A Year later. 847 AD
It was time for the training corps. The 104th training corps. Keith Shadis, the head instructor. He was the former Commander of the Scout Regiment. He made all the ones wanting to join the training corps stand in several rows. So he could walk between them all and put some through the right of passage. I had ignored several people from the first three rows till he came to the fourth row, the row I was currently standing in.
"Who the hell are you?!" He yelled to one blonde headed boy. Beads of sweat streaming down his face.
"Sir!" The boy saluted. "Thomas Wagner from Trost District, sir!"
"I can't hear you!" Keith said intimidating the poor guy. He continued to say he couldn't hear Thomas till he got tired of it. "Next!" He moved to the next person. A girl.
"Sir! Mina Carolina from Calaneth District!" She yelled pretty much at the top of her lungs as she saluted Keith.
"Wrong! You're from a pigsty-worse than cattle!" Keith leaned down and yelled into her face.
"Sir, I'm worse than cattle." She agreed with Keith. Obviously terrified of him.
"Wrong!" He continued I just decided to not listen to it anymore. If he stopped in front of me then he stops in front of me. I won't back down like they did. However, he never stopped in front of me. He seemed to glance at me. "Fourth row face backward!" He moved onto his next target.
"Who the hell are you?!"
"Jean Kirstein, from Trost District, Sir!"
"What are you here to do?" Keith asked Jean. Jean looked rather nervous, as the beads of sweat started to roll down his face. Uncertain to how Keith will act with what he is about to say.
"To enlist in the Military Police Brigade and live within the inner walls, sir."
"I see. So you want to live within the inner walls huh?" Keith sounded almost amused. Keith slams his head right into Jean's giving him one knarly headbutt. Jean falls to his knees holding his head. Well, I don't blame Keith one bit. I would have done the same. If I was taller than him. I'm probably one of the shortest ones here. My height won't stop me from achieving my goal. "Who said you could sit?!" Keith's voice brought me out of my thoughts. "Someone who can't succeed here won't make into the Military Police Brigade!" He turned and walked to the next person leaving Jean there on his needs holding his head. "Who the hell are you?! What did you come here to do?!"
"Marco Bott from Jinae Village in Wall Rose's southern district, Sir! I've come to enlist in the Military Police Brigade, and devote myself to serving the king, Sir!" Well, at least this guy seemed honest about what he wanted to do and not just hide behind walls.
"Really?" Keith sounded amused once again. "That's all fine and well. Endeavor for it. However..." The tone of his voice deepened to a threatening tone. Marco's eyes widened. "The King has no desire for your body." Keith just walks to the next person leaving Marco speechless and mouth gaping. I stop paying attention to the rest of the rows.
Finally being dismissed to head to the cabins or the mess hall. I just walk around looking around seeing where everything was. Till I see a small group of people standing on a porch to a cabin looking out to some girl. I knew names of two. Marco and Mina.
"Hey, the Potato Girl's still running." A short guy with a shaven-head said.
"Wow, she's been at it for five hours. But she didn't seem to mind the "run till you drop" part quite as much as being told she'd have to skip dinner, huh?" Another boy spoke up. He seemed very familiar as well.
"Dauper Village is a small village of the hunters deep in the mountains, isn't it?" The shaven-headed boy spoke up again. They looked over to a horse-drawn wagon leading out of the training corps grounds.
"What is that?" The one that looked familiar said.
"The Dropouts. They opted for me transferred to reclaimed land." Mina said sadly. I sighed and continued walking around. However, I paused when I heard Marco asked the one that looked familiar a question.
"That reminds me... You weren't asked to state your name and birthplace or anything."
"I'm from Shiganshina District, just like this guy, Armin." That's when I realized who he was. He was the one that helped me set my goal for killing all the titans, so we could be freed from these walls. I grinned and continued walking around heading to the Mess Hall and sitting to wait for food to be served. Everyone that cared to know what the Colossal titan and the Armored titan were like gathered around him and questioned him. It quickly escalated into a fight between Eren and Jean. Till the bell sounded signaling it was time for bed. I walked out after Jean. Since he followed a close friend of Eren's out. I giggled seeing his reaction from the two friends. Turning around and heading to my cabin to get some rest.
The next day we started a test. We all met with Keith in front of five strange-looking stands of a sort.
