Chapter 2
The Nightmere Starts Again
Year 850, Yalkell district.
«Now!»
Two figures jumped down from the roof of the store, falling on top of the criminals who were threatening the owner of the place. Both were wearing a black overcoat and a balaclava that made them unrecognizable. One of them was also wearing a three dimensional maneuvering gear.
When his fellows were knocked off, the third man was too surprised to do something and the shortest of the two mysterious individuals could hit him without any problem, causing him to fall unconscious.
«Uh, good job Frank!» exclaimed the other one, clapping her hands.
«Ah! Don't call me that!»
«Relax, you're not the only "Frank" inside the walls. Nobody will find out who you are». The tallest figure walked to the store owner, who was still sitting on the ground in front of his shop, and knelt beside him. «Are you hurt, old man?»
«N-no, thank you. Those bastards… they had been harassing me for weeks!» he answered, calming down.
«Just these three? Aren't there any others?»
The man stood up rubbing his head. «I don't know if they have other accomplices», he said before fixing his eyes into her scarlet ones. «You are her, right? The "Red-Eyed Wrath" who has been hunting and eliminating the most dangerous criminals of Yalkell for the past five years».
The woman giggled a little and performed an elegant bow. «At your service, sir. We have to go now but we'll keep an eye on this area for the next few days, just to make sure no other scumbags come to bother you».
She turned to her companion and motioned him to follow her but before they could leave, the old man called them back.
«Please, wait! How can I repay you?»
They turned to him, then looked at each other. After a few seconds the Wrath turned to the man once more and peeked behind him. «What do you sell in your store?»
«Oh, I have many different products. Are you interested in something in particular?»
«Yeah, do you have any books?»
When Franklin woke up the next morning he found his cousin already at work in the kitchen. «Good morning, Syo. What are doing?» he asked, taking the coffee pot from a shelf.
«Here you are! What do you think?»
Franklin watched her remove a beautifully decorated cake from the oven and place it on the table. Syo had always been very good at cooking, especially desserts, but this time she had surpassed herself. For this cake, she had prepared a rectangular base and then decorated it to make it look like an open book, with the inscription "Happy Birthday, Filippo!" on its sugar pages. «It's really beautiful, you put a lot of effort into it».
«Course I did! Today Filly turns twelve, he'll have to choose what to do with his life. He always loved books and studying so he will probably go to high school… I'm going to ask that vet, Dr. Matin, if I can work with him as his assistant, so I'll be able to pay for Filly's schoolbooks with my own earnings. I don't want to use my parents' money forever.»
In that moment, the boy appeared in the doorway, rubbing his sleepy eyes. «Good morning aunt Syo. Oh, uncle Franklin, you're here too!» he said, giving his uncle a quick hug. «Did you go to patrol last night?»
«Yep, we saved some people and got this in return». Syo took the book that was placed on a chair and handed it to him. «Happy Birthday, Filippo!»
The boy gasped, taking the gift from her hand. «Thank you, aunt! And you made a cake, too? It's beautiful!»
Syo laughed and ruffled his blonde hair before sitting down at the table. While they were having breakfast together, she told her nephew about the adventures they went through last night. Filippo liked to listen to Syo's stories about her patrols with uncle Franklin and was happy to have such a cool aunt. Since when his parents died, Syo had taken care of him like he was part of the family and even if at times he missed mom and dad, he still felt lucky to live with her.
He was leafing through his new book when Syo asked him if he had already decided which school he wanted to enroll in. He stopped flipping the pages and looked at her, sipping her coffee with that calm and happy expression on her face, and felt bad knowing he was probably going to make her sad. He closed the book and placed it on the table, taking a deep breath.
Syo gave him a worried look. «Are you alright? Did I said something wrong?»
«No, but… yes, I've already decided».
«Good. So…?»
«I'll join the Survey Corps».
Franklin froze, giving him a deadpan look that made him sweat cold. Syo choked on her coffee and started coughing furiously, spitting it everywhere.
«Ah, a-aunt!»
Filippo got up scared and went to pat her aunt's back. As soon as she calmed down, Syo tried to look relaxed again and gave him an awkward smile. «Umh…Ah… T-The Survey Corps, you say? Well, that's interesting but… I thought you wanted to study literature or something like that. Why would you want to join the scouts?»
