Back at Wall Rose, the new council comprised of military heads were waiting for the Scouts' arrival, silent restlessness pervading the meeting room.

Nile was in the middle of recounting his trainee days with Erwin, explaining to the other brass his friend's theory about the outside world.

Textbooks that had been published by the previous monarchy explicitly stated that humanity outside the walls had perished, as if it was an attempt of persuasion instead of maintaining an objective lens in the bounds of education.

Pixis, General Zackly and the other heads listened on.

Nile lowered his gaze to the cup of untouched tea in front of him, mind reminiscing.

"When I heard him say that, I made fun of him.. but look at us now."

It was silent for a while. Ever since the Scouts left for the operation, he could not control the fear and concern for his friends who had gone to fight to reclaim back Wall Maria. They should be returning any time soon—he was going to see them again.

General Zackly shattered the silence.

"I think your only option is to apologize to him directly," he rumbled.

Nile fell into silence, staring at his reflection on the tea in his cup and thinking of his last surviving friends in the Scouts. Erwin and Isanna.

That's not the only thing I owe them apology for, he thought.

The silence in the room was broken when hurried footsteps echoed from the hall outside the meeting room. The door then burst open, and a soldier came bearing the news, heralding the return of their heroes.

"The Survey Corps has arrived! The operation was a success!"

At the news, Nile was the first one to stand from the meeting table. He shuffled out of the room before anyone else could, ignoring the calls of the other executives.

Heavy, anticipating footsteps echoed down the halls of the building. He could hear his heart thundering against his chest, a fever of impatience pulsing through, and all Nile could think of was the chance to see Erwin and Isanna again, alive.

When he rounded the corner, he stopped.

In front of him stood Levi and Hanji, both of them wearing garbs of weariness, he noticed.

Casted over the marbled floor were their shadows, caused by the dawning light from the window on the wall beside them.

Nile knew the two of them. Squad leader Hanji Zoe, and Captain Levi—the annoying one who always ganged up on him together with Isanna. Those two were a pain together, he recalled. The troublesome, foul-mouthed duo who always hung around Erwin's side. They were certainly two of the military's best soldiers, but to Nile, they were just a pain in the ass that gave him nothing but headache.

They were most likely heading to the meeting room to give their report. But why only them two—

"Levi," Nile finally said, breaking the silence. "What is.. where's Erwin? And Isanna?"

Uncomfortable silence hovered above the corridor, his inquiry drifting along the wind as he waited for a response. He noted the grimace on Levi's face, the crestfallen expression on Hanji as she looked away with a chewed lip.

"They're dead," said Levi, blunt as always.

The information seemingly flew past his ears, too slow to take in.

"Where are they?"

"Wall Maria," Levi answered with dead-tired eyes. "They're dead."

Nile looked at him.

In agonizing silence, he continued to stare at him. He blinked a few times, certain this was another one of Levi and Isanna's pranks, his brain muddled in confusion at those simple two words that had left Levi's tongue. They're—

"What?"

"Dead, Nile," Levi repeated, and although it was the third time he did, he didn't seem to be annoyed. "I said.. they're dead—Erwin and Isanna."

Perhaps three times was the charm, because it was then did it hit Nile.

As if the sky was falling, as if the force of gravity was pushing down, his legs suddenly went heavy.

No.

That couldn't be—dead? He couldn't believe it. He refused to believe it. Just three nights ago, he made a deal with Isanna that they'd return, and although he always found her insufferable to be with, he had placed his trust on her words. He had thought they were coming back. She swore to him.

"No.. that's.. that can't be.."

With shaky eyes, Nile lowered his gaze, failing to notice the trembling hands that were hanging by his side.

Erwin and Isanna. They shouldn't be dead, after all, they'd survived this long—those two were some of the most stubborn people Nile had ever met and known, they'd lived long enough in the Scouts for years, so they shouldn't be dead. Because then.. what about him?

He clenched his teeth, looked at Levi and glared, feeling the burning sting in his eyes.

Stepping forward, he grabbed Levi by the front of his uniform, shaking him.

"That's a lie! They can't be dead! Isanna—she—she said they'd come back! She told me!"

His eyes were hurting, and there was a throbbing twinge somewhere in his chest, but he refused to acknowledge it.

"I haven't—" his voice cracked— "I haven't apologized to them yet!"

His outburst rang in the silence of the corridor, Nile's choked gasps of sobs filling the space as he desperately tried to stifle it back. He could not believe it, it was all too painful to be true.

