Chapter 3
Both Trapped in a Cage
A/N: So I tried something different with this chapter. I utilized Point of Views, and honestly, I think I like it, I'm thinking of using it again. I hope it flows together, as this chapter was a little tricky to piece together. Also this chapters pretty long – over 10,000 words! My husband thinks I'm fucking nuts – but I love him!
Disclaimer: Attack on Titan does not belong to me. I own Emalina and any other OC's.
~ oOo ~
Jean's Point of View
The following months after our initiation into the Cadet Corps was brutal, if there was another simplistic word to describe the blood, pain and mental stress our bodies succumbed. Day and night, we trained; hand-to-hand combat, weight training, strength core routines, and let's not forget how Shadis drilled us within the pouring rain. Our muscles strained, our feet lagged, and one by one, cadets left, determined they were fit better for the life of a farmer than the life of a soldier.
But who was I to claim they weren't fit to be soldiers? Here I was, working my ass for a spot within the Top Ten; I was here to obtain my rightful spot within the Interior – to live the simple, but luxurious life within the Military Police.
Despite the attitude I received from some, she never treated me differently. The female cadet I met during initiation, the one who smiled in my direction, risking a lecture from Shadis to see if my head injury was alright. Emalina didn't see me any different, in spite of the arrogance I gave her when I discovered she was already ahead of our training.
Though I have yet to discover how she's advanced, I wouldn't risk the friendship we've established over wanting to know something that wasn't all that important. When we came clean to each other, something changed. Marco, Emalina and myself were always together, and, to my surprise, Ema took my words to heart. There were a few instances she sought my attention when she needed help. I'd noticed the change in her facial features only once, but one time was enough to distinguish when she was struggling internally. She confided in me when she needed, but her trust was very limited. She still wasn't open regarding her past or herself, but now and then, her words would slip unexpectedly, and I would only smile; I wanted to confide with her that I wasn't going to judge.
An eye for an eye; she wouldn't judge me, I wouldn't judge her.
As the months gradually rolled by, the training we suffered changed. As the three of us walked into the open dirt clearing, standing at attention with our arms clasped behind our backs, we waited for Shadis to give the outline for the day. Standing in front of the group of cadets, Shadis raised his voice as yelled, "Morning maggots!"
"Morning, sir!"
"Mmm, ya'll seem chipper this morning. Well today's your lucky fucking day! Today we'll be focusing on hand-to-hand combat!" Our group murmured with those around, questioning if hand combat was a joke as we still continued this training. Ema looked between Marco and I, nodding her head to prove the Commander's words.
"Again…?"
"Hand combat, he's not serious, is he?"
"He is, Marco," she replied softly. "It's not part of our final grade when we reach our third year though…"
"So, I can slack off then?" Nudging Marco in the shoulder, my friend grinned and shook his head. "Seems pointless to me, why do the work?"
Ema crossed her arms, my eyes narrowing, focusing on her change in demeanor. Crossing arms around her body, she was barricading herself from others; her eyes grew hallow, their usual, beautiful color faded; her expression was neutral, emotionless. "Just because we're not graded doesn't mean we shouldn't hone our skills."
"But we're being trained to kill titans – we can't kill those monsters with our fists!"
"No, you can't," she answered coolly, her eyes meeting mine. "Besides, there are other monsters in the world besides the titans."
My mouth opened to question her, but Shadis called everyone back to attention, his voice louder than thunder. "Alright, shut the hell up, you punks! Pair up in groups of two, come up and pick a knife – work until I tell you to stop. The drill is to take the knife from your partner then switch sides, consider your offensive and defensive strategies. Get to it!"
"Sir, yes sir!"
"Emalina!" Sasha ran up to Ema and grasped her arm, her eyes thrilled with the chance to play rather than fight. "Someone picked Connie to be their partner, wanna be mine?!" Eyes quickly finding mine, she smiled at Sasha and left to grab their wooden knife. I turned towards Marco and nodded, leaving to grab our wooden prop as well before wandering off to choose our spot to work. From my peripheral, I could see Sasha and Ema close by, one wanting to goof around while the other actually wanting to train. Sighing, I tightened my hand around the wooden toy and peered up at Marco, whose vision was also focused on a certain female.
"Hey, Marco. Let's take this seriously for a bit before we slack off."
"Do you really think that's a good idea? Shadis is going to call us out once he starts walking around!"
"So?" Throwing the knife in the air, it flipped before I caught it once more. I repeated this several times before turning my attention to Emalina to see her striking Sasha with the prop; her maneuvers were balanced, her form sharp as a real knife. She knew what she was doing. Who the hell taught her how to fight?
Marco noticed my attention before laughing. "Alright Jean, we'll practice to make Ema happy."
"W-What the hell, Marco?!" Throwing the wooden toy in his direction, Marco stumbled, his fingers barely catching the sword as he frowned in my direction. "I didn't say that!"
"You didn't have to, Jean."
And so, we spent the next hour or so going back and forth, between Marco being the attacker, me being the victim, and vice versa. By the time we had each completed the round roughly fifty times, I gave up, stashing the wooden knife into the back of my pants before tackling Marco to the ground.
I pushed my fellow Cadet until his back thudded against the solid dirt and used my strength to pin Marco beneath me, wanting to end this "friendly" battle. Twisting, Marco pushed my body off of his, wrapping one leg around mine until he pinned his hands behind my neck, restraining the movements of my arms. Grunting, I twisted my upper body, attempting to unlock Marco's grip; finally succeeding, I knocked the freckled boy onto his back and curled one arm behind himself. But Marco was quick for being slightly taller than myself as he kicked both legs out from under me. Laughing, we sprawled onto the ground, the heat of the early afternoon casting a gleam of sweat upon our brows. "You give, Jean?"
"You wish, Marco. Ask again and I'll shove those words up your ass!"
"Such vulgar language, Jean!"
"You should be more vulgar, Marco –"
"EMALINA!" Abruptly stopping, both Marco and I froze, our attention froze, the wrestling match forgotten as our eyes moved within the large crowd of Cadets still training; that is, until my eyes found Sasha across the field. Potato girl fell to her knees, hands quivering, unable to decide whether she should cover her mouth or help her partner. "Emalina! Are you all right?!" Moving my head, Marco shared the same look as we quickly stood to our feet, the realization of the name Sasha yelled dawned on our brains. Barreling my feet against the field, I burst forward, limbs flailing as I stumbled over my feet several times and nearly fell flat on my face. With Marco following close behind, we rushed to our friend's side, needing to know what happened. We pushed through a small group of Cadets who formed a circle around the two, the rest of the trainees stood in their spots, whispering amongst themselves.
