Attack on Titan: Secrets of Marley (SNK x OC)

Chapter 13: Wings of Freedom

The next morning, Gray, Reiner, Bertolt and Annie woke up early, the events of the previous night still fresh in their minds. They knew that the decision they had taken would mark a decisive turning point in their mission in Paradis. For now, they had to pretend to be ordinary soldiers and wait for their next opportunity to act.

Gray walked towards the canteen, his steps heavy and measured. The smell of hot rations wafted through the air, a familiar scent which, under normal circumstances, might have offered some comfort. But today, he found no satisfaction in it. He grabbed a tray and stood in line, glancing around to spot his comrades. Reiner and Bertolt were already seated at a table, their faces closed and concentrated. As for Annie, she was nowhere to be seen. Probably mentally preparing for her new mission.

Once he'd been served, Gray went over to Reiner and Bertolt's table and sat down with them.

- Good luck swallowing that thing, Bertolt said with a slight smile, pointing to his tray.

Gray glanced at the nondescript mush on his plate and shrugged.

- We've eaten worse, he replied.

They began to eat in silence, each lost in thought. The other recruits around them were talking loudly about the victory over the Titans at Trost, unaware of what was really at stake. The conversations were lively, some celebrating their first victory, others speaking gravely of those they had lost.

- Did you see Eren this morning? asked Reiner, breaking the silence.

- No, replied Gray. I guess they're keepin' him away for now, until they decide what to do with him.

Bertolt nodded, his face worried.

- It worries me, he said quietly. They probably don't know what he's capable of yet. But if they find out...

Gray nodded, aware of the danger.

- That's why we have to stay close to him, he murmured. We can't afford to lose this lead.

They continued to eat in silence, aware of the magnitude of the task ahead. Finally, after a few seconds, Mikasa and Armin were called out by army officers without Gray knowing why. All three suspected, however, that it had something to do with Eren.

Their morning was like all the others, they took care of the housework and tidied up the building. However, during the afternoon, two pieces of news spread through the building. The first, rather good news for their plan, seemed to indicate that Eren had been accepted into the Scouts. The second, which he hadn't expected, claimed that the captured Pure Titans had been decapitated by someone unknown.

Deep down, this reassured Gray because, in this way, the Eldians would not be able to understand the Titans' secrets. But it also took a long time, as the soldiers from the garrison began to check the three-dimensional equipment of each of the cadets, for some unknown reason.

It wasn't until around 9pm, as the sun began to set, that they were allowed to leave. Gray rushed to his room and packed up his three-dimensional equipment. He then left the building with the cadets to go to the Trost centre, where the meeting for the army branches was waiting for them.

Finally arriving in the courtyard, Gray found himself away from Bertolt, Reiner and Annie and surrounded by people he didn't know. With the sun now far behind them, they listened to a speech by the head of the Police, Naile Dork, telling them that having the chance to join the brigades was not an opportunity to be passed up.

Then it was Pixis' turn to tell them all about the importance of saving the little people inside the walls and within the Garrison. When Pixis had finally finished, Gray glanced around at the crowd. They were all there, all the cadets preparing to join the army. Looking close to him, he saw that he didn't know the people to his left or to his right.