Hello there. Chapter 3.
Pretty happy of the story so far, so that's good. I've found the will to write again, and finally made it alive to some vacations. I may be able to write a lot more than before, but let's not get our hopes too high too soon.
Anyway. I don't know if I should get a beta-reader for that story, as I think my work is decent. The troubles of having a beta-reader creates a bit of pressure on me, so I won't be actively looking for one. I know the work one could do to improve the story would make a major difference, but I'm just a bit shy about it I suppose.
If anyone wants to step up, let me know, but yeah, not too sure.
Anyway! Hope you'll enjoy the chapter, and I hope to see you soon.
Another morning, another day to go through. Annie got up later than everyone, like usual, as an adult that needed to maintain some decent hours of sleep, and not a teenager that could live on less than eight hours.
After getting ready, she hurried toward the dinner barrack, eager to get something in her empty stomach.
Her strategy to survive this time around was radically different than in her past life. If she used to be a complete loner, not talking to anybody unless required to, much like Eren was doing right now, she decided to socialise with the other kids.
She wanted, more than anyone, to have ways to monitor the flow of things. If the holder of the Founder could do it on his own, as he was able to hear what every Eldian said if he wanted to, she had no such abused ability. Her best bet was to become a pillar in their little growing community, as a way to be kept up to date regardless of anything happening.
As such, she had to keep on going to training sessions, even if she had mastered the subject years ago. On top of that, unlike Yeager, who disappeared several hours every day, she had no idea of what she could do outside of the camp.
Speaking of disappearing, it was starting to worry her more and more.
As usual, Eren kept his distance after their last talk. Worse, he seemed to have guessed she wanted to get closer to him, and was now shutting down her attempts at approaching him.
She didn't know where he disappeared whenever he skipped training, but recently, his empty eyes would light up when looking at either Reiner, Bertolt, or her. That was bad.
With a sigh, she entered the dinner area, greeting people as she passed next to them on her way to her fellow Warriors' table. The living catastrophe was absent once more, on an important day no less. She just hoped he would show up quickly enough.
"Hey Annie, did you sleep well?" Bertolt asked her with a sincere smile. She nodded at him in return, thanking him and asking the same question out of politeness.
He was among the people that talked to her the most since she decided to open up to the group. He'd bother her at every opportunity, offering his help for every little thing. It was cute, in a way, but she already knew from experience he was interested in her, and she was far too old for him regardless of her own tastes in men.
Another friend she made was Historia, still named Krista, as she knew she'd play a big part in the future, because of her blood, but also because she knew how protective the black-haired catastrophe was of her. Surprisingly enough, Ymir wasn't around her much this time, and while the two girls talked, they weren't inseparable like in the past. Was that because Eren took care of Sasha himself on the first day, preventing the two girls from immediately bonding?
She also got close to Armin. He was as shy as a stray cat, when she first tried to interact with him, but just like she expected, he was always a happy and cheerful person once she scratched the surface. It brought her warm memories of her past lover, who had thrown that innocence away, just to keep up with his best friend, who he had to kill in the end.
She befriended Marco, this one she had to say, out of guilt. She made sure to be extra nice to him, considering she took his life before.
Otherwise, she was more or less on friendly terms with every student, except one. But after all, those two were like day and night, weren't they?
Mikasa. It seemed the black-haired girl sensed danger in her. The question was, did she sense that danger because of Eren often being downright stalked by the blonde girl, or did she have premonitions of the past, or future?
Considering she used to be the man's partner in their past life, though they never got together or shared their love, her having fragments of memories, or simply lingering impressions, was a possibility. Though, if that was the case, wouldn't she now be in love with Jean…?
And so, Mikasa was renamed as headache number three. One being, of course, Eren, and the second being Reiner.
She just didn't know what to do with him. He was arguably the person that suffered the most in their past, maybe even more than Eren. So, was there a way to give him another future, one where he wouldn't keep the warriors going on their insane quest that would get them all killed this time again?
Her thoughts were distracted by the bell, announcing the start of the day.
Annie got up, knowing what was waiting for them on the training grounds.
Hand to hand fighting.
She was the best in that domain, without a doubt. She was confident she'd win even against Eren, who she taught. He may be a lot stronger than her with the power of his Titans, she had technique he couldn't equal, even after her showing him her tricks.
The reason she lost in the past was due to that strange berserker effect his Attack Titan had produced… And his unyielding determination to end it all. But this time, she was just as, if not more, determined than him. And technically, she won during their first encounter in the forest, so they were even.
