A/N: Hello readers, this is an attempt to rekindle the writing bug I've been having so I hope you guys like. If you do, maybe I'll write some more.
Chapter 1 -Trost District: 847 - Out With the Old
A warm glow enveloped the city of Trost as the waning sun began its descent along the horizon. Even though the rooftop gave a superb view of the city it did nothing to increase the time available to watch the glowing orb disappear; the massive brickwork know to humanity as Wall Rose saw to that.
"Thought you might be up here" a familiar voice sounded off.
"Yeah...figure it'll be the last time I get to do this for awhile"
She smiled as she shook her head. "Soon enough, you'll be able to do that from the top of the wall."
Best one I'd ever seen. "Yeah…"
xxxxx
(Earlier That Day)
"NEXT!!!" the recruiter yelled. His voice echoed throughout the courtyard. The large, imposing stone structure stood as the military's command post and armory for the Trost District.
The next person in line stepped forward. A boy of middling height and a decent build calmly stood in front of the military recruiter.
Here we go...The boy took a deep breath.
"Please state your full name." the recruiter spoke, voice evident of just going through the motions at that point. Dozens of people had already signed up for the opportunity to join the military, how many of those would actually see it through, he did not know.
"Gabriel Scipias" the youth stated.
"Age?"
"13"
"Height?"
"172 centimeters"
The recruiter sighed, boredom blatant on his face, and continued, "Hair color?"
Gabriel shifted, "Black"
"And finally" the recruiter sighed with relief. I don't blame him, I wonder how many others have enlisted today. "Home of record?"
"Trost District sir."
"mmmmm...surprise there." the Garrison soldier mumbled sarcastically. "Ok Scipias...you're to be assigned to the 104th Training Corps for the duration of your training. The convoy leaving for the camp will leave tomorrow at sunrise, don't be late."
I did it. "Thank you sir."
"Don't thank me yet." were the last words he heard from the man as Gabriel walked away.
xxxxx
Gabriel walked under the rustic archway that divided the command posts courtyard from the street that ran outside. As one of Trosts main roads, it was bustling with the riff raff of traffic, both carriages and foot traffic as well as the sounds of various street vendors selling their wares.
"Did you do it?" the familiar voice rung out from from behind him.
Without skipping a beat, Gabriel replied, " Of course I did, did you?"
"Yeah." the voice caught up to him, revealing his slim built friend Jean. "Just making sure you didn't chicken out shortstuff." he chuckled.
Gabriel rolled his eyes, admittedly Jean had always been taller than him, but only by a bit. Face to face, Gabe was eye level with Jean's nose but his friend always used it as an excuse to call him short.
The edge of Gabe's mouth gave a barely visible smirk, "You mean like the time you chickened out of asking Beth Jensen to the school dance."
Jean, caught off guard, gave a shocked look, nearly tripping over his own feet "I THOUGHT YOU FORGOT ABOUT THAT!!!"
Gabe just gave a devilish smirk as he nodded no. "Now why would I ever forget about that Jeannie haha."
The duo rounded the street and continued down another road through the mass of people. Even with the "expedition" to reclaim Wall Maria barely a year ago, the population displacement caused by the breach of the first wall never really settled, especially in Trost.
Its already been a year and Trost still looks like refugee camp.
Passing one of the large warehouses that provided accommodations for the displaced peoples, Gabe could see Jean was thinking about the same thing. A few moments passed before he spoke up again.
Jean patted him on the shoulder, "We'll be out of this soon enough. We'll make it into the Military Police, you and me, and we wont have to worry about anything anymore. Our moms wont have to worry about supporting us anymore, hell we'll be making enough to support them too." Jean smirked, " Jean Kirschtein and Gabriel Scipias rubbing elbows with all those snooty nobles. That'll be that day haha."
Gabe smirked back. As much shit as they gave to each other the two boys always had each others backs. They had actually become friends out of literally beating the crap out of each other, some arguement over an omelet if Gabe remembered correctly. After that, it was always them versus the world. It had been their dream for the longest time to join the military together, and now they had done it.
Swerving of into one of the side streets, the mass of people thinned out as the boys entered a residential area. After a couple blocks they slowed and finally stopped in front of a three story building. All the buildings in Trost were mostly built in the same design though some had a little more wear and tear to them, this one was one of the latter variety.
"You want to come in for a minute?" Gabe asked.
Jean winced for a second then nodded no, "I should probably get home, my mom is probably going to want as much time with me before we leave anyway..."
Gabriel nodded, "Fair enough."
"...and your mom scares me."
Again, the shorter of the friends rolled his eyes. "Jean, you know my mom likes you right?"
"She broke that guy's arm last week."
Before Gabriel got another word out.
"And a month ago she cracked 3 of another guy's ribs.e on."
"And there was that time she set that drunk on fire.
"That guy fell into the fireplace, that was his fault!!!"Gabe almost chuckled, remembering the situation.
"Either way...I have a point." Jean sighed, his rant over.
Gabe gave a shrug, " Comes with the job I guess."
Knowing it was pointless to keep hounding Jean with the argument, Gabe held out his hand, "See you tomorrow then?"
The taller boys expression turned to a small smile as he closed the distance and grabbed his lower arm. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."
xxxxx
(Present)
The feminine voice sat down next to him on the roof, similarly black hair tied up into a bun.
"I remember when your father took me to the top of Wall Rose…"
Gabe sighed, this was one of his mothers favorite stories. She sneered at her son for a second before continuing.
"Him and his buddies had come to the bar I was working at for a couple days at that point. He wasn't shy but at the same he wasn't the most confident one either, but I could tell he had a thing for me." she smirked.
Evelyn Scipias continued, "So there I was about to end my shift, and as I start to walk out the door I hear, 'Excuse me...I was wondering if you might want to watch the sunset with me.'"
Gabe smirked at his mother.
"Now this was the corniest attempt I had ever heard but...but for some reason it worked. Of course when he suddenly started taking me up the wall, I nearly had a heart attack, and damn near choked out your father but that sunset…."
She paused, "Just took my breath away…"
Gabriel gave a small smile as the two sat there in silence for a moment as the sun continued to set.
"So…"the boy started. "You're not mad at me for enlisting?"
Evelyn sighed. "Every bit of me wants to be mad at you for enlisting. Its rash, dangerous, and idiotic. Every instinct I have as a mother is screaming for me to stop you, but I can't. I can't stop you and I can't be mad at you."
The boy looked at his mother puzzled.
"Gabriel, you are every bit your father's son. You have his good will, his determination, his humility, and as much as I know you'd be safe with me, I also know it would compromise who you are as a person, that's why I have to let you go." Evelyn teared up for a second.
Gabe hugged his mother tightly, "I'll always come back mom."
The elder Scipias smiled, "I know son, and I am so proud to be your mother."
As the two released from their embrace, Evelyn smirked, "You better bring back a girl."
Gabriel deadpanned. "MOM!!!"
The mother just smiled as the two returned to watching the last bits of the sun disappear behind the wall.
Just as the sun disappeared though, Gabriel blinked to see what looked like a valley played out in front of him...with no wall in sight. Confused he blinked again and the wall was back.
Must've been nothing.