ℬℯ𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒾𝒻𝓊𝓁 𝒟𝒾𝓈𝒶𝓈𝓉ℯ𝓇 ⤕[𝓐𝓽𝓽𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓞𝓷 𝓣𝓲𝓽𝓪𝓷 𝔁 𝓞𝓒]

Chapter 11

Uniform and simultaneous, the 104th Cadet Corps stood in orderly rows, a strong salute taking control of their postures as they stiffened their expressions. A row of the top 10 Cadets were lined across the front of the courtyard, labelling each Cadet as the top graduates of their class. 

"You will now pick your regiments, those eligible for the Military Police are the top 10, look upon these people trainees, these are your top students!" 

Akