Erwin watched, from the top of the outer wall, as the rain of crushed rocks barreled through the houses in a cacophony of cannon-like barrage. At that moment, he finally caught what the enemy was planning.

"Frontal bombardment!" He warned his soldiers who were down at the village. "Troops, take cover!"

Following his caution, another batch of rocks came crashing through the houses, eradicating everything in its path. Even from where Erwin was standing, he could make out blood mixing in with the dust and debris, separated limbs of his soldiers flying.

He could hear cries of panic from the recruits below. Erwin lifted his gaze towards the beast titan, who had picked up another boulder and crushed it in its grip as it went into a stance.

So this is your plan all along..

Erwin looked at the front of the village that was now completely leveled, rubbles of the houses cluttered in remnants. That was where the veteran squads were gathered.

And last time he knew, Isanna had been around the area.

He involuntarily tightened his jaw at the thought, swirls of devastating scenarios flowing into his mind. Isanna had been there. She'd been fighting with the other squads, cleaning the titans up front—he realized that had also been a part of the enemy's plan: gathering their more competent soldiers in one area to strike them in one blow.

Because of that, the earlier bombardment—

Erwin stopped his own thoughts.

His thumb felt for the ring on his finger, finding something to calm him down, anything, to keep him focused.

There was the knowledge that somewhere down there, Eren's basement stood, lying in wait for someone to discover its secrets, hanging at the back of his mind.

Perhaps if he were a more selfish man, he'd abandon the mission and doom humanity for good. But..

Erwin faced towards the beast titan, towards his soldiers who were fighting for their lives below, towards the direction of the village where he last knew Isanna had been—and he knew he was not abandoning any of them.

After another barrage of thrown rocks, he scaled down the wall and landed where Levi had the new recruits gather.

"Commander!"

Levi, who'd been trying to get a fear-stricken recruit to stand up, turned to Erwin at his arrival. The look on his face was anything but pleasant, not that he was one to wear a pleasant face to begin with, but Levi knew they were in some deep shit—most likely, even deeper than all their previous ones, which was a feat. I still don't know what happened to Isanna's group..

"How's the situation?"

Levi watched the somber expression on Erwin's face as the latter turned to where the shredded rocks were flying from. All around them, smashes of collisions boomed from every direction, and the recruits screamed for their lives.

"It's the worst situation possible," Erwin finally said, brows tugging together, gaze still ahead where he estimated Isanna should be at. "If he keeps this up, the place will be leveled and we'll have nowhere to hide."

Levi tried suggesting ways for a retreat, all of which Erwin countered, explaining the flaws of every possible method.

"We've taken massive losses," Erwin added. "The beast titan most likely controlled the smaller titans to herd our soldiers into one location. They were.. most likely wiped out by the first bombardment."

Levi froze at the news, mind going over towards Isanna. Hanji as well, whose group was still at the other side. Their top officers, all out of commission.

"Bullshit," Levi spat, glaring. The recruits turned to him, as well as Erwin. "There has to be survivors out there. That woman won't go down without a fight."

Another round of flying rocks came. This time, it sounded nearer; they were running out of time.

The recruits all screamed, horses neighing and snorting as they trotted in place. If it weren't for the recruits who were handling their reigns, they would have sprinted off already.

Amid the chaos, Erwin looked at Levi and held his gaze.

"I know she won't," Erwin finally said, and Levi almost missed the look of defeat that passed over his face. "But even if there are survivors, we have no way of contacting them."

"Then.. do you have a plan, Erwin?"

As soon as the question left Levi's lips, he watched the way the expression on Erwin's face turned more grim, and he knew that whatever plan he had in mind, Levi was not going to like it.

He clicked his tongue. "Erwin. When I asked for a plan, I don't want to hear any of the shit you pull out of your ass."

Erwin looked at him for a moment, the bombardment now seemingly a distant problem for the both of them.

"If this plan goes well, you may be able to defeat the beast titan," Erwin said.

Another bombardment. More screaming.

"But, only if we sacrifice the lives of all the recruits.. as well as mine."

Levi didn't waste one second. He stepped forward and hardened his gaze, not caring if they were seen by the recruits—they were all too busy screaming for their lives, anyway.

