The night had finally come for me to step down for a few days so that Hange could lead a mission. I honestly don't know what came over me when I granted their request at the time, but I had come to the realisation today whilst watching them prepare: they were going to be the next commander. A little to early to decide, maybe, but a Commander has to be prepared for the worst. I wouldn't let them know just yet, however. I knew myself how much of a burden that was.

Each brave soldier carried one torch in one hand and the reigns to their steeds in the other. I couldn't praise every one of them enough for being this courageous. After all, this was only the second time we'd rode out at night, and we had no outstanding evidence that titans were indeed immobile at night, having not seen one last time. The cadets could be killed at any time, yet they had the courage to face their fears and ride on for the good of humanity. Nothing made me prouder.

The last soldiers to mount their horses were Webber and another girl from the same training corps as him, by the name of Olive Tyrone. They had been talking in confidence for the majority of the day, ever since Webber had gone to speak to Levi. I was worried about him still. Would he act recklessly while I was gone? Who knows. I could only hope he wouldn't.

Hange suddenly called out from in front of me, breaking my train of thought.

"All soldiers! Our mission tonight is to find a safe place to set up camp! From tomorrow onwards, we will attempt to learn as much as we can about the titans in 2 days before heading back here! Ride to the gate! Ride on to shiganshina! And from there, ride on into Titan country!"

It was unusual to hear commands from someone else again, but I roared in unison with the scouts nonetheless, and started to ride towards Shiganshina, and potentially towards another step forward for humanity.

•=•=•=•

We rode for what seemed like forever when we finally found another badly damaged, abandoned castle, far away from wall Maria. So far, our mission had been fairly uneventful; except for the fact that Hange had found a Titan, seemingly asleep with its eyes wide open. We tried everything to get it to snatch one of us up, and then tried as a bigger group, but no matter the amount of people, the thing wouldn't budge.

"See. Told ya I was right!" Hange exclaimed happily, their cheeks red as they always were when they had discovered something.

When we reached the castle, the scouts and I wasted no time setting up camp. I moved Hange's plans and scientific equipment from the back of a wagon to a large room that wasn't as damaged as the others. The rest set up food and supply stores, cleaned and fed the horses, set up resting areas and did any duties that needed doing. Hange assigned Nanaba, Miche, Gelgar and two other new but promising scouts called Oulo and Petra to guard the outside from titans when the sun came up.

Once I had finished helping out and doing my part, I climbed on top of the highest turret, where I could see the sun. The sun symbolised a lot of things, like warmth, comfort and happiness. For me, it reminded me of the first time Levi and I met. He and his friends had insulted me because I had seen the sun, and they had not. After his friends died, I wanted to cheer him up, despite the fact that he hated me. No one else was volunteering, and I despised seeing that look on his face every time I saw him. So I took him to watch the sun rise and fall most evenings and mornings after that. Sometimes we'd talk, sometimes we wouldn't. It was just nice to be in his presence, and to know he trusted me. In that moment as I watched the golden light spill over the hills and land before me, I missed him.

•=•=•=•

Hange called us all to a meeting, barring the five soldiers outside who were defending the place well. They told us that we would suit up and head out immediately, as soon as all titans in the vicinity had been dealt with. They certainly didn't want to waste any time, and time was something a Commander should prioritise over most things. They were dong extremely well.

A small group consisting of me, Webber, Tyrone and two others ventured outside the castle to check the situation, armed with blades and our 3DMG just in case. However, when we got outside, the place was a graveyard.

The air was thick with Titan smoke and the smell of blood. Large bones and remains of skeletons lay scattered on the stone floor, and five incredibly tired soldiers stood on top of the walls of the castle, panting and sweating.

"Com- I mean, Erwin! We've taken down all the titans we can see from all directions of the castle. We heard Hange's commands through the window of the meeting room. Well stay here and guard the place." Nanaba called down from the left side. She was obviously straining for breath, and looked like she couldn't go on on anymore.

