Chapter Text
PROLOGUE
“Imagine it, Eren! Endless salt... No matter how hard merchants try—” Armin suddenly paused, blinking rapidly. Eren snapped from his daze. “Armin?”
Armin smiled upon hearing his name. “Sorry, thought something got in my eye. Let me continue!”
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May 12, 846 | Tuesday
Trost’s residents carried on as if it were any ordinary day. Some chatted – Wall Maria’s fall remained fresh gossip. Women hummed songs while washing dishes at home. Oblivious to the hell that could descend upon them at any moment... Just like Mom
The thought belonged to Eren. He’d survived Maria’s fall, witnessed the Titans’ horror firsthand. Yet he remained blind to how much worse his life could become.
Eren tore his gaze from the woman and returned to the place the King had "freed" them to – a gilded cage. He hadn’t gone far; who’d endure Mikasa’s nagging otherwise?
Mikasa’s eyes were cold as fog when he approached with scavenged bread. “Where were you? Wandering aimlessly again? We’re not in Shiganshina, Eren—”
He snarled, a feral beast unchained. “I know where we are! Caged like preys by Titans, surviving on scraps like beggars! Damn it all to hell!”
Mikasa watched blankly, bored by the familiar rant. As Eren raged, she hurled bread at him. “Eat. If you want to fight, you’ll need strength.”
Eren grunted but devoured the bread. “Where’s Armin? Thought he was with you.”
Mikasa stiffened. “What do you mean? He was with you.”
“Hah?! I haven’t seen him since morning!”
The calm shattered from Mikasa’s face. “Eren. I only saw him briefly this morning too.”
Horror dawned in Eren’s eyes. “Don’t fuck with me, Mikasa—” Eren nervously scanned the crowd, then ran into it, with Mikasa following close behind.
Eren’s gray eyes scoured the crowds, scanning every blond head. None held the ocean-deep gaze that promised freedom.
Armin... where the hell are you?
Anger poisoned his panic. He shoved through the masses, ignoring curses and elbows. His anxiety was beginning to mix with anger. He pushed his way through the crowd with rage. He bumped into many people, who pushed him back, but he didn't care. He would find him. No matter which hole he had crawled into, he would pull him out!
“EREN!... EREN!” Mikasa seized his arm.
“WHAT?!” he roared.
She pointed toward a military police officer “Ask him.”
Eren did not look at Mikasa a second time. He ran over to the soldier. Mikasa, though not hopeful, preferred Eren's desperate wandering and followed him.
When Eren reached the soldier who was looking at him with arrogance and contempt, he was out of breath. I ignored the man's gaze. Normally, he would have started a fight, but not now.
“What d’you want, brat?!”
Eren clenched his teeth with fury. Not now.
Still, he knew talking to this animal the way he usually did wouldn’t help. Be like Armin, he reminded himself. You owe me one, Armin.
Then he smiled at the soldier. Or tried to—it looked more like a grimace from someone in agony.
The soldier stared at him in shock and mild disgust. Mikasa looked horrified.
Eren didn’t notice.
“My friend’s gone missing... sir,” he said slowly through gritted teeth.
Well, it usually worked when Armin did it.
The soldier, surprised that the brat was speaking politely instead of throwing punches, scoffed:
“You mean that blond kid? The one who always looks like he’s seconds from dropping dead?”
They both glared at him.
Mikasa, sensing Eren was about to lose it, cut in quickly:
“Yes, sir.”
The soldier smirked but kept it to himself.
He’s one of the ones taken, huh?
Still, he played it cool. He had no intention of dealing with this cracked-up little punk.
“Saw him heading outside earlier. Probably—”
Mikasa yanked Eren away as his fists clenched. If Eren had listened to that man, it would not have ended well.
Eren stared helplessly into space. All the anger he had felt slowly drained from his body, replaced by helplessness. He knew Armin was not like him. He would never leave without warning, never do anything without telling anyone. There were only three of them in the world. He would never...
Eren was unaware, but Mikasa had brought him back to the corner where they had been lying and sat beside him. She had buried her face in her scarf. Both of them were thinking the same thing.
"He was still weak… he couldn't protect anyone. They were weak. Very weak."
Dusk bled into night. Dangerous hours for children in a broken world.
“EREN, STOP!” Mikasa pleaded as he tore through alleys.
He whirled on her. “HOW CAN I?! This is OUR fault, and you know it!”
When Mikasa looked away, trembling, Eren’s rage turned inward.
“USELESS PIECE OF SHIT!” He punched his own face. “WHO CAN YOU PROTECT?!”
“Eren, don’t—!”
He slammed his fists into the stone wall,blood already trickling down his knuckles . “First Mom... now Armin! And you don't know where the hell Dad is?! IS THIS HOW YOU FIGHT TITANS?! SO FUCKING WEAK—”
Mikasa pinned him. Both trembled—one with fury, one with despair.
Eren crumpled, hands shredded and bleeding. Wild sobs tore from him.
“Why, Mikasa? Why do I always lose everything I love...?”
Mikasa sank beside him, pulling him into an awkward embrace. Not again... Why do they always leave without me? Am I cursed?
Blood soaked her scarf as they clung together—two orphans staining each other with their grief.
When Eren’s tears dried, his voice was gravel. “Mikasa...”
She met his gaze. Exhaustion aged his child’s face.
Eren stared at the Walls like a condemned man facing gallows.
“I’ll have vengeance. For Mom. For Armin. I’ll rip freedom from these Walls with my teeth. I’ll see the ocean. No one will stop me. No one."
Mikasa buried her face in the bloodied scarf. Her steel-gray eyes burned with lethal resolve.
Not again... I won’t lose anyone else! Even through hell—I’ll follow you, Eren.
Her fingers brushed the drying blood as she swore silently:
Never. Again.