"I thought I told you not to give me any of your bullshit," Levi warned in a threatening voice. "You're not dying here. You're not leaving humanity and her behind."

He briefly thought of the day prior, his conversation with Erwin, the happiness he saw between his Commander and Isanna as the four of them with Hanji spent the last night together.

He thought of the rings he saw around their fingers, a symbol of promise and commitment, still waiting to be fulfilled with exchanged vows in front of an altar.

"She's still alive, I know it," Levi said with finality. "I'm not letting your death hurt her."

Erwin stared down at him, the screams and noise of their surroundings drowning out in his ears.

"Lev—"

They were interrupted when they heard the sound of shuffling steps, grunts and heavy breathing.

Both Levi and Erwin turned to the new presence, a surge of surprise and relief washing both soldiers as their eyes landed on a battered Isanna, leaning against the wall of a wrecked house. A streak of blood was gushing from her temple, trickling down her face, and she seemed to be leaning more on one leg to carry her weight.

She coughed, then said with a coarse voice, "Sorry.. I kinda got.. caught up in something.."

Erwin was the first one to reach her side, assisting her to a nearby crate.

"What happened?" Levi asked, watching from the side as Erwin knelt down in front of her to inspect her left leg.

Isanna winced the moment Erwin reached her ankle. Her pants had been stained with her blood and the fabric had been teared, showing the dark bruise—it was not a pleasant sight.

"I managed to.. dodge the first barrage, for the most part," she managed to say. "But my leg got hit. I think my bones are crushed. Took cover in some of the houses and crawled all the way here, basically."

Erwin frowned as he inspected her injury. To have crawled all the way here without passing out was a feat in itself. It seemed beyond help—she'll most likely have to give it up if they survive this. If they can even return, that is.

"I'm fine," she said. "I'll hobble with my other leg if I have to. So Erwin, what's the plan?"

Levi tightened his jaw at her question, noticing the way Erwin subtly stiffened as well.

Their reactions did not pass by Isanna unnoticed.

She alternately looked at them, confusion written in her face at their silence.

Then, Erwin stood, eyes locked on her.

"Levi, give us a moment."

Levi looked at the both of them, conflicted. He knew what Erwin was going to do—he knew, and he didn't like it one bit—but he also knew that they were running out of time. Even as they stood here, the recruits were still panicking, and those blasted rocks were still coming.

Damn it, is there no other way?

He balled his fists, dreading the outcome of this entire shitty situation, and finally turned around. "Make it quick. We don't have time."

As Isanna watched Levi turn and head away to give them privacy, there was unease welling inside her, growing larger and larger—a sinking, detestable pit of foreboding.

She turned to Erwin, who had never taken his eyes off her. There was a hue of emotion in his eyes, one that did nothing to quell her unease, and for some reason, Isanna didn't want to listen to whatever he wanted to say to her.

Another bombardment came in their direction, but neither of them even flinched. Even as the row of houses got wiped out, nearing them, neither looked away from the other.

"Erwin—"

"Isanna," Erwin interrupted, a pained expression in his eyes, something he tried to hide but failed. "A plan to defeat the beast titan is underway." He began to explain the details of the plan, of Levi sneaking up using the line of titans near the Beast, of the recruits acting as a decoy, of him leading them—

"No," she interjected before he could even finish, and Erwin wasn't even surprised at the interruption, but the same defeated look never left his eyes as he stared at her.

Isanna shakily rose, ignoring Erwin's protests, and stood in front of him.

"No," she repeated, raising her head to look at him in the eye, voice coarse and weary, but with resolve. "No. I won't let you."

"There is no other method to counterattack."

"I said no! " she snapped, voice cracking, surprising Erwin that she still had energy to enforce that much outburst.

"Isanna—" he started, but she had already hobbled closer towards him, grabbing the sleeves of his jacket and fumbling with the fabric.

"I'll—" she coughed— "I'll.. lead the recruits. If it's a charge you want, I'm more than capable..!"

"You can't even ride a horse with your leg." Erwin frowned. "And the recruits will not follow just anyone."

"I can ride a horse," Isanna countered. "And I'll make them follow me, even if I have to drag them. You have to stay alive—humanity still needs you!"

She wanted him alive for humanity's sake, even if it meant sacrificing herself. Erwin knew that. They talked about this some nights before—that their relationship did not give them the privilege to prioritize the other over humanity when the situation called for it. That was one thing they'd agreed on—even though, Erwin had to admit, it was easier said than done.

He swallowed a heavy lump at the back of his throat as he listened to her desperation, the rising conflicting emotions swirling in a turmoil. The chaos all around them, the deaths, the recruits who were no older than a young adult, the basement—her, their future together—all were battling it out inside him, entire brain straining and working to come up with an alternative—anything. Anything would do, so long as the success of the mission was assured.

The mission.

His thoughts went towards the recruits, who were still panicking amid the mayhem.

And he remembered his responsibility. Humanity inside the walls. They were all placing their hopes on them.

"I've made my decision," he said. "This fight.. is not only ours to win. Our fallen comrades—they're all watching, waiting for us to give meaning to their sacrifices."

"I will lead the charge. So please.." he paused, grabbing her wrist, making her look at him, and he would be lying if he said the sight of her tearing up did not break him. ".. Please, don't stop me."

A string of apologies lay at the tip of his tongue, his own emotions threatening to get the best of him, but Erwin pushed them back—this was no time to get emotional.

As he watched her eyes getting glossier, unshed tears gathering at the corner of her eyes, Erwin lifted a hand and pressed a careful palm against her cheek, gently caressing her.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, voice so still as if the chaos around them never existed. "I wanted.."

He swallowed deeply, trying to find the right words as he recalled his own thoughts in recent months. His new dream that he had found in her.

"I wanted to make you happy," he confessed.

He recalled meticulously picking the ring he had in mind, picturing her reaction as he proposed. He recalled the shine in her eyes as he finally did, the sheer glow of happiness in her face, her 'Yes'.

Above everything else, Erwin wanted her happy. Above everyone else, because it was what she deserved, and her happiness was his own.

But..

Perhaps, he thought, perhaps I had been a little bit too happy.

Maybe this was the world telling him that his time was up, that he had used up all the happiness that had been allotted for him. Maybe, he got carried away, thinking he could be happy with her—and this was his cruel reminder: that picture he had in mind of him and her filled with bliss in a humble home, a world kinder than their current one, was cursed to stay within the bounds of his imagination—a phantasm, never meant to be lived.

Erwin lowered his hand, loosely curling it into a fist as he brought it back to his side, the majority of him slowly accepting what fate had in store.

"Let me go, Isanna."

All this time, she had her gaze lowered and had gone quiet, and Erwin could only wonder what her train of thoughts were.

"Forgive me, for breaking my promise," he said.

Her gaze was fixated on the ground, silent for seconds, and Erwin wanted nothing more than to apologize, for he was going to do something that will hurt her once more. He wondered if that was all he would ever be to her—a man who did nothing but bring her pain, who still couldn't even make up for all the lost times he'd wasted.

"You're too incapacitated to ride a horse, so—"

"You don't have to."

Erwin paused, blinking as Isanna finally lifted her face to look at him, a different kind of resignation behind her eyes.

"You don't have to break your promise. You don't have to break anything," she clarified, and when Erwin realized what she was getting on to, he held by the shoulder, immediately attempting to stop what he thought she was planning on doing.

"Isanna—"

"It's always been like this, hasn't it?" she said, more rhetorical than an actual question. "You're always in front of me, and I'm always watching your back, following you wherever you go."

Erwin subconsciously tightened his grip on her shoulder, not with bruising pressure, but tight enough.

"I will not allow you to die under my command." Not you—never you.

"Where else would I go, if not with you?"

He went silent at her counter, a heavy pang suddenly weighing down on his shoulders. He watched speechless as she wore a pained smile, one that he hated seeing on her the most.

"Don't leave me in this hell, Erwin.. you can do this one last request for me, won't you?"

The next round of bombardment rained through the rows of houses, blaring to the ears.

They held each other's gazes, and Erwin eventually came to the conclusion that no matter what he'll say or do, Isanna will still follow him. She always did. Without fail.

And he swore the ring on his finger never felt heavier than at that very moment.