"I'm sorry, but that's a no can do, I'm afraid. You'll all come with us, but you'll ride in wagons. Conserve your energy." A voice spoke from behind me. Hange's voice. They were sitting atop a horse, along with everyone else who had come along on the mission.

"Everyone is ready, Erwin. Get your horses and join our formation. We leave as soon as possible to avoid attracting any unwanted attention." I nodded at their command, and signalled my group to follow me to the stables.

•=•=•=•

I rode alongside Hange, with Webber and cadet Jason Thompson following from behind. Hange rode so confidently with such a look on their face that anyone would think that they were actually in command at all times. I guess I made the right choice, I thought happily. It was decided. Hange was to be the next commander. No questions asked.

I turned to make sure the two cadets behind me were ok. Thompson looked a little scared, but that was natural, considering it was his first time beyond the walls. Webber, however, had the same depressed look on his face from yesterday when we left Trost. He had been outside once before and had an awful first run, but there was no cause for him to look this sad about it, was there?

"Thompson," I spoke suddenly, snapping the young man away from whatever he was thinking about. "Switch places with me for a second. I'd like to have a private conversation with Webber, if you don't mind." The cadet nodded, and Webber's ears seemed to prick up at the sound of his name, not removing the look on his face, though.

I slowed down to Webber's side and turned to look him in the eye. He didn't think that was appropriate, apparently. He just rode forth with his eyes glued to his horse's mane.

"Webber. What's the matter?" I asked gently, making sure that we were out of earshot of Hange and Thompson. If the boy was to speak I felt he would rather do so in private.

"Nothing." A simply reply, yet I knew he was lying.

"Seriously. I may be the Commander, but I don't care what it is. You can tell me." I tried again, but got no reaction. "Is it Levi?" I tried one more time, and to his name, Webber's eyes widened.

All sorts of thoughts crossed my mind. If it was about Levi and he was acting this depressed...had something happened?! Was Levi ok?

I decided to press him a little, but he wouldn't talk. He left me to my imagination and my worried mind. I hated it, but I couldn't say anything to a boy who looked so broken.

I rode on forward, leaving him to think for a while. Hange reported to me that they had word on 23 dead soldiers now, one of which was Tyrone, one of Webber's friends. I sighed, but decided not to look back and tell him. It would only make him feel worse, and the kid needed time.

•=•=•=•

Fifteen minutes passed by. I had a strange feeling in my gut that something was wrong, just like the day when Levi had got hurt. I thought of him in Trost, probably thinking of the promise I made him before I left, and wondering if I had kept it.

I needed to. For him.

I turned around, wanting to see Webber behind me. Perhaps I could try talking to him again, try reasoning with him to let me in on what's going on with Levi. There was only one little flaw in that plan:

He wasn't there.

And as my eyes looked up a little more, I could see exactly where he was.

Webber was hanging in the mouth of a seven metre tall Titan, no more than 20 metres away. Finn had a look of pure terror on his face, as if he'd seen the devil himself. From what I could see, his jaw had been broken, presumably from when the Titan had grabbed him. His eyes screamed out 'HELP!!' But all I could do was sit and watch, my body frozen in place. The Titan seemed to stare me directly in the eyes before beginning to clamp down on Finn's helpless body.

"NO!" I yelled, charging towards the Titan at full speed. I could feel Hange's eyes on me as they turned to face the same horror I had seen. I unsheathed my blades and got ready to lift off my horse and strike the Titan down, but I was too late.

He sound of bones snapping could be heard, and as blood from Webber's lifeless body fell like rain from the sky and landed all around me, I knew that I had failed. Not only him, but myself. The scouts. And Levi, the man who had unexpected tolerated and formed a bond with the boy.

As the Titan feasted on Webber's body, I impulsively turned and rode fast towards Trost, ignoring Hange's calls from behind me. I couldn't wait to get back. I needed to think on the way there. I needed to think of a way to tell Levi that Webber was #24th to die on this mission.

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