The cosmic mass of light was already rising high above the walls, bright rays piercing the land and signaling another day when the group of Scouts led by both Isanna and Hanji reached Utgard castle.

What both soldiers pictured as an olden yet habitable fortress was now in shambles, ruins of the hard slabs now crumpled down to the ground with not a single tower standing, and swirling clouds of dust were still curling around the area—a clear sign of a recently hard-fought battle.

When the group cantered nearer to the wreckage, they could finally make out several titans climbing out of the debris, surrounding a few unequipped soldiers who were the 104th recruits. What caught Isanna's attention however, was the small titan with dark hair and beady eyes that was currently being pounced on by the titans.

Isanna straightened herself on her saddle and bellowed to the soldiers behind her. "Equip your maneuvering gear and engage the titans!"

"Backup group, disperse and check the surroundings!" added Hanji.

Affirming their orders, Scouts steered their horses away while some leaped, and soon, flying figures accompanied with swooshing movement pierced the air as they began slaying the titans that were cluttered atop the remains of Utgard castle.

Just as Isanna was about to get off her own mare, she heard Eren release a grunt and she looked to see him shooting towards a titan, blades brandished while his gas propelled him forward.

"Eren! Stay back!"

"DIE!"

God, he's such a maniac.

Isanna held back a grumble as she watched him slice past the nape of the titan with a clean cut, him rejoicing in his first kill as a Scout before he made a rather embarrassing landing. 

And a dumb one, too.

Isanna shook her head, telling herself to give the kid a break since she'd been impulsive like that in the past as well. After ordering a soldier to keep an eye on Eren, she jumped off Fish's back and joined the fray; soon, the vicinity was finally clear from the titans with no significant casualties on their side.

The recruits who were not equipped had been safely led away from the scene and was currently relaying all the events that had transpired the whole night to everyone.

Eren and the others were dumbfounded at the revelation: Ymir was a titan shifter.

"How's her condition?" Isanna asked as she neared Hanji, who was currently crouching beside Christa and Ymir, the latter in a mangled bloodied state with some of her limbs gone and steam emitting from her wounds. There were also the familiar titan shifting marks below her eyes.

"Awful," Hanji said with half-worry and half-interest at the way some of Ymir's wounds began regenerating while Christa clutched on to her body.

Isanna noted the worry lines creasing on Christa's forehead, and she looked like she was on the verge of crying in relief when Ymir slowly fluttered her eyes open and peered at her.

"My real name," Christa began, ".. is Historia."

At the disclosure of Christa Lenz's real identity, Isanna and Hanji exchanged looks.

The two were aware that the mysteries concerning their world were slowly beginning to unravel with these recent events, but instead of getting answers, the questions seemed to be piling up.

"You handle these two," Isanna instructed Hanji. After receiving a curt nod, she brusquely rounded her heel and ordered the rest of the soldiers to mount back on their horses and head to the wall; with the condition of Utgard castle, using it as their temporary base was out of the question. Now that it was morning, they should at least gain some sort of vantage ground and continue searching for the breach.

If there even is a breach, she thought with suspicion. All throughout their ride from Ehrmich towards the southwest, both Isanna and Hanji voiced their concerns as to why they had not encountered even a single titan on the way. She'd been in an internal debate of whether she should feel relieved or tense.

"Sergeant Major," one of the soldiers called as they jogged towards her. "We've found some bodies beneath the rubble. They're from Section Commander Mike's squad."

Isanna visibly stiffened at the news, before she told the soldier to lead the way. As she followed him through the wreckage, stepping over the large piles of blocks and titan carcasses, she found herself standing over four lifeless veteran soldiers, two of them with missing limbs.

Nanaba, she thought with a tightened jaw, balling her fists by her side. And Gelgar.. Lynne, and Henning.

Isanna had to force herself to look away from the bodies while the soldier reported that they also found some dead horses, presumably theirs.

"Is there anyone else?" she asked, a welling fear inside that made her lungs feel suffocated. "Did you.. find Mike?"

The soldier shook his head. "No, ma'am. They were the only ones we salvaged."

Isanna expelled a breath she had been holding. It was cruel of her to think so, but she was eased to know that at the very least, they didn't find Mike's body.

