ENIGMA (LEVI ACKERMAN)

CHAPTER 4

3RD PERSON'S POV

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"They're here! The main force of Survey Corps!"

The parade of the Survey Corps for their expedition were welcomed by the citizens and a few recruits. 

Composed of the brave and the desperate, the Survey Corps embodies both humanity's greatest hope and its greatest folly. 

At the head of the formation, Commander Erwin Smith sat tall in his saddle, his gaze unyielding, as if already fixed on the unknown horrors waiting beyond the walls. Beside him was Hange Zoë, her vibrant energy momentarily subdued by the weight of the moment, though her sharp eyes darted through the crowd, always observing. 

"Look! It's Captain Levi! They say he's as strong as an entire brigade!" Beside Hange was Captain Levi, his presence like a blade. It was sharp, precise, and intimidating without effort.

"Tch. Shut up." Levi commented with an unamused tone. 

"This is totally different from five years ago. There are so many people who have high hopes for the Survey Corps." Eren blurted. A small conversation was shared with their 

Eren, Mikasa, Armin, Cesia and a couple named Hannah and Franz, stood together near the front of the crowd, their fresh uniforms marking them as new recruits, yet they had not joined the formation this time. 

They were talking until Hannes, their long time friend, came to the trio. They exchanged words but Cesia's gaze remained at the Survey Corps.

As the formation moved forward, Captain Levi rode near the rear of the group, his posture straight, his expression unreadable. His sharp gray eyes scanned the crowd as though out of habit, his presence commanding attention even in his silence.

Then, his gaze stopped.

Standing just a few feet from the recruits was a girl. Her long black hair fell past her shoulders, and her crimson eyes stood out sharply, vivid against her otherwise calm expression. She wasn't clapping, cheering, or even whispering like the others. She simply stood there, watching.

For a fleeting moment, their eyes met. Levi's grip on his reins tightened imperceptibly, and something flickered across his face, curiosity, maybe? Or recognition, though it was gone almost as quickly as it appeared.

The girl held his gaze without faltering, her presence unassuming yet oddly magnetic. She was quiet, composed, her focus entirely on him, as though she saw something no one else did.

"Hey, Levi," Hange called out from beside him, breaking the moment. "You good?"

Levi gave a faint nod, his eyes lingering on the girl for just a second longer before he turned back to the road ahead. "Yeah. Let's keep moving."

Hange raised an eyebrow but didn't press further, falling back into her usual observational mode. Levi's gaze flicked once more toward the girl, but the moment had passed. The horses moved forward, and she was lost in the sea of faces.

The recruits, oblivious to the silent exchange, continued watching the procession. Mikasa's attention flickered briefly to the girl beside them, sensing the calm she exuded, but she said nothing. Armin, caught in his own thoughts, didn't seem to notice her at all. Eren, who ran away of embarrassment from his sudden speech to Hannes, was long gone.

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"Huh? You're joining the Survey corps? Connie, you were so eager to join the Military Police!" Eren asked as if it was the most abnormal thing he'd do, while cleaning the cannon.