"Offer up your hearts to humanity!"

"SIR!" Boots, arms and mouths moved haphazardly, Training Corps Troop 97's response patterning as if an echo. She saluted whole-heartedly, with full force, slamming her first over the precious organ beating in her chest, eyes shut tight against the sun's piercing rays.

"SIR!" Someone three men down from her chimed in… a few seconds late.

A barrage of chuckles from comrades erupted amidst the lines of men and women that had come to do as their Commander requested.

They were officially here. Their training was complete; she had been offered, with others, to join the military police. She had declined. This was the Survey Corps and today, she would be taking her first step to obtaining Wings of Freedom. It had been a long three years, some had even died. However, in taking on what was expected of them for humanity's sake, the tasks would only be less predictable and bring further danger. She repeated to herself inwardly that she was finally here, smiling softly, copper orbs enclosed as a soft breeze poured over her, forcing the copper locks tucked behind her ear free to play at her face. Some 20-30 of them lined up here today, again, to offer up their hearts to humanity, three had turned down a position with the Military Police to do so.

You are finally here. You are finally here. But it's not over. No. She had yet to be assigned a squad. Following an enlightening and powerful speech, the booming voice of their future commander sounded out over the crowd to split the comrades into groups of ten-twelve; in order to further prove their skills to the people who would decide their fates. They were to meet with the highest in rank first so as to give them first pick; they would be the ones on the inside lines. It was necessary to make a good impression as quickly as possible. She didn't know of all of the squad leaders, but she knew that the earlier in the day that you were chosen, the better. They had to repeat many of the tasks that were requested of them during training for marks, but at this point, their performance was all the more important. It would decide who took them on, who they would spend the rest of their lives with and who would ultimately determine their life or death. The ground was like pudding beneath their feet, having rained earlier that morning. Though Petra worried this might damper her marks, she assured herself it didn't matter. If it affected her, it would surely affect the others as well. Not every mission would be on a clear, bright, sunny day in the middle of Summer.

A clean, well-built man with an undercut, eyes like darts and a ruffled cravat approached her group. Though his stature was on the small side, his composure was grand; he carried himself well and pierced each recruit as he passed them, two men in tow from behind; a tall, well-built blonde with a flippy ponytail, the other, slightly shorter than the first- the shape of his hair reminded her of a chestnut.

"Hey, you think the Captain will actually recruit someone today?"

"Doubt it. He hasn't taken anyone in two years. I think he fears the responsibility."

"Erd. Gunther."

"Levi Heichou, Sir!"

"Hold your tongues."

"SIR!"

Petra stood, watching this strange interaction as the trio proceeded down their line until reaching the middle to which she panicked,a hurrying over to her place. She dashed into position just in time, muddy water splashing at her feet. The man before them was substantially smaller than either of his squad members in height but much more powerful; it could be read in his eyes, his tense form, his demeanour, the way those that followed him seemed intimidated by the small man… and, she sort of liked this; they were respectful, dedicated; what she strove to be herself. She had heard that Captain Levi was of the best and was determined to make a good impression. She reassured herself that despite the fact that Erd and Gunther had just stated that he never took anyone on to his squad; she would be the one. They had offered her a position in the Military Police, how could he not take her? She was skilled and would give it her all; that's all there was to be done.

The Captain formed salute and his lackeys followed. With this, her entire line followed suit like a game of copy cat, and she shut her eyes tightly, awaiting his orders. Levi seemed to be sizing them up, arms crossed, without turning his head much, just shifting his ashen orbs, like shards of glass over their forms. A stale silence grew between them and she felt her heart beat in her throat, in her temples; as if trying to escape her chest and flee this promise to humanity.

"Hnnn?" A low, warm, rolling sound poured from the throat of the small-statured man, stepping forward from his place in front of the twelve or so new Survey Corps recruits as he headed down the line in- her direction!? She felt a wave of discomfort, panic and instability flow over her, though she reassured herself that he was surely about to approach someone else; maybe the guy with the bad-boy look in his eye to her left or the goofball to her right. Yes. She was definitely saluting appropriately; offering her precious, rapidly-thumping organ to humanity. Was there anything she was doing so as to draw his attention to her? She had wanted to call his gaze, but surely not from the start in what seemed a negative manner. She counted the sloshy steps he made as he walked down their line, her heart beating ever faster as he all too coincidentally stopped right in front of her. He leaned forward, his eyes inches from hers in a milk-curdling scowl as he placed his foot next to hers on the marshy ground.

"Oi. What's your name?"

She didn't dare open her copper orbs to meet his of glass, but she could feel that he was just centimetres from her, piercing her form with his gaze.

"P-Petra Ral, Sir!"

"Well, Ral. Open your eyes."

Some people down the line from her coughed in attempts to cover their snickers and chuckles as she hesitantly did as instructed, panicking as they finally met gazes. He stood in front of her, his eyes like ice and arms crossed in annoyance as he towered over her with his presence, for he was hardly taller than she. The entirety of his demeanour made her feel that much smaller. He lifted one hand toward her face and she braced herself inwardly for whatever was to come, though all he did was point to the marshy earth with an unamused scowl. She looked down to see his boot placed next to hers in the sloshy mud, just centimetres apart.

"What's the difference between your boot and my boot, Private?"

She considered his words, mind racing a mile a minute for the answer to this paradox. Her boot was the exact same as his; same colour, same material, same everything… because it was part of their uniform. She was silent for a spell, beginning to panic all the more; not certain how to explain to him what was different when she didn't know what the bloody difference was. Was this some sort of joke? No. His eyes of ice made it clear that he wasn't joking and the entirety of his being seemingly lacked even the tiniest sliver of what one would deem a normal sense of humour. The space between their scalps diminished further, as he leaned over her to the point that his silky bangs nearly brushed her brow, swallowing her presence with his own. Come on, you've got this, Petra. Breathing in deeply, she considered his words thoroughly, re-lowering her copper gaze to their identical boots, side-by-side. No. They're the same. I need a miracle.

It was true, she needed a miracle.