Attack on Titan: A Blacksmith's Tale

Chapter 27: The Struggles of Downtime

(The next day)

It wasn't uncommon for Levi to have trouble sleeping, but the previous night was a doozy. In just one conversation with Annie, everything had changed. Humans weren't going extinct, the other humans out there were trying to kill them, the Armored and Colossal Titans were hiding within the Scout Regiment, and there was going to be an attack on Wall Rose in just a few days. All in all, a lot of things that kept him up at night.

Having anticipated that Annie had allies within their ranks, Erwin had ordered a group of Scouts, including several cadets from the 104th, to be stationed at a Scout Outpost in the southern region of Wall Rose in civilian garb and no weapons after the Expedition. Considering how dangerous the Shifters were, trying to catch them or kill them now would be far too risky. Annie's letter to her superior bought them some time, and it was time that needed to be well spent. It was better to prepare for the eventual attack and then take them down when they least expect it. Of course, they had this Beast Titan to worry about, a Titan Shifter even Annie admitted was stronger than her, but thanks to her letter to him, they had time to plan things out.

However, none of that was what made Levi lose so much sleep. Rather, it was the bombshell Annie delivered after all that.

(Yesterday)

Levi felt as though the air was stolen from his lungs. It couldn't be possible. She had to be making it up as some twisted joke. The urge to throttle the bitch until she came clean with something else was rising.

"Levi."

He felt a hand grip his shoulder, prompting him to glance over at Hanji. That look of concern on her face... he hadn't seen it directed towards him in a long time. He could only imagine what he looked like to her.

"So..." His throat felt dry as if he wandered through a desert for a couple of days. "Every Titan I've cut to pieces, every damn one I killed... they're human?"

"All of them," Annie confirmed with a nod.

Hanji visibly blanched. The Titans she had experimented on, Sonny and Bean, the ones she sliced up to test their regenerative abilities. They were human beings that were transformed into mindless, gigantic cannibals.

"So, how do humans become Titans, then?" Erwin asked.

"Some sort of serum," she explained. "The Marleyans wouldn't give us details on how it worked in case some moron decided to steal it. The Titans you've been killing? Punishment for any Eldians that step out of line."

"And yet, you are a Titan Shifter," the commander pointed out. "The first and only Female Titan we've ever come across. How is that possible?"

Annie shrugged. "Best way I can explain it is a modified version of the serum. Like I said, they wouldn't give us the details. Hell, I can't even remember what happened when I was injected."

"Some sort of side effect, perhaps," Hanji mused quietly, writing the information down.

Erwin simply nodded, satisfied with what was provided to them. "We shall reconvene at another time. For now, you will be escorted to your quarters until further notice. We'll have food and water brought up to you."

"Thank you." Annie's eyes drifted towards Levi. "For what it's worth, you're doing them a favor when you kill them. A life as a mindless Titan with only one basic instinct is hell."

"Get her out of my sight," Levi growled.

Annie stood as two Scouts approached her. She was immediately shackled as they led her out.

Levi massaged his temples as he fought back the headache that sought to overwhelm him. Not even muttering obscenities under his breath was making it easier.