Before The Sunrise

The Survey Corps Headquarters was still asleep.

The halls were silent.

No footsteps.

No voices.

Only the faint sound of the wind brushing against the old stone walls.

...

Y/N slowly opened her eyes.

She didn't need an alarm.

She never had.

Years of habit had trained her body to wake before the sun itself.

For a few seconds, she simply stared at the ceiling.

Then, without hesitation, she sat up.

Her bed was perfectly neat.

The room around her looked almost untouched.

Everything had its place.

Her uniform hung neatly beside the wardrobe.

Her boots were polished.

Not a speck of dust could be found anywhere.

After getting dressed, Y/N quietly stepped outside her room.

The corridor was empty.

The first rays of dawn had yet to reach the windows.

She walked without making a sound.

Not because she was trying to be quiet...

But because she naturally moved that way.

...

Instead of heading toward the training field—

Her feet carried her toward the stables.

The horses were already awake.

One of them gently nudged the wooden stall door as she approached.

Y/N reached out and silently stroked its neck.

The horse immediately calmed.

"..."

No words.

Just quiet companionship.

"You've been awake for a while."

A calm, familiar voice broke the silence.

Y/N slowly turned her head.

Standing a few meters away...

Was Captain Levi.

A bucket of cleaning supplies rested beside him.

As expected...

He was already working before sunrise.

For a brief moment—

Neither of them spoke.

Levi looked at her once.

Then toward the still-dark sky.

"...It's early."

His voice remained as flat as ever.

"What are you doing out here?"

Y/N answered without hesitation.

"...Years of habit."

Levi raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly.

"You always wake up before dawn?"

"...Yes."

"Why?"

A brief silence followed.

"...I got used to it."

Nothing more.

No explanation.

No unnecessary details.

Levi studied her for another second.

"...Hmph."

He picked up the bucket again.

"I thought I was the only one around here who hated sleeping."

Y/N didn't reply.

Levi didn't seem to expect one.

He simply continued walking toward the headquarters.

As he passed her—

He stopped for just a moment.

Without looking back, he said,

"...Don't stand around doing nothing."

"If you're already awake..."

"...Make yourself useful."

Then he walked away.

Y/N quietly watched his back disappear down the corridor.

"...Understood, Captain."

Her voice was soft.

Almost carried away by the morning wind.

And just like that—

Their first conversation ended.

No introductions.

No dramatic moment.

Just two people...

Who happened to prefer the silence.

Y/N remained where she was for another minute.

The stable was quiet once again.

A few horses lazily munched on hay while the cool morning breeze drifted through the open doors.

She gently patted the horse's neck one last time before turning away.

By the time she reached the headquarters...

The eastern sky had begun to glow with the faint colors of dawn.

---

One by one...

The Survey Corps soldiers began leaving their rooms.

Some yawned.

Some stretched.

Others were already heading toward the dining hall.

The once silent headquarters slowly came to life.

Y/N returned to her room.

She washed up, neatly adjusted her uniform one final time, and checked that everything was exactly where it belonged.

Only then did she leave for breakfast.

---

The dining hall was already filling up.

Long wooden tables stretched across the room.

Fresh bread.

Soup.

Boiled eggs.

Tea.

Nothing luxurious.

Just enough to prepare soldiers for another day.

The moment Y/N entered...

Several conversations immediately lowered in volume.

"There she is..."

"The Stone Girl..."

"I heard Captain Levi was already talking to her this morning."

"Seriously?"

"When?"

"No idea... someone from kitchen duty saw them near the stable."

"Maybe the Captain is interested in recruiting her into his squad."

"Don't be ridiculous."

Y/N ignored every word.

She picked up a tray.

Collected her breakfast.

Then chose a seat...

Alone.

As always.

She quietly ate without looking around.

Not fast.

Not slow.

Every movement was calm and precise.

---

Across the room...

Hange rested her chin on one hand.

Their eyes never left Y/N.

"Hmm..."

Erwin, sitting beside them, noticed immediately.

"What is it?"

Hange smiled mischievously.

"She's interesting."

"You've said that at least twenty times since yesterday."

"I know."

"But she keeps becoming more interesting."

Levi silently drank his tea.

Hange suddenly leaned toward him.

"You talked to her this morning, didn't you?"

Levi didn't even look up.

"...For less than a minute."

"And?"

"...She's a person."

Hange blinked.

"...That's your analysis?"

Levi placed his teacup down.

"What exactly were you expecting?"

"A tragic backstory?"

"A hidden smile?"

"She answered a question."

"That's all."

Hange puffed out their cheeks dramatically.

"You're no fun."

Levi ignored the comment completely.

---

A loud bell echoed throughout headquarters.

Clang!

Every soldier immediately stood.

Breakfast was over.

Training awaited.

Within minutes, recruits and veterans alike gathered on the main training field.

The morning sun had finally risen above the trees.

Its golden light spread across the headquarters.

Erwin stood at the front with several sheets of paper in hand.

Once everyone had assembled...

He looked across the formation.

"Beginning today..."

"The new recruits will begin integrated training with active Survey Corps soldiers."

A quiet murmur spread through the ranks.

"This isn't the Training Corps anymore."

"You'll learn directly from experienced soldiers."

"Observe."

"Adapt."

"And improve."

He folded the papers behind his back.

"The squads for today's training are already decided."

The recruits instinctively straightened.

Everyone waited to hear their assignments.

Y/N stood silently in line.

Her silver eyes remained fixed ahead.

Without realizing it...

Someone else's eyes briefly drifted toward her as well.

Captain Levi.

He said nothing.

But for the second morning in a row...

He found himself watching the girl who never seemed to show a single emotion.

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