"First off, we'll test your aptitude! Those incapable of this aren't suited to even be used as decoys! We'll have you transferred to reclaimed land." Keith calls us up five at a time to test our aptitude. "Kana Mizuki" Keith called after a few groups along with other names. I walked up and another instructor hooked me up to the wires. He slowly started to raise me up as he cranked a leaver. At first, I was slightly unsteady, but then I stopped shaking once I figured out how to balance myself. It became a second nature to me. I hung there naturally. Not wavering in the slightest. Later that day after the test Eren and Armin walked up to me looking as if they wanted to ask me questions, as I was walking toward the mess hall.
"Uhm. Hello. My name is Armin and this is Eren." Armin spoke up seeming quite nervous. "We would like to ask you a few questions and advice." Poor Eren wearing a bandage around his head.
"I'm Kana Mizuki. Feel free to ask. I don't mind giving a few pointers." I looked away and pushed my glasses up the bridge of my nose.
"How did you get how to hang so well during the aptitude test?" Eren asked. With my left hand, I reached up and scratched the back of my head.
"Well, I don't know what others have told you... but, keep practicing the basics, pay attention to the straps try to find a hanging stance that fits you. Don't try to copy someone else. You should do fine."
"No wonder you looked so natural doing it. You found a way that fits you." Armin said. I nodded. "Well, let's go get some food. We'll talk about this later okay? If you don't mind that is."
"Not at all. Come to me anytime with any question you have. I hope you'll let me do the same if the time calls for it."
Inside the mess hall, I sat down in the corner by myself. Just listening to everyone rag on poor Eren. He seemed to get slightly upset at the girl sitting next to him. She must have said something to upset him. Several minutes later the bell sounded and everyone including myself got up and headed to the cabins. Most of the girls in my cabin chatted away. Not knowing the fears that the titans can bring. They seemed to stay away from me. Which I didn't really mind. I'd rather have some peace and quiet. I laid down and the next day quickly arrived. Eren's last test. They slowly raised him up. He was finally able to stay up. However, not for long. He fell backward and hit the back of his head on the ground. However, Keith ordered Thomas to switch belts with Eren. It seemed the metal structures were faulty. I was happy for Eren, he can now surely head to conquer his dream.
From then on we were put against each other in some sort of challenges, being the best decoy, who could kill the most titan dummies, and lastly who was the best a teamwork. In the decoy test, and in the who could kill the most titan dummies test, I was ranked first. The last test it was a three-way tie, between Marco, Mikasa and myself. However, the ranks in a real battle against the titans mean nothing. The top ten mean nothing in a real battle. Was I wanting to be in the top ten? No. Was I still going to work hard? Yes.
Two Years later. 850 AD
Running through the forest on a rainy day carrying heavy packs with supplies and our equipment. Keith road along with us on his horse.
"Pick up the pace you blockheads!" He looked back to see Armin falling behind. Armin wasn't very athletic, he, however, excelled in academics. Reiner dropped back and took Armin's pack from him. Reiner has both a robust physique and mental strength. Everyone has a great deal of trust in him. However, Reiner didn't carry Armin's pack for long. Armin mustered up the strength to push himself, taking his pack from Reiner. Armin ran to catch up with the pack.
After the rain had stopped they started to pull out the training titan dummies. Which were just giant flat wooden cutouts of titans with something attached to the napes and around the calf area of the legs. We had to go through the forest and find the dummies and practice a deep long and narrow cut with the dual swords. I would swoop in at times and steal a titan dummy from someone. Even though I wore glasses... Well maybe because I was wearing glasses I seemed to notice the titan dummies a lot quicker than some. Seeing some of the others try to steal some from others and having a good time.
Sometime later, we are all practicing hand to hand combat. Some just goofed off others took it seriously. I for one took it seriously. I walked around to see if others would help me improve what skill I had in hand to hand combat. If not then I just watched others or practiced moves on my own. After practicing on my own for a while. Two guys walked up to me.
"Well, well, well, look who it is. The creep. It seemed you filled out quite nicely. I never really knew your name until a few days ago. When I realized you are the little creep from back then. I'll still kick your ass no matter how attractive you are." He looked back at his buddy and grinned. "We'll teach you a lesson here and now. We know how to fight now."
"You can't take us both on." The other guy grinned and they both stepped forward.