Nile failed to notice the way Levi's eyes widened at his sudden admittance, him clicking his tongue under his breath as he grabbed Nile's wrists and wrenched them away from him.

"I don't know what apology you owe them, but they're gone," Levi said, holding back a bitter tone. "It's too late for regrets now."

Then he brushed past Nile, Hanji trailing silently behind him as they rounded the corner, leaving behind a distraught Nile.

Breathing heavily, Nile eventually fell down to his knees with a defeated thump, head hung low and the silence ringing in his ears.

No.. everyone.. why..

He raised his hands and held his head, clawing his hair beneath his fingers, teeth clenched as tight as possible. He squeezed his eyes shut, desperately trying to fight back the memories from flashing in his mind.

His friends, Adalaide and Chiara who used to make fun of him while they were still alive, Adrian and Mike who used to just silently watch the chaos unfold with silent smiles, Isanna, and Erwin. He turned his back on them, ditched them all without a word—the least he could have done was talk to them and try to part ways on a good note, he could have tried to keep in contact—but his stupid pride got in the way, rendering him too late to even apologize.

I am a fool. Why did I wait this long?

And now here he was, the decision to leave them years ago ultimately leading him to be the only survivor left among their circle.

Why did you all leave?

His decision years ago kept him alive, but at what cost?

Nile no longer held his emotions back.

He cried.

•

The remaining nine Scouts were given time to recuperate. Some returned to their families, some were held in disciplinary action for insubordination during the operation, and some headed back to HQ, the latter being Hanji and Levi, namely.

Hanji had come to despise the silence that came every time they returned from an expedition. This time, she hated the silence even more.

The campus was filled with gloom, void of any signs of life as she and Levi crossed the courtyard in heavy steps.

"Where are you going?" she asked as they entered the officers' barracks.

Levi only gave her a curt glance. "Commander's office."

"I'll come with you." Levi didn't comment, neither did he complain, which was something Hanji was inwardly grateful for. She didn't want to be left alone at the moment.

When they reached the office, they walked inside, bringing another bout of silence with them. It had been like this ever since the completion of their operation—neither of them talking, just staying in each other's presence. Because it was all they needed. After the hell they just went through, after losing so much, just the assurance that someone was there gave them the comfort they needed.

The office didn't change much. Erwin's belongings were still laid out where he last left them, in shelves, on the tables, on the working desk. Piles of papers were neatly stacked, waiting to be worked on.

Looking at an empty office was not supposed to have hurt as much as it did in that moment, Hanji thought.

Then the door that connected to Erwin's private quarters creaked open, and when they both turned to it, they saw a cat pad out of the room, entering the office.

".. Mhile," Hanji breathed, part of her relieved that there had been a living creature still around. She neared the desk where Mhile had leaped and sat, peering at them like he usually did with his green slits for eyes.

"Were you waiting for us?" Hanji said, bringing a hand to pet the furry animal, it purring against her palm.

As she watched him prod his face into her hand, the bitter, sinking pit only worsened, and she felt sorry that every time they returned to Mhile, they were always a few persons short.

Levi watched from near the door as Hanji continued to pet the cat on the table in prolonged silence, until he eventually heard her say, "It's just us, Mhile."

Levi lowered his gaze down to the floorboards, jaws tightly clenched.

"M-H-I-L-E. Mhile. It's our initials."

His frown only deepened, worsening, as he could hear the shared laughter of the old times that used to reverberate around this very office. But now, it was as barren as a wasteland, and the ghosts of the past were nothing but a distant memory, one that they will no longer be able to revisit.

"Hey, Levi."

He raised his head, gaze darting towards Hanji whose back was facing him. She was still petting Mhile, but he could make out the slight trembling of her shoulders as she held back from crying.

"It's just.. us," she muttered, voice so quiet, but loud in the still room. "They're so mean, leaving us behind.."

The stinging pain came back to Levi's eyes, and he had to look away, scowling even deeper and digging his nails into his palms.

"Levi.. you have to promise me," Hanji continued despite the evident shake in her voice, back still to him. "We're in this together.. so you have to stick with me, okay?"

That goes without saying, Levi answered in his thoughts. At this point in time, the two of them were the only veterans left—carrying the lives of those who had left before them.

•

Historia sat in a wooden chair, in a room in a building in Trost district. She had travelled all the way from the inner walls to meet with her friends and see how they were faring after the operation, also since she received a message from Hanji saying that there was a letter for her.

