Yesterday's Enemy [AoT]

ELEVEN

'Grief is what I would call a person's greatest change; it drives a warpath through the soul, destroying what it pleases. There are but two ways to deal with it, and each bears the same destructive power: to ignore... or to embrace.'

-An extract from the book 'Evolutions' written by philosopher Adette Briggs

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ELEVEN

Wall Maria, South Region, Port Noaks, Hyde Residence

The following month passed quietly.

The Havasian refugees settled slowly into their new homes and began to process what they had lost and what they would soon gain. The Scouts had the decency to leave them be. After all, they'd suffered quite the ordeal.

However, after a month of silence and no sign of Lorelai, Erwin began to suspect something was amiss.

Which is why, unable to endure the silence any longer, he planned to make the short journey into Port Noaks to 'check-up on' her. Though, Levi knew their real purpose was to make sure she intended to hold up her end of the deal.

Erwin suspected it might be probable that Lorelai had run away or perhaps maimed herself in order to escape. Levi didn't think she would do such a thing, but after her expression during her visit to the base, he couldn't put it past her.

Erwin had found out her new address the previous day. Apparently, she was now living with her family in an old watermill at the edge of town.

As the three Scouts approached the address, they looked upon a small, run-down building with a sort of fairytale, rustic charm. There was a small garden in front of it, and a young man and woman were tending to the plants quite happily. As they drew closer, Levi recognised the young man as Gabriel Hyde, though the woman he could not identify.

Whinnying softly, the horses came to a gentle halt in front of the garden. Gabriel and his companion watched the three soldiers exit the carriage.

The watermill was rather pretty, however run-down it was. The building had not been used for many years, opening itself up to growth and decay. The bricks were a pleasant cream colour, and the waterwheel creaked as it spun. The cottage was rather small for the typically tall Havasians; Levi imagined them needing to hunch over to get through the door.

Hange elbowed him in the side, and he realised he was now a part of a conversation.

"It's a pleasure to see you all again," Gabriel was saying. "Oh, might I introduce you to Charlotte Cauldry, my- uh, friend."

"Tch," Levi dismissed the conversation. He didn't care to hear about Gabriel's little romance with some village girl.

Once again shaken from his thoughts, Levi blinked and realised he was being spoken to. Charlotte Cauldry gazed at him with starry eyes.

"What?" he demanded coldly.

"Oh, I said 'what an honour it is to meet you, Captain,'" she repeated, fiddling a little with the hem of her blouse. Irritating girl, Levi thought. "It is not every day one meets Humanity's Strongest Soldier."

Levi offered no other reply; he didn't come here to talk. Charlotte looked a little hurt, and Gabriel offered her a comforting pat.

"Right, yes, though, we really must be seeing Lorelai now, if you don't mind," Hange spoke up.