As expected, Shadis was waiting for the group, his usual sombre expression displayed for everyone to see. His eyes wandered from head to head, making sure every trainee was present.
He may be a real piece of shit, but he knew perfectly how to manage such a group, that Annie had to admit.
"What do you think we'll do? That's not the usual training…" she heard Sasha ask Connie with a hopeful tone.
"Heh, don't bother hoping for some vacations. I'm scared of what that bastard is capable of doing…" she heard him mutter back, a slight smirk appearing on her face. She was glad people hadn't changed, and that world wasn't some distorted alternative reality.
"Good morning, you bunch of larvaes!"
"Good morning, Sir!"
"Look at you getting all polite in the morning, today we'll take that politeness out of those sly mouths of yours and teach you how to curse each other!"
Looks of confusion passed among the trainees, Annie's right fist clenching against her back. Nobody was prepared for hand to hand training, that she was sure of. Even in the past, she hadn't herself been expecting hand to hand fighting.
But then, it made sense.
In Paradis' habitants point of view, the walls weren't supposed to be breached. Only the Survey Corps exited the walls, and as such, ended up fighting against Titans. Most people would join the intra-walls activities, and would act like a Police more than anything else. In the end, fighting training between humans was far more important than training against Titans.
Well, not like they'd need the Survey Corps this time around. If Eren decided to take matters in his own hands, it'd become a one-sided bloodbath.
Forgetting about Shadis' speech and the rapidly aggravating faces of her friends, her mind wandered to the black-haired man again.
She hated how much her life was turning around him. He was an endless source of stress, as well as a thorn in her foot. One moment, he seemed like that old Eren she, she'd admit, used to like a lot, enough for her to teach him how to fight, and the other, he was a bloodthirsty monster that aimed for her head.
He was probably mentally deganred, but who wouldn't be after going through his life? Doing despicable things one after another, all under the control and guidance of a sort of ancient god that wanted him gone.
Poor Mikasa, too.
"All right, let's start! Pair up with someone else, grab a knife, and try not to die!"
She was brought back to reality when people started to move around hesitantly, under the orders of the Commander.
And so, for the next hour or so, people started to grasp the concept of fighting another human. Though reluctantly, without going to any lengths that could seriously hurt each other, the students fought for the first time.
Annie… Avoided everyone. She managed to do it in her first life, she could do it in her second as well. Circling among the other teenagers, nobody ever questioned fighting her. She danced happily among the sweating fighters, using her small build to remain in their shadows.
Was she fooling Shadis as well? Probably not, for she caught him throwing her glances several times, but he seemed to allow her transgression to his orders.
… He had something on his mind, and she wasn't looking forward to it.
After some time, she heard a voice she knew very well saying something that caught her attention.
"Mikasa…!" Armin said, his tone sounding urgent.
Annie looked at him immediately, to see he wasn't looking at the black-haired girl, but at another boy approaching in the distance.
Walking slowly toward the group, Eren finally made himself known.
Soon, Shadis saw him as well, a visible frown appearing on his face. The students, which noticed the Commander's gaze had left them, used the break to also look toward their ghost resident.
He hadn't socialised with anyone. He hadn't talked, communicated, or eaten with almost everyone. If questioned, he ignored anyone in his way, giving only responses to his two friends, and even then, they were short and cold.
And as time passed, he started to look even more and more… dishevelled. His hair was getting longer quickly, and his already shattered gaze now looked somehow far worse. For a split second, Eren's adult looks flashed through Annie's main, proving the similarity between the two bodies.
He was but an empty shell, stepping toward another training session.
"Look who finally decides to show himself. My apologies, Yeager, did we disturb your busy schedule by training this morning?" The commander said as he advanced toward the arriving teenager.
"No, Sir."
The man grabbed the boy by his collar, lifting him above the ground, Eren not letting even a grump escape his mouth.
"Then, what were you doing that made you unable to attend once again a training session?" he asked darkly, his face inches away from the boy's.
"Nothing, Sir."
He was thrown on the side, his body hitting the floor lifelessly. People gasped, imagining what kind of pain the kid must be going through after the impact.
Annie knew he probably didn't even notice pain. He was so used to far worse, there were little chances he'd let a simple bruise get to his head.
"Then you already know everything about training, right Yeager?"
Silence, as the green-eyed boy slowly raised him upwards, taking the dust of his clothes.
"Yes, Sir."
"How arrogant. Braum! Kill him. Yeager, survive."
People got out of the way of Reiner, after the commandant's orders.
