Attack on Titan: Secrets of Marley (SNK x OC)

Chapter 19: The Burden of Revelations

The hours that followed were among the worst Gray had ever experienced. Not because of anything that had happened, but because of what had happened.

After letting his friends go, Gray had gone back to the Wall and mimed to the soldiers that he had gone to see if they were completely gone. He then sat down on the wall and remained on his side, staring into space, towards the horizon.

He couldn't stop thinking about it, despite his conversation with Bertolt. For five years, he had never been separated from them; they had lived everything together. The arrival on the island, the attacks on the walls, the years of training and so on...

Now he was alone and he would certainly be for a very long time. They had trusted him. It was up to him to continue the mission...

- How are you? asked a voice he knew all too well. Armin's.

Gray didn't answer anything, just waited for the blond behind him to leave him alone.

- I know it must be difficult for you, he continued. They were your frie...

- Go away. I don't wanna talk 'bout it, he cut him off in a very deep voice.

Armin stopped dead in his tracks, surprised by Gray's icy tone. There was a heavy silence between them, broken only by the sound of the wind blowing against the wall. The sky, now clear after the titanic storm, seemed strangely calm compared to the turmoil in Gray's mind.

- 'kay... Armin replied quietly, his words barely audible. But know I'm here if you wanna talk... whenever you're ready.

Gray didn't even turn his head. He just stood there, still staring at the horizon, as if looking for something in the distance. A solution, an escape, or maybe just some inner peace. But that peace seemed so far away, like an unattaible dream.

Armin backed away slowly, hesitating, but eventually moved away, sensing that insisting would only make the situation worse.

Gray didn't want to talk. The situation was too much for him. For a long time, he stared into space, oblivious to what was happening around him as the minutes ticked by.

Finally, after a time he didn't know, but certainly not long, as the sun's rays were still beating down hard on the wall, he saw a squad of soldiers arrive in the distance and finally stop at the foot of the wall.

At the head of this large squad, he saw Commander Erwin, wearing a serious expression. He spoke to some of the soldiers but Gray couldn't hear what they were saying. He jumped down from the wall but landed with his equipment just as he saw a wounded Hange finish explaining a plan to Erwin.

The Commander assembled all the soldiers on horses at the foot of the wall and positioned himself at the front of the squad.

Erwin climbed onto his horse, towering over the small squad gathered in front of him. His face remained impassive, but his eyes shone with implacable determination. The soldiers, tired and scarred by recent events, looked at him with a mixture of respect and apprehension. Everyone knew that when the Commander spoke, it was to lead them towards decisive action.

He swept his gaze over the crowd, letting silence settle in. The wind blew slightly, kicking up the dust at the foot of the wall. Then he took a deep breath before beginning his speech, each word weighing heavily on the shoulders of his men.

- Soldiers, we stand on the threshold of one of the most important battles in our history. Reiner and Bertolt, the traitors we welcomed into our midst, have kidnapped Eren. And with them, they possess the strenght of the Armored and Colossal Titans, weapons of destructions that we cannot ignore.