The scorching sun blazed on the back of V's head as she breathed heavily beside Sasha. They had exchanged a few words at the start of their laps, but after three long hours, both were too exhausted to continue the conversation. The only sounds breaking the silence were the occasional, "Yes, sir!" in response to their instructor's shouts.

This was grueling. Victoria had been warned by Chisaki that training would be hard compared to the basic formations he taught her. But she didn't think she would have to run laps for hours in the hot sun for a snicker. She needed to get her shit together and vowed then and there not to let that happen again.

"Freidrich! Fall in!"

It was Commandant Shadis.

She let out a weary groan as she turned to the left, coming to a stop in front of him. "Sir!" she exclaimed, managing a salute despite the sweat dripping down her face into her eyes.

Commandant Shadis looked down at her with a piercing gaze, a hint of smugness in his expression. "Listen, cadet," he said firmly and in a level tone. "I trust you've grasped this important lesson today. A soldier's ability to maintain a poker face is crucial. If you can't control your emotions, you pose a risk to your comrades. Do you comprehend what I'm saying?"

Victoria was taken aback that he wasn't raising his voice at her. His concern for her ability was sincere, and upon reflection, she realized he had a point. In scenarios where she might face an adversary and needed to keep her composure or a secret, self-control is essential. A lapse in that could endanger her comrades' lives.

"Yes sir," Victoria nodded sharply. "I understand, sir."

"Excellent," Shadis's face had a hint of a smile. "I love it when my cadets are smart. Hit the showers."

"Sir!"

The Commandant walked away, leaving her to drop the salute and nearly collapse on the ground from exhaustion. She watched Sasha struggle by herself. Poor girl, she had to keep going til at least sundown.

That wasn't for another two hours at least.

~o~

"Victoria?"

Just hearing her name sent a shiver down V's spine. Fresh from the shower, she was busy squeezing the water from her hair when the gentle voice caught her by surprise. Turning around, she came face to face with the person who had spoken.

Reiner Braun stood behind her, visibly unsettled. He had changed so much, yet she could never erase the memory of his piercing golden eyes. He was undeniably handsome, probably around 14 now. The boy had shot up like a weed, towering over her with broad shoulders and a strong jawline.

"Reiner." Victoria herself was equally stunned. Annie had surprised her, but Reiner shocked her. It had been years since she had held his hand.

"I didn't realize you were going to join the military." His eyes pierced through her, radiating a searing intensity. There was a depth of emotion there that she couldn't quite grasp, yet she misinterpreted it as anger. What could possibly be fueling his fury? It sparked something in Victoria.

"Of course, you didn't know," she snapped, her frustration evident. "You vanished right after we arrived in Trost. I was out cold, and you just... disappeared. I couldn't even track you down later, Reiner." Her expression softened, and a warm smile appeared on her face, contrasting with the bite of her earlier words. "I was worried about you, asshole. Clearly, you didn't share that concern."

Her harsh tone hung in the air, leaving him momentarily at a loss for words as he stifled his first instinct to respond and nearly fled from her. "I'm just glad to see you're okay," he replied, his voice lacking emotion, his eyes unfocused before he quickly distanced himself from her.

She watched him walk away, shoulders tense.

WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?

"Hey! Victoria!"

It was Armin Arlert, making his way towards her with a friendly wave as he hurried over from the bustling mess hall at the heart of the camp. He had swapped his uniform for a more relaxed outfit and was holding a canteen of water and a sandwich.

"Don't forget to keep hydrated," he said, offering her the items as he reached her side. "You missed lunch, you know."

She didn't realize how famished she was until her stomach let out a loud rumble at the sight of the bologna sandwich. Victoria tore into it like a rabid animal.

Armin seemed oblivious to what had just occurred between her and Reiner, and Victoria was grateful for that. She loved him, but this nervous kid asked a lot of questions sometimes. Though, she swore she kept seeing him sneak a peek off towards Reiner, who had joined Bertholdt on the patio of a cabin. Maybe Armin was smarter than she thought.

"Great, gang's all here," she mumbled to herself.

"What's that?" Armin asked, blue eyes perking up.

"Nothing, Armin."

~o~

The Boot Camp was situated approximately 20 feet below sea level, nestled within an old mining pit that had been refurbished for training purposes. This site once thrived as a source of iron ore, essential for crafting cannons, but it had long since dried up, making way for the Training Corps to establish their base in this unique environment.

At the heart of the camp stood the mess hall, a spacious structure that served as a gathering place for the cadets. It featured a patio that encircled the front, complete with picnic tables and a few water spigots for convenience. The landscape around the camp was stark, dominated by reddish dirt that had replaced any greenery to accommodate the rigorous training of the cadets.