Reiner himself looked disturbed. The order obviously meant for him to do a practice round with Eren, but Annie knew the blond boy had a different thought passing through his mind at the order. It most likely reminded him of his training as a Warrior.
But he gritted his teeth, and soon, he was running toward his opponent, knife in hand, under the eyes of everyone.
Eren waited calmly, standing still. The Female Titan user already knew what would happen: in the past, the very reason she had started fighting with him had been after he threw the other warrior to the ground. The only thing she was scared of was: what would happen if he took it further?
She knew soon, as Eren, just like in the past, flipped the blond boy above him, Reiner landing pitifully on his back.
For a second, she breathed a sigh of relief.
But then, things changed from the past.
Time seemed to slow down as she saw Eren quickly get closer to the ground, following the fall of Reiner in the same rhythm. Before the taller boy could react, the black-haired teen locked his legs against his opponent's chest, preventing an escape or for the other one to flip onto his belly.
And then, he started his work.
Punches of incredible violence flowed on Reiner's face, all of them connecting one way or another. The first few attempts of blocking were prevented by Eren analysing the perfect pathing to pass through the enemy's defence, and soon, the Warrior's conscience was too foggy to manage a proper guard against a well-seasoned fighter who had gained the upper hand.
And yet, the violence didn't stop. Every punch made a bone shattering impact on both Reiner and Eren, his hands becoming bloody and deformed from the pressure of the hits, mixing with Reiner's own blood that was flowing from his mouth and nose.
'He's going to kill him.'
Reiner couldn't transform, either because it'd ruin the mission, or because Eren was preventing it, but nonetheless the blond fighter was doomed.
'Nobody's doing a thing…!'
She could understand why. She, too, if she had been any younger, would have been too frightened by the scene to interfere. But yet, even Shadis seemed unwilling to move, looking from the sidelines with a shocked expression.
It couldn't go on.
Without thinking, Annie took a step forward, then another, before running, quickly getting to the fight. There, as swiftly as she could, she grabbed another one of those punches that would connect with Reiner, quickly lifting the arm of the black-haired boy above his head.
"Enough," she told him as she glared at the back of his head.
He glanced her way, and she could see that frightening light in his eye. One of satisfaction, pleasure, and … Madness. He looked like a beast that had succumbed to his hunger, satisfying his needs in a primal and savage way.
A determination an overwhelming majority of people would never feel, for this hidden strength came from a deteriorated and broken mind. How could she not realise even in the past that boy was broken from the very start?
He solely survived through his instincts. A fitting mind for the Attack Titan. That is why Ymir chose him.
She gritted her teeth.
"If you want to fight, go against someone your size."
Most would take this as an insult to Reiner, but they both knew she meant that as an adult toward another.
A mad grin appeared on Eren's face, as he slowly got up, not even trying to take his arm out of her grip. Yet, she knew she was squeezing so hard her handprints would probably be graved in his skins for days.
"I suppose you're of fitting size, then?"
The blonde Warrior let go of his wrist, taking several steps back, getting into a reactive stance.
There was no doubt Eren had gotten taller than in the past. It seemed he was using the Founder to regulate his body growth. If before, his Attack titan had kept his body slender and fit for fighting unconsciously, he was now willingly pushing it to the limit through the Warhammer.
"I guess so."
Eren strided over the unconscious student, facing Annie. The air was so thick with tension it could have been cut with a butter knife, as a few brave enough trainees dragged the defeated soldier away.
Space was made around the two opponents, forming a sort of irregular circle where nobody wanted to get too close to the fighters, but yet wanted to see all that would happen.
And then, Eren grinned, and light returned to his eyes.
A mad, violent and scary glint that made her remember how he almost killed her not too long ago.
He took a step forward, lowering his knees and centre of gravity, his bust leaning forward with his two hands against his cheeks.
The fighting stance she had taught him herself.
She copied him, her entire body tense and ready for action.
"Well, here I go!"
And Eren made the first move.
He came so fast Annie barely managed to counter the hit with her elbow, before responding to the aggression by a direct hit with her free hand. He dodged it by tilting his head on the side, using the opportunity to grab her chin with his free hand.
As he took another step behind her, trying to get access to her rear, she countered by shifting her weight, lowering her stance and blocking his leg with her own. She aimed on flipping Eren behind her shoulder, but he anticipated and backed away from her.
She saw him almost jump once free of her flow of actions, trying to take her to the ground where they both knew he'd have the advantage. Fortunately, she was swift enough to get up, face him, and find an opening under his arm to turn behind him in a quick sidestep.
