The recent mission had been quite a tumultuous experience for the cadets, filled with encounters with thieves and other challenges. Yet, their instructors showed no leniency in the weeks that followed.
The cadets found themselves engaged in relentless drills, and whenever they weren't out in the field, they were immersed in the classroom, absorbing a wealth of military calls, procedures, and tactics. Victoria and Reiner, having been paired together on several occasions for training and exercises, maintained an air of professionalism, each displaying impeccable poker faces while remaining exceptionally polite. Remarkably, he even initiated a conversation with her on a few occasions.
Like the all-day march through the rain.
Victoria found herself trudging through the long-distance hike alongside her fellow cadets, each step a battle against the elements. The weather was unforgiving, with cold rain pouring down in relentless sheets, soaking through her uniform and chilling her to the bone. The ground beneath her feet had transformed into a slippery, muddy mess, each footfall threatening to send her sprawling. She nearly lost her boot on two separate occasions, the suction of the mud pulling at her with a tenacity that was almost comical if it weren't so frustrating.
As she struggled to maintain her footing, Victoria cast a glance ahead at the Commandant, a figure of authority even in the midst of the storm. Shadis was scolding Armin, yelling down at the teenager from his horse. Armin, who was lagging behind, had his face twisted up in a mask of determination mixed with exhaustion. The Commandant's voice cut through the rain, sharp and commanding, echoing off the trees that lined the path. "This is not a leisurely stroll, Arlert! You need to push yourself harder!"
Victoria felt a pang of sympathy for Armin. They were all exhausted, their muscles aching from the relentless pace and the weight of their gear.
With a deep breath, Victoria focused on her own pace, trying to find a rhythm that would keep her moving forward. She could feel the cold seeping into her bones, but as she tried to push the discomfort aside, two things happened at once.
Her boot almost caught snagged in the mud for a third time. And Reiner came up alongside her.
"Seriously?" he spoke between panting breaths, sweat beading down his face as he matched his pace with hers. He had grabbed her arm, just in time to keep Victoria upright and stop her from having a nice, big, face full of mud.
"Here," Reiner released her arm, and grabbed the strap of her pack, suddenly slinging it over his own shoulder. "Focus on staying upright. We are being graded on this, you know." He was trying to be helpful, but that final remark revealed the underlying concern that was driving his anxiety.
Victoria went from being genuinely surprised to annoyed very quickly.
"Oh, you'll help me if your grade is on the line," V snapped at him before yanking her bag back. "Thanks, but no thanks. They'll cut your grade regardless if they knew you were trying to help me."
"Only if they find out," Reiner said, his golden eyes obscured by the shadow of his hood as he looked down at her. Although his expression was difficult to decipher, she could hear the playful, teasing tone in his voice that hinted at something more.
"I do not understand you," V blurted out, and Reiner's eyes widened in confusion.
"I'm trying to help-"
"But why!" V's voice got a little louder. "You've spent the last few weeks avoiding me like a plague. And now, out of the blue, you want to help me?"
"Yeah..." Reiner replied cautiously.
Victoria came to an abrupt halt, prompting Reiner to do the same. As groups of cadets rushed past them, Eren among them who shot her a backward glance, she raised her voice in frustration. The rain had intensified once more, drenching everything in its relentless downpour.
"Why? I spent years trying to find you, and Bertholdt and Annie.You were there! At Shiganshina. You saved my life and we escaped together. Only for me to wake up in a hospital, alone." Her eyes glanced down at his hand, and she found herself with the overwhelming urge to hold it again.
"Any attempts to find you yielded nothing," she continued after a moment, "You basically disappeared! And now, when I finally see you again as a cadet you spent almost a whole year ignoring me! Too afraid to talk to me! You're a coward, Reiner, so why are you helping me?"
Reiner remained frozen in place, his expression a mask that barely concealed a flicker of fear. It wasn't outright panic, but rather a vulnerability that evoked the image of a young child on the verge of tears. He found himself unable to respond, as Victoria's tirade concluded just when Commandant Shadis arrived, his anger palpable and intense.
"Why have you stopped Cadets?" He screamed at them. His dark brown mare shifted in the mud, trying to find its footing and huffing in frustration.
