Eren considered himself to be a high-class peasant. He was the son of the only doctor in the area. Since he was being trained to follow in his path, he had the ability to read and a higher education than some of the lower nobles. However, even though he was training to become a doctor, he still helped his mother with the chores.

Many of his father's patients told him that doing house work was a woman's job, and he should be ashamed. Eren was easily riled, and often got into arguments with them that turned into full out brawls. Both his mother and father chastised him for being so reckless and aggressive. But he still continued to work around the house and his father's garden used for growing medical herbs.

Eren's "womanly actions" were well known in the village. Many gave their unwanted opinions that Eren shouldn't be allowed to become a doctor, and they would never want his treatment. His mother sometimes told him that she was worried about him becoming a doctor, because he would be exposed to horrible diseases like the Black Death. But it was because of that exact disease that he wanted to become a doctor.

The Black Death had claimed countless lives across all the known lands. Even though his village was untouched by the plague, Eren wanted to do everything in his power to protect people from it. The plague caused people to be afraid to travel anywhere, keeping them isolated in their towns and kingdoms, like livestock.

When Eren was a young boy, his friend Armin showed him a leather-bound book depicting the many different lands that lay beyond the village's horizon. The two of them were captured in awe at the sight of a grand body of water, called "the ocean". Ever since, their hearts were set on venturing to one. But with the Black Death that had put walls up between towns and kingdoms, their dream didn't look like a reality. Eren couldn't stand the thought of letting his friend down, it was another reason why he wanted to figure out the curse that lied behind the plague.

Armin was also doing what he could to put the odds in his favor. When he learned that the Church of God sent out clergymen in hopes of converting "the savages in the Holy Land", he joined them. He didn't care about spreading "the Good News", but he wanted to see the far off lands that he otherwise would never be able to see.

Eren was walking on the dirt road that lead to his family's house. He was returning from the market with the apples his mother had asked him to go and get. He walked with the wicker fruit basket tucked under his right arm. He adjusted its red cloth covering, while warily checking his surroundings. After the false rumor of him being a homosexual got out, people began to cry out for his blood to be spilled and his life stripped from him. Many had tried, but in the end, it only resulted in Eren's father getting extra medical that he needed it.

He was pulled from his memories as he noticed the knight that was traveling along the same path. The sun glistened off of the knight's armor, making him shine like a star in the daytime, a stark contrast to the midnight horse that he was riding. Though it made Eren's eyes burn, he couldn't take his eyes off of him.

His tabard bore the crest of Lord Smith. Two overlapping wings of ivory and sapphire on a field of green. Obviously that meant that this knight served under Lord Erwin Smith. Perhaps he was returning from some kind of grand quest that took him to far off lands and showed him wonders that Eren couldn't even dream of. His pig faced bascinet was adorned with two feathers at its peak. The white feather was large and grand, it was constantly bouncing, as it was caught easily in the wind. The short blue feather in front of it was stiff in comparison.

A humble iron sword was kept at his side in a leather hilt. Though his armor was beautiful and magnificent, it was clear that it had its battle scars and dents. Most of them were new, as opposed to those that were so old they were sentimental. Clearly this man had been through hell and back recently. Eren quickly walked off of the path into the grass doused with morning dew, in order to get out of the knight's way. He passed Eren by without a glance.

"Sir?" He called after the man.

"Sir, wait!" Instead of waiting for him to stop, Eren ran forward.

The sodden grass felt like a blanket underneath his feet as he approached the man. His loose olive green tunic caught the wind as he caught the stranger's attention. The mounted man turned his head in answer to Eren's call. There was a brief moment of pause before the knight gently coerced his obsidian horse to turn around and stop in front of the younger man. Eren closed in the few meters that separated them, getting a better view of the older man.

Even though the visor of his bascinet was raised, it was still difficult to clearly see his entire face. However, his eyes were visible and demanded Eren's attention. Even though his face had a delicate structure, the look in his eyes could make a lesser man run in fear. Eren's heart started to race as he looked into the man's eyes. They were like the precious silver that bound priceless jewels to a crown.

"My name" he took in another breath before continuing in a weak voice "Is Eren."

"I am Levi." He replied in a monotone fashion.

Wanting to speak more, but his tongue betraying him, Eren offered him an apple.

Levi took it and examined the fruit. It was a beautiful apple, not blemish or impurity to be seen. Eren had picked that one especially in hopes that its red sheen would convince the knight to… to what? Eren didn't understand what he was thinking, but he was both nervous and glad that he made the offering.

Levi nodded in gratitude and used his hand that wasn't holding the horse's bridle to unlatch his leather satchel. After securing the fruit in the bag, he gave Eren his attention once more. "Was there any particular reason for this?"

"I just wanted to give you an apple." Eren didn't even know if there was a real reason behind it.

"There is no other reason?" Levi prodded further. Eren just shook his head. "Where do you live?" Eren pointed in the direction from where Levi had just come from. "Ah, so you're the son of the doctor." Without bothering to wait for Eren's reply, he lowered his visor and guided his horse down the path. Leaving Eren just standing there.

That man was beautiful. "How I wish to gaze upon that face in the morning, day, and night." Eren thought. Wait, were did a thought like that come from? Eren didn't have much time to think about his thoughts when he heard a voice calling him.

Another man was running down the dirt road. His white robe billowed out behind him. The wet earth clinging to the cotton cloth like a flea on vermin. The young clergy member's smile grew wider and brighter the closer he was to his companion since birth.