After all, this was Mike. He'd probably already regrouped with Erwin and Levi.

"Wrap them up and carry them to the walls."

"Yes, ma'am."

In the next minutes, the Scouts rode towards the walls that were thankfully not that far from Utgard castle. They scaled the walls and began planning for their next action plan.

"Mikasa."

Mikasa turned around at the call and saw Isanna sauntering over towards her. "Yes, ma'am?"

Isanna placed a hand on her shoulder. "Keep a high alert." She said nothing more and continued walking, heading to where Hanji was.

As Mikasa followed her superior with her eyes, she realized what she meant. Reiner and Bertholdt.

Mikasa whipped her head far down the brim of the wall and saw her peers in a small cluster, enjoying a brief reunion. Eyes went towards the suspects in question and Mikasa willed herself to keep a straight face as she stalked over to the group.

Isanna's warning echoed in her mind. She'd given Mikasa the task to keep a certain close distance with Reiner and Bertholdt; because it was far easier to have a friend close by in case things went haywire instead of letting a random veteran soldier near their suspects. And, it proved how much trust Isanna had in Mikasa's skills to give her the responsibility.

::

As Isanna headed towards where Hanji and Historia were conversing, she spared a glimpse down the side of the wall and saw Ymir's unconscious figure on a stretcher, currently being lifted up to the top of the wall.

Another titan shifter. But it was neither the colossal nor the armoured titan.

This was beyond their speculations, but the core question was to know whether she was a friend or a foe to humanity.

Gods, I'm not good at theorizing shit, Isanna thought, grumbling. This is Erwin's job.

She wondered how she should relay her report to the Commander with all these revelations.

For now, we need to figure out where the titans came from.

"Please believe me! I'm telling the truth!"

Historia's desperate voice brought Isanna out of her thoughts as she finally stopped near Hanji, who was listening to the blonde's defense for Ymir's actions.

"She probably.. didn't say anything in order to protect herself," Historia trailed off, lowering her gaze.

"Your loyalty to your friend is respectable," Isanna spoke up, the two turning to her. "But still, Ymir withheld vital information that we have been risking our lives for years. We'll decide what to do with her when she wakes up and after she'll be taken into questioning. But as of now," she paused and glanced to the stretcher where the said titan shifter was now laying on, "we'll send her over to Trost district and make sure she'll be under heavy surveillance."

"Ymir is an ally to humanity!" Historia defended.

Isanna swiftly directed her attention from Ymir towards the young blonde in front of her. "I never said she wasn't. Historia, was it? With our situation right now, I'm just saying we're better off playing safe than to easily give our trust to people who have the potential to catch us off guard. If she really is an ally to us as you say, no harm will come to her as long as she cooperates with the questioning."

They'd just recently captured Annie Leonhart, and now had suspicions regarding two other cadets from the 104th squad. Now, including Leonhart and Eren, the additional and sudden revelation of Ymir's titan powers was just further proof for the Scouts to raise their guards.

Coincidentally, they all belong to the 104th Southern Training Corps.. Isanna mulled over, hand on her chin. What do these all mean? 

Maybe Erwin would know, she thought. That bastard had a guess in almost every single mystery going on, and the scary thing was that so far, they all happened to have some truth in them. 

Tsk. She ran a hand through her hair and gave up. Stop thinking about him. 

Hanji finally decided to speak up. "Isanna's right. Obviously, I hope we can build a trusting relationship with her." She began to walk forward with Isanna by her side, Historia trudging behind them.

Hanji inquired about the Historia's real identity as a part of the noble family, Reiss. When Historia confirmed it, Hanji stopped and patted her by the shoulder.

"Nice to meet you, Historia."

".. Yes," she timidly replied, briefly glancing at Isanna, who remained wearing a neutral expression.

"Oh." Hanji waved her hand with a disarming smile. "I hope you don't take offense at Isa—er, the Sergeant's words, Historia. She has a bit of the Commander's strictness sometimes, you see."

Isanna didn't comment.

The three finally reached the stretcher where Ymir had been laid. While Historia knelt beside her, Hanji asked for her current condition. Moblit replied that she was still in a coma.

