The test stopped after Eren killed the seven-metre titan, Shadis and Erwin determined it to be too dangerous to continue and they killed the other fifteen-metre titan much to Hange's horror. Eren felt bad, he did, Hange loved their titans. They crafted names and personalities for the titans they brought inside the walls, and considering it was difficult to capture and transport the titans, they rarely gave Hange the go-ahead to capture any.
"I'm so sorry Hange, if Levi hadn't given me the order to kill Alexander then I wouldn't have," Eren apologised, but Hange shook their head.
"Don't worry about it Eren, Alexander I can understand, we don't have the equipment to secure the metal plate over his mouth and arm again," Hange said trying to reassure the cadet, "I just can't understand Kenny. He had done nothing wrong, he had been a good titan and Erwin gave the order to kill him, why Erwin why,".
Erwin, who was walking a little in front of them, turned to look at Hange. Tears were streaming down their cheeks.
"Transporting a titan is a colossal job as it is, today we've discovered that somehow they can escape their binding, we can't risk this happening again, especially if we are in transit inside the walls. I'm sorry Hange, I really am but we had to kill the other titan,' Erwin said and Hange pouted, muttering under their breath that 'you could've let me say goodbye first' before sulking off to the empty wagons.
"Ignore them brat, I for one is proud of you today. You proved that my and the military's training is making a difference. Not any cadet could have done what you did today, so you should be proud of yourself," Levi said, stopping beside Eren whilst Shadis and Erwin continued.
"It honestly felt like a dream, that I've killed a titan. When I was attacking it trying to save Hange, I felt like another person, that I wasn't Eren who has hardly any memories but Eren Yeager who's skilled enough a soldier with the scouting regiment," Eren smiled, it would take a while for the events of today processed through his mind. Although he could only guess that the other cadets would talk about this for some time to come, especially those who had been there and watched everything unfold.
"Eren, you still have two years left of your training and you're capable of this, then I for one can't wait to see where you go from here. When you join the scouting regiment after you graduate, it won't be as a recruit, you will be among the elites. And I will make sure that whatever squad you end up on that you're treated like an elite and not a rookie because you are far from that. Few cadets can say that they've killed a titan before they've graduated," Levi said and Eren felt his cheeks warm up, he was used to praise, from Carla and from the instructors but from Levi, from humanities strongest that mean more to him than anyone could understand or believe, he was putting in all this hard work to impress Levi because to Eren, Levi, Hange and Moblit's opinions of him was all that matters. He wanted them to be proud of him, "Eren, you could easy surpass me and become humanity's strongest,".
"What! No!" Eren said frantically, shaking his head, "I could never replace you, Levi!".
"Maybe. Maybe not," Levi started as he looked away from Eren and his cheeks lightly blushed pink, "If there was anyone, I had to share my title with then… I wouldn't mind if it were you, brat,".
"Levi!" Hange shouted, preventing Eren from replying, "We have to go! Bye-bye Eren, Moblit and I will miss you!".
"Bye Hange, say hello to Moblit from me will you" Eren shouted back but turned to look at Levi who had his prominent scowl on his face whilst he glared over at Hange.
"Shitty Four-eyes, doesn't know when to keep their nose out of things," Levi grumbled before looking back at Eren, "We probably won't be able to see you again until you graduate but Hange will write to you about whatever titans they see on our upcoming expedition. Bye brat,".
"Bye Levi," Eren said waving goodbye as Levi walked off. Eren watched as the three members of the scouting regiment saddle up and took off down the narrow winding path away from camp. Eren let out a sigh. That would be the last time he saw them for a long while. It was strange how he had gone from seeing them nearly every month to he's lucky to see them once a year. Hange and Levi were important to him.
"So, Levi huh" Ymir smirked as she and Reiner threw their arms around Eren's neck and watched as Eren's cheeks turned scarlet red.
"W-what about him?" Eren stuttered, he was so caught up in being with Levi and Hange he hadn't noticed people watching him.
"Well, we just saw how you were looking at him," Reiner started whilst Ymir continued, "Don't worry Eren it's perfectly natural to have a crush on someone, especially someone like humanities strongest,".
"What!" Eren said, his voice raised an octave and his cheeks flushed a darker red, "I-I don't have a c-crush on L-levi I respect him for who he is! Me crush nope never,".