My legs couldn't move fast enough, my palms tightened against my sides as I closed in on the two girls. Moving people aside, I drew to a standstill, breath caught in my throat, one thought repeating itself within my head. What the hell was going on? But that's when I finally pushed through and saw what the commotion was about, with Sash still knelt on her knees, that's when I noticed my friend.
Emalina was curled on her side facing towards Sasha, her body unmoving as her gaze focused on Potato girl, who still wasn't moving either. The female in question groaned, voicing an inaudible sound, to where Sasha leaned forward, asking her partner to repeat her statement. Leaning back, she peered through the crowd until she landed on me. "Jean," she said, curling her finger for me to walk over. Kneeling next to Emalina, I tenderly placed my hand on her shoulder, not knowing if she was hurt, and if she was, where.
"Emalina? Ema, what's going on? What happened?" Noticing she turned her head, I leaned forward, but wasn't sure what I was supposed to see; that is, until a sliver of red liquid trickled from her skin, staining the dirt below. Narrowing my glare, I gently pulled my friend to a sitting position, her stare never leaving mine. Grasping her chin, I angled her head to the side, finally noticing the damage.
The red bodily fluid dripped from her temple in a steady flow concerned me greatly, as a simple cut shouldn't bleed as much as it was. Knowing enough basic first-aid – thanks to my mother – I knew the bleeding needed to be stopped. Searching through my pockets, I whisked a spare cloth from the inside of my jacket and gently placed it against her skin, dabbing at first and wiping the thick, red liquid streams that escaped down her cheek. Emalina didn't budge, until I firmly placed the cloth against her temple did she wince, wanting to pull away from the pressure. Hissing, she closed her eyes, but my spare hand found her other cheek, softly holding her posture in place as I cleaned the wound, noticing how it was deeper than I originally expected. Her skin still bled, red stains flowing freely across her tanning skin; swallowing the lump in my throat, my eyes focused on the wound, knowing the jaggedness of the edges resulted in a deeper incision.
Dabbing the cloth, I muttered, "Shit, that's gonna leave a scar…"
"I'm used to scars. One more won't hurt."
With eyes turning towards her, I shook my head, wanting to ask what she meant, needing to hear her reasoning; but this wasn't the time nor place. Instructing Emalina to keep the cloth firmly against her temple, I turned towards Sasha, whose body was rigid with panic. "Sasha, what happened?"
"I – we were training, I swear! I didn't think this part of our training was necessary, but Emalina insisted it was. So we spent some time going over different moves with the knife. She instructed me to use a move on her she had just showed me…but I didn't want to! We…we tried several times, but she was adamant I could do it. We tried one more time…but I got too close and…hit her with the knife…"
Raising an eyebrow, I glanced back between both female cadets. "There's no way a wooden knife could've done that to her."
"No," Emalina muttered, her eyelashes flickered as she moved her sight between Sasha and myself. "Her movement caught me off guard and I lost my footing as I blocked her attack. My head landed against the ground when I fell – I must've landed on a rock."
"What in god's name is going on here?!" Stepping aside, several Cadets moved as Shadis stepped forth, arms clasped behind his back, eyes narrowed as he analyzed the situation before him. Noticing the stained cloth Emalina held, Shadis angrily stated, "Someone care to explain what has happened here? Cadet Blouse?"
"Sir! Uh…you see, sir…"
"Sir," Emalina interjected, legs wobbling as she gained her balance and stood to her feet. I brushed my hand against her side, but she didn't response, so I stood behind and watched. "We were doing the exercise as instructed, I lost my balance and fell." Pulling the cloth from her head, Shadis leaned forward, inspecting her wound. "…thus resulting in this scratch upon my head."
Tilting down to gaze further, the Commander of the Cadets shook his head. "This is no scratch, Varlen. Blouse!"
"Sir!"
"You are to take Cadet Varlen to the Medical Wing and see to it she receives the care her wound requires. She's going to need several stitches to close that up. Varlen!"
"Sir?"
"Come see me when you're all taken care of." Turning to yell at the remaining recruits, Shadis looked over at me before nodding his head, voice echoing as he turned away once more. "You slackers! Back to your training! I didn't say you could take a break!" The Cadets scrambled to their remaining positions, some pretending to attack and defend while several used this time to learn defensive maneuvers.
As our Commander excused himself, Emalina grabbed my hand, pulling my attention towards her. "Jean, can I borrow your cloth?"
"Keep it if you want. You ruined the damn thing," I chuckled, a smirk grew on my lips as Emalina swatted my arm before wobbling and grasping my shoulder for support. "Hey! I was only kidding!"
"No…that's not it," she replied weakly.
"Alright, you need to see the doctor. Sasha, take care of her, and make sure she stays hydrated."
"Uh…sure Jean, whatever you say. Come on Emalina! Maybe we can sneak by the Mess Hall and steal some potatoes!"
As they walked off, Sasha carefully wrapping her arm around Emalina's shoulder, I heard my friend state, "You may be lucky. I think Shadis will grant you dinner privileges again."
Emalina's voice echoed across the field as she was taken to the Medical Wing. Watching her go left a weird taste in my mouth, but Sasha was instructed by Shadis to lead her – nothing I could do about that. Marco and I made our way back to the original spot we claimed, standing side-by-side, watching the other Cadets resume their training. The whole scene with Emalina put some great thought upon my shoulders. Did she trust me that much? Or did she simply want someone she was comfortable with?
Wait…does that mean she's comfortable around me?
Our friendship started out rocky, but I'd rather have Emalina speaking with me than not. Beside me, Marco twisted his face in confusion before looking in my direction. "I hope Emalina's all right…"
"She'll be fine, Marco, she's strong,"
"I don't doubt she's strong Jean, but something…"
My eyebrows furrowed together. "Something what, Marco?"
"Haven't you noticed how quiet she can be, sometimes?"
"Mhm, I have. But Mikasa's quiet too." Just thinking of the raven-haired girl sent my heart pounding, but when Emalina's face drifted into my memory, my chest muscles battered together, an unknown aching erupted through my entire being that had just been thinking about Emalina. What the hell?
"No, Mikasa's different. She's quiet, yes, but Emalina's more…reserved, standoff-ish, maybe? Almost…" His eyes widened as Marco grabbed my arm. "It's almost like she wants to be invisible."
