Warning: Violence

"Who's there?" A man called out to the night. He was the only knight remaining in his squad and he was very frightened but his fright jumped when he heard some leaves rustling and branches breaking.

The Eldian Army was fighting a rebellious organization that were against the monarchy and the government system. They wanted change and believed that only violence would make the said change. Their belief towards using violence to achieve any change that they crave made them dangerous. They would kill anyone ranging from men, women, and children just to let the King rage over their actions and send soldiers after them.

The man's breath hitched. He was sure he was being followed. He is rather unsure of the numbers that were tailing him and this made him worry and cower even more.

He ducked unstealthily to a couple of bushes in attempt to hide himself but he was sure that he was going to be killed.

The footsteps neared him and his heart hammered on his ribcage like a feral bird wanting to break free from its prison. He covered his mouth with his hands as his breathing got louder.

"I am sure that one of them was here." A gruff voice said and sneered. "That bastard sure is cowardly, it's pathetic-"

He heard a couple of unfinished screams and gasps. He assumed that his pursuers where somewhat attacked by something and he was hoping so much that he has a friend, not a foe.

He decided not to come out of the bushes. He was sure that he was doing the right thing and felt confident with it.

"Come out, come out." A hissing voice said. It hissed but it was almost unbelievable that the voice sounded kind and helpful. His mind might be deceiving him. "I can smell you, so come out, Moses."

The knight, Moses scrambled out of his fort made of bushes and slapped his hands together into a supplicatory pose.  "Please! Please! Please! Please don't kill me-" His words stopped as he saw the face of his supposed "rescuer".

All he can say is hideous.

He froze at the moment and took a few moments to assess the face of the creature. The creature had tall and black goat horns accompanied with sharp fangs that shoot out a little out of the creature's lips. His eyes were the color of gold and had black slits that ran  across it. He was extremely pale and was very tall and lanky. He had elf ears protruding out of the tufts of his dark brown hair that appeared black in the moonlight.

And below him was the worst sight the man has seen. He saw decapitated heads, dismembered bodies, showers and splatters and pools of blood, eyeballs gouged out, tongues torn off from its roots, ligaments showing from broken bones and limbs, remains of hearts tattered to shreds...

It was horrifying.

He turned to the creature who looked serene until it was almost an insult but what terrified him the most was how the monster knew his name.

"Moses." The creature said again. "I am your ally."

"My ass!" Moses screamed as he ran off to the other direction to avoid a confrontation with this demon he saw and witnessed. "I am not listening to you, you fucking demon."

"Fuck you then," The demon replied. "You'll die on the way there. You'll never make it if you don't listen to me."

The running man gritted his teeth as he sprinted away. The demon never followed him and just stood calmly where he was. It was as if he was awaiting to watch Moses' demise.

His heart pounded as he ran away. Without warning, a sharp arrow pierced his forehead, broke his skull and stabbed his brain. He stumbled to the ground, dead.

A rebel stood with a bow and arrow and beamed with pride as he saw the corpse of his enemy but Ymir knew better. He stretched out his hand to the man who saw him but the rebel was too late. Ymir stretched his hand and made a fist and the man's head exploded in blood, bones, and skulls.

The demon, Ymir just stood there, studying the fresh, dead human. Blood trickled from Ymir's forehead but there was no wound. The reason for this is because he is tied to the lives of the Eldian people who will encounter him so any affliction that an Eldian suffers affects him as well.

It was because of that deal.

He gritted his teeth as he swiped his hand over his bleeding forehead. "Damn this stupid Eldian. I told him I'm his ally. Look at him now! Dead!" He complained openly but he was aware that he was not alone.

"Just forget about it!" His female companion shrieked. "It's irrelevant plus you won't really die if Eldians get hurt and killed so get over it!" Hitch went out of the bushes and stood beside him. "It was your fault in the first place. Getting into that 'agreement' with the King for some girl." Hitch crossed her arms. "Tis ridiculous."

Ymir turned to the silver haired demon. "Shut the fuck up, Hitch. You're just jealous."

Hitch scoffed. "My ass." She flipped her long and luscious silver hair. "I do not like you. I was just born to be your assistant."

"But you're not helping..." Ymir pointed out.

