Because Of You

Chapter 4

Hours turned to days, weeks, months, until finally, Carmen found herself stood at the end of a stage, Oruo stood beside her. This was finally it, she was entering the next step of her mission and successfully completed the first, score top soldier. Now all she had to do was join the scouts.

"Do you have heart!?" Shadis yelled.

"He's sir." The newly graduated soldiers saluted.

"As of this moment you have options open to you, chose wisely." He explained. "The garison regiment, their job is to reinforce the walls. The scout regiment, they go into titan territory to reclaim what was once ours. And the Military Police, maintaining law and order under orders from his royal majesty."

"Those of you eligible for the MP regiment have already been named. The rest of you, take a look, these are the top of your class." Another leader demanded and everyone's eyes darted to those on the stage. Where as Carmen felt uncomfortable by the amount of gazes on her, Oruo and Petra were enjoying the attention, bragging about their hard work.

After their training was over, the group were allowed to celebrate in a hall and enjoy food that wasn't soggy porridge or mashed potatoes, it was a refreshing change.

"Look at them, they're still staring at the top three." Oruo stated and combed his hand through his hair.

"Yeah, most people here wanted to join the military police, it's weird how only certain people are eligible." Petra added.

But it wasn't, if everyone was eligible, then there'd only be more corruption in their ranks, along with no one else filling the other regiments. In reality, who would chose a risky job when they can live safely and securely inside the interior? No one's survival instincts would allow that.

"Oh great, here comes the bad news." Oruo scoffed.

"Idiot, she's just thinking." Petra countered. "Carmen..." She signalled.

"It's not weird, if everyone was eligible, no one would join the other regiments." Carmen responded, slow yet smart as usual.

"I guess that makes sense." The girl thought. "So you're all joining the military police?" She wondered.

"I doubt Oruo's head would fit in the interior." Carmen mocked, jokes and insults were something she learned from Petra.

"Ha, she got you there."

"I miss when you were on neutral ground." The boy faked his agony.

"But seriously, where's everyone going?" Petra asked again, hoping to receive a more serious answer.

"The scouts." Carmen replied, receiving shocked looks from her friends. "Last month, they approached me and I promised I'd join, it would be rude to go back on a promise." She continued. It wasn't as though she could join anywhere else, besides it was her mission from the beginning.

"Well, in that case, I'm joining the scouts too." The strawberry blonde clenched her fist.

"Well shit." Oruo added. "Same here then."

Why were they following her? They must know that the scouts are suicide, they were strong, but not anywhere near the same level as Carmen, so why were they risking their lives? None of it made sense. The death rates were alarming, two in three would die, by the looks of it, their trio wouldn't last.

"No, you are not." Carmen denied, but she underestimated her friends' determination.

"You can't lose us that easily." Petra nudged her shoulder. "I still have to make you laugh."

"And you?" She asked Oruo, expecting a more appropriate answer.

"Someone needs to keep you lovely ladies safe."

"It won't be necessary, top three, remember." Carmen tried to reassure, she didn't know how to convince them to leave her alone, none that would allow their friendship to continue. Unfortunately, Carmen had also learned to be selfish.