After ordering her squad member, Nifa, that she was going to be responsible for sending Ymir over to Trost, both Isanna and Hanji rounded their heels and walked away from the group while Moblit trailed behind the two.

"Well, we managed to fix one issue for the most part." Hanji looked at her. "I suppose we should get going to our original mission. The question is, where the hell is that breach?"

With a tired sigh, Isanna folded her arms across her chest as they continued to walk, scanning the horizon of greenery. Their original mission had been to plug up the breach, but now that they were standing atop the walls, with still no titans in sight, they found themselves at a dead end.

"I'm as clueless as you are," she said, lifting her gaze to the sky. Earlier, the sun had been blessing them with warm, bright rays. Now however, thick ominous clouds were gathering above them, blocking direct light from above. It was not a good sign, Isanna thought.

"I was expecting this place would be filled with titans.." Hanji's voice drifted away while Isanna stepped nearer to the edge of the wall.

Below, Isanna noticed a group of soldiers riding on horseback galloping towards them.

"The Garrison's here," Isanna announced, catching everyone's attention. "Let's hope they're not as clueless as our sorry asses."

A blond man with a small stubble used his maneuvering gear to scale up the wall, and once he reached the top, Isanna bended down to lend him a helping hand. He muttered a small 'thank you' as she pulled him up.

Isanna had learned from Eren that the man was named Hannes.

"There's no hole," he declared to the group, some releasing gasps at the news. "We spent all night looking for it, but I can guarantee that at least between Trost and Krolva district, there's nothing wrong with the wall at all."

Hanji was skeptical. "What'd you say?!"

Hannes explained how his group had already double checked their route, but still ended up with the same results. He also added how they had not encountered a single titan on the way.

After his explanation, there was a thick eerie air floating above everyone, with one question pervading their thoughts: if there was no hole, then where did the titans come from?

For a few seconds, only the howling wind and the ruffling of a torn flag perched near the group filled the silence, every soldier lost in their thoughts, until Isanna shattered it.

"If there's no hole, so be it. The operation's cancelled. Everyone, we'll regroup with the Commander in Trost. Prepare to head out!"

The group of soldiers began dispersing to follow through with her orders.

Isanna and Hanji walked together away as they began discussing about the possibilities of titans having the ability to dig underground.

"If that's the case, locating them would be difficult," Moblit commented under his breath as he followed them.

Grimly nodding, Isanna's expression hardened at the idea. "Still, I think I'd prefer titans that could dig over titans that could fly any day." She held back a shudder at the imagination. Flying titans were literally going to be her biggest nightmare ever should they exist.

"At any rate," said Hanji, "we should focus on escorting Ymir safely."

Isanna was about to agree when she felt a shiver tingle down her spine, the air around them suddenly lowering a few degrees. Blood and danger senses spiking up, she paused in her tracks.

"Hanji. Moblit."

The two seemed to share her thoughts since they, too, stopped and subtly glanced at the corner of their eyes.

Because over behind them, something was going on between a certain group.

Slowly, Isanna mimicked their actions and threw a careful glance behind her, her fingers twitching over towards her blades and itching to unsheathe them.

At the very back, Reiner and Eren seemed to be having a serious conversation, Bertholdt was breaking out in a nervous sweat, and Mikasa was just a few steps away from the three boys.

The torn red flag that was barely hanging on by a thread finally lost its foothold and fell down from the wall, its decline echoing through the air as it bounced against the walls in a clatter that only heightened the tension.

Everybody was holding their breath.

From where they were standing, Isanna couldn't hear their conversation, but Reiner's voice was slowly gaining volume.

"But the only choice for me now.. is to face the consequences of my actions.. and as a warrior, fulfill my duty to the bitter end!"

Isanna and Hanji finally fully turned their bodies around, eyes widening after Reiner took off his arm sling, revealing the small sizzling ash that fell from his wound as it regenerated.

Meanwhile, Eren was still rendered speechless in utter shock at the scene that was unfolding right before his very eyes, his mind still processing the betrayal.

"Reiner!" Bertholdt called. "Are we doing it?! Now?! Right here?!"

"Yeah.." Reiner began marching forward towards Eren, his gaze becoming more tense.

