Vow (1)

Mina's POV

To obey someone so faithfully is a rare and important value for soldiers. In this world where humans can easily turn from each other, finding that special someone who would always stay by your side is a treasure that must be valued.

And in my case, I chose the person who murdered my friend, a warrior from another nation known as the female titan. Her name is Annie Leonhart.

"Seriously?" Baffled, Ymir tilted her head in confusion before continuing. "Why her?"

"Why? Well…"

The reason is simple: Her conviction of staying true to herself as she does everything to go home eventually is something I deeply respect. Not everyone can do that because humans are selfish creatures who always prioritize their safety. However, even if Annie is someone who would do everything just to see her father once more, she still chooses to freeze herself just to protect her nation, which also includes her parent.

And as a daughter, more than anyone, I find myself empathizing with her.

Another reason is that there is no other soldier fit for this task, seeing that she crystallized herself for a few years. In short, her existence as of this moment, as long as she doesn't show her face to the other soldiers, won't affect the next scenarios. Annie, for me, is the perfect human to help me in my task of finding the object that would help remove the existence of the devil in this world.

After giving me a bored look as she yawned, earning me an eye roll, Ymir eventually gave me my memories that can help in my mission of persuading the said lady. By doing so, I can also start my plan on how to finally eradicate the creature that tormented every human being in this world.

"I can only tell you that it's located in Paradis," I remember Ymir telling me as we discussed how to fight off the devil a few years back, just before she threw me in world number three. "It's an object that has touched both an Eldian and Marleyan citizen. However, even I couldn't tell if there was a symbol that would show that it was from Marley."

"How useful," I recalled myself responding to those words as we continued to plan what to do next. "Then for me to find it…"

I would need the help of a Marleyan citizen. 

And here I am, reaching out to one.

The method that I chose to persuade her may not be the best, but if I consider where we currently are and how much time I'll have with her, sharing my memories proved to be the fastest way of doing so. Besides, even if she had taken a lot of lives during the expedition, she couldn't ignore those scenarios she'd seen, especially if they were about the future. 

I mean, I don't think anyone in this world would be able to ignore it. 

My arm was still stretched out before her, waiting for her decision, when suddenly, the sound of the door opening alerted both of us, breaking our petrified state. 

The first thing that came into my mind was to untie my hair and button the upper portion of my shirt to hide the bruise that Annie gave me. As for her, however, there was no time to bind her wrists to the ceiling. Luckily, there was an abandoned rope just below her, one that was supposed to bind her body to the ground. 

I had to give it to her fast reflex and way of thinking because just when Captain Hange was about to step inside the dungeon, Annie successfully gave me the rope, prompting me to tie her arms as quickly as I could manage. 

"Huh?" Captain Hange visibly froze upon landing her gaze on us. "Mina… what are you doing?" 

"Um," Embarrassingly, I stuttered. "She complained about how uncomfortable she was in that position, so I let her down."

As I continued to tremble due to the anxiety of being found out, the commander and Captain Levi also stepped inside the cell to see what the commotion was all about. They probably haven't expected to see a soldier tying a loose criminal on the ground because their eyes immediately widened upon seeing that scenario taking place. 

"What do you mean?" 

I paled. The sudden change in Captain Hange's aura took me off guard, making me gulp reflexively due to panic. Gone was the energetic and carefree captain. Her expression instantly became cold as she continued to stare at us with a suspicious gaze. 

Seeing that type of gaze directed at me, much less by my captain, is unnerving. Once this is over, she may even lose her trust in me. Nonetheless, the plan must proceed, even if I lose something in the process. 

In this type of situation, telling the truth is the only way to survive. With a plan in mind, I spoke, "I'm sorry. I can't bear to see her like that, so I intentionally freed her."

"And why?"

"Because we need her," Upon saying such words, I pulled Annie's arm along with me to stand. I didn't have time to observe their reactions and simply continued to speak. "If we can't get any information from her about the enemy, then the least we could do is to get her on our side and use her as leverage."

