AOT: I’m Not Okay with How This Ends: Let’s Change That

Erwin sat alone in his office, poring over a stack of old documents. The small room was dimly lit by a single lamp, casting shadows across his face as he leaned forward, scanning line after line. For years now, he'd been searching for answers, studying every scrap of information that might offer a hint about the Titans' origins. Every document, every ancient manuscript seemed to hold a clue just out of reach, teasing him with the faintest possibility of understanding.

Each death weighed on his shoulders like stones, but the quest for freedom, for escape from this cage of walls, was too important to abandon. He couldn't help but think, though, how fragile this existence was. The walls might be standing now, but he knew that one day—maybe soon—they could fall. All it would take was one Titan, one breach in the defenses, and humanity would face destruction once again.

As he leafed through a particularly worn-out manuscript, his concentration was broken by a knock on the door. It was firm but quick, the kind of knock that barely asked for permission to enter. Erwin looked up, already knowing who it was, but he stayed silent, letting his eyes return to the document in his hand.

The door opened, and Captain Levi stepped in, carrying a mug of steaming coffee. Without a word, he placed it on the corner of Erwin's desk, then took a seat across from him. Erwin didn't look up, but after a moment, he spoke.

"Another sleepless night, Captain?" Levi asked, his voice calm but laced with just a hint of concern.

Erwin sighed, closing the document. "Just trying to find anything we may have missed. Any tiny detail that might help us understand these creatures and what lies beyond these walls."

Levi nodded, his expression as stoic as ever. "We've sacrificed enough soldiers to these Titans, but I understand. It's never enough, is it?"

"No," Erwin replied, a shadow crossing his face. "The walls keep us safe, for now. But how long can we rely on that? Any day, any hour… they could breach."

Levi leaned back, glancing around the cluttered office. The faint smell of dust and paper filled the room, adding to the weight of the silence between them.

Before either of them could continue, the door swung open, and in walked Captain Hange. She was buzzing with excitement, clutching a small, dusty notebook in one hand and a handful of odd sketches in the other.

"Erwin! Levi!" she burst out, her voice loud enough to fill the entire room. "I think I found something fascinating about Titan physiology! It's not fully proven yet, but look at this—"

She plopped her sketches onto the table in front of them. Erwin and Levi exchanged glances, used to Hange's sudden bursts of enthusiasm. They knew that whatever she was about to say would likely be more theory than fact, but her energy was infectious.

"Go on," Erwin said, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Okay," Hange began, her eyes practically shining. "I've been studying their regeneration abilities, and I think there's a correlation between their size and the rate at which they heal. If we could pinpoint the exact rate, it could help us in future encounters. Imagine knowing exactly how long it takes for a Titan to recover from an injury—that could give us an edge in battle!"

Levi raised an eyebrow. "And how, exactly, are we supposed to test this theory?"

"Oh, details, details," Hange waved a hand dismissively. "I'll figure something out! But isn't it exciting? Just imagine what we could do with that information!"

Erwin chuckled softly. "Hange, you never fail to bring a bit of chaos into this office. But I appreciate it."

Just as Hange was about to launch into another excited explanation, the door to the office burst open once again. This time, a young soldier stood there, panting heavily, his face flushed and damp with sweat.

"Commander Erwin!" the soldier said breathlessly. "I… I apologize for barging in, but I thought this was urgent."

Erwin turned to the soldier, instantly alert. "What is it, soldier?"

The young man took a deep breath, clearly trying to steady himself. "There's… there's a girl here asking for you. She says it's urgent."

"A girl?" Levi asked, narrowing his eyes. "What kind of girl?"

The soldier hesitated, then continued, "She looks about the age 12 years old , with black hair. She's dressed like an orphanage kid, in a simple white outfit, and her hair's damp. At first, I thought she was just lost or playing some game, so I was going to send her back to the orphanage. But then she said something strange…"

"What did she say?" Erwin's voice was calm but intense.

The soldier swallowed. "She claimed to know something about the Titans. And… and she said that the Wall is going to be breached in a week."

A silence fell over the room as Erwin, Levi, and Hange processed the soldier's words. They were used to hearing all sorts of rumors and nonsense, but something about this felt different. The girl's age, her strange knowledge—none of it made sense.

Levi leaned forward, his gaze sharp. "And you believed her?"

"At first, no," the soldier admitted, looking slightly embarrassed. "I thought she was just a kid telling stories. But there was something in her eyes… she looked dead serious. I couldn't shake the feeling that she was telling the truth."

Erwin and Levi exchanged a quick, meaningful glance. Erwin nodded slowly, his mind already racing with questions. Finally, he turned to the soldier.

"Bring her in."

The soldier nodded and quickly left the room to retrieve the mysterious girl. Levi stood up, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall, while Hange looked like she was about to burst with curiosity.

"Who do you think she is?" Hange asked, barely able to contain her excitement. "And how does she know so much?"

"We'll find out soon enough," Erwin replied, his gaze fixed on the door. He was already forming questions in his mind, trying to make sense of the strange situation.

A moment later, the door opened again, and the soldier stepped back in, guiding Niikaz into the room. She stood there, her dark hair slightly damp, her clothes simple and unassuming, yet her posture calm and confident. There was an intensity in her eyes, a maturity that seemed out of place for someone her age.

Erwin watched her carefully, noting every detail. He could tell right away that she was no ordinary child.

Niikaz looked around the room, meeting the eyes of each person there. Her expression was serious, her gaze unwavering. She didn't seem nervous or unsure—she seemed determined.

"You wanted to speak to me?" Erwin asked, breaking the silence.

Niikaz nodded. "Yes. I have information that could save lives." She paused, looking Erwin directly in the eyes. "I know that in a week, this Wall will be breached. And I can help you stop it."

Erwin studied her, intrigued. He could sense that she wasn't bluffing. There was something about her, something almost… otherworldly. He could feel it in his gut—this girl was someone to listen to.

"All right," he said, motioning for her to continue. "Tell us everything you know."

Niikaz took a deep breath, her eyes flashing with a brief glow as she focused. This was her moment, her chance to make a difference in this world, and she wasn't about to waste it.