The Captain's Story from the Past

December 12th, 347

Fourth expedition. Everyone told Minami she couldn't go because she wasn't ready, but she insisted on going. I passed through the throng that was gathered around her. As I approached her from the front, I knelt down and held her hands. I explained with a small smile, "Dear, if you want to go, stay by my side at all times. If I fight, stay with the people nearby; I don't want to lose you as well. Her adorable face was bringing me some joy for the first time in a while. After she had stabilised herself, I seated her on my horse and climbed aboard.

 "Alright! The fourth expedition will leave at the sound of the whistle. I screamed. I had to protect Minami at all costs, even if that meant carrying her strapped to my back as I killed those beasts. Her arms were wrapped around my waist. I whistled, and the gates opened. The third expedition began, and everyone formed up. The front line squads (Elite squads 1, 2, and 3) moved north, while squads 4, 5, and 6 moved east, squads 7, 8, and 9, and squads 10 and 11 remained in the south to serve as the medics.

He actually created something useful once. I nodded before returning my eyes to the highway and scanning it for any beasts. "You alright, Minami?" she asked as she continued to hold on to me. I queried. Yeah, she answered. At least she's ok, I reasoned. Akima signalling one off to warn the east side after a red flare was set off on the west side. Ten minutes have passed with no sign of a green flare. Where is the green flare to signal that it has been vanquished? Kazeya enquired. Nobody knew. Where is Eren, I paused after saying, "Eren take mi-"

Why on earth is he not present? Instead, I asked Kazeya to take care of Minami, and when he agreed, I forced myself to leave formation and move to the formation's western side. When I arrived, a 15-meter-tall beast was already there, protecting his nape and swatting people like flies. I tethered my horse to a tree and, well, I pretty much flew up to the beast's face. I flew from its nose and landed on its nape. I attempted to slash his hand with my sword, but it broke because it had hardened. Both of its eyes were fixed on me when I looked to the side. His hand was covered in a mineral with yellow crystals. I stumbled to the ground and wasn't sure what to do. Everyone in the vicinity rushed over to me. I fired a black flare, signifying that it was unusual.

"Captain, what do we do?" Questions like "What is this thing?" kept coming my way. "enough! I propose that we slash its body, particularly the backs of its heels, and then render it blind. I commanded, "Keep hurting it until it goes limp and lets go of its hand from its nape. After everyone had agreed, they started to cut it. However, this beast is too powerful. That day, everyone was hurt, including me. I gave them all the benefit of the doubt and told them to leave me alone with this beast. I attempted to fly up to the top of its head, but I was unsuccessful. I panicked when I ran out of gas. It then seized me. yellow eyes appeared in it; on the edges of its eyes, this strange yellow flame first appeared. without my knowledge.

I was inside of it. I had no idea what to do; would that spell my demise? It was very warm. I was surrounded by disgusting, rotting bodies inside the beast's stomach when I looked up and started crying. My life is over after this. That's what I initially believed, but then I noticed that the walls of this beast's stomach had been cut open. I was thrown out along with a lot of other garbage. I was picked up by Kazeya, and after that, I passed out. My awakening in the nurses' room was the next thing I recalled. It was Eren who entered through the door.

Where exactly were you on the expedition, Eren? I inquired. He didn't say much; he merely apologised before leaving. Why did he apologise? I required a suitable response. I slept afterwards. I suppose I skipped all three meals and my workout. But in all honesty, I needed some quiet time.