Attack On Titan: Pure Blood

Chapter 12: 104th Cadet Corps Part 12: Last Days of a Recruit

Diary of a Recruit

Entry # 256

Once there was a cat in our family.

It belonged to my brother. He loves animals. His name was Mr. Whiskers. May the damned wretch rest in peace.

The only thing that damn cat did was eat (he was a fucking obese cat that could barely carry his own weight) sleep on my lap or on my chest when I'm in my bed and come up to me to pet him for a few minutes and then leave without more.

In that sense, Annie is quite similar.

My relationship with her was quite curious. We met in the mornings to train together and when we took a break she liked to lean on my shoulder or on my back. And sometimes when I was alone somewhere, like peeling potatoes in the kitchen or on duty at the watchtower, she would come over to kiss me and then leave without saying a word.

Sometimes I would sit with her at dinners, which was not unusual. Even before we started dating, we did that, and we even had a little chat where I managed to get the odd smile out of her. And on rare occasions we were accompanied by Sasha, Ymir and Krista. From the slight smile on Annie's lips, it was obvious that she found it agreeable.

Everyone classified Annie as cold. Someone who did not show affection, love, or some other feeling that was not apathy or cold indifference. But it only took knowing her to know how wrong they were.

She had strength and determination in her hands when training her fighting style. A unique fire that burned strongly in her blue eyes. And charm on her lips.

Annie Leonhart didn't steal my heart, I gave it to her. And I don't regret it in the least.

The training was coming to an end. And I could only think that I would finally meet my brother again after three years. This time, as a comrade.

And when I meet my goal of retaking Wall Maria, I want Annie to be part of my future.

And for that to happen, I have to be in the top ten recruits.

Rain fell steadily from the sky, turning the earth to mud and turning the air damp and cold. But that did not stop the 104th troop recruits from advancing down the difficult path, carrying heavy backpacks on their backs.

It was the year 850, it had been more than two years since the recruits had enlisted to become soldiers, and they were close to finally culminating it. There were only a few months left until their graduation, so everyone knew that every exercise Shadis taught them had an impact on their final grades, this being one of the main ones. An exercise that Shadis came to call "The Dead Recruit Exercise".

An endurance test where the instructors divided the recruits into teams of 15 members and consisted of the recruits having to run for hours carrying heavy equipment on their backs in the cold rain, which made it even more difficult because they had to running through the mud, making each step weigh more than the last. And worst of all, they wouldn't stop running until 3 of the 15 recruits quit and dropped out of military training.

It was the kind of exercise Shadis liked best. A physical and mental exercise where you put not only your body to the test, but also your mind and will. It would test your limits and force you to exceed them, or to give up being a soldier.

"You're going too slow!" Instructor Shadis bellowed from atop his horse. "Run, you fucking bastards!"

Among the recruits at the end of the line was Armin, who was panting heavily, trying to catch his breath. He felt his lungs burn and his muscles scream with the pain of pushing them beyond their limits.