𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 [ 𝐚𝐨𝐭 𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 ]

𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 2 - 𝙞𝙣𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚

"Argh!"

I shouted, swinging my hips through my kick.

The force of my kick leaves a dent in the bark on the rotting, brittle, tree. Causing slivers of bark to fall to the ground.

"Shit," I swore under my breath.

"My contact point was too high on my shin... god I could've-"

I rambled on to myself while looking down at my right leg before I got cut off by someone behind me.

"With that technique, you're lucky you didn't hyperextend your knee."

A smug voice cooed a couple of feet away from me.

I could practically see the smirk on their face without needing to turn around.

"Pieck... was it really that bad?"

I questioned even though I already knew the answer to my own question.

"Heh heh"

She chuckled to herself, picking up on my slight embarrassment.

Pieck could always read me like an open book. Her soft grey eyes peered up at me threw her black poofy hair that always covered most of her face, having her hair on the messier side fit her though.

"y/n, quit pushing yourself so hard. You already have a titan... it's not like they're gonna take it away."

She reminded me with a sigh while offering a gentle, but sad smile.

I could tell she was doubting herself.

" You should listen to your own advice" I retorted with a cheeky grin,

"Don't get down on yourself! Tomorrow is our big day Pieck..." I trailed off.

I've always admired Pieck, but she could get easily discouraged sometimes.

Although, I don't mind being there to reassure her that she is perfectly capable of kicking some ass. She had fought hard to get where she was today, and I wouldn't ever let her forget that.

Maybe I admired her because she always knew what to say, or maybe it's because she gives off such a mature aura due to having to grow up from such a young age.

I took my hand in hers and gave it an assuring squeeze,

"Let's go meet up with the others."

She gave me a quick nod, allowing me to lead her away from the training grounds.

I began to think about all of us who were fortunate enough to get a titan, we would be leaving soon to hide out on the island and pose as soldiers, get close enough, and take down those island devils for good.

-    -    -    -    -   -    -    -    -   -

/ / Flashback / /

Us warrior candidates stood shoulder-to-shoulder in a line in the Libero internment zone, 8 kids remained.

This meant only one of us wouldn't get to inherit a titan.

A Marleyan scientist who was involved with evolving the titan powers stood close by waiting for Commander Magath's word to announce the candidates who will receive the titan powers, it truly wasn't fair that only one of us would not get a titan, but then again, this world isn't fair.

"Line up!"

The Commander's raspy voice echoed in the air.

The sudden noise caused all of us to be brought back to reality, temporarily causing the kids' nerves to disappear.