Just as Isanna thought, it felt like everything took a worse turn ever since they found out that Eren could turn into a titan.

It wasn't like she was blaming the kid, but she couldn't help but curse their current situation. Everything had been a mess so far; their 57th expedition, the raid on Stohess, and now they had received news of titan spotting within Wall Rose. All within the span of one fucking month. Less than a month.

Currently, she was heading her way to Erwin's temporary office in Stohess, reading down a brief report of where the titans had been first spotted. According to the messenger, they were first seen somewhere in the southern rural regions.

That's where Mike's squad and the 104th recruits should be staying..

Worried, she clenched her jaw and tightened her hold on the parchment, the papers creasing under her fingers. Even though she was inside the building halls, she could hear jostles and hurried conversations from frantic soldiers from outside as they rushed in preparation.

Apparently, there were no breaches among the outer districts, and the squads that were stationed at the front line were still searching for the damage.

What else could go wrong? she sarcastically thought with a muttered curse.

Upon reaching her destination, Isanna knocked her knuckles against the door and waited until she heard the usual, deep "Enter".

When she entered the office, she saw Levi and exchanged a nod of acknowledgement with him. No usual banter, which was understandable, considering their circumstances.

"Think you can fight?" she asked, eyeing his injured leg.

He grunted, clicking his tongue. Isanna got the memo.

A shame. We would've needed those monster skills of his.

Erwin's voice cut through the air, catching their attention. The commander was standing behind his desk as he gave his orders. He told the two they were going to lead the Scouts and ride to Ehrmich, help with the evacuation and look for the breach; the sooner they locate the hole, the faster they can devise a plan to plug it up. As of the moment, titans were most likely crawling through the breach. It was a race against time.

After Erwin's orders, Levi headed for the door when the former called him.

"You'll be riding a wagon with Hanji and Pastor Nick," he told him. "And Eren, Mikasa, and Armin are to accompany you until Ehrmich district. After that, you are to stay behind."

Levi affirmed his instructions with a quick, wordless nod, then left the office. A tense silence crawled through the creaks of the room, and Isanna wasn't sure if it was because of their circumstances, some other reason, or maybe it was just her.

Fortunately enough, Erwin broke the silence. "Do you have other news?"

Glancing down at the report in her hand, she read through the file. "Mike's squad is out there in the front lines with the 104th.. apparently, there were no titan shifters among them."

"I see." A beat of silence, then he turned around, directing his attention outside the window. "And your injury?"

Blinking, Isanna rolled her shoulder and felt for any pain; there was still a slight discomfort, but not enough to bother her with her maneuvering gear. Hopefully.

"Feels better."

"I hope you're not trying to fool me."

"I'm not."

Isanna waited in silence in case he had any other orders, watching the way Erwin stood and held himself firmly, hands clasped behind his back.

"Then I'll take your word for it," he finally said. "You'll go with Hanji as well once we reach Ehrmich. I need you both in the front lines." With Levi out of action, he needed all the best soldiers out at once for combat. He made a mental note to send Mike to her location once they see each other.

"And what about you?"

Erwin moved his gaze towards the mess of papers on his desk. At the front of the pile was Isanna's report about Annie Leonhart's background and two particular new recruits who coincidentally came from the same area as her before she joined the Training Corps, as well as belonged to the squads who had been deliberately misinformed that Eren's position during the 57th expedition was in the left flank, where the female titan was reported to have first appeared.

Records had been blotchy especially after the fall, but Isanna still managed to scrape up whatever she could find and found this thin connection between the three cadets.

Bertholdt Hoover and Reiner Braun. Both who were presumed to be at the front lines.

"The government has decided to dispatch the Military Police this time around. I will lead them to Trost and meet up with Commander Pixis."

After a mulling second, she obliged to his instruction. Folding the paper in her hands, she stalked towards the door to prepare for their departure.

•

In less than hour, the Scouts were lining in front of the gate of Stohess, soldiers mounted on their respective horses while carrying fire torches. An uneasy air of tension and anxiety combined floated above the night sky and weighed down heavily on each shoulder.

The coarse grip of the torch pressed tightly against Isanna's palm, fire crackling as wisps of smoke and specks of ashes blew out.

A soldier yelled to open the gate, and there was a loud clamor of grating noise as the gate with an intricate carving of a woman's side profile steadily lifted up, grinding against the sides of the hole.

She watched as Erwin directed Maximus to the front of the formation, the white stallion whinnying, before he pulled him around to face his men. "The situation within Wall Rose is unclear, but everything up until Ehrmich is safe." He added that they were going to save time by passing through the southern outer district of Wall Sina, before he pulled his reigns and faced ahead.

"Move out!"

"Yes, sir!"

