Chapter 33: School – Part 1
There are more recruits than ever before in his time as Head Instructor. Keith Shadis walks down the line of the children because honestly, most of them are nothing else. The recruitment age of 12 doesn't help. Who leaves 15-year-old soldiers out to get eaten by titans? None of this thought is shown on his face, his first step is always to sort out the weakest, the ones that aren't made to be soldiers. This year is a bit different; he had thought that they would join a few more after the attack and the fall of wall Maria. But this is more than he had expected. There are also more recruits with potential. He sees it in their eyes. Children who have seen the titans or just lost their home due to the fact that everyone had to get out of Wall Maria. They want to fight, for the right reasons and Shadis can respect that. That doesn't stop him from tormenting everyone who shows him fear or weakness in any other kind of way.
Another thing that irritates him is Levi, the grey-eyed Survey Corps Captain. Such a talent, why is he really here? The only thing he was told was that they are looking for something, nothing more. Thankfully, he would take over the 3DMG training, maybe some of the talent would get passed over to these children, maybe some of them will survive longer with his help.
Passing another line, he finds something strange. All the children here have different looks in their eyes but still there are all the same in some way. There is fear, determination, hope, confusion, insecurity but what he is seeing now is joy. Not the ´looking forward for revenge´ joy, no plain and simple happiness. In all his years was that the first time to see such an emotion on a recruit's face.
"What's your name cadet?" Shadis ask the green-eyed boy and sees now something wild and … free in these eyes. Eyes that have seen thinks he would never understand. There is a wild animal inside this boy´s body. Something untameable.
The boy salutes. "Eren Jäger, sir." In the corner of his eyes, Shadis sees the two children next to him watch them closely, different then when he talks to the other recruits. They must belong together, friends most likely.
"Are you even old enough to be here?" Even if not Shadis doubt he will get the boy to send back in civilian life.
"I´m 12 years old, sir." At least he is polite.
"So why is a 12-year-old child happy to join the military? Do you like to get eaten by the titans?" Hopefully, this boy isn't some simpleton that joint because he doesn't understand what´s going on.
"I´m happy to be with my friends and make new ones. So, we can fight together against the titans." The child really has the courage to smile even brighter at him.
"Oh, you really are stupid am I right? Do you think fighting against titans will be fun? I will take this joy out of you don't worry."
"Why shouldn't I have fun fighting against humanities enemies? Isn't that better then to hate every day of my life by doing something I don't really want to do. When you do something you like your heart is in it and whatever happens in the end you will never be disappointed in yourself." This boy is something else. Answering his rhetorical questions and even arguing with statements that only children and dreamers will get but still making his point.
"Enjoy it as long as you can, I doubt that your view of the world won´t change after meeting your first titan." Shadis starts turning around but sees how the recruit opens his mouth to say something but is quickly shut up by the person next to him. A girl with black hair and determent eyes. Someone he won´t need to talk to, but it is a bit funny seeing her kicking the other boy in the leg and earning herself the most confusing look he had ever seen. That boy didn't have any clue about the world he just entered. Shadis continues his tour and finds himself with another strange child, what is she thinking eating a potato.