Chapter 14: A Nostalgic Aftertaste

Satastor Road – 14 Miles from the Trost District

The horse ride from the Trost District was unusually quiet for Liette, mainly because she was lamenting on the situation that Thames Verdalt revealed to her a few days before. Not only that, she had her mind on what Irene had shared with her. Irene's father and mother died at the hands of the Paramount.

"I never told Elsa this, but mother didn't commit suicide out of grief." Irene's voice tensed up a bit as she sighed. "The true reason was that she wanted to protect Elsa and I. The Paramount said that terrible things would happen if mother did not hand her position down to me. At the time, it was impossible unless the guild master died. Mother's voice was so full of fright, of fear. She told me shortly before she died to never trust the Paramount." Her light feet stepped as she turned away, "It's been years since then, but I still get shivers when I hear mothers voice in my head."

Liette was so occupied in her mind that she did not notice that everyone was stopped. When she turned around, she asked what everyone was waiting for.

"Liette, there's a fork in the road" Nelson pointed out from the wagons behind.

Indeed there was a fork in their path. Incidentally, there was a sign posted at the middle, holding up the names of each road. One read "Vespis" and the other read "Florisa". Holding up her crudely drawn map, Liette was about to say Vespis was the way to go in order to reach the Chlorba District, but the name Florisa echoed in Liette's mind.

It rolled off her tongue and tickled her cheeks to say, leaving the feeling of a very nostalgic aftertaste. "Florisa" Liette said, turning the reins of her horse on the rightward path.

"Wait!" Rivaille said catching up to her, followed by everyone else, "We're going the wrong way you know" He said with slight sarcasm, knowing that she knows they were going away from their destination.

"We're taking a slight detour" Liette replied, keeping her eyes forward, her heart racing and her mind thinking about nothing but the word "home". Faster and faster she rode until far off in the horizon, from the plains and trees scattered about the scenery before her, a small town began to visibly appear.

At that point, Liette kicked her horse into full speed, leaving everyone else behind.

"Liette!" Nelson called out as he tried to speed up the wagon to catch up with her, but Rivaille cut him off.

"Stay at pace, I'll catch up with her" He said speeding up also. "What is that idiot doing?"

ooo

Liette kept riding and riding until she eventually reached the outskirts of the town. Hastily slowing down, her eyes caught sight of an unfamiliar, yet, strangely dear scene. The town was small, but much larger than she remembered. Many new buildings, revamped streets, vendors, shops, institutions, so much had changed in fifteen years, Liette couldn't stomach it properly.

She trotted down the street in silent disappointment. People who were walking the streets, tending to their own business, paid little attention to her except for a quick glance of surprise to see a Scouting Legion soldier in their midst.

"Liette!" Rivaille called out as he caught up to her, "Why did you leave everyone behind?" He asked as he trotted to her left.

She didn't say anything in reply, and instead, looked up at a building at the end of the road. It was more of a plot of land surrounded by patches of dirt and grass. The building was old, worn, but still in usable condition.

"Oi, dimwit. Are you listening to me?" The Lance Corporal demanded as he leaned to his side, about to shove Liette. But when they hit the entrance of the building, she suddenly stopped and dismounted her horse.

Still silent, she opened the door. Her mouth was pursed together tightly, viewing the sight in front of her with the eyes of a child. It was a large room, empty save for a few pieces of dusty furniture. The windows were bare, and let hazy sunlight through.

Her steps sounded like rocks hitting the bottom an empty chasm, only leaving a chilling echo behind. Through the hallway, Liette could still hear the sound of laughing and screaming children, mocking their runs of make believe games. The echos stopped when she planted her feet in front of a particular door. Five rooms down on the right side of the hallway on the eastern wing of the orphanage. With a sigh of guilt ridden sadness, she tightly gripped the rusty door knob, and opened it, only to stir up a typhoon of dust and age.

Liette coughed a bit, making her way to open the window to air out the room of her early childhood. Even though she could only vaguely remember it, this whole building served as her home for her.

Glaring out the window, she expected to see a courtyard of playing children, running around in the field of grass and flowers that were so well kept.

Instead, to her sadness, barren leaves tatter over what used to be luscious field of grass. Only yellow grass and the remains of the colorful flowers that once reflected the light of the sun in a bask of Spring radiance were left.

Her mood soured, and then drifted to sorrow as Liette turned around and pressed her back against the empty wall.

