The addition makes Erwin smile a little, just enough of a curve to his lips and a crinkling of his eyes to be there. It's a little distant, not quite wry as he looks out across the pasture, as though he can see all the way to the sea. They're on an island. Isolated. Contained. There's no clear indication yet of just how far away they might be from anything else. They can navigate by stars, but they have no practical knowledge of how to build or maneuver a ship across such an endless expanse of water.
He wants to see it more than anything. His palms practically tingle at the thought, of reaching that shore and looking out to see a perfectly flat, open horizon.
Supposedly, the whole of the world is against them. Regardless of what Grisha Jaeger had recorded, Erwin is well aware that this is only the recording of one man's account and experiences. While he doesn't necessarily doubt the truth of what was written, humans are never uniform in their beliefs. They may yet find allies in the world beyond, or uncover many more sides than even perhaps Grisha knew. There are possibilities, but it's impossible to guess at what shape they have until they have the chance to actually go out there and see things for themselves.
But first, their island.
"Strategy, yes. Although I doubt that they are not without their own military thinkers." Sending young soldiers in to infiltrate their ranks - yes, someone certainly had a specific plan in mind. "Still, I do not intend to rely on one or the other, and will consider all of our assets. You are correct, Eren; we must discover their landing points and eliminate or control any infrastructure there." If they're lucky, Marley never bothered to establish more than one place of entry. Why would they, confident enough that their populations would be well contained behind the walls?
Erwin lifts a hand to smooth a palm down the horse's neck below Eren's, a steadying touch. She flicks her tail, eyes shifting between the two of them as she shifts her feet. Their horses are perhaps the most precious resource they have, and now so many of them are gone, along with their riders. Perhaps with this so-called victory, Erwin will be able to recruit yet more people to bolster their numbers; perhaps some from the garrison might request to join. Once they begin to fully eliminate Titans, even more will come over. It'll take time, but it'll happen.
But there will always be the shroud at his back. The ghosts of all those who got them there. Not a night has gone by when he hasn't heard the echo of thundering hoofbeats, the screaming of dying men and horses, the quick flash of shadow overhead of rocks sailing overhead.
Erwin realizes there's a sick pull in his stomach, his hand faintly trembling against the soft auburn hair of the horse's neck. Finally deciding she's had enough of the strange atmosphere, she chuffs and turns away, trotting back to her scant companions in the field.
The Commander swallows down the thickness in his throat, and drops his hand.
"Anyway, I expect to begin training this ability in the coming days. I would like to request that you be on hand to assist in my initial attempts, as someone who has experience."
Of course Erwin could simply order Eren to be present, but especially with so few of them left, it feels important to build a tighter coalition of trust by asking rather than outright demanding. Perhaps it's just an illusion of choice, but sometimes it still makes a difference.
tagging every 4 months-
He wants to see it more than anything. His palms practically tingle at the thought, of reaching that shore and looking out to see a perfectly flat, open horizon.
Supposedly, the whole of the world is against them. Regardless of what Grisha Jaeger had recorded, Erwin is well aware that this is only the recording of one man's account and experiences. While he doesn't necessarily doubt the truth of what was written, humans are never uniform in their beliefs. They may yet find allies in the world beyond, or uncover many more sides than even perhaps Grisha knew. There are possibilities, but it's impossible to guess at what shape they have until they have the chance to actually go out there and see things for themselves.
But first, their island.
"Strategy, yes. Although I doubt that they are not without their own military thinkers." Sending young soldiers in to infiltrate their ranks - yes, someone certainly had a specific plan in mind. "Still, I do not intend to rely on one or the other, and will consider all of our assets. You are correct, Eren; we must discover their landing points and eliminate or control any infrastructure there." If they're lucky, Marley never bothered to establish more than one place of entry. Why would they, confident enough that their populations would be well contained behind the walls?
Erwin lifts a hand to smooth a palm down the horse's neck below Eren's, a steadying touch. She flicks her tail, eyes shifting between the two of them as she shifts her feet. Their horses are perhaps the most precious resource they have, and now so many of them are gone, along with their riders. Perhaps with this so-called victory, Erwin will be able to recruit yet more people to bolster their numbers; perhaps some from the garrison might request to join. Once they begin to fully eliminate Titans, even more will come over. It'll take time, but it'll happen.
But there will always be the shroud at his back. The ghosts of all those who got them there. Not a night has gone by when he hasn't heard the echo of thundering hoofbeats, the screaming of dying men and horses, the quick flash of shadow overhead of rocks sailing overhead.
Erwin realizes there's a sick pull in his stomach, his hand faintly trembling against the soft auburn hair of the horse's neck. Finally deciding she's had enough of the strange atmosphere, she chuffs and turns away, trotting back to her scant companions in the field.
The Commander swallows down the thickness in his throat, and drops his hand.
"Anyway, I expect to begin training this ability in the coming days. I would like to request that you be on hand to assist in my initial attempts, as someone who has experience."
Of course Erwin could simply order Eren to be present, but especially with so few of them left, it feels important to build a tighter coalition of trust by asking rather than outright demanding. Perhaps it's just an illusion of choice, but sometimes it still makes a difference.