Ymir and Reiner shared a look and smirked, "Aw our little Eren, look like someone has fallen that deep,".
"Don't worry, Eren!" Ymir said, "Reiner and I will help you get into Levi's pants,".
Reiner started laughing whilst the whole of Eren's face turned red, "Ymir! Reiner!".
Mikasa couldn't comprehend what had just happened. Eren killed a titan. The scouting regiment trusted Eren's abilities that much that Captain Levi ordered Eren to kill a titan. Hell, he even knew Eren's name. Mikasa knew that the scouting regiment had found Eren when he lost his memories and that they contacted Carla, asking her to open her home to Eren. Armin and Mikasa had tried many times to get any information out of Eren about his time with the scouting regiment but he had always said that he hadn't been there longer than a week so he didn't get to know any of them but today showed that Eren had been lying to them, to her. She had seen how close Eren was to Captain Levi and Squad Leader Hange, the way they interacted with each other, the way Eren was happy to talk with them when in theory they were his superiors.
"Armin" Mikasa started as she walked over to her childhood friend, "Have you heard what Eren did today?".
"He killed a titan Mika; the whole training Corps is talking about it," Armin said. Throughout this year at the training corps, he had seen how talented Eren was with the ODM gear, but Armin had never expected for Eren to pull something like that out of the bag. Armin hadn't been there to see it but Connie and Sasha were practically gushing about what Eren did to the other cadets, so he got the picture of what had happened, "Mika, you understand that Eren will end up in the scouting regiment now no matter what, he's talented enough to be considered an elite and the scouting regiment wouldn't want to lose out on that potential. Eren's ability and skill are probably worth a hundred or more soldiers. Hell, I would even say that Eren could be at the same level as Captain Levi,".
"Armin," Mikasa started, "When Eren was with the scouting regiment for that brief time. Do you think they trained him on the ODM gear?".
"Yes. I think Eren was with the scouting regiment longer than a week, a month at best, or maybe even longer. I think he knew Instructor Shadis when he was the commander and I think they did in fact train him on the ODM gear, it's why he didn't have to do that balancing test at the start of our training, he already knew how to use the gear," Armin said, it made sense. There was a lot about Eren they didn't know, and he had become more of a mystery during their training, his in-depth knowledge on titans and his instant skill and ability to use the ODM gear.
"Hey Armin, I've badly messed up with Eren, didn't I. He was going to become a scouting regiment soldier regardless of what we said" Mikasa said, it was time she finally accepted what she did, and how it was her fault that Eren wanted nothing to do with her anymore.
"Yeah Mika, you messed up" Armin agreed as they watched their fellow cadets surround Eren. They both messed up.
Eren never felt like this before. After the scouting regiment had left and Reiner and Ymir finally stopped teasing him, the rest of the training corps surrounded him. All shouting questions about what he did and how it felt like to kill a titan. It felt exhilarating. Eren could only imagine what the scouting regiment soldiers felt when they went into titan territory when they killed their first titan and survived their first trip outside the walls. Cadets surrounded Eren he called his friends and for the first time since they found him outside the walls with no memories, Eren felt he had truly found a purpose for his life. And he knew what he wanted to do next. He wanted to finish his training and join the scouting regiment. He wanted to find out who he is and what happened to him outside Wall Maria.
~2 years later~
Gemini hated being here any longer than they already had, finding the Founding Titan had become near impossible, they had wasted precious years of their brief lifespan running around after a ghost than serving their hometown but they couldn't fail their mission and that's why Gemini had called this meeting, so they could plan what they need to do before they are separated into their different regiments.
"I've been thinking recently about what we will do when we join our regiments, obviously we will all be separated and we will have to be careful when communicating so if anyone reads or intercepts our letters it will look like a couple of cadets catching up, of course, we will use Marley's method to hide and read the true intention of our letters," Gemini said, they wouldn't be able to meet up any longer and discuss their plan in person, so communication will be key and ensuring no one found out about the titan shifters and the threat to the island devils.