Sighing outward, she slid down the wall, wrapping her arms around her knees in a silent deprivation of emotional structure.

"All of it... gone..." Liette's silent sobbing was subtly interrupted by light footsteps. Her teared eyed face looked up and to the right towards the doorway, only to see Rivaille standing there, with his arms crossed and leaning on the side.

His face was non nonchalant as ever, but his eyes showed a small bit of compassion as he pushed forward, and dropped down, sitting with Liette.

"Everyone's looking for us" He said bluntly, not even showing any hint of concern apparently. His head was pressed up against the wall.

Liette knew he cared on the inside, "I know" She said wiping the tears that were rolling down her cheeks.

Rivaille quickly stood up, realizing how dusty the room was as he dusted off his pants. "Is this where you Clara and Erick grew up together?"

It wasn't like Rivaille to show his concern like this. It puzzled her, at the same time, made her feel cared for, "Yes. That's why this place is so special to me"

Here now, Liette was sitting in he room, her home of an orphanage, in the town she grew up for her childhood.

The town of Florisa used to be a small rural town, but during the decade preceding the fall of the Wall Maria, and especially after the fall, the population and urbanization of the town spiked somewhat dramatically. Some of the sites and fields Liette used to play in were gone, paved into streets, roads, buildings and landmarks. Many buildings she was once familiar with were most likely torn down, changed into newer more structurally sound ones.

Liette wasn't even sure if some of her friends from back then were still even around. It's been nearly fifteen years, she wasn't sure if anyone would still remember her, especially since she could only vaguely remember anyone outside of Clara and Erick.

"Let's go, everyone's waiting for us" Rivaille said, taking careful steps as to not bump into the dusty walls.

Without saying a word, Liette complied.

ooo

Everyone was waiting for them wondering where Liette had run off to.

"Liette what is this place?" Elsa asked, slightly annoyed at the fact that they strayed off course.

Without responding for a moment, Liette opened up her tin container of cigarettes, and lit one. "This place is..." she murmured before blowing out smoke, "My hometown"

Indeed everyone was interested, but out of the corner of Rivaille's sight, he caught whim of Irene, nodding her head subtly at Liette's statement. He wondered what was going through her head, as to hint that she might have known something about Liette beforehand. There might have been something more behind this event, but Rivaille kept silent, continuing to observe his friends behavior.

Nelson's persona lit up brightly as he remembered, "That's right! This was where Roger picked you up!" It was many years back, but Nelson was naught but a young teenager at the time.

"Mmh" Liette mumbled in agreement quietly, her eyes trying to look away from any potential conversation that might have concerning the sensitive topic that consists of Liette's past.

After sifting through Florisa for a bit, Liette had found out that the orphanage was abandoned a few years back ever since Pastor Clement disappeared. From then, the orphans and helpers all migrated to different districts, and the building was all that was left.

She asked if anyone still owned the plot of land in which the orphanage was built on. Not many people knew, some claimed that it is still under the Pastors ownership, and that if Liette and company wanted to use the building, none of them would object.

After a bit of thought, Liette figured that an HQ was necessary for the squads operation. Since things could get extremely dangerous, she wanted to have a place where those who aren't fit for fighting could operate while still contributing to the squad. It was out of genuine concern for Nelson.

Before anything else that the group did, Rivaille spoke up. "Everyone hold" He said pulling out a handkerchief from his pocket before taking off his jacket and handing it to Peter. He wrapped the handkerchief around his face to cover his mouth, and pressed forward towards the window. With a hefty force, he opened the window, a cloud of dust promptly escaping. "We're cleaning today" His muffled voice said.

ooo

Most of the squad thought it was extremely strange that Rivaille wanted to clean up the building first thing.

"No wonder why that idiot brought all this cleaning supplies" Elsa complained as she pushed her mop forward, grunting and mumbling complaints in between her yawning.

Irene kept a content face as she too took a mop, "I suppose it comes in handy in times like this. You know him better than that Elsa."

"I know I know, but still. Does it kill him to see things dirty?" She asked insensitively in return.

Elsa's older sister smack her on the head lightly, disciplining her about being considerate "It hurts him far worse than death to see things dirty"

In addition to that statement, Irene continued, "But cleaning is the one thing that makes him happier than anything else in this world"

Thinking about what Irene said, Elsa felt slightly guilty, remembering what Rivaille's been through. "I suppose..."

