Chapter 2
Two Years After the Breach of Wall Maria
I was standing with Mikasa, Eren, and Armin in behind a building. We were all thinking about our own things. That's when Eren spoke up.
"I'm enlisting tomorrow morning," he said.
"So am I," Armin said.
"Well, I'm going in to protect Eren and help along the way," Mikasa said.
They looked at me. "What do you think? I'm going to pass this up? I told you, like Eren I want to join the Survey Corps. But for a different reason, I want to follow in my parents footsteps like they wanted me too," I responded.
I took out a necklace from under my shirt. I haven't shown it to anyone… ANYONE. It was the last thing of my parents I had left. It was my mother's necklace that was metal with the Wings of Freedom imprinted into it. My mother gave it to me three weeks before the attack and their death. I was holding it in my hand so the others wouldn't see.
"What do you have there?" Mikasa asked.
I sighed and showed them my necklace. They looked at it and their eyes went wide. "How did you get this?" Eren asked.
"Three weeks before the breach my parents gave me this. It's the last thing I have of them," I explained. "I will never take it off." They nodded in acceptance and understanding.
The next day, we signed up. All first enlistment trainees were shipped directly to the camp, which included our group.
We all knew Mikasa never talked very much around many people. So I could tell it surprised Eren and Armin when Mikasa and I talked like we were best friends that have seen each other every day for years. But we were whispering so no one could hear.
"What are you going to do about your wings? Trainees have to wear a shirt that is tucked into their pants usually with brown long sleeve vests," Mikasa asked.
"My wings go just below the back of my knees. I can probably ask for a special jacket. My mother had one when she was a trainee because it she couldn't stand short vests. I'm sure they would help me with that," I answered.
"What are you going to do with battle training that I've heard they do?" she asked me.
"I was trained to fight by my parents. They even taught me to use a Third Dimensional Maneuver Gear a bit. It shouldn't be too hard," I said. "Oh, and my parents said they do very strenuous training."
Mikasa grinned, "I guess it may be fun to see how Eren does. I just hope he'll be alright and do well in this. If he lets his anger get to him too much, he may not get through this very easy."
We went silent for the rest of the ride. Everyone was thinking of what was ahead of us. I had a better idea than most, but a lot can change since my parents joined. I just hope it wasn't a huge change.
3 Years After Enlistment
We were training every day. The first day, a girl named Sasha was found eating a potato and had to run until sunset or until she falls from fatigue. Since the clothing workers knew my parents and knew my mother's problem with the vests, they allowed me to have a coat that was similar to my mother's that went just past my wings' tips. So I was lucky. When it came to my shirts, I cut some holes in the back so I could fit my wings through it.
The day after that, we did balance training. Mikasa and I did the best at balancing while Eren was upside down for the first day of balance training. That night Mikasa and I helped him improve it and he jumped from awful to semi-master within a day. I knew a guy named Jean liked Mikasa more than an acquainted friend. So when she was helping Eren, he thought other things and got jealous of Eren.
It was three years after the first day. Still, just about everyone was confused why I would wear the coat instead of the traditional vests. I half lied and said I wanted to be like my mother and she did the same thing. I did want to be like her and she did do the same thing, but I had another reason for doing so. Only Mikasa knew the bigger, main reason why I had to. Jean still had his crush on Mikasa and still thinks Eren is more than a friend with her, still making him jealous.
Today was the final day of hand to hand combat training. Most of the trainees didn't know about my past so they didn't know how I knew how to fight and use the maneuver gear so easily. So they were a bit jealous.
When the Marshall and other trainers asked about it, I told them about my family ties and how my parents taught me what I know. Some of them knew my parents but didn't know they had a daughter. Only three knew about me and my secret, the same three who were there when I was born in Titan territory. They were protecting my mother and father and nearly got killed doing so. But they said they were happy to do it nonetheless.
The Marshall didn't know what we were talking about but didn't push for answers. He was just surprised and somewhat happy to have someone with ties to the Survey Corps. Even though we didn't say where I was specifically born.
Anyway, we were practicing our hand to hand combat. After we finished with the trainers, we were put into a minor tournament like test. We would battle against each other and whoever was knocked completely down on the ground first lost the battle.
Sasha beat another trainee along with Connie, Jean, Annie, Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and I. Annie and I both took them down the quickest.
Connie and Jean were up against each other next and Jean won. But I could tell he won for something more than just the winning by how he glanced at Mikasa afterwards. Maybe to others it was just a glance, but for me it told me he was trying to prove himself to Mikasa.
Sasha and Armin fought each other and Armin won due to his strategic mind. Eren faced Annie and Annie, being the skilled fighter she is, took down Eren within the first five minutes of the battle. I battled Mikasa and it took a bit longer but I eventually won.