The letter sat in the table beside, still unread by her. Historia peered through the large window as she sat in silence, observing the bustling business going about in Trost district.

The brave sacrifices of the two-hundred Scouts, the Commander and his second-in-command included, had already spread around the walls.

Historia pressed her lips in a firm line, feeling a distant pang in her chest as she thought of the two, her eyes turning glassy. She didn't get the chance to get closer to Erwin and Isanna than she already was, but.. she had a feeling that had she gotten the chance, it would have been a nice feeling, having reliable adults around her.

She looked at the sky through the window, seeing her reflection on the glassy surface. She didn't have a happy childhood; unwanted by her mother, used as a tool by her father, and had been hiding behind a persona for years, some part of her wishing for a safe place where she could both be loved and accepted.

Isanna-san.. if I ever have kids.. I will treat them how you treated me.

Historia could only pray that somewhere up there, the both of them were happy.

She finally turned to the letter that was waiting to be read, and gingerly picked it up, unfolding its contents.

"My dearest Historia..."

•

"We are gathered here today in honor of the fallen brave two hundred, including the thirteenth Commander of the Survey Corps, Erwin Smith, as well as to reward the remaining nine for their acts of undaunted courage in retaking back Wall Maria."

They were at the royal palace in Sina. The heads of the military brass and other important executives were present to give their respects.

Mikasa stood together with the other eight at the front of the room, right in front of the platform as an officiator gave a speech about the paid efforts of the Survey Corps, and all that glorious crap that she couldn't be bothered to listen to.

Majority of the people in this chamber room were the same ones who used to scorn their regiment, so she didn't want to hear any of the two-faced bullshit they spouted. The only reason she was here was because it was mandatory, and she wanted to honor her fallen comrades.

She stood in front of the platform, hands hung firmly by the side and pressed her lips firmer into a tight line as she thought of all the lost lives at the battle at Shiganshina. One of the soldiers she looked up to, Isanna Herrmann, had been one of the many casualties, and she knew that her death along with the commander were big blows to humanity.

She wasn't there to witness Isanna's death.

And somehow, the painful pang that came with it felt heavier.

Her eyes felt glossy, vision blurring, but she blinked it back. She sent a side glance towards her comrades—Sasha, who had been also close to Isanna just like her, sniffing back tears. The sight of the brunette struggling to hold back her tears didn't make Mikasa feel any better.

This pain.. was familiar, she thought to herself.

Watching her mother killed by slave traders at such a young age, her world had entirely shifted after that event. Then she witnessed the cruel death of her second mother, Carla Jaeger, devoured by the titans as she was powerless to do anything.

Mikasa bit her lower lip.

And she wondered. Why?

Why did she always lose the ones whom she deemed like a mother?

A silent tear managed to escape and trickle down her cheek, unnoticed by everyone else as she subtly lowered her head.

Armin didn't know what to do.

Ever since he'd woken up after consuming Bertholdt, ever since he'd arrived back at Wall Rose, he didn't know what he should do. The reality that he'd been chosen instead of Erwin still did not sink in.

Why me?

He bit his lip and lowered his gaze, the babbling words of the officiator tuning out in his ears. Why did the captain choose him? In whatever angle, the commander should have been the one to have inherited the colossal titan. Their battle was far from over, that much was certain, especially after their discovery in Eren's basement. Armin was miles from Erwin's league, and everyone in this hall knew it, even himself.

He clasped his hands tighter behind his back at the incoming role he was soon to play in the future.

What should I do?

At that moment, Isanna's words echoed in his mind.

"You got a good head above your shoulders, Armin. Something tells me.. your mind, quick-thinking capacity, and empathy will help humanity someday, just as how it helped your friends."

He could hear her voice clearly, as if she was still there, giving him an encouraging pat in the back. He didn't know if the thought made him feel better or worse. The commander was gone, and so was Isanna. Their regiment had been almost eradicated, and Armin knew that the next steps would be to re-build the Scouts for the upcoming war. The only difference this time around, was that Erwin wouldn't be there to lead them anymore. Not anymore.

Confidence had always been the one thing Armin lacked. To carry the burden as Erwin Smith's replacement was something he never once thought he'd be doing—because no matter how much he'd try, he would never be able to replace Erwin. Levi himself had said so.

But..

Armin recalled Isanna's words that night.

Maybe.. I don't have to be one.

Perhaps he didn't have to be a replacement.

Armin heaved in a large bout of breath and closed his eyes. In the end, Levi had chosen him. Time could not be turned back. The only thing Armin could do was accept his role and fulfill it.

The ceremony soon came to a close, and the remaining nine were called forward to receive their medals—medals that were also supposed to be hung over the necks of the fallen two hundred who had died that day. A solemn silence swept over the ceremony hall as the queen slung the medals over the nine.

Armin's gaze fell to the medal that hung below his neck, the gleaming metal reflecting the light of the sun that slipped through the large windows, as if reminding him of the heavy burden he now bore over his shoulders.

He will fulfill his role, doing the one thing he always did best—using his head. If it meant helping humanity for even a small bit, he would do so.

That was the only way he could honor the deaths of the fallen soldiers.

•

The gentle breeze of the afternoon swayed the grass of the meadows, blowing some of the leaves as it danced in the air. The smell of nature wafted together with the wind, and along with it, a sense of painful nostalgia.

Levi stood in front of a row of graves, hands shoved in his pockets. Neutral eyes that held more than words will ever explain were glued at two tombstones, where a bouquet of white flowers had been placed on each.

This was his last gift for the both of them—buried side by side, as what he was sure the both of them would have preferred.

"Levi! I told you to wait for me!"

He stayed his eyes on the graves as he felt another presence shuffle beside him, not sparing them a glance.

"You were taking too long."

Hanji huffed in reply, before she directed her attention towards the graves in front of them, a wave of wistfulness coming over her.

Months had passed since the battle of Shiganshina, and the Survey Corps had long eradicated Wall Maria of the titans. Just recently, an announcement was issued, stating that the residents could return to their original settlement after six long years.

The future of humanity inside the walls remained an issue now that they knew of the truth surrounding their world, but for the moment, the Survey Corps had been doing well tackling immediate objectives—like continuing expeditions beyond Wall Maria, and hopefully, reaching the ocean, as what was stated in Grisha Jaeger's books.

Speaking of the ocean, Hanji briefly wondered what it would feel like, had Erwin, Isanna, and Mike lived long enough to see it. She would have done everything she could if it meant taking them all to see it for the first time together.

Silence fell on them as they continued to stare at the tombs, of what remained of their comrades and long-time companions.

"Meow."

Both turned to see Mhile padding forward, stepping over one of the graves and curling over it.

Levi frowned at the cat. "I told you not to bring that thing here."

"But I'm sure Mhile wanted to see them!" Hanji defended. Levi didn't show it, but he was relieved that, with time, Hanji had found her enthusiasm once more. That had always been her admirable trait—although he'd rather die than say it out loud and risk a round of teasing from her.

He watched as Hanji knelt down in front of the graves, a smile of melancholy dancing on her lips as she traced the engravings with her hand.

"They're unbelievable. They really took 'till death do us part' to a whole other meaning, huh?" she softly said, shaking her head.

Levi moved his gaze towards the graves, thinking about how Erwin and Isanna had long been together for as long as he could remember, even way before he'd met them. The memory felt so distant—because it was. Those two were practically inseparable, even as they charged to their death. And now here they were, resting by each other's side.

He shook his head.

"No, even death couldn't part them."

Hanji glanced at him for a moment, then broke into a sad smile. "You're right."

After a few more minutes, they had to leave for Shiganshina for a scheduled exploration.

"Mhile, you're staying here?" Hanji asked as they turned to leave.

"Moron," Levi said. "He's a cat."

But even then, they watched as Mhile stayed on his spot, curled on the grave while he looked at them with his beady eyes.

"I'll take that as a yes," Hanji chuckled, before sticking out a tongue at Levi who only looked away.

Damned cat always liked to be around Erwin, Levi thought with a scoff as he began walking away, Hanji falling into steps beside him as they headed out of the graveyard. He guessed that even in his grave, Mhile wanted to be in his company.

"Do you think Isa will like our gift?" Hanji asked rhetorically, eyes craning at the sky as they walked away.

Levi grunted. "She better. We went through the trouble for it."

As the soldiers headed farther from the tombstones and exited the cemetery, Mhile was left staring at their retreating backs, tail swishing behind him.

Overhead, a flock of free birds flew, heralding the turning page of a new story, one that a lot may not be there to read. The wind blew and ruffled his fur, shuffling some leaves, and along with it, a silent goodbye.

Behind Mhile stood two graves of what was left of two souls, who had braved through death together hand-in-hand.

In the autumn of the year 850, under a sky filled with clouds, their story came to a close.

Erwin Smith
815–850

Isanna Smith
816–850

End of the Final Season

Next chapter: Epilogue