Tonight's dream was much more pleasant, though it wasn't any less confusing. The ever present darkness had vanished, and what surrounded him now was a bright, empty field. The high grasses were brushed by an invisible wind that his body couldn't feel. The lilies and wildflowers painted the sea of green like drops on a canvas, the sky above him so pale that it was almost white. He was alone, for all he knew, but he wasn't frightened. He felt a calm serenity,undisturbed and inviting and warm.

"Alfred."

There came the name calling again. Not desperate, no, the pain that had riddled the ones in previous instances was replaced by tender affection. It was Corporal Arthur Kirkland's.

Alfred, stirred by his sudden revelation, shifted over to his side, facing the blank wall to stare at it with intense concentration. In a way, this dream had unnerved him far more than the others had. At least in the others he could imagine that he had been witnessing the fabricated tales of some epic struggle. This character-who happened to share his name-had been gravely wounded and his two companions were in a frantic race to save him from his fate. The field, the wind, the voice: they had all been Alfred. Alfred the real Alfred. And that voice had undoubtedly been the Corporal's.

Sweat coated his pillow and cooled the back of his neck, the boy wiping his face thoughtfully to remove it. Had he been nervous? Excited? Maybe it had just been hot last night. He tossed and turned with his musings that were put on hold when the characteristic droopy cowlick of his roommate appeared above his beside railing. Matt's face appeared soon after, an inquisitive ring to his typical greeting.

"Good morning, Al. Did you sleep okay?"

Alfred blinked, casting his thoughts aside to yawn loudly in corners of his mouth turned up when Matt hacked and pulled away, holding his hand to his nose playfully.

"Yeah, for once I did."

"No death and screams this time?" Matthew regained his composure.

"Nope."

"Did the voices come again?"
Alfred's wait time was just long enough to peak Matt's curiosity.

"Nope."

Matthew leaned back from his grip on the bunk railing to raise his brow in protest of this statement.

"Okay….You know, if you ever wanna talk about it, Alfred, I'll always be here to listen. I'll stay quiet, I promise."

Alfred appreciated the sentiment, but merely rolled his eyes and huffed.

"Of course you would, Matt. You're so quiet, I doubt anyone would even know you existed to steal secrets from in the first place."

His comment was met with a lengthy glare before Matthew sunk below view and a large pillow took its place. Alfred's muffled laughter continued while Matt jumped down and began getting ready.

It was then the reality of today hit him, and it wasn't long until Alfred was preparing enthusiastically alongside him.

"So you ready for the reconnaissance test today?"

Matt focused on Alfred, his hands moving unconsciously to latch his 3MG attachments along the length of his leg. Alfred meanwhile fussed with his boots, barely acknowledging the other's presence.

"Why wouldn't I be? I've literally aced hand to hand, 3MG handling, and horseback. What's so scary about some big trees and wooden Titans?"

"you know what I mean, Al. You may be amazing at everything, but that's not what this test is about."

Alfred looked back blankly.

"It's about teamwork."

Alfred said nothing.

"Which you suck at."

"I'm sorry, I stopped listening after you said 'amazing at everything'".

Matthew threw his hands up in the air in exasperation.

"Whatever, Al. Just don't be that cocky on the test, okay? Corporal Kirkland's been watching you like a hawk lately and I'd rather not see you blow it all just because you got Jean as one of your teammates or something."

Alfred let out a chortle and laced his final restrains across his chest.

"Ha! Wouldn't that just be my luck?"

"What the-SERIOUSLY?!"

Alfred and Matthew stood beside one-another, scanning the test roster for names. Matthew had been pleased to find Feli and Sasha in his group, joined by another male by the name of "Armin". The pair had met him in passing, and although the 104th training squad was one of the largest in number since the facility had been established, three years had given the recruits plenty of time to learn almost everyone's names.

The potential graduates had all taken turns gathering around the roster to see whom they'd been grouped with. There were occasional groans, high fives were given, and the teams were slowly taking shape. However, one disgruntled recruit stood with his fists clenched so tight that his knuckles were turning white.