"Reiner expressed that he was feeling unwell, sir! We paused to assess his condition! If allowed, I would like to rejoin the march, sir!" Victoria reported, snapping a sharp salute, her eyes fierce and inscrutable as she stared up at Shadis through the pouring rain. The Commandant couldn't help but smirk a little, pleased to see that his teachings on maintaining composure had taken root.
His intense stare felt like it was piercing right through Victoria, yet after a brief pause, he finally nodded. With that, V hurried away, eager to rejoin the group and conceal the tears welling up in her eyes from both Reiner and Shadis.
There was an overwhelming sensation that engulfed her, a heat that surged every time he looked at her with those intense eyes. It was a feeling she despised.
It was almost comforting to have the rain pouring down, masking her tears as she rushed away.
~o~
The rest of the march, Reiner kept his distance and didn't make any attempt to speak to her again. Eren had looped back to check on Victoria, but she just brushed him aside, giving Eren a similar story to the one she gave the Commandant. Armin was so caught up in trying to just keep going that he didn't pay her any mind. Mikasa was among the cadets somewhere, but Victoria had not seen her.
She ran alone, eyes on the ground, keeping pace with her fellow cadets.
"Um, hey," a voice barely rose above the sound of the marching feet and the relentless rain. When Victoria glanced up, she was taken aback to see Bertholdt walking alongside her. His tall, slender figure seemed to glide effortlessly through the muddy terrain, allowing him to maintain a steady rhythm as Victoria struggled to keep her own pace while remaining in line.
"Uh..." Victoria didn't really know how to answer, exhaustion making speech difficult.
Bertholdt continued anyway, "I wanted to apologize for Reiner."
Okay, Victoria thought cautiously. Better than nothing, she supposed.
"He's a complicated person," Bertholdt remarked. Victoria couldn't help but think that was an understatement of epic proportions. "We didn't have the same fortune as those of you who are sheltered within the city," he added. Victoria's expression shifted to one of concern as she turned her gaze back to Bertholdt, taken aback by the sudden change in his tone. His voice had become deep and rough, carrying a weight that was hard to ignore.
"Reiner said you guys weren't from Shiganshina?" Victoria asked, and Bertholdt nodded in response. "What were you guys doing there?"
For a brief moment, Bertholdt's expression turned inscrutable, a mask of emotions that flickered just beneath the surface. Victoria, ever perceptive, noticed the internal struggle within him—a tempest of doubt, fear, and perhaps guilt—that she recognized all too well from her own experiences. It was a familiar battle, one she had fought countless times since that fateful day.
Without thinking, driven by an instinctive urge to comfort, she reached out and gently gripped his arm, her touch both reassuring and grounding. The warmth of her hand seems to anchor him, if only for a moment. Her voice softened, a soothing balm amid his turmoil, as she said, "You don't have to tell me. If this is overwhelming, I completely understand."
A shadow crosses her gaze, a fleeting glimpse of the pain that lingers just beneath her composed exterior. The memories flood back, unbidden and raw, and she adds, her voice barely above a whisper, "I lost my entire family that day." The weight of her words hangs in the air, heavy with unspoken grief and shared regret.
As she looked into his eyes, she could see the flicker of understanding, or maybe she hopefully imagined it, the silent acknowledgment of shared suffering. A connection forged in the fires of tragedy, a bond that, while born of sorrow, also holds the potential for healing.
She squeezed his arm gently, a silent promise that he was not alone in this struggle, that together they could navigate the shadows of their pasts and perhaps find a glimmer of hope in the darkness.
But in that fleeting moment, surrounded by the turmoil of their existence, Victoria was caught off guard by the powerful emotion that suddenly illuminated Bertholdt's face as they marched together. Before she could even gather her thoughts or voice her curiosity, he surged ahead, his long legs carrying him swiftly away from her, leaving her in a swirl of unanswered questions.
It was guilt.
~o~
Back at the camp, V found solace in the showers, allowing the hot water to wash away her worries and soothe her aching muscles. In that moment of solitude, she embraced the quiet, as everyone else had already moved on to dinner, leaving her to reflect in peace.
As she stepped out and caught her reflection in the mirror, she was struck by the changes in her body. Her breasts had grown fuller, and her muscles were more defined than ever, hinting at the strength she had developed. She noticed the beginnings of a six-pack forming, a testament to her hard work. Her hair cascaded nearly to her back, shimmering in a beautiful dark bronze-gold hue, while her amber eyes, once filled with youthful wonder, now held a deeper, more mature gaze.
