Narrator POV:
"Father, I promise I'll write you every chance I get."
"I trust you will, but three years without your presence in the house will only naturally make me lonely." Her father said with a smile but the sadness was evident in his voice.
"I realized that before deciding this and I feel guilty but I have to do this."
"I know, who am I to stop you from doing what you feel is right? Your brother was one of the top soldiers, and I'm sure you will be just as great."
"Well, I don't know about that." She gave a light laugh. Petra took a pause before responding to her dad, she almost couldn't believe she had decided to do this. "It's time for me to go. I'll see you three years from now."
"Yes, and I look forward to it. Good luck, and remember I'm proud of you."
"Please, try you're best to take care of yourself and if you ever get lonely, just read one of the letters I send you. They'll remind you that even though I'm gone there's still a little part of me there."
"I'll remember to do that. I'm holding you up now, you should go now."
Petra nodded and waved her father goodbye, steeping into the horse drawn carriage. Seconds after she steeped foot into the carriage it was shakily moving into the directing where she would be attending the training camp. She looked into the back window to see her father waving goodbye to her, she gave one last wave before deciding to turn around. She dared herself to give another look, but knew it wouldn't do her any good and would just make her even more homesick, and she hadn't even completely left home yet.
She rummaged through the bag she had brought with her for a check before she was really gone. The letter she was sent after registering for the military said to pack as light as possible and that uniforms would be supplied there. The only things in her bag was some night clothes, a few outfits to wear when she wasn't wearing her uniform, some books for free time, and something every solider would probably bring, a family photo.
Perta POV:
Upon arrival I was given my uniform and ordered to quickly change. I changed in record timing I would say, and was immediately escorted to a wide area that seemed like the center of the facility. I wasn't the only one though, there were probably at least 50 plus people there along with me in orderly lines standing with straight postures and faces.
A woman who looked a lot older than me also wearing a uniform, but with the garrison patch, ushered me to a specific spot next to a guy with dark brown hair that was gelled to a point on top of his head. He was in the same stance and wore the same poker face that everyone else seemed to wear. I felt it was only natural that I mirrored this action just as everyone else.
It took about another fifteen minutes or so before everyone was settled in place and a man who I couldn't see all that well came out and into the front of the crowd. I could see him take a moment to scan the crown before approaching the first person in the first row. It was a girl who, from what I cloud see from my spot, didn't look much older than me. I could see her shake slightly the way the intimidating man looked her up and down with a stern glare.
"Now what's you're name, where are you from?!" His voiced bombed through the surrounding area like a shot from a gun. The girl didn't hesitate to the standard salute and give an immediate answer.
"E-Ewa Abram from Klorva district, sir!"
"Ewa Abram from Klorva district, why are you here today?!"
"In hopes of becoming part of the garrison branch just like all the other women of my family, sir!"
"So you plan to follow in your mommies footsteps, eh? You might want to rethink your shitty reasons before you earn my respect! Next!" He harshly spat at the girl before continuing onto the next person. I couldn't believe how harsh his words were, I could almost feel myself shaking and started to wonder if I made the right decision in the end doing this.
"Man, my bro told me this would be harsh but I didn't think verbal abuse could be so intense." The guy with the dark brown hair muttered to himself, only audible to me luckily, I'm sure if the guy screaming at us had heard him he'd surely be in deep trouble.
"I know, I don't remember my brother telling me about this part of the training in his letters." I responded back in an equality low whisper. Might as well try to calm my nerves a little before getting screamed at.
"Funny, looks like we both have brothers in the military. What branch is yours in?"
"He was in the survey corps."
"Oh... sorry."
"No it's fine, really. What's yours in though?"
"The Garrison, he was hoping to get into the military police but he had a big class so there was no chance of him getting in. I'm hoping to rank high enough to get into the military police myself, and seeing there aren't as many people as there was in his group my chances don't look entirely bad."
"Heh, I would like to see that guys reaction when you tell him you're here to get into the military police seeing as he's crushing everyone's dreams today." I noted as he finished off the fourth person in the front row, almost making the poor girl cry after hearing her dreams of being part of the military police.
"That guys name is Shadis by the way, he's been doing this ever since my brother was in training. Probably longer."
I watched in amazement as this Shadis guy finished off chewing out the fifth person and skipped over the sixth person. "W-why did he just skip over that person?"