Soaking in my friend's words, realization dawned that he was on to something. Though she had admitted the truth, was she still hiding something from me? Or is it…that she doesn't know how she perceives herself?
What happened that caused her to be so hesitant? So fearful?
"She's special, Jean."
Snapping out of mt inattentiveness, my hand pulled the wooden toy from behind my back. Twirling the wood through my fingers, I slipped the sword into the air. "W-Why do you say that?"
Thrusting his hand forward, Marco snatched the knife before I could grasp the hilt and held it. "I don't know, she just…" He took a breath and sighed. "Emalina has this aura about her. She's confident, strong, smart; she knows what she's doing and why."
"Geez Marco!" Shoving my friend against his shoulder, I exclaimed, "You act as if you have a crush on her!"
"J-Jean!" My freckled friend stumbled with his hands and dropped the knife. Picking it from the ground, his face burned with embarrassment. "Goodness, Jean…"
"Alright you maggots, pull in!"
Groaning, I craned my neck to relieve some pressure from the annoyance in my neck. "Sounds like we're done with this exercise."
"Jean. You haven't given your opinion."
"On what, Marco?"
"About Emalina."
Laughing, I pulled Marco under my arm, dragging him along to the rest of the Cadets forming around the Commander. "Well, I can't disagree with you Marco. Between the two of us, you are the smart one."
Did I believe Emalina was special?
Yes, yes I did.
Some factor, force – something – drew me to her the day we met all those months ago. My first look upon her was one I'll never allow myself to forget. Her stance read 'I want to be left alone', but her eyes glistened with mischief, with hope; they screamed she wanted a friend. Entering the crowd of our fellow Cadets, my mind was set that my focus in becoming a soldier would be me, myself and I. But Marco stumbled into my path, and then I met Emalina.
It was then I know that I wanted to be by her side. She glowed in my eyes.
Marco, I don't know why you think she's special, but for me, Emalina makes me feel safe. As if my goals and dreams actually matter. Emalina allows me to be me without a condescending attitude that I'm in the wrong. I don't have to be afraid when I'm with her.
I had been living in a cage within Trost. Trapped between my mind, those around me and my mother. I didn't want to fight the titans, hell, I still don't want to fight them; the life of the Interior has been my goal for some time. The day titans broke through Wall Maria had been my final resolve, but my desire for an easy life stems from my…well, my… Damn, I shouldn't bring that memory up. Despite my reasoning and why, my cage was breaking free.
I could see the light within the crevice of my cage, and the only object I could see from the inside was the spitting image of Emalina.
~ oOo ~
Emalina's Point of View
"There you go, sweetie, all patched up, now. Come see me in ten days and I'll remove your stitches. If it hurts, place a cool cloth for about twenty minutes and no more; make sure to drink plenty of water. You lost enough blood today."
"Thank you, ma'am, I appreciate your help."
"Your too kind sweetie, it was my pleasure. Come see me if you pain increases, alright? You two take care now." The on-duty nurse smiled in my direction before taking her medical tools and walking into her office. Grabbing the hand mirror off the nightstand, I watched my reflection as I gently touched the patch job of my injury.
"I didn't think you would need fifteen stitches."
Sasha was currently sitting across from me upon the next medical bed, hands folded neatly in her lap. She had been quiet the entire time, and honestly? It made me a little nervous. "Neither did I, but you could also look at the fact that I didn't need more."
My statement seemed to cheer the hungry girl. "You're right, I guess that's true!" Hopping off the bed, she resumed her spot next to me. Twiddling her thumbs, she wouldn't look me in the eye, I had to touch her shoulder to gain her attention. Blinking, the usually upbeat female timidly asked, "Emalina? You're not upset with me, are you?"
"Huh?" Bending my knee on the mattress, I physically turned my attention towards her. "No? Why would you think that?"
"Well it's my fault you fell, is it not?"
"It's not like you did it on purpose."
"Yeah, but…"
"No 'buts,' Sasha."
"Emalina I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have used that move on you!"
I sighed, "Sasha?"
"I can't believe how careless I was! Is that the type of soldier I'll be?"
"Sasha…"
"Oh god, I'm gonna fail! I'm gonna hurt all my partners and I'll never graduate!"
"SASHA!" Grasping her shoulders, I lightly shook the poor girl until she ceased to talk. Her golden-brown orbs did nothing but focus on mine. Wrinkling her face, the female released several drops of tears, throwing her arms around my waist and pulling me forward. With a soft voice resonating within my ears, Sasha said, "Emalina, I'm still sorry. Will you please forgive me?"
Knowing the poor was wouldn't let the matter go unless I said something, I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and returned the hug. Her apology was not needed, as it was a complete accident. Humoring her, I replied, "Though your apology is definitely not necessary, I wholeheartedly forgive you, Sasha – as long as you stop apologizing."
Pulling back as she laughed, Sasha exclaimed, "Oh, I can do that! But, I have one condition as well." Raising my eyebrow, I waited for the girl to speak her mind. "Will you be my friend?"
"Huh? Wha-What?" Had I heard her correctly? "You want to be my friend?" She nodded vigorously. "…really?"
"Yes, really! I've been trying to gain the courage since the night you gave me your dinner."
"Several months ago?"
"Oh yes. I…you're really nice Emalina, and I know you hang around Jean and Marco a lot, but you sometimes seem sad…and, I don't know, I want to make you happy."
I gulped, not knowing the person called Potato Girl would see right through me, just like Jean. Briefly closing my eyes, my lungs were slowing, my breath struggling to supply a stable amount of oxygen.
No, I told myself. This cannot rule my life forever, this cannot decide what will happen without my consent. Jean made me realize a change was needed within my life. If I wanted to follow through on my words, it would begin with answering the question at hand. Without mentally stating my decision, my heart was at ease, as it foresaw the decision before I had. Needing to save myself, my choice would lead me down a path I wasn't sure if I was ready for.
Expanding my chest, I filed my lungs with air, my lips moved as I answered her question with, "I want to be your friend too, Sasha."
Eyes twinkling, Sasha bounced off the bed, the heels of her boots clinking against the flooring. "R-Really?! Oh, yay! My first female friend!" I blinked, now sure I heard her statement correctly. Did she really mean that?
"I'm your first female friend?" I asked timidly.
"Yep yep. I grew up in Dauper, a small hunting village within Wall Rose, slightly to the west of Trost District. I'm an only child so I was raised more boyish, you could say. It's…a little difficult for me to get along with girls."