"We settle it right here, right now!"

Like a cat balancing on her paw pad, ready to pounce, and as swift as a silent assassin lurking behind the shadows, Mikasa lunged.

Blade already in her grasp, she delivered a striking blow. She wasted no second and headed towards Bertholdt.

Hesitation laced the blades that she now turned against these two people whom she'd previously deemed as her comrades, and Mikasa cursed herself.

That hesitation was something she would soon regret in the future.

"Eren! Run!"

Isanna was already on her way, a blade pulled out from her equipment as she darted towards the group, when the transformation happened.

"SHIT—!"

A flash of lighting momentarily blinded her.

The blast from the explosion threw her back, the force of impact pushing back everyone and everything away as harsh winds and smoke filled the top of the wall, an entire sickening pandemonium of eruption drowning everyone within range.

There was a sharp burning sensation slapping Isanna across the face and she had to shoot a hook at the side of the wall to stop herself from plunging down to her death. Hearing a shriek, she forced one eye open amidst the harsh, dusty winds and saw Historia being thrown away by the impact of the transformation. She quickly moved and caught her in her hands, steadying her with one arm.

"Ymir!" Historia cried as she horrifyingly stared at the huge lump of flesh and muscle sitting atop the wall that was emitting large amounts of steam.

Raising her head, Isanna finally saw the two humongous beasts that had been the first trigger to all of this mess. Gritting her teeth, she narrowed a glare.

"Fucking hell.." Erwin's hunch was right. As fucking always.

It was the colossal and armored titan.

•

Back at the walls of Trost, Commander Pixis was currently being chided by his assistant for drinking and napping away at such an odd spot, especially since they were in the middle of a crisis. They talked about the lack of titans their search squads had encountered while locating the breach—which was still not found—and the oddities of their current situation.

"Commander Pixis!"

A thump of a hook latching on the wall followed by zipping noises of a gear line caused both Pixis and his assistant to turn and see Erwin.

"Oh, it's you, Erwin," Pixis greeted languidly as he stood up and patted the blond by the arm. "I heard you managed to capture one of those little rats, eh?"

In contrast to his friendly expression, however, Erwin was more strict and stoic as always. Not that Pixis minded, since he knew his fellow commander had always been such a stern man and had a good control over his emotions—although, he thought, it would be nice if he'd loosen up and show a smile from time to time.

"Yes, we did," said Erwin. "But unfortunately, we weren't able to make any further progress after that."

Pixis went on to assure that despite that, the central government seemed to be considering giving their support to the Scouts, seeing the way there were swarms of Military Police dispatched to Trost at the moment.

Erwin didn't reply straight away, because he recalled Isanna relaying to him words from Baldrick.

"He also said we should be careful in the future.. something about.. change coming inside these walls. And the MP out to get our asses for Eren."

The government may have dispatched the MP outside the interior for a rarity, but they may have done it with a hidden intention. Probably, to snatch Eren from under their noses while the Survey Corps was distracted.

Then again, these weren't those 'elite squads' Isanna mentioned. Maybe Erwin was just thinking too deeply about that.

"Indeed," he finally answered, eyes trailing down towards the soldiers below them. "They finally ordered the Military Police to leave the interior and come all the way here."

Regardless of the government's schemes, that would be an issue for the future, as they had an immediate outside threat to address.

And, the fact that they dispatched the MPs out here was in itself already a great feat, since he had a feeling they would be needing the numbers sooner or later.

A soldier came jogging towards the two commanders, informing them that the vanguard responsible for searching for the breach was finally back. Immediately, both Erwin and Pixis scaled down the wall and reached the grounds of Trost where the rest of the soldiers were gathered, eager to hear the news.

"We found no abnormalities nor breaches in the wall," the soldier reported for everyone to hear, and Pixis commented that he already had a hunch that that was the case.

"B—but," the soldier hastily added, "the situation is still grave, sir! On the way back to Trost, we encountered the Survey Corps forces that was led by Sergeant Major Isanna!"

At the additional news, a lone brow twitched on Erwin's face, numerous thoughts briefly flashed in his mind at what could have possibly happened to the group.

The soldier reported how the Scouts were with the cadets of the 104th training squad.