"Come at me." A flame was lit inside of me. It fueled my whole being. I grinned and stood there waiting for them to move. I was pretty sure they would both come at me at the same time. They seemed to be thinking I would just panic and roll over and call defeat. They couldn't be more wrong. As I expected they both lunged at me. I quickly drop down dodging both of their punches and quickly spin with my left leg extended sweeping their feet out from under them. Knocking them both down. Jumping up and using a backflip to put some distance between them and myself. They jumped up only to just fall back down holding their ankles. I sighed and seen Keith walking into the hand to hand combat training grounds. He went to headbutt all the ones he caught that weren't taking it seriously. He then gathered everyone's attention with a yell.
"I have an announcement to make. All of next week, a few officers from the Garrison Regiment will be coming to talk about what their jobs entail. Feel free to ask questions or advice. That's all. Head to the mess hall." He began to walk away from the training grounds. Followed by the 104th trainees. I for one was rather excited about them visiting. Maybe I could get one of them to spar with me. I headed into the mess hall and got a bowl of soup and bread. Jean was going on about something that seemed to irritate Eren. The normal Jean and Eren argument, that turned into a fight of a sort. However, he did something that interested me. A new move I could practice. I grinned at the sight. 'Interesting.' However, Keith slowly opened the door.
"I heard a loud noise a moment ago... Anyone care to explain?" His voice deepened into a threatening tone. Eren and Jean slowly sat down in their seats the whole room went silent till...
"It was the sound of Sasha farting" Mikasa raised her hand and said normally. She more in likely said it to protect Eren. The whole room started to laugh after they seen Keith's reaction.
"So it was you again!" He covered his nose and seemed like he spoke while holding his breath. He quickly walked to the door. "Learn some modesty!" He shut the door behind him. I had looked down unable to keep a straight face. I used my hands to cover my face, too keep them from seeing. That night everyone couldn't stop laughing at the poor Sasha. However I must say she has farted in the past and the stink would bring tears to everyone's eyes, or they would escape from the mess hall.
The next day during our hand to hand combat training the Officers introduced themselves I couldn't catch their names. Over the sound of others who didn't want to stop training. However whoever wanted to ask questions walked up to them to ask. So I did the same.
"Hello, I was wondering if you could spar with me." I looked up at the three of them.
"Well, kiddo I think we would be a little out of your league. Maybe once you get a little more skilled." They turned away from me. Well, I have seen it going this way though. I shrugged and went to training again. Since no one bothered to come train with me I built up everything else. Doing push-ups, sit-ups, jogging around the training grounds. A few would stop me and see if they could get an easy win, to raise their broken ego. Which against me would only break their ego further. As I was running another lap around the training grounds. Till a voice called out my name.
"Kana!" I turned around to see who was calling me. It was the two boys again. More in likely to start trouble. I sighed and turned around.
"What do you want?" I looked at them with my hands on my hips. They grinned at me.
"Train with us, Creep." I sighed at their reply. 'Well, this gives me a chance to try out that new move I have seen.' I watched them. They walked around me staying on both sides, whether it be front and back or left side and right side. I feel one will come at me and try to get me in some type of hold. Then the other will come at me with a combination of some sort. The lackey runs at me and tries to take a hold of my wrists. As he tries to grab me I quickly take a hold of his wrist and elbow and spin to where my back is facing him and kick a foot out from under him and sling him over my shoulder into the leader. They both fly back a few feet. They lay there motionless for several minutes.
"Wow, that was great." I looked over to see who was talking to me. Reiner. Next to him Bertholt. "We saw them walking around you and it looked like they wanted to cause some trouble," Reiner said and walked over and looked at the two laying on the ground.
"While living in Wall Rose these two and two others bullied me and beat me up before I learned to protect myself." I looked at the two on the ground. "I'm pretty sure they are okay just embarrassed they got knocked on their asses again." Reiner looked around the training area.
"I think I know a good person you can spar with. Be right back." Reiner said and ran off to a group. Bertholt stood there unsure what to say.
"I'm glad you are okay, Kana. Hopefully, they stop messing with you now." He looked at me worriedly. I shrugged.
"Even if they didn't the outcome would be the same." I sighed. "I really wanted to see if one of the Garrison officers would spar with me, but they rejected me." I shrugged again. A few minutes passed as Bertholt and I talked. Reiner came back with Jean. A few others followed to watch it seemed.
