The wind swept through her golden hair. Sunlight glinted off the water’s surface, making it sparkle. Her emerald eyes scanned her surroundings. She remembered. She would recognise this place anywhere. She walked slowly along the shore. Her parents had often brought her here for walks.

  Vivienne came to a halt. Her fingers brushed lightly against the railing. Her father had helped her climb it when she was younger. She’d felt so tall, so grown-up—like an adventurer. That innocent, dreamy smile had always lingered on her lips. And she hadn’t been afraid. Fear had been something distant, unknown. Back then, her father’s protective arms had held her close, and she could gaze dreamily at the sky without a care.

  She and Uncle étienne had always made up stories—tales of adventurers and explorers, discovering the vast world and all it had to offer. After each visit, he’d buy her a slice of cake, and they’d eat it together on a nearby bench.

  This place...

  Am I home again?

  Had it all been a bad dream?

  Was it just my imagination?

  All the memories flooded back—the endless fight for peace, the harsh training at the academy, Eren becoming a Titan. Connie, Sasha, Armin, Jean... and Marco.

  But if it had all been a dream, why were the streets so empty? Why... did she feel so empty?

  Vivienne glanced sideways and blinked. A familiar figure stood not far from her. She stepped slowly away from the railing.

  “Father?”

  His green eyes stared back at her, silent.

  Time seemed to stretch, frozen in that quiet moment, until his mouth opened—as if to speak—only to be silenced forever. A colossal foot came down, crushing him in an instant. Vivienne’s eyes widened in horror, and she looked up.

  Towering above her stood a Titan, its short blonde hair shifting in the wind. Her heart pounded. Her breath caught in her throat.

  The Titan turned its head towards her and—

  She let out a long, shuddering sigh and opened her eyes. The scene had changed. This wasn’t home. As her breathing began to slow, she glanced around.

  A bed.

  She was lying in one of the cadet dormitory beds. Vivienne stared at her trembling hand, then pressed it to her forehead.

  A dream. Another dream.

  But this time, she wasn’t sure which was the real nightmare—this, or the world she visited with her eyes closed?

  She leaned back, resting her head against the somewhat soft pillow. One hand came up to cover her face.

  Normal. Not enormous. Not deformed. Just normal.

  She hadn’t had a blackout since that day. Maybe she should tell someone. But what would she say? That she’d woken up in someone else’s body? Someone who could transform into a Titan? That she’d felt everything, had been fully aware, but utterly powerless?

  That she was weak?

  That she heard whispering voices?

  Anyone would think it was either the stress or the whole thing had got to her and she was going mad.

  Vivienne was sure that the only reason she had managed to sleep that night was because she was so exhausted that tiredness had taken over. No time.

  There was no time for breaks. Vivienne sat up and got out of bed. Then she put on her washed uniform and left the room.

  She stepped outside, head lowered, and paused when she spotted Armin sitting alone on a bench. She hesitated for a moment, then decided to sit beside him. Neither of them spoke—they simply sat together in silence.

  “I... I’m glad you made it. I’m glad to see that—”. Armin didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t need to. She understood. “Me too,” she said quietly. “I’m glad you made it, too.”

  Silence settled over them again. The right words were hard to find.

  “Connie, Sasha and the others are writing letters to their families,” Armin said eventually. “They’re sending them off tonight. If you want… you’re welcome to join them.”

  Vivienne stared at the ground. “I don’t think my family are expecting any letters from me.”

  The day she left home, her father hadn’t even looked at her. No goodbye. No final words. Her mother had pleaded with her to reconsider, but her mind had been made up. Her older brother had just shaken his head. To him, she was nothing more than the spoiled younger sibling, trying to be rebellious. Trying to end up like her idiot uncle.

  Her father had meant what he said. The moment she left for the Academy and joined the Survey Corps, she was no longer his daughter. All she had kept were her name and her bloodline.

  More than three years had passed... and she hadn’t received a single letter. Not even a note. Vivienne sometimes wondered how her family were, how much they missed her—if they missed her at all. But she doubted it. If they had, she would have heard from them by now. A letter. A birthday card. Anything.

