Just as Leona swiftly blocked the commander's hand from gripping her collar, he retaliated with surprising speed, seizing the arm she used to defend herself and forcefully twisting it behind her back. In one brutal motion, he slammed her face-first onto the ground, a sharp thud reverberating through the air, accompanied by the unsettling sound of crumbling sand.
The commander pressed down on Leona's arm, locking it behind her back as he shoved his foot firmly against the center of her spine, pinning her to the ground. "You'll stay put," he growled, his tone low and menacing.
She let out a sharp cry of pain as the pressure on her back intensified, and a wave of fear washed over the cadets witnessing the scene. They stood frozen, their eyes wide in horror. Among them, Erwin and Nile exchanged worried glances, watching helplessly. Even as she struggled beneath him, her eyes burned with fury, unwavering and fierce.
"It's clear you grew up spoiled in the interior; your parents should've spent more time teaching you manners," the commander sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Once this is over, you'll be running laps until the sun goes down. And don't even think about lunch or dinner today." He spoke with authority, every word flew out with a threat that sent shivers down the spines of the cadets.
"Anyone who tries to come to your aid will be kicked out for insubordination!" he yelled, scanning the crowd with steely eyes.
"Am I clear?" he shouted, his voice resonating across the training field.
"Yes, sir!" the cadets responded in unison, their voices a collective shout as they saluted, but their hearts were heavy with fear.
Finally, the commander lifted his foot off Leona's back and released her arm. As the weight of his presence vanished, she felt an immediate rush of relief course through her, but she remained sprawled on her stomach, her breath shallow as she awaited further orders.
With a swift motion, the commander yanked her to her feet, forcing her to turn around so that she was now facing him, her back turned to Erwin.
The commander studied her for a moment, captivated by the anger that still smoldered in her eyes. Despite her defiance, a flicker of intrigue ignited within him.
He finally averted his eyes and strode off, moving on to the rest of the cadets as they stood in stunned silence.
Once introductions concluded, the atmosphere shifted. The cadets were given their reprieve, ordered to change out of uniform and make their way to the mess hall for lunch. Everyone complied, eager for a break, except for Leona. As instructed, she remained in her uniform, her determination resolute as she continued to run laps around the training field.
...
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the ground, fatigue began to weigh heavily on her. Each lap felt like a battle against her own body; yet, she pressed on, the memory of the commander's words fueling her resolve.
Eventually, evening came, the sky creating a warm, and yellow orange glow over the cadet mess hall as the sun was just starting to set. Laughter and chatter filled the room, but the atmosphere turned more solemn as many of the cadets were halfway through their meals, glancing out the window. Those who had finished decided to venture outside, eager to witness Leona endure the punishment she had received that morning.
They clustered together, eyes glued to the distance, where the commander's imposing figure loomed, his sharp voice piercing the evening air as he barked orders at Leona, who sprinted determinedly around the track. Different kinds of emotions worne across their faces; some wore expressions of concern, while others laugh and mocked, amusement visa lie in Thier faces. as they observed the scene.
"Man, the commander's been yelling at her for what feels like ages!" one cadet exclaimed, scratching his head.
"I'm surprised he hasn't lost his voice yet," another added, his tone incredulous as he leaned against the fence, arms crossed tightly over his chest.
"Do you think she's gone deaf from all the shouting?" murmured a third, worry creasing her brow.
"I feel bad for her," she admitted, biting her lip as empathy swelled within her.
A chorus of murmured commentary swirled around them, each cadet sharing their thoughts.
"It's what she gets for being disrespectful," Nile chimed in dismissively, hands shoved deep into his pockets. "No need to feel sorry for her." His voice carried a cruel sense of justice, a slight smirk tugging at his lips.
Erwin stood quietly beside Nile, his posture relaxed but his expression thoughtful. Unlike the others, he refrained from engaging in the banter. His ice-blue eyes remained fixed on Leona, curiosity tugged at him. He pondered, probably like many of the others, why she had chosen to enlist in the first place. Despite her confident declaration to join the Military Police, the anger that was in her eyes told a different story.
"Hey, Erwin, what do you think?" Nile's voice sliced through the air, pulling Erwin's attention away from the grueling punishment session. He turned to face Nile, his brow furrowed in thought.
"Think about what, exactly?" Erwin questioned.
"That redhead down there. Do you think she's going to make it until sundown? She has about fifteen minutes left," Nile said, leaning his arms over the wooden bar that separated them from the bustling entrance to the mess hall. A smirk spread on his lips as he surveyed the scene.
"Just look at her. She looks like she's about to topple over," one of the other cadets chuckled, drawing a few laughs from the nearby group.
As Erwin observed Leona, he thought she had done remarkably well. "I think she'll make it," he stated confidently.
"Huh?" the other cadets raised their brows in disbelief. "Seriously? So far, you're the only one who bet she'd last the whole way."
"Unlike the rest of us, she seems to have some kind of experience. I don't know where it comes from, but it's there," Erwin replied, his tone steady.
"Experience?" Nile questioned, his brow knitting together.
"Yeah, did you not notice? It was when she blocked the commander from grabbing her collar. The way she blocked isn't a skill you just happen to learn. So yeah, I think she'll make it the whole fifteen," Erwin asserted.