"Oi brat!" Rivaille called out at Elsa, pointing to a spot on the floor, "You missed a spot"

"I know I did!" She snapped back, working faster, "I'm not blind ya know?"

Throughout their cleaning and renovating, Peter and Kristell discovered a threshold of old furniture that they could use. It was all huddled up in the attic, and wondered how the old wood ceiling could even support that much weight.

Chairs, tables, bookshelves, bed frames, trunks, nightstands, and the like. It was a lucky stroke that most of the squad was physically fit, or else it would take them a very long time indeed to get the furniture down the stairs and into the right places.

But the most puzzling thing that struck Liette's mind was, "Where did all this come from?" This stuff looked rather expensive, and the caretakers that work around here could have used it for profit. She could barely remember, but if she recalled correctly, Pastor Clement came from a rich family, so it could be possible that he was given all this furniture as gifts. "Pastor..." Liette murmured to herself.

He was a gentle man, always happy, watching the children smile and laugh. She wondered where he was, or whether or not he was still alive.

It was unfortunate to think about, but Liette sent her gratitude to him, no matter where he was. Before Liette knew it, she almost slammed into the wall amidst her thinking, and with a powerful jerk backwards, the drawer of the nightstand she was carrying slid open, revealing a white envelope.

"Oh?" Liette wondered as she took upon herself to see what it was. It was a letter, a short one in fact.

I see to it that if you are reading this letter, I am most likely gone, or dead. To you who is reading this letter, the orphanage is also, most likely abandoned. I have spent many of my years caring after these unfortunate children who know nothing of themselves. I was happy. Up here in this attic is a collection of furniture that I have received from friends and relatives, if you wish to be so kind, please grant this old man one wish, please use it to better this world. As much as I love to see the smiles of children when they play and laugh, it saddens me dearly to know that these angels have come from the darkness of human desire.

Sincerely

Clement Devenne

As she read, Liette couldn't help but smile warmly as she stuffed the letter into her pocket and continued on. "Pastor, always so kind, so loving. I wish I could thank you, at least one more time"

With the final chunks of wooden furniture being put into place, Liette officially declared that this would be their place of operation until their goal was achieved. It felt nostalgic to her, using her home as a placeholder to help her in, possibly the most important sequence of events in her entire lifetime.

No one objected, but the question was brought up about who was going to reside at the HQ. Liette herself wasn't sure, but she took it upon herself to ensure that more will join their ranks over time.

If the map says so correctly, their place of operation is in between the Chlorba and the Yalkell District. It proved to be a great advantage because they would have quick access to each of the inner districts, and the two remaining districts along the Wall Rose.

ooo

Despite just settling down in their HQ, Liette declared a recess, in which she took this time to roam around town, to see if anyone she knew was still residing.

Visit after visit, her inquiries were met with a subtle no, or an angry I don't know you, or a reluctant shake of the head.

Her string of disappointment kept stretching until she stopped at a particular door. There was a peculiar odor of fresh flour and baking bread, yet, the exterior of the building was very unfamiliar. It was not until after she knocked that she saw a familiar landmark to her left. An oak tree, old, but strong. Its leaves green and fresh to show the youth of spring. "Esther's bakery..."

Esther was a young woman who owned the bakery down the street from her orphanage. She Clara and Erick always used to use the money Pastor Clement lent them to buy themselves treats from Esther. There were some unpleasant memories of Esther disciplining Clara and Liette for trying to run off with more treats than what they paid for, but they lingered as Liette suddenly became nervous.

It was somewhat exciting to see someone you have not seen in over fifteen years. From the smell of it, it seemed to her that Esther has not changed at all.

There were footsteps, and then a slight pause before the door opened. A young girl, possibly around the age of seven or eight stared up at Liette with a slightly confused face. "Can I help you?" she asked in a naïve tone.

"Yes, is Esther home?" Liette asked with a smile, leaning forward since the girl was so short.

Again the girl tilted her head, "Mother! Someone's at the door for you" She called out, running into another room.

After a few moments, an older woman, who looked a few years older than Irene came from the room that the girl just disappeared into. "Can I help you?" she asked with a voice that was very different from the one Liette used to hear scolding her many years back.

"Esther?" Liette asked, glaring intently at her, and then at the girl hiding behind her, peeking slightly.

"Yes, do I know you-...?" Her voice sharply went up a pitch as she realized to whom was standing at her doorstep. "Liette?! Little Liette?!" She exclaimed as she sprang forward, reaching for Liette's hand to examine her closer.