She had seen so much death and hatred. What the Titans did to humanity. They didn't just eat them, the Titans wore them down year after year. The psychological impact of being a tuna trapped in a can... it did things to people. It had done things to her. Victoria still had nightmares of that horrific night.
"Victoria," Reiner's voice was soft but startled her nonetheless.
She spun, grabbing a towel, expecting to face him but he wasn't there. A hand appeared from the bathroom door instead.
"When you get out, can we talk?"
She stared at his hand for a moment; his nails were well taken care of and the well-defined muscles in his hand kept flexing as he propped the door open with his fingertips.
"Um.. sure..." she eventually replied. The hand disappeared and the door closed behind him.
What did he want now? Maybe to apologize, a hopeful voice echoed in her mind. Shaking her head, she finished drying off and got dressed. The soft cotton dress felt smooth against her skin, bringing a sense of calm.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, she realized she had spent nearly an hour in the shower. Dinner was finished, and she noticed various cadets chatting and laughing together in the distance, their camaraderie evident as they enjoyed their time before the impending lights out.
Reiner stood at the bottom of the stairs, his presence unmistakable as he awaited her arrival. The lantern's glow caught the shine of his blond hair, creating a halo effect that made him seem almost ethereal. His gaze was locked onto her, and she could sense the tension in his broad shoulders, straining against the fabric of his shirt. V took a moment to scan the surroundings, relieved to find that they were alone; even Bertholdt, who typically trailed Reiner closely, was nowhere in sight.
"Hey," his voice cracked, giving away his nervousness.
"Hey." She replied, leaning on the stair railing above him. "Before you start, I want to apologize for throwing you upon the Commandant's mercy. That wasn't cool of me."
Reiner paused for a moment, a soft chuckle escaping his lips as he cast his gaze downward. It was as if he were searching for the right words to express himself, the air thick with an unspoken tension that lingered between them.
"I am afraid of you."
V fought to stifle a laugh, unable to comprehend how this tall, accomplished cadet could feel intimidated by her. He stood there, broad-shouldered and clad in the insignia of his rank, the crossed swords, a figure who had faced countless drills and emerged victorious time and again.
Yet, at this moment, he seemed almost fragile, as if the weight of his expectations bore down on him like a heavy cloak. The expression he directed at her was enough to quell her amusement, not from anger but from a profound sense of sorrow that washed over her like a tide.
His eyes, usually so fierce and determined, now held a flicker of uncertainty, a vulnerability that was disarming. It was a look that brought to mind the image of a child in tears, lost, and seeking comfort in a world that felt overwhelmingly large and intimidating. The sight stirred a poignant feeling that tugged at her heart once again, a reminder of the innocence that often lay hidden beneath layers of bravado and strength.
In that fleeting moment, Victoria felt a deep connection to him, a shared understanding of the burdens they both carried. It was as if the walls they had built around themselves began to crumble, revealing the raw, unguarded emotions that lay beneath. She wanted to reach out, to offer solace, to remind him that it was okay to feel vulnerable, that strength did not always mean being unyielding.
She wanted to hold his hand.
Instead, she stood there, caught in the delicate balance between laughter and empathy, her heart aching for the soldier who, despite his formidable exterior, was just as human as she was. The laughter that had threatened to escape her lips faded into silence, replaced by a profound respect for the man before her, a recognition that even the strongest among them could feel lost and alone.
"I'm afraid for you," He continued, his golden eyes shimmering. "When the Titans attacked Shiganshina, it was... hell." His gaze dropped back to the ground and V stepped down closer to him. "I'd never heard that many people screaming."
V remained quiet.
"When we ran into you, it was like a smack to the face. When I saw... what happened to you..." He had to pause, his hand lifting to his face to cover his eyes. "To all those people."
His shoulders suddenly jerked. He was crying.
"Reiner..." she said softly, descending the stairs to rest her hand gently on his shoulder. The moment her fingers brushed against him, she felt Reiner stiffen, a clear sign of his unease. His skin was radiating warmth, and she could sense the strength in his muscles as they tightened beneath her touch. "You really saved my life that day. I mean it." Despite her heartfelt words, he avoided her gaze, lost in his thoughts.
"You probably saved Annie and Bertholdt too, even if they won't admit it to you. We all made it out. We all vowed to be soldiers to avenge our families against the Titans. We helped each other then. We'll help each other as soldiers."
