Just as Eld had predicted before, without blocking the Titans, Lock and his team inevitably drew attention wherever they went.
Most people inside the Walls had only ever read about Titans in books or heard about them through hushed accounts. Seeing those creatures with their own eyes was entirely different—it was raw, terrifying, and unforgettable.
But what shocked them even more was the sight that followed. The Titan, said to be an unstoppable monster, was shackled and dragged along by a boy no older than themselves. A single soldier, young yet unflinching, had reduced a nightmare into something bound and powerless. The fear that clung so deeply to the people's hearts began to loosen, even if only slightly.
Those who witnessed it firsthand would not collapse in terror the next time a Titan appeared. Perhaps they still wouldn't have the courage to fight, but at the very least, they might run instead of freezing in place. Sometimes, that was the difference between life and death.
After five days of exhausting travel, Lock and his team finally reached the Elumiha District. The familiar banners of the Scout Regiment flew in the wind, and in that place, they reunited with Commander Erwin and Captain Levi.
When Erwin stepped out to see them, his sharp eyes immediately fell upon the restrained Titan Lock was hauling along. Though he had received word of this long before, the reality was far more striking. For a moment, even the ever-calm Commander was silent. Then, as if piecing together the intent behind Lock's actions, Erwin's lips curved slightly.
"I can't read him anymore," Erwin murmured under his breath. "His thoughts are reckless, unrestrained… yet always with a purpose beneath. Sometimes I wonder—if he were to lead in my place, perhaps he would be more suited than I. He would never remain passive, never hesitate when faced with the unknown."
Levi stood behind him, arms crossed, his piercings being hauled on Lock and his group as they entered the base. He snorted.
"Don't start idolizing him," Levi replied flatly. "Not yet. His ideas jump too far, too fast. That kind of unpredictability is dangerous in our situation."
"You admire him, though," Erwin countered lightly.
Levi's expression didn't shift, cold and impassive as ever, but his eyes betrayed him. They hadn't moved from Lock since the moment he stepped through the gate. Erwin chuckled under his breath, amused by the contradiction.
"Admire…" Levi muttered, finally tearing his gaze away. "Something like that." Yet in his mind, a sharper thought took root: Let's see how you break the news to him about Ymir…
Soon after, Lock, Eld, and Gunther entered the familiar office. Oluo had been sent straight to the infirmary; his wounds, while not fatal, required urgent treatment.
"Commander, we've returned," Lock said with a small, confident smile.
"I'm glad to see you back safely," Erwin replied, returning the smile before his eyes hardened slightly. "How are your injuries?"
"The three of us managed with only scrapes and bruises. A few days' rest was enough to recover," Lock reported. "Oluo, however, took a harsher blow. He'll need time."
At Lock's signal, Eld placed a thick folder of reports onto Erwin's desk. Lock gestured toward it.
"All the information we gathered is here. Our journey ended in a village infested with Titans. Not a single villager remained. My guess is that they either fled… or they were eaten."
Erwin's brow furrowed slightly. "And your own thoughts?"
"You want me to be direct?" Lock asked.
Erwin nodded firmly. "Always."
Taking a slow breath, Lock continued. "The houses we found were damaged, but not in a way that suggests Titans broke in from the outside. The walls were caved outward from within. And many Titans were stuck inside homes, bodies wedged and unmoving. Titans can't fly, so there's only one conclusion I can draw."
Erwin leaned forward. "Go on."
Levi, standing at his side, sharpened his gaze. Each of Lock's "guesses" had led him to the truth before, and his instincts told him this time would be no different.
Lock's eyes hardened. "Those Titans didn't come from outside. They were once villagers. Transformed."
Eld and Gunther inhaled sharply, their faces pale. The thought was unthinkable. Yet… when they considered the evidence, the conclusion wasn't so easy. His expression barely changed, but his eyes darkened. Erwin, though he had prepared himself for this possibility, still felt the weight of the words sink into his chest.
"Are you certain?" Levi asked quietly.
"No," Lock admitted. "But the likelihood is high. I can't explain the method of transformation. Not yet. But the signs all point to it."
The room fell silent, a suffocating heaviness pressing down on them. Eld and Gunther exchanged uncertain glances, still reeling.
Erwin finally exhaled, breaking the tension. "A bold idea," he admitted softly. "And disturbingly plausible." His eyes flickered with conflict before he schooled his face into calm once more.
After a long pause, he straightened in his chair. "This theory cannot be confirmed at present, so we'll set it aside. For now, there is another matter I must entrust to you, Lock. Though I regret to say… it is not a pleasant task."
"You don't need to explain further," Lock said calmly, cutting him off. "I already know."
Erwin blinked. "You won't even ask what it is?"
"There's no need. Just give me the order."
Erwin's composure cracked for the briefest second. He studied Lock carefully, the calm resolve in his expression, the absence of doubt. Slowly, he nodded.
"Then you've already guessed. It is about Ymir. I'm sorry, Lock… I broke my promise to you."
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