

"Yes."

Levi drops his head in thought. How many times has he saved Eren...and how many comrades has he lost saving Eren? Why did he do it? Because he believed Eren was the hope for humanity's survival. But now, it feels like a giant, awful joke. "It's not even funny. There's another shithead we should have eaten."

"What do you mean?"

"We'll give the Beast to someone else. We'll make one of the Jaegerists into a Titan and have them eat Zeke. I can't tell if he's manipulating Eren, but their party's over if they lose Zeke. Go tell that to Pyxix, got it?"

"Are you serious, Captain?"

"The old man will come around once I chop Zeke's limbs off." Levi turns away, heading over to the reader. As he approaches, Zeke looks up to him. "Enjoying your book?"

"I am, for one I've read seven times."

"You've been eavesdropping more than reading."

"Can you blame me when I've read it this much? By the way, is there any wine left?"

"Not a single drop left. We've been here a month."

"Good grief," Zeke sighs. "You sure know how to torture someone."

Levi narrows his eyes as he turns away. "Just read your book." As Levi walks away, he thinks to himself. I'm gonna chop him up no matter what Pyxis says. There are thirty armed soldiers waiting in the forest above. Even if he becomes the Beast, there's no way he escapes. That bearded shit was our enemy after all. And now that we know it, he doesn't deserve to have limbs. It took long enough. Erwin, I'll finally uphold the promise I made to you. There was meaning in your deaths, and at long last, I'll prove it.

"You better come home to us."

"Since when did you start giving me orders?"

"When you gave us this precious gift, just...come home to us, Levi."

"..." Petra...I promised I would come home to you...to both of- Huh? When Levi turns around to look at the prisoner, he only sees Zeke take off into the woods.

And then...he roars...