Chapter 6: surviving in the winter

Year c.848

Paradise Island, Remnant of Eldia

some where around utopia district, wall rose.

Leon Oldenburg POV

It was that time again, were the cadets of the 104th would embark on the winter exercise, the cadets were forced to do one every year, but this one was different, this time the cadets were broken up into pairs of two. One would be the navigator to navigate in the wilderness and the other would be carrier as to carry the supplies, both would be given a rifle's to be used against any wildlife if need be, and in one of many of these groups would be made up of Mikasa ackerman and Leon Oldenburg, as both cadets at the moment were walking to there destination that being their makeshift camp.

"Mikasa, how close are we to our destination" Leon asked with the girl looking into the map.

"Well if we continue down were we going and with the storms conditions, it may take somewhere between an hour or so" Mikasa said answered back, with Leon only nodded. Winter training was probably the most painful part of the cadet course in Leon's opinion. Firstly there was the trumpeter, it was fucking freezing, also the wildlife up in the north was more dangerous to the southern wildlife, and lastly they needed to get up a mountain. The only thing he was happy about was that at least they didn't take the houses to the north regions but a train.

Leon honestly had thought he would need to travel up north for two days on horse, being trains were original only used for full time solders or anyone who could pay for a ticket, but that changed when the 104th got to the train station outside Trost district. trains were one of the technologies that were allowed to be used inside the walls, from want he remembered it was thanks to his family that trains were allowed to be used, as to increase the power of the crown over the walls, he never new how his family could have convince a king who betrayed his people for a dream, and was ready to do anything to keep it alive. But then again the 145th king was a weird person and ruler, as if not for him Eldia wouldn't be as it is now. One of the first things the 145th king of Eldia did when he came to Paradise was the creation of a standardized military, as before the 145th there was no standardized military existed in Eldia.

You see, when your race can be turned into mindless 5 to 15 meter monsters that can heal almost any part of it's body and can only be killed if the nape is destroyed, and can be controlled by the royal bloodline, not even including nine titan shifters who are more powerful and intelligent than the pure titans, it made a lot of sense on not having standardized military. What's the point, you could just send the titans both pure and shifter to devastate any enemy that attacks or any uprisings that try's to overthrow your govermant, in fact, with the titans the Eldiens controlled most of world for 1,700 with nobody having the manpower and technology to appose them. And with the power of the founder that allows the kings of Eldia to control the minds of Eldiens, made any dissent or uprising almost impossible. Most of the time one of the nine shifter house's would rise an army in the name of the king, and go off and conquer a new territory or put down a uprising, if need be, the royal guard would be called in with an Ackerman or Oldenburg at it's head and if things got really bad, then the King himself would intervene, this was also way strategy's weren't used that much in the Elden military and military equipment for troops were most of the time outdated. So it was no wonder, that when the Eldian Empire lost all of the titan shifters and with both the royal and Tybur's families betraying the empire, did Marley win the great titan war, being that Marley had a standardized army and at the time had the most modern equipment versus a fractured and poorly armed militia of the what was left of the Eldien empire.

'Well at least the 145th did something for his people, even thought it was more for himself' Leon thought, as he turned to Mikasa to see how she was doing in this weather, she looked normal. But something was off here, it seemed that she looked a bit sadden at something, and he probably new why.

'She's probably saddened by the fact that she's not with Eren…' Leon thought as he looked at her before speaking up to ask her about her mood.

"Is the cold on your thoughts or something" Leon asked, not expecting a lot from her, so he waited a bit before she said something.

"Nothing of importance" she answered him bring her scarf to her face again, with Leon seeing this.

"Let me guess" Leon said with Mikasa looking at him.

"You are missing a very special person who is well known for saying that he would kill ever signal titan on this earth, and you're upset that you're not with him" Leon asked, but was more of a statement, that caused Mikasa to look at him, with a bit of shock.

'How did he find out?' Mikasa wounded.

"I can tell when a person is missing something or someone… " he said as he looked forward thinking of his family.

"Well his not all… about killing titans" she said looking down at her feet.

"Oh? Well then wouldn't you mind enlightening me what his like without all of the hot-headed suicide tendencies that for sure will be great usage for hooking up with titans" he said, as he tried to make a joke. And it seemed to work as Mikasa did give out a small laugh, but when she realized Leon saw that, she quickly looked away and again pulled her scarf up to hide her face. He thought that their conversation was over so he didn't say a word after that.

"Who do you miss?" she asked him.

"Well…my family, my mother, farther, uncles also my grandfather… and even my granduncle, I miss them all" he said.

"But… sometimes people separate and we need to continue on, meet new friends and people" Leon said as he continued to talk to Mikasa. After that a long silent came over the two cadets', as both didn't know want to say or how to continue the conversation, but they would be interrupted by a weird scream.

