In the vast grassland, the wind blew gently, swaying her golden hair that gleamed in the sunlight. Violet Evergarden lay there sleeping, while the hot sun illuminated her beautiful face. Slowly, her blue eyes began to open, bit by bit, until she finally became fully conscious. For a moment, she was silent, staring at the sky, feeling the comforting warmth.
After a while, he decided to get up. Both of his hands were resting on the ground as his body began to lift halfway. He looked around, then jerked slightly, realizing that he had not woken up in his room, but in a strange place.
Violet tried to remember where she was now, but none of this place felt familiar.
In his mind, he asked,
"Where am I?"
He decided to stand up. Slowly, his steps touched the ground, then he started walking, his eyes continued to sweep around. Now, because he was standing, from a distance, dense trees began to appear, like a forest. He looked the other way and saw several buildings that were not too tall, resembling small houses.
Violet decided to walk towards the row of small houses—or perhaps a small village. Along the way, she kept looking around, while the gentle wind blew through her golden hair. Soon, she found a path that seemed to lead directly to the village.
He looked at the road: it was just a regular dirt road. There was no asphalt, no cables running along it, and he began to suspect that he might be in a very remote place.
After walking for a while, Violet heard the sound of creaking wheels and horse hooves. She looked back and saw a middle-aged man, around his fifties, wearing shabby-looking clothes. The man was driving a cart filled with goods, though it seemed to be few.
Violet paused for a moment, and the man greeted her.
"It's very rare for a foreigner to come here. Are you alone?" he asked.
Violet replied politely,
"Yes, I'm alone. Does Uncle live here?"
The man nodded.
"Yes, I live here. Just got back from the city," he said, adding,
"Do you need a ride?"
Violet politely accepted the man's invitation and thanked him.
They continued their journey together, without much word. In the peaceful silence, only the sound of the cart wheels and the horses' hooves could be heard. Violet looked at the scenery around her in awe—in her mind, she thought to herself that this place was truly beautiful.
A moment later, Violet asked,
"Is there a post office here?"
The man looked surprised,
"What is a post office?"
Violet simplified her explanation in a polite tone,
"It's like someone who delivers mail."
The man nodded in understanding.
"Ah, I understand. If you want to send a letter, just leave it with me and tell me the destination. I know the city inside the walls well enough that I can send it tomorrow."
Violet was silent for a moment when she heard the words "inside the wall", she didn't understand what it meant. Politely, he asked again,
"Excuse me, Uncle... what do you mean by 'inside the wall'?"
The man who was called Uncle looked a little surprised. He paused for a moment, thinking that the girl in front of him was very innocent, perhaps from a place very far from the fort, to the point of not knowing the most terrifying thing in the world. In his heart, he considered the girl lucky.
Then, in a soft tone,
"So, you come from a far away place, huh? Wow... how lucky. At least there are still people like you in this world."
Violet was silent for a moment. Her eyes were wide open, trying to understand the meaning of the man's words. In her mind, images of the war she had experienced in the past slowly reappeared, memories that never really went away.
Violet still didn't fully understand what the man meant. She could only guess that by "lucky" he meant someone who had never experienced war.
"That's not entirely true, Uncle. Luck actually... isn't entirely mine," Violet said softly, looking away.
In his mind, the image of the most precious person to him slowly emerged, someone who once filled his heart. He felt that if that person was still by his side, that was true luck.
The uncle glanced at Violet. He saw the look of longing and deep hurt on her face, then nodded slowly, as if he understood a little. Without saying anything, he focused back on the speed of his vehicle.
The sun began to set, slowly sinking behind the horizon. They finally arrived in front of the village. The road leading inward seemed wider, along its sides stood several small wooden buildings, each with a candle near its door. Some of the buildings looked damaged and uninhabited, as if they had been hit by the silent storms of time.
As she passed one of the buildings, Violet saw a girl her age picking up clothes that had been hung out to dry. The girl turned her head, looking at Violet with a curious face, as if seeing something she had never seen before.
Shortly after, the cart stopped.
"We've arrived," the uncle said calmly.
Violet stepped down from the cart with graceful steps. Her movements were calm and gentle, reflecting a natural elegance that was hard to ignore.
The girl was still watching her, now with a slightly amazed look. The clothes Violet was wearing looked different, she was very neat, graceful, and elegant. Her beautiful face radiated a calm aura that would surely make anyone speechless in admiration.
The girl then approached her uncle casually, carrying a basket filled with clothes that had just been taken off the clothesline.
"Uncle Elias, who is that girl?" she asked in a light tone.
Violet, who heard it, just realized that the middle-aged man's name was Elias.
