Chapter 2

Military Academy-851

"You're all here because your homes were taken! And that's all too bad! Right now you serve as nothing more than Titan bait! You're lower than the dirt! Lower than the bugs that inhabit the dirt! You're all nothing but scum! You there! What is your name?!"

So this was the training academy. A lot scarier than one would think. They demoted your very being to nothing more than the scum of the earth. But it was a clean slate for all. One had to forget where they come from and who they are, to start molding a new mindset from scratch. The tall Sergeant looking man passed over her and several others and yelled at a few more would-be-soldiers, like Ky. He had the crap scared out of him when the man yelled at him. Kala laughed inwardly and straightened her back. It's been a good two years since the breaking of Wall Maria and now here she was, ready to be a soldier and protect mankind for the sake of their survival. She stood directly behind Eren, who was rigid and solid looking from his posture. She wondered what had happened to him on that fateful day. Was his family killed too? Were they eaten? She turned to look at the girl named Sasha Blouse, otherwise soon to be known as Potato Girl. Jean Kirstein was an interesting character, albeit shallow and a little too full of himself but...interesting. So many people were here but how many were going to graduate?

The classroom was small and accommodating: two large windows on the left side and a green chalk board at the front, several long table desks on small podiums crowded the rest of the room. Kala sat in the front as the other students piled in. There was Reiner, Annie, Marco, Bertolt, Eren, the dark haired girl, Mikasa, and the blond boy was Armin. Several others piled in and settled in their seats as the teacher entered and began the lecture. This was going to be a long day. She noticed Eren stared intently at the board, his eyes only on the board and nothing else. Mikasa and Armin sat closely to him, both also looked closely at what the teacher wrote down. Kala began to play with the stitching on her jacket, the symbol of the Trainee Corps on both shoulders, front pocket and back. She hadn't heard the teacher calling her attention until someone elbowed her in the ribs. It was a serious faced girl, with brown hair held up by a brown clip. Ymir was her name, Kala guessed.

"Trainee Dobb"

She could feel everyone's eyes on her, boring holes all over her body as she faced the teacher. Eren's green eyes pierced hers as if saying, Look at this idiot. Not taking this valuable lesson seriously. Reiner's seemed to say, You're not fit to be a soldier if you don't pay attention.

"Yes, Teacher Jackson?"

"Am I boring you?"

"No, but I was wondering when you'd get to the part where we get to kill some Titans"

There was sniggering next to her. She could see out of the corner of her eye Jean was laughing, covering his mouth politely so as not to burst out loud, which she knew he was dying to do.

The teacher's look was disapproving as he closed his eyes and then opened them, "Wait outside until class is over. We will talk afterwards"

Kala felt her face grow hot as she stood stiffly and began to walk out.

"That kind of attitude is what gets people killed" she heard Eren mumble.

She didn't want to hear something like that come from someone like him, not as this moment. She slightly turned her head to throw him a dark look. She saw Eren stiffen and gulp when he noticed her look at him. She smiled wickedly and giggled to herself. She was going to kick his ass later in combat training.

After class was over, Kala entered the classroom.

"Please sit"

Kala sat in front of the teacher's desk. He pulled out a file and opened it. She saw notes with her name on it taken two years ago. She bet everyone had a file with their name on it, recounting the events that happened after the fall of Wall Maria. Being an eleven year old and recounting those horrific moments were harrowing and awful for her mind to reprocess.

"I fully understand your hate for the Titans as much as anyone. Every student that enters this classroom holds at least some form of hate for them. But it doesn't excuse you to blow in here with a give-em-hell-attitude and skip out on class after class. Your combat and strategic skills are on levels I've never seen before, but everything else, especially teamwork cooperation is questionable. You won't be able to graduate at the top of the class if you continue this way"

"With all due respect, Teacher, I don't believe in aiming for the top. I just want to graduate with skills that can be of help to humanity out on the battlefield. Being the top of my class won't mean anything if I can't help"

The teacher smiled and laughed.

