The Royal Courts of Justice was one of the oldest and most grandiose buildings inside the three walls, second only to the royal palace itself. White marble statues of blindfolded angels holding up gold scales adorned its magnificent façade, the representation of the blind justice that all who enter such a place hope to find.
Countless rulings and defining moments had come from within the court's elegant hallways, and ornate courtrooms; The signing of the charter of humanity, the formation of the survey corp as the third military arm, passing the emergency powers act after the fall of Wall Maria. And today it would decide the fate of Eren Yeager.
It was already being called the trial of the decade by both the press and the people; the sentencing of a boy who turned into a titan and saved Trost. It sounded like something you would hear from the mouth of a drunkard or a street wandering lunatic, yet the sheer numbers of soldiers now filling the capital added a great deal of validity to these bizarre stories.
Despite it supposedly being a closed military tribunal, the courtroom was packed. Nobles, Army officers, wealthy merchants and senior religious figures filled the stands to bursting. All of them wanted to see this mysterious titan boy and find out what will happen to him.
"Silence in the court! The trial is about to begin." The court crier boomed out, hushing the cacophony of voices from all the spectators. An eerie silence followed as hundreds of heads turned towards the courtroom doors, waiting for the accused to enter.
They didn't have to wait long, as only moments later the doors were pushed open and a nervous-looking boy was pushed through them, flanked on both sides by armed MPs. Judgmental eyes followed the boy as he was forced to kneel before the bench and pinned in place by a large metal rod.
"All rise for Premier Zachary, Supreme Commander of the armed forces." The crier once again shouted, as the man in question stepped through a private door and sat down in the chair of judgement in front of the court.
Zachary rolled up his sleeves as he glanced at a piece of paper, before turning to look at Eren.
"Alright, shall we begin? Your name is Eren Yeager, a trainee in the 104th southern cadet corp, is that correct?"
A bead of sweat passed across the pinned boy's brow, a sign of his fraying nerves. "Yes." His voice was barely louder than a whisper, but it carried across the silent room. "Yes, sir."
"Given the extraordinary circumstance in which you find yourself here, and as an enlisted trainee in a time of war, military doctrine will apply, and this tribunal will be held as a court-martial. As such your right to trial by a jury of peers has been suspended and I, as overall commander of our armed forces, will have full decision-making authority in this case and whether you live or die. Do you have any objections?"
Eren broke eye contact with the Premier, looking down as the seriousness of this case truly dawned on him.
"No, sir."
A small murmur broke out amongst the crowd; clearly some had been expecting some protest or outburst from the titan boy at hearing his rights were being suspended.
"Your astuteness is appreciated. Let us proceed; due to the nature and the situation surrounding your ability, concealing your existing has proven impossible. And unless your existence and subsequent fate is publicly disclosed, we run the risk of widespread civil unrest. Therefore, it falls to me to decide which regiment should take custody of you: The Military Police or the Scouting Regiment."
"We shall start with the case from the Military Police."
"Thank you, Sir. My name is Nile Dawk, Commander of the Military Police, we recommend that after a thorough examination of his physiology, the subject should be disposed of immediately. We recognise that his ability played a part in the successful counter-attack at Trost, but as has already been stated, his mere existence has stirred unrest all across the walls. For the greater good of all of humanity, after we have extracted all the useful information he can provide, he should be made into a fallen warrior of humanity."
"Unacceptable!" a tall man, wearing silk robes and adorned with golden chains had screeched out. He was pastor Nick, a high standing member of the Order of the Walls, a religious cult which has rapidly swelled both in its number of followers and political influence since Maria fell.
His fellow order members described him as being the most devout of them, unwavering in his belief in the holy walls. Others would label him as an unbending religious extremist, who cared more about the three walls than the people they protect.
"This vile demon has defiled and infiltrated the mighty walls; he means to bring death and destruction upon all of us. He should be killed at once!" The man had gone red in the face as he ranted and raved.
"Pastor Nick. Please remain quiet, or I will have you removed; this is a courtroom, not a church." Zachary deadpanned at the man, somewhat irritated at the interruption. The priest grunted and growled but wisely silenced himself, Nick knew where the real power laid in this room, and it certainly wasn't him.
"Good. Now, let us hear from the Scouting Regiment."
"Yes, Sir. As Commander of the survey corp I, Erwin Smith, propose the following; Let Eren join our ranks as a full member of the scouts, where we shall utilise his ability to retake Wall Maria."
More mumbling broke out at the incredibly brief proposal. This time, however, Zachary joined them in expressing his confusion.
"Hmm? Is that it?"
"Yes, Sir. With his assistance, I am certain we can reclaim Wall Maria. Ergo, I believe it is clear what our top priority must be, any threat Eren proposes is vastly overshadowed by the benefits he can provide to humanity."
