Souls Of Sorrow || 𝐸𝑟𝑒𝑛 𝐽𝑎𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑋 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟

Chapter 32 - You

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The scout regiment leaves after sunset, the darkness of the night shielding us from the view of any unwanted onlookers.

I'm with my father's group at the front of the formation, moving silently as we walk over the mountain before Shiganshina. We aren't on horseback since it could draw more attention to us, so we lead them behind us.

Despite the coverage the dark provides, I feel that odd sensation of being watched that hasn't crept up on me since Kenny died. I'm not sure why I can't shake it. Every time I look around, there's nothing but pine trees.

I asked some of the other scouts if they felt as though something was off as well, but apparently it's just me.

I'm starting to think it's just dread. Not that I feel afraid, oddly, anything but. Maybe I just need to get more sleep, my thoughts are clouded lately.

Maybe it's just a biting ludiosis, who knows.

We reach Shiganshina at daybreak, mounting our horses to ride full speed towards the breached wall.

"There could be titans anywhere, keep your guard up!" Erwin's deep voice shouts over the pounding of horse hooves hitting the ground. "This operation has officially begun. All troops, switch to ODM gear!"

On his command, the gear is deployed, wires whistling as the soldiers take to the air.

I move fast, flying over the wall and getting a good view of the town below.

We have to seal Shiganshina's gate to wall maria, as well as the one to the outside world. With that achieved, the town will be isolated and we can kill the titans inside. The enemy is predicted to see this plan, and make an immediate go for Eren. As long as all the soldiers keep their hoods on, however, both breaches should be sealed by the time they locate him.

From my high vantage point, I can see that the town is bare of titans. A stroke of luck, maybe, but that feeling from earlier still hasn't left me.

I do a quick survey before landing on top of the wall, next to Hange and my father. "None on your end?" my father asks. I shake my head slightly in confirmation.

"Something seems off," Hange mutters.

"Doesn't matter, we move forward," my father says firmly. Hange nods curtly in agreement, raising an arm to shoot the flare she's holding.

It's not long before green smoke from her squad's flares shoot into the sky as well, signaling that everything is good to go.

Moments later, yellow and orange light flashes upwards, climbing the particles in the air like vines. Eren transforms, his titan body quickly hardening into crystal to fill the first breach.

When the light fully dies down and Eren pulls himself from the titan form, I step off the wall, letting myself fall for a moment before deploying my gear and landing beside him.

I hook an arm around his waist and bring him back to the top of the wall. "All good? Your ODM gear secure?" I ask as I release my hold on him.

He nods, double checking it. "It's fine, that said I managed to shake off my cloak."
Wordlessly, I take my own cloak off and put it over his shoulders. If I get recognized, it's not a big deal.

"Thank you," he murmurs as he buttons the cloak and puts the hood over his head. I nod in response, my hands going to rest on my sword hilts.

"How's it look?" my father's voice calls down to a few scouts standing at the foot of the wall. They call back, saying everything looks good, that Eren plugged both sides of the wall. Two green lines of smoke then shoot up to signify success.