"Should we discuss who's going to what regiment, we've all predicted to make it into the top ten, but before you said ideally only two people really need to be in each regiment. I've already made a promise with another cadet to join the Military Police if I get into the top ten. I will look suspicious if I go back on my word now," Jaws said. They all had always been pretty vocal about joining the Military Police, so Jaws wasn't really sure how they could suddenly explain someone's change of mind.
"Jaws I understand your circumstances so if you do in fact get into the top ten then you will be one of those who join the Military Police. I'm assuming that you two don't want to be separated," Gemini said looking over at Reiner and Bertholdt, his fellow warriors nodded, "then it will be wise if you join the Garrison, maybe one of you has a change of heart and the other follows, that might be the only way for you to get around it. This leaves you, Annie, it will be safe to say you will join the Military Police with Jaws,".
"But that would mean, you are joining the scouting regiment," Bertholdt said, and Gemini nodded.
"We need to check out all leads that include the scouting regiment, and considering I am the Vice-Captain of the Warrior Unit, it's my duty to protect the rest of you. Therefore, I alone with join the scouting regiment and investigate Commander Erwin Smith and Squad Leaders," Gemini said, "However, that will only happen if we can't force the founder out from hiding,".
"Does that mean what I think it does?" Reiner asked, looking at Gemini. He knew they had suggested it before, but they've never decided whether they were going to do it. Gemini nodded.
"We're going to destroy Wall Rose,".
Could he do it again, take on his colossal form and destroy Wall Rose, what if it doesn't work? What if the devils attack him and kill him before he has a chance to breach the wall? He had been lucky last time because no one was prepared for a sixty-metre titan to suddenly appear and destroy the outer wall of Wall Maria but this time, these last five years the island devils had been preparing for an attack from the Colossal Titan.
"You're scared aren't you, Bertl," Reiner said, sitting down beside his boyfriend and wrapping his arm around Bertholdt's shoulders, pulling his boyfriend in close.
"I don't want to let anyone down Reiner, but I'm scared that if I transform and these devils get to me before I'm able to destroy the gate. If I can't then our entire mission falls apart" Bertholdt voiced his concerns to his boyfriend, Reiner was the only person Bertholdt could come to with this, Annie would just tell him to man up and shut up. Jaws were too busy being surrounded by the other cadets and he just couldn't approach Gemini.
"You won't Bertl, I know you can do it. I believe in you. Tonight, we will celebrate graduating and tomorrow, we'll worry about what the future holds. There's nothing we can do right now, so let's not stress about it. I'm sure we'll have a solid plan in place by the time we have to breach the walls" Reiner said, he understood where his boyfriend was coming from, these island devils had worked hard to prevent their precious walls from being breached again but the devils were still at a disadvantage, they didn't know that the Colossal Titan and the Armoured Titan had humans hiding in the napes of their titan forms and as long as they didn't find out then they could never ready themselves enough to fight them, Reiner had his armour, Bertholdt had his steam. The devils didn't have the weapons to fight them.
"You're right as always, I honestly wouldn't know what to do without you Reiner," Bertholdt said before kissing Reiner's cheek.
"You're just as important to me as I am to you Bertl" Reiner replied taking the palm of his hand resting it on Bertholdt's cheek before guiding his boyfriend's face down and pressed their lips together in a passionate kiss.
Three long years of hardship had led up to this moment – their graduation. Eren didn't care whether or not he was in the top ten, he was joining the scouting regiment just like he had always dreamed off. Tonight would be the last night he would be with his friends until they whisked him away to the Scouting Regiment Headquarters. A place he hadn't step foot in since he left it over five years ago, yet even though that amount of time had passed, Eren could still clearly picture the headquarters in his mind. The mess hall, the titan research area, the sleeping quarters, the commander's office and the training grounds. Everything was still fresh in his mind as if it were like he had never left. He was coming full circle, living in the headquarters as a child, and now he would return as a fully-fledged member of the scouting regiment.
But first, he needed to graduate. The cadets of the 104th had been summoned to the courtyard by Instructor Shadis and made to stand in rows of ten. The air was buzzing as everyone waited with bated breath for Shadis to address them and announces those who had made it into the top 10.
"Today you magots have completed your military training," Shadis said before pulling a piece of paper listing those who made it into the top ten from his pocket, "I will now announce the ten among you who have obtained the top training results. Come forward if I call your name,".
