– Your first hand-to-hand combat training is about to take place. You will learn the basics and will continue to improve your skills until you hone them to perfection.

"Uh, hand-to-hand combat?"

"I guess they just don't have anything else to do, right?"

"Damn, I'll have to do this if I'm going to join the military police."

I heard something similar around me. The other cadets spoke relatively quietly so that the instructor would not focus his attention on them. Well, to be honest, I was more or less in agreement with some of them, since hand-to-hand combat is nothing more than some kind of unnecessary crap. These skills will be useful only in a fight with another person, but not with a titan.

It feels like I could have joined the scouts much earlier than in three years if they had thrown all this unnecessary nonsense out of the training program. After all, now I would like to study the Titans more in order to understand how our valiant soldiers are fighting them outside the walls.

I've heard that Titans can only be killed in some complicated way, no other way. This means that the sooner I find out about all this, the sooner I will be able to get on the right path, which I so want to achieve. And then one day one titan will fall from my hands, then a second, a third, and so on, until each of them falls apart into pieces of flesh.

– And now watch carefully, brats!

The instructor snatched a wooden fake knife from under his cloak and took it by the short handle. He pointedly showed it to all of us, after which he looked thoughtfully at all the cadets present here. It didn't take him long to look at me, too. For some reason, his gaze lingered on me longer than on everyone else, after which I was summoned to him.

– Cadet Eren Yeager, you will be the one who will see everything first-hand. Come here.

– Yes, sir.

I did as I was told and walked out of the crowd of cadets, walking right up to Keith Shadis. He looked me straight in the eye for a few seconds before handing me a wooden knife from his hands. I took this weapon and looked at the instructor with some bewilderment. In the end, I still didn't fully understand what was required of me.

– Now attack.

– Excuse me?

– Attack me. If you can touch this wooden blade to me at least once, then you have won. As a reward, you can immediately go to the next stage of training.

My eyes widened a little. I heard what I really wanted to hear. The instructor just said that I could speed up my training only by defeating him in this small battle. It really helped me by stirring up my blood.

Of course, I understand that it is unlikely that I will easily be able to touch at least the instructor's clothes with a knife, but such a chance should not be missed. If I really accelerate my training, I can finally move on to the part with the Titans. And this means that in this way I will be more prepared for joining the Survey Corps soon.

– Yes!

And with that, I went on the attack. With a quick movement, I threw my right arm forward, slicing through the air in front of me... ah..? Air?

– Ugh..!

I felt a blow in the stomach and immediately fell, as this sharp pain broke me in the blink of an eye. My fighting stance was broken. After a few seconds, I looked up and saw the instructor, who was staring at me intently, without looking away.

– Another attempt?

– Yes, sir!

I got up and took a couple of steps away from him. Well, the first time was a surprise, but now I can try to predict this blow. I don't even have to dodge, it's enough just to reduce the pain and sharpness from this unexpected attack so that I can strike back quickly and decisively myself.

Although when I thought about it, the instructor did not give me a chance to try to attack him. The figure of Keith Shadis flashed before my eyes with frightening speed, after which I felt that my body had lost its previous position. The ground literally disappeared from under my feet, after which I managed to feel the thud of my own back on the ground. What was that..?

– One more try?

– Yes, sir. Thank you.

This time the enthusiasm in me subsided a little, but the adrenaline in my blood just the opposite increased. This was probably my last chance to get ahead, to the top. If I miss it, then everything would be in vain. That's why, as soon as I got to my feet, my hand with the wooden knife moved first, taking a defensive stance.

This time I decided not to attack, as it would be easy to get hit unnoticed. It's much easier to let the instructor hit me first, but at the same time defend himself with a knife. That's why I was resolutely watching his every action, and he was looking at me with withering eyes.

It seemed that this was how it should be. After all, Keith Shadis himself said at the beginning of yesterday that we would hate him, we would remember his training with horror, we would study and train almost to the point of losing our pulse. This is confirmed even by the fact that yesterday that girl with potatoes ran to exhaustion for the rest of the day. Although, when I gave her bread, she replenished her energy without any problems and tearfully thanked me for the food.

But now is the second day and my third chance to succeed. I am not the loser who has already dropped out of the training program on the first day, I am not the bastard who goes to the military police to live deep inside the walls, I am Eren Yeager! And my destiny is to destroy every single one of the titans!

Although ironically, it was with these praising thoughts that I suffered another defeat. This time the instructor let me get distracted for a few seconds and just hit me with his own head, head-on. The blow was so strong that I feel like my brain is boiling right now.

– Do you want to try again?

– No, I would like to continue my studies, sir!

– I thought so.

I wonder if the instructor knew about my thoughts when I hoped to get to real training faster? If that's the case, then he's a really good instructor and will certainly be able to teach me a lot. But his methods are quite painful. Although, as they say, not without blood in battle.