Surrounding the mess hall were several rustic wooden cabins arranged in a semi-circle, along with essential facilities like bathrooms, storage buildings, and instructors' quarters creating a functional yet austere atmosphere.

Victoria found her friends there, Armin trailing behind her. Eren and Mikasa were hanging out on a patio with some people she recognized and some she didn't.

Cueball, Connie Springer, was there—the boy who was picked up by his head for messing up a salute. There was a girl with a sweet face and dark hair that she wore in loose pigtails that V didn't recognize and a lanky boy with a mop of brown hair and freckles. He was smiling at her as they approached and was the first to introduce himself.

"I think she said she's from Dauper," Connie said to Eren, "If I remember right, that's a small hunting village in the mountains, isn't it?"

"Yup, that's what she said," V replied, recalling the brief moments of conversation she and Sasha shared between their laps. She made her way up the stairs to greet the boy who had been overlooking Connie, extending her hand for a handshake.

"Hello! I'm Marco Bodt, hailing from Jinae, located on the south side of Wall Rose," he introduced himself, his radiant smile brightening the atmosphere around them. V couldn't help but remember the teasing remark made during the lineup about him being a "smiling idiot." Nearby, the girl with dark hair waved shyly, introducing herself as Mina, her demeanor reflecting a gentle and reserved nature.

"Hey, what's that?" Eren was watching a green covered wagon making its way out of the campsite; a few cadets could be seen in the back looking crestfallen and somber.

"They're dropouts." Mina replied, "They asked to work in the fields instead."

"But it's only the first day?" Armin was surprised.

"That's the way it is," V replied, a stern look on her face. "If you can't cut it here, you have to leave."

"I can't believe anyone would rather pull plants than fight," Eren commented.

"Wait," Marco turned to face him. "I know about some of us, but you never said where you were from Eren," he inquired.

Eren smiled and put his hands on V and Armin's shoulders, "The same as them. I'm from Shiganshina."

"Oh wow... that means... you were actually there that day," Marco and Connie stared at them, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief. Connie's initial fear quickly transformed into eager curiosity as he glanced back and forth between them, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"The Colossal One, did you both get a chance to see him?" Connie's words were fast, as Marco tried and failed to rein in his questions.

Before anyone could answer, the bell tower rang out, signaling dinner. "Come on, we'll tell you everything later."

~o~

Upon stepping into the mess hall, the lively discussions abruptly ceased as the cadets were directed into orderly lines to collect their trays of food. The expansive hall echoed with the buzz of anticipation, its lofty wooden ceilings failing to muffle the enthusiastic voices of countless famished cadets. Gradually, clusters of them made their way to the tables, which were also crafted from robust, aged wood. Unfortunately, as Victoria settled into her seat, she felt a sharp sting from a splinter that had lodged itself into her palm.

Compounding the already sour atmosphere was the unappetizing "dinner," which consisted of a murky soup with a dull gray broth, a handful of limp vegetables floating around aimlessly, and a rather uninspiring yeast bun.

And Reiner Braun.

This kid was haunting Victoria. He had been behind her in the line and the whole time she could feel his eyes watching her, and she watched him right back when she could. Every time he looked away, shame was written all over his face.

At last, they settled down, and a few eager children began to pester Eren for his tale. Among them were Connie and Mina, along with a cadet named Thomas. Marco was present as well, attempting, yet again, to keep some level of order amidst the chaos. Whispers of various rumors filled the air, as kids from different villages within Wall Rose shared their versions of events. Eren responded to their questions with patience, but Victoria could sense his growing fatigue.

"Yeah, okay, I saw the big guy," Eren slurped on his soup. "He stuck his head over the Wall."

That sentence alone sent the cadets into a buzz. One had heard it had just stepped over the Wall entirely. Thankfully not. V could not even fathom a Titan that tall.

Victoria found herself at the same table as Eren, yet she had firmly expressed her reluctance to discuss Shiganshina. The memories of that place were too raw, too painful, and she had hoped to steer the conversation in a different direction. Despite her wishes, the conversation flowed around her, seemingly unaffected by her discomfort. The laughter and excitement of her companions felt like a distant echo, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within her.

Eren, with his characteristic enthusiasm, recounted his story, his voice rising and falling with the intensity of his memories. He spoke of the Colossal Titan's terrifying emergence, the way it had loomed over the walls like a harbinger of doom, and the chaos that had ensued.

Victoria could see the spark in his eyes, the passion that drove him to fight, but it only served to deepen her unease. She shifted in her seat, trying to focus on the food in front of her, but the words washed over her like a tide she couldn't escape.