"I heard this had happened to a few people in my brothers squad, but I didn't think it was true. Honestly, I don't know the exact reason why he does that. But I heard it was because the people he skips over had already earned their 'right of passage'." Their right of passage? I wonder what that even means. "Anyway, my name's Gunther Schultz."
"I'm Petra Ral, it's nice to make your acquaintance-"
"YOU'RE RUNNING LAPS TILL THE SUN GOES DOWN, AND NO DINNER. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?" Shadis howled, the loudest and scariest she had heard yet. Petra could see an older looking guy with dirty blonde hair start running off from the rest of the group.
"What the hell did that guy say to get that kind of punishment?"
"I dunno but I really feel pity for him..."
"If you ask me it's his own damn fault, while in training it's best to just go with the flow of things and keep your head down."
"That was a bit harsh."
"And so will these next three years. Anyway I never asked. What branch are you planning on going into?"
"O-oh, that. Well, this is going to sound foolish, but I wanna go in the survey corps like my brother did."
"The survey? Are you asking for a death wish?"
"Heh, that's what everyone seemed to tell me when they asked." Even this guy I just meat thinks I'm making a big mistake...
"It seems I've misjudged you then, at least you've got guts- Oh we better shut it for now, he's about to come to our row." I nodded in response not wanting to get caught talking and receive the same punishment as that poor guy. I watched as he skipped over another two people in our row and was only three people away from me. Time couldn't have gone any slower as I tried to swallow my nerves.
I listened as he screamed at the person next to me. I couldn't even understand the words being said, that's how nervous I was. Once the screaming stopped and moving footsteps against the shifting dirt was heard I went stiff like a statue and waited for him to start shouting questions at me. I saw his tall figure stand in front of me, look me up and down, and leave.
It took a second to process what had just happened. He skipped over me. He didn't ask me anything. Does that mean I passed this 'right of passage' thing? I don't even know what that means, but I'm glad I passed it in Shadis's eyes.
"H-hey, are you alright?" Gunther Schultz asked me, it seems he was already interrogated while I was spacing out.
"Yeah, especially since I was skipped. Though I have no idea why."
"I wouldn't question it if I were you." He lightly laughed. I just sat and stared at the ground the rest of the time, I have no idea what made me look like I was worthy enough to skip. But like Gunther said, I shouldn't question a good thing like this.
I stuffed my small knapsack under the bottom bunk of my bed after taking out a piece of paper along with a feathered pen and ink. There wasn't really any table to write on other than the dinning hall, so I made due with the cover of one of my books for a surface. I settled myself in my bed ready to write, before a loud voice called to me.
"Hey, hey, ruby locks!" I looked to my side to see a girl with round dark brown eyes; almost black and sandy short cropped hair that curled in all different directions, all except for one piece of hair that sat straight on her forehead. She held a smiley expression like a mischievous child.
"Y-yes?" I answered cautiously to the nick name, ruby locks was a new one.
"I never got your name, Shadis completely skipped over you! How'd you do that anyway?"
"Oh I really do-"
"Wait, wait I need to know your name first! In case you didn't hear, mine's Elsie Bowen, Elsie's short for Elizabeth." I couldn't answer immediately, she talked so fast and energetically, something I wasn't used to at all.
"Petra, Petra Ral. It's nice to meet you."
"Like wise! So anyway, about you getting skipped. How'd you do that? I wish that'd happened to me, I thought I was gonna piss myself!"
"I don't really know for sure, I was surprised myself when it happened."
"Man I wish I were you, I've never been yelled at like that before, not even by my parents!" This girl reminded me of a hyper active ten year old girl who never stopped with questions, not someone who was starting three years of intense and even deathly on few occasions, training.
"Hey, how old are you anyway?" I couldn't help but ask.
"Oh me? 12, I've always wanted to go into the military, ever since I was little and I first saw the survey corps come in from an expedition! I used to listen to stories of a women in my village who was part of the survey corps and it sounds like a fun experience!"
"F-fun? I think you have the wrong impression of-"
"I mean, doesn't it just sound great?" She interrupted me mid sentence, she must not have even been listening to me. "I wanna see what it's like to not see a wall enclosing me on each side, it's almost suffocating, y'know? So I wanna hurry up and graduate and join the survey corps and feel that same freedom!"
I was absolutely dumb struck, this girl who seems so... naive, just like me, has the same dream as me. We're exactly the same in a different way.
"Oh, are you writing a letter back home?" The girl, Elsie, asked noticing the little witting area I had made for myself.
