Vengeance Of A Human

Paradise in Paradis: The Truth

"Well, up to speed, Armin?" Armin's blue eyes lose all focus after Eren recounts the final moments of Armin's previous life and the argument that ensued afterward. Everyone besides me huddles up around him, Sasha, and the slowly dying Commander Erwin while my blond friend contemplates over the information he just received. It is much to hear, we heard half of the same tale and experienced the other.

"Are you telling me…the Scout Regiment...is the eleven of us here...and that's it?"

"For the time being," Jean responds. "The fighting ended four hours ago. We've been looking for survivors, but...none yet…"

"So, we managed to seal the walls of Shinganshina, but Reiner, the Beast Titan, and the Cart Titan escaped. Bertholdt was captured… Then...there was a dispute about using the injection on Commander Erwin or me...And I...turned into a Titan and ate B-Bertholdt…" Armin almost pukes his stomach out but Jean gives him some water to swallow the facts down.

"Why...did you pick me? No matter how you look at it, wasn't Commander Erwin the right one to bring back? Lieutenant! Why did you give me the injection?"

Annoyed Levi kicks Eren in the back. "I told you to tell him everything. The thing is, it seems your two friends here didn't think that way. They stood up to me, prepared to draw blood."

Eren and Mikasa bow their heads. "We'll take whatever punishment comes."

"You'll be disciplined for insubordination," Hange says, "but does taking the punishment allow you to do anything?"

"No."

"However...the final decision to choose you was mine. No… I chose this to be the place where Erwin dies, stubborn as he is being right now."

"I don't understand… There's no way it's okay to let Erwin die. If the commander is gone, how...how will we go on?"

"I agree," Hange says without any sort of remorse. "I thought it should've been used on Erwin if we're being brutally honest. No, it's a shame we were put in that position… Anyways, Erwin entrusted Levi with the decision to use it. And Levi ended up choosing you. There's nothing more to say. Erwin's life and a Titan's power rest on your shoulders. No matter what anyone says, that's part of who you are now, Armin."

"Does that mean… I need to be… Erwin's replacement? No way… I can't..."

"Hmmph." Strolling from my place on the wall overlooking the inner side of it, I look at Armin, trying not to laugh at his ridiculousness. "Don't be stupid, you'll never be a suitable replacement for the commander. But you have a strength no one else has. I'm sure the Lieutenant doesn't regret his decision…" I look down to the quiet commander, his chest slowly rising and lowering. "Just don't make anyone else regret their choices. And you too, dumbass. That's all you need to do."

We hear Sasha struggling to speak, despite her unconsciousness, but she manages to say one phrase. "Shut up." I feel that was directed towards me.

Anyway, Hange laughs it up. "We're no match for Sasha. Well, being the successor of Erwin as commander of the Scouts, we're kinda in the same boat. From here on out, we'll have to grin and bear it."

Armin drops his head. "Right."

"Now then… if it's not a problem for Armin, we should get going. Levi, Eren, Mikasa, Joshua, and I will go investigate. You other four keep watch from atop Shiganshina's wall."