"Here you go, Kana. Jean, said he would spar with you. You two are going to do the basic steal the weapon from the bad guy. Jean will be the bad guy first." Jean nodded. Jean sighed and gave me this look that pissed me off. He was looking down on me. He was thinking of taking it easy on me. For what? My size? Because I'm a girl? I swear I'll make him pay for looking down on me... As I looked calm on the outside, my inner-self was furious. I took a deep breath to calm myself as I remembered my father's words. Jean lunges forward, slashing the wooden knife across from my left. Bending backward dodging the wooden knife. As I bend backward I bring my left leg up to knock the wooden knife from his hand. I bring my right leg up so I can quickly move to stand on my feet once again. I didn't move quick enough Jean had already moved to pick up the knife. He charged at me trying to quickly close the distance between us. I quickly drop down and sweep his feet out from under him with my left leg. I quickly straddle his chest pinning his arms to his elbows to the ground and pry the knife from his hand. I get up and help him up.
"Wow." I looked around to see I have gathered a bigger crowd. "That was great," Eren said and looked at me then at Jean. I nodded to Eren and looked to Reiner as he walked up.
"Okay, now it's Kana's turn to be the bad guy," Reiner said and stepped away. I closed my eyes and took another deep breath, to do some mental preparations. This wooden knife is just an extension of my arm. Just like my swords. I slowly opened my eyes and looked at Jean. 'I must kill him. There is an important reason I must get away from him alive.' I quickly lunge at him. I act like I'm going to slash from the left across his chest. He brings his hands up to get ready to stop my hand. However, I drop quickly drop down and extend my left leg to knock him off his feet. Jean jumps up and dodges my foot. I grin and quickly raise up from my crouched position, he lands watching me preparing for the unexpected. Quickly slash back and forth from left and right and add a stab at the end. He stumbles as he couldn't keep up with dodging my attacks. I quickly move to straddle him. I couldn't pin his arms to the ground quick enough. He had moved them just in time to catch the knife that was quickly descending down towards his throat. Now it was a battle of strength. He tried to get the knife from my hands only to find out if he did the knife would find a different way to pierce his flesh in a different place. I quickly raised the knife from his hands and quickly got to stab his heart. I stop the knife just as the tip of the wooden blade touched him.
"Looks like Kana wins this round," Reiner said flabbergasted. I get up off of Jean and drop the knife. I extend a hand down to help him up.
"Thank you," Jean said taking my extended hand. "Looks like I shouldn't have looked down on you. Seems like I need to take this more seriously." He turned and walked away. The week went by fast. The three Garrison Officers still turned me down when I asked them to spar with me. Well, I did ask every day of the week. They more in likely got irritated with me and was glad when they didn't have to visit anymore. Since they didn't have to deal with me. The next week three officers from the Military Police Brigade. I didn't pay attention to their names. I just wanted to know if they would spar with me. Sadly, they were nothing like the Garrison officers. They seemed to leave after a few questions each day. However, on the last day, The first encounter I had with them didn't go well. I noticed one was busy answer questions. The other two walked off away from the trainees. I decided to go ask the two if they would spar with me.
"Excuse me," I said walking up behind them. They turned around to look at me. "I was wondering if one of you could spar with me?" After I finished asking them I felt a sudden chill. I looked up to meet their eyes. They looked at me with an expression I was unfamiliar with. I had the feeling to get away. "Nevermind, I don't want to take up your time." I turned around and started to walk off, but one of the MP's grabbed my shoulder.
"Wait. We can help you train if you do something for us first." The one that grabbed my shoulder looked back at the other guy. "She's good right. We both been feeling frustrated right?" The other guy laughed and nodded.
"Yeah, she's good. Look at that body." the other MP said and looked around. "Let's take her over there." He pointed to the small building we keep some hand to hand combat training equipment. The one that had a hold of my shoulder pulled me along. 'Why am I scared? They are just people. I'm a soldier to be, to take out titans.' I took a deep breath and took a stance that he wouldn't be able to pull me. The one that was pulling me looks back and grumbles.
"Let's go girl." He growled.
"No." I glared at the that still had a hold of my shoulder. I knock his hand away. Now both of them are looking at me.
"Fine, we will spar here. I'll beat you to a bloody pulp, you damn brat." The one that stood in front of me took a hand to hand combat stance. It seemed like he didn't take his training seriously or he is leaving openings on purpose. Either way, though he seemed angry. Emotional targets never make wise decisions. He lunges at me with a combination of his left and right hooks. I dodged his barrage of fists. As he noticed he wouldn't hit me. He started adding in kicks. His fists stop their assault as he swings his arm as he begins to add in a kick, to add more oomph. While his leg raised to its peak. I dropped down low and kicked his other leg out from under him. He fell over and I took that moment and ran away from them. Those two MP's are corrupt.