"AAAHHH" as a scream came out, as the two cadets stopped and looked at the direction it came from, which Leon couldn't really say to who it belonged.

"What in the world was that?" he said, with Mikasa answering his question.

"EREN!" she yelled and run to the direction of the voice.

'How in the world does she even know that's Eren?' Leon thought, before realizing that Mikasa was running were the scream came from.

'Wait that snow … something not right with it…OH SHIT!' Leon realizing that Mikasa was running to a snow cornice. He remembered the dangers of snow cornice, being that they could start avalanches, and could have people fall into them, and that leads to breaking bones or even death. And Mikasa unknowingly was running in to on at the moment, Leon needed to act fast or his partner may get seriously injured or even die.

"WAIT!" Leon yelled not even waiting for a reply he leaped into action, running after Mikasa. But sadly he didn't get there in time to stop the Oriental from running on to the snow cornice, as the snow crumbled down benefit the weight of Mikasa, Leon knewn he had to use his powers if he wanted to catch Mikasa, Leon used his powers to increase his speed, allowing him to grab Mikasa and jump to the side, with both of them getting on solid ground with him Landing on his back and Mikasa on his chest. as both Mikasa and Leon got up Leon looked back at the oriental girl before saying.

"What in the world was that!" he said looking at the Oriental girl, who was still shocked at want just happened.

"W…what?" she said looking and sounding shocked.

"Don't give me that, you almost got yourself killed or at least seriously injured for some fucking scream" He said being furious at her, he new that she carred for Eren and was about to do anything for him. But this was new for Leon he never thought Mikasa would throw her life like that for Eren.

"But Eren…" she tried to speak, but Leon didn't allow her, as he already knew what she would say.

"What about Eren, how in the world do you even know that was Eren's scream."

"But what if Eren was in danger" she continued.

"Mikasa… you can't keep doing this to yourself, your only going to get yourself hurt if your keep throwing your life in danger like that" he said.

"But I have a promise" Mikasa said not listing to Leon.

"Mikasa…" Leon got on one his knee to look straight into Mikasa eyes before continuing.

"I'm one hundred present sure, that the person that asked you to keep Eren safe, didn't ask you to die for him or put your own life in danger, and who can be so imported to you to do that" he said. Mikasa didn't answer so Leon stood up and spoke again.

"Come on we need to find a shelter and fast, it seems that the storm is only going to get worse" Leon said, as they both started to move. As Both looked for shelter for them to hold off the storm, they wouldn't say another word to each other being that Leon was mad at Mikasa were she was embarrassed after what happened, when they finally found a shelter in a cave, Leon took off his shoulder the rifle he was carrying. It was the Dreyse needle-gun 800. The rifle used the needle system, and it was the only firearm development in the past 48 years to his knowledge, using the breech-loader system with a needle, being it didn't use a cartage it wasn't deemed a threat to the government so it wasn't banned, but it was only allowed to be used by the military or nobility. He looked into the cave to see if there was nobody there, he really didn't want to get attack by a bear or a pack of wolfs, so after looking though the cave and not seeing any wildlife was calling this cave a home he put his rifle to the wall before calling in Mikasa and after that started to get a fire ready.

"Leon" Mikasa said, waiting for Leon to answer her.

"What is it" Leon said as he tried to get the fire started.

"I just want… to say… I'm sorry for want happened" she said looking a shamed at want happened to the both of them. Leon didn't say anything for some time as he was trying to get the fire started, after the fire was ready he stood up and turned around to face her.

"Mikasa…I didn't want to sound mean or rude back there…but you can't throw your life like that" he said with the oriental not saying a word so he continued.

"Let's say I didn't get there in time, and you fell, you could have gotten seriously hurt or died" Leon said.

"What would Eren or Armin think about that, or how would they feel about that, and humanity would have lost a promising solder" he continued, with Mikasa looking down at her feet in embarrassment again.

"Just don't do that again… okay" he asked of her with her just nodded her hand in agreement. But even with that it seemed that she wanted to ask something else, so Leon just called her out on it.

"Is there something else you want to ask Mikasa" Leon asked looking at her, she heisted for a moment before speaking up.

"Leon…when you saved me back at the cliff, you moved faster than a normal human being can, and I felt a power that came from you… what was it" Mikasa said waiting for an answer.

"Well that's… *Sight* this is going to be heard to explain so I recommend you take a seat" he said pointing at the fire, before turning around and going to the campfire himself with Mikasa following him as both were seated at opposed sides of the fire with Mikasa waiting for him to being.

"So you want to know want that was?" he asked as Mikasa only nodded.

"Fine but… in return can you explain why Eren is so important to you, I now you have a "promise" but there has to be another reason" he said. The Oriental girl didn't say anything for sometime, probably thinking over the demands he gave her.

"Fine" she final said.