Elias smiled awkwardly, then scratched his arm and the back of his head, his face showing a hint of laughter.
"Ah... actually I haven't had a chance to ask either," he said, then turned to Violet.
"Could you introduce yourself, young lady?"
Gracefully, Violet stepped forward. As has become his trademark, she introduced himself with great gentleness.
"My name is Violet Evergarden," she said, bowing slowly, her movements smooth and respectful.
As she uttered her name, a gentle breeze blew, as if nature itself was welcoming her. Her golden hair and clothes were slightly lifted by the wind, creating a captivating sight.
Uncle Elias and the girl were silent for a moment, as if they had just taken a deep breath and witnessed something they had never seen before. In their hearts and minds, one thing was clear, the presence of this girl was something beautiful.
The girl quickly put away her laundry basket, then stepped closer to Violet Evergarden. Without hesitation, she grabbed Violet's hands with both of hers and pulled them to her chest.
"Beautiful..." she whispered in an enthusiastic tone, although it sounded soft.
Lilith's eyes widened, full of admiration that she couldn't hide. His face lit up, as if he was seeing something extraordinary.
"My name is Lilith. I live here," she said excitedly.
"Your clothes are so nice! You must be a noble... how did you get here?"
Lilith slowly released her grip. Violet stared at her for a moment, then smiled faintly before answering softly,
"Thank you. About that... more precisely, maybe I'm lost. Some things are still hard for me to understand, and this is the first time I've seen a building in this style."
"I see..." Lilith muttered softly, seemingly thinking. She then looked at Violet with sparkling eyes.
"Then how about you stay at my house? We can talk about it later. Are you hungry, Violet?"
Elias, who had been watching the two of them, finally spoke up.
"Yes, it's already afternoon too," she said, stretching his shoulders a little.
"I also have to go home and prepare my cart for tomorrow."
He looked at Violet kindly before continuing,
"If anything happens, you can ask for my help, Violet. My house is not far from here, you just need to walk a little way there."
While saying that, Elias stepped closer to his horse, preparing to leave.
Violet bowed slightly to Elias as a sign of thanks.
"Thank you, Uncle Elias," she said softly.
Elias just smiled, then waved his hand before climbing into his cart. Lilith and Violet watched him go, the creaking wooden wheels slowly moving away until his figure disappeared behind the village road that was starting to be enveloped in the twilight.
After a while, Lilith lifted her clothes basket again, then turned to Violet with a friendly smile.
"Come on, Violet. Don't be shy," she said, gesturing for Violet to follow him.
They walked towards Lilith's house. As the door opened, the distinctive sound of old wood creaking softly greeted them with simple warmth.
Inside, the room looks simple yet cozy. A round table with several wooden chairs is in the middle, while the corners of the room are decorated with small ornamental plants. The lighting comes from candles scattered in several places, adding a warm atmosphere to the quiet house.
Violet sat gracefully on a wooden chair, waiting quietly. Not long after, Lilith returned from the kitchen with a wooden plate in her hands.
His expression was slightly hesitant as he placed the food on the table.
"Violet, I'm sorry... maybe this isn't what you think."
On the plate, there were only a few peeled and cooked potatoes, a simple meal, far from a luxurious meal.
Violet stared at him for a moment, then lifted her face with a faint smile.
"No problem. I really appreciate it." she said in a gentle tone.
Without the slightest hesitation, she picked up one of the potatoes and began to eat it calmly. His expression did not change, remaining graceful and calm, as if the food in front of him was the most natural dish he had ever eaten.
Lilith, who had been worried, was silent for a moment before finally smiling in relief.
Silence enveloped the room. Lilith just sat there, watching Violet eat quietly. It was so quiet that even a small sound could barely be heard.
However, even in silence, Violet still looked graceful, her every movement gentle, composed, and full of serenity.
Lilith stared at Violet's hand, remembering when she had instinctively grabbed it earlier. There was something different. It wasn't the soft hand of a normal girl, but something harder... something that felt like metal.
The curiosity he had been holding back for a long time slowly grew stronger. After Violet finished eating and was silent for a moment, Lilith finally asked the question that had been bothering her for a long time.
"Violet... your hand?"
Her tone was low, a little hesitant, but full of curiosity.
Violet said in a calm voice.
"So, you noticed huh..."
Without hesitation, she began to remove his gloves.
Lilith, who had been staring at him curiously, was now shocked. Her brown eyes widened when she saw the metal hand hidden behind the cloth, not just a piece of iron, but something that resembled a human hand, complete with fingers that looked so functional.
His hand slowly rose, as if subconsciously wanting to touch it. His fingers finally touched the metal surface, feeling the coldness of the iron contrasting with the warmth of his own skin.