Her honesty brought a warm smile upon my face. Swallowing my fear, I bit my tongue, as it was now or never. Being placed into the same predicament felt as if the Goddesses of the Walls – if they even existed – were judging my desire to change right here and now. But this thought halted any further thinking. If I was this willing to consider allowing Sasha into my life, why wouldn't I allow Jean? "I've only ever had one female friend before too."
"Oh really? Did she decide to not become a soldier?"
My voice was quiet for a moment, an awareness brought to my attention that I mentioned something that hadn't been spoke of for several years. The will to speak on the matter had slipped through my fingers, allowing a piece of my unsolvable puzzle to be placed on display. "…she was eaten by a titan," the words left my mouth before I even agreed to send them off. The chains snapped, a substantial pressure lifted from the depths of my heart; it was the same sense of weightlessness I experienced when utilizing the ODM gear. Was this the path to flying? To be free? Before I could answer myself, Sasha, once again, threw her arms around my neck, pulling me in close. Though the stinging of my eyes from unshed tears blurred my vision, I couldn't distinguish whether I was upset, or happy.
Regardless, the beating of my heart fluttered, goosebumps and tingles soared across my skin, racing towards my fingertips. I could only assume my newly appointed friend was trying to comfort me; whatever her reason, I greatly appreciated her actions. It was heartening and new all at the same time. I wasn't allowed to speak, as Sasha pulled back, explaining, "I'm so sorry to hear that, Emalina. I wasn't trying to pry, I would never do that."
"No, don't apologize Sasha, you didn't do anything. She…"
"Don't say anything you don't want to, Emalina. I'm not asking to know something you don't want to share."
I quickly muffled "Thank you," before standing to my feet. The muscles across my body stiffened, my stomach clenched and my hands grew clammy. Breathing evenly as to not gain Sasha's attention, I explained, "Well, now that my head's been taken care of, I need to go see Shadis. Don't want him thinking we skipped on the rest of today's training."
"Ugh, you're right. Will you be alright until lunch?"
"Oh don't worry about me, I'm fine."
My friend asked several more times to see if I was alright going by myself, ensuring that I was definitely fit to be on my own, though the wound inflicted upon my temple was serious enough to cause such damage. Once walking away from the Medical Wing, I noticed one of Shadis' several assistants making his way towards the training field when I stopped and asked where the Commander was located.
"Ah, Emalina. Yes, he's been expecting you. He's over in the lecture hall."
I gave my thanks and turned in the opposite direction, towards the hall where we received our daily lessons on becoming soldiers. Every other day we learned new information the Scout Regiment had discovered on their deadly expeditions, from the different titans that existed, how to kill them and where, even going so far to discuss different strategies to use when utilizing the ODM gear, both individually and within a team. Knowing the room would be empty, as a lesson was usually held after lunch, I still used my fingers to knock on the wood before opening the door.
Shadis was currently sitting at the head table, examining numerous sheets of paper he had piled upon the desk; his eyes wandered towards mine as I gently closed the door behind me. Waving his hand over, I made my way in his direction and stood before the Commander. Piling several papers together, the elder man pushed them aside before acknowledging my presence. "So, what was the damage?"
With arms folded behind my back, I replied, "The nurse said that it was deeper than expected. I needed fifteen stitches and that I should go back within ten days so she could remove them."
"That is good to hear, keep me posted. As for the reason why I called you here, I have a situation at hand, and I knew you'd be the best individual to help this with."
"Sir?"
"As you might have heard, the Scout Regiment left for their most recent expedition to reclaim Wall Maria this morning."
"Yes, I was informed previously by those that I know."
"Well, Annamarie has left as well, and it's that time for the Cadets to earn their skill in horseback training." I nodded in response. "With Annamarie on the expedition, there is no one within the Scouts to teach the Cadets these skills. Though you are a soldier-in-training, that is why I have called upon you. Other than Annamarie, you're the only one I trust in regards to this training. Hell, your knowledge on equestrians far surpasses hers."
Humbly nodding my head, I lowered my gaze before returning to look my Commander in the eyes. Though this wasn't the first compliment I had received on the matter, but it still brought a nervous blush upon my cheeks. "Your compliment is greatly appreciated, Commander."
"Are you up to the task?"
"Oh what, sir?"
"Teaching your fellow Cadets their horsemanship."
Taking a step back, I scratched around the gauze taped to the side of my head. The damn thing was getting itchy, but I mainly needed something to fiddle with because I wasn't sure if I was the right person for the task. Surely the Commander didn't think I could train the few hundred peers that were my comrades? "Are you sure I'm fit for this position? Cause I'm assuming that it wouldn't be just for this training."
Laughing, Shadis stated, "You're as clever as they come, Emalina. I've already spoke with Annamarie, and if you agree to this task, you will handle all the horseback training until you and the other Cadets graduate."
"Oh fucking shit." Covering my mouth, I apologize to Shadis about my language but he scoffed my admission of guilt off and waited for an answer. "I mean, sir, that is…" Taking a breath while shaking my head, I nodded in agreement. "You know what? I'll do it."
"Now that's what I wanted to hear; besides, you had no other choice."
His statement caused me to sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. "Of course I didn't…"
Grabbing a larger stack of papers, the Commander stood from his position. "You know how this works, seeing as you were Annamarie's assistant from the last Cadet Corps training. The training will commence after lunch for the next week, then will be after lunch for two days a week until after two months. You will then grade each individual to determine who is the strongest in the class, and who is falling behind."
"Who will grade myself? Just because I have been asked to instruct the classes shouldn't make a difference. I'm still a Cadet just like the rest of my comrades."
"If anyone gives you that crap, tell them to come talk to me personally. I know your strength on the back of a horse, I've seen it personally. You were born and raised In Uma, after all." Uma…I hadn't heard that name in some time, neither had the word left my lips since I escaped with my life from my hometown. I understood the point Shadis was stating, as he must've seen my discomfort. "Emalina, I knew both your mother and father. They would be proud of where you are today." I knew he was right. Uma would always be a special place within my heart, but the problem with carrying a place so deeply within is attempting to avoid the memories which coincided. The blood, the screams and children crying was something I would never be able to escape from.
Jean, I wish you were here.