  She wondered if her father ever dreamed about her, too.

  She remembered playing with her building blocks in the front garden. That game had always been hers alone. When she held them, she disappeared into her own world. And still, even then, she knew—he was watching her from the window. Always there.

  Vivienne shook the memories away.

  “Armin.” He turned to her, those soft blue eyes meeting hers. “You have to tell me the truth,” she said. “Did you know... about Eren’s powers?”

  He looked down, eyes dimming slightly. “No,” he replied honestly. “I… I was as surprised as everyone else. But I want to believe it’s the next step. A step into the future. For humanity.”

  Vivienne didn’t reply straight away. She was sure it was a step—but whether it was a good one, she couldn’t say. Whether it would truly be for the good of humanity… that was another matter entirely.

  “What if it isn’t?” she asked.

  Armin looked at her, clearly surprised. When she noticed his expression, she gave a faint grimace.

  “You can’t blame me for being suspicious,” she added softly. “Not... not after everything that’s happened.”

  The Battle of Trost was forever etched in her memory. That date on the calendar would always mark the day her life changed. The fear she’d felt still clung to her, like a sickness she couldn’t shake. She would never forget the horror she had witnessed. The memories—those would remain with her until the bitter end.

  Armin lowered his gaze again, a shadow of sadness in his eyes. Because he knew she was right. He couldn’t blame her. None of them could. He wasn’t the only one who had suffered. Mikasa and Eren weren’t the only ones who had lost so much.

  After his two childhood friends, Vivienne was perhaps the closest person he had left.

  “I don’t know,” he admitted quietly.

  He looked up, meeting her eyes.

  “But I want to trust Eren.”

  Her emerald eyes rested on him, unblinking. Then her gaze drifted upward—to the sky. It was far too clear, far too beautiful, for everything that had happened down here.

  "You two," a deep voice said.

  Vivienne and Armin turned their heads sharply to see a scout standing before them.

  "Come with me."

  They followed him in silence into a room where several other cadets were already lined up. One of the officers gestured for Armin to join those on the left, while Vivienne was directed to the right. She found herself standing between Reiner and Bertholdt. The three of them had barely exchanged words throughout their time at the academy. They’d never really spoken, never shared a moment beyond passing glances.

  Vivienne placed her ODM gear on the table in front of her, eyes downcast. There it was again—that heavy, suffocating feeling in her chest. She still couldn’t find the words for it. Her emerald eyes flicked briefly towards Reiner.

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  Why? Why did she always feel like she was drowning when he was near?

  He noticed her glance, and she quickly looked away, her focus snapping back to the gear. An officer strode through the rows, inspecting each cadet. He picked up her controls.

  "Why are the triggers so loose?" he asked sharply.

  Vivienne met his gaze and replied evenly, "I’ve modified the triggers to make them easier to squeeze. It allows for quicker reaction time."

  The scout’s eyes lingered on the adjustments before flicking back up to her face.

  "Name?"

  She raised her hand in salute. "Vivienne D’Aubigne of Mitras. Graduating cadet from the Academy."

  The officer said nothing and moved on.

  Vivienne’s mind raced. What was the point of all this? Why were they checking everyone's ODM gear?

  Later they were dismissed.

  The golden evening sun dipped low in the sky. Vivienne now stood among Sasha, Connie, Armin, and Annie. The low hum of conversations filled the air as cadets gathered in small groups. Nearby, a large platform stood ready. Today was the day they had to choose: the Survey Corps, the Garrison, or—if they'd ranked high enough—the Military Police.

  Silence hung between them. Connie knelt on the ground, deep in thought. Sasha had her hands clasped behind her back. Armin rubbed his mouth, eyes distant. Normally, the four of them could talk about anything—especially if it meant laughing at Sasha’s endless food escapades—but not today. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts. Vivienne stared at the ground, her mind still half-caught on the earlier inspections.

  Footsteps approached.

  "Jean..." Armin said, drawing their attention. "You’re really joining the Survey Corps?"

