Love At the End of the World

The Investigation

  "Come on, we're burning daylight!" Oruo Bozad barks as the squads are slowly riding on horseback. Cara looks behind her as she and Levi are leading the squad consisting of Petra Ral, Eld Gin, and Gunther Schultz, "You know, if you want to be in charge, you can take it up with the Commander." "Yeah, never mind," Oruo shrinks back embarrassed. Cara and Levi are excellent squad leaders, they both know how to keep people in line.
Their experience and decisiveness set them apart, earning the respect of their comrades.
Cara and Levi exchange a knowing glance, silently acknowledging their unspoken bond. They had been through so much together, and their trust in each other was unbreakable. It's admirable to see.
Erwin is at the very head of the formation, leading us into the unknown of the possible Wall breach. I find myself looking at him longingly, wondering what wisdom and courage lie beneath his calm, unwavering exterior. Our intimate moment in the meadow is still replaying in my mind as I keep urging my horse to move faster, wanting to be by his side.

"Amelia, why do you keep speeding up? It's hard to keep up," Section Commander Hange Zoë inquires, riding slightly closer to me. "I'm sorry, Section Commander. I guess I'm a little distracted," I tell her apologetically.

"Don't worry, we're all feeling the tension," Hange reassures me, her eyes scanning the horizon with keen interest. Hange always has a smile on her face and her wire rimmed glasses makes her eyes look bigger, so that she looks energetic and very awake. She has been a good friend to me. "Do you want to talk about it? " Hange asks, her voice filled with genuine concern. "It doesn't matter," I attempt to wave off the offer, but Hange's persistence prevails. "I understand if it's personal, but if you need someone to talk to, I'm here," Hange insists, her tone warm and empathetic. "Thanks, Hange, you're a good friend," I smile gratefully. "No problem, Amelia. Just let me know if you change your mind," Hange offers as she adjusts her position in the saddle.

We ride on in silence, the sound of hooves and the wind the only things that break the quiet tension.

After hours of riding, we reach the base of the Wall. It's giant stone structure looms overhead, casting a shadow over us. I can feel my heart racing with anticipation as we dismount and begin our investigation. I carefully observe the base of the Wall, looking for any clues or disturbances. My eyes narrow as I spot a strange indentation in the dirt near the base of the Wall. Could this be a footprint? I crouch down to get a closer look, my mind racing with possibilities.

"Everyone! Come see this," I call my comrades , my voice carrying the urgency I feel. As my teammates gather around, I point to the footprint and explain my discovery.
As we look up the side of the Wall where the footprint disappears, we notice a trail of marks leading upwards. It looks like scuff marks from boots as if someone has climbed the Wall recently.
"Who could be climbing the Wall? " I wonder aloud, my mind buzzing with potential suspects. Cara and Levi examine the scene in complete silence, and that was a clear sign thoughts were running through their heads. Cara breaks the silence with a sharp intake of breath, her eyes widening as she surveys the Wall. "We need to scale the Wall and find out what's on the other side," she declares, her voice firm and determined.
"Everyone engage ODM gear!" Levi orders the squad. The clinking of metal and hissing of gas tanks fill the air as we quickly fasten our ODM gear, preparing to ascend the Wall.

I take a deep breath, steadying myself as I grip the triggers of my ODM gear. The tension in the air is palpable as we launch ourselves upward, our hooks embedding into the stone. The wind rushes past my face as I ascend, my heart hammering in my chest.

As we near the top, I brace myself for what we might find. The moment my boots touch the edge of the Wall, I scan the horizon, my breath catching in my throat.

Smoke.

A thin, curling plume of smoke rises in the distance beyond the Wall, barely visible against the early morning light. My stomach tightens. Someone—or something—has been out here recently.

Levi lands beside me in a crouch, his sharp gaze already fixed on the smoke. Cara is next, followed by the rest of the squad. No one speaks for a moment, each of us processing the implications.

"There's no village out here," Petra murmurs, her voice laced with unease. "At least, not one that should still be standing."

Eld shifts uncomfortably. "Could be a survivor from a past Titan attack... or something else."

Levi straightens, his expression unreadable. "We're not here to guess. We're here to find answers." He turns to me. "Amelia, you spotted the footprint first. What do you think?"

I hesitate, the weight of their eyes on me. The tracks, the scuff marks, the smoke... It all points to someone moving with purpose. Someone who wanted to stay hidden.

"I think," I say slowly, "whoever climbed this Wall knew exactly what they were doing. And I don't think they want to be found."

Levi nods. "Then we better find them first."

With that, he draws his blades, and we prepare to descend into the unknown.

I tighten my grip on my triggers, inhaling sharply as Levi gives the signal. One by one, we leap from the Wall, our ODM gear propelling us toward the source of the smoke. The barren landscape stretches out before us, an eerie silence settling over the land beyond the Walls.

As we close in, the smell of burning wood becomes stronger. My pulse quickens. Whoever is out here is close.

Cara lands beside Levi, her gaze locked onto a small grove of trees where the smoke is rising. "There," she whispers, pointing to a makeshift camp nestled between the trees. A small fire crackles, a pot resting above it, but there's no sign of movement.

Levi signals for us to spread out. Carefully, we advance, weapons drawn, our footsteps light against the ground. My heartbeat pounds in my ears as I approach one of the tents. With a steadying breath, I reach out and pull back the flap—

Empty.

I frown. Whoever was here left in a hurry. The bedroll is still warm.

"Tracks," Gunther calls out softly, pointing to a set of fresh footprints leading deeper into the woods. The prints are erratic, like someone was moving fast—maybe even running.

Levi kneels beside them, his fingers tracing the indentations in the dirt. His brows furrow, and he looks up. "They knew we were coming."

A rustle in the trees.

I whip around just as a shadow moves through the underbrush. My body tenses. "There!" I shout, raising my blades.

In a blur of motion, the figure dashes away, barely visible through the dense foliage. Without hesitation, Levi bolts forward, his speed unmatched as he launches himself after them.

"Move!" Cara commands, and we all give chase, our ODM gear propelling us through the trees. My breath comes in short bursts as I dodge branches, my focus locked on the figure ahead.

They're gone by the time we reach them.