The 13-Year Campaign

Chapter 2

It was the Entrance ceremony for the 104th Cadet Trainees Corps. Eren Yeager, Armin Arlert, and Mikasa Ackerman stood in their respective rows. Armin was in the row and the first cadet to face Commandant Shadis's onslaught of abuse and degradation. Eren watched silently a few rows behind.

It was a Rite of Passage Ceremony and everybody needed to earn their spot. The toll was to endure a barrage of insults so that the military could build that soldier up into the ideal image: obedient and dedicated. Nothing was not personal no matter how it sounded. Shadis picked out anyone who he deemed too established already or with a strong personality. Being a soldier meant one had to endure challenges and trials and to be the best soldier, one needed to live and breathe military values. The cadets safe from the verbal assaults, had already come with nothing and were ready to dedicate all they had-- their bodies.

Eren had already lost his mother and father. If he was going to see the outside world, he was ready to give himself to his rage. He had one goal: kill all the titans.

But he didn't expect to meet you again.

After Shadis had finished berating Armin, he turned his attention to you, (Y/n) (L/n).

"What do we have here?" Shadis glowered over you, "Look me in the eyes, maggot."

You lifted your attention from the ground to his eyes. Even the animosity within them wasn't enough to make you feel anything. You didn't have to turn your head to understand what he was saying at all.

"What's your name?"

"(Y/n) (L/n)," you answered.

"Hm. what an interesting name for such a forgettable wretch," Shadis sneered. "Where are you from?"

"A very small village near Utopia District. Sir." You had forgotten to add the sirs up until that point. Remembering you needed to buy into the lie gave a sudden awakening and you straightened, assuming the salute stronger against your chest. Your eyes, however, were still distant.

Growing up, you've heard worse. Nothing Shadis could say could compare to what I had just endured in the Underground or even Beyond the Walls. If you cared, you would've wondered why he was singling you out if you had already been emotionally broken, so why do you need to be broken more? But of course, you were so tired of everything and didn't care. So you didn't wonder, you just took it.

"Y'know, those villages are nearly going extinct I hear. It's quite a shame that all the North could offer was you. What're you doing here?"

"I plan on joining the Garrisons core of engineers." You said to Shadis, who leaned in. "Sir."

"Good. It's great not to waste precious frontline space on you. Bet the titans will be thankful for a morsel."

"Just want to help humanity where I can, sir."

"The only way you'd be helpful is demonstrative techniques on how to be fodder. Row 6, turn."

You took a breath and looked straight ahead to the line of soldiers who had been behind you.

Many noticed you immediately, Eren remembered instantly. The night on the mountain and the last time he saw his father before he disappeared. Eren returned his attention to the Commandant and the rage he had in his heart. The ceremony went on, and the Potato girl incident made things more lively.

As the other cadets roamed the grounds, you returned to the barracks and checked if you had all your things. Everything you kept dearest to your heart was tucked safely under your bed in a chest that wasn't easy to lug all by yourself. Without question, you knew it was unwise to leave those items with your brother and the MPs. They had no respect for what you had or your culture. It was hard not to break down in tears as you realized your new predicament was more or less the same as before. But the tears never came. You weren't free, just under the watchful eye of a new sector of the government. Maybe that's why Shadis was so hard on you. He has to know who you are or did it matter?