Even Reiner, seated at a nearby table, adjusted himself to catch every word. His expression was a mix of interest and something else—perhaps guilt or regret. Victoria knew that he had his own demons to wrestle with, but in this moment, he seemed more like a spectator than a participant, drawn into the gravity of Eren's stories. The younger ones eagerly bombarded Eren with questions about the Colossal Titan and the Armored Titan, their curiosity unyielding and relentless. They leaned in closer, eyes wide with wonder, as if they were listening to a hero recounting his greatest adventures.

"How did you feel when you first saw the Colossal Titan?" one of them asked, their voice filled with awe.

Eren paused, a flicker of something darker crossing his face before he answered. "It was terrifying. I thought we were all going to die." His tone was serious, and for a moment, the laughter faded, replaced by a heavy silence that hung in the air.

Victoria felt the weight of his words pressing down on her. She wanted to scream, to tell them all to stop, to remember that those stories were not just tales of bravery but also of loss and devastation. But instead, she remained silent, trapped in her own thoughts as the conversation continued to swirl around her.

As the younger ones pressed on, asking about specifics, Victoria's mind drifted back to Shiganshina—the crumbling walls, the screams, the faces of those of those she saw dying in the streets.

"In all that panic, it was just another Titan to me." Eren had always been a confident kid, but even Victoria could tell he was sweating a little underneath.

"No way," the shell-shocked cadet had the same look as all the others. "So, what were they like? The regular Titans?"

For a moment, Eren looks like he might throw up.

Marco was the one who stepped up then, seeing the reaction as well. "Ok, that's enough questions, alright? I'm sure they'd rather not relive these awful memories." Connie's eyes dropped. "Oh, sorry, we didn't mean to," he shot V an apologetic smile from where he sat crouched on the floor next to Eren.

Eren sat up, a faltering smile on his face as he replied with false bravado. Or maybe it was real and Eren just thought he was that good. "They really weren't a big deal. Once we master the omni-directional mobility gear, they'll be nothing to us. We'll finally be soldiers. It's payback time, then."

His green eyes shined fiercely, "It's this moment I've decided. I'm joining the Scouts and I'm going to slaughter every last one of those monsters. I'm going to butcher them all."

Silence hung between the cadets for a moment.

"Whoa, what're you crazy?" The cadet who spoke up was Jean Kirschtein. "Not like it's my business but signing up for reconnaissance is like a death wish." He had his arms folded on the table, hand supporting his cheek as he casually listened to the conversation, a smirk on his lips.

"I guess we'll see." Eren stood as he replied. "Or I will. You'll be too busy hiding in the interior with the rest of the MPs."

Jean scoffed, "I'm just being honest here kid. It's much nicer than being, say, a loud-mouth, tough guy, loser wannabe who's just pretending he's not pissed scared like the rest of us."

Victoria's jaw dropped.

As Eren went to stand, the crowd had parted before him, Eren's fists were clenched tight. "You looking to start a fight?" Eren's voice was low and serious.

Jean smirked again and stood, never losing the calm, arrogant posture he held. "Sure, why not?" Jean's hands were in his pockets as he and Eren faced off. "Makes no difference to me." His cocky smile had an edge now.

Before either could move, the tower bell in the distance rang again. Dismissing all the cadets. Some used the opportunity to run from the possible conflict, some stayed to try and watch. The moment of tension didn't last though.

Jean sighed, shoulders relaxing, and Victoria relaxed with him. She had instinctively stood, along with Mikasa, on the other side of Eren.

"Hey, look, I'm sorry," Jean's crooked smile was awkward. "Sorry for calling you names and dismissing your choice of career." He held out his hand, "Put her there kid, what do ya say?"

Eren looked at his hand and then back to Jean. He had started to frown, seemingly weirded out by this sudden maturity. Eren's shoulders finally relaxed.

"Right, I'm sorry as well," but instead of shaking Jean's hand, Eren slapped it away before walking off. Group and food abandoned, Mikasa quietly followed after him, leaving V and Armin to clean up their trays.

You're so volatile sometimes, Eren,V thought with a mix of frustration and exasperation. She settled back into her seat, eager to finish her meal in peace before making her exit, when her eyes caught Reiner across the bustling dining hall. He was clearing his tray, and just as he was about to walk away, he shot her a fleeting glance. His cheeks flushed a deep crimson, yet his expression remained a mystery, and before she could decipher it, he quickly turned away and disappeared from view.

Is he avoiding me?

Victoria stood quickly, intent on following him and demanding to know what his deal was, but by the time she had made it out onto the patio, Reiner had disappeared.

Definitely avoiding me.