Chapter 4

Early the next morning, the cadets are lined up for the aptitude test on the stationary gear. It is another test to see how fit each person is to become a soldier and also serves to weed out those who can't make the cut. Everyone is doing well while the most shocking towards Commandant Shadis is that Eren Yeager is standing on his stationary gear straight without falling.

Everyone is in awe at the sight, but Eren doesn't seem to be happy about it. Aya says, "Well, you seem like you already know this is happening."

"Yeah, the belt being broken is something that I expected. It's a good thing we have some other trainings." Eren says.

And then they also work hard with the training, although Eren and the others are wary of Annie, Reiner, and Bertolt since they know the truth about them being the ones who break down the walls. They also know that if they get close to them, it will be more painful when they show their true colors.

They are also close with Historia, although Historia seems to make another friend Ymir, who they know as the Jaw Titan. She is wary when Eren and the others are trying to talk to Christa Lenz, but with Christa's help, they get to know each other.

During the snowy expedition, Christa, Eren, Aya, and Ymir are the ones left behind since they are helping an unconscious Daz. Ymir says, "You guys should just give up. Daz already has one foot in the grave. It's his own fault for doing this training to boost his score without knowing how much his body can take. He's just not cut out to be a soldier."

"But we still can't leave him alone." Historia says.

"If you keep crawling to the foot of the mountain at this rate, he'll probably be a goner by then, and we'd be lucky not to be. Which means there are only two outcomes. Leave Daz here and save ourselves, or all of us die." Ymir says. "Which will it be?"

"Ymir, your prediction is entirely wrong. We'll be able to reach our base at the foot of the mountain with Daz. You can go ahead of us and get back safe." Eren says. "We can take him back ourselves."

"Oh really. Now there are some questions I want to ask about you three. Let's start with Historia. It's you, right? The mistress' daughter who had people after your life."

This causes the three of them to stare at Ymir. "How do you know?"

"I see… So it was you after all. It's something I happened to overhear. At a church in the interior, back when I snuck around borrowing things to stay alive. In the end, I heard the girl was forced to join the Training Corps."

Then she turns to Eren and Aya, "And I also heard that you were the beggar who had been stealing food from markets until a doctor took you in, and together the two of you killed some traffickers in the forest."

Eren says, "So? It's us, what about it?"

"Don't you worry," Ymir assures. "I haven't told anyone. I don't plan to either."

"Then…did you enter the Training Corps just to find us? If that's the case…why?" Christa asks.

"Who knows? Maybe because we're similar." Ymir says.

"Maybe we are similar indeed." Eren says. "Is that the reason why you've become a soldier?"

"Could be. I don't really know." Ymir looks away. "No, it's not."

"You wanted…to become friends with us?" Christa asks.

"Huh?" Ymir smirks. "You've got to be kidding me. Especially you. You and I can't even compare. We both got a second chance at life. But I'm not the one who took on a fake name. If I abandon my name and reject who I am, they win. I'm going to keep the name I have and make the best of my life. That's the one and only way I can get my revenge."

"I see. Thank you for telling us, however, it's just like we said, we can bring Daz alone." Eren says. "The three of us are strong."

Ymir says, "You guys seem to have more secrets than I have. Promise me. When I reveal my secret to everyone, especially you, Christa. Take back your old name and live."

After that day, Christa talks to Eren and Aya alone. "So should you tell Ymir about you being the Titan?"

"Sorry to say, but no. Her life is a sad one and she would probably betray us to give back the Titan that she stole." Eren frowns. "Some things should be better keeping a secret."

After two more years, the cadets are training with the blades while trying to slash the titan's neck, Aya is the first one to try it out, and Shadis remarks, "Aya Neumann, her strength is flawless, just like Mikasa Ackerman, a master of all subjects, if only she has the same concentration like her."

Then he turns to Peter. "Peter Fischer, his skills are average, however, his skills under the rain and the speed are unmatchable."

Odom is next as Shadis says, "Odom Wolff, much like a lone wolf, he sometimes tends to go on his own way, but his skills and quick thinking really makes him trusted by others."

Then the next one is Katrina, "Katrina Jeager, she has no outstanding talents, but she's worked harder than anyone to improve her marks."

Then he turns to Eren Yeager, "On the other hand, Eren Jaeger has the strength similar to Aya and Mikasa, only that he is more motivated to attain his goals."

And then, 218 trainees manage to hang on until graduation. Shadis yells, "Dedicate to your hearts!"

"Yes, sir!" Everyone does the pose.

"Today, you trainee graduates will be given three choices! You can join the Garrison, protecting towns and reinforcing the walls. Or the Survey Corps, who risk their lives beyond the walls, in Titan Territory. Or the military police, who serve the King, lead the people and protect internal order. Of course, only the top ten students whose names were just announced can join the Military Police!"