In any case, I had to return to the ranks, after which we were shown the very basic basics of both hand-to-hand combat and knife possession, then we were divided into pairs. I was paired with a small blonde girl who looked at me a little uncertainly. Her rather attractive and beautiful blue eyes seemed to be examining me with slight concern.

– Can you fight? Do you have any hand-to-hand combat skills?

To be honest, it would be hard to believe that she was capable of this, but I still asked her about it. In the end, do not underestimate the opponent, especially after the instructor slightly beat me three times.

– N-no. And you?

– No, but I have some experience in fights. In that case, I'll give you a knife.

I gave her the wooden knife, and then I got ready to fight. I didn't have any special fighting stance, but I still threw my fists slightly forward and up to be ready for an unexpected attack. Although, in fact, I only need to beware of the knife, still it is not necessary to ignore other attack possibilities. But, quite possibly, this girl will not even think about it.

– Thanks.

She thanked me for the service rendered and also prepared for the fight. Her posture was different from mine, but there was a reason for that. After all, she was the only one with a cold weapon, even if it wasn't real. Those who are less trained or less capable should hold a knife in their hands, and more experienced guys can attack with fists, legs, foreheads. At least I could call myself a little more experienced than this girl.

– Please take it easy on me.

– Yes, same here.

I wonder if she asked me about it because she could also appreciate the difference in our abilities well? Or did she just happen to see yesterday how I knocked that bumpkin with the horse's face to the floor with one blow?

In any case, it's not that important, because the training has begun. At first I moved as fast as I could. This girl rarely attacked, mostly she managed to go on the defensive. I didn't mindlessly climb on the lawn, but even so I managed to disarm her three times, and she hit me with a knife only once. Well, I could have done better.

Although this training lasted for several hours, so our score was already close to fifty by eight. It was really not bad for me and not really good for her. So we finished when my score reached fifty, but it wasn't my merit. It just seems that the instructor finally got tired of watching our attempts to learn.

– Leonhart and Springer, how many do you have?!

– Seventy-three, sir.

– Only one, sir...

These two were just in front of us to report on their achievements, so I realized that it was extremely pathetic. There could only be one of two things: either this Leonhart is good at fighting, or Connie is really bad. Although, of course, both are possible.

– Springer, twenty laps around the camp, now!

– Yes, sir..!

Saluting with the wrong hand, he ran when the instructor looked at him with wild irritation. Hmm, I was hoping he learned his lesson yesterday, but it looks like he needs more practice. And this girl next to me looks a little scared. I wonder if it's because Connie ran for a low score?

– Leonhart, you're free for today.

– Yes, sir.

Having perfectly saluted, this blonde girl left here, leaving everyone else to be torn to pieces by the instructor. This time, his gaze focused on the two of us. At first, those sharp eyes swept over me, and then over the girl next to me, making her shudder.

– Yeager and Lenz, what are your results?

– Thirty–seven, sir.

I answered the instructor's question without hesitation, slightly lowering my results. It was noticeable how the girl next to me looked at me uncertainly, as if she didn't understand why I did it. Her lips pursed slightly, as if she couldn't tell her result. Is she having trouble calculating in her mind?

– And you?

He focused all his attention only on her, wanting to get it over with as soon as possible. In the end, this girl sighed slightly and called her answer with a slight fear.

– ... it's twenty-one... sir.

– Hm...

Keith Shadis focused his attention on me, but I didn't say anything, didn't do anything, because otherwise, even if my result had been greater, the two of us would have been punished for lying to the instructor. That's why I remained calm and showed nothing but an unchanging expression of calm on my face. In the end, it seems to have convinced the instructor.

– Free.

– Yes, sir!(2x)

We saluted and left in the direction of the dining room, as it was getting closer to lunch. Perhaps this was the reason why the instructor decided to end on this. In any case, the two of us walked slowly, since several hours of this training had passed. Although, when I had already managed to get used to the silence, this girl suddenly called out to me.

– Excuse me... Your name is Eren, isn't it?

– Yes.

– Thank you. I'm... sorry, because of me you didn't tell your real result.

– Never mind. I did it just like that.

– I understand.

She was grateful to me and still seemed quieter than water and lower than grass. Shouldn't she be overwhelmed with happiness that she escaped punishment for a low result? In any case, I also underestimated my results and overestimated it only because it had the potential for growth. It's just obvious that this girl hasn't started developing it yet, nothing more. That's why it was my duty to push her a little.

– Mm.. Eren...

– I am listening?

– Maybe it's a little presumptuous, but... can I sit with you? I mean, to eat together.

It was a bit strange, considering that girls usually seem to like spending time in the company of the same girls, but apparently there are exceptions. Yes, that girl decided to keep me company yesterday too. Although, perhaps it was out of pity?

– Do whatever you want.

– Thank you.

In any case, I don't care much about it, the main thing is that I don't get in the way of eating. As long as this rule is followed, I am ready to talk to anyone and in any way.

– By the way, my name is Christa Lenz, nice to meet you.

– Yeah, pleased meet, Christa.