Canorous

Seventeen

What did I just hear? Levi thought, his mouth agape in the sudden news.

"Sir Erwin!" Floch, a redheaded young man with a mouth he cannot control called out to the worried knight that turned back to meet the boy's eyes. "Are you saying that us squires are going to battle those rebels? But we barely have any experience! What are we supposed to do?"

The crowd bustled with whispers and trembles of fear and Erwin surveyed his audience carefully and sadly.

"Let's run away!" A coward that called himself a squire called out and other cowardly yet humanly honest squires nodded and grumbled in agreement.

Everyone was fearful for their lives. They were merely squires with barely any experience. Of course, some of the squires are excellent but they would perhaps not stand a chance against those rebels that have amazing killing expertise.

Levi closed his eyes as he sighed. "Shut up." He called out to the one that suggested running away. "Why the fuck would you run away? That is desertion, you piece of cowardly shit and that is punishable by death."

The boy who yelled out the suggestion of desertion was now teary-eyed. His light eyes were glossed with panic as he looked around for support but no one sided with him. No one would want to be executed for desertion.

"Levi's right everybody." Eren said. He was putting up his bravado again that disgusted Anthony down to the ends of his hair strands. "We should pack up and leave to fight against those rebels! We can do this!" He smiled as he pumped a fist onto the air.

Erwin smiled thinly to Eren. "I appreciate your enthusiasm young man." He cleared his throat, readying himself to give a speech to inspire the crying crowd of children he commands. "Young men," He began loudly. "Fear not for this battle will give us honor and glory. Doing so will grace the Empire as well. You all have devoted your hearts for this moment so I assume that all of you will not falter against the enemy. I believe in all of you. I truly do."

A loud sniffle was heard from the crowd. Some were crying and complaining about it.

He breathed deeply as he prayed that may his speech reach the hearts of this young men that were about to be sent to their deaths which is something they are unwary of. Although deep inside, Erwin is aware that he is unable to make such a speech that would reach out to the crowd. All he has to do now is lie and fool them.

"Please." He pleaded as he looked to the floor and looked back to his audience. "Devote your hearts to this empire!" He cried out as he quickly placed a fist on his chest.

"Yes, sir!" The crowd cried as they saluted to him as well despite their fear of dying. Someone was gritting his teeth to stop his sniffling. Severino had his eyes tightly shut in fear as he felt shivers trace his spine. Sure, Severino was a good squire but he didn't want to go to war and possibly die. Connie's mouth was just open the whole time as he watched Eren, Reiner, Anthony, and Bertholdt who all looked grim. Levi, however, only looked emotionless.

They were all heading towards death, that was certain.

•••

"What else do we need?" Armin shrieked as he paced back and forth around the room, carrying things like swords and arrows then placing them inside his suitcase. Yes, a suitcase. The squires were not as poor as they were described to be.

"We need courage." Severino said with a flat voice as he stared into the wall. "I...I mean I need it."

Armin grabbed Severino's shoulders and shook it. "I NEED THAT TOO!"