As the darkness fades, you find yourself stuck in a new world - one that you know more about than you're willing to admit.
Will you be able to change the tragic fate Paradis is destined to fall victim to?
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Year 847 | Age 12. Trost District, Wall Rose.
It was the day of the Maneuver Gear evaluation. The night before, as promised, you had helped Mikasa cut her hair. It had turned out surprisingly well, and although Mikasa didn't say much, you could tell she appreciated it. The silence between the two of you had always been comfortable, and you both seemed to understand each other without needing many words.
"First, we'll evaluate what you have! Anyone unable to do this can't even serve as decoy! They will be send to the front lines!" Shadis's booming voice pulled you back to the present, and a knot tightened in your stomach. This was it. You had to pass. Failing today wasn't an option. If you couldn't use the Maneuver Gear, all your plans would fall apart. Eren, Mikasa, and Armin—they were counting on you to stand with them. The thought of letting them down sent a shiver through your spine.
Standing in the middle of the triangular structure, one of the other trainees helped you fasten the belts. You swallowed down your nerves. Clear mind, focus on the belts, distribute your weight. That's all you needed to do. But watching the people around you wobble and struggle to stay balanced made it clear this was going to be harder than it looked.
Taking one last deep breath, you felt the harness tighten around your hips as you were hoisted into the air. Slowly, slowly, you rose, your feet leaving the ground. Every fiber of your being was focused on keeping steady, your attention locked on your lower half as your body wobbled. The trembling ran through your legs as you fought to balance. It wasn't just about staying upright—it was about being able to do it without thinking, without focusing on each tiny adjustment. You knew you would never survive a battle against a Titan if you had to constantly worry about the mechanics of staying balanced.
But finally, after what felt like an eternity, your body steadied. The ground was only a few centimeters below your feet, and you let out a relieved sigh, your shoulders relaxing as the tension slowly drained away. You had done it—at least for now.
But then, as you lifted your head, You saw Eren. He was upside down, his body swinging awkwardly. For a moment, your heart leapt into your throat, and the shock almost made you lose your own footing. You caught yourself just in time, your body jerking forward before you managed to steady yourself once again.
The laughter around you from the other trainees annoyed you to no end. You had almost forgotten this was going to happen. Eren's equipment was faulty—Shadis had given him broken gear to keep him from passing. You knew Eren wouldn't let it stop him, though. It wasn't in his nature to give up.
You clenched your fists, resisting the urge to lash out at the others who were laughing. Every day you felt more and more like Mikasa. Eren didn't deserve this, but he would show them. You knew he would. Eren would pass, and he would prove them all wrong—just like he always did.
. . .
Later that evening, Mikasa and Armin insisted on helping Eren again, and as a good friend, you tagged along. You leaned against one of the pillars that held the structure up, your eyes drawn to the sky as the sunset painted it with warm orange and purple tones. The calm of the evening was almost enough to distract you from the tense energy of the group—until Mikasa's voice cut through the quiet.
