Yo guys! So here is the latest chapter. Anyway today is my birthday so I'm just gonna do some anime marathons, most probably on Free!. I don't own most of the characters. They belong to Hajime Isayama.
The sun beat upon our backs as we entered the open gates, the stench of defeat filling the air. I could barely lift my head as I looked at Shiganshina, the small town seemingly grinning at us. "Here they go again. Yelling like crazy this morning and coming battered in the evening. We're just wasting our taxes fattening them up," a man snorted. None of us had the strength to retort, our heads bowed low in shame and defeat.
"Wow! The heroes have come home!" a small voice shouted and I looked up to see a young boy clambering onto a crate, his eyes shining as he glanced at us. Although there was a slight falter in his smile, he still watched us with admiration and happiness. I smiled at him slightly and his eyes widened before he showed me a thumbs up. "One day! I'll be like you, big sis!" he called out just as some boys wrestled him to the ground.
"Shut up, Eren! Are you that stupid to go out there and be Titan fodder?" a boy sneered as he kicked the boy in the face. I clenched my fist as I got up. "Oi, what are you doing?" the co-driver started to say. "Go on without me. I'll catch up," I said as I hopped down from the crowd and shoved through towards the boy called Eren. "Oi," I said as I smacked the others kids out of the way. "Don't bully him. There are Titans outside. Want me to drop you to them?" I hissed. The boys yelped and scattered, swearing to get back at the boy.
"Thanks, big sis," the boy said as I dusted off his clothes. "Thanks for the compliment earlier," I said and he grinned, stroking his cheek. "Don't mention it. I really admire you guys you know," he said. "Eren, is it? Wait, you're that Doc's kid, right?" I asked and he nodded. "Ah, Eren Jaeger. I heard a bit about you from around town," I smirked and he flushed. "Can't be all good, I guess?" he muttered as I patted his head.
"Don't worry. I think you're a fine kid," I said as he laughed. "Cut it out," he said. "You want to join the Survey Corps one day?" I asked and he nodded. "Yeah, but my mum would kill me if she finds out," he muttered and I giggled. "Don't worry. I'll make sure that you get a spot when you enlist," I grinned, holding up my little finger. "Really?!" he gasped and I smiled. "Promise you will work hard and join the Corps," I said and he nodded. "Yup! I'm going to go kill all the Titans and see the outside world!" he said, making my heart stop.
For a moment I saw myself in this boy, an innocent soul who doesn't know the horrors of the outside world, watching your friends die in such horrifying ways that will give you nightmares forever. "You really remind me of someone," I whispered and he cocked his head. "Really? Who?" he asked and I just smiled,removing my cloak and wrapping it around me. "Keep this," I said as he squealed with happiness. "Wow! Thanks!" he smiled as I got up. "I've gotta go. Going to get left behind," I said as I turned and ran. "Bye, Big Sis!" Eren called, waving his hand as he ran towards the Jaeger household. What a strange kid, I thought to myself as I ran down the street.
….
"Congrats recruit. You survived your first expedition," Captain Erwin said as he put down my file. "Thank you sir. But I don't think I deserve all the credit," I said. "Twenty Titan kills on your first expedition. That's quite the record. I heard your friends died," he said as he looked at me, his hands clasping together. "What, you're not going to say the whole "Sorry for your lost" shit?" I asked and he snorted.
"If you have been in the Survey Corps long enough, death becomes normal to you," he said as my breath hitched. "Normal?! How can someone dying ever be normal?!" I shouted, slamming my hands on the oak table. The captain merely looked at me, completely not stunned by my actions. "Recruit, if you let your emotions rule over you, it would drive you to madness in no time. You have to let go," he said.
"What? You mean give up my humanity?" I said as he stood up. He turned to face the window, the moon shining in the sky. He looked below him in the courtyard, where the bodies of the fallen were being burned before being laid to rest. "To defeat monsters, you must cast your own humanity aside," he said. "That's what Lance Corporal Levi said," I muttered as I clenched my fist.