The rest of the cadets took into consideration Erwin's words for a moment, then turned their attention back to Leona. As the time ticked away, they watched the sky darken, the shadows stretching over the training grounds. With only five minutes left, the commander finally stopped barking orders and stepped away leaving her unattended. leaving the cadets in an expectant hush.
They could see that Leona was visibly tiring; she was no longer running as quickly as she had been before.
"I'm telling you, she's gonna collapse any second now!" one cadet pointed out, confident that she wouldn't finish.
"Come on, Flagon, she could actually make it," one of the girl cadets protested, her eyes locked on Leona.
"You're one to talk, Lynne, considering you also bet on her failing," Flagon shot back, a teasing smirk on his face.
"Yeah, but look! She's still going, and she only has a minute left!" Lynne argued, her voice filled with hope.
All the cadets gathered closely, their eyes glued to Leona as she continued running. The anticipation crackled in the air, tension mounting with each passing second.
Erwin remained quiet, taking in the scene as the others grew increasingly riled up, perhaps more than necessary.
Then, the bell rang, startling everyone. But there it was—Leona had done it! She had run the whole time, from the morning introductions until the sun had fully set.
"Looks like you won the bet," Nile said, a note of surprise in his voice.
"What the hell are you maggots doing out here?" a booming voice erupted from behind them, causing all the cadets to stiffen in alarm.
They turned in unison, saluting as their commander approached, his presence commanding and serious.
"The bell rang! Get your asses to the barracks for tomorrow's training in the morning!" he ordered, his tone brooking no argument.
"Yes, sir!" they all replied in chorus, filing inside one after another.
...
As they made their way into the mess hall, the kitchen helpers were busy clearing away some of the tables, the sound of scraping wood echoing softly in the air. One table, however, still bore some untouched bread and a pitcher of water, glistening under the dim light.
Erwin's eyes fell upon the bread and water, and for a fleeting moment, his thoughts drifted to Leona. A feeling of concern tightened his chest as he recalled the commander's stern words: she wasn't allowed to have lunch or dinner.
A part of him wanted to bring her at least something, but another part gripped him with fear; he couldn't afford to be kicked out for insubordination. Yet, despite his hesitation, he found himself wandering over to the table, his heart racing as he reached for the bread and water.
Just as he extended his hand, one of the kitchen helpers arrived at the table first, deftly picking up the bread and water and placing them onto a tray. She moved with purpose, her brow furrowed in concentration as she carried it off towards the kitchen.
"Um, excuse me," Erwin called out.
The helper quickly turned, her expression shifting to curiosity. "Yes?" she replied, her tone polite..
"I know that dinner is over, but may I take the bread and water?" he asked, his voice steady, though he could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he awaited her response.
Her brow knitted in thought; she knew they weren't supposed to give out leftovers after dinner had concluded. She opened her mouth to say no when suddenly, an older woman who worked in the kitchen stepped forward.
"Just give it to the boy," she said with a wave of her hand, her tone firm yet kind. "I'd prefer if there were no leftovers in the first place," she added, nodding toward Erwin.
The helper hesitated for a brief moment before complying. "Here you go," the lady said, handing Erwin the tray laden with bread.
The older woman then walked over to him, her expression softening as she presented him with a fresh pitcher of water. "Make sure to finish it all now," she instructed, her voice laced with maternal care, before turning and walking away.
"Thank you very much," Erwin replied, a feeling of gratitude and relief flooding through him.
Before Nile had left he noticed Erwin was no longer beside him until he looked and the kitchen helpers giving him bread and water.
''The hell is Erwin doing?'' Nile thought as he exited the mass hall
...
The bell rang out, echoing across the training ground. The moment its relentless chime ceased, Leona let out one last huff before exhaustion overwhelmed her. Her legs betrayed her, giving in entirely as she crumpled to the ground.
Huffing and puffing, she struggled to catch her breath, disbelief swirling in her mind that she had managed to run for almost eight hours straight. With a weary roll, she shifted onto her back, gazing up at the stars shimmering brightly in the vast night sky.
Her throat felt parched, and her stomach gurgled in protest, longing for sustenance. The craving gnawed at her, but she knew, of course, she wouldn't be allowed to eat or drink anything until morning.
"I can hold out," she huffed to herself, her eyes tracing constellations as she lay there. Deep down, she wanted to rise and make her way to the girls' barracks for a much-needed shower and sleep, but every fiber of her being ached, and she wouldn't have been surprised if she drifted off right then and there.
Yet, despite her physical fatigue, she felt a swell of relief that the ordeal was finally over. Still, the commander's words from earlier echoed painfully in her mind: "Your parents should've spent more time teaching you manners."
"What the hell does he know?" Anger surged through her again, but she was too defeated to sit upright. Thoughts of her parents made her heart ache, and her eyes glistened, tears slipping silently down her cheeks as she lay there alone.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her body shaking as the stream of tears fell down the side of her face, memories flooding her mind.
At the sound of approaching footsteps behind her. She halted her tears. Though she was certain she had no energy left, she sprang up into a sitting position.
"Oh shoot," she thought, panic settling in. It had to be the commander, and he was probably coming to berate her again. Even though she had completed the run as instructed, he hadn't verbally dismissed her. Quickly, she rubbed her eyes, smearing the remnants of her tears away.
Determined, she tried to stand, and she did; however, her legs betrayed her once more, shaking under the strain. "Sorry, sir," she managed through gritted teeth, but just as she feared she would collapse again, she felt someone's arms enveloped her, catching her before she hit the ground.