"A bold claim Commander. Tell me, if Eren was assigned to the scouts, where would you launch this reclamation mission from? The report from Commander Pixis is clear that the outer Trost gate is completely sealed and is unlikely ever to be opened again."
"We would launch the expedition from Calaneth District in the east. From there we would make our way to Shiganshina, a new route can be established as we proceed."
This time it was a merchant who interrupted the court rather than a priest. "That's ridiculous! Our time and money would be better spent sealing up all the gates. Those are the only parts of the wall the Colossal Titan can break! Let's reinforce the blasted things and wash our hands of the entire affair!"
Another voice shouted across the court, "Shut your mouth, you spineless merchant dog! With a titan on our side, we can return to Wall Maria!"
"Bah! Maria is lost, we can't afford any more of your childish heroics. Let us save what we currently have, rather than wasting money and resources in the vain attempt to retake the wall."
Several more people shot to their feet, preparing to add their own opinion into the mix, but a new voice beat them to the punch.
"You've got a big mouth, pig. Do you think the titans will stand idly by while we block up all the gates?" Humanity's strongest, Captain Levi, looked at the merchant as if he was dirt on his shoes.
"And when you say, 'we can't afford', do you speak for anyone other than your fat, wealthy friends? Do you pigs even realise that most of humanity outside of the capital and Sina are struggling to survive off what little land we have left?"
Although the small captain being halfway across the room, the merchant took a step back in fear. "I… I'm simply saying that filling the gates are the only guaranteed protection we've got!"
Despite the man technically supporting the MPs and Pastor Nick stance; the cultist could no longer stop himself from turning on the man.
"Hold your tongue, heretic! Are you suggesting that we lowly humans meddle with Wall Rose, a gift to us from the Gods themselves?" the dirty looks sent his way the by a group of Garrison soldiers went unseen. "The walls are a divine miracle, that transcends human understanding!"
Zachary slammed his hand against the wooden desk in front of him, cutting off the escalating argument between the two men. "Order! This is not the place for you to debate personal sentiments. Pastor Nick, I will not ask you again, remain silent, or I will have you and your fellows removed from this courtroom."
"Now then Mr Yeager, I have a question for you. As a cadet, you knew of the solemn pledge you would be asked to make upon your graduation to defending humanity. I ask you now, can you still make this oath to us by controlling your ability?"
Eren was too eager to be able to defend himself finally, that he didn't notice the trap he was about to walk into. Armin suppressed a groan, knowing what would come next.
"Yes, I can, Sir!"
"Oh, Is that so? This report from the battle of Trost contradicts your statement. Just after transforming you swung your fists at Mikasa Ackerman, a fellow cadet, twice."
Eren's head snapped towards the girl in question, who stood stoically between Rico Brzenska and Armin, her face devoid of any emotion.
"Is Mikasa Ackerman present?" it was a semi-rhetorical question, he already knew she was here, after all, she was a key eye-witness. She had been personally escorted to the capital by a squad of MPs at his own request.
She turned her head and gave Zachary a piercing gaze. "Yes, Sir." she said blandly.
"You, huh?" he replied after a moments pause, taken aback by her uncommon Asian features.
"Is it true that Eren Yeager assaulted you when he was in titan form?"
"Strictly speaking, no, Sir. Assault would imply some form of injury was acquired from the incident, but that was not that case. Eren missed both times and Cadet Arlert and I were able to quickly bring him back under control and complete our mission to reclaim Trost, with no further incident. A mission that without Eren would have been impossible." She continued to stare at Zachary, almost daring him to question her words.
"Eren was forced by the military to use a power no one understands, in a live combat area with minimal preparation and no backup plan. We placed everything on his shoulders, all of humanity's hope, and asked him to save Trost. Yet despite this, he did his part. He served humanity as any good soldier should, and if that's an executional offence, then there are thousands of other troopers you'll have to kill as well."
"Objection!" Nile spoke up, forcing the Premier to break eye contact and look to the MP.
"We have reasons to believe that personal feelings play a large part in her testimony, let the records show that Mikasa Ackerman lost her parents at a young age and was taken in by the Yeager family. What's more, our own investigation into this matter led to a shocking discovery. At the tender age of nine, Eren Yeager and Mikasa Ackerman killed three bandits in the forest by Shiganshina…"
"Objection! Irreverent to the trial." This time it was Armin who spoke up, cutting off the MP without a second thought. "Nothing in Mikasa testimony could have been influenced by emotional sentiment. Every word she spoke was the truth and can be cross-verified by every member of the escort squad, myself included. We had minimal time to prepare, even though Eren was still disorientated from his previous transformation. Mikasa wasn't injured in any way during the incident and Eren was quickly brought back under control."
Nile looked like he had bitten into something sour; his inflated ego didn't handle being interrupted by a mere cadet very well. He glared at Armin with anger, which was returned with a cold stare.
