The Humanity's Strongest & The Graceful

A Memory of the Storm-Colored Eyes and the Knife

In the year 843, the Cadet Class awaits their graduation ceremony to start in the courtyard of Trost's fortress. The clear sky and full moon shine on the young men and women standing there like a spotlight for a show at the opera house, especially on ten individuals at the top steps: the Cadet Class's Top Ten, who were guaranteed for the Miltary Police. Ranking highest at number one is twenty-three-year-old Tessa Lind. She ranked ahead of her best friend, Zoe Hange, whom she met three years ago when they started training. Hange was the eccentric brainiac whose creative mind always came up with ideas and would leave Tessa in awe. The two became close when they began their ODM trials; due to Hange having trouble mastering it, while Tessa was a natural. As Tessa helped Hange with it, Hange initiated a nickname for her, 'Cat' because Tessa reminded her of a feline chasing a gigantic mouse. Thus Cat became Tessa's nickname. The duo pushed the other during the three years so they could join the Scouts. They were the Eldian military that was most actively involved in direct Titan combat. Both of them wanted to join the Scouts but for different reasons. While hatred filled Hange's heart, Tessa's cried out to help decrease the growing number of casualties within the Regiment. Even from a young age, Tessa knew it was her destiny to help others, even the ones the world turned its back on.

Before Tessa enlisted in the Cadets, she had already graduated by becoming a doctor. She was already well-loved and respected by the people in Paradis for her kind heart in helping others, just like she had done since she was eight and just like her mother, Vanessa, did before she died. The Mother and Daughter duo always turned to help others in need and left smiles on the people's faces as they passed by. Even after several years, Tessa kept her mother's memory alive by becoming a doctor, and she knew it wasn't enough because she wanted something more for her life, especially with the promise she had made sixteen years ago. Tessa sighed before looking at the moonlit sky as a memory of meeting a boy with steel-gray eyes who protected her in the darkest place in all of Paradis and gave her the knife which remained hidden in her boot to this day. The Underground is the area in the depths of Wall Sina where people are unlucky to gain nutrients from the sunlight and deal with more crime than the ones on the surface. But it was also the place where Tessa met him.

Sixteen Years Ago

Like every other day, Tessa and her mother, Vanessa, would travel to the Underground to care for the ones that couldn't afford healthcare on the surface. At first, Vanessa was the only one to care for their patients until Tessa showed interest at eight, which started Vanessa to train her. Though Vanessa still handled everything, she would instruct her, to which Tessa would write everything down. While everyone dealt with the darkness and sadness in the cavern city, it would change the moment the Linds were there. They were the light glimmering and became the Underground's hope for a chance at a better life. The Doctor and her protege never cared for profit; they just wanted to help. One of their regular clients was Kenny the Ripper, a famous serial killer in the Underground and an old friend of Vanessa. Kenny and Vanessa lost touch when Tessa was four but reconnected a few years later. It wasn't until Vanessa heard Kenny's voice in an alleyway while she tended to a patient.

"Nessa, is that you?" Kenny asked as he walked closer to where Vanessa and Tessa were. Vanessa's jaws dropped when she heard her nickname, which she had not heard in years. After tending to the patient's injury, Vanessa slowly stands and turns to see Kenny's gray eyes staring at her. Her old friend looked the same, even with the familiar black hat and tan trench coat, but he wasn't alone. A young boy around the age of nine stood behind Kenny. Vanessa furrows her brows as she wanders about who this boy is and why he is with Kenny. She notices the boy is staring at someone behind her, which makes her smile because he is staring at her daughter, Tessa. While Tessa finished writing the notes Vanessa had told her, she was unaware that someone was staring at her until she stood up, "Mom, I have the notes you-" She goes to say but stops when her sky-blue eyes meet a pair of storm-colored eyes. The color of Tessa's eyes shined in the cavern light as she could not look away from the gray eyes staring at her.