Platinum Blade - AOT x OC

Chapter III - From Depths to Duty

"We will now begin the enlistment ceremony for the 104th Trainee Corps! I am Keith Shadis, and I had the misfortune to be assigned to train you bastards. I'm not here to welcome you at all! Right now, you're mere cattle fit for nothing but Titan food! No, less than cattle... In three years, we'll take you worthless pieces of crap and train you! We will give you the means to fight the Titans. When you stand before a Titan, will you stand in fear? Or be one of humanity's glorious soldiers that slay Titans?!"

"Uwah! He's super scary..." Sasha whispered across to Morgan, both their expressions displaying a nervous look of 'oh shit'.

Right at the front of the formation, Morgan and Sasha found themselves near the intimidating Keith Shadis who stood in the middle. In Morgan's head, the vibe was like throwing a bunch of chickens into a room with a starving wolf – the kind that has been on a diet for way too long. Unfortunately for the poor chickens, Shadis was the famished wolf who was drooling to take a bite out of these nervous cadets. His presence had everyone on edge, as he started patrolling through the formation and was ready to pounce at anyone.

There was a scary silence with each step he took, and the only sound to be heard was from the constant inhale and exhale of anxious breaths against the eery crunching of his footsteps in the gravel. As he walked pass Morgan and Sasha, he arrived at the end of the formation.

"YOU THERE!" Shadis blasted, his booming voice rattling through the ranks. Morgan, like the rest of the cadets, tensed up. "WHO ARE YOU?!"

Subtly, Morgan and Sasha turned their heads towards where Shadis stood. A blonde-haired boy anxiously saluted, as he was the first victim.

"Armin Arlert, from Shiganshina!"

"Yeah? That's a stupid name. Your parents give you that?!"

"My grandfather!"

"Arlert, what are you doing here?"

"Trying to aid humanity's victory!"

"That is indeed wonderful... THEN WE WILL TURN YOU INTO FOOD FOR THE TITANS!"

Armin had the misfortune of being the first one to find themselves under the intimidating gaze of Keith Shadis. Without giving Armin any approval, he started scouting out his next victim. He moved along the formation and relentlessly teared into each and every cadet. Morgan's heart began thumping as he started getting closer.

"Who are you?!" Shadis blasted at the next cadet in line.

"Thomas Wagner, from Trost."

"I can't hear you!"

"T-Thomas Wagner from T-"

"TOO SOFT! GO PRACTICE IN THE CATTLE SHED!" he roared, turning to his next prey. "YOU! NEXT!"

"Y-Yes! Mina Karoline, from Karanes!"

"WRONG! YOU ARE FROM THE PIG SHED, WORTH LESS THAN CATTLE!"

"Yes, sir! I am less than cattle!"

"NO, YOU'RE A FLY, SWARMING AROUND A PIG'S ASS!"

"Y-YES SIR!"

"NEXT!"

Sasha leaned over to Morgan, her eyes filled with terror and disbelief. "Did he wake up on the wrong side of bed and fall into a cold ice bath?!"

"I feel like I'm on death's row..." Morgan replied, nervously trying to stifle a giggle. "It's only a matter of time before I get sent to an early grave..." she shuddered.

"WHO ARE YOU?!"

"Jean Kirstein, from Trost!"

Morgan took a quick glance down the line and spotted Jean Kirstein, the next cadet who was under Shadis' trial of death.