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There was something to be said about serving together, not just in the military, but on the battlefield.
It was hard enough being a recruit—while you did not fight Titans during your time in the Cadet Corps, the training was gruesome. In fact, many enrollees flunked out within the first few days, and some even did not manage to survive the years of intense training.
Nevertheless, you bonded with those who remained, those who toughed out Commandant Sadies’s merciless instruction and humiliation. Between the tiresome days, during many of which you could not feel your legs and arms, however, there were moments where you found fellowship and camaraderie. There was laughter in the mess halls, harmless fights that broke out due to petty arguments, even deep conversations that started in the wee hours of the night.
Armin Arlelt was among those with whom you shared that special connection. He was unassuming, diffident, even, perhaps, but he excelled in the classroom, his observation skills unparalleled. Most of all, he was caring and gentle, a vast contrast to some of the other soldiers.
Once you developed a bond of trust, you became close friends. One night after supper, he told you about his grandfather’s book from his childhood, a collection of information about the outside world that left you speechless. It was not the material so much that fascinated you but the way his eyes lit up when he spoke about it—they were like azure depths, the sky on a flawlessly sunny day, reflections trapped within a spring so clear, you could treat it as a mirror.
“Do you really think we’ll see something like the ocean in our lifetimes?” you said. “That much water seems so… unbelievable. You could get lost in it. I sure can’t swim that well.”
He laughed, giving you a sincere smile. “I hope we’ll be able to see what’s beyond the walls once it’s safe.”
“Is that your main motivation for joining the military?”
“Would it be bad if I said yes?” His gaze diverted to the side. “I know a lot of us join because they want to save humanity by defeating the Titans, but what really drives me is the possibility of seeing far-off places—like dunes filled with golden sand, seared hot by the summer sun; mountains that tower about the land covered in evergreen pines,; and the eternal ocean, filled with animals and wonders we can’t even comprehend.”
You watched him, finding his captivation with the feats of the outside world one of his most charming qualities.
He noticed you. “Oh, I’m sorry!” he said, scratching his head as he blushed. “It must be boring listening to me rant about all that. We can talk about something else—anything you want!”
“I don’t think it’s boring at all.”
“N-no?” He looked so sheepish.
“Not at all. I think it’s refreshing, actually, hearing someone postulate about the possibilities. I feel like having a natural curiosity is such a blessing, and so many people go on and on about the sake of humanity that it gets old sometimes. I mean, we all know that we have to slay the Titans. For me, it’s hard to get excited about blood and war—it’s much easier for me to fight if I have an idea about what I’m fighting for.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say that before.”
You shrugged, glancing up at the night sky. “Do you think it’s bad to feel that way? To need something more than the survival of mankind to drive you?”
“Of course not. I think it makes us human more than anything. We’re not just beasts or birds, trying to survive—we’re sapient and intelligent. We have culture and understanding, and being reduced to fighting to survive… well, it seems to go against our purpose, our ability to create and innovate.”
“I’m glad you get it, Armin. I’m not sure many others would, especially since books about the outside world are forbidden. It makes you really wonder why. At least, I know I can always talk to you about these things.”
“Yeah, always, _____. It’s nice to have friends who share the same thought process.”
“I agree.” You grinned at him. “Maybe we’ll both survive these coming years and we’ll get to see the ocean together.”
“I’d like that.”
“Do you promise?”
Armin gave you a shy expression, wringing his hands. “I don’t want to make any promises I can’t keep.”
“Well, I won’t hold it against you if we don’t get to a place where we can,” you said with a laugh. “Let me rephrase: If we survive and manage to explore the world safely beyond the walls, we’ll go find the ocean together.”
“I think that’s more than fair.”
“Should we shake on it?” You offered him your hand.
“Sure,” he said as he grasped your hand, shaking it far more gently than any other boy would.
Years later, you and Armin would enroll with the Scout Regiment among other brave cadets who graduated with you from the 104th Cadet Corps, fighting side-by-side. A whirlwind of events would occur, sending humanity reeling on the edge of extinction, and it was only Armin’s strategy that would secure Shinganshina’s retrieval. The Scouts would pay a heavy price that day.
Even so, it was a victory for mankind, the first of its kind in recorded history.
But with it came with more information, which was disseminated among the public.
Armin and his book were right all along—there was so much outside that needed to be explored, and your small home within the walls was only a fraction of what the world had to offer.
You and Armin had stayed close during that time, confiding in one another when hope seemed lost or bleak. He was your closest friend, and even though he had his childhood companions, Eren and Mikasa, always by his side, he made time for you.
Oftentimes, you would talk with each other after a day of training or an expedition, sitting quietly under the stars. He was not one for taking unnecessary risks, but he would break curfew for you, and that made you happy.
You discussed the future, the possibilities for exploration, sometimes even delving into philosophical discussions until the sun peeked above the walls. You shared things about your families, your childhoods, your deepest desires and fears. It was nice having someone with whom you could have a compelling conversation.
“We’re getting closer,” Armin said. “Their numbers are dwindling. It might be impossible to lure the remainder of them to the walls. We might just have to finish them off outside.”
Hange’s Executioner from Hell was utilized night and day, slaughtering the Titans from their terrible existence without having to risk the lives of soldiers, but at this point, it was likely more effective for the Scout Regiment to destroy the remainder of them.
“I’ll volunteer for the job,” you said. You had become braver during your years, the confidence and expertise coming to you as you gained experience. The very fact that you had survived up until this point was telling—and you were happy to work towards a brighter future for humanity.
The Scouts would eventually ride out again, you and Armin among them, surveying the land with a freedom you’d never had before.
You pressed farther across what was once Titan territory, day by day, on horseback, charting landmarks and distances. Every successful mission felt like another victory.
One afternoon when the sun was high in the sky, you smelled something unfamiliar. “What’s that?” you said, urging your horse forward, lifting your nose to the wind. It was especially breezy, tangy, perhaps even a little sulfury—though not in an unpleasant way—and it tickled your senses.
“I think it might be…” Armin’s expression turned into one of aspiration, his eyes widening. “_____, I think it’s the ocean!”
You both led the way, the rest of the Scouts following close behind, and as you came to a large structure, you rode past it, your horse struggling up the slopes.
A vast expanse of immeasurable blue filled your vision—the purest kind. To be honest, it reminded you of Armin’s eyes.
It was as if you were in a different time and place, the utter breadth of water almost like a dream. Armin had told you about the tides, how they were impacted by the phases of the moon, and even though you could not see the night sky now, you noticed the rush of each wave as it hit the shore, washing the sand with clear water and a spray of foam. Birds gathered above, bearing the ocean gust under the wings with ease, while the shore sparkled with flecks of what seemed to be minerals.
“We found it,” you whispered as you dismounted your horse, your boots sinking into the sand.
“We found it,” Armin repeated, lips parted in astonishment. “We found it, _____!”
The remainder of your small group began walking toward the ocean, mesmerized by its sheer presence, the ebb and flow of its water, its unique scent. They trudged to the shores, some of them removing their boots, others studying the sand, no doubt curious about the specimens that dwelt here.
“Well, what are you waiting for?” you said. “We’ve been wanting this moment for so long… and now it’s finally here.”
“I’m just taking it in.”
“It’s hard to believe, isn’t it?” You turned away from the ocean and looked at him, offering him your hand. “We deserve this. Come on, Armin.”
He hesitated for a moment before smiling at you, eyes alight, the same color as the ocean’s azure depths beneath the sun. He took your hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Let’s go meet the ocean, _____.”