"Cold..." she thought to himself.
Lilith's expression changed. She had just been curious, but now there was something else in his eyes, sadness, empathy.
In a quieter, slightly shaky voice, she asked,
"Violet... how did your hand become like this?"
His tone radiated genuine concern. She still held Violet's iron fingers, as if hoping to feel something more than the coldness of metal.
Violet lowered her gaze, staring at her other hand that Lilith hadn't touched. Slowly, she clenched it gently, as if trying to feel something that might have been long gone from her.
"For something precious to me... this isn't something that important," she said in a calm voice.
Although his words sounded strong, deep down, she knew. She knew that the most precious person in his life was gone—along with his hands. However, it was a wound he chose to keep to himself.
"When you have something that is truly precious," she continued, her voice remaining soft,
"other things don't matter anymore, as long as he's still here and with you."
Violet's gaze remained fixed on her hands, her expression showing neither sadness nor pain, only deep calm.
Lilith studied her face carefully. At that moment, she realized something. The girl in front of her... had been through something difficult. Lilith said nothing. She was silent, but in her silence, there was understanding, there was empathy. Just by looking at Violet, she knew—she didn't need to say anything. Because sometimes, understanding without words is the most sincere form of caring.
Lilith slowly let go of Violet's hand, then crossed her arms over her chest. Violet watched her for a moment, realizing that the girl was only wearing thin, shabby-looking clothes. A cold wind blew softly, bringing a chill that pierced the skin.
"Are you cold?" Violet asked, her voice calm.
Lilith was a little surprised by the question, then chuckled.
"Ahh, yes... actually I'm starting to get used to it," he replied casually.
"I hope someday I can buy thicker clothes. But unfortunately, it's quite expensive for me... I can only farm potatoes."
He chuckled, but there was a hint of bitterness in his voice. However, before Lilith could continue, her eyes widened at something she didn't expect.
Violet, without hesitation, was taking off her top. Her dress remained attached because the top and bottom were separated, but now the fabric that had previously covered her back and arms was slowly being removed.
"Ehh?! Violet?!" Lilith exclaimed, surprised.
"What are you doing?"
Her expression turned confused, while Violet remained calm, as if what she did was nothing strange.
Violet stepped closer to Lilith, standing behind her. Gently, she draped her top over her shoulders, smoothing it out so it fit Lilith's body.
"Wear this," Violet said calmly.
"My hands don't feel cold... but you don't, right?"
Lilith was silent for a moment, her face flushed. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise, but she didn't try to refuse.
"O-Okay..." he replied in a soft voice.
When her clothes were on, Lilith stretched her arms, trying to adjust to the fabric that was covering her body. Her hands touched the soft material, then she smiled slightly.
"This is so comfortable..." he said to himself.
She turned to Violet, a warm smile on her face.
"Thank you, Violet. This looks really nice."
Violet walked slowly towards the glassless window. Her gaze fell on the tall building in the distance, long, sturdy, towering.
"That's not a building..." she muttered to himself.
"It's like... a wall?"
Her eyes studied the giant structure with curiosity. Silence fell over the room for a moment before Lilith's voice broke it.
"By the way," said Lilith slowly,
"I've seen clothes like yours. They're usually worn on important occasions by people from the upper class."
Violet glanced over, listening.
"They always go with one or two bodyguards." Lilith looked at him more deeply.
"But when I saw you... especially your hands, I realized that you're not from here, Violet."
Lilith took a deep breath, looking down.
"In this place, not everyone is good. That's why they need bodyguards."
Her voice lowered slightly, as if remembering something.
"Theft and kidnapping... are commonplace."
Lilith looked at Violet with some hesitation before finally asking,
"Do you know about Titans, Violet?"
Violet furrowed her brows, clearly confused by the term she had just heard.
"Titan?" Her voice was full of surprise.
Lilith gasped, but did not show excessive surprise. In her heart, she wondered how someone could not know about the existence of Titan.
"They..." Lilith took a deep breath before continuing,
"They look like humans, but their height ranges from three to dozens of meters. No, there are even some that are bigger than that, many times taller."
Violet remained silent, listening intently.
"They have no feelings... no reason. All they have is the instinct to hunt and kill humans around them."
Lilith gripped his hand tightly, her voice now trembling slightly.
"They will devour anyone they see... without reason... without mercy."
The candlelight that lit up the room felt increasingly dim, Lilith's shadow seemed to tremble on the wall. Meanwhile, Violet stared at the girl in front of her with a blank expression, but inside her mind, the wheels of her thoughts began to turn.