"Yeah, I promised my dad I would write to him every chance I got. You should work on a letter too, we only have another hour left before the mail carrier leaves."
"It'd be pointless." She sighed taking a seat at the end of my bed without even asking if it was alright, I didn't mind at all but for anyone else it's a bit bold.
"Pointless? How so?" She didn't look me in the eye and fidgeted a bit.
"Well I'm kind of doing this without my parents consent, they've always looked down upon military jobs."
"So you're a run away? And nobody from your family knows you here?"
"Nope, if I had told my parents they surely would've scolded me and locked me up in my room!" Elsie laughed it off, but that sounded down right cruel to me.
"Lock you in your room? What kind of people are your parents anyway?"
"Let's see, my dad's the CEO of that one company that supplies a bunch of farm produce like eggs and meat. Then my mom owns a little shop that sells really pretty dresses, I guess that's one thing I'll miss is her bringing home dresses for me to wear!" I can't believe what I'm hearing from this childish, carefree girl.
"C-CEO? And a dress designer? Where did you say you were from again?"
"I didn't tell you? I'm from Sina!"
"S-Sina?!" I yelped in surprise gaining the attention of a few of the girls in the barrack. "Why would you leave Sina to be apart of the military, the survey corps non the less. Some people would kill to be in your position!"
"So I've heard people tell me all day today. But honestly, it's not as great as it sounds, people around there really suck. My older sister literally stopped talking to me just because I said I wanted to join the military! Every time I tried to talk to her, she'd glare at me. Once, she even said 'I'd never consider a pig like you my sister'."
"That's so harsh..."
"Yeah, right?! Anyway, that's not the case anymore, now I'm where I feel really alive. Plus, I have someone like you now! And let me just be the first to say you're already a better sister than my actual one!"
"Me? A sister? But we just met hardly ten minutes ago." Her happy persona seemed to fade a bit.
"Sorry, was I too pushy calling you a sister?" It was as if I had just kicked a puppy!
"W-well, I don't hate the idea of having a sister. I mean I've never had a little sister before, only an older brother. So, I guess if you're comfortable with it, I'm okay with it." And as if I had given the puppy a t-bone stake, her mood went right back to happy.
"That's a relief! Hey, do you wanna go get dinner now?"
"Hm, sure. I guess I can just write my letter there, at least I won't be ruining my book cover there."
She patiently waited for me to gather my things before we left the girl barracks, the sun was already beginning to set. "I didn't realize it was so late, I feel like I just got here."
"I know, I'm a little nervous about tomorrow though. Physical labor isn't something I'm used to." Elsie laughed nervously, living in Sina her whole life I guess that's not too much of a surprise.
"You're young and energetic, I think it's people older that have to worry-" I was stopped when extremely heavy breathing was heard, the guy with the dirty blonde hair who had to run till the sun set collapsed to the ground. He was a big sweaty mess, his breathing sounded as though he would run out of breath in any moment. "Take this guy for example. He's someone whose older and will have to worry about the physical labor."
"H-hey." He wheezed from the dirt ground. "I-I'll have you know, I'm only twenty, so I've got plenty of energy to spare!"
"T-twenty?! I thought you were at least forty when I was standing beside you!"
"Hey you little brat-" The man barked but started gasping and coughing for air right after.
"U-um, I brought my canteen of water along with me, if you'd like some?" I offered, I can only imagine what it's like to run for four hours straight, and I really don't want to.
"For the love of god thank you! Yes, please!" I've never heard anyone sound so desperate before. I quickly handed him the canteen which he snatched right out of my hand and generously gulped down. He didn't hand it back until it was entirely empty. "Thank you so much, you're truly a goddess!" Dehydration must cause hallucinations too.
"R-really it's no problem, though you probably shouldn't have drank that water so fast."
"C'mon Petra, let's get dinner before it's all gone!" Elsie tugged at my jacket sleeve. "Besides, don't you have to write that letter before the mail carrier leaves?"
"It's okay, I told my father I'd write when it's convenient, and now isn't very convenient so he'll understand. There's always tomorrow anyway."
My reasoning didn't stop that little pout that appeared on her face though. "But you're right about dinner, let's go then." Just like earlier, her pout went right away once she heard what she wanted to.
"So what did that guy say to run til sun down? You were standing next to him during the interrogation, right?" I asked as we waited in line to get our dinner.