The line of Scouts followed after their Commander's horse, filing out of the gate of Stohess and into the other side of the wall. They continued to ride by the wall towards the southern district, arriving at Ehrmich in no time; by this point, scores of civilians were being herded by MP soldiers, faces all pale and painted with sheen sweat at the recent crisis.

"After locating the breach with Hanji's team, report back to me in Trost," Erwin told Isanna as the both of them discussed their action plan. "I've already instructed Hanji to take responsibility in plugging up the hole with Eren's power in the case I arrive later than anticipated."

He had also already commanded her to guide her team towards an abandoned castle situated around the southwest part of Wall Rose since it was close to the wall, making it the ideal spot for a lookout.

Currently, the two were conversing privately inside one of the concrete buildings in the Scouts' subdivision quarters in Ehrmich, while the rest of the soldiers were resupplying their equipments before their departure towards the south for the supposed breach.

She nodded. "Roger that. And what of cadet Hoover and Braun? The report we received from Mike's team said the 104th recruits were in heavy surveillance when the titans were spotted."

A thoughtful frown flashed by his expression as he mulled over it. "Perhaps our enemies have pulled out another hidden card."

".. Are you saying there might be another titan capable of destroying the wall?"

Erwin's frown deepened. Based from earlier's report, the hole was most likely somewhere within the wall itself, and the very thought that their enemy could break down any part of their defense was alarming.

Or, was there another way for titans to pass through? Underground? The sky?

"Possibly. But as we are now, the only way to find out is to head to the brunt of the damage ourselves." He brought his eyes to catch her gaze. "The background report isn't sufficient to pin them as an enemy, but I should remind you to keep a high alert. Do not underestimate our enemies, at all costs."

Swallowing back a heavy lump, Isanna gave a firm nod. "Yes, sir."

For a moment, the noise of hurrying soldiers, chatters of unrest, and clanking of equipments being transported filled the gap of the conversation.

"Is there anything else?" Isanna asked when Erwin made no signs of talking.

She noted the way the space between his brows creased lightly, lips pressed tighter, but expression still as rigid.

"No unwise decisions," he said, and Isanna finally realized he was probably worried that she'd repeat her blunder back at the 57th expedition.

"Don't worry, Commander. I'll make sure to return to you with my limbs intact."

"This is no jesting matter, Isanna."

You sure are fun at parties. She rolled her eyes, showing a bit of playfulness despite their situation. "Your wish is my command, sir."

He didn't seem convinced, but he took it anyway. "Promise me," he said. "You'll take care of yourself."

Isanna was taken aback at his sudden change in tone. He didn't use his commanding voice this time. It sounded.. a lot softer, with more emotion.

And maybe it was because of that that she grabbed his bolo tie and tiptoed, reaching up to peck his cheek without warning. But because of his insanely tall height, she ended up kissing his jawline.

Isanna felt Erwin stiffen at the contact, and when she pulled back, she got a clear view of his dumbfounded face, eyebrows a notch higher than usual, and lips slightly parted in silent surprise.

Who would've thought a rigid man such as him was capable of making such a face?

She didn't know where the sudden confidence came from, but the look on his face was worth the future embarrassment.

Payback for the other night. Isanna let go of his bolo tie, her gaze softening, and said, "I promise I'll return to you."

Just then, another voice called for their attention.

"Commander Erwin, Sergeant Major Isanna!"

The two simultaneously turned to the voice (Isanna quickly took a step back to give some 'professional distance'), and saw a young girl in the standard Survey Corps uniform, carrying a letter.

The girl thumped her right fist atop her left chest in a salute. "Sasha Braus of the 104th, reporting!"

Isanna took that as her cue and wordlessly flicked her hand in a salute that seemed more like a wave to Erwin, before she headed to the next building where she knew Hanji and the rest were at.

Once she upped and left, Sasha gave a brief report of her mission earlier that day, when she had been spreading the news of the breach whilst helping villages evacuate to safety. She handed a letter to the commander.

"Um.. Commander Erwin?" she hesitantly called, noting the distant glaze in the blond's eyes as if he was lost in thought.

Blinking out of his stupor, Erwin took the letter. "Good work, cadet."

He remembered the background report about Annie Leonhart and took a rolled envelope from his jacket, handing it to Sasha and instructing her to give it to Section Commander Hanji. Isanna was supposed to be the one to deliver it, but with her sudden.. gesture, Erwin forgot to hand it over.

Sasha saluted once more before she rounded her heel and headed off. She took maybe three steps when she stopped, and turned around to face him again.

"Don't worry, Commander! I'll keep what I saw a secret!"

Erwin watched, glued on his spot, as Sasha continued to innocently smile at him. It took him a few seconds to realize what she meant, but Sasha was already out of earshot.