  It was a fair question. Jean had always made it clear he planned to join the Military Police. From the very beginning, he’d scoffed at Eren—and Vivienne too—calling them reckless, even foolish.

  Vivienne wouldn’t have blamed him if he stuck to that path, especially after all they’d been through.

  But to her surprise, he replied with a casual, "Yeah," as if it were no big deal.

  "What? Why all of a sudden?" Sasha asked. "I mean... Aren’t you scared?"

  Jean placed a hand on his hip and tilted his head slightly.

  "Huh? Of course I don’t want to join the Survey Corps."

  "Th-Then why...?" Connie asked, glancing up at him.

  "It’s not like I’ve decided Titans aren’t terrifying," Jean said. "And I’m not going to start saying stuff like, ‘The best should join the Survey Corps.’ I’m not exactly eager to die, you know."

  Vivienne looked at him, a little taken aback. Her emerald-green eyes glinted with quiet amusement.

  "Jean... what you just said was surprisingly clever."

  There was a brief silence—until Jean raised his fist with mock outrage.

  "What the hell do you mean surprisingly clever?"

  For a moment, everyone smiled. But the weight of the moment—the decision they all faced—settled back over them like a shadow.

  "You mean Eren...? He’s already joined the Survey Corps," said Connie, lowering his head again.

  "Trainees, line up! Line up in front of the stage!" an officer shouted, and most of the cadets began to walk towards it.

  "I'm not risking my life just because someone talked me into it. This is a job you can’t do unless you make the decision yourself," said Jean, turning his back on them.

  Connie straightened up. "Vivienne?" he said, glancing over at her. "What... what about you? Do you still want to join the Survey Corps?"

  The question lingered in the air. She stared down at the ground. Even though she was sure of her decision, she’d been quietly asking herself the same thing until recently.

  "Yes," she replied. "I... haven’t changed my mind. But Jean’s right. It’s something you have to decide for yourself."

  With that, she followed the other cadets towards the stage.

  The crackling of the torches filled the tense silence. Night had already fallen. After what felt like an eternity, a man finally stepped onto the platform.

  "I am Erwin Smith, Commander of the Survey Corps."

  Vivienne looked over at him. He hadn’t changed a bit. He still looked exactly as he had the day he’d delivered the bitter news of her uncle’s death. Those blue eyes—cold, calculating, serious—remained the same.

  "Today, you will choose your military branch. To put it plainly, I’m here to persuade you to join the Survey Corps."

  Vivienne imagined it would be anything but an easy task. If Jean stuck to his word, she wouldn’t be surprised if only four people, including herself, ended up choosing the Survey Corps.

  "During the Titan attack, you learned just how terrifying they can be."

  Sasha and Connie stared anxiously at the floor, but Vivienne couldn’t help locking eyes with Erwin. Her uncle had always spoken of him with great respect in his letters. He had been the one to persuade étienne to join the Survey Corps. And now, she would see for herself just how convincing the Commander could be.

  "And how limited our own strength is. However... this battle brought humanity closer to victory than ever before. Through Eren Jaeger’s existence. By risking his own life, he’s proven himself—beyond any doubt—a friend of humanity."

  Vivienne’s hand curled into a fist.

  Friend of humanity? She wasn’t so sure. What troubled her even more was that no one seemed to question it—not even a little. Was she really the only one with doubts?

  "With his help, not only did we stop the Titans’ advance, but we’ve found a way to uncover their true nature."

  Vivienne and the other cadets widened their eyes.

  The truth...? The truth about the Titans? Could it really be possible?

  If it was, then this wasn’t just another step forward—it was the moment everything would change. All the years of brutal training, all the lives lost... it would finally mean something.

  Erwin's eyes swept over the crowd.

  "We believe that in the basement of his home in Shiganshina, there are answers about the Titans that even he does not yet know. If we can reach that basement, we may find the clue that will end this century of Titan rule."

  A murmur spread among the cadets. Shocked glances were exchanged.

  End the Titan rule. Finally live in peace. A world without walls.