"Y-yes, it's me Esther. Little Liette" Liette replied, chuckling lightly, not being able to contain her excitement. Little Liette was her nickname when she was a child since Liette was so short as a young girl. Not so much the case now since she stands a head taller than Rivaille.

"M-My god!" Esther burst out as she dragged Liette into her home, "Please! Come in! Come in! It's been years since I've seen you. My you've grown into such a beautiful young woman!"

Liette took a seat in the living room. Even though the facade of her home changed dramatically, the inside layout was still so familiar, that Liette could retrace the steps she took in her childhood.

Esther came out with a tray of baked goods and some tea, "I still can't get over this" she said, taking a seat across from Liette, pouring tea for the both of them. "You were the last person I expected to see knocking on that door"

With a smile, Liette nodded, "I suppose we've both had our surprises for the day"

"You've grown so much, I can barely recognize you." Esther added, "How have you been? I'm sure the Military has been treating you well?"

It was inescapable, the uniform of hers, "It's been treating me just fine" Liette replied, gazing about, "The bakery surely has changed hasn't it?"

"Oh that's not the only thing that's changed" Esther said, wrapping her arms around the girl from earlier, she was sitting there, nibbling on one of the pastries."Liette, this is my daughter, Candice. Candice, this is Liette. She's an old friend of mine"

"Pleased to meet you" Candice replied before wiggling her way out of her mothers arms and into a different room to avoid Liette's gaze.

Esther couldn't help but laugh, "It feels like only yesterday. I remember when you and Clara tried to take off with some extra tarts, and I whacked the both of you in the heads. Speaking of which, have you met Clara and Erick recently?"

Liette gagged on her tea, coughing to release the warm liquid caught in the pipes of her throat. Her hand was clutched over her mouth, and her eyes looked away, not wanting to say anything. "I-I have..."

Her old friend was not oblivious to Liette's sudden change of mood. She understood that something terrible happened, and Liette didn't want to talk about it. It was a sign that she was withholding something, a little tip that Esther picked up when scolding Liette as a child. "I see..." she said, leaving the conversation at that.

Seeing the gap the Esther had opened, Liette changed the topic. "Um, Esther, do you know what happened to the Pastor?"

The baker was quite silent, shaking her head. "One day he was here, and the next day, he was gone. Everyone was looking for him, and nothing."

"How long ago was this?"

"I'd say five years back. And a year after he disappeared, the orphanage closed down."

"I see..." Liette replied, helping herself to one of the tarts that Esther provided. She bit down, and immediately her mouth watered at the sweet taste of the fresh bread and fruit jam. It was almost like it was an instinctive reaction. It was delicious, but beyond that, it was nostalgic. Fifteen years since she had a taste of Esther's baking, and it made her sigh out of happiness to sink her teeth into it once more. From there, she was left with the taste of her childhood, lingering in her mouth.

Liette couldn't help but smile as she looked at Esther, who was also smiling. Beginning with another word, she and Liette started conversation after conversation that would eventually last a few hours.

ooo

Zhhhhhhhhh...

The shrill buzzing of insects echoed through the forest outskirts of Florisa as Elsa squatted, leaning her head downward to examine a beetle. It was crawling slowly through the dirt, and she was quite amused by watching it walk around like that. As her rather inconsiderate personality would show, she was lightly poking the poor bug with a twig.

"Watcha doin there... Elsa was it?" The gruff voice of Urdin sounded as he leaned forward to examine what she was staring at.

"And what if it is?" Elsa questioned in return, ignoring him, staying suspicious of the man in case he meant ill intent.

Urdin backed off a bit, grinning at her harsh nature, "Just trying to make conversation. Is all" he said, crossing his arms as he still glared down at her. "What are you poking at there?"

"Well, if you really want to know. This bug looks like it has wings, but it won't fly" Elsa pointed at the beetle who was still crawling through the dirt.

"Let me see" Urdin replied as he squatted down too. "Well that's because it feels safer on the ground. You're always poking at it with that stick that it's scared if it takes flight, you'll go up and snatch it out of the air."

Heeding his advice rather reluctantly, Elsa took a few steps backward and watch the beetle from there. After a few moments, it opened the shell covering its wings and began flapping. To her bright expression, it took off and swiveled about.

