Attack on Titan / Interactive Story

49

The days were colder. Winter was far from appearing, but it sure did feel like the world decided to freeze. Rain would pour in the early morning and the left-over dew would be like cool ponds for the trudging of boots.

You excelled in your classes. The Nameless boy's comment motivated you to give yourself a better reputation, even if you didn't want to get into the Military Police. There wasn't anything better than being respected by the Captain and your peers.

"You hear the gossip?" Seung whispers from across the dining table. Breakfast is almost over when he begins talking. "Valencia stabbed a man."

Mika's eyes widened next to you, "Stabbed?"

"Stabbed! Right in the leg! Her own brother!" Seung starts demonstrating with hand-motions. It's quite a sight to see without context. Next to him, the Nameless boy remains unimpressed, yet he continues to watch as Seung adds in sounds as he turns the invisible knife in his leg.

"Why is she here? Why isn't she being punished?"

Seung shrugged at Mika, stopping his sounds and motions, instead going back to his unattended cereal. "Her parents didn't make charges, I guess. They used military training as 'punishment'."

Your eyes fell upon Valencia from across the room. She seemed polite and quiet, not really the type to stab her own kin in the leg. Tons of thoughts pass through your head. What was it like to know that you injured someone you love? Why did she do it? How did no one else know of this before? Where did Seung hear this? Is the rumor even true?

Truth. You thought, putting your gear on our in the field. What is the truth?

"Why don't you ask her?" The Nameless boy said, nodding towards Valencia.

He had somehow read your thoughts - or, at least, your body motions - to know of your unease.

You chuckled, not out of humor, but out of nervousness. "It's not something you can just ask about."

"Sure, it is."  He buckled one of his straps and took a step back to pull at his necklace under his shirt.

Your eyes adjusted off of Valencia and to the Nameless boy. "You could ask it but it would still be awkward. For both of us."

He didn't say anything, waiting for the Captain to speak as he began to walk to the front of the trainees.

"You'll be practicing with aim." Captain squawked. "Aim for the bread on the targets, this is an example of the nape of the neck on a Titan."

Everyone had practice with the gear for awhile now, so guiding through the trees wasn't too much of a problem. Aiming for a non-moving  target would be difficult. Aiming for a moving target would be even more difficult.

"It's for ranks." Nameless boy breathes. You can see the air from his lungs turn to clouds.

"Why are you so set on ranks? Don't you want to go into the Survey Corps?"

The boy is caught off guard, his hazel eyes focusing on yours. He seems to be shaken, as if what you said had somehow offended him.

"I want you to get a good rank."

"So you live through other's achievements?"

He cracked a smile and brushed his hand through his shaved hair. It was probably once full of dark brown curls, constantly needing to be picked through by his fingers.

His voice was rough in the silence of the breeze and the movement of the leaves. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."

Continue (chapter 56)