«You saw it, that day…» he hesitated for a moment, then looked straight into her eyes and kept talking in a firm, serious manner that gave her the shivers. «We're not safe and we'll never be until there are titans walking out there. The Survey Corps is humanity's last hope and I want to help the scouts take back the territories those monsters stole us. One day the Colossal Titan and the Armored one will appear again to destroy Wall Rose, I know it and I want to be able to fight and help those people who can't protect themselves».
Syo would have liked to retort someway but she felt like it wouldn't have been fair. She took a deep breath and tried to calm down, despite her trembling hands. «F-Fine, it's your life and you're the one who chooses how to live it».
«So you're telling me I'm allowed to…»
«Yes…»
And in that moment, while Filippo was jumping for joy, Syo and Franklin could feel their hearts breaking in silence.
Filippo left a month later to join the 107° Training Corps. Until that day Syo had helped him prepare for his departure acting cheerful and laidback as always, but Franklin could tell that she hadn't taken it very well.
«Syo, how long are you going to lie there like that?»
Syo lifted her head and looked at him with a creepy smile. «This hammock is very comfortable, you know? I think I'll stay here a bit longer». Sighing, Franklin rubbed his forehead. His cousin was a lost cause.
«He's been gone for not even a day and you're already in crisis? Get a hold of yourself, please».
«I can't help it!» she said, suddenly sitting up. «You know what happens to the most of those who join the Survey Corps?»
«I do, but… Syo, he's a smart kid who would never throw himself into a titan's mouth. He'll be fine».
«Are you sure?»
Syo looked really down and he felt sorry for her. He was worried too but that was Filippo's life and they couldn't interfere in it.
Franklin managed to drag his cousin back inside and convinced her to wear her patrol uniform. Maybe beat up some people wasn't the best way to cope with the departure of the kid but at least she could have distracted herself.
«Where do you want to go first?» he asked her, leaving the house. The Wall Sina was just a few steps from there and every time Franklin left Syo's place, he took a moment to admire it in its impressive height. «We can go to…»
Without saying anything, Syo grabbed her cousin, scaring him, and took him to the top of the wall. When she put him down, he quickly turned away from her, giving her an offended look.
«Damn, Syo! You could have warned me that you were going to take on a flight, I've almost wet myself!»
«Well, you should be used to it, now».
Franklin grumbled and walked towards the edge of the wall to look down. The people of Yalkell were starting to come out from their houses and the merchants in the street were still arranging their goods on the stands. Looking better at the street below, Franklin noticed an old man with gray mustache walking with a bulky bag in his hand.
«Hey, Syo! Isn't he that vet, Dr. Martin?» he asked, pointing at him. When Syo didn't answer, he turned to look at her, seeing that she was lost in her thoughts.
«Syo…»
«Uhm?»
«Did you hear me?»
«Eh? Oh, yeah! The vet…»
She looked down as well, lifting up her balaclava to see better, and immediately recognized that ugly green hat. «Yes, that's him. He still has to give me an answer».
«Really? It's been a month, now. He should have decided by now… Syo? Are listening?»
«What?»
When Franklin slapped a hand on his forehead in, Syo scratched her head with embarrassment. She knew she was just overreacting. It was Filippo's first day in the Training Corps, what could have happened to him? They certainly wouldn't let him do anything dangerous until he was ready, so she had nothing to worry about. «Sorry, Frank. I promise I won't get distracted anymore», she said with an awkward smile.
«It's alright, I'll miss too».
They remained in an uncomfortable silent for a few seconds but when Syo opened her mouth to say something, a loud sound in the distance cough their attention. There was column of white smoke coming up from behind the Wall Rose, near Trost district.
«Syo, what… what is that?»
«They're… back…»
Franklin turned to her. She was staring at the smoke with wide eyes, a drop of sweat running down her temple. «Frank…», she said gulping loudly, «I'll take you back to my house. Leave your uniform there and go straight home».
«What do you mean? Can't I came with you?»
«No, Frank, not this time. Go back behind Wall Sina, it's safer there». She grabbed him again and jumped down the wall, landing in front of her house. Franklin turned just in time to see her fly on the wall once more and tried to call her back, but she ignored him. She had to get to Trost as soon as possible.
