Two chapters for today cos it's New Year. Warning: this chapter contains heavy themes such as sexual abuse. Read at your own risk.

Levi woke up early and saw a breathtaking sight of a sunrise. The sun was peering through the dark clouds and minimal bursts of colors like violet, pink, and orange appeared and adorned the heavens.

Levi looked upon it in awe and astonishment. Surely, this room with huge windows captured beautiful sights.

It was a sophisticated thing to study and Levi wanted to stare at it forever but he had work to do.

He fixed his sheets, smoothing the wrinkles of the sheets through pulling it on the sides.

He was prepared to leave his personal room but it seemed like Erwin had his own idea.

"Good morning, my fair squire!" He boomed, his usual smile etched on his lips as he entered Levi's quarters. "Did you experience a good night's sleep?"

Annoying... Levi thought as he stared at the man.

"Aye, I had a nice one. Thank you for this room. I love it." Levi answered with politeness.

Erwin chuckled. "I was sure you weren't a coward! I was right that you have the spirit of a mighty lion!"

Could he be, by any means, be a relative of Shakespeare? Levi reckoned in a silly way. Why does he talk like that?

Levi did think Erwin was a good man but his views of the knight turned into a: goodly annoying man.

"Join me as I break my fast, my dear squire!" The knight said in a poetic way again, which killed the squire.

"Aye, Erwin."

They walked downstairs were the dinner hall was.

They had a fine breakfast, prepared by someone called Martha whom Levi assumed perhaps as a scullion.

"Ah, Martha! She always cooks such finesse! This toast is scrumptious! I'm so blessed by God to have her as my cook! She whips delish in everything! Oh and Rika do you remember when I..."

And Erwin's stories went on.

He finished his tea and ate his toast as Erwin narrated countless of tales about how he fought demons who hid themselves in human form and it was, bothering Levi.

Levi was sick and wanted to vomit of Erwin's actions. He wanted to leave very badly or at least, endure his year of 'servitude' to the knight Erwin Smith. Erwin Smith sounded more like of Carmen from George Bizet than a celebrated knight in the Empire of Eldia.

He rose and stated that he had to do duties but Erwin stopped him.

"Levi, your tasks would not involve cleaning the muck in the stables. I figured you are old enough to accompany me in my work so please do, abide with me as I wipe the scum of this kingdom." Erwin said as he grasped Levi's hand to his.

The dark-haired man sighed. "Fine, I agree to wipe scum with you."

Is that really his line of work though or was he toying with his selection of words?

With a fast rapping on the door, Rika opened it, greeting the visitor kindly though the man looked like he did not have time to be greeted.

"Gratitude but..." The man said breathlessly. "Sir Smith! The King asked for your assistance! He wants you to clean the slums, now!"

Rika had a worried look on her face as she turned to her master who rose from his seat from the dining table.

"I appreciate the fact, Gelgar." Erwin stated as he rose, taking the silk table napkin from the neckline of his dress shirt.

"Aye, sir!" Gelgar stated as he offered  the salute.

Erwin breathed deeply and turned to Levi, his soon to be 'faithful' companion in his tasks. "Levi, I beg you to come with me and fight those monsters that has infested the kingdom!"

The slums, was it? Levi thought. Then I suppose Erwin's line of work is not as chivalrous at it seems.

"Aye, Erwin."

And so they went and Levi was following along Erwin though he was still aggravated about the older man's speech patterns.

They treaded along the cobblestone paths and Erwin was mounted on his stallion while Levi was holding onto the rein.

Erwin had a grim look on his face and Levi stared at the taller man and somehow, the more he stared into him, the deeper his character got, the features of his face seemed to be etched finer and more elaborate. Levi looked away and focused on the road since he did not want to trip and be a laughing stock for Erwin.

He walked beside him closely until they reached a filthy ghost town and Levi flinched upon seeing it. He hates filth to high degree.

"This is the place." Erwin stated in a low voice and turned to Levi. "Careful, Levi."

