An Illustrated Guide to the Glorious Walled Cities is the third short story of the Attack on Titan Anthology. It is written by Genevieve Valentine, illustrated and colored by David López, and lettered by Steve Wands.
Overview
Author Hilde Gartner presents her book about the different places of the Walls she visited. She describes the cities she visited, gives good addresses to go and encourages her readers to travel. Her work is full of illustrations with a few directives from her editor, Paul Bergen and censorship. The last part of her journey leads her to make a discovery that will cost her life.
Summary
The Glorious Walled Cities
Shiganshina's market
After a brief note about her memory of the seventy-fifth year of safety within the Walls, Hilde Gartner praises the lands of Wall Maria, admitting she grew up there. She adds commercials of the area's products.
Hilde talks about Shiganshina's market, noting how cheap it is in comparison to Mitras's and encourages her readers to visit it. After that she mentions the beauty of the northern mountains past Utopia, once again encouraging people to go there. A note of the editor nevertheless states that this is not a trip for easily frightened children as Ms. Gartner herself heard Titans' screams mingling with the winds.
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The Forest of Giant Trees
The Forest of Giant Trees is also mentioned. The author briefly lists its assets and talks about the possibilities for visiting it and also reminds that going alone there is forbidden.
She then shows pictures of Karanes buildings and more commercials.
The Thrills of Wall Rose
Ms. Gartner now focuses on Wall Rose which she calls "the center of our lives and leisure." She describes the clothing style of its inhabitants, regarded as fashionable and adding a few comparisons with Wall Sheena's style.
Castle Utgard seen from Ragako village
She then shows a map of Wall Rose. There is the district of Utopia, where she speaks of its mines and its importance in their society then recommends a famous inn. Next is Klorva, famous for its Orchestra Hall, concerts and bakeries. Last is Trost, with its architecture and buildings, especially the military academy, churches and bridges.
After briefly mentioning the Royal Gardens of Yarckel, Hilde states she prefers the Ragako village and Castle Utgard. She explains the castle was built before the Walls, its defensive role and recommends to visit it. An editor note nevertheless reminds a royal edict that forbid anyone to go there.
The Center Cities
The Royal Pavilion in Yarckel District
The third, unfinished and full of directives part deals with Yarckel and Ehrmich districts. After apologizing for not further expanding on Yarckel in her previous report, Ms. Gartner fixes it by talking about the town's gardens and its plants: spices and flowers, and talks about the possibility to approach the bees which allow pollination.
The main roads within the Walls
Ehrmich District is famous for its horses, stables and races. This is where the Survey Corps horses come from and Ms. Gartner insists on their patriotic aspect. Ms. Gartner then mentions a famous gambling house for horse riding. She also adds for those who are interested in military and horses that autumn is the time of the year to go there in order to see the Garrison leading the horses to the Survey Corps quarters. To illustrate the topic images of horses and gambling house are proposed but the latter is rejected because it depicts a non-ladylike attitude.
A map of the Walls with its main roads is shown. Ms. Gartner gives her thoughts about traveling and the said roads. Though as a girl the world seemed huge to her, roads she took during her travels reduced it to her. She notes how hard those travels must seem and regrets how little consideration Wall Maria roads have but encourages her readers to travel despite that. Her editor, Paul Bergen, puts a note stating this part shall be removed because it criticizes the government's infrastructure.
The Ancient Wall Sheena Mitras, city of gold
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Mitras
The last part of the guide is a draft about Mitras. Hilde tells about her three days long trip to the capital, complaining about its short length and praising the beauty of the town.
Hilde talks about Stohess and its market. She comments on the prices, stating that pepper is worth as much as a horse there. She also has notes about places to buy coats, boots or jewelry, again noting the high prices. There are also notes on a spice merchant and a bar boasting about its ale. There are drawings of the town, a picture and a map. Hilde complains to Mr. Bergen about the interference of the royal edicts in her work and insists on noting everything, according to her own will.
Hilde found a Titan foot in Wall Sheena
Hilde then writes about the Stohess university and its history. Her notes and comments on its architecture are crossed out and it is unsure if the paragraph about that will be kept.
She finishes by a visit to Wall Sheena with Mr. Bergen and a pastor where she discovers behind a waterfall, a giant foot in the Wall. This discovery leads to her demise and a letter informs her editor that she has been killed and that the pastor who was with her was reprimanded for the incident.