"What's with this crap?"

Alfred barked again, reading his list of teammates for the third time.

Marco Bodt. He was okay, he figured.

Eren Jeager. He'd shared a few laughs with the guy before and thought he was a pretty good fighter. It was the last name that seemed to glare back at him from the page.

Jean Kirschstein.

Matthew attempted to play it off, hoping to lighten the mood.

"Heh, wouldn't that just be your luck?" he offered, placing his hand on Alfred's shoulder.

Alfred shrugged him off, annoyed, and began ranting once more.

"Luck shmuck! That guy's been a total nuisance ever since I got offered the position by Corporal-which I STILL won't forgive Gil for blabbing his 'awesome' mouth about to him."

Alfred snorted and crossed his arms.

"There's no way that I'm working with that self-absorbed coward and his idiotic mouth. I'm going to talk with Lieutenant Louise and see if she'll switch me into someone else's group."

Alfred stormed off in the direction of the waiting leaders, who were in the process of tending to and readying the horses for departure. he spotted the tall, robust figure of the Lieutenant from a way's off and raised his hand to grab her attention. Her blonde pixie-cut seemed virtually glued to her skull, as not a hair moved out of place when she turned to face him.

"Ah, greetings, Jones." Her steely-blue eyes held a perpetually bored expression. "I would assume you've already spoken with your teammates and are ready to proceed to the training grounds?"

"Actually, Lieutenant, that's why I'm here...to talk with you about my, uh, 'teammates' for the examination."

The Lieutenant noted the distress in his voice and paused her brushing of her steed-Blitzkrieg's- mane.

"What is it, Alfred? Is there someone absent?"

"No, it's just that," Alfred's gaze fell to the ground as he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. You see I had a bit of discrepancy with one of my teammates and was wondering if you would be so kind as to switch around the roster a bit."

Alfred switched his 'charm' to full and flashed a smile that would melt any woman's heart. He'd learned from an early age that showing those pearly whites and adding just enough sparkle to his deep blue eyes could get him anything he wanted. Well, just about anything.

"Do you disagree with my decision, Jones?"

Both Alfred and Lieutenant Louise turned to face the mounted figure that had just joined them. The jet-black coat of Kirkland's horse shone some in the steadily increasing amount of daylight, the rays now fully over the horizon. The Corporal sat tall, a looming figure whom Alfred now had to defend his case against.

Don't mess this up, Alfred.

"Oh! Corporal, Sir." Alfred saluted before proceeding with what he knew would be his last request should he fail. "I was just speaking with the Lieutenant about the reconnaissance team lists for the examination. I was just thinking that-"

"I made those lists up myself, Jones, and had no intention of changing them. Each recruit was placed in their teams according to skill, proficiency, and dynamic. I hope that this was not a request for substitution?"

"Well actually, Sir-"

"Rookie," Kirkland was getting angry now. The man always defaulted to his more insulting names when he was upset. "Are you questioning I and the other leaders' judgement by saying that you have a better concept of what we want to see from our recruits during the examination? And are you suggesting that we change the entire setup of the roster to solely accommodate your needs?"

"I was really only going to ask to switch with one person-"

The Corporal's horse whinnied as its rider pulled back harder on the reins, piercing Alfred with his gaze.

"This is your weakest component, Jones. My placement was made to test your abilities as a leader regardless of the individuals you are asked to command. As I stated before, I have no intention of changing the roster, and I expect you to follow through as you are assigned. Is that understood?"

Alfred frowned begrudgingly and surveyed the Corporal's unyielding face. Finally he caved, saluting wordless in response. Arthur Kirkland switched from Alfred to Lieutenant Louise, mentioning something about preparing the horses for their leave, and redirected his horse and took his leave. All the while Alfred maintained his salute,which slackened ever so slightly when he heard his Corporal mutter

"Good luck, Alfred."

The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end regardless of the nonchalant nature of the rally. It was unmistakably the same tone and timbre of the voice in his dream.