Lilith continued her story in a low voice, as if recalling her past.
"Titans... they were the ones who took my family away five years ago. I used to live in Shiganshina District, on the southern edge of Wall Maria."
She paused for a moment, his eyes glazed over, then continued.
"The wall you see is Wall Rose. Inside it, there is another wall, Wall Sina. And the biggest one is Wall Maria... but you won't be able to see it from here."
Lilith took a deep breath.
"All those walls exist for one purpose, to prevent the Titans from crossing the boundary and slaughtering the humans within."
Violet paused, her eyes widening slightly. She had never imagined that there was a world like this, where humans lived confined within walls, not to keep out enemies from the outside, but to survive predatory creatures that did not even have reason.
She looked at Lilith who now looked lost in her sadness.
After Lilith finished speaking, Violet remained silent for a while. Her blue eyes stared at Lilith intently, as if understanding every word she had just said.
Then, in a calm and gentle voice, Violet said:
"I can't imagine what it's like to lose everything you have in an instant... But I know what it's like to lose someone precious."
She lowered his head slightly, then continued.
"A loss like that... leaves a wound that is hard to heal. But you're still here, Lilith. You're still holding on. That means something, doesn't it?"
Violet then stared at the giant wall in the distance, as if trying to understand how terrifying the world Lilith had just described was.
"If the walls are there to protect humans from the Titans... then what happens when they can no longer protect?"
Her tone didn't change, but there was a hint of curiosity in it. She wanted to understand this world more deeply, just as he had once tried to understand the meaning of "love."
Lilith was silent for a moment, letting the silence fill the room. Then, as if she found something within herself, she lifted her head, turned to Violet, and smiled broadly.
"You're right, Violet."
Her eyes closed for a moment as she let out a light breath, the smile on her face now looking more genuine.
"After all, I'm still here. I'm still alive. That's something I have to accept and be grateful for."
In her heart, Lilith said other unspoken words,
"Especially now, I'm not alone."
She paused for a moment, letting the warm feeling linger a little longer. Then, in a lighter voice, she looked at Violet and asked,
"Violet, what are you going to do now?"
Violet then replied,
"I wanted to go back to my world, but I didn't know how. I suddenly woke up in a meadow and met Uncle Elias. The rest... you know the story."
Violet turned to the window, looked at the large wall in the distance, then said,
"Maybe if I knew more about this world, I could find a clue."
Lilith noticed Violet's confident expression, then said,
"I understand. But your clothes, especially your hands, will make you stand out in this world. If you want, I can lend you my clothes so you can blend in more easily."
He paused for a moment before adding,
"And one more thing... ordinary people cannot freely pass through the walls. Only merchants with permission, important people, and scout troops are allowed to go out."
Violet asked in a surprised tone.
"Scout troops?"
Lilith replied,
"Yes, the scout troop is the reason I'm still alive today. One of them saved me."
She took a deep breath before continuing,
"They are trained soldiers who use a device called 3D Maneuver Gear very skillfully. With it, they can shoot a grappling hook to a tree, building, or other surface within a certain distance, then pull themselves up and fly at high speed. This system uses two cables at once, with two grappling hooks that allow them to maneuver in the air with agility."
Lilith looked at Violet seriously.
"Their main goal is to kill the Titan. But it's not easy. The only way to kill a Titan is to cut the back of its neck, namely its nape. Only if that part is cut can the Titan die."
Lilith's gaze lit up slightly as she continued,
"I once saw for myself how one of the highest commanders, Commander Levi, fought. He soared through the air at incredible speeds, maneuvering with terrifying precision, and then charged at a Titan without hesitation. In a matter of seconds, he was able to take down several Titans at once. I was truly amazed to see him."
Violet remained silent, her gaze still fixed on the window. In her mind, she understood that being a scout was extremely dangerous. However, in her heart, she was determined,
"If this is the only way I can understand this world and find my way back to where I came from... then I must do it."
Memories of his past replayed in her mind. In his world, she was a soldier of the Leidenschaftlich Army serving under the command of Major Gilbert Bougainvillea. Before that, he was under the command of Dietfried Bougainvillea, who treated him like a tool of war, a weapon to be used only to complete missions perfectly.
However, everything changed when Dietfried handed her over to his younger brother, Gilbert Bougainvillea. Unlike his older brother, Gilbert never saw her as a tool. He was the one who gave Violet the name "Violet Evergarden" and slowly grew her humanity.
Now, in this unfamiliar world, Violet faces a new choice. As before, she is again at a crossroads between enduring uncertainty or moving forward, even if it means putting herself in danger once again.
With a look of conviction, Violet looked at Lilith and said,
"I have experience as a soldier, and I want to join the scout troop."