"Yeah! I don't remember what exactly it was he said. But I remember him talking back, in a really arrogant way for that matter."
"That doesn't even sound like a sane thing to do. Do you remember his name?"
"It was a weird name, Oluo Bozado is what it was I believe."
"Hm, strange name and guy."
"That's for sure! I'm gonna make sure to steer clear of him."
"Well my father always said, first impressions aren't everything."
"Yeah but his first impression meant a whole lot to me." She grumbled mirroring my action and taking a tray to set up for a woman to give us both a serving of porridge and bread.
"I can't argue with the point you made there." I lightly laughed taking a seat at an empty table. Once we sat down Elsie immediately started eating the porridge but stopped only after a few bits and made a face of utter disgust. "Something wrong?"
"I really hated Sina, but one of the few things I'll miss from there is definitely the food." She grimaced just at the smell, "Looks like I'm going on an all bread diet from here on out."
"I know it's probably no where near as good as the food in Sina, actually even the food I make is better than this. But it's not good for you to not eat. When here you need all the energy you can get."
Her only response was a long drawn out groan, "Fine, only because you say so." I've never dealt with children before, but this is the closest I've ever come to it. I feel as though I've taken more of the role of a mother rather than a military trainee. "By the way, I never asked you. Why did you decide to join?"
"Well let's see..." I had been using the excuse of taking on my brothers dream, but that was only part of it. The person who really got me here was..."Someone important to me convinced me."
"Who? Was it a family member? Or a boy?!"
"It's an adult matter." I smiled smugly taking a bite of the grainy bread.
"An adult matter?! But you can't be that much older than me, we're practically the same height!" I only just realized she was completely right about that.
"Height doesn't determine your age! I'll have you know I'm almost 17!"
"But that's only a four year difference!"
"Doesn't matter, I'll tell you someday." I'm talking as if he's some secret lover, but there's no way that could happen! I mean, I just met him not too long ago and who knows, he's probably someone whose frivolous with women. He didn't seem like it at all though, he seemed more mature and serious. "Anyway, eat up while I still have a chance to write."
"Yeah, yeah." She sighed taking another bite of her porridge to her dislike.
I pushed my food to the side and set my writing utensils down in front of me. Just for a first day I already had so much to write, I continuously wrote and wrote and got so lost in my writing I didn't even realize how long I had been writing, or that much for that matter.
"Petra, are you almost ready to go?" I met Elsie's dark eyes, I was snapped out of my daze and realized we were the only two left in the dinning hall. "You've been writing for almost an hour, by now the mail carrier is long gone."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. There's always tomorrow though. But you waited a whole hour for me just to write?"
"I figured if you were writing for so long it must be important. And I would say so seeing you've written a whole four pages front and back."
"I didn't even realize I wrote this much... sorry I made you wait so long."
"Like I said, it's fine. But let's get back now, I'm feeling sluggish." I nodded, gathering my things and headed back with her trailing right beside me. Once back in the barracks most people were already in bed, a small group on the ground playing cards. I set my things back in my knapsack under my bed and traded them out for a pair of pajamas. I quickly changed into the comfortable clothing and settled in the unfamiliar bed. "Hey, Petra." A soft voice called out my name, I quickly recognized it as Elsie's.
"Something wrong?" I asked in a whisper in courtesy of those who were already fast asleep.
"Well not exactly, but a little. Is it alright if I sleep in your bed? Just for tonight?" She spoke in a hushed voice like a child as she clutched her own pillow and blanket.
"No, I don't mind." I scooted over leaving room for her on the small bed. I remember a scene much like this but I was in her position and my brother was in mine. It was almost sadly ironic that this girl who was still a child was ready to give her life to be a solider, but wasn't comfortable sleeping in an unfamiliar place.
After typing 4,000 words I think this is a good place to stop.
Sorry if this is too much Petra (Especially this chapter), but since Attack on Titan:No Regrets already shows so much of Levi's past, I wanna make something that goes into Petra's story a little more. Levi will show up in the next chapter though!
I wanted to finish this chapter before I had finals though, so hopefully this chapter was worth taking a whole day to write! Some of the characters in this chapter were just random OC's I put together and some are characters you should recognize as actual characters.
Anyway, I hope this chapter was good because I'm finishing it at 3am on a Sunday night! If there are any spelling errors just PM me and I'll fix it as soon as I can.
Please review because they encourage me to write faster and update faster!