Jean and Armin fought but even Armin's strategic mind wasn't enough to beat Jean. Because there were only three of us left, Annie volunteered to battle Jean before I could. It was only three minutes before Jean was on the ground.
Now it was Annie against me. She was more of an offensive fighter and her weakness was with defense. Being trained by my parents I learned both.
She swiped her feet under my legs attempting to get me off balance. I dodged the first few by jumping side to side and back and forth randomly. It would make it difficult to pinpoint my next dodging move. I heard pants and I knew she was getting tired but I didn't attack, not yet.
She started throwing punches and jabs my way but I easily dodged them all. She went for my face and I dodged it by rolling on my hands backwards with my feet landing on the ground. I kept my mind focused on the fight even though I vaguely heard whispers.
She kept jabbing and punching but none succeeded. Her panting became more rapid and deep. She was losing energy. She stopped for a minor second to catch her breath. But before she could do a thing, I swiped my legs under hers forcing her to the ground.
Everyone was in shock. No one beat Annie… no one. Now they saw someone had, they were shocked. The tournament keeper announced me the winner and Annie stared up at me. She was obviously in shock herself.
She stood up and asked, "How? How did you beat me?"
"When I watched and battled the other trainers, I watched for their weaknesses and I saw yours. I took that to my advantage and won through your own weakness," I explained.
"Well, can you tell me my weakness so I can improve on it to make me better?" she asked. This shocked everyone further. Annie never asks for advice.
I nodded and answered her, "Your weakness is that you always go for the attack. You have to learn defensive strategy."
She nodded. Connie came up and asked, "How did you know to look for weaknesses, Era?"
I sighed knowing this would get out sooner or later. I soon answered, "My parents were in the Survey Corps. Whenever they were home, they would teach me battle skills and strategies. They even taught me a bit on how to use the Maneuver Gear."
"I suppose they knew how to kill a titan. How would looking for a weakness help defeat a titan?" Jean asked.
"They always told me that everything has a weakness. Even titans," I answered.
"Yeah we know they have a weakness but only one. Their necks," Connie said.
"Not entirely," said one of the men who were in the same team with my parents. His name was Raiker. "Her parents found that each titan has its own unique weakness, other than the kill spot. The main weakness they found in many titans is that they are easily distracted and they can only move so fast. Keep moving at a fast pace, the more likely you are to stay alive. They found that, no one else realized it until them."
"Where are they then? Wouldn't they be here?" Sasha asked.
Raiker looked at me and though I kept a confident and calm voice, I felt brittle on the inside. "When Wall Maria fell, my house was destroyed and my parents didn't have time to get their gear and get out of there with me. Even with their knowledge a titan got them while they were protecting me. The last thing I saw of them was their bodies being thrown down the titans throat."
Raiker nodded. He was the one who pulled me away and to the boats. If it wasn't for him, I would be dead. "She's right. Era, do you still have their gift?"
"I never take it off," I admitted.
"What gift?" one asked.
"Can we see?" another asked.
I pulled the necklace out from under my shirt. Its Survey Corps insignia imprinted into the metal.
"Wow," Jean said. "So I take it you're planning on joining the Survey Corps."
I nodded. "Following my parents footsteps. I'm not doing it for revenge. I'm simply doing it as my parents did. To protect the innocent civilians inside the walls."
Marshall came up. "Alright everyone! Tournaments over! Get back to your lodges and get some rest. Graduation is tomorrow and the tension will wipe you out, believe me."
Boys and girls were mixed into one lodge. Jean, Mikasa, Eren, Armin, Connie, Sasha, Annie, a couple others who I still haven't gotten their names straight, and I were in one lodge.
I sat down in the bed. I looked out the window I was next to. The sun was beginning its descent down the sky and below the horizon. Eren, Armin, and Mikasa came up.
"What is it guys?" I asked.
"Some of the trainees noticed something on your back when you were dodging Annie and back rolled," Armin informed. My body tensed with nervousness with that information.
"Speaking of what trainees have been noticing, you wear your 'vest' to bed every night," Eren added bumping in.
"Yeah so?" I asked.
"After today, some think it has to do with what was on your back," Armin informed.
"Are you hiding something?" Eren asked.
"I am. Only Mikasa, three trainers you know, my parents, and I know about it. We all agreed it would best to be kept secret," I informed quiet so the others trainees wouldn't hear.
They looked at Mikasa then back to me. "Well, can you tell us?" Armin asked.
"Depends, will either of you spill under an interrogation?" I asked.
"Not me," Eren said.
"I highly doubt it," Armin answered.
I noticed the sun was down and everyone was inside. We have to be in bed soon. "It's too late right now. When the time is right, I'll tell you. Agreed?" I said.
"Agreed," Armin and Eren said together. Mikasa already knew so I knew she didn't really care.
With that we trailed off to sleep.