From left to right, the top 10 are Mikasa Ackerman, Aya Neumann, Eren Jaeger, Reiner Braun, Bertolt Hoover, Annie Leonhart, Katrina Jaeger, Jean Kirschtein, Marco Bodt, and Odom Wolff.

During that night, Jean just mutters, "How did I score lower than Eren? Damn it!"

And at the same time, the others are gathering and Thomas asks, "You seriously aren't joining the Military Police, Eren?"

Samuel says, "Yeah, you manage to get to the Top 10."

"We've already decided when we began. We weren't trained to live in the Interior. We were training to fight Titans." Eren says.

"But you'll never beat them!" Thomas says, "You do know how many tens of thousands have been eaten? We lost over twenty percent of our population, so we know for sure. Humans can't defeat Titans."

"So?" Aya asks. "If you think we can't win, you'll just give up?"

"It's true that humanity has only suffered until now. But we didn't know anything about the Titans then. Fighting them head-on is pointless. We did lose, but the information we gained gives us hope for next time!" Katrina says.

"Will we abandon the tactics that cost tens of thousands of lives to develop and let the Titans eat us without a fight?" Eren asks. "I won't! I'm going to exterminate all the Titans and escape these cramped walls! That's our dream! Humanity isn't finished yet!"

Everyone is surprised as they look at Eren, who realizes that he speaks too much and rushes out.

"Wait, Eren!" The other six rush out to chase after him. Armin says, "Eren, Aya, Katrina. When you were talking about your dreams..."

"Yeah, we got that from you." Eren says. "To live outside the walls, not inside."

"We're joining the Survey Corps." Odom says.

"Indeed. We come this far, even when I'm so close to the top 10." Peter says.

"And I won't hold you back, even if it kills me." Armin says.

"I'm joining the Survey Corps, too." Mikasa says.

"But you're Number 1! You should join the Military Police!" Eren gasps.

"If you join the Military police, then I'll do that." Mikasa says. "If you join the Garrison, I'll join, too. You'll send yourself to an early grave without me."

"Yeah. Don't you forget the training that we've been doing all these years?" Katrina asks. "Just because Mom asked you to do this..."

This causes them to frown and Mikasa just mutters, "I don't want to lose more family."

The next day, Eren and the others are watching the Survey Corps, with the leader Erwin Smith.

"Look! There's Levi! They say he's as strong as an entire brigade!" When Levi is moving forward on the horse, he mutters, "Shut up." But then he notices Aya in the crowd and he widens his eyes for a second.

Eren says, "This is totally different than five years ago...There are so many people who have high hopes for the Survey Corps!"

Aya says, "Everyone's cheered up. There haven't been any problems for five years."

"And they've improved the fixed cannons." Peter says. "Maybe the big Titans won't come again."

But all they know for sure is that it is a lie, the Armored titan and the Colossal titan might be the same as them, as humans who are hiding somewhere in the city.

"Hey, you guys!" They turn to see Hannes walking toward them.

"Hannes!" Eren greets the Garrison soldier.

"I heard you graduated yesterday." Hannes says. "Hard to believe you're the little kids I remember."

"What about you?" Katrina asks. "You've gone from a drunk to a captain of the combat engineers."

"I'm still sorry." Hannes then lowers his head. "I wasn't able to save your mother."

This causes them to lower their heads, Katrina is the most affected because she is the one who actually killed her mother, not that blonde titan. Eren says, "It wasn't your fault, Hannes. We aren't ignorant anymore. I'll never let anything that sadly happens again."

"Indeed. We will defeat the Titans." Aya says with determination.

"I don't know whether to be happy that you've grown up or not." Hannes thinks. "Don't die."

On top of the Wall, the newly graduated trainees are performing maintenance work. And they are surprised to see that Connie, Thomas, Samuel, Sasha, and the friends they've made in the training camp are joining the Survey Corps.

"Looks like we're going to do this together." Aya says to Eren, who smiles back at her.

"Yeah. It's been five years since the attack. And humanity is finally regaining its dignity." Eren says. "We can win, our counter-attack only starts now."

Just then, the Colossal Titan appears in front of them as the strong winds and steams are going after them. The titan kicks the wall and destroys it.

"The Colossal Titan!" Peter says.

"Look! The wall has been breached?" Thomas asks.

"Not again...the Titans will come inside the walls again!" Connie says.

Eren yells, "Fixed cannon maintenance team 4, prepare for combat!"

Aya says, "Our target is the Colossal Titan before us! This is our chance!"

Then both of them are using their ODM gears to fight. Eren stands in front of the titan and says, "Hey there, it's been five years..."

And here is a new chapter, as you can see, Eren and the others are graduated and all of them are going to be in the Survey Corps, and I also give a slight hint of Aya's father. I hope you like this chapter.