Elsa began smiling like a child, and turned towards Urdin who was grinning back. In a gasp of embarrassment, she turned away and wiped the smile off her face, "S-so how did you know it was doing that?"

Urdin couldn't help but laugh as he bit down on the piece of barley he was chewing, "We had a whole lot of beetles back on the farm when I was younger. Always used to collect those little critters as pets." He sat down, crossing his legs as he remembered more simple times as a child.

The girl stared with interest, asking, "Can you tell me more?"

With a rustic stare and an eyebrow up, Urdin asked, "Oh? I thought a few seconds ago you wanted me to scram?"

"J-Just tell me already!"

"Hahaha!" The mans laugh bellowed with amusement as began to speak again, "Well... We should go explore the field first. I'll talk about them as we see them" It was a very funny feeling for Urdin. This reminded him about the times he and his younger sister went exploring out in the fields as young siblings.

"Was life in the fields hard?" Elsa asked, tapping on the petals of a large sunflower plant.

"The works tough, but you get used to it. Some people have it lucky, being born in towns and cities and all. You're quite fortunate to be like that." Urdin said raising a finger up for a small red black dotted bug to perch on. "Hehehe. I remember going through fields like these with my younger sister"

Elsa noticed that his tone became quite bittersweet, as she inquired much to her bluntness, "Did something happen to her?"

A light smile crept across Urdin's face as he began to slightly tear up, "I just miss her is all. I wonder how she's doing back home"

The spy couldn't help but gape her mouth slightly open at the misleading tears. It occurred to Elsa that Urdin cared for his sister very much, so much to the point of tears at the mere thought of being separated for so long.

In a sense, Elsa slightly related. Nagging and nagging at Irene to tag along.

"It must be tough to be an older sibling..."

ooo

Within the confines of Liette's orphanage was a small shelf of books that Zackley had decided to take a small indulgence into. Zackley had always been a knowledge seeking individual. He spent most of his free time sifting through books, sticking his nose through shelves and his body through library doors.

Kids used to tease and make fun of him all the time, but he always replied to them, "I'll find a way to get rid of those titans!"

Of course, he was always met with doubt and skepticism with the reply of, "How? How can one person change the world?"

These words always stuck with him, and that was which drove him into his studies on the titans. People often compared him to Major Hanji Zoe of the Scouting Legion, both of them were quite crazy about titans. Though, he can't deny that Hanji's eccentric and quirky personality has somewhat rubbed off on him.

There was a gap in the bookshelf where he just pulled out, and interestingly enough, Irene was sitting at one of the tables, flipping through pages in a silent manner. He was quite surprised, not knowing the womans presence sooner.

He continued to watch her from afar before she spoke up, "You don't need to be so discreet"

"Keen sense of detection..." He thought to himself before stepping out with his hands up, "I'm terribly sorry for spying on you"

"Oh please" Irene chuckled, looking up at Zackley. She found it amusing at the thought of someone spying on her, as, she was the master of spies. "So what can I do for you today Mister Kelsin?"

Zackley took the obligation of sitting down across from Irene, "Nothing, I was just interested in these books."

"Are you sure you didn't just want to start some conversation?" The First Crime Lord replied, licking her thumb to turn a page.

The book worm hadn't considered conversation, as it was sometimes a foreign concept as it was a day to day tool essential for functioning in society. Sometimes he was completely fine to take some time to chat with someone, another day he might be a mute, not wanting to talk with anyone and instead, submerge himself into the world of words. "Perhaps, but that wasn't my primary goal. More of, an accident. I had no idea you were up here as well"

Irene nodded, "I see. I suppose I could notify others of my whereabouts more often. I'm all too used to working in secret."

"I know that feeling" Zackley replied, "I used to always sneak around books from the other children around town to evade all their teasing."

"You are an intellectual as well as a soldier?" Irene asked, quite impressed by his balance of strength and intelligence.

"I am more of an intellectual, but I do fare well against titans"

"Intriguing" She said, "As a fellow intellectual, could we strike up a conversation about you?"

Zackley began to laugh, "Not many people ever want to find out more about me" He said, closing his book. "Well, I figure I should begin with my family..."

Both my parents were doctors in the respective fields of medicine, my mother, and surgery, my father. They weren't home very often, so the servants usually took care of me. I had no friends, so to help the days pass by, I turned to books, and soon after, they became my friends.