"No, absolutely not," he replied with a sense of urgency. "I-I can't bear the thought of you becoming a soldier. I don't want you to die for some senseless dream!" In a swift motion, he pivoted towards her, his hands gripping her arms firmly as he lifted her just off the ground with ease. His gold eyes were frantic. "You need to escape from here, run, find a place to hide, and steer clear of any Titans from now on."
She was shocked, angry, and terrified. She had never seen Reiner look like this, he was practically foaming at the mouth.
"You... don't want me... to become a soldier?" she asked slowly, her voice trembling as confusion gave way to a rising tide of anger. The intensity of her emotions was palpable, and she felt the heat of fury coursing through her veins. He stood so near, their noses almost touching, his eyes wide with desperation as he searched her face for understanding. In that moment, she recognized a familiar fear mirrored in his gaze, reminiscent of the terror that had filled her mother's eyes on the day their world shattered. It was the fear of the unknown, a haunting presence that loomed over them both.
"Please," Reiner was begging.
"Reiner." her voice dropped, as her eyes did, staring at the space between their feet, before gently trying to push him away with her hand on his chest. "I can't. I'm sorry." The weight of her father's medal was heavy in her pocket. She lifted her gaze, fierce eyes meeting his.
"I refuse to cower behind the walls."
Reiner released Victoria and recoiled as if she had just burned him, stepping back with a sense of urgency. Without uttering a single word, he pivoted sharply and strode away, sending dust swirling in his wake. As he made his way to his cabin, he crossed paths with Bertholdt, but chose to disregard him completely, leaving Bertholdt looking back at Victoria with a puzzled expression.
The absence of his warmth beside her left Victoria feeling lonely and cold.
~o~
"Victoria!" With a burst of enthusiasm, Sasha welcomed V into their cabin, ready to start brimming over with stories from the day's escapades she had experienced with Connie. However, her excitement quickly faded when she noticed the troubled expression on Victoria's face. "Whoa, wait, what happened?" she asked, concern creeping into her voice.
"Um..." V hesitated, making her way to her bunk in a rush while avoiding eye contact, but Sasha was already closing in, determined to understand. Despite the anger swirling within her, Victoria felt tears welling up, her eyes and nose reddening as she struggled to conceal her distress.
"Who made you cry?" Sasha demanded, her face flushing with indignation. Mikasa, noticing the tension, paused her workout to walk over, a concerned look on her composed face. She was followed closely by Ymir and Krista. Even Mina set her book aside, sensing the gravity of the situation.
Damnit.
Mikasa's voice, both powerful and gentle, echoed clearly in the now hushed cabin. "Go on, we're all ears," she encouraged, inviting Victoria to share.
"No.. no one!" V's stumbled to find some excuse. She was upset but she wasn't about to set this group of vicious girls on Reiner. "I stubbed my toe coming inside."
V noticed the way Ymir's gaze sharpened, a clear sign of her skepticism. Sasha, feeling a bit sulky, whined about her desire for more clarity, fully aware that Victoria wasn't being entirely truthful. However, after V repeated her answer, they decided to let the matter rest for the moment. Mikasa resumed her push-ups, focusing on her workout, while Mina returned to her reading, seeking solace in the pages of her book.
Ymir and Krista sat down next to V.
Ymir leaned in closer, her voice gentle as she tried to keep the focus off Victoria. With a playful grin, she lightly tapped V's shoulder with her fist. "Come on, knucklehead. Did you really just stub your toe?"
"You don't have to tell us, we just want to make sure you're ok," Krista chimed in, wrapping her arms around Victoria in a supportive hug.
Ymir shook her head, a teasing smile on her face. "I know she's not being honest; you're not very good at lying, you know that? Is it about a guy?"
Victoria let out a small laugh, acknowledging the truth in Ymir's words. "Yeah, you could say that. Just some boy drama," She paused, raising a hand to stop Ymir before she could pry further. "But I'm not telling you who it is."
"Oh, come on, V," Ymir groaned, her frustration evident. "Why won't you just tell me?"
"Because we're not a thing! He's just a pain in my ass!"
