God of Earth

6. Caught My Attention

Feeling the rumbling approaching, the soldiers all immediately prepared for battle. They look back to the villagers, but the panic-and-run-while-screaming-for-help scene didn't occur at all, rather, all the villagers gathered around the statue and began praying. No one was panicking, no one was screaming, and even the children were perfectly calm. It's almost like they don't even care about the titans at all.

Well, they weren't wrong, the villagers believe in their god wholeheartedly, and they trust their god with their safety.

Some soldiers became frustrated, they wanted the villagers to stop this useless blind belief and hurry to a safer place. But someone pointed out that the center of the village would be the safest place at this moment, and they could protect the villagers easier with them all in one place. As they were constructing a plan to defend the villagers while killing the titans, they felt the ground shake more viciously. They looked toward the titans and they couldn't believe their eyes.

They saw a sharp light shine on the statue's eyes as if the statue just came to life. Then the ground ahead of the titans dropped down creating a deep trench, they watched in awe as the titans fall into the trench like dumplings going in the pot. They watched the trench begin to move, it slid away from the village into the distance where their eyes can no longer follow. They don't know what would happen to the titans and where that trench is going, but for sure this village is safe from them now.

Then the villagers all cheered as they praise their beloved god, then returned to their daily lives like nothing just happened.

"... well, looks like God is real..."

Seeing the soldiers' surprised faces and hearing their mutters, I couldn't help but feel satisfied and proud. God is real. I am real.

Later, I arrive at the village, I looked around the village and was relieved to find that no damage was caused. Then I looked around trying to find the Survey Corps members, then I spotted them just outside the village. I watched the soldiers resting and chatting amongst themselves, and their horses also resting on the grass patches. I would've thought they were also villagers, the way they look so peaceful and relaxed, you'd never guess they were strong titan killers.

Survey corps or not, they are all humans. They have family and friends too, they feel emotions like other people do, and they get scared facing the titans but they stand tall pushing their fears aside because they know that if they back out then it's the people relying on them who would be hurt. They could have lived a normal and peaceful life like the children they are, playing with others on the fields, and being spoiled by their parents. They are also human, some are even children. But they were no longer just kids the moment they chose to became Survey Corps members, they knew they wouldn't be able to fool around like a regular child, but they chose this path anyway. It's a dangerous job, but someone had to do it.

I stayed around and observed them for a while, then my attention was drawn by a few particular people. Although they didn't seem all that different from the others, they stood out to me. After following them around, I learned their names were Eren, Mikasa, Armin, Levi, Hange, and Erwin.

Armin is a young boy with a slim figure and mid-length blonde hair. What attracts me the most is his intelligent ocean eyes filled with life and hope.

Erwin is a taller man, similar to Armin he too has blond hair and intelligent blue eyes. But his eyes have more determination and are much duller. He wears a straight face and his sharp eyes seem to see straight through you. Sometimes his eyes feel dead like he had seen so much he doesn't even feel anymore. 

Hange is an energetic woman wearing glasses and a messy ponytail. She seems to be laughing all the time and is interested in everything, but she can also be serious. When that happy smile changes to a manic one, her mood changes completely as if she is a different person. 

Levi is a slim short man with black hair and sharp black eyes. But he is serious, and his eyes are deadly, they don't light up to anything. However, behind that layer, there is a glint of dread, as if he was dead inside. 

Mikasa is a girl with similar traits as Levi; black hair, dark black eyes, and a deadly aura sending shivers down your spine. She and Levi almost look like siblings. But unlike Levi, she lights up with life when she sees Armin and Eren. What I found interesting about her was that she wears a red scarf she holds closely onto, it may be a gift from someone important to her, and I think she likes Eren as she pays close attention to Eren at all times.

Eren is a young boy with brown hair and wears a key necklace. He has emerald eyes filled with determination, the hatred he showed towards the titans was shocking, and his strong will was astounding, almost terrifying. But I also sense something else on him, a scent that I usually sense in titans. However, his scent was different from regular titans. I wonder if he is a human or some other being. 

Observing them closely, I can almost smell the trauma they went through. Then again, they are the Survey Corps, they must have seen plenty of horrific scenes. Losing loved ones, watching comrades die, and near-death experiences. 

I can only imagine what life was like for them...