"Armin" Eren greeted his friend. "How was it today?"

"It wasn't as dull as usual!" Armin answered, hugging Eren in a tight grip.

"Really? They didn't bore you to death again by making you recite the commandments again?"

"No, they told us about the crusades. This time they told us about the journey to the Holy Land and the oceans they had to cross! There's a whole other world out there, Eren! I wanted to join the Clergy to learn about this, and maybe they might send me out there as a missionary!" Armin's face was brighter than a thousand suns. "Well, I also wanted to learn how to read and write. The Church is the only place where a peasant can learn stuff like that."

"I can read, and I didn't go to the Church." Eren said in a smug fashion.

"That's because your dad taught you." Armin rolled his eyes.

"I could have taught you, you didn't have to leave to go and live in the church."

"Eren, I know you miss me, but there is a final reason as to why I chose this."

"What is it?"

"What is what?" Armin looked around nervously, he was clearly not willing to disclose his secret. Not even to his best, and only, friend.

"The reason you joined them?" Eren persisted.

"I can't tell you that." Armin shook his head violently.

"Come on, Armin."

"Eren, I love you as a brother, but I can't." He sucked in a sharp gasp, releasing it in a shuddered breath, and swallowed the words that were threatening to pour from his mouth. Eren felt guilty for pushing his friend like that. He decided to change the topic.

"Seeing the outside world must be amazing, if it was a different time." Armin didn't have to think to know what Eren meant. Everyone knew. With plagues and diseases running rampant through villages and towns, no one was safe.

Notes:

I tried to make this as historically accurate as possible. So here is a brief explanation for why I did what I did. MANY ASPECTS AND BELIEFS OF THE CHARACTERS DO NOT REFLECT MY OWN. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE ASK.

Back in the 14th century, the church still had its grasp on learning and education throughout Europe. Almost anything remotely scientific was based off of the Church's dogmas. Originally, Nuns were educated and given rights that would later be taken away from them by the Church.

Religion ruled the people more than kings or royalty. In fact, the Pope declared Papal Supremacy, which meant that he had the power to choose and coronate kings. Excommunication, essentially banning someone from church, was considered to be one of the worsts punishments possible because they believed that meant that you were automatically going to hell. The phrase "sure as hell" comes from this time, because they actually believed that hell was for sure.

Literacy was rare. Even royalty had a tendency to be illiterate. I decided to give Grisha the ability to read, because I felt that even though "doctors" back then couldn't, it would only make sense that he could. In both the Anime and Manga, Grisha was a very intelligent man. He knew things that humanity was still in the dark about. I felt that I could parallel this by giving him the ability to read.

Doctors of this time also didn't use today's modern medical practices, obviously. They believed that people got sick because they were sinners and have displeased god. Their forms of treatments were highly unhygienic and, quite frankly, dangerous. Specifically speaking about the Bubonic plague, they used the methods of boil-lancing (piercing the large, black, puss filled, boils), bloodletting (cutting a person's flesh in attempts to bleed out a person's "bad blood"), and leaching (similar to bloodletting, except that they didn't cut themselves, instead they used live leaches to suck out their blood).

Armin's character is one who was naturally born with a perceptive and curious mind. He wants to learn. He wants to understand what lies beyond the walls, whether they are literal or figurative. I decided that the only way he could possibly be educated is if he was part of the clergy. In this time, travel was limited, but the Church still sent out missionaries to what they believed were savage lands. Specifically the Middle East.

Before the plague, the Church organized the first few Crusades (the later ones weren't actually sent by the Church). They believed the Church was entitled to the Holy Land that was currently being occupied by Muslims. They launched numerous wars against them. The Church rallied their armies by telling them that if they joined the crusades, they would be admitted to heaven. While this was a factor for people joining the war, most joined for promises of glory and riches. Many died on their way there, let alone in battle. The first Crusade actually managed to capture Jerusalem, but it didn't stay in their grasp for long. The subsequent crusades were not considered successful for Europe, and most were a matter of pride and splendor.

After the Crusades, Europe traded with the Middle East and Asia more. This is what allowed the fateful Merchant ships to dock in modern-day Italy. These ships were called "the Death Ships", because they are what brought the Plague to Europe. The sailors stumbled out of the ship, only a handful remaining. They looked like monsters because they were so deformed from their boils. The people of the city tried to get them to get back on their ships and leave, but it was too late. The Plague had arrived in Europe.

The Bubonic Plague was carried by fleas and rats that carried those fleas. It was airborne as well. Symptoms of the Plague started with a high fever, black boils (hence the name, the Black Death) forming on the body, especially around the lymph nodes and nether regions. People died in mere days of contracting the disease. Over half of Europe died from the Black Death. Every few years another outbreak would breakout, but they weren't nearly as disastrous as the first. The Plague still exists today, and cases of it are still somewhat common, but it is treatable.

I'm hoping that you already know that homosexuality was, and still is, considered a sin to the Catholic Church. Homosexuals, like myself, were often murdered in the streets (THEY STILL ARE TODAY.). The slur "faggot" comes from the time where they burned witches at the stake. A "faggot" means a bundle of sticks. When they didn't have enough wood, they would light homosexuals on fire and used them as tinder. This is also were the term "flamin' homo" comes from.

I'm probably boring you all with this, but I think you should know this in order to fully understand the story.