Ymir couldn't help but smirk, her sarcasm evident as she rose to her feet. "Sure, whatever," she said dismissively, rolling her eyes in exasperation before heading to her bed. With a fierce glare, she managed to evict Sascha from the lower bunk, then flopped down, her hands resting behind her head as she shut her eyes, seeking a moment of peace.
Krista lingered for a moment, her voice barely above a whisper as she asked, "It's Reiner, isn't it?" V felt a wave of tension wash over her, and Krista's understanding smile offered a small comfort. "It's okay. I get it. He's... complicated, I think," she reassured, giving V's arm a gentle squeeze before retreating to her own bunk. "I won't say anything."
Victoria, feeling overwhelmed, threw her hands up in surrender and curled into a tight ball on her bunk. As she lay there, the weight of her feelings settled in, and the last thought that crossed her mind was a mix of frustration and realization:
Damn it. I have a crush on Reiner.
~o~
"Un-cle! Un-cle! Agghhgghh!" Connie's voice echoed through the training area, desperation gurgling through with each breath.
He cried out, his face turning a shade of crimson as he struggled beneath Victoria's unyielding grip. She had him locked in a chokehold, her strong arms encircling his neck with a precision that spoke of countless hours spent honing her skills. With each passing moment, she gradually maneuvered them closer to the edge of the training area, the ground beneath them littered with the remnants of previous sparring sessions—discarded water bottles, sweat-soaked towels, and the occasional boot scuff marking the earth.
As Connie continued to squirm beneath Victoria's grip, he could feel the weight of their shared experiences pressing down on him. The laughter and playful teasing that had once characterized their training sessions had been replaced by a steely resolve. He could hear the shouts of encouragement from their friends, the rhythmic thud of feet against the ground, and the sharp intake of breath as they pushed themselves to their limits.
"Come on, Connie! You can do better than that!" Jean shouted from the sidelines, his voice booming with enthusiasm. The words ignited a spark within Connie, a flicker of defiance that urged him to fight back. With a sudden burst of energy, he twisted his body, attempting to free himself from Victoria's grip.
She used his momentum against him, flinging him forward, face-first into the dirt. And over the boundary line.
"We're soldiers," V could hear Reiner's words echoing in her head. "The fight doesn't give us an option about whether or not it's going to get ugly."
This was no ordinary practice; it was hand-to-hand combat, and Victoria was clearly gaining the upper hand against Connie.
Her focus was unwavering, her movements fluid and calculated. The atmosphere had shifted dramatically since their encounter with the thieves a few months back, a harrowing experience that had left an indelible mark on the group. The memory of that day loomed large in their minds, a constant reminder of the dangers that lurked, not just beyond their walls, but in them.
It had prompted everyone to approach their training with renewed seriousness, a collective understanding that complacency could lead to dire consequences.
Even Eren, who had previously expressed his confusion to Reiner about the purpose of their rigorous training, was now fully engaged in the practice. His brow furrowed in concentration, and he threw punches with a newfound intensity, each strike echoing his determination to protect those he cared about.
Annie had been diligently training Eren in combat techniques, and it was evident in the way he moved during his sparring session with Mikasa. Although she still managed to take him down quickly, he demonstrated a noticeable improvement in his ability to defend himself. Even Victoria had shown progress, as she observed the fights around her and learned from them.
Jean stepped into the ring now with an air of confidence, his demeanor cocky as he approached Victoria. He had trained hard for this moment, and the adrenaline coursing through his veins fueled his determination.
The crowd buzzed with anticipation, their eyes fixed on the two competitors.
Jean's posture was relaxed, but his eyes were sharp, scanning Victoria for any sign of weakness. He was ready to assert his dominance, to show everyone that he was not to be underestimated.
In response, Victoria employed Annie's technique, a strategy she had practiced countless times in the gym. With a swift, fluid motion, Victoria raised her hands to shield her face just in time to block a quick jab from Jean. The impact reverberated through her forearms, but she remained focused, her heart pounding with excitement.
As Jean pressed forward, confident in his strength, Victoria pivoted on her back foot, using her light body weight to duck and weave away from Jean's assault. With a sudden burst of energy, she swept her leg low. The move was executed with precision, and before he could react, Jean found himself tumbling to the ground, his feet swept out from under him.
The crowd gasped in unison, the sound echoing in the arena as Jean hit the dirt with a thud. For a brief moment, time seemed to stand still. Victoria stood over him, her heart racing, a mix of triumph and disbelief washing over her. She had done it—she had turned the tables on every opponent she had faced today.