At the mere thought of my male friend, the carnage of my nightmares thus vanished, leaving the hollowness of my past to be erased in that moment in time as I could only see the copper-blonde undercut hair of my male friend, the freckled cheeked boy, and the newly appointment friend who couldn't stop eating. The subconscious that was my mind knew I had been trudging through the darkness that had engulfed my mind for roughly two years. But the isolation was clearing, a light upon my heart to see that I wasn't as alone as I forced myself to be. Recalling how much I had been smiling within the last few months, I gave my Commander a small grin before saying, "My parents would be proud. That is why I wish to carry on the legacy that my village was famous for."
'You already have, Emalina. Don't forget all the work and help you've provided since the Scouts rescued you two years ago."
"Never shall I forget, sir."
~ oOo ~
I had left Shadis to attend our lunch when I was bombarded my Jean and Marco, each asking question after question too see how I was and if my head would be ok. I gave them all the details they needed and expressed that I had to leave early as I was meeting Shadis before our afternoon training. Both male Cadets had no idea why I was meeting Shadis once more, but all I would express was that they would see after they finished their meal. I left the mess hall, several eyes watching as I left, but the ones I was curious about were Eren's; ignoring his stare, and presumably the one I most likely received from Mikasa, I walked towards the training field my steps grew faster and faster until I broke into a run, wanting, no, needing to see the one individual I hadn't seen since my training began. Shadis had informed me that she would be assisting with my training after lunch and that I had to wait until after before I could see her; thus my desire for wanting to leave early.
Whistling through my fingers, I yelled through the open air. "Freyja!" Across the dirt field where the grass commenced to grow, my black mare drew her head to attention at the sound of her name. Yelling her name again, my mare whinnied and nickered before scampering towards my direction. We both skidded to a halt as she rubbed her muzzle into my shoulder. I was there the day my mare was born, and we had been best friends ever since. The day I left the Scout Regiment Headquarters to become a soldier was the last I had seen of her several months ago, but I knew I'd left her in great hands as Annamarie watched over her while I was away. She would eventually join me at our barracks because of the training I was about to conduct; each Cadet would be granted their own horse just for the training – but luckily, I had my own.
Freyja continued to nudge my shoulder until I gently kissed her muzzle, rubbing the small white patch upon her nose. Behind her, I noticed the assistant from earlier was standing near the clearing of the woods where she had been grazing, his stare watching us. Walking towards me, the soldier handed me her lead rope, and stated that he was the one who brought Freyja from the Scout Regiment stable in Trost and was instructed to stay with her until I arrived. Bowing slightly to show my appreciation, I hooked the rope onto the halter Freyja was already wearing and pulled her along, but the mare was excited and froze in her spot, dragging her front hoof through the dirt. Chuckling, I tossed the rope over the crest of her neck and mounted her bareback.
Rearing on her hind legs, Freyja burst forward, rampaging into a gallop as I hollered into the breeze as it cascaded through my air. The ODM gear I had been training on for two years was granting me my freedom, but with my best friend, Freyja granted me a remembrance to the freedom I held when we lived in Uma. Dropping the rope, I threw my hands into the air, not giving a damn of the Cadets possibly leaving the mess hall. Let them see the beauty in which I lived; let them stare in awe at the rare moment I was granted, to which I could breath, able to forget, to find peace and solace I so desperately sought.
Let them see the freedom I already knew existed, that I was training every day to fight for once I became a full-fledged soldier. Liberation existed, it was out there, and there would come the day I would seek it out and clutch its power within my hands. Until that day dawns upon me, I would ride the back of this horse, laughing and crying into the cage of this world that would one day crumble beneath my feet.
~ oOo ~
Jean's Point of View
Since Emalina suddenly left after quickly eating her meal, Marco and I found ourselves leaving the mess hall not long after she, curiously wondering where she had left too, but also wanting to get a head start to the training field before the rest of our comrades. I was curious to know where she was, as our afternoon training was about to begin. Usually Shadis would instruct us before our lunch on what we would be doing for the rest of the day, and for the first time, he hadn't done so. The corners of my ears raised as I noticed the familiar sound of laughing, noting it was definitely Emalina's.
"Hey Jean! Look at that!"
And just as I followed Marco's finger to see the direction he was pointing too, I was taken aback. There was Emalina, arms thrown open to the sky, accepting whatever fate she allowed to fall upon her shoulders. Her legs embraced a sleek, black horse, whose freeborn spirit galloped around the barracks and passed the Commander's office. Numerous heads turned as more people left the mess hall; some murmured to each other, other stared in awe. Me? I was one of the few that stared. Never before had I seen the female Cadet so carefree, so joyous for life. The steady rise of my internal temperature grew until I could feel the heat upon the tips of my ears. I watched as Emalina grasped the lead rope and pulled the horse into a slower pace, making her ways towards the field where we always met Shadis before training would commence.
Beside me, Marco whistled, rustling his hair on the back of his head. "Man, she never mentioned she knew how to ride, but it seems Emalina's pretty good around horses."
Too transfixed on the image before me, I could only nod, barely registering my friend's words. "So it would seem," I replied slowly.
"Do you think we'll ever learn anything about Emalina directly from her?"
"Something tells me she will, Marco. We just have to give her time."
The rest of the Cadets followed suit, and before long Shadis was there, his eyes diligent on the soldiers in training, his mind wandering off to something only god knows what. Forming in our ordered line, we all stood, awaiting our orders and what we would be doing for the afternoon. I looked around, expecting to see Emalina appear by my side, but she wasn't there. Where the hell is she? Shadis is gonna be pissed.
But as I thought of her whereabouts, the clap of horses' hooves caught my attention, as Emalina steered the creature to the front and dismounted, quietly speaking with the Commander before standing at attention by his side. The sight made my head tilt to the side; Marco stole a glance from the corner of his eyes but I just shook my head, not knowing what was happening.
"Everyone, listen up! As soldiers in training, you all are expected to learn the skill of horsemanship! And that is the task for this afternoon's training!" A large portion of the group groaned in annoyance, others remained quiet, emotionless. Marco seemed excited, but I wasn't sure what to think. Would the training help? Possibly. I had been around horses while living in Trost, but to physically be on the back of one and maneuver it myself? Ha! That would've bode well for me indeed.
"Oh, quit your yapping! The essence of horsemanship is vital to being a soldier. What you learn here today, you will take with you to whatever branch you decide after you graduate."
"But only the Scouts need those skills!"
"I'm going into the Garrison! Do we really need this?"