Maybe younger Armin would have backed down, but he wasn't young anymore. He was still a scout at heart, so he refused out of principle to be intimidated by an MP, even if they were the Commander of the entire regiment.
"Commander Dawk is trying to use a closed case of self-defence, brought about because of his regiment's failure to deal with banditry and other crimes outside Wall Sina, to manipulate the perception of a key witness as to distract this court from her testimony. It is as petty as it is brazen, as it has no place in a court of law, even in a military tribunal."
"But I suppose corruption is such an integral part of the Military Police, so the moral corruption of its leadership shouldn't be surprising."
At that, the MP commander exploded, gripping the barrier as if preparing to leap over it. "Listen here you little shit! I am the commander of the Military Police, and I will not be talked down to by some jumped up little cun…"
"COMMANDER DAWKS! Compose yourself at once." Zachary bellowed down from his seat at the seething MP.
The corners of Armin's mouth twitched as he stared at the red-faced commander. Targeting the MP had been a risky move, but it had been far more successful than he could have ever anticipated. What support Nile's proposition had, both with Zachary and the crowd started to collapse at the sight of a senior officer basically throwing a fit at a cadet.
When the red mist left Nile, it dawned on him too. In one move he had undermined both his own case and his personal standing with the Premier. He had made a fool of himself in a very public place and wouldn't be able to pass it off on a scapegoat like he usually would.
His eye twitched as he saw the tiniest of smirks appear on the blond cadet's face and realised had been played. Completely and utterly played.
He ground his teeth together as he stepped back from the railing, his nails digging into the palm of his hand. "My apologies Premier, that was… unprofessional."
Looking back at the boy who had made him dance like a puppet, he was uncomfortably reminded of Erwin. They acted and spoke in a similar manner; composed and steadfast, not reacting in the slightest to his outburst. They had both gotten under his skin with disturbing ease, making him look the fool. Hell, with that thick blond hair they even looked similar.
He wondered if they were related in some way; a cousin or nephew, perhaps even a secretive son. He shivered slightly at that thought and could practically feel his hair starting to turn grey because if it.
"Cadet, what is your name?" Zachary turned towards the Armin.
"Armin Arlert, Sir."
"Well Cadet Arlert, I would tell you not to interrupt these proceedings but seeing as you are our second key witness, that would be counter-productive. However, I will remind you that in future to treat senior officers with the respect they deserve."
There was a slight flicker of humour within the Premier's eyes. He was scolding Armin purely because there were civilians present, rather than to defend Dawk's authority. The regiment's corruption was an open secret within the walls, and it amused him to see it called out so publicly.
"Now is there anything else you wanted to add to Cadet Ackerman's testimony?"
"Only that without Eren, it is likely the majority of the 104th southern cadet corp would have been wiped out. He was crucial in retaking the armoury, which allowed us to resupply and withdraw from the city. He also personally saved my life during the battle, killing a titan which was about to crush me. I ask that these things are taken into consideration for your final decision."
Zachary pondered his words, scratching his beard as he did so.
"Consideration?! What is there to consider? That thing is a titan, and you two are defending it, all three of them are traitors to humanity!" Dimo Reeves screeched out from the rear of the stands. His voice was nasally and unpleasant, curtesy of his badly broken nose which was covered with bandages and medical tape.
He pointed at Mikasa with his fat, sausage-like fingers.
"That bitch took out two men twice her age and then assaulted me during the battle, does that sound like a normal human being to you? I bet she's a monster just like him; we should dissect all three of them just to be sure!"
Mikasa sneered at the man, 'I should have just run you through with my sword, would have been a lot easier. But you are right about one thing; I am like Eren, and maybe one day I'll show you exactly how monstrous I can be.'
Dimo's outburst had broken the seal of silence in the room, and soon countless other shouting voices filled the court; Eren was shouting in defence of his friends, proclaiming their innocence; others were shouting either in support of Reeves or against him.
The guards looked around; hands clenched tight around their rifles unsure of what to do. Captain Levi was about to vault over the barricade after he received a small nod from Erwin.
"SILENCE!" thundered Zachary. He had stood up, toppling his chair backwards, and slammed his fist down on the desk. He loomed over the courtroom; his face warped into a picture of wrath.
"Private Howell and Welch, remove Mr Reeves from this courtroom at once. And if there is one more interruption today, I will hold whoever's responsible in contempt of court!"
The fat man spluttered and struggled as he was dragged from the room by two burly MPs. Dimo shouted out his name as if it had more authority of the MPs than the commander in chief. Him being thrown out of the court onto the hard marble floor was the answer regarding who was more important.
When the heavy oak doors were slammed shut in the merchant's face, the court was once again left in silence. Everyone turned back to the still-standing Zachary.
"Despite frequent attempts to turn this trial into a farcical circus, I have made my decision."