This time, while taking a step forward, the one who spoke is our commander. With a curious gaze, he asks, "Leverage for what?" 

"Negotiations." I felt Annie's hand grabbing my own. It was hidden in plain sight, making me realize why she did it. "In the future, if another enemy arrives, we can use her. It's tactless to those who want violence, but by doing so, we can lessen any casualties that might occur."

Like your death. I thought to myself with the additions of how most of the survey corps have died due to the beast Titan. 

"But you can't just release her!" Captain Hange bursts out as she takes long and heavy strides to our position. Predicting that she'd pull Annie from my hold, I eventually stepped forward and used my body to shield the female titan from the captain's reach. Such an action, however, angered the squad leader even more. "Mina, this is an order. Move." 

An order. I can't exactly blame her for the hostility she's currently showing because the person I'm shielding right now has killed hundreds of her comrades. Unlike the current commander, who can somehow understand where I am coming from, Captain Hange values humanity above all else. 

This is why even if she becomes suspicious of me, starting from now on, I won't blame her for it. It will surely place a dent in our relationship, but I'd rather have that than lose the person who will become a huge asset to me. 

With a determined stand, I spoke. "I'm sorry, Captain Hange."

After hearing those words, disappointment covered her features. "Have you forgotten the fact that she killed your friend?"

Upon hearing that, I flinched. Of course not. There was no way in hell I would ever forget how it felt like to hold someone precious in my arms, knowing full well that they would never get to breathe in this lifetime ever again. How unfair, captain. You just had to target my weak spot.

And so, I whispered. "No, ma'am."

"Then why are you doing this?" 

Biting my lip, I frowned. Because if I don't, then you'll die!

Not that I can say that out loud. Ymir once asked me what my plan of action is if I ever encounter this certain scenario, 'worried' about the fact that my identity will be unraveled. My answer then is the same thing that I'm doing right now.

Silence.

If they can't accept the logical way of handling things, then all I can do is calmly accept their wrath and confusion. It's not like they know the future as I do, so I completely understand where Captain Hange is coming from.

I understand but still was a tiny bit disappointed. 

The captain was only a step away from us when a hand suddenly grabbed her shoulder, halting her in the process. There, the commander stood both in grace and superiority, his cold and icy stare gazing at us as if he were trying to solve a puzzle. "Enough, Hange. I already gave Mina her right to deny orders. Besides, having leverage doesn't sound too bad." 

"Erwin!"

"But still, Hange is right. Releasing a prisoner is an unwise move, Mina." 

I nodded with the acceptance of being punished afterward. "I apologize." 

"No need for that. You're just doing your job." And that I am, but still, I was rude to my captain. "Now step aside, we won't tie her if that's what you want."

After giving them a salute, I eventually took a step away from the female titan, giving the commander the chance to look at her current state properly. It's not that I'm visibly showing whom I trust more in this room. Still, the current Hange and the 14th commander of the survey corps back in the second world are so similar that I unconsciously try to do everything myself instead of following her humane orders, one so idealistic in this horrendous reality.

I associate her with the word humane, but what she's doing right now toward Annie is the complete opposite of that. How ironic.

The commander's cold and unnerving look gazed at the female titan, possibly trying to learn more about her existence just by simply observing her appearance. It's pointless for other normal people, but this is Erwin Smith, who knows what he's currently planning inside his monstrous head. 

"You won't even try to escape?" 

His voice, devoid of any emotion, addressed the killing machine. My eyes eventually connected with her confused look, but I immediately broke it upon remembering what I had just forced her to watch. 

This may seem like I'm abandoning her, but in actuality, I'm just waiting for her response to my question. 

And if it's Annie…

"I won't." Her response, so simple and unnatural, left both captains baffled. "If it means that you'll give me some time to think, then I won't force my way out of this room."

"Think about what?" 

Annie paused for a bit before answering his question. "Mina's proposal to work with her." 

"…"

"…"

"The hell did you just say, brat?"

Oh, for the love of Ymir, why is she being too fucking honest?! 

***