Petra does not believe in soulmates.
Her mother used to say to her. Petra, there is no such thing as soulmates. Soulmates are just an illusion created by people thinking they can always get what they want.
She'd run her pale slender fingers through little Petra's golden tresses chanting these words to her like a mantra, making her promise not to let this universal phenomenon take over her life. Petra would nod, not truly understanding her mother's advice only complying to her wishes to make her happy.
Her five-year-old self wouldn't understand why her mother, her sweet and loving mother who'd always sing her to sleep and carry her in her arms whenever she's too tired, would tell her such a thing. She had been too young to understand that the world is a terrifying place to be in due to the constant presence of Titans outside the walls; Not even the mere affirmation that having a soulmate could change their lives. It only eludes the people of their own loneliness, not a peace of mind that one day, they'll be freed of the terrors lurking beyond the walls.
Better to practice limiting yourself to the reality of life than getting your hopes up for nothing.
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This is what they know: Ever since the dawn of time, soulmates always have been a thing. No one knows exactly how and when the phenomenon started, only knows that it is present, and it is a blessing especially to those who already have found the person they're fated to be with.
There are many different ways to determine the identity your soulmate.
Most usually get the name of their fated person inscribed on their skin. Almost like they're specifically branded for them, which in a way is quite literally accurate. Others attain distinct soul marks, sometimes words or objects or even animals, on their flesh; One pair of soul mark is unique than the others. This is to showcase that they're indeed meant to be. Fewer than those of the population get timers wherein when the countdown reaches zero, the person is granted a chance meeting with their other half. There are also those who can finally see color when they first meet, and many, many more.
How one knows that they indeed discovered their soulmate? It's all in the gut feeling. Your stomach warms up, your heart starts to beat faster, and you feel like burning in the inside, but people say it is the good kind of burn. They say it feels like your being is completing itself in the presence of your fated one and that you'll feel whole.
All these things, Petra already knows. She should know.
After all, it broke her mother apart.
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This is what they don't know: Amongst the large population of people with predetermined partners, therein lies the rare occurrence where there are only those who end up with none.
Petra is seven years old when she finds out the truth behind her mother's words.