"Eren Yeager, your ability is as dangerous as it is valuable, and I wholehearted believe that within you resides the power to either save or destroy humanity."
"But nothing in this world would change if humanity isn't willing to take risks, in the hopes of a better tomorrow. Therefore, with the best interest of mankind at heart I assign full custody of Eren Yeager to the Scouting Regiment, where your abilities can best be utilised to serve us and, if I am wrong about you, the regiment best equipped to terminate you should you betray us."
Armin and Mikasa let out a small sigh of relief; the immediate danger was over, Eren had been assigned to the scouts and wouldn't be executed. And Captain Levi didn't even need to kick the crap out of him, although Armin reckoned Levi would have been disappointed at that if he had returned as well.
A hand rose up, its owner was hidden by a mass of military officers, but his voice was unmistakable, especially for anyone who had enlisted in the last few years. "Premier Zachary, a moment please."
Zachary had righted his chair and sat back down in it. Clearly, the voice was familiar to him as well, as he leaned forward a fraction. "The court recognises Chief Instructor Keith Shadis of the 104th Cadet Corp."
The tall man strode forward, his path clearing as officer and civilian alike moved from his path. Armin noted how he looked older than he did a week ago, his eyes appeared to have sunken even deeper into his face, and the wrinkles around his eyes and forehead had expanded. He knew why, despite the man's intimidating and frightening personality, Armin knew he cared about his cadets and losing so many in Trost must have taken a dreadful toll on him.
"Premier, I would be in remiss of my duty if I didn't remind the court that Eren Yeager is still 14 years old and has eight months left of his training before his graduation. While I recognise the exceptional circumstances surrounding this case, I must also bring up the effect this would have on Eren. While it is true that boot camp is designed to train soldiers who can operate effectively both independently and in teams, it is also an undeniable fact that even years after their training is complete soldiers will operate at a higher efficiency when working with other members of their cadet corps."
"Therefore, I believe that completely separating Eren from his fellow cadets would have serious adverse effects on his combat effectiveness and overall morale. As he is also one of the top 10, many of his comrades look up to him as a source of inspiration and motivation, and this separation would likely badly affect them as well."
"Hmm." Zachary leaned back in his chair, his hand slowly stroking his beard again. "Yes, I can see how that could cause issues. Commander Pixis, as the most senior officer present during the Battle of Trost, what is your assessment on the 104th?"
The elderly man had been quiet throughout the trial and was subtly reaching toward his flask when his name was called, despite the whispered protest from his personal aide. A flash of disappointment passed across his face as his drink would have to wait.
"I only interacted personally with three cadets from the 104th during the battle, all of which are in this room. But all three left an impression on me that I shall never forget."
"I am not ashamed to admit that the plan for the counter-attack did not come from myself or one of my officers, but instead was devised by Cadet Arlert. He was the one to suggest using Yeager's ability to move the boulder, and to bait the titans into a corner where they could be disposed of via cannon fire."
"And Cadet Ackerman is perhaps one of the deadliest soldiers I have ever seen; in a single day she has achieved a confirmed solo kill count of 20 titans and an unconfirmed count approaching 40."
The sharp intake of breath around the room was like a howling wind.
Twenty solo titan kills was something that only the most experienced scouts had ever achieved, and that number was built up over years of fighting. The only person who might accomplish such a thing in a single day was the legendary Captain Levi. For an ungraduated cadet to achieve the same feat defied belief.
"While these cadets are extraordinary, the rest of their corp is by no means incompetent. During the first phase of the battle, following the overrunning of the vanguard and the withdrawal of the rear guard, the majority of the cadets were left in the city, running low on gas and blades as the armoury had been overrun and supply lines were severed."
"Despite this, the cadets launched an impromptu and highly dangerous operation to retake the armoury. Not only did they succeed, but according to the initial debriefings, the cadets managed to take down six 3m class titans that had entered the supply room, without the use of 3DMG gear."
"In conclusion, I believe that the 104th might be one of the finest classes ever trained by humanity, and due to their involvement at Trost they are perhaps some of the most experienced soldiers we have, outside of the scouts and a portion of the garrison, in actual Titan warfare." The Garrison Commander finished with a gentle smile, privately revelling in the stir his words had caused.
Zachary raises a single eyebrow and gives the Garrison Commander an appreciative nod.
"A shining endorsement Commander Pixis, and from what I have heard and seen, it is a well-deserved one indeed. However, I do have a personal question for you Instructor Shadis. Why were the 104th in Trost that day? There was nothing in the training schedule about drills in the district."
Shadis looked shamed faced for a moment. He must believe that his decision to take the cadets to Trost and the Colossal attacking that day had just been incredibly bad luck.
If only he knew the truth.
"A few weeks ago, we had a desertion, and while dropouts aren't uncommon in the first year of training, for such thing to happen in the last year is rare. The deserter, Annie Leonhart, was on her way to becoming one of the top 10 and was the best cadet we had in hand-to-hand combat."