"Okay then… that thing you felt, well let's just say it's a power from my family, I don't exactly know how we got it my grandfather and granduncle never told me about that part… and it's also the reason on way my father and other family members were hunted down... just Like your family…that's all I can say at the moment" he said to Mikasa.

"Why?" she asked looking at him curiously.

"Because if I tell the whole truth then everyone I know will become endanger and I don't want that for anyone" he said looking a Mikasa.

"But your one of the strongest cadets in the corps?" she said.

"There are always stronger people then me, and I can't take on thousands of enemies at ones, that's way too much… even for me."

"The only thing I can promise is that when my mission is over I will explain everything" he said.

"*Sigh* fine then… wait you said like my family" she said looking confused, as Leon cursed inwardly,

"Well you're an oriental and an Ackerman you do also have powers like main" Leon said.

"How did…" she was about to ask but Leon already was on it.

"Same way as you and your last name … also from my granduncle, he told me about other families just like as, that were also hunted down… if you're going to ask if are powers are the same or if I'm a Ackerman, then for the first one not exactly our powers are a bit different and no I'm not a Ackerman" he answered her. As Mikasa only nodded in agreement, after that a long silent's came on to them as both didn't say anything.

"Well it's your turn" Leon broke the silents; Mikasa didn't say a word for some time before she spoke up.

"Well it happened four years ago …when my parents were still alive" she said looking down at the fire, as she told Leon about that day. Leon didn't show it but he was infuriate at what happened to Mikasa, he was told by his granduncle what happened to the Oriental's and there clan when their protection of the king was taken away for not agreeing to be quiet about the truth. Most of the male Orientals were just killed our worked to death as slave, but for the females had a more gruesome end, forced into concubines for the height society to be used and thrown out when finished with, it was horrible and inhuman, and the 145th king did this because to keep his dream of peace. As Mikasa ended her story about how her parents were killed and Eren saved her from the human traffickers he now knew why she wanted to protect Eren.

"I'm sorry about want happened to your parents… well it now makes much more cents why you care so much for Eren" Leon said as Mikasa nodded.

"You know… I also lost my family… my dad was killed by a serial killer hired by the royal govermant… same way as my uncle's and ant's, and my grandfather was sent on the operation to retake wall Maria and my mother…." Leon said stopping at his mother and looking down at his feet.

"She died on that day… from the flying rocks."

"In fact the only family I have left is my granduncle" he said.

"Was it that man who stood beside you on the day of the operation" she asked, with Leon nodding.

"It seems we both have lost family, doesn't it" he asked with the oriental nodding at Leon.

"The person that asked me to keep Eren safe was his mother, she was the close I had to a mother after mine was killed… she also died at the fall, being eaten alive right in front of our eyes" she said looking into the fire with Leon not saying anything for some time. When she told how Erens mother died it was saddening and fucked up, yes his mother died in front of him, but being eaten alive in front of your own family was just… fucked, it now made more cents on way Eren hated the titans.

"Sorry for your lose…again, I think I know why Eren hates the titans with such passion" he said, as both of them went into a long silent's again. As he looked at her, she again had her scarf pulled up to her face, he was always confused on why she carried it with her everywhere and wanting to find out way he asked.

"So where did you get the scarf" he asked.

"Eren… right after he saved me… from the traffickers…" she continued.

"So that's way you keep it" he said after that a long silent took them. Time passed and the sounds outside were starting to quiet down, as Leon stood up and walked to the entrents of the cave and looked outside he saw that the storm was quieting down.

"Well the storm is moving away it seems…finally, we should pack up, and get to the camp now" he said coming back to the campfire they started.

"Sure" she agreed, for the next ten minutes they packed up there belongings and put out the fire. As they left the cave the sun hit them, as the sun moving out of the clouds as it showed the landscape in its full beauty. He stopped to look at it with a smile, as he looked to the side of him to see Mikasa standing there too; both looked at the landscape's beauty before Leon spoke up.

"So Mikasa, are you going to continue throwing your life like you did back at the cliff" he asked, Mikasa didn't answer him Leon only sighted before specking up.

"Let's make deal then" he said to Mikasa who looked at him with a bit of confusion.

"Well what is it then?" she asked.

"Well I'm going to help you in keeping Eren out of trouble and tell you about the things I know about the oriental clans costumes… but only help, and you don't get yourself killed for Eren, deal" he asked rising his hand.

"Aren't you joining the MP's" she asked confused on how Leon would help her.

"Well I'll help you in the cadet's corps, and when I'm done with my mission I will be freed to do want ever I want, so what do you say" he said as Mikasa didn't answer him for sometime before she said one word.

"Deal"

1

and with that chapter 6 is final done, I would say it is it my best one and could have some improvements, but I will leave it at what it is right now. Also were almost done the training arc, as I didn't want to over stretch it for more them four chapters, we will soon be coming up on the trost arc, just saying for you guys to now. Well then until next time.