"He did tell me you have an uncontrollable temper," he said. "I'm working on it," I mumbled as he faced me. "If you continue to hone your skills and survive the expeditions, you may even become commander one day," he said as he held out his hand. "This is the proof that your friends were ever alive," he said as he handed me two scraps of Survey Corps cloth. My breath hitched as I recognized them as Radu's and Mona's. "I'm truly sorry for your lost," he said as I began to sob.
He stood there, watching me cry my heart out. "Radu… Mona…" I sobbed, my tears flowing freely. I looked like a fool, joining a military faction that involves having comrades getting killed around me all the time. "I called you here for another reason. When the new batch of recruits comes, you are to be Squad Leader," he said. "Me?" I blurted as he smiled a nasty smile. "Let's see how you handle the lives of others. You're dismissed," he said and I saluted before leaving the room.
….
"Hey," I said as Jon opened his eyes. "What… where am I?" he rasped as I handed him some water. "Hey, take it easy. You're still recovering," I whispered as I helped fluff the pillows for him. As he gulped down his medication, he looked at me, his eyes wandering across my face. "You've been crying, haven't you?" he asked as I gripped my pants. "Yeah," I replied and he smiled sadly.
"I wish I could just wake up from this, pretend that it's all a dream. But they're dead, aren't they?" he whispered as I began to sob again. "I… I failed to save them! Because I hesistated… Radu and Mona died!" I sobbed, burying my face in my hands. "Shh," Jon whispered he guided my head to his lap, where my tears soaked the sheets. For a while we sat there, clinging onto each other as our comrades burned to ashes outside.
…..
"Oi! Isabelle!" a familiar voice called as I walked down the hall. "Roger!" I gasped as we hugged each other. "Holy shit. Its so good to see a familiar face," he said as he let go. "So how are things?" I asked as he rubbed his head. "Normal. Still having to train the horses," he said. I was in charge on training people in 3D maneuver gear while Roger was assigned to horse training, since he had grown up breeding horses. Jon on the other hand was busy helping the tactical team design new techniques to be used in the upcoming expedition. It's been three months since we lost Radu and Mona. We had gone on another expedition a few weeks ago and we lost many men. But the commander was so sure that we are getting closer to humanity's salvation.
"Say, you wanna get a drink some time?" he asked. "Thanks for the offer, but I don't drink," I started to say as he took my hands. "Come on. Not even a little?" he asked, his eyes pleading. "Roger, we live in a time where love can't come between us and humanity's salvation. I'm sorry," I said as I turned my heel. "But you seem so lonely. You need to unwind a bit before you go mad! Even Jon is worried about you!" he shouted. I stopped in my tracks and turned slowly to look at him, a mad grin on my face. "I'm already mad. Can't you tell?" I whispered as I walked way.
….
"Attention!" I shouted as the class of the 101th Training Corps recruits stood in front of me. There were more of them this year, almost thirty in total. "Welcome to the Survey Corps! My name is Isabelle Lightbane and I'll be your Squad Leader!" I said and I slammed my fist onto my heart. The recruits shouted as they did the same, saluting me. As I looked at their faces, my breath hitched as I noticed an all too familiar face.
"Mona?" I whispered as the girl stared at me, bewildered. "Ah no. I'm here younger sister, Leila," she said as I shook my head. "I'm sorry," I started to say as she put up her hands. "Don't apologize. Oni-chan always talked about you went she came home on leave. I wanted to join her place in fighting for humanity," she said and I smiled. I clapped my hands together and gazed at them.
"Recruits! I admire your strength and will to join the Survey Corps! Your lives and sacrifices will not be in vain, I promise you that!" I shouted and they saluted once more. "Listen up! One day, you'll understand what it means to be in the Survey Corps. You will lose friends. You may even lose yourself in the process. But your sacrifices will always benefit humanity," I said and I cleared my throat, trying to put the best smile on my face. "Well then, shall we have a tour of your new home, recruits?" I smiled.
All comments are welcomed!