"I decided that the cadets needed to get a real taste of military life outside of training, as to weed out any other possible deserters. As the majority of them would likely be joining the garrison after their graduation, I decided that Trost was the best place for them to get that experience."
"I hold myself fully responsible for all of the losses suffered by the class." There was no lie in Shadis voice. The undertone of pain and loss in his words was unmissable, as he thought about his dead trainees.
"Unless you are a titan Instructor Shadis, you are not responsible for any deaths. And while the casualties taken by the 104th is deeply regrettable, it was fortunate they were present in the district on that day. Without them and cadet Yeager, it is likely the result would have been much worse for humanity."
"And in recognition of their heroic actions in Trost I, Dhalis Zachary, as overall commander of humanity's armed forces authorise the immediate graduation of 104th southern cadet corp." he banged his hand against the desk twice before standing one last time.
"Court dismissed."
Later that Day
The news of their impending graduation had spread quickly throughout the 104th, though some were still in shock from the battle and the news about Eren, most had taken it in stride as just another example of their type of luck.
They had all been withdrawn from the war-ravaged city as reconstruction teams finally arrived and had been shipped back to bootcamp, where the graduation ceremony would be held.
Sasha found herself sitting on the ground, knees tucked under her chin, back resting against one of storage shed's walls. In her hand rested a small piece of paper, filled with scribbled out words and crossed out sentences. It was supposed to be a letter to her father; they had parted on bad terms, and she hadn't spoken to him since her enlistment. She had left home after he decided to let the Marian refugees convert their forest into farms and had stubbornly refused to talk to him since.
That was a decision she now regretted terribly; she was lucky to be alive right now, and she couldn't even remember the last words she said to him.
She had wanted to write to him, to send him a letter telling him she was sorry, and that she loved him and hoped he and mum were okay. But she didn't know how to express those feelings; every apology felt hollow; every question about home only highlighted how much she had missed.
She wished Armin was here; he was smart and always seemed to know what to say. She knew if she asked, he would help her write it and do a better job of it than she could ever hope to do.
"Yo, Sasha."
She looked up from the messy letter and gave a small smile at the person who stood in front of her.
Connie held a small loaf of bread in each hand and tossed one to her as he slumped down against the wall. Strangely, Sasha didn't feel hungry, and after staring at the offering for a second, she simply placed it in her lap before looking back at the letter.
"Was dat?" he blurted out with a mouthful of bread, gesturing at the letter.
"It's a letter. To my Pa." She had told Connie about the reason for her enlistment before, and he had encouraged her to send a letter to her family, but she had refused.
"Oh." He swallowed down the bread, "Gonna tell him you fought titans and survived?"
Connie was partially right; she was going to tell her father that, but this letter was also much more than that. She had made her decision about her graduation and which regiment she was going to join. She was frightened by her decision, but she was going to stick to it.
She owed it to those who didn't make it.
This letter was going to be her apology; both for leaving and likely for not coming back.
"Well, we won't have to worry about that now, right? Ya' know, fighting titans. If we're in the top 10 we can join the MPs and live in the capital; behind two giant walls and access to all the food, we could ever want. That would be the smart thing to do." Connie said, airily.
"Yeah, that's what a clever person would do." She replied quietly, not sure how to raise her decision to join the scouts to him. Afterall she struggled enough trying to explain it to herself, let alone Connie.
"And even if we don't reach the top 10 then we can join the garrison and maybe be assigned to the northern districts. A bit chilly up there but I heard they've got hot springs and stuff. They are the safest districts outside the capital as well. That'd also be a smart thing to do." Connie scratched at the patchy stubble growing across his jawline as he spoke.
"I guess there are the scouts as well, Armin and Mikasa will definitely be joining them, but that's easily the most dangerous option. We'd have to face titans again and go beyond the wall. It might be a bit easier though since we've battled them before, and with Eren there we'd have a titan fighting for us rather than against us. It'd still be stupidly dangerous though, and there's a good chance we wouldn't make it back."
Sasha looked at the boy, who quickly avoided her gaze. Something was up with him.
"Yeah," she said slowly, "joining the scouts would be dangerous."
"Totally, my mum would smack me silly if I joined them, but I keep thinking about it. I used to think Eren was just a bit crazy with all his Titan rants, but he was right. They did attack again, and we only won because we fought back. If we beat them at Trost, maybe we can beat them again."
Connie was quiet for a moment, picking at his bread idly. She knew the boy well, and she recognised the look of deliberation on his face. He wanted to ask her something.
She felt a spark of hope flicker in her heart. Could it be?
She watched him intently, her breath caught in her throat, not even daring to breathe in case it scared him away.
"Hey, Sash… Wanna do something really stupid? Like 'joining the scouts' kind of stupid?"
