Chapter 1: Entering the Great Walls

It's been so long since my last contact with another human. I've been wandering the vast titan-inhabited lands on my own about half my life already. If it wasn't for my transformation, which kept me safe and not needing to eat for weeks, I would've already been dead ages ago. I never stopped walking and praying that I'd eventually find signs of civilization, ever since I got kicked out of my clan at the age of 14. But I'm 30 now, and I've gotten a little too used to prying myself out from my titan form's nape whenever I found something to eat, or whenever I found some clean water to drink from time to time. But it was never enough. The lack of nutrients stunted my growth, so I only stood at the height of 5ft. It was only because I stayed in my titan form most of the time that kept me from getting sick. Deep inside, my belly grumbled nonstop. It was pure suffering, but somehow, being able to see many beautiful natural sceneries made up for it. I continued to walk, even at night in search for someplace, anyplace, where I can seek the company and help of humans.

One day, I noticed a large amount of titans heading toward one same place, their attention glued to something I might find interesting as well. I decided to follow the horde. I looked ahead and saw what looked like a huge, impenetrable wall; except, it had a gaping hole on it, granting entry for the titans I was following. 'W-walls?...', I thought to myself, '...Humans!' I was elated at first but I soon realized that my potential saviors may be in danger of being eaten by the titans that were charging in. So I raced ahead and through the breached wall, thoughts being confirmed as I heard the screams of horrified people. I wasted no time in taking down titans, as well as keeping any more from entering. I was very fast, but very small as a Titan. Nevertheless, I had no difficulty in grabbing bigger titans from behind and taking them down with a powerful bite to the nape. I was doing a decent job on my own, when I suddenly felt something fly past my head. I turned to see a human zip by on cables, with big blades clutched firmly in each hand; I've never seen people do things like these before. Soon, many more followed and I observed them in awe as they hacked and slashed at the napes of titans, taking them down a lot faster than I was. "Looks like they've got those guys handled for now...", I murmured to myself as I made my way to keep any more titans from entering the place where I hoped I could soon call 'home'. I thought really hard for a plan to block their entrance, but there were too many titans, now fighting back and attacking me. I was cornered, back against one of the buildings, my titan form deteriorating quickly. I had no option. I clawed myself out my nape and hurled myself away from the titans feasting on my titan form. I went limp in exhaustion, hoped that the local humans would rescue me and blacked out, right before my body hit the hard cobblestone street.

"Ughhh..."

I woke up and shook my head to relieve the throbbing pain in it. I heard the sound of metal chains as a result of my movement. I noticed that my wrists were cuffed to the wall behind me, as I realized that I was sitting in a cell. I sighed, but then something in front of me caught my eye: a plate full of food. I tugged on my restraints, but I just couldn't reach. So I extended my leg to try and nudge it towards me, and dug right in once it was just close enough for me to bend my face down to it. I didn't care how I ate; this was the first meal I've had for such a long time. I was too busy savoring the new flavors of the foreign meal to notice someone walk in. "So~ You're that titan that helped us out a while ago~" I flung my head up to look at the person talking to me. It was a woman with brown hair, wearing a pair of thick eyeglasses. She was dressed the same way the people who killed the titans dressed. A uniform, maybe? I instantly thought they were soldiers. "Are you enjoying your meal?", she asked me, catching my attention once more. I just nodded.

"I was also told that you're from outside the walls, correct?", she asked with a curious tone.

I swallowed the food that I was chewing and tried to answer, "Y-yes,... ma'am."

"Oh! She talks!" The woman leaned forward, sticking her head through the bars with much enthusiasm. "Then tell me: Where did you come from? And why did you enter our walls?"

"I come from a very faraway place, ma'am. My people kicked me out and I was forced to look for civilization elsewhere." I nervously told her the rest of my story and she eagerly listened. After a while, I felt a little bit more comfortable. Finally being able to communicate with another human again made me feel relieved.

"So, this people you speak of... They are titan-shifters, like you, yes?"

"No, ma'am, not all of them; Only a few."

"Hmm, interesting..." She hummed, thinking. "And your name is?..."

"F/n, ma'am. My name is F/n L/n."

"Hm~ F/n... L/n..." She seemed to contemplate how your name sounded. Then there was a short moment of silence until you spoke up.

"I'm so grateful to your people ma'am, for taking me in and giving me food... Is there any way I can help? I'm sure my ability would be at least helpful for keeping titans from coming in..."

"Ah, yes! But know that you'll be risking your life again. Are you really willing to help?"

"Yes, ma'am! It would be an honor to! But I think I'll be of more service if I were to be trained first... May I sign up as a cadet, ma'am?"

"Of course. Training will be tough, though. Are you sure you're up for it, F/n?"

"Yes ma'am!"

"Good! Because I just thought of the perfect person for you to train under!~" She exclaimed as she released me.