Numerous individuals stated their opinion, one shouting after the other; Shadis listening intently, waiting for the opportune moment to state what was on his mind. Emalina stood silently by his side, eyes scanning the crowd, shoulder occasionally being nudged by the same creature she had been riding earlier. My stare focused solely on her, watching her every move, curious as to why she was up front and not with Marco and myself. Swiveling her head, as if she knew someone was observing her, Emalina found my stare, the corners of her lips lifting. I don't know what the hell happened, but just the fact she smiled in my direction burned my cheeks to hell and back.
Diverting my gaze, my attention turned to the sky. I couldn't understand; my muscles tensed, chest tightened. With the afternoon sun upon her fair skin, I…My god…what the hell am I even thinking?
"Do you amateurs honestly think this skill will only be needed for one of the regiments? You have much to learn. That is why she will teach you." Extending his hand towards my friend, she took a few steps forward, nodding her head, accepting his declaration as truth.
A collective gasp burst through the crowd. "Emalina?!" My comrades were confused, as was I, but I simply stood still, feet locked in position, knowing there must be a reason for this.
"Usually we have the Scouts stable-hand teach you cadets; but as of this morning, the entire Scout Regiment is currently on their latest expedition beyond the walls and will not be back for some time." Rocks crunching beneath his boots, Shadis stepped forward, eyes narrowing as he scanned the crowd. "Now, Cadet Varlen will be in charge of your entire horsemanship training, as I am the one who has appointed her directly. If any one of you has difficulty accepting this, come see me." I watched as several Cadets visibly shivered, their fear of being confronted by their Commander to extreme to imagine. "Cadet Varlen has the strongest skills when it comes to horses and the concept of riding them. She will instruct you, guide you, and even grade your performance at the end of this training. Now then," turning to Emalina, Shadis nodded and moved to walk away. "Oh. And Cadet Varlen?"
"Yes, sir?"
"You have my permission to beat the crap out of any who disobey you."
I noticed her back froze and grew rigid, probably questioning why she would need to. "Uh…y-yes sir." Waiting until the man was out of range, she looked towards the rest of us, some held speculation in their eyes while others held nothing but bitterness. Taking a deep breath, she yelled, "Hi everyone!" Several people murmured a reply, I was too busy observing those around me, eyeing each individual reaction I could see within my vision. I was breathing in air that was stained with apprehension, the tension thick enough to be sliced with a butcher knife.
With shoulders sagging, Emalina took a deep breath. "Look, I know this probably doesn't make some of you happy, but…we're just going to get through it. Ok? Now," Grasping the lead rope from the horse, Emalina steered the creature around the cadets as she yelled, "I want you all to form a circle around me. Make sure that you have a view of both me and my horse." It took a few moments, but once everyone was in place, she finally smiled, her find gently patting the horse's neck. "Alright, good. Everyone? This is Freyja – she is my personal steed and…I've had her since I was a young girl." Her majestic voice grew soft, but the fierceness of her gaze grew stronger.
"Now, today we will be working on learning the anatomy of a horse, as it is vital you know the strength and weakness to their physicality. Right now, this might not seem important. But if you're in the Scouts and if something happens to your horse, knowing your horse, both physically and how it reacts around you, could, and will, save your life from being eaten. Now, let's begin with who has ever grown up with these animals in your daily lives? Oh, Sasha! Perfect."
If there ever was a word to describe Emalina, she would be a saint. The woman was patient and understanding, but damn could she teach while making it seem everything was easy to understand. The only time horses were in my life was when I'd see them with merchants throughout Trost. Had I ever ridden one? Tch, possibly, but knowing they were forcing this type of training on us made me nervous. But explanations stated by Emalina calm my nerves.
Passionate is another way I would describe my friend. Her gestures around her horse, the tone of which she spoke to her friend, and the way she taught us all proved this was something she held close. I wish I held half the enthusiasm she held. What did I hold close? What was I infatuated with?
" – ean? Jean!"
"What?!" I snapped.
Beside me, Marco groaned, pushing me forward towards the middle of the circle – towards Emalina. "She's been calling your name, but you've been staring off into the distance, completely ignoring her." There were snickers and laughter across my comrades, some whispering to their partners. Ignoring their smirks, I advanced towards the center, curiosity peaking. Did I miss something? Why the hell hadn't I been paying attention?!
"You've been quiet, Jean. I'm gonna have you help demonstrate riding a horse bareback."
"I'm gonna…wait, what?"
Blinking, my friend stayed silent, eyes softening before growing firm, remaining adamant. "The purpose of today's training is to prepare everyone for the basics of horseback riding. The anatomy of a horse is vital, then comes the point of actually learning how to ride. I was taught to ride bareback before anything else – that is the same training we will complete today. Tomorrow, we will have spare horses for each of you to demonstrate this ability. Today, you, Jean, will show our comrades what I've have instructed thus far."
"Um…alright." Staring at the beast ahead of me, Freyja blew air from her nose, the warmness of her breath fluttering against my face. Tensing, I grasped the lead rope Emalina extended towards me, and looked back on my memory of her explanation. With bareback, she instructed us that we were to essentially to skip for one step before jumping and pulling ourselves over the horses back, almost as if we had a running start. Easy enough. Tch, it's only easy because I can remember Emalina's demonstration. Well…that, and my stare was lost as it pinpointed on her ass.
What the actual fuck, Kirschtein?!
Taking a deep breath, I did exactly as she: though I avoided the skip in my step, jumped and threw my legs over successfully. Hoisting my spine straight, I tightly held the lead rope within my hands, turning to find Emalina, only to see that she was standing next to me, a bright smile on her rosy lips. "Perfect Jean! Absolutely perfect!"
Acknowledging the crowd, she stated, "Now, you noticed how Jean mounted the horse differently than I demonstrated? This is perfectly. As the rider, you're the one who needs to discover which technique works for both you and your horse. Jean, hold tight to the lead rope, I'm going to direct Freyja with the halter. Ok?"
"Um, well if you insist."
"Since this is something you need to learn, I most definitely insist." The group snickered, but stepped backwards, widening the circled, giving the instructor more than enough room to teach her student. Straddling the beast, I groaned, the unexpected trance of the horse throwing off my balance. Emalina's words reverberated within my skull: walk with the horse, not against, follow their movements.
Angling my hips to the right when Freyja's flank tilted right, I repeated the process when she moved to the left. It took a few tries, but I was able to maneuver the stance until I was comfortable enough to straighten my back and gaze at the onlookers from the rest of the Cadets. I will say this though: the thought of riding these creatures doesn't seem so bad now, though the burning and dull ache from my crotch was unexpected – and not appreciated in the slightest.