She smiled and pulled him into a bone-crushing hug. Her eyes watered slightly, knowing she wouldn't be alone in her madness.
"With a big idiot like you? Always."
Marco drummed his fingers on the old wooden canteen table. There was only a handful of other cadets in the mess hall; some sat with friends, but most sat alone. There were too many seats that would no longer be filled, too many faces that will never be seen again.
Jean sat in front of him, brushing a hand through his light brown hair whilst bringing a spoonful of broth to his mouth. He was putting on an act of calmness and indifference, but Marco could still see the slight shake in his hand even now.
He had heard Jean whimpering and crying out at night just like every other cadet. He couldn't understand why Jean pretended not to be affected by what he saw.
Even Reiner hadn't tried to hide his pain to the extent Jean had, the giant blond had openly allowed a few tears to fall as he watched the bodies being removed during the clean-up operation. He was like an older brother to everyone, if Reiner could show his pain, why couldn't Jean?
"Well, at least we won't have to put up with this tasteless gruel in the interior, right Marco? I heard they get beef and pork with every meal! Can you even imagine it?" Jean spoke, looking excited at the thought.
Marco took a deep breath and readied himself. It was time.
"Jean." he blurted out the name, a fraction louder than he wanted.
He took another breath before starting again, in a quieter tone. "Jean… even if I do reach the top 10, I'm not going joining the MPs. I'm signing up with the scouts."
The long-faced boy froze, staring at him as if he had grown a second head. The spoon dropped from his hand, bouncing off the table with a clang.
"YOU WHAT?!" he shouted, drawing the attention of every cadet in earshot. "Have you lost your mind, Marco?! Why in the name of the walls would you join them?"
He had run this whole conversation through his head half a dozen times. He had expected this outburst, after all for all their mutual dislike Jean was very much like Eren; both wore their emotions on the sleeve.
"I've been thinking about all the things Eren use to say and what Armin and Mikasa said on that rooftop. We had basically given up at that point, all of us sat on the roof waiting to die. But they didn't. They were in the same situation as us, yet they fought on. And they won. We won. We won because we kept fighting, even as all seemed lost."
"They have both lost their homes and families to the titans, if anyone deserved to be safe in the interior, it's them. But they're joining the scouts so they can keep fighting for humanity, for us."
"Well, of course, they think like that, they're best friends with the suicidal bastard, all three of them have a death wish. They've lost things to the titans and want revenge, but you haven't, so why would you throw away your life as well?"
"I don't want to die Jean; I don't want to fight titans again. But I'm here because I wanted to become a soldier, and fighting titans is what we are trained to do."
"If you don't want to die why the hell would you join them?! We were lucky enough to survive Trost, anyone of those titans could have torn you in half. Why would you risk that again when you could live in the interior?" Jean sounded utterly dismayed as he tried to dissuade the freckled boy.
A wave of unexpected anger rose from deep within Marco. It was an alien and unpleasant feeling, and one he didn't fully understand.
"That's exactly the point, Jean! Four years ago, Trost was the interior. There used to be dozens of miles of habitable land in front of it, inhabited by tens of thousands of people all protected by Wall Maria. And now we are battling titans on its streets. What's to say it won't happen again, huh? What's to say that soon the 'interior' is all that's left? Humanity can't win if we don't fight back and I can't stand on the sidelines any longer." He shouted back at his friend.
He stood up, looking at Jean's stunned face at his outburst. "I'm sorry Jean, I know you wanted us to join the MPs together, but I can't, not anymore. I won't judge you if you still want to join them, but Trost is your home Jean, not mine. Remember that when it's time to decide."
With his piece said Marco walk away, not once looking back even as Jean shouted his name.
The carriage ride from the capital had been long, awkward and uncomfortable for Armin and Mikasa (the constant potholes along the rough dirt tracks hadn't been kind to their posteriors). Shadis hadn't uttered a single word for most of the journey, seemingly content to stare out the window at the slowly passing trees.
They were the vanguard of a small convoy; senior officers and representatives of all three divisions followed behind them. Each eager to see who they might gain from the storied 104th.
It was only when the outer camp fence came into view did the instructor finally decided to speak.
"You played a dangerous game today; smart-arsing the Premier and disrespecting Dawk was a ballsy move. But you did well, probably what saved Yeager from execution. Do you still intend to join him in the scouts?"
They both nodded silently.
The ex-commander of the scouts continued to look through the window, seemingly content with their answer. Neither Armin nor Mikasa expected him to speak again, but eventually, he did.
"I used to know Yeager's parents, back before he was even born. His mother was one of a kind; fiery and passionate and with the temper to match. She once scared off a squad of MPs who were harassing one of her neighbours, by yelling in their ears for nearly an hour straight."
A small smile graced his weary face as he remembered a happier time before the breach.
"Eren gets it from her, you know. His temper."
