Attack

I felt hot, my body was covered in sweat as I helped a middle-aged man plant some crops on his farm, honestly, it felt kinda nice but the sun's glare was annoying.

"So, you are not from around here are you lad?" I heard him ask from behind me. I stopped working and turned to look at him.

"Why?" I asked.

The man shrugged as he pointed at the clothes I was wearing yesterday, I had changed into another outfit given by him to work on the farm; He said, "I noticed yesterday, that kind of clothes are only found inside Wall Sina; What is someone like you doing all the way out here?"

I sighed as I began bullshitting, "You are right, I was sent by my father to inspect Shiganshina but on the way, some thieves stole my bag that held everything including money, and here we are..."

He chuckled, "Cheer up, I will lend you my horse if you want; You can go back and have someone send it over here."

I was taken aback by the sudden trust, "Why would you do that? Am I not a stranger?"

The man snorted, "I am just lending a hand to a young man in need of it, it's the least I can do. It has worked out pretty well so far so why not?"

I was truly surprised, "You are too kind, sir..."

He continued cutting me off, "Think nothing of it, maybe show Lily how it looks like inside Wall Sina one day."

I chuckled, "Sure, It's a promise..." I said and continued working.

I disliked owing people and so I had decided to work the farm that day to repay them for the food and everything else.

Before I knew it, it was nighttime, 'Guess time passes really fast while one works, huh?'

"Lad, let's go back. Dinner is waiting." He waved at me and I waved back as I moved toward him.

We didn't talk much, I looked back about what I knew about him, he was a farmer obviously; He had a wife and daughter and was rather well off. His name was Justin. That's all I knew.

Justin suddenly broke the silence on the way back, "You have been a huge help today, so it's best if you leave tomorrow. I will lend you a horse so you go do your job and return to your family. Just don't forget to send the horse back here."

I felt very grateful, "Thanks, I will." I had no idea how I was going to send the horse back to him but when I thought about the coming Titan attack, I realized he alongside most would die soon. There was no need to send back the horse...

I felt guilty and a little pity, I wondered, 'Should I warn them? Nah, no one will believe me and when it happens, the military will torture me to get all the info I have... I better just to leave them to their fate, it is not my responsibility...' I decided firmly to stick to that no matter how cruel it was, it was for my sake.

After all, I was not of this world and had nothing to do with it. I just wanted to reactivate the ring and get the fuck out...

We reached Justin's house, it was very close to Shiganshina to the point one could see the walls. That night I was silent, constantly struggling with myself because everyone I had seen from the moment I came to this world was going to die but I knew it was pointless to try anything, the possibility of them calling me mad was high...

That night I couldn't sleep, I was worried that it might happen at any moment, 'I. AM. NOT. GOING. TO. DIE. HERE.' I thought to myself with determination as I left the house. Every second felt like a year, I didn't know when it was happening, maybe today, a week from now, a month or a year?

The wife said goodbye as she waved her hands, Lily and Justin wanted to accompany me for a few minutes before I was gone. The reason Lily came was that I had told her the story of Cinderella when she was bored had brought us some lunch on the farm. I was bored as well and so told the story to pass the time and she seemed to like it a lot.

Justin gave me the reins of the horse as he said, "Take good care of this baby, got it?"

I nodded as I wondered just how simple these people were, just letting a random guy in need take their horse to ride to his home but then I saw a dozen horses in the stable and realized it was probably no big deal. But still, they were truly good-hearted people; I was lucky to have met them.

Thinking of them being devoured by Titans made me pause, I did not take the rein; Justins seemed confused as he asked, "Are you okay, lad?"

I looked down and saw the innocent little girl look at me with confusion, I gulped.

I slowly took it as I said seriously to his face, "Justin, I am thankful for everything; I was a stranger and yet you gave me shelter and food, and now this; I need you to do something for me, promise me you will."

Justin was taken aback as he chuckled, "No need to be so serious, tell me what you need."

Lily frowned as she looked at me, my expression must have been grave because she seemed nervous. Well, these people were strangers but since they had helped me out, I was not going to leave, not without giving them a warning at least.

I said slowly, "Leave this place, go inside Wall Rose as soon as you can. Sell everything, take as much food as you can, and leave on horses."

Justin's smile vanished, "Why?" he asked.

I paused for a moment and replied, "Trust me, staying here is not a wise choice at all. You can get a decent sum for all this and then move to live there..."

He remained silent and so I continued as I looked at the wall, "Let's just say that this place is not safe..."

Before he could respond, I took the horse and a moment later, rode away. I had some experience with horses back on earth so I wasn't completely clueless...

I followed the road and a few minutes later, I heard a loud rumbling, it was incredibly loud. A flash of yellow light passed for a mere moment very similar to lightning. It lit up everything despite being far away.

Then and there I knew that it had begun, I gulped nervously as I just realized how lucky I was to have not appeared here tonight. I didn't know how the ring worked but if I had entered tonight, I would have been eaten.

'This place is going to be overrun by Titans soon.' I realized and quickly picked up speed.

I looked back and saw some smoke very far away behind the visible wall, I knew that the colossal Titan was at work.

And sure enough, a few minutes later, the visible wall also crashed and I saw a Titan for the first time.

The Armored Titan, despite being extremely far away, looked incredibly intimidating, 'How terrifying will that thing look like close by?' I wondered and tried to ride even faster.

Looking from behind the screen and in reality, were two different things entirely. The mere thought of the hell that was happening in Shiganshina made my stomach churn.

'I need to get the hell out of this world,' was the only thought that was in my mind as I rode for hours until I reached Wall Rose and the Trost district by dusk. Everything was calm, it was apparent that the news had not reached yet.

I rode inside and entered Wall Rose, then quickly left Trost as well, Only then did I managed to calm down, 'I just need to survive till I can figure out the ring...' I thought not particularly interested in this world or its story.

I looked down at the ring and frowned, 'When will you work and get me the hell out? No matter, I need to sell the horse for food, stockpile, and then go find another farm to lay low in...'

Meanwhile, Lily blankly stared at the sky, the carriage was furiously moving forward with her in it, beside her was Justin who lacked a hand and what appeared to be a severed leg, it was what had remained of her mother.

She watched as her father slowly bled out to his death and all the way, he held unto the reins to make sure the carriage moved forward. Wall Rose was close but her parents were far far away, separated by death.

The only thought on her mind was one thing, 'HE KNEW! THAT MAN KNEW!'