"Number ten, Ymir" Shadis shouted, Eren smiled as he watched his best friend walk out of her line and to the front.
"Number nine, Christa Lenz". Eren heard Christa let out a sigh of relief as she stood next to Ymir.
"Number eight, Sasha Blouse,".
"Number seven, Connie Springer,".
"Number six, Marco Bodt,".
"Number five, Jean Kirschstein,".
"Number four, Annie Leonhart,".
"Number three, Bertholdt Hoover,".
"Number two, Reiner Braun,".
"And our top-ranking graduate, Eren Yeager,".
"Now you have graduated, you can join one of the three military regiments. You can join the Garrisons, protecting towns and reinforcing the walls. Or the Scouting Regiment, who risk their lives beyond the walls, in Titan territory. Or the Military Police who serve the King, lead the people, and protect internal order," Shadis continued, he had spotted Levi and Hange waiting in the back watching the graduation begin, just as Eren's recommendation stated, he was required to leave the training corps right away after his graduation so Shadis shouldn't be surprised that Levi and Hange were already here to take him away, "Of course, only the top then students, whose names were just announced can join the Military Police,".
"Most of you will decide what regiment you will enter by the end of the following week but for now you are dismissed," Shadis said, everyone quickly saluted before they ran off to the mess hall to celebrate graduating, "Yeager, you have special circumstances stay here,".
Eren quickly excused himself from his friend's group and ran over to the instructor.
"As you know for your recommendation, you are officially a member of the scouting regiment and will leave for their headquarters tonight. I've already seen Levi and Hange, but I suggest before you go looking for them, you should collect your things and say your goodbyes. Unlike you, the others aren't enthusiastic about joining the scouting regiment so this might be the last time you see any of your fellow recruits for some time," Shadis said, he suspects that maybe Arlert and Ackerman will follow Eren but with the others, he can't be sure, those who can't join the Military Police normally go into the Garrisons, only maybe one or two people will think about joining the scouting regiment.
"I will, I'm already packed so I'll say my goodbyes to everyone, I doubt Levi and Hange will want to wait around much longer," Eren said. He felt giddy with excitement. He was joining the scouting regiment; he was really joining the scouting regiment.
"Eren be… be careful. I know the scouting regiment is going on an expedition in a couple of days. You need to be prepared for anything to happen outside the walls and you need to make it back alive. We can't have a repeat of when I found you as a child" Shadis said, he knew the facts and figures with how many soldiers they lose on expeditions outside the walls, he knew how many didn't make it back and he knew that most of those were recruits fresh out of training. He didn't want Eren to become another fact and figure.
"I promise, I'll be careful," Eren said smiling, he was stronger. Faster. Better. He trusted his abilities, but he wouldn't risk it, he would be careful. He would make it back alive. He saluted his instructor and ran back over to his friends; they were talking about what they wanted to do when they joined the Military Police.
"Now that I think about it, how come Mikasa wasn't in the top ten I thought she would at least get second place," Connie said, Ymir rolled her eyes whilst Reiner and Bertholdt shook their heads.
"That's because Mikasa gave up her place in the top ten two years ago when she messed around with Yeager's equipment, remember," Jean said through gritted teeth.
"Oh yeah, that happened" Connie spluttered embarrassed whilst Sasha laughed.
"What did Shadis want?" Reiner asked Eren when he noticed that his fellow cadet had joined them.
"He just told me that Captain Levi and Squad Leader Hange were already here to collect me and told me to make my goodbyes" Eren answered, he would quickly say goodbye to this lot then he would find Armin before collecting his things from the barracks.
"I can't believe you got the top spot in the top ten yet you're giving up your place in the Military Police to join the scouting regiment," Sasha said and Eren agreed. He wasn't sure why Shadis gave him the top spot when he more than well knew that Eren could only enter the scouting regiment.
"It's the conditions on my recommendation," Eren said, "Instructor Shadis knew that, so I don't get why he considered me for any spot in the top ten,".
"Recommendation?" Christa asked, and Eren froze. He had forgotten he had told no one about the recommendation he got from Levi to join the training corps.
"Ah… yeah," Eren started unsure how on earth he was going to explain this without revealing too much of his past, "Captain Levi wrote me a letter of recommendation when I joined the training corps but it stated that when I graduated I had to complete at least a year of service with the scouting regiment before I'm allowed to change regiments,".