She almost seized the opportunity to give him a kick behind his right knee, but she wasn't fast enough and could only hit a bit lower. Enough to hurt, but not enough for it to leave a difference because of the adrenaline running through their veins.
And they faced each other again.
And so, the fight kept going that way. His aggressivity kept her on the edge, not letting her take a second of pause, always busy fending off his attacks. With her superior technique, she managed to stay away from danger, though she still took a few hits, but in exchange she traded more blows than he did.
He was stronger, more brutal. She was quicker, more fluent in the art. Every impact she made may not change the flow of the fight, but she was slowly gaining the upper hand through finesse. All of Eren's hits, however, radically changed her possibilities because of the strength behind them, but very few connected.
How long did they go in that dismal dance? Why did nobody step in? She couldn't know. Her vision had gotten darker around the edge, a tunnel vision focused on her opponent that was lashing at her with the intent to take her life. The outside world didn't exist anymore, and all that mattered was to survive.
She knew she couldn't transform. Eren had prevented that. And yet, he hadn't taken away the passive strength her power gave her. He hadn't taken his either, for that matter.
Their improved stamina was the only reason they were still going. Any normal human, as trained as they could be, would have collapsed a long time ago. Even the Ackermans would have fallen already.
The only way this fight would end would be through a submission technique, and they both knew it.
As the fight continued, the aim changed from getting a knockout to trapping the other.
And her opportunity finally came around.
Her whole body was aching. There wasn't a place that didn't make her feel like shit. It was but a matter of one or two minutes now before she'd collapse completely, even after going for possibly tens of minutes.
But fortunately, the same was applied to Eren.
His attacks, while still as aggressive, were starting to lack in rapidity and precision, and were looking more and more like desperation attempts. He was a beast against a wall, giving his last strength vainly.
As he tried to escape yet another counter by pushing her chest with his hand, Annie concluded she'd fail to protect herself from the next attack.
So, she decided to go all in.
Using her last bit of strength, she grabbed Eren's hand, and shifted her whole body weight. Both of her legs came to the black-haired boy's neck, seizing it from both sides. Naturally, they both fell to the ground, a grunt escaping Annie's mouth as her back hit the rocks, but she used those precious seconds to adjust her position around him.
And there she had him, in a triangle choke. She'd be proud of that one for a while.
She put everything she had in her legs, locking his neck. She could see his arteries and veins swell with blood that couldn't pass anymore, and knew it was only a matter of seconds before victory was hers.
But Eren was a monster.
With one of the war cries she was used to hearing back when they were still both teenagers, he lifted both himself and her to his feet, still holding onto his consciousness. His eyes were burning with determination, with the will to see this fight to the very end.
And so were hers.
With the hand she wasn't holding, he started to hit Annie's face repeatedly. Every hit made her head just a bit lighter, bringing her closer to the end.
Once. Twice. Thrice.
She couldn't even see the fourth hit be prepared. She knew he was reeling in his elbow, arming the hit…
But suddenly, her body went toward the ground, Eren falling lifelessly.
'I won…'
She was unconscious before she hit the ground.
'I feel like shit,' was the first thing that came to her mind once she woke up. Fortunately, it seemed her Titan powers had worked a bit while she was unconscious, and while everything hurted, she didn't feel like she had sustained a major injury anywhere.
Which was pretty bad. What would happen if she did receive one, was diagnosed so, but healed too quickly? It'd arouse suspicion, even if citizens of Paradis were clueless about the nature of her power.
She lifted herself slowly, pain taking over her whole body. She flinched several times, taking deep breaths as a way to ease herself up. Finally, after the worst time of her life getting out of bed, and that was considering she wasn't a morning person in the first place, she finally managed to sit on the edge of the bunk.
'The infirmary…'
How long had she been in there? What could have happened while she was unconscious? A growing fear sprouted in her belly.
"Oh, you're up!"
A voice made itself known, and Annie turned her head toward the newcomer. She recognised him immediately, for he was the doctor that overlooked the health of the trainees. How could she forget someone she had done everything to avoid in her past?
Fortunately, from the bright smile aimed at her, she immediately concluded her cover was still up. It didn't seem like anything strange had happened while she was out.
"It's a miracle you're up this early, but after all, the Commander did say you were quite special. The medical check-up confirmed you were all right, but I thought exhaustion would have kept you unconscious a bit longer."
"I see, thank you for helping me then. How long was I out?" she said through gritted teeth, massaging her neck with her hands.