Walking the horse at a steady pace, we made a complete circle, Emalina occasionally turning her head back to stare at me, but my gaze was elsewhere, wanting to ensure I wasn't going to fall. But you know? This world really does suck sometimes.
We had just come to a halt, though content with my actions, my feet truly wanted to touch ground once more when Freyja's ears abruptly tilted back. My cause for concern grew, her muscles tightening, hooves clashing against the ground. Backing up, Emalina turned, her hand still grasping the halter, confusion etched upon her face. Squealing, Freyja flattened her ears, nostrils flaring.
"Freyja!" Running in front, Emalina held her hands high, attempting to calm the creature. I, on the other hand, stood stock still, legs clamped tightly against over the back, not wanting to fall, not wanting to be laughed at. But she wasn't listening. Something had spooked the creature, and she wasn't having it. Squealing again, Freyja threw her head back, rearing on her hind legs as she nearly clipped Emalina in the shoulder. My hands grasped tightly onto the rope, but my gut knew, it just fucking knew. Slamming against the ground, Freyja pushed off with all her might to rear on her legs again, this time, my momentum was against me as I flew off the horses back as she took off, everyone moving out of the way for her to escape!
Landing on the ground with a deep thus, the first noise released from my mouth was a groan as I lay still. Other than a sore shoulder, I was perfectly fine, but Ema's voice caught my attention and I was forced back into reality.
"Freyja!" Emalina yelled before whistling with her might; from my position on the ground, I could see the beast halt and freeze, not moving from its position. With hands softly grasping my shoulders, I was moved onto my back, the light of the sun waivered before disappearing as Emalina's portrait peered over my eyesight. "Jean?! Oh my goodness, Jean! Are you alright?"
Nodding my head before I could answer, I gently pushed myself away from the ground, Emalina straightening as I touched my head. Other than a general pain across my body, I was perfectly fine. But the look my female friend gave me said it all. "Oh Jean, I am so sorry. I have no idea what frightened her! I – I tried to calm her down, but…!"
"Nah, part of your lesson, huh?" My natural smirk appeared as I snickered, thus resulting in her laughter wonderfully filling my ears.
"No, not really. But as long as you're safe and unharmed, I'll allow it. But only this once." Standing, she reached her hand down, requesting my own, and as I placed mine in hers, it was as if fireworks burst through my skin and down into each individual nerve. Sensational, astonishing, but most of all, incredible. Her heat burned deep into my bones, I craved more; that moment proved I needed to feel her touch.
"Oh ho, Jean Kirschtein, wants so bad to be in the Interior but can't even handle a horse." A snicker rose across the crowd, and I turned so quickly my hair wisped across my eyes. But damn Jeager just couldn't shut his ugly face. "You know, now that I think of it, your face looks exactly like a horse, Jean." The crowd roared, and I could see my fellow Cadets around me falling over their knees laughing. Connie held his head, Sasha her stomach, hell, even Reiner held onto Bertholdt's shoulder so he wouldn't fall over.
Fucking Eren Jeager.
"What they hell did you just say to me?!" Running up to him, I grabbed the color of his uniform jacket, pulling his face close to mine. I wasn't going to stand there and let this asshole walk all over me. What the hell was up his ass? This egotistical prick was pissing my off!
"Let go of my jacket!"
"Not until you take back what you said!"
"Fuck that, horse-face!"
"Damn, you suicidal maniac!"
"ENOUGH!"
Time froze, silence fell upon the crowd; it was intense and powerful all at the once. Both Eren and I stared at the other, unmoving, our fight halted with punch in midair. Contemplating what I should do, my hands dropped, releasing Eren's jacket as I rotated, swiveling my heels against the dirt, searching my friend's features for her emotions, wanting, needing to understand what she was sensing. Anger rolled off her skin in waves – and boy was she angry.
"Enough of this shit!" she yelled, fists clenched tightly at her side. I had never heard Emalina speak in such a manner. To be honest, it was different. Her eyes were narrowed, cheeks flushed with anger. Damn, that's one adorable view.
"I can't believe you!" Emalina looked all around, focusing on each Cadet, ensuring that her words were meant for each and every individual. "Why would you laugh? Jean could have been seriously hurt – this isn't some joke!" Walking around, her sight ignoring mine, I watched her every move. She was tense, unbalanced, as if her raw, unbridled emotions were possessing her.
But no one answered her question.
"You all take our trainings seriously, but this? This is just as important! I am so disappointed in all of you!"
"Emalina…" Armin stepped forward, hand extended in peace, in forgiveness.
"Jean is perfectly fine, Emalina. No harm, no foul," Eren stated, moving away from my shadow and into her light.
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me!" Stepping towards the suicidal maniac, I watched from the side, interesting to see what she would say, or do. "Eren Jeager, for someone who wants to join the Scouts so desperately, I would think that you of all people would jump at the opportunity to partake in any training that could benefit you!"
"Don't fight against this idiot on my behalf, Ema…"
"Jean that's not the point! If they cannot even feel sympathy for you, how will they be able to do that for their comrades?! This knowledge will save him in the long run." Turning towards the crowd, she yelled, "Without these skills, you will die!"
"Emalina why do you care so much about our desire to take this training so seriously?" Eren questioned. But the male Cadet retracted several steps as Emalina turned towards him. Other individuals murmured to the person they were next too, and soon, the entire crowd was asking similar questions they had asked Shadis.
"Why does this matter?"
"We're not going into the Scouts like him!"
"You act as if you have first-hand experience, but you don't. You act so high and mighty Emalina, but you're just like us!" The murmuring continued, and I could tell this was going nowhere, and fast.
"At least she has the audacity to fucking teach us! How many of you, as Cadets, are brave enough to step forward and do such a task?" The murmuring ceased and I was left in silence to speak; she stood up for me, and I would always stand up for her. "That's what I thought."
"No Jean," her hand upon my arm ceased my statements. I wanted to roar at these people; how dare they speak to her in such a way?! Apparently, though, Emalina was prepared to defend herself all on her own. Though I was not prepared for the honesty she would give just to prove herself. Sucking in a deep breath, the female Cadet yelled with all her might, "I AM FROM THE VILLGE OF UMA!"
"Uma?"
"Isn't that the village that trained horses for the Scouts?"
"I heard the village was slaughtered two years after the titans broke through the Wall."