"Eren," Jean started, "How well do you know Captain Levi for him to give you a letter of recommendation,".
Eren went red and sputtered out, "I h-have no, no i-idea what you are talking about. I only met him during that test. I need to go, say goodbye to Armin. So, um… goodbye, I wish you luck in your military career,".
Everyone watched as Eren turned around and ran off towards the mess hall, leaving them stunned.
"Eren knows we can tell when he's lying, right?" Jean said, resisting the urge to sigh and roll his eyes. The others hummed in agreement.
"Here you go, Marco," Jean said, walking over to his friend with two plates in his hands. After the whole Eren incident. Marco and Jean had left the others and headed to the mess hall to join in on the celebrations, Marco had grabbed them a table whilst Jean set about securing them something to eat, "Have you decided which regiment you're going to apply to? I know we still have a week to decide but I'd like to already make my decision so I'm not stressing about it during our last week of freedom".
"Military Police, I want to serve the king, it's been my dream since I was a child but also," Marco stated, "I'm scared of seeing a titan again. Unlike Eren, I'm not brave enough to fight them. That test confirmed so much, and it might be the coward's way out, but I'd feel safer if I were living inside Wall Sina. What about you? I know throughout our training you're were very vocal on joining the Military Police,".
"My mind hasn't changed; I'm looking forward to a comfortable life in the interior. Far away from any titans," Jean said, and Marco raised an eyebrow.
"But," he said, prompting for Jean to continue.
"I won't deny that I haven't thought about joining the Scouting Regiment, normally after Eren showed off and I kind of wanted to one-up him, but then I talk some sense into myself. Like you, the test showed me how terrifying the titans are and how dangerous they can be, I don't want to experience that again. When a trained member of the scouting regiment nearly dies in front of you, it makes you wonder what hope there is for us cadets," Jean said. He didn't want to lose Marco to the titans. These last three years, the freckled boy had become somewhat important to Jean.
"Then we'll join the Military Police together," Marco said grinning at Jean, who felt his heart skip a beat.
"Y-yeah, together,".
Levi wanted to give Eren enough time to say his goodbyes to his friends before being forced to leave. There was no chance that Eren would see some of these again, especially those in the top ten who would go on to the Military Police. For members of the scouting regiment and garrisons, there was no reason to enter the inner wall and the members of the military police kept themselves separate from the rest of the military unless you're a garrison member working inside Wall Shina. But because it wasn't humanity's last defence, there wasn't that many garrison members needed to defend the wall.
Levi and Hange found Eren surrounded by his fellow cadets, his bag in hand. Levi wasn't surprised when Shadis told him that Eren had received first place in the top ten, to Levi no one else was deserving of first place other than Eren. He was hardworking, determined, and extremely skilled. Levi still wasn't sure whose squad Eren would be in for the expedition outside the walls which will take place in a couple of days but Levi knew that out of everyone in the scouting regiment, Eren was more than capable of handling himself whilst outside the walls. But that didn't mean Levi and Hange hadn't pestered Erwin to find out what squad the Commander planned to put Eren on, for different reasons that were. Hange wanted Eren a part of their squad whilst Levi planned to intimidate the Squad Leader so they understood just how important Eren was to him and that Levi wouldn't accept the Squad Leader treating Eren like he wasn't capable. There was a reason they were inducting him into the scouting regiment a week ahead of schedule.
"Eren" Hange shouted, waving their hands around like a lunatic whilst they walked over to Eren.
"Hange! Levi!" Eren said, before muttering something to the people he was with and running over to meet them halfway, "Are we leaving soon?".
"Soon brat" Levi said pulling the satchel off his back and opened it up pulling out a brown jacket and green cloak and handed them over to Eren, "You're joining the scouting regiment, you need the correct jacket and cloak".
Eren pulled the brown jacket he was wearing off and tucked it between his knees before putting his scouting regiment jacket on followed by the cloak.
"Welcome to the Scouting Regiment Eren," Hange said, pretending to wipe a tear from underneath their eye.
"Thank you for having me," Eren said doing the salute. It was official he is a member of the scouting regiment. And he was more than ready to dedicate his heart to the cause.