For a silent moment, Erwin counted up to five seconds to collect his thoughts, before he sighed, eventually rounded his heel and walked away.

•

When Isanna reached the separate concrete building, she noticed the heavy air surrounding the group; Hanji, Pastor Nick (who, according to Hanji, she'd made good friends with after the Stohess Raid), Levi, and some cadets from the 104th seemed to be in the middle of an important discussion, and based on their expressions, it was a pretty serious one, so she decided to sit back and let them finish first.

Sasha entered the room moments later and gave a salute of acknowledgement at her, before she headed to Hanji and handed an envelope. Hanji accepted it with a nod and took a potato seemingly out of nowhere, placing it on the Sasha's hands.

Hanji distanced herself from the group. It was then did she notice Isanna, who was standing by the doorway.

"Isa?" Hanji neared her, lowering the rolled parchment. "What're you doing here? Is there anything else from Erwin?"

She shook her head. "No, but I'm here on his orders to accompany you guys to the breach. What's keeping you all waiting?"

Hanji was fairly surprised to hear that she was going with them but didn't question it. She proceeded to tell her about the recent information they received from Pastor Nick; apparently, he couldn't bear to reveal the secrets of the Church to them, but he did reveal a name who had the capability to do so, and it just so happened that it was a girl from the 104th recruits.

Isanna quirked a brow when she told her the name. Christa Lenz.

"Do you know her?" Hanji said.

"Saw her maybe twice," Isanna mused as she pictured the said girl in her head. "Blue eyes, blonde, and kinda cute."

"Are you describing this Christa girl or Erwin?"

The earlier confidence she had earlier seemingly puffed into thin air. With a light blush, she sputtered, "Hanji, what the fuck."

"I'm sure Erwin didn't send you here just to waste our time shitting around," Levi piped up with his trademark steel look as he stepped forward and frowned at the two.

Isanna rolled her eyes. Hanji's the one who started it.

Hanji probably decided that was enough dosage of teasing her, since she finally dropped the conversation and turned to Eren and his friends, who were currently gearing up; luckily, the kids were too preoccupied to have heard them.

She began asking them to further describe this Christa Lenz so that maybe it could ring a bell and help her memory get a clearer picture.

"She's always hanging around Ymir," Mikasa said.

Hanji, Levi and Isanna all visibly stiffened, eyes going a tad bit wider at the name.

Ymir.

That was a name almost forgotten to them; only their circle had heard of the name once, and it was from their 49th expedition just around the year prior. Isanna hadn't been in the scene when it happened, but Hanji and Levi had told her of what they discovered in the makeshift hideout of an Abnormal titan—the corpse of Ilse Langnar, a soldier who'd died way back in the 34th expedition.

According to the journal Ilse had left right before she died, the Abnormal had spoken coherent words and referred to her as 'subject of Ymir'.

While Hanji and Levi exchanged looks, Isanna ordered everyone inside the room to ready their equipment faster. The sooner they reach the front lines for Christa Lenz and this Ymir person, the better.

She then turned to Levi. "You go with Erwin to Trost district," she paused and glanced towards Pastor Nick, who caught her gaze before he anxiously looked away. "And bring our friend with you. Keep an eye on him."

Levi didn't say anything nor made a move to confirm her order, but she knew he was going to do it anyway.

Isanna regarded the soldiers in the room, all equipments finally readied and waiting for further instructions. "Everybody, move out."

"Yes, ma'am!"

As they all filed out of the building and headed to the stables where their horses were, Isanna heard Hanji released a soft gasp and glanced at her.

Apparently, Hanji had already unfolded the envelope Erwin had sent and was currently reading the details of the background report for Annie Leonhart that Isanna had previously compiled.

She began telling everyone whilst they readied their horses about the report and their suspicions on Bertholdt and Reiner.

Immediately, Eren began defending the two. Armin agreed with Eren and added his experience with Reiner with the female titan, but the blond paused as a thought reached him.

After a moment of hesitation, Armin began talking about how Reiner had been interested in Eren's position in the formation back then, as well as the female titan's sudden change in direction in the middle of their battle.

"Armin!" Eren turned to him and firmly held his shoulders. "How can you even say that?!"

"Eren," Isanna called for his attention, stopping him from whatever he was about to say next. "As well as everyone—listen to me. If you meet with the suspects in question, pretend that you do not know anything. Regardless whether they're Annie Leonhart's accomplices or not, we'll have to play it safe."

She narrowed her gaze. "For now, we'll prioritize handling the breach, and we'll find some way to lead them deep underground when our situation is secured enough. We'll tackle one problem at a time. These are orders from the Commander. Am I understood?"