"Among those recruits.. three turned out to be titans!"

Erwin didn't even had a chance to react, since Jean had stepped forward, equally as shocked; the only difference was that he didn't try to mask it.

"W—what the hell are you saying?! Three, you say?! Who?!"

While he was throwing question after question, Erwin used that split second to calm his thoughts, extending a hand to motion for Jean to step back.

"Wait, Jean." He looked back at the soldier. "What happened after their identities were exposed?"

The Garrison soldier was still visibly shaking and sweating profusely. "The Scouts engaged the colossal and armored titan. When we joined the battle, it was already too late..." His voice shook, and he had to take a pause to swallow. "And in the end, they kidnapped Eren Jaeger and another titan shifter, and escaped beyond the walls!"

Erwin frowned at the news. "Did the Sergeant Major dispatch the soldiers to go after them?"

"No," the soldier replied with a vigorous shake of his head. "The Sergeant Major... including Section Commander Hanji and the other officers have been heavily injured after the battle! They need more people to go after Eren Jaeger!"

Levi, who was sitting by a wagon at the side of the street with Pastor Nick, couldn't help but feel a building worry at the thought of his comrades fighting out there without him.

He glanced and took note of the subtle way Erwin's body went rigid, and Levi wasn't sure if the commander was distressed at the fact that Isanna had been injured again, or Eren being kidnapped, or their group suffering heavy casualties. Maybe all three.

Levi held back a scowl and glared at his limp, as if the action would help his inability to fight.

"Commander Pixis," Erwin called, not wasting a second, "please ready the lifts. I'll lead the reinforcements."

There was no time to lose—Pixis understood that. He straightened himself and began barking off orders at the soldiers to ready the horses and prepare the lifts. The soldiers immediately began running to follow his orders, yells of hustle pushing everyone to hurry.

"How many will you take?" Pixis asked Erwin, referring to the amount of soldiers he was going to lead.

He didn't spare him a glance as he replied, "All the men I can."

They were pressed for time; hours had already passed since the supposed battle, and they needed to retrieve Eren as soon as possible.

He shot a glance towards Levi's direction. "Remain here with Pastor Nick."

"Fine."

Erwin then rounded his heel and ordered one of his men to prepare his horse on a lift, before he went towards the cluster of Military Police soldiers who were gathered not too far, simply awaiting orders. All the while, they'd been squatting and leaning casually, engaged in menial conversations, overall heedless of the urgency of their situation.

When they noticed Erwin nearing them, the soldiers straightened their lax figures and saluted.

"Where are your superiors?"

The soldiers exchanged looks until a man at the back lifted a casual hand. "Me."

Erwin regarded the soldier, unmindful of his casual tone. "Round up all your squads. We will leave the walls in an emergency operation."

The man had to take a double take. "Huh?" Did he hear him right?

When his higher ups ordered him to head to Trost, this was not what he'd been expecting.

"Save the questions for later. The details will be explained to you on the way." Then Erwin turned and began walking away without another backward glance.

"H—hold on, Erwin!" The soldier took a step but flinched when the commander stopped and glanced over his shoulder.

"I said," he emphasized, voice low, "save your questions for later."

The MP zipped his mouth shut. And with that said, Erwin continued walking, his air of finality marking the end of the conversation.

He headed straight to the lifts, passing by the wagon where Levi and Pastor Nick sat.

"Calm down," Levi said amid the noise, just loud enough for Erwin to hear. "They can take care of themselves."

Erwin didn't stop walking, but Levi noted his pace had slackened. And as he watched the commander head to the lifts, passing by a bunch of soldiers who respectfully parted ways for him, as he watched him carry his own broad back through this crisis despite the never ending bad news, Levi realized that Erwin was more shaken up with Mike's death than he thought he would be.

And Levi understood how shitty his encouragement had sounded. 'Take care of themselves'—bullshit. Even Mike could take care of himself, and yet..

A worried frown passed by Levi as he watched Erwin hoist himself atop his stallion, Maximus, so white and grand-looking, he almost looked like a literal knight.

Levi couldn't help the worry building up.

Because a knight charging into a battlefield with no composure was anything but a good sign.