The boat scraped against the muddy riverbank beneath Wall Rose.
People rushed ashore—crying, shoving, stumbling over each other, desperate to get away from the burning ruin behind us. The air smelled like smoke, mud, and fear.
I climbed off slowly, legs wobbling. The bandages around my arms were soaked, and faint trails of steam still hissed from my skin.
Not good.
Not good at all.
"Keep moving!" a soldier yelled. "Wall Rose is taking in survivors! Don't stop!"
Children clung to their parents. Some didn't have anyone left to cling to.
And in the middle of the chaos—
Armin watched me.
He stood quietly, gripping the rail of the boat, eyes narrowed in thought. Everything about him looked fragile, small… but that mind of his was sharp enough to cut steel.
And right now, his curiosity was a blade pointed at me.
I looked away immediately, trying to blend into the mass of refugees.
The System flickered.
[Warning: Intelligent Observer Detected]
[Armin Arlert has taken interest in your abnormal behavior.]
[Risk Level: High]
Of course.
Out of all people to notice, it had to be Armin.
As I joined the crowd heading toward the gates, someone bumped into me.
"Uwah—!"
A small kid almost fell, hugging a dirty book to his chest. I caught him instinctively.
"Careful," I said.
He blinked up at me.
"T-Thank you…"
His mother pulled him close, bowing quickly before rushing off.
Humanity was breaking piece by piece… yet people still found a shred of kindness to cling to.
I wasn't sure I deserved to be one of them.
As I walked, the world seemed to sway—my vision dimming for a moment. I leaned against the wall.
My body was screaming from the incomplete transformation.
[Titan Energy Levels: 17% (Critical)]
[Regeneration Halted Until Safe Rest Achieved]
My muscles twitched under the bandages.
Too many people.
Too much pressure.
If I accidentally triggered something…
The System seemed to read my thoughts.
[Transformation Locked: Emotional Overload Detected]
[Reason: Presence of civilians]
I exhaled shakily.
At least I wouldn't transform by accident… not yet.
"Junta."
My heart dropped.
That voice—
soft, nervous, but clear.
I turned.
Armin stood behind me.
His face was pale.
His eyes were red from crying.
But dammit, those eyes were still sharp. Too sharp.
He hesitated… then spoke quietly:
"You're hurt."
I swallowed. "Everyone's hurt."
"That's true…"
He stepped closer. "But you were steaming."
My entire body froze.
Armin continued quietly, "I… I saw it. On the boat. Your skin was steaming. Like the Titans."
My mind raced.
Lie?
Deny?
Pretend I didn't hear?
He didn't give me the chance.
"I don't think you're a bad person," he said suddenly.
I looked at him in shock.
He clenched his fists.
His voice trembled.
"I just… I want to understand. Because Eren… he's losing everything today. And Mikasa too. And I don't know how to help them."
He looked into my eyes, desperate and sincere.
"But maybe… maybe you know something. Something that can help us survive."
The pain in his voice was real.
The doubt was real.
The hope was real.
This was Armin Arlert:
A boy terrified of the world—
yet brave enough to face its truths.
I lowered my eyes.
"…Armin."
My voice cracked.
He waited, breath held.
I couldn't tell him the truth.
Not now.
Not with the System warning me of danger, not with the military so close, not with the entire future on the line.
So I gave him the only answer that wouldn't crush his hope.
"I survived because…"
I touched my chest lightly.
"…I didn't want to die."
Armin stared.
His lips parted.
His eyes softened—just slightly.
"That's… normal," he whispered.
"That means you're like us."
My heart ached.
Because that wasn't true.
But I nodded anyway.
Footsteps thundered behind us.
A soldier shouted, "You two! Quit blocking the path—move inside the gates!"
Armin jumped slightly, then nodded at me.
"We should go."
He turned to leave—
—but stopped.
And without turning around, he said softly:
"If something happens… if something dangerous happens because of you…"
His voice trembled, but he forced the words out.
"I'll still try to help you."
My eyes widened.
He walked away.
Left me standing in silence.
The System chimed gently.
[Armin Arlert: Relationship Level — Cautious Trust]
[Potential Ally Detected]
I closed my eyes.
In this world, trust was rarer than hope.
And Armin had just given me a piece of both.
But before the warmth could settle in my chest—
another notification appeared.
[New Hidden Danger Detected]
[A high-level observer has taken interest in your presence.]
[Scanning…]
My pulse quickened.
A second name appeared.
[Hange Zoe]
[Status: Suspicious]
My blood ran cold.
Of all the people…
Of all the brilliant, dangerous minds…
Hange was watching me.