Armin and Mikasa knew this. Carla had been a second mother to both of them, and they had both been present when she had argued with a merchant or a particular drunk soldier. It may have been over a decade since they had last seen her, but both of their hearts gave a painful clench as the memories of their adoptive mother surfaced.
"His father was a lot calmer; he was a just and honest man, a doctor without equal and a rare spirit within the walls. He spoke of freedom and exploration more than the most scouts did. He was one of my closest friends."
"They both loved their son, but both had very different mindsets about him. After Eren was born, Carla once told me that he didn't need to be great, that being born into this world was enough. Grisha disagreed, however, he believed Eren would be one of those chosen people, someone great who could change the world."
"I thought about that every time I saw Yeager; every time he failed and tried again and again and again until he finally succeeded. Every time one of you two or another cadet helped and encouraged him or pushed him forwards. Even now, I don't know which parent was right."
"Eren holds a great power within him, but he is too stubborn and short-tempered for his own good. He's liable to get himself or others killed before he could do a damn thing to help humanity. He will need others beside him to keep him in control and to guide him even if he doesn't want to be."
The carriage rolled to a halt as they finally reached the camp. Slowly Shadis turned to them, any trace of his previous smile had vanished.
"There's something abnormal about the two of you; the way you act and fight like two harden war veterans, rather than a pair of green children. I've read the reports, and the two of you are mentioned nearly as much as the 'rogue titan' or whatever it is they are calling Yeager now. There's no way you learnt even half the stuff you did from here."
Shadis's steely gaze intensified on the two cadets, noting the stiffness in Mikasa posture and the slight paling of Armin's face.
"I don't know what the two of you are, or how you became like this, but frankly I don't care. Stay close to Yeager and watch his back. Maybe the three of you will succeed in changing the world, where so many others have failed before."
Without another word, Shadis pushed opened the carriage door and stepped out, leaving the two speechless cadets behind.
Several Hours Later
"When you came to me two years ago, you were all useless, naïve children who couldn't tell one end of a sword from the other." Shadis bellowed at them from the stage. Behind him stood several men; representatives and commanders from each division, each stood at silent attention.
"Some of you enlisted because you wanted to be a hero. Some of you joined to make your families proud. Others only signed on to get a better life in the capital. But why you joined was irreverent.
Over the last two years, I have done everything in my power to break you. I broke your spirits, I broke your bodies, and I tore down your hopes and dreams until all that was left was an empty shell and a blank canvas. Then I rebuilt you, from the ground up. I taught you to fly; I taught you to fight; I taught you to survive!"
"Several days ago, you were tempered in the fires of war. You faced Mankind's mortal enemy on the field of battle, and you survived. Everyone who stands here today has been changed by that experience, for better or for worse.
The losses you endure, the pain you endured and horrors you faced have changed you. Now you are no longer children, you are no longer naïve, and you are no longer useless! ALL OF YOU ARE NOW SOLDIERS WORTHY OF HUMANITY!" he roared out.
"104th, I salute you!" he did, and it was returned by the 150 surviving cadets crashing their fists against their beating hearts in near-perfect unison.
"While the top 10 is usually decided by the scores you achieved during your practical and theoretical tests, the actions of specific individuals during the battle of Trost can not be ignored. Therefore, in ascending order here are your top ten;
Sasha Blouse, for her exceptional survivalist skills and combat abilities.
Connie Springer, for his proficient usage and expert manoeuvrability with 3DM gear
Krista Lenz, for her combat proficiency and achieving a solo titan kill without the use of her gear.
Marco Bott, also for his combat proficiency and achieving a solo titan kill without the use of her gear.
Jean Kirstein, also for his expert usage of 3DM gear and the steady leadership he showed whilst under pressure.
Eren Yeager, for his actions during the battle of Trost and his steadfast determination to succeed in any circumstance.
Bertolt Hoover, for his outstanding proficiency in using 3DM gear and achieving a solo titan kill without the use of hir gear.
Reiner Braun, for his exception physically strength, combat abilities and 3DM competency. He also achieved two solo titan kills, one without the use of his gear."
Armin Arlert, for the extraordinary leadership and tactical brilliance he showed during combat and for achieving three solo titans kills and two assists.
Mikasa Ackerman, for her unmatched lethality in combat; slaying between 20 to 40 titans alone in a single engagement.
The rest of you take a look; these are the top of your class!"
The other cadets saluted at the top 10 (technically nine as Eren was not present at the ceremony, being already assigned to the scouts.) and they, in turn, saluted to the men on stage.
"As of this moment, you have three options open to you; The Garrison Regiment – responsible for defending and maintaining the Walls, the Scout Regiment – responsible for riding out and reclaiming our lost land and the Military Police – who preserve law and order in the capital and Sina Districts on behalf of his Majesty, the King." After presenting their options Shadis stepped aside, allowing Commander Dawk to take centre stage.