As Jean scrambled to regain his footing, the atmosphere in the ring shifted. Victoria felt a surge of confidence, knowing that she had the upper hand. She was no longer just a contender; she was a force to be reckoned with.
All it took was a single punch to Jean's jaw to send him flying off balance and out of the ring.
Now, the real test was about to begin, as her final match of the day was against the very girl she had been emulating.
Annie Leonhardt entered the ring with an expression that conveyed both indifference and a hint of curiosity about how this confrontation would unfold. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation, the air crackling with the energy of the gathered cadets, all eager to witness this clash of powerhouses.
It was one of those rare moments when Annie and Victoria exchanged words, a fleeting pause between their bout that felt almost surreal.
"Are you finally ready to stop being lazy and actually fight, Annie?" Victoria taunted, her voice laced with a mix of bravado and challenge. She raised her hands to shield her face, adopting a defensive stance that was both playful and serious, a clear indication that she was ready to engage.
Annie shot her a piercing glare, her icy blue eyes effectively undermining Victoria's confidence. It was a look that seemed to cut through Victoria, a silent reminder of the skill and strength that lay beneath her calm exterior. "Hand-to-hand combat doesn't really matter towards our final grade," she replied, her tone as frigid as her gaze, each word dripping with a cool detachment that only added to the tension in the air.
"The clever ones know better than to take it seriously." It was clear she was referring to herself, a subtle admission of her own calculated approach to the competition. Annie had always been one to play the long game, her mind working several steps ahead of her opponents.
"Besides, only the top ten cadets get to join the military police and serve in the interior. The rest of us? We might as well forget it." Her voice dropped slightly, a hint of bitterness creeping in as she spoke the harsh truth of their reality. The weight of her words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the stakes they were all facing.
"The point is, the only ones who take this seriously are naive fools like you and Eren." The disdain in her voice was palpable, a sharp contrast to the camaraderie that often existed among the cadets. Annie's words were a challenge, a provocation meant to shake Victoria's resolve.
But Victoria was undeterred. She squared her shoulders, determination igniting in her chest. "Maybe it's naive to dream, but I'd rather fight for something than sit back and let it slip away," she shot back, her voice steady as she waited for Annie to make a move.
Attacking first would surely mean the end.
Annie suddenly surged forward with determination, and Victoria instinctively reacted, her mind racing to keep up with her body. She swiftly sidestepped, trying to harness Annie's forward momentum to send her sprawling out of the ring. However, Annie was too quick-witted and evaded the move, skillfully ducking and weaving to avoid capture. The two engaged in a rapid exchange of strikes, each blow fierce yet elusive, as neither could find an opening to land a hit.
As the intensity of their duel drew more onlookers, even the Commandant approached, observing the match with a discerning gaze.
In a sudden twist of fate, Victoria found herself on the ground, her leg pinned above her as Annie expertly used her weight to keep it firmly restrained.
"First rule of this world, kid," Annie's blue eyes darkened as they glared into Victoria's. "The better you are at fighting monsters, the farther from the monsters you can get. You think all these children are working hard to become soldiers?" She hissed in V's face, and Victoria's blood boiled. "No, they're training hard so they can run away."
A sudden cry pierced the air, followed by a whirlwind of activity that left the watching cadets in stunned silence. In an unexpected turn of events, Victoria had managed to outmaneuver Annie, flipping her onto her back with a technique Chisaki had taught her, leaving Victoria herself astonished by her success. Annie lay on the ground, breathless and wide-eyed, gazing up at Victoria in disbelief.
"I'm not trying to run, Annie," Victoria replied, tightening her grip. "I told Reiner the same thing, and now I'm telling you. I'm putting in the effort so that when I face a Titan again, I won't feel powerless. When I encounter them, I will fight back. Next time I see a Titan, I'm going to be ready to kill it. I'm going to become a Scout, and nothing will stop me."
Annie continued to stare at Victoria, glare penetrating her as Annie looked for something in Victoria's eyes.
After a brief pause, she relaxed, raising her hands in surrender. "I yield," she declared, prompting an eruption of thunderous applause from the surrounding cadets.
Yet, as Victoria took in the cheers and excitement around her, a troubling realization settled in. Annie was right; the cadets weren't training to become soldiers; they were training so they could run.