⚔️His Armored Heart⚔️

10. The Warning

Throughout the remainder of their mountain excursion, Victoria and Reiner deliberately kept their distance from one another. The cold mountain air, once filled with laughter and training drills, now felt heavy with unspoken tension. Each time he caught sight of her, a look of guilt washed over his face, and his cheeks flushed a deep crimson as if the very act of looking at her was a betrayal of something they both knew but dared not acknowledge.

Victoria, too, felt the weight of their silence. She found herself at a loss for words in his presence, her mind racing with a whirlwind of emotions that she struggled to articulate. The memory of the kiss lingered in her dreams, casting a shadow over her thoughts, and was haunting her with its intensity.

It was a moment that had shifted the very foundation of their friendship, transforming it into something more complicated, something that felt both exhilarating and terrifying.

As they trekked back to base camp along the rugged trails, the snow gave way to sunshine. The vibrant colors of the late autumn leaves seemed to mock their discomfort. The golden hues of the foliage reminded her of the warmth of his lips against hers, a sensation that now felt like a distant memory, tainted by the awkwardness that had followed.

She would catch glimpses of him out of the corner of her eye—his broad shoulders hunched slightly, his gaze fixed on the ground, as if he were trying to make himself smaller to avoid the weight of her presence.

The cadets they were with continued chatting and joking, blissfully unaware of the tension simmering just beneath the surface. Victoria forced herself to engage, laughing at Connie's antics and Sasha's jokes, but her heart wasn't in it. Every time she laughed, she felt a pang of guilt for pretending everything was normal when, in reality, it was very wrong.

Reiner, too, tried to immerse himself in the camaraderie, but his laughter sounded hollow, his smiles strained. He would often steal glances at Victoria, only to quickly look away, as if the mere act of acknowledging her was too much to bear.

The unspoken words hung between them like a thick fog, obscuring the path ahead and making each step feel heavier than the last. Victoria was so happy when the cadets finally marched back into boot camp.

The cadets, naturally, did not remain in one place for long, however.

Approximately one day after returning to boot camp, it was declared that a drill would take place in Trost, simulating a Titan assault. The announcement sent a ripple of excitement and anxiety through the ranks, as the cadets understood the significance of such an exercise.

Trost, a town that had once been a bustling hub of activity, now stood as a stark reminder of the ever-present threat posed by the Titans. The walls that surrounded it were not just barriers; they were the last line of defense against the monstrous beings that roamed the world beyond. The cadets had trained rigorously for this moment, but the reality of a simulated Titan assault, that was graded no less, brought a new level of urgency to them.

As the sun rose the next morning, the cadets gathered in formation, their faces a mix of determination and trepidation. The instructors briefed them on the objectives of the drill, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, strategy, and quick thinking in the face of danger. They were reminded that this was not just a test of their physical abilities, but also of their mental fortitude, how well they could direct a panicking crowd, and so on.

The cadets were ushered out towards the stables. The atmosphere was charged with adrenaline as they prepared their horses for the familiar journey to Trost.

Victoria was filled with excitement, her heart racing at the thought of the upcoming battle. The anticipation coursed through her veins like electricity, igniting a fire within her that she hadn't felt in a long time. She couldn't wait.