"As you all know, the Military Police Brigade is the primary force of law and order within our territory. Not only do we ensure peace and stability within the walls, but we also serve as the King's personal guard. To be an MP is an honour of the highest degree as we only accept the best of the best. Those cadets who are eligible have already been named and should step forward if they wish to join." He sounded bored as if he did see the need to convince the top 10 to join the MPs.
After all, who doesn't want to live in the capital?
None of the nine eligible cadets moved. Jean had clenched his hand into a fist and was silently cursing to himself, 'Why?! Why do this, Marco?' He wanted to step forward; his brain was screaming at him to move, to seize this opportunity and not look back.
But his heart refused. Marco was his friend, his best friend. Jean knew he could be arrogant and sometimes let his ego get the better of him, but he wasn't a heartless bastard. He couldn't abandon his friend, even if that meant joining the scouts. 'Walls damnit. You owe me big time for this, you freckled bastard.'
Commander Dawk shot a look of confusion towards Shadis, not seeing the proud smile on the man's face.
"Top 10, this is a onetime offer. if you wish to join the MPs say so now." he tried again.
The atmosphere became more and more awkward as Dawk stood in front of silent cadets. The seconds dragged on until Shadis let out a small cough, drawing attention back to him.
"Well, it seems like all of the eligible cadets all have a different regiment in mind. Thank you for your time, Commander Dawk."
Nile stormed off the stage, but not before throwing a glare at Armin, as if he blamed him personally for yet another public embarrassment.
The man could take a small comfort, however in being the first MP commander in history to leave a graduation ceremony without a single new recruit. That was surely a feat worthy of remembrance…
"Moving on then… allow me to introduce you all to Erwin Smith, Commander of the Scouts."
The tall, broad-chested man stepped forward, the burning braziers behind him highlighted his stern and distinctive facial features.
"Good Evening, I am Erwin Smith, Commander of the Survey corp, also known as the Scout Regiment." His voice was smooth and firm. It carried effortlessly across the yard, so even the cadets in the back could hear him clearly.
"Today you will choose your regiment, so let's cut to the chase here. The scouts need you; it needs all the warm bodies it can get. After the recent titan incursion into Trost, all of you now know first-hand the horrors of which they are capable of, as well as the limits of your own skill. However, this battle has given Mankind a new chance for victory over the titans; I refer, of course to Eren Yeager. A cadet many of you know personally, who risked life and limb alongside you during the battle, and when the conflict was at its darkest his ability manifested itself and humanity was able to turn the tide."
"Humanity's hope now lies in him, not just for victory over the titans but to learn the very truth of their origins. Our intel indicates that in the basement of Yeager's home in Shiganshina resides great secrets regarding our enemy. As we speak an expedition to Shiganshina is already being prepared to obtain this vital information and to potentially seal the breach left by the Armoured and Colossal Titan 4 years ago."
"I will not lie to you, despite this new hope for humanity, the survey corp is the most dangerous option available to you. Over the last four years, we have occurred losses in excess of 60%. 60% in four years, those are horrifying figures. In the upcoming expedition, I estimate a loss of nearly 30% for new recruits, and within three years, most will be dead. But those of you who survive will become some of the most capable soldiers alive."
Gasps and whispered conversations could be heard from the assembled cadets; unable to hide their horror and disbelief at those figures. The top 9 remained deathly quiet.
"Now, having heard this dismal state of affairs, whoever still wishes to put their lives on the line and join us, remain here. But first ask yourself, can you give your hearts, can you give everything for humanity?"
"That is all. Those who wish to join the garrison may leave."
And with that the man simply rested his arms behind his back and stood at ease, waiting for the cadets to decide.
As expected, there was a sizable exodus as many quickly left, clearly wanting nothing to do with this seemingly Government-funded suicide pact.
Some cadets seemed to hesitate before leaving as if they had been in the midst of some fierce internal debate. None of these cadets looked relieved or happy when they walked away; in fact, most just looked disappointed in themselves.
Finally, silence fell back over the remaining cadets. Armin watched the commander closely, noticing the brief widening of his eyes, the only visible sign of surprise on his face. Still standing in front of him was nearly 25% of the surviving 104th class and all of the top 10 cadets.
Before today, the best turn up for the scouts had been the 100th cadet class, the first to graduate after the breach, when four members of the top 10 had joined.
Another record was broken that night, as Erwin Smith became the first commander in the regiment's history to get all 10.
"I ask you," Erwin began looking over those who remained, "if you were ordered to die, could you do it?"
"We don't want to die, sir!" a voice from behind shouted.
Erwin smiled, "Of course, let us hope that you don't then."
"Those who stayed, you are now one of us, allow me to welcome you to the scout regiment. This is a genuine salute soldiers, together we give our hearts!" his voice carried across the yard, as his salute was matched by 40 more.
SHINZOU WO SASAGEYO