"Yes it was!" The people shut their mouths instantly, but this 'discussions' was pathetic and pissing me off. Stepping forward, I saw the difference in Emalina. She was distraught, forced into a corner just to simply explain herself in order to seem credible to her comrades. She was breaking, the point of no return. With one hand, I grasped her fist, desire to feel her skin etched across my nerves; her hand relaxed, fingers slipping through mine until they were locked.
"My neighbors were slaughtered, friend eaten right in front of my eyes!" From my position, I could see Eren's eyes locked directly onto hers, as if he was seeing Emalina in a different colored light. "I am the only survivor, but I survived because of my horse!" At the moment, Freyja burst through the crowd, several Cadets nearly falling on their asses as the creature pranced to its owner, nudging her face with her muzzle. Emalina touched her horse, the love she held was evident within her actions and her eyes, I could see the trust between the two. I had no doubt in my mind regarding her earlier statements, but the sight before me was more than enough evidence to know she was being honest.
"I'm the only survivor of my hometown! I survived because I knew how to ride, because I trusted my horse to guide me!"
"Emalina, I…" Eren started, but was taken aback when he noticed my glare, the anger rolling off of me who stood by her side.
In a whisper so quiet I could barely register, she said, "Everyone's dismissed." Noticing the Cadets were still in their positions, she stated, in an authoritative voice, "Everyone is dismissed, that's an order!"
The Cadets had no idea what to do, but one by one, they each left, some stayed behind wanting to speak with Emalina, others shook their heads and walked towards their barracks. Eren, Mikasa and Armin stood for several minutes, hoping she would speak to them, as they also witnessed the terror of the titans once Wall Maria had fallen. They wanted to hear her story, but I wasn't letting them anywhere near her; eventually, they, too, turned and left. I watched as Marco wanted to stay, but I shook my head and he nodded, understanding without me having to explain. Turning her body until she faced me, I grasped her shoulders, allowing her a moment to collect her thoughts. I wanted to speak, but what was I supposed to say? No thought had crossed my mind that she had witnessed the terror of the outside world, that the smile she placed upon her lips every morning was a ruse to hide the memories.
"Jean?"
Glancing down into her beautiful, fear filled eyes, I was dumbfounded to see several crystalized tears had formed, desperately wanting to fall upon her rosy cheeks. As one lost its balance and traveled down her skin, my thumb cupped her cheek and wiped the tear away. In her current state, this was the most vulnerable I had seen Emalina since we met. She was always strong, never revealing too much that wouldn't give insight to her internal struggle. Hell, I don't like to talk about my past, and now that I know what's burned into her mind, why would she want to speak on the matter?
"Yes, Ema?"
"I…I'm so sorry for the way I acted. That was…oh my goodness I was so rude and, and…"
"Don't, Ema. I'll admit, I wasn't too thrilled about this training, but if Shadis says I have to learn it, I have to learn it, right? Plus, I would be learning from you, now that's pretty cool, if you ask me."
Her weak chuckle was adorable as she swiped at her eyes. "How can you make me laugh every time I'm ready to cry?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Ema, you've never cried in front of my before."
"No, I've never allowed you to see me cry, but that doesn't mean I haven't been on the verge too." Taking a deep breath, she added, "Jean, it's true what I said. I'm the only survivor from my village. I barely escaped with my life, and Freyja's as well."
"I believe you, I'm not like the others who needed proof."
Disbelief wove across her features before being replaced with content. "You know, I'd rather have you be the only one to believe me than our Comrades. Oh! Along with Marco and Sasha."
"Sasha?" I chuckled, wondering how Potato Girl became mixed into this.
A smile finally formed upon her lips. "Oh yeah, after Sasha took me to the Medical Wing this morning, she asked to be my friend, and I accepted."
"Oh, that reminds me," closing the distance between us, I moved her hair out of the way to see the gauze taped to her temple, a small red dot was evident of additional bleeding, but everything seemed well. "How is your injury now?"
Moving to touch her head, our fingers caressed each other, as I dropped mine to my side. "The damn thing's tender, that's for sure. I just need to keep an eye on it, but I'll be ok." Reaching over to brush Freyja's neck, Emalina sighed. "Jean, why haven't you asked me about being from Uma? Surely you heard what happened to my hometown."
"Of course I did, especially since I'm from Trost."
"I bet you're wanting to know what happened."
"What happened? To be honest, no, no I don't. But do I want to know the pain you felt, hear everything you heard, see what you witnessed? That is what I want to hear. I want to understand you, Ema. You're such a mystery, and I can't figure you out."
Releasing a heavy breath, Emalina froze in her position, face directed towards Freyja, but her words were meant for me. "Maybe it's better that you don't figure me out."
"And why is that?"
This time, when she turned back to face me, Ema allowed a single droplet of salt water to run down her cheek. Letting it be, she couldn't look away from my eyes. Under her microscope, I felt tiny, insecure, as if she was testing me. Was she looking for trust? Something sturdy to prove she could answer my question? Whatever her reason, she moved forward and leaned into my chest, falling somewhat limp until my arms enveloped her waist, pulling her close. Son of a bitch, why is this so comforting?
"I feel so empty, Jean. Like I'm in a dark hole…and there's no one to pull me out."
Pulling back, I held Emalina at arm's length. The female before me seemed so frail, so timid compared to the woman who was ready to beat the crap out of Eren Jeager. "Emalina, if you allow yourself to trust me, I'll be there to pull you out."
"But, I…" She pulled away, hand immediately reaching for Freyja's lead rope; I knew she was searching for an escape, but the lingering in her movements demonstrated she wasn't sure which path to take. "I'll just drag you down with me."
"Than drag me down, Ema!" My voice raised, but I didn't' care. Her body tensed and I regretted my actions, yes, but she needed to know where I stood. She was my friend, and I made a promise on our first day of training that I would remain by her side. There was a mystery to her, yes, and I wanted to know what it was. "At least you won't be alone. Isn't that what you're afraid of the most?"
She couldn't widen her eyes any further than she already had. "How did you…"
"Emalina, you may be a mystery, but there are still things about you I can read."
"Damnit, Kirschtein, you're persistent! Why bother with me? Why me?!"
"Why do I need a reason, Varlen? Why? What was so terrible that you cannot trust me?!"
"Because I don't want you to die on me, Jean! Those who I've come into contact with have all been eaten by titans, and I can't have that happen to YOU!"
~ oOo ~
If you enjoyed, let me know.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
If you wanna guess about what you think may happen in future chapters, hit me up, I'm kinda curious.
Chocobocolina :3