THE MONSTER
---
The tension in the air was suffocating. Eren lay slumped against the remains of a collapsed building, smoke still curling from his body where he had emerged from the Titan's nape. His breaths were ragged, his face pale, but his eyes still burned with life. Surrounding him, his comrades formed an unyielding barrier. Mikasa and Armin stood at the front, blades drawn, their resolve cutting sharper than steel.
"Stand down!" barked an officer, his sword leveled at Eren. Fear made his voice tremble, though he tried to mask it with authority. "This monster—this *thing*—is a threat to humanity. We can't let him live!"
"He's not a monster!" Mikasa snapped, her voice like a whip. Her stance was ironclad, her twin blades catching the dim light with a lethal gleam. "He fought for us. He saved us! If you kill him now, you're no better than the Titans we've sworn to fight."
"Listen to her!" Armin's voice wavered, but the conviction behind it held strong. "Eren… he's the key to understanding this. We need to learn what happened, not destroy it. Killing him—killing our 'chance'—is a mistake we can't afford."
The soldiers hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances. The image of Eren erupting from a Titan's nape was still fresh, haunting their thoughts like a waking nightmare. The officer stepped forward, blade trembling with his hand, his fear outweighing reason.
"I said stand—"
"Enough!"
The voice rang like a bell cutting through fog. Heads turned as Commander Pixis rode into the chaos, his silhouette tall and authoritative atop his steed. Beside him, Commander Erwin followed, dismounting with practiced efficiency. Their presence was like a rising tide, pushing back the waves of uncertainty. Soldiers snapped to attention, blades faltering.
Pixis strode forward, his hands clasped casually behind his back, the calm in his demeanor a stark contrast to the scene. "Now, now," he began, his voice even but commanding, "let's not let our fear make fools of us. We've faced horrors beyond reckoning, but humanity survives because we've chosen to use our 'heads,' not just our swords."
"But sir!" the officer protested, his voice cracking. "This… this thing—he's a Titan!"
"And yet he fought for us," Pixis countered smoothly, arching an eyebrow. "Did he not?"
Erwin stepped forward then, his voice a low current of authority. "Eren Jaeger is unlike anything we've encountered. Yes, he became a Titan, but he turned that power against our enemies." His eyes swept the soldiers, piercing and unwavering. "That alone makes him valuable. We fight for humanity's survival. If there's even the smallest chance that Eren holds the key to turning the tide of this war, we cannot afford to waste it."
Pixis nodded, folding his arms. "Eliminating him now would be *shortsighted.* Have we forgotten that every breakthrough—every advancement—once seemed impossible?"
A murmur rippled through the gathered soldiers. The weight of their words began to sink in. Slowly, the officer's sword dipped, his grip loosening. Around him, the others began to lower their weapons, though unease still clouded their faces.
Mikasa relaxed a fraction, her guard still sharp, her eyes hard as flint. Armin's shoulders sagged, relief escaping in a shaky breath.
Erwin turned his attention to Eren. His expression was unreadable, a mask of careful scrutiny. "Jaeger," he said steadily. "Can you control this power? Do you understand it?"
Eren looked up, his face damp with sweat and streaked with soot. His voice was hoarse, raw. "I… I don't know. I didn't even know I could do this until it happened. I just… I wanted to protect everyone."
Erwin nodded, considering the words carefully. "Then we'll *find out.* Until we know what you are and what you're capable of, you'll remain under our custody. I take full responsibility."
Pixis clapped a hand to his chest, his eyes glinting with approval. "And I'll lend my support to that decision. For now, let's focus on surviving this day. The implications… we'll untangle tomorrow."
The murmurs ceased. Soldiers began to disperse, some still casting wary glances at Eren, but no longer resisting. The tension bled from the air like steam from a wound, leaving only the distant sounds of the battlefield beyond.
Erwin approached Mikasa and Armin. His gaze lingered on their unwavering postures. "You both showed commendable bravery today. Standing by him took courage."
Mikasa finally sheathed her blades, though her eyes remained sharp. "He's my family. I'll protect him… no matter what it takes."
Armin hesitated, gathering his thoughts before adding, "Eren isn't just our friend. He's… hope. For all of us."
Erwin's expression softened, if only for a moment. "Hope has always been humanity's sharpest weapon. And our greatest burden."
---
As the commanders retreated to regroup and plan for the battles ahead, Mikasa refused to leave Eren's side. She knelt beside him, silent but vigilant, a steadfast shadow. Armin sat nearby, his mind racing with questions he couldn't yet answer.
"What does this mean for us?" Armin murmured. "For humanity?"
Eren's voice was faint, barely carried on the wind. "I don't know… but if I can use this power to protect you, to protect *everyone*... I'll do it. No matter what it takes."
Mikasa's hand found his shoulder, her touch steadying. "We'll figure it out together. You're not alone, Eren."
---
From a distance, Erwin and Pixis stood watching the trio. The flickering torchlight reflected in their eyes, revealing the weight of unspoken thoughts.
"This changes everything," Erwin said quietly, his voice betraying the gravity of what had transpired.
Pixis tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "It does. Let's pray it changes things for the better."
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a scout, breathless and pale. He handed Erwin a sealed message. Erwin's eyes scanned the parchment quickly, his face paling in a way his men had never seen before.
For the first time, Commander Erwin Smith looked shaken. His voice faltered. "Sana… is dead."
The words hung in the air, heavier than the smoke of the battlefield. For a moment, everything seemed to still.
Pixis's gaze turned somber as he studied Erwin's face. "Then we've lost more than we knew."