As I grew older, the more and more I tried to get more I tried to interact with other people. Sadly, most were rather intimidated by my polite speech, or rather, taking it as a joke, the kids bullied me by saying I'm wasting my life away.

Not withstanding the abuse, I cowered and turned to my "friends", the books. Every time I felt this way, I always escaped to my books. They were my last resort, they were all I could turn to.

However, one day when I did this, I stumbled upon something interesting. Somehow, I found myself in the depths of my fathers study, where entry was forbidden.

On his desk was a notebook. It was his journal, and I believe that had forgotten it somehow. I know it was impolite and immoral to look, but my curiosity got the better of me, and I began to read.

I don't remember much, I remember he wrote down a few items relating to the titans. There was one phrase that I could never forget.

"That one man, who saved hundreds from the plagues. He knows the answers behind the titans."

There was a name inscribed with it, but I couldn't remember what it was.

I found it weird, that the days following, I could not take off my mind about the titans. I just couldn't.

When I asked mother and father about it, they told me to never mention the titans again. I felt that something was wrong, and I was right.

Days after, both mother and father disappeared. No one knew what happened to them, and I still have no trace of what happened to them.

Don't ask me how I felt about it because honestly, I don't really know how I feel about it. I was never close to mother and father, and even though it's been over ten years, I don't know if it's too late to begin.

Perhaps if I were to find them one day, we could start over again, but until that day, who knows...?

ooo

"Coo! Coo!" Hooter sounded happily as he flapped his wings perched on a table next to Kristell who was feeding him.

Kristell was enjoying the quiet afternoon with her partner pigeon at some public tables, however, there was something on her mind that was trying to keep her from enjoying the day. It was the thought of returning home that kept her mind pacing around and around.

"The Chlorba District is next Hooter... Do you know what that means?" She asked her friend.

Hooter simply tilted his head before ruffling his feathers.

"Yea, that's right. The family's probably there too, and I'll have to see stepfather again." It seemed like she wasn't very thrilled a whole lot about it, and she tucked her chin into her folded arms and leaned down onto the table, glaring at her friend peck at the seeds laid about on the table.

There was a stinging pain in Nelsons arms, mainly from the moving of the furniture from earlier. Nelson wasn't the most physically fit in the group, and he even felt rather embarrassed that Liette had to help him out. He sighed gladly while shaking his head as he walked down the street. He was quite surprised, as, he never realized that the small girl he called his younger sister would rise to be one of the strongest mankind has ever known.

As he was busy slightly sulking over his physical weakness, he took sight of Kristell, seemingly sulking as well with her head down on the table.

"Kristell...? Is there something wrong?" He asked as he approached her.

"Hmm? Oh, Nelson..." Kristell replied raising her head as she shook no, "Nothing, I was just putting my head down."

"Are you tired? Do you need to get some sleep?" The young man asked, showing his concern to one of his fast friends.

Again, she shook her head, "I'm fine, thank you"

"What are you doing, sitting here alone with Hooter?"

"Oh nothing, just trying to enjoy the day" Kristell replied, using the back of her index finger to caress her pigeon.

"Eh? All by yourself? That seems rather lonesome don't you think?" Nelson said, taking the liberty to serve as company for Kristell. "Being alone is a terrible feeling if you think about it. I don't want anyone to experience that"

With that, Kristell began to feel a little bit better, resting her hand on her chin, "Did something happen for you to think that?"

"Well... that's a little bit private, if you don't mind" The blonde contractor rubbed his neck a bit as he spoke, as if it were a topic he wasn't too comfortable with. "I suppose it's fine to tell you though."

Kristell nodded as she readied for a story. Hooter did the same by bending his legs and sitting on the table while occasionally ruffling his feathers.

"I'm an only child of my family." He began to tell, "So my entire life, I've never really had anyone I've been close to. I used to envy the other children around the neighborhood because they seemed so happy with their siblings. When I asked my mother, she replied that father would not approve. And when I asked father, he would threaten to strike me down if I asked it again. I always felt lonely, and it was agonizing."

"Let me start a little bit before this. In my childhood, the word family never existed. My father was a drunk, and mother worked as a tailor to try to put food on our table. Father used to beat me often, even when I grew up to be a teenager. I couldn't blame him, but at the same time, I hated him. The years passed, and this routine continued. Whatever strength I had gained from the little food mother worked so hard for was beaten out of me by father."

