Welcome! This story was written by me, Ailey, and edited by Sela.
He was swimming in a sea of words. Black calligraphy twisted around him, flowing through his fingers. Every word he touched brought memories to his mind.
As the word "mom" slipped in the crevices of his interspaces, he was hit with flashes of emotion: love, sadness, and anger. The pain was more noticeable though. His heart clenched, his stomach rolled, and his head throbbed.
"Eren…" a voice called, momentarily bringing him out of the hell that was his pain. "Eren…" it called again. The voice was obviously female, melodic, but had coldness laced in like frost.
"Eren." The voice sounded again, more urgent this time.
Just as he was about to call out, the voice changed. "Oi, Eren, wake up you shitty brat."
Eren Jaeger jolted awake and nearly fell out of bed due to the linens twisted around his body.
Lance Corporal Levi surveyed the mussed bed sheets and wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Bad dream?"
"No, I don't think. Just confusing, sir." But Before Levi could open his mouth to respond, Eren interrupted. "Sir, I hope you don't mind me asking, but has anyone else come in?"
"No, Jaeger." Levi gazed levelly at the teen. "Why would that be?"
"Ah…um…well…no…uh…sorry, sir, I must have just dreamed up something" Eren stammered.
"Well, get dressed; Training is in fifteen minutes."
Eren rushed about his "room", throwing on a clean uniform and strapping on his 3DMG. He was late as is, so breakfast and his hair didn't get priority.
So with mussed hair and an empty stomach, the titan-shifter ran through the castle, praying that he wasn't going to be reprimanded for his tardiness. When he reached the courtyard, the crisp fall air greeted him along with a tornado of pine needles from nearby trees. They brushed his cheeks, and for a moment he thought of the vast sea of words.
"Eren!" Petra, the kindest of the Special Ops Squad, waved him over. "Hey, Eren, do you remember the technique I showed you a few days ago?"
"Yes ma'am."
Petra's warm smile was quickly replaced with a malicious grin. "Good. We're doing drills until you perfect this technique." The amiable smile quickly returned. "As soon as you finish, you can go with the other recruits into town. Someone finally convinced Erwin to give the legion a day off. Just make sure you are with someone at all times."
Eren visibly brightenedat the prospect of going into town with his friends. His placement with the Special Ops Squad had prevented him from visiting, and when he did see them, one minute, rushed conversations took place before either side was swept away by a superior officer.
Petra cleared her throat, regaining the teen's attention. "Now go and give me three sets. If you mess up we'll be here all day."
Eren sighed. It was going to be a long day.