"A little bit under ten hours. The other trainees are eating as we speak," he answered with his smile still up, sitting next to her. Taking a few instruments, he passed a variety of trivial tests on her, as she waited, unwilling to move before he was finished.
"Done! Nothing wrong with you. Your whole body may be sore for a bit, but at least you managed to avoid any critical injury. For the few bruises you have, I recommend applying ointment that should already have been delivered to your room, and if your nose starts bleeding following the explosion of a few veins inside, simply press over it delicately to allow a scab to form. It should heal by itself fairly quickly."
Oh, had her nose bled during the fight? She hadn't even realised so. She was so taken in it she could barely remember a thing.
"Thank you, doctor."
"You're welcome! It should be safe for you to go eat with your friends. They were quite worried about you. If not, just let somebody know, and they will deliver food directly here. I recommend sleeping in the infirmary at least for tonight, just to make sure you're near necessary first-aid help if needed."
She smiled slightly. They were worried about her? That would have never happened in the past.
"Thank you again."
"Just doing my job! Oh, I almost forgot. The Commander asked for you in his office as soon as you could, so you may as well go see him before eating."
She nodded, and with that, the man left the room. She heard his footsteps disappear outside, and she allowed herself to let out a sigh of reassurance.
She got up, almost falling as she did so, but quickly caught herself against a nearby furniture.
God, she wanted a shower. She was still in her training clothes, and she could still feel the dried sweat that both felt and smelt terrible.
As she prepared herself to exit the building, for a brief moment, her eyes caught something she would have never thought she'd see.
Eren, still unconscious, was lying in a bed on the opposite side of the room.
The curtain that usually separated the patients wasn't drawn, probably to allow the doctor to observe them both more easily. With that, she could see him in his entirety.
Slowly, before she could even think twice about it, she approached him.
He looked far worse than her. Without a doubt, his nose and hands were broken, and his irregular breathing made it pretty clear his insides were wounded as well.
"Eren..?"
She called for him once. Then twice. For her third attempt, she poked his sides, then his head, but he still wouldn't move.
And she felt… Nothing. No pressure, no threat, nothing. Even in his presence, after their brutal fight, which should have made him resent her even more, she didn't feel in danger.
He was… completely out.
At her mercy.
If she wanted to, he was dead.
Her mind snapped back to reality. Her breathing was harsh, and her hands were shaking. This was without a doubt her best occasion to kill him, one that wouldn't present itself twice.
The aftermath? She'd handle it. She could suffocate him, or simply cut his throat and escape. The Founding would be inherited by a random Eldian, one that would never cause the rumbling.
She could even eat him, no? Just transform, swallow him, and run away. She'd have them all, all his titans, with knowledge of the future. Her father was as good as safe if she did so!
Her whole body was shaking now.
The ring around her finger deployed itself, with a metallic SHLING that overjoyed her. This was it! This was how she, her father, and everyone else could stay alive!
And then, her mind went blank.
In fact, her entire body froze, as if she was paralyzed.
And then, she fell to her knees, clutching her head with her hands.
When did she become like this? She was sure she had abandoned that bloodthirsty Annie in the past, so why had she come back now?
… Was she that eager to kill Eren? So eager she had almost hyperventilated from happiness?
Or was it stress? Anxiety? The sentiment that she'd be free?
…
When did she become like him?
'No!'
A tear fell down her left eye, as she bit her jaw as hard as she could to avoid letting a whimper escape her mouth.
She had promised she would save them all. Paradis, her friends. She swore she wouldn't let Armin get his hands dirty again, to prevent him from becoming what he was in the past.
Eren.
Was she going to take his second chance away? He had spared her, twice now, and yet she still had the same objective as before? Kill him and be done with it?
She was a fool.
Even if she killed him, what would happen? She could never use the Founder. Only people of royal blood, or it seemed, bearers chosen by Ymir such as Eren could control it. She was neither of those two options.
The second Marley would realise she had acquired the Titans, she'd be taken down. She was never meant to become the Founder's bearer.
They would make sure Zere ate her.
They'd threaten her father to make sure she'd surrender.
They would destroy Paradis, without Eren to protect it. The island simply stood no chance. All of her friends would die.
Bertolt and Reiner would keep on going.
None of them would be free.
"Why…" she said through a sob. Tears were freely flowing down her cheeks by now, as she kneeled against Eren's bed. "Why is everything so complicated…"
She felt vulnerable. In fact, more than ever.
More than when she first became a warrior.
More than when Eren almost ate her back in the inner walls.
More than when she saw her father again.