Arrangements were made and I was interviewed by their Commander Erwin Smith, a statuesque man with blonde hair and blue eyes. I was intimidated at how he towered over me, even if he was missing his right arm. But the interview wasn't at all that stressful as he spoke in a gentle manner. For the first time in what seemed like forever, excitement filled me, as I knew that this is when my life starts changing.

"Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. I'm Hanji Zoe from the Scouts Regiment! Welcome to the Special Operations Squad, Cadet L/n!" The woman that accompanied me the whole time finally introduced herself and handed me my uniform.

~~~A few days later~~~

I walked alongside Hanji to meet the person whom she said was going to train me. He was a stoic-looking man with steel-gray eyes and dark black hair. His arms were crossed as he had a somewhat annoyed, yet unimpressed face as he sees me walking towards him with Hanji. I noticed that he was a lot shorter than most of the people I've seen so far, being just a few inches taller than me. "What is this about, Shitty Glasses?" He bluntly asked Hanji, though it seems that she's used to being called 'Shitty Glasses'.

"It's about the shifter from outside the walls, Shorty. This is Cadet L/n. F/n, this is Captain Levi!" She introduced you to him.

I saluted to him. "I'm Cadet F/n L/n, sir, and I've come to be trained for battle, sir!" I tried to make it sound as formal as possible, but judging by the look on his face, I guess I failed to make my impression. He looked at me with eyes that could burn into my soul, and I forced myself to maintain direct eye contact with him.

"Tch. What makes you think I'll just be willing to waste my time training you?"

"Please test me, sir! I-I promise I won't disappoint!"

"...And what if you DO disappoint, Cadet?"

"Then I will accept that I am not worthy of your teaching, sir! And I will train amongst the trainees!"

"...Alright." I felt a tinge of relief as he approves of my proposition, but it's not over yet. "Strap her in!"

After I donned the harnesses connected to a wooden contraption, I knew exactly what I was supposed to do. "You're gonna be lifted off the ground, and you have to keep yourself upright, got it?" Hanji explained what I predicted: Balance. I nodded to let her know that I'm ready, as Captain Levi watched on, arms still crossed. And, slowly, I was lifted up, but I had no trouble with doing as I was told. A moment passes with him still unimpressed. "Captain, may I try something out? I'd like to show my ability to the fullest, if it's okay, sir..." "Go ahead.", he said, so I swung myself around and did a bunch of tricks, silently going "whee!" then finished with one last flip and went back to my original, still position. I looked over at my superiors and found that Captain Levi had only raised an eyebrow to my display of experience, and beside him stood Hanji, thoroughly impressed. "Where did you learn to do that, F/n?!"

"I used to be a dancer back at home, and one of the techniques we learned is quite similar to this~..." I boasted, feeling proud of myself.

"A dancer? Tch...I'm not disappointed, but I'm not yet pleased with your 'performance' just yet." He just crushed my little glory, ow. "What else can you do?"

I thought as I was being freed from the harnesses. "...I believe I would be able to avoid attacks well, sir." I said with confidence. Little do they know, I also learned how to pick up on someone's movement fast enough to make my own move to match, or rather, to avoid. So I'm sure I'll be able to dodge the majority of his attacks. He smirked, just a little bit. He liked being challenged, especially when it's at someone else's expense. He took out a knife and explained how he wanted this to work. "I want you to avoid 100 of my attacks. For each time you fail to dodge my blade, not only will you be injured, you'll also have to dodge 5 more attacks. Deal?" It felt more like an order than a deal, actually, but I readily accepted it.

Without warning, the armed Captain came at me and I barely got out of the way just on time. He was not one to joke around. He was dead serious and his movements were so fast I only had a split second to react. I was managing quite well, while keeping count of every move in my head. '13...18...25...34, 3- SHIT!' I felt a sharp pain on my upper arm; I miscalculated my move, and now I have a bloody wound on my left arm. He stopped to see if I wanted to give up, but I'm not willing to. "34!" I yelled as I gave my opponent a look of determination, signalling him to keep going. '35...48...62...69,.. 72- AUGH!' He got me again, this time on my right shoulder. I was getting tired. "72!" I couldn't give up, since I was just 28 dodges away from my goal. '73...85...91...98... !' This time I was stabbed in the stomach. My body was numbing from pain and exhaustion. I was shaking as I felt the blade deep inside me. "...98,...sir" Just 17 more left. "Tch. Why don't you just give up, brat?" He pulled the blade out and some of my blood spurted out. "J-just... sev.. seventeen... more, s-sir..." I was breathless already, but still determined to take plenty more, just as long as I can finish this test and prove myself... hopefully not to be shit. He replied by continuing his attacks, and I sloppily avoided them as much as I could. "102...113, 114, 115!" I ended it by kicking his knife away with a back flip. "One hundred... and fifteen,... sir." I breathily said, finally contented. "Alright. I'll train you." Those words I wanted to hear were finally spoken. I smiled and thanked him. The next thing I felt was my face on the floor and a puddle of warm liquid forming underneath me.