"How interesting. After today, I expect your attitude to change. Whether you want to be the top or not is up to you, but do pay attention in class even if just a little bit. It shows humanity you care to be here and aren't some other hot head on their way to die due to overconfidence. You are one the best students I've seen so far. Let's see if you can amp it up just a little more"

Kala stood up and bowed, "I'll do my best"

"Dismissed"

"Ack! Ow! Guah!"

Kala pinned Eren down on his face, twisting his arm back.

"Kala! Kala! You got me ok! You can let me go dammit!"

Kala grinned as she slowly released him. Eren sat up and rubbed his wrist and elbow. The back of his head throbbed slowly. He winced and looked back at her.

"You know there is a specific way to do this"

"Out there, there's no specific way to fight. They say the Titans are the ones we should be fighting, but in reality its the humans. We are the most dangerous when it comes to situations as this. We are animals forced into a corner with no real way out. Here"

She reached a hand out.

"You're not going to pound me into the ground if I take it right?"

She smiled, "Now why would I do that?"

Eren flashed a grin and took her hand. He dusted himself and they switched sparring partners. Kala faced Mikasa, who was silently glaring at her. She was not pleased with the way she'd thrown Eren down like a sack of potatoes. Kala stared at Mikasa and got into a ready position.

"I'm ready when you're ready, Mikasa"

Mikasa wasted no time in talking. She came straight at Kala, her fist about to make contact when Kala dodged, swiping Mikasa's arm away and landing a quick chop to the back of her neck. Mikasa swung her leg and Kala blocked it with her arm and grabbed Mikasa's leg forward. Mikasa crouched down and swung her other leg, knocking Kala's head to the side. Kala was used to the burning hot pain of being hit. She advanced with a kick of her own, matching Mikasa's moves fluidly. Both of them locked eyes and kicked off the ground at the same time, both girls a flurry of angry limb jabbing and blocking. The rest of the students stared in amazement. No one had been able to sparr equally with Mikasa until now. All were dumbfounded at how the girl with the big mouth and bad attitude could be so good at fighting.

Kala came for Mikasa again, wanting to grab her throat and throw her down as she had with Eren but Mikasa was too quick. They both grabbed each other's throats and were still. They trembled as they strained to get the upper leg on the other but it was inevitable for both of them. It was a tie. They both had the same dead eyed look as they stared at each other. Finally they pushed away.

"You're not as bad as they say you are" Kala was grinning despite wanting to gasp for air.

"Thank you. Same goes for you"

A bell chimed in the distance, signaling it was time to go in and eat. The other students began walking away, talking amongst themselves at what they had just witnessed. Kala and Mikasa walked in different directions, both not saying a word to each other as they made their way to the barracks.

"I never thought there would be someone here that could outmatch Mikasa. That girl is tough"

Kala turned to look at a tall, grey eyed, dark haired boy that stood three inches above her. He grinned at her like if they were the best of friends. She didn't want or need friends. But this guy, did he want to be friends?

"I'm Xavier" he extended a hand towards her.

Kala looked at it like if it'd bite her and she slapped his palm with a high five.

"Kala"

"Say Kala. I don't have many friends here so I was gonna ask if maybe you want to sit together in the mess hall?"

"Uh. Umm...oh...uhh...ok?"

"Great" he smiled again, "I'll see you there then. I hear it gets pretty rowdy in there"

The food looked mushy, grey and unappetizing. Kala spooned a serving before dropping her spoon back in her bowl. She chewed on a bread roll as she kept looking down at the food. It wasn't home food, but she was guessing this was what the military thought a soldier needed. All vitamins and nutrients for a growing body. She decided to go for it. As she opened her mouth, a familiar face flashed in front of her.

"Hey Kala"

"Oh, hi Xavier"

"You haven't eaten. What you're on a diet or something? All I can tell you is that you're not gonna find better food here. Trust me. I checked"

"Sasha seems to have done better than you"

"What, Potato Girl? Sure she may have found a nice steamed potato, but others than that, there's no meat and I mean none"

"Aren't you afraid of getting caught though?"

