Though their facial expressions would both not say it, both men, Levi and Erwin at this given moment thought and probably mentally agreed on that Armin probably should be in some form of mental hospital though there was just something... something about his explanation and story, no matter how nonsensical it seemed, something felt to both of them as though he was telling the truth. That all this crazy nonsense about colorful, talking horses, dragons and other more advanced civilizations of mankind... something about it seemed to hold more than just a grain of truth.
Armin sat there nervously as he watched both men whisper to one another about what he had just told them. They had been at it for quite the while now, silently discussing on things that Armin had no specifics of, but it would be anyone's guess that they were talking about what he had just told him and what this may have on the outcome of humanity's future. Ten minutes felt like ten years before Erwin stood up and said the word.
"Dismissed."
Words could not express how relieved he was as he practically stormed out of the room, leaving the two officers alone. Moving out of his spot, Levi went to the door, turning the lock as Erwin pulled the shades down and closed the windows. Hopefully, no sound could escape this room.
"Ears everywhere." Erwin commented as he sat down and opened the box, the bright glowing gem could have been seen from the outside of the building had he not just pulled down the shades. He looked at the bright glowing beauty again as he gingerly took it out of the box, expecting as though it would explode... which had pretty much happened earlier this morning.
"His story." Levi began. "There... he's not lying."
"I know." Erwin replied as he held up the massive gem. "If what he said is true than this could turn the war, and the fate of humanity around in our favor."
"So... that's what this is about?"
"Indeed. We must be prepared to do everything and anything that will ensure the future of humanity." Erwin continued as he studied the stone intently. "Something tells me Levi... that we're not done yet. If what Armin told us had any truth to it, then what had happened with him, I can guarantee may happen with other people, maybe his friends, maybe us. We must be prepared. The future of humanity may benefit from this...."
__________________________________________________________________
Folkestone, Britannia
On the skirts of the coast, would someone find a forest, or a wooded area that would offer some form of privacy to anyone who happened to have went. This privacy was currently being enjoyed by Gertrud Barkhorn as she hung from a strong, sturdy branch that would support her weight. Grunting, she pulled herself up as she would for the last two hundred times.
"202... 203... 204...two hundred and fi-.."
"Hi Trude!" The voice called out from the trees, causing the girl to lose her balance and fall off. "Whoa..."
"Erica..." Barkhorn muttered, normally, she'd blast into her face about how Erica had just messed her up, today... maybe she would save that for later.
"Hey Trude! Whatcha doing?!" Erica asked. For someone who's favorite hobby was sleeping, she sure did have a lot of energy in some portions of the day. When it came to hunting Neuroi or eating... yep. That was Erica.
"What does it look like? I am training... myself..." Trude said as she got up on the branch again. "Now what is it Erica?"
"You know Sanya... about what she..."
"Oh please. PLEASE DO NOT tell me you believe her too now!" Barkhorn groaned. "First Eila, then Francesca, then Charlotte, than Lynette, than Yoshika, the Major... and now you?!"
"Look... that gem. Eila used it to..."
"I don't want to hear that silliness." Barkhorn said curtly. "We all know there's no such thing as dragons... or talking horses... or... umm..."
She was about to say "people from the future and past" but that sure as hell existed. Instead, she went on about how there couldn't have been a way to meet said people, even with things like magic.
"You sure about that? Like I was saying... Eila used her magic to power that gem... they actually did go..."
"Right... right..." Barhkorn said skeptically as she continued to do her pull-ups. "Let me guess, back to the land... what was it called again? Equestria? For another round of unicorns and flying ponies? Come on Erica, we all know this must be some kind of joke Eila thought of... or maybe just a dream."
"Then why do you think Sanya keeps saying it's true then? Does she LOOK like the type of person who'd believe a "dream" to be true or make up stories?! She even said she managed to see her father after they were done killing the dragon! Think about it... if you were there, you could have maybe get to spend a year or two with Chris... and come back just in time for dinner!"
"Erica... we know that, it can't happen. How can you spend weeks, months or even years and return home, only for no time to happen? It's absurd!" Barkhorn said as she jumped down, having done enough for the day. "Just... explain that!"
"Magic?" Erica replied as she sat down. "Trude... you know as well as I do that what must have happened was definitely not made up. And besides... I really do hope a place exists. I always wanted a pony!"
"Of course... of course..." Gertrud sighed as she headed for the beach. "You really would want that would you?"
"Of course! What about you?" Erica asked. "Lemee guess... spend a year or so with Chris?"
"That would be nice." Barkhorn said as she thought about how much she missed her younger sister. "But until I get magically teleported to a land full of talking horses and some sun goddess makes me the offer... I think that's not really going to happen. Besides, I would visit her, but we all have duties you know."
"I know... I know..." Erica replied. Oh boy... here comes the BORING soldier lecture!
"But as soldiers..."
Sigh.
She was one ear in and one ear out at this point. Thinking to herself, she thought about what Sanya had said. That she felt as though she may return in due time back to the place they called Equestria... maybe with a few good friends to share the experience and under circumstances not involving huge fire-breathing dragons. Made a few friends too apparently. Talked about a crazy Karlslandian doctor that referred to himself as "German". Some boy from a land where giants ruled the world, an older fellow from the far future, and two men who were apparently enhanced through... science. Super-soldiers. Both of which were well over 70 years old, yet fought better than a few hundred men combined. One of which was called "Slade Wilson". A man who had saved Sanya's life. She did talk about him a lot. About how he was so "lonely" and had such a "tragic" past.
Funny... when Eila mentioned that Slade's job was killing people for money. Asides from that... he seemed like an alright guy. Though there was one thing. They had seen a photo of one of Slade's children...
AND BOY WAS THE SEMBLANCE SCARY.