Hitch bit her lip. "It's because you're too good at everything! It's unbelievable!"

"Well, I am demon, a demon king, so what do you expect?"

"Super badass black magic prowess to the point where girls can drown their children in their underwear since they are so wet by your 'hotness'." Hitch said as she made quotation marks on the air as she said hotness.

"Disgusting."

"What?"

The wind rustled and ruffled the leaves of the trees. It kissed the bushes and touched the wildflowers that danced in greeting. The night was about to be no more and the two demons could smell the sunlight almost peaking through the horizon. The birds started chirping their early songs and the buzzing of the crickets slowly diminished.

"We should head back now." Ymir told Hitch. "Apollo's coming to beat our ass." He began to walk away as Hitch followed behind him.

•••

A messenger rushed to the camp of the squires where Erwin was training the young boys. He needed to train them as much as possible because the empire is in dire need of soldiers especially since their numbers are dwindling down due to the successive rebel attacks.

As for Levi, he was not huffing as much as the other kids. The others looked so beat that their lack of experience became evident. Levi was all calm and relaxed and would watch Erwin from his peripherals.

Erwin's confession to him happened weeks ago but it was still so fresh on Levi's mind. The tears that fell from Erwin's eyes, the words that emitted from his mouth, the light of the moon, the hushes of the wind, the caress of loneliness, and Erwin.

He could see Erwin crying and he could picture it beautifully in his mind. He memorized it and he would never want to forget it.

Erwin did not really talk to Levi more often but Levi clung to his love with frailty. He knew he would never have a chance but he still clung to him. He was hopeless but he loved it.

He stood for a little while now and Severino had to elbow his rib.

"Hey now, buddy!" Severino said cheerfully. "Stop thinking about whoever you are thinking about. Focus!" He beamed at Levi.

Levi only groaned and picked up his gun again aiming it on the target that was composed of a canvas and a circular mold made from wood. If Levi was to judge, he considers these tools to be primitive except the gun. It seemed to fit archery more that bullets passing through it but it was still surprisingly helpful, Levi must admit.

He took his focus away from his trigger as he caught a glimpse of a man running towards Erwin who stood on a platform, not to far from the trainees. He had enough space to see everyone's progress.

Levi saw the sweaty man place a hand by his lips as he whispered to Erwin's ear urgently. Erwin listened intently to the man and Levi saw his eyes widen.

Is there something wrong?

Is Erwin doing alright? Levi asked himself.

"It seems like there's something going on." Anthony mumbled. "Doesn't really look good just by judging their postures and facial expressions." He narrated as Levi saw that the man and Erwin looked like they were beginning to argue about something controversial.

"Really, Anthony?" Connie said. "You can tell what they're talking about even if it's by their movements alone?"

Anthony simply nodded, not bothering to brag his skills in reading body language.

"Are you sure about that? Maybe you are just bluffing!" A boy screamed from the crowd.

"No, Anthony has a point." Armin confirmed. "Look." He pointed at the knight, Erwin who went down from his platform to talk to the squires.

His face was a masterpiece of dejection. His eyebrows were furrowed in worry and incomprehension.

His walk seemed too long. The squires waited each step and every he took another step, everything  seemed to be more thrilling. Was it something worth rejoicing or is it the verdict that will soon serve their demise?

Some squires mumbled in fear while others stood in respect to Erwin.

"Squires." Was the first word that he uttered which was followed with an air of silence.

The crowd began to feel the tension and they felt a looming feeling that the next words would not be...a good one.

Some of them felt years pass by as they waited in anticipation. Some gulped, some began sweating vigorously.

The passing seconds of silence were torture to their souls.

"We will move out from this place...from this training grounds." Erwin said in reluctance. It seemed like he was being too careful about which words to pick. "With my guidance, we will go to Shiganshina. I know this is sudden but our help is needed. Do not panic for we can make it." He said as turned away and walked. His lack of elaboration made his speech sound stiff and commanding but the squires knew what to do.

They were moving out from their camp and the best reason for that is that the knights that fought the rebels have been defeated.

The kingdom was slowly falling into the hands of its enemy.

Hey, guys. I know I have not updated for nearly a month and I apologize for that and I thank you for sticking around with me.