"I'm more afraid of getting my limbs torn off and swallowed whole but I don't stress" he took a big bite of the mushy food. Kala's stomach growled, but she didn't feel hungry in the least. She scooted her bowl in his direction.

"Am I going to become your trash can now?"

"In a sense" she took a sip of water. She looked around the mess hall and her eyes landed on Annie. She always had that bored expression on her face. What was her deal? That too cool for school attitude wouldn't get her anywhere. Yet who was she to judge, she apparently had a give-em-hell attitude of her own. Kala had heard that they were going to try 3D Maneuvering Gear training tomorrow. She wasn't sure how they were going to do it, but she had to pass. That was a must in her book. Suddenly, there were angry shouts across from her table. Eren and Jean were getting into a fight for real this time. All she did was sigh and look on with the others. She heard someone mention Eren's combat score to be the highest but everyone knew whose score really was high. She took one look at Mikasa. She pretty much guessed she and her had about the same score.

After Eren and Jean were settled, Kala took one more sip of her water before setting out.

"Hey wait up!" Xavier took off after her, leaving his own food untouched. Kala looked back at him like if he were a crazed puppy. What was his deal?

"Where you goin'?"

"Uh...no where in particular" she scratched the side of her scalp.

"I think your hairstyle is cool!" he grabbed one of the braids that hung down her back. She'd never thought to cut it so she'd tied it back in two separate braids and left the rest of her hair in a flyaway style. Many would say to cut it short just in case it got caught in something or risk having the Titans reach out to grab her hair the way Xavier was. She pulled back her braid from his hand.

"Thank you. I didn't think anything I did was cool"

He laughed. He had such a casual way about him, she was almost jealous.

"What did I say?" she felt embarrassed.

"Nothing, nothing"

She looked at him confused. If she didn't say anything of meaning why did he laugh?

"You must think I'm weird" he blushed as he looked down and laughed with embarrassment.

"Uh" she widened her eyes then looked down as well, pulling habitually at her braid, "Not in the least. No one has paid this much attention, aside from my father" And step-mother, she wanted to add. She grit her teeth as hot tears welled up in her eyes. She soaked them away into her braid. She didn't want to have a stranger see her cry.

"You ok?"

"Er yeah. I'm fine. I just have dust in my eyes. So, that Eren and Jean don't see eye to eye huh? Those two need to tone it down. They're so noisy"

"Yeah those two are a lively bunch. Good thing they have Mikasa to bring the noise down a notch. I hear you have a big mouth"

Her hand went instinctively to her mouth. He smiled and waved his hands out in a panic.

"I don't mean it literally! I mean in the metaphoric sense. I heard you gave the teacher attitude"

"An attitude of some sort I guess"

"I'd say that was a brave thing. Most wouldn't think of openly being so cocky" he looked at her and panicked again, "Again I don't mean it literally!"

This time she smiled. "Thanks. I take it as a compliment"

He stopped panicking and then smiled back, "Ehe. Good"

"If you don't mind me asking, why did you decide to sign up for the military?"

Xavier's face fell a little. "Oh. Well, I don't have much of a sob story as others. I didn't have my whole family eaten in front of me. It was more of bringing some sort of pride to my village. No other kid was brave enough to sign up so I decided to go ahead and do it. My family freaked when I told them, but they didn't try to stop me at the same time. It stung a little, but i'm fine with it. I don't need their approval. I actually want to start becoming a soldier for myself, not for them. Or anyone else"

"Xavier"

"Ah sorry. That ran a little deeper than I wanted it to"

"No, no! It's good. You want to become your own person for your own reasons. That's very admirable"

"Oh" he looked at her wide eyed and a small blush came over his cheeks, "You're really nice Kala"

"Aha. Well I highly don't think so"

"Don't put yourself down all the time. Lighten up! You're in the military! Don't be Kala the Dobby Downer"

"I think you mean Debby Downer"

"See? You can have fun" he beamed at her.

She thought she was going to blush so instead she awkwardly punched his shoulder, pouting with oncoming embarrassment as she said, "What are you an idiot?"