Nelson cracked his knuckles by flexing his fingers backwards. It relieved him of some stress, especially when talking about his broken family, "My patience was wearing so thin, I couldn't take it anymore. And then one day, I just packed what little I had, and left."

Kristell had a sullen face, keeping a sympathetic tone for Nelson before he continued one last time, "I haven't heard from them since, yet, I don't even wonder how they're doing"

ooo

Peter was quite tired and sore from the heavy lifting they had done earlier that day. Even though he graduated from Military Training, he and Kristell weren't the strongest of soldiers physically, and it amazing him how much endurance both Liette and Rivaille had. He guessed that the Scouting Legion hardens both mind and soul of all soldiers who enter hell and make it back alive.

Closing his eyes as he sat here in the common room, he refocused on the matter he knew was coming in the near future, seeing home again. He and Kristell lived in the Chlorba District before joining the military, and thus, the thought of visiting family and friends again made him slightly nervous, at the same time, excited.

Amidst his blindness in silent thought, he heard footsteps, followed by someone sitting down on the couch in front of him, pouring a glass of tea. He assumed it was Liette since the footsteps were so elegant and quiet.

After a few more moments of closing his eyes, he opened them to realize that it wasn't Liette who was sipping tea in front of him. He yelped a bit as he became uneasy in Lance Corporal Rivaille's presence.

Even though they've been in the same squad for a little over a month, he still was extremely intimidated and uneasy around Rivaille's presence.

"What's up small fry?" Rivaille asked as he glared at Peter with his usual nonchalant eyes. "Spider got your foot? Or Titan got your head?" Even though it was a joke, he said it with the most serious voice.

"N-Nothing L-Lance Corporal!" Peter said trying to catch his gaze away from Rivaille.

With his eyes still fixed on Peter, he leaned forward and put his tea cup down on the table. The clank sounded like boulders hitting the ground to Peter as he flinched a bit.

This slightly pissed Rivaille off as crossed his legs and arms, "Look Cadet, I'm not going to bite your face off alright? It's not like I'm your superior or anything right now" He said reaching for his cup again, "We're just two soldiers, sitting in the same room together, nothing more, nothing less."

This was the first time that Rivaille actually confronted Peter regarding this manner, and it slightly made him feel a bit more relaxed as he took the liberty to pour himself something to drink.

It was awkwardly quiet except the sound of sipping and clacking of tea cups. The silence was quietly eating away at Peter's mental endurance as he desperately tried to think of anything to say or ask Rivaille.

"U-Um... L-Lance C-corporal-"

"My names Rivaille. Use it more" He said bluntly.

"Ri-Rivaille S-sir..." Peter stammered even though Rivaille frowned a bit when he said sir, "Um... H-how did you get to be so strong? Everyone calls you humanity's strong soldier." It was a question that he always wondered when he joined the military.

Rivaille shifted his crossed legs as he sighed, "Look kid. There really isn't a how. There's just a why."

"A why?"

"Behind every soldier is a driving force that makes them who there are today" Rivaille spoke, his gaze was going up towards the ceiling before he rubbed his head out of slight frustration, though not sounding like it, "Whether that force is to grow their egos, or to serve humanity, it alone will decide for a fact, what kind of soldier you are."

Before Peter was given a chance to think about what he said, the Lance Corporal continued.

"There is a saying that I said once, to one of the new recruits a few years back. The Scouting Legion isn't about making yourself a hero. It's' about showing you how pathetic you are by yourself. It's hell out there. So there's no room to make yourself look like a jackass" With that, he put his teacup down and continued to glare at Peter, "However, you and I are from different branches, but I suppose the same principle applies."

The young soldier tilted his head down to gaze upon his own reflection in his tea, "I-I guess it applies to me now"

"Then tell me soldier" Rivaille said, leaning forward, glaring into Peter's eyes with his own,

"What is your driving force?"

A/N: Hello everyone! Back with another chapter, and, as said in the last instance between districts, this is more of a interaction chapter between the characters. So, I devised up a series of conversations between a few characters just to reveal a bit about each and every one. Alas, we find Liette's hometown, and meet an old friend. Which is great for her!

Sorry I haven't updated in a long time. Finally mustered the will to write! Anyway, schools starting up in a couple of weeks for me after this long summer break, so I might squeeze in another chapter or two before I go off. Don't worry, I'll try to write during my spare time.

So, I hope you enjoy this chapter, and don't forget to leave a review! I'm starving for them 0(-