Flying Solo || L. Ackerman ✓

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Adira gently combs her finger's through her horse's silver mane. She adjusts the straps of the bag holding her belongings on her shoulder and mounts the horse. Commander Pixis comes out of the building next to the stables. He stands next to her and other officers walk around doing different tasks.

"You're supposed to be taking a wagon there, are you not?" He asks, petting the horse.

Adira nods and stares at the trail in front of her. "Yes." She speaks. "I prefer to get there on my own, but I will take the wagon." She slides off the horse and walks over to the carriage awaiting them. Pixis opens the door for her and she tosses her stuff inside and gets inside herself.

"Listen Adira," He mumbles. She looks at him waiting and he sighs before opening his mouth again. "Just, try to be on your best behaviour. Listen to Erwin." He states. Adira nods her head in understanding before he closes the door, and the carriage starts to move.

The ride to the survey corps base was long, but Adira didn't mind. She liked to watch the scenery around her change. It was one of the reasons she joined the Scout Regiment; so, she could see what's beyond the walls.

They were now crossing the farming district. Her brown eyes opened in wonder. She could see people working in the fields and cattle walking around in fenced areas. The people working in the fields looked tired, their eye's usually half-open and their body weight was half of what it should be. She almost pitied them.

The road was bumpy and uneven. Many people working in the fields stopped for a second to watch the carriage. Adira could see the heads of small children just above the tall crops. She hesitated for a second. Sit back and wait until you get to the Survey Corps, rang through her head. Adira discarded the thought and lifted her hand to wave to the small children.

She could see their large smiles above the crops and their tiny hands waving back at her in return. A small smile danced across her lips. The people went back to work, and the children disappeared from her sight. She lets her arm fall back into her lap as the farmlands were now behind them.

Adira rests her head on the window of the carriage and closes her eyes. The bright smiles of the small children flashed through her head, and for once in the past few months, she had a small sliver of hope.

-

The door beside Adira rattles her awake and she opens her eyes. The carriage has stopped moving and she could hear voices and footsteps in the distance. She grabs her bag from beside her feet as the door opens. She walks out and was blinded by the harsh rays of the sun.

Erwin stood in front of her and gave her a smile. She salutes and notices the small crowd that formed a few feet behind him.

"Adira, it's good having you back." He speaks.

Adira smiles, "It's good to be back, Commander."

A tall woman approaches them and smiles at Adira. She had a long face with glasses and her hair pulled up in a high pony. She sticks out her hand towards Adira.

"I'm Hange Zoë, Squad Leader." She says shaking Adira's hand.

"I'm Adira Belmont." She responds politely. Hange studies Adira and stares at her questionably.

"I've never seen you before," Hange states. "But Erwin said you were a scout." Adira glances over to Erwin and he stands there waiting to hear what she says.

"I was gone for a while, that's probably why you haven't seen me before," Adira says.

Hange nods her head and smiles at her. Erwin tilts his head at Adira to follow them as they began walking towards the building behind them. She follows behind them silently into the base. They walk up two flights of stairs and stop at the third level.

"This is where you will stay. My room is right beside you, and Erwin's is at the end of the hall." Hange explains. Adira opens the door to a medium-sized room. The bed was pushed up against the left corner of the room with a desk placed to its right. A large window was beside the desk which had a view of the training grounds and the small field behind it. A large bookshelf was placed on the opposite side of the wall with a dresser for her clothes.

Adira walks in and places her bag onto the floor beside the foot of the bed. She opens the door beside the bookshelf and saw a small bathroom. She closes the door and looks out the window.

"Well, it's lunchtime. Let's go before the cadets eat all the food." Hange says pulling Adira down the stairs with Erwin following behind them silently.