Shadows of Truth and Deception (Levi • OC)

CHAPTER 1 - Assessment

assessment /əˈsɛsm(ə)nt/ — the action of assessing someone or something

year 849

     There was nothing pleasant about the Training Corps. The days there were all about rigorous training, countless repetitions over obstacle courses, and boring classes that made your brains rot. One had no personal life or space, having to sleep in barracks with dozens of other kids, out of which one half spent the nights snoring and the other crying out of homesickness. The uniforms of white shirts and jackets in the most disgusting shade of brown were anything but flattering.

     It was where young soldiers were supposed to be forged into formidable defenders of humanity, but most were downright pathetic.

     All that was, of course, a purely subjective opinion of Reinae Agnar, who was anything but happy to be back at the institution she had been forced to join a decade ago. She walked past the barracks to the training grounds with a scrunched nose, letting the resurfacing memories go as quickly as they washed into her mind.

     The loudening sounds of training as she neared the group of young trainees was also something she was familiar with. And the sound of the instructor yelling and belittling them brought a smile to her face. Not because she had any fond memories of being yelled at—because she recognized the raspy, stern voice of the former commander of the Survey Corps, Keith Shadis.

     Her sudden appearance on the training grounds caused a wave of whispers among the trainees. They beheld her with wide eyes, their gazes stopping on the Survey Corps jacket she wore, on her long, blood-red hair that fell down her back in soft waves. The ones who looked at her face quickly averted their stares when her emerald green eyes scanned the group of kids with a poisonous stare.

     "Well, well," Keith Shadis spoke when he found the cause for the sudden silence among his students. "And I thought today couldn't get any worse."

     "How lovely to see you, too," Reinae said, the corner of her lips curving upwards. She stopped next to his stern figure, not bothering to salute him.

     "I heard you were in the Survey Corps, but I somehow couldn't bring myself to believe it," Shadis said, his eyes stopping on the emblem on Rei's jacket. "Miracles happen after all."

     "There's no such thing as miracles in our world," Reinae replied apathetically, returning her gaze to the young trainees.

     That also brought Shadis' attention to them, and his expression darkened dangerously.

     "Did I say you can stop?!" he barked, making them flinch and hurry to continue their sparring practice.

     Reinae held back a laugh, scanning Keith Shadis with her gaze.

     "So, tell me," she started. "Did you lose your hair because of stress, or are you already that old?"

     Shadis' cold, sunken eyes pierced her amused expression.

     "I see your attitude hasn't changed," he replied grimly, walking down the sparring grounds. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your charming company?"

     "Erwin sent me to survey the state of your trainees," she replied, following suit with him. "And report if anyone has the potential to join the Corps."

     "Like he has the luxury of being picky." His expression turned even darker. "His line of soldiers is running short, so he should be grateful if anyone joins at all, even if they're dead meat."

     "I agree with you on that." Reinae's eyes stopped on a girl with cold blue eyes and blonde hair, who beat her opponent, a boy twice her size, without batting an eye. "But he's curious. And ever since the fall of Wall Maria, desperate for skilled soldiers."