As the soldiers all confirmed her orders with a nod, she hoisted herself up on her horse and slowly trotted away, Fish releasing a small whinny. "Good, now everybody on your horses; we don't have a second to lose."

In less than three minutes, Hanji and Isanna led the group out into the fields, heading towards southwest of Wall Rose.

Hanji was reading off a map with notes that had been given to her earlier by Isanna from Erwin, with Moblit riding close beside her as he carried a fire torch to give her light. Apparently, there were ruins of a castle near the wall, which made it the ideal place for scouting the breach. "We'll start from there."

Isanna kept a focused gaze ahead of their formation; the expanse of the night sky was empty of the moon light and the air was chilling cold upon their skin, but she ignored that and continued pushing forward across the terrain that was clouded with dimness, with only several torches from the soldiers being their only means of vision.

"We're heading for Utgard castle!"

•

Back at Ehrmich, Erwin was already on his way to his horse when Levi joined him.

"Have the girls left already?" he asked Levi, briefly glancing at him.

Levi wore his usual bored face. "Yeah." He resisted the urge to click his tongue. He could hardly believe he had to leave both Hanji and Isanna out to lead half of the Scouts while they were stuck here, away from the battlefield. He eyed his limping leg with a frown.

He didn't doubt their skills, though. Those two were capable enough of handling things themselves.

A certain someone flashed through his mind, and Levi spared a glance at the blond walking beside him. "Heard any news about Mike yet?"

The brows on his forehead knitted together, but Erwin didn't stop walking. "Not yet."

There was an uneasy worry bubbling inside Erwin for a long while. According to Sasha's report, the relaying of messages to the other districts had already ended hours ago, so Mike should have met up with him by now.

"Commander Erwin! Captain Levi!"

Both officers paused in their tracks and turned to a soldier who was jogging towards their direction, his face pale and eyes wide with small tears at the corner as he stopped and saluted at them.

Erwin knew the news he was about to give weren't at all pleasant.

And he was right.

"Section Commander Mike has—" he paused with a tearful choke— "we've found Section Commander Mike's remains by a cottage in the southern regions!"

The news hit the two like a punch to the gut.

Erwin stiffly stared at the soldier, his report echoing and bouncing in the walls of his mind as it sank in, and along with it, there was a constricting ache in his stomach when it finally dawned on him.

He should have been prepared. Working in the Survey Corps had hardened Erwin's heart to the knowledge that someday, much sooner than the average lifespan of a human being, death would claim their lives. But it seemed that being with Mike in this organization for over fifteen years made him subconsciously think that they were going to live longer lives together.

He was wrong.

Still, this was no time to falter. His men needed him to be strong. He cut away the imaginary tie of emotions in his head, at least, until they solve their current predicament. It was a sad fact that their situation did not allow him the time to mourn the death of a long-time friend.

"Very well. Secure his body in the meantime. Return to your post."

The soldier nodded and jogged away while wiping his tears.

"Shit."

Erwin glanced at Levi just as he swung a fist to a wooden pole, his stormy-grey eyes glaring at the cobblestoned cement, his teeth clenched.

Levi would never have expected for the titans to get Mike. In terms of strength, he trusted and relied on him just as much as he did Isanna. Losing him was like losing their foundation, their most reliable support, and he knew that with him gone, things were not going to be the same anymore—whether it be on the battlefield or not.

He thought about Isanna and Hanji, who were out heading to the front lines, with no idea of Mike's death.

He cursed once more. "Fuck. How are we supposed to tell them?"

Erwin clenched his fists tightly by his side and composed himself. "For now, focus on our current objectives."

Levi noted how heavy Erwin's voice had become, as if a ton of weight were pushing him down. He didn't blame him. Mike had spent a much longer time working with him, and he knew that Erwin along with Isanna were the ones who would take these news a lot deeper. Isanna, probably much more.

On the other hand, Erwin knew something was not clearly right with their situation—at least, compared to the other crises they had to face in previous years. Mike would never go down that easily; he survived expeditions and the fall of Wall Maria just fine. Plus with the unknowns of the current breach, Erwin deduced that another unexpected factor was definitely involved this time around.

His frown deepened, the apprehensiveness inside him worsening only by the second as his thoughts went towards the group he'd sent to assess the breach.

Hanji and Isanna.

Mike was already gone. He could only pray nothing else would go wrong with their group, although considering their stroke of bad luck, it was just wishful thinking.

Lips pressed together, expression hardening, he continued walking. Despite the news of his friend's death, Erwin held his face high, eyes fixed straight ahead, ignoring the ever-growing tangled mess of emotions he'd locked away long ago. Because at this point, it was the only way to ground himself to sanity.

"I promise I'll return to you."

Return to me, safe. That is an order.