Levi nodded in reply and kept his right hand close to his coat pocket where he keeps his pistol that was given to him by his uncle, Kenny.

As strange at it sounds, the knights of Eldia do not use swords, instead, they use pistols and firearms.

They identified using swords useless since the criminals in the country use weapons with more advanced technology. But surely, the guns were still not sufficient but the knights were skilled enough to come back alive even with more primitive weapons.

Erwin loaded a handgun too and tucked it somewhere in his white cloak.

They went closer and Levi could smell the stench of rotting flesh which was sickening. Erwin wrinkled his nose as he scanned the place. There was rubble all over the place and small embers flying o'er the air, a sign that someone must've burned down the town.

Chills went down to Erwin's spine the deeper they went in. They saw corpses laying on the streets, half-burnt, half-rotten.

"I didn't think the damage will be this huge." Erwin stated as his eyes wandered around the place. His horse sniggered and kicked a pile of trash that seemed to be food and human waste and Levi was just staring at the horse's soiled hoof in a disgusted mien.

Erwin inhaled but was filled with regret as the sickening stench filled his airways.

He saw a small house that was highly decorated. He could still see how fancy it was despite it being destroyed by the fire.

A pleasure house. Erwin thought. It did not cross my mind that bandits could have destroyed this village. Was I late?

Levi scrunched his eyebrows together as they walked towards the place which he assumed as a house where wenches were sold.

Disgusting and filthy. Was something Levi agreed to call it.

Erwin went slid down from his horse and tied his horse to a nearby fence.

He walked carefully as Levi tagged along, glaring at the edifice like it was something so sinful.

And indeed, it was sinful.

They went in the door and sucked their breaths in horror as they saw half-naked women sprawled on the floor. They covered their noses as they smelled the fumes of the drug, opium. Some woman was covered in a white substance which was, as Erwin guessed, semen.

The women were raped before the place was destroyed.

"Let's search for survivors, Levi. If there are any." Erwin stated as he wove through the crowd of females that were raped, violated, and killed.

Levi nodded and went to the opposite direction where Erwin was going. He still clung to his pistol, his finger resting lightly on the trigger as he wove into the corpses of tragedy and abuse.

He heard a whimper as he went past rubble of tables and chairs. He inched closer and the whimpering was accompanied by sniffing. Levi assumed the owner of the voice female, for it was, a place were people sell women for their sick and twisted entertainment.

Levi assumed that the crying was behind a curtain that separates another room and he pulled the curtain, his pistol out, and was ready to fire at anytime and anything.

He pulled the curtain quite harshly that he caused it to rip, and the ripped half of it just fell to the floor to reveal a broken young lady.

Well, her limbs were intact but her face of despair was a sign that her heart was broken. Beyond broken.

The girl looked up to Levi with tears streaming down her. A shimmer of hope lighted her dark eyes as she threw her arms to Levi.

"Help me..." She pleaded through sobs. "I beg of you, Sir!"

Levi patted the woman's back slightly and it was disturbing him how she was taller than he is but he doesn't give a damn about it. He was here for saving.

"Erwin!" Levi called. "I found one!"

He was doubtful that Erwin would hear him but to his surprise, Erwin did arrive to his aid.

The young lady did not have Caucasian features. She looked more Oriental though her skin was fairer than the typical ones.

Erwin thanked Levi and asked the girl, "What's your name?"

The girl sniffed. She was young and Levi was under the impression that she was fifteen or something that falls on that age group.

"I'm Mikasa."

Erwin smiled. "Alright, Mikasa. We are here to assist you so fear not, okay?" He said with a gentle voice and Mikasa nodded.

"Let us go, Levi." Erwin said to the smaller man as he walked, Mikasa on his arms. Mikasa didn't protest and seemed happy about it.

Well, not relatively happy. Just grateful.

Erwin allowed Mikasa to ride on his stallion as he walked beside it. Levi just followed behind them but he still did not let his guard down.

"Where to next, Erwin?" Levi asked the taller man.

"To the King." Was the reply.