Beyond The Walls (AOT x OC Fanfic)

The First Day

The day began far earlier than Jeiden would have preferred. A loud, insistent banging on the barrack doors jolted her awake, followed by the unmistakable voice of Keith Shadis barking orders.

"UP! NOW! Get dressed and form lines outside!"

Jeiden groaned as she sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She had barely gotten any rest after the strange dream that had haunted her. Her thoughts had been consumed with the boy and the voice that comforted her, but there was no time to dwell on it now. She quickly pulled on her cadet uniform, joining the others as they hurriedly scrambled out of bed, rushing to avoid Shadis' wrath.

Outside, the air was brisk, the chill of the early morning cutting through the thin fabric of their uniforms. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a soft orange glow across the training grounds. The cadets were ordered to line up in neat rows, and Jeiden found herself in the middle of the crowd, trying to stand tall as Shadis approached.

Keith Shadis was a towering man, his presence alone enough to make most of the cadets shrink in fear. His sharp eyes scanned the group, walking up and down the rows as if sizing up each one, deciding who was worthy and who would fail. His boots crunched against the gravel beneath his feet, the sound unsettlingly loud in the otherwise silent morning.

Jeiden watched as he paced, his gaze landing on each cadet with cold judgment. She kept her head high, her posture rigid, determined not to show any weakness. Shadis' sharp eyes passed over her briefly, lingering for only a moment before moving on.

Suddenly, without warning, he stopped in front of a short boy with a shaven head. Shadis bent down, his face uncomfortably close to Connie's.

"Next, you! Who are you?!" Shadis growled, his voice dripping with disdain. "Connie Springer, of Ragako Villages, Wall Rose South District!"

"You're doing it wrong, Connie Springer.." Shadis grabbed him by both sides of his head and lifted him effortlessly off the ground, holding him up like he weighed nothing.

Jeiden's eyes widened in shock, along with the rest of the cadets. Connie's feet dangled in the air, his face turning a shade of red as Shadis continued to glare at him. "I explained that this salute demonstrates your resolve to devote your entire heart to the people... Is your heart on your right side?!"

Before Connie could spluttered an apology, Shadis dropped him, and the boy collapsed into a heap on the ground. There was a brief moment of silence, the only sound being the soft crunch of gravel as Connie tried to stand.

"Hey, you... What are you doing!?"

Then, a louder, more distinct crunch echoed through the air. Jeiden turned her head, and her heart nearly stopped.

She was standing a few rows down, her curly brown hair a mess as she tried to stand at attention. In her hand, unbelievably, was a potato—half-eaten, no less. Jeiden's eyes widened as the absurdity of the situation hit her. Was she actually eating during roll call?

The tension in the air skyrocketed as Shadis' attention zeroed in on Sasha. His face twisted in disbelief, and without hesitation, he stormed over to her, his voice rising with fury.

"You're the one I'm talking to! You!" Shadis roared, "Who are you!?"

Sasha, looking utterly horrified, stammered a response. "Sasha Blause, from Dauper Village, Wall Rose South District!"

Shadis didn't let her finish. "Sasha Blause, what are you holding in your right hand?" He looked at the remains of the potato from her hand, glaring at it as though it had personally offended him. "A boiled potato! The kitchen had a fresh batch, and I couldn't resist," She shouted.