  It sounded like a dream—too good to be true. But maybe, just maybe, the time had come. Maybe they finally had the upper hand. If they could understand what the Titans truly were... then this war could finally end.

  Erwin’s gaze moved across the gathered trainees, eyes sharp and discerning—as though he were trying to read their thoughts.

  For a brief moment, Vivienne felt as though he were staring directly at her.

  "We will head for the basement in Shiganshina. However, that requires us to retake Wall Maria. In other words, our objective hasn’t changed."

  Two scouts stepped onto the stage and unrolled a map.

  "But with the Trost gate sealed, we’ll have to take the long way round—from Karanes to the east. The four years we spent laying a route for a large-scale advance... have gone to waste."

  Exhausting. Vivienne couldn’t even imagine what it must’ve felt like to spend years securing a supposedly safe path, only to be forced to abandon it and take the longer, more dangerous route instead.

  "In those four years, over sixty per cent of the Survey Corps lost their lives. Sixty per cent in four years... An insane figure."

  Vivienne stared at the ground. Her uncle had been one of those sixty per cent.

  "Any trainees who join us will take part in our next expedition beyond the walls—in one month. We expect that thirty per cent of you won’t return. In four years, most of you will be dead."

  A hush fell over the crowd. Cadets stared in stunned silence.

  This wasn’t just reckless. It was madness. And yet, Vivienne couldn’t stop thinking about whether she’d be one of the ones who wouldn’t be around in four years’ time.

  "But those who survive," Erwin continued, "will become elite soldiers—with a significantly higher survival rate."

  He looked directly at them, his gaze unflinching.

  "Knowing these discouraging facts... anyone still willing to risk their lives—remain here. Ask yourself: are you prepared to offer your beating heart for humanity?"

  The crowd snapped to attention.

  What had it been like for him? For Uncle étienne? How had he reacted in this very moment? He must’ve been certain. Convinced. Because in the end... he’d given everything.

  "That’s all. Anyone who wishes to join another branch—dismissed."

  The cadets glanced around at one another. Then, gradually, they began to move. One after another, they turned and walked away—some quickly, others hesitantly, but most without looking back.

  Among them was Annie.

  The area grew quieter, emptier.

  They were all running. Everyone wanted freedom—but no one was prepared to fight for it.

  No one opened their eyes.

  The people inside the walls were blind through life—blind to everything outside.

  Vivienne watched as the crowd thinned. Watched as most of them fled.

  And in truth... she understood them.

  What does it do to a person, living in constant fear?

  But then again—what does it do to a person if nothing ever changes?

  Vivienne couldn’t forget the tragedy. The horror.

  Heinz’s pale, lifeless eyes.

  Marco… Everything.

  Was she afraid to face the Titans again?

  Yes. More than anything.

  She wasn’t particularly strong, nor especially skilled. In most people’s eyes, she was still the pampered noble girl from the capital.

  She reached into her inner pocket and pulled out the crocheted crest of the Survey Corps.

  "Someday, Vivi. Someone will go beyond the walls and have adventures that will shape the future. Maybe it’ll be you."

  She closed her eyes.

  And began to understand.

  It was never about setting fear aside. It was about fighting—so that others wouldn’t have to be afraid.

  In the end, only a few cadets remained standing.

  "Can you die if you're ordered to?"

  Vivienne swallowed—and almost laughed when Jean shouted, “I don’t want to die!”

  “I see,” Erwin said, with the faintest smile. “I like the look on your faces... Then I welcome all of you to the Survey Corps. This is a true salute—Offer your hearts!”

  Standing between her friends, Vivienne brought her arm across her chest in a firm military salute. The crest of the Survey Corps remained clutched tightly in her hand.

  “I’m scared... I want to go home,” Sasha sobbed.

  “I don’t even care anymore...” Connie muttered.

  “You have done well to bear your fear,” Erwin said quietly. “You are brave soldiers. You have my heartfelt respect.”

  Vivienne’s lip trembled. She could hardly believe she’d come this far.

  “Uncle étienne,” she whispered.

  “I still haven’t forgotten.”