More than when Eren almost killed her again, but this time in their past as they came back.
"I just want to help…"
Did she really, or was that a mere excuse? After all, she had almost fallen prey to her instincts. She had almost taken the life of the person she was supposed to help achieve a better world, all because she thought she could escape the harsh future that awaited them.
She has almost acted like a coward.
Furiously, she wiped her tears away, getting up so fast she almost fell again.
"You don't have to do it all alone, Yeager."
She turned herself, going toward the door. She felt better: in fact, she felt the best since she had woken up.
She felt… refreshed. As if she had found something new in herself. A resolve, a path, and a goal.
"We'll keep going forward, I swear."
Her heart was beating furiously. It was pounding like a bird trying to escape from its cage.
"Even if you hate me. Even if I hate you."
She stopped at the door, a new feeling of hope blooming inside her.
"This time, everything will be alright."
That was it, what she was searching for. The choice she'd make for the future of this world, of their world. What she'd have to do to protect the dream she had: a dream where they were all free.
As she left the infirmary, resolved to never fall for her doubts again, she didn't feel threatened, nor did she feel any pressure, from the green eye that was looking at her retreating form.
"Enter."
Annie pushed the door of the Commander's office delicately, after knocking on it several times, and hearing the man inside allow her in.
"Sir."
"Come in," the man in front of her said softly.
Annie had never seen the man's features look this soft. He seemed tired, as if he had lived through the worst day of his life. She closed the door behind her, the creaking adding awkwardness to the already strange situation.
"I was told you wanted to see me, Sir."
"Indeed. We have a few things to talk about."
He got up, pathing around the room slowly while finally stopping in front of a nearby window.
"May I ask, first: who taught you to fight like this?" he asked, not even bothering to look at her, and focusing instead on the outside that was already dark from the nightfall.
'That was to be expected.'
"My father taught me, Sir."
"He must have been an exceptional fighter."
She paused, staring at the floor. She didn't know much of her father's past, really. After all, they weren't related by blood.
"... I suppose so."
"Oh, sorry I made this awkward. My goal wasn't to interrogate you - quite the contrary."
He finally looked at her, a sad smile on his face.
"My primary goal… was to apologise."
Annie's eyes widened in surprise she couldn't hold in. Seeing that, the commander laughed softly, showing a side of him the blonde girl never thought even existed.
"Don't act so surprised. I may be hard against my soldiers, but I'm not sure there's much to teach you. You will soon join the elite of the Corps, and be my superior. On top of that, I'd prefer if we could be frank tonight and forget our respective rank while talking."
"I… As you wish, Sir."
What a strange request. At least, he didn't seem to be suspicious of her, which was strange as well in its own way.
"First of all, I'd like to thank you for interfering during the training session earlier. When Yeager started to… launch himself at Braum, I was paralysed and couldn't interfere. For that matter, I couldn't either during your own fight with him. For you to be brave enough to step in when even the instructor couldn't… I can't thank you enough."
"No need to thank me, Sir."
'Obviously you don't need to, if you couldn't move it's obvious it's because Eren used his powers to prevent you from doing so.'
"I insist. You're a talented, brave, and strong individual. One of the very, if not the best, trainees I've had the pleasure of having among my ranks."
"Thank you, Sir."
He chuckled, closing his eyes. However, after a few seconds, his expression turned grave, and he once again faced the window.
"However… I'm sorry I couldn't do anything."
Annie didn't reply: there was no need to. She had no reasons to rub the knife into the wound.
"I've been overlooking Yeager's conduct because of the story I have with his parents, but-"
"Wait, you knew his parents?!"
As soon as she said it, Annie's hands shot to her mouth in horror. She didn't know how the Ice Queen she was, who managed to always control her emotions, became that expressive.
Has Armin changed her that much? Was Eren right in saying she had become too expressive? There was simply no way.
She waited for Shadis to throw a fit, but in fact, he just chuckled again.
"Is it that much of a surprise? Yes, I did know them. Knew them enough in fact to hold him in high esteem. I thought he'd be like them, but it seems I was terribly wrong."
He paused, closing his eyes.
"I don't know what happened for them to have a boy this different from his parents, but what's done cannot be changed," he continued with a low voice. "Seeing you face him head-on brought me back to my senses. His attitude cannot be overlooked any more, nor will I let him continue."
"For his own good, as well as the well-being of the system, Eren Yeager will be expelled from the training corps, and banished from holding a job in the military."
Annie's head went completely blank at the declaration.
This.
This was terrible.