Lilith looked at Violet with a mixed expression of surprise and worry.
"A scout soldier...?" she muttered softly.
It was hard for him to imagine that Violet, with her calm and graceful face, had once been a soldier.
Memories of his past came flooding back, of how every time the scouts returned to the city, there would always be bodies among them. Some bodies were not even intact, and more horribly, many of them never returned at all. She still remembered the faces of the families who had lost their loved ones, the cries that could be heard in the streets, and the sense of despair that hung in the air.
With mixed feelings, Lilith lowered her head. She didn't want Violet to end up like them.
"Violet..." Lilith wanted to say something, but her mind was too confused to find the right words.
However, before he could express her feelings, Violet, who had been watching her, immediately spoke. In a soft yet confident tone, she said,
"Don't worry. My main goal is to gather information. I won't fight unless absolutely necessary, and I'll try to stay alive."
Violet looked deeply at Lilith, then added in a softer voice,
"I promise I'll be back."
Lilith bit her lip. She was still worried, but seeing Violet's determined expression, she knew that nothing could change her decision. The only thing she could do now was believe in Violet's promise... and hope that she would really return safely.
Take a little breath and look calmer,
"Okay, I understand," said Lilith,
"Tomorrow I will tell Uncle Elias and take you to the city."
Violet stayed at Lilith's house, and the night passed peacefully. They fell into a deep sleep, lost in the silence of the night.
The wind blew softly, shaking the wooden door making a faint sound. The candles that lit the front of the house were blown out by the wind, but elsewhere, the light was still shining, in Uncle Elias's residence. Inside his house, the middle-aged man looked relaxed, busy tidying up something before resting.
However, in the middle of the night, Lilith suddenly woke up. Her breath was a little labored, the remnants of the nightmare still haunting her. In her sleep, she returned to the Shiganshina incident, a bitter memory that had continued to haunt her for years.
Trying to calm herself, Lilith turned her head to the side, seeing Violet who was still fast asleep. Her face remained graceful, her expression peaceful, as if the world around her could not disturb her sleep.
Lilith slowly got up, her half-lying body was now completely upright. Carefully, she stepped towards the bedroom door, closing it slowly so as not to wake Violet.
The night was still quiet. The cold air touched his skin as he stepped out of the house.
Realizing that Uncle Elias was usually still awake at this time, Lilith decided to go to his house. With unhurried steps, she walked towards the man's residence, her expression calm, even though her mind was still filled with shadows of the past.
Uncle Elias was busy putting food in his horse's feeder when the sound of the door opening caught his attention. Though focused on his work, he quickly became aware of someone's presence.
"Ah, you haven't slept yet, huh? Is there something you want to talk about?" he asked without looking up.
Lilith stepped in, approaching the man with a calm expression.
"Yeah... it's not really something heavy, I just wanted to share." she said softly.
Elias paused for a moment, looking at her intently.
"Violet, huh?"
Lilith nodded slightly.
"I think she's a nice girl," he said, his voice filled with conviction.
"When I first found him, I saw him from a distance. He seemed confused, looking around as if looking for something... and of course, with his clothes so fine, to a normal person it would have looked suspicious."
He took a deep breath before continuing,
"But other than that, I didn't see anything bad about her. All I could think at that time was... she was a good girl."
"When she first came, I felt happy," Lilith said softly.
"Deep in my heart, I hoped she could be my new friend... fill my loneliness. But it seems like this meeting was just part of fate."
He took a deep breath, then continued in a low voice,
"Maybe it was destiny that made him decide to leave."
Lilith looked at Elias curiously.
"Do you think... she'll be okay?"
Elias did not immediately answer. He raised his head, looked up at the star-studded night sky, then said in a deep voice,
"When she told you his name... didn't you feel anything?"
Lilith frowned slightly, not fully understanding what he meant.
"Nature, the wind, and all the elements around us... even our own souls, seem to be affected."
Elias added,
"Her presence brings calm."
Lilith's eyes widened. She thought back to that moment—the moment Violet had said her name. There was something inexplicable, something that felt different.
Elias smiled faintly, then continued,
"I'm sure he will have the same influence on other people. She has that aura of kindness."
The night wind blew softly, blowing Lilith's hair. She lowered her head slightly, contemplating Elias' words.
Elias spoke again, her voice deeper this time.
"Imagine if someone like her was on the front lines... Battles aren't just physical, they're also mental. And Violet... she can shake the souls of those who see her."
After that Lilith who looked calmer because of Elias' words, then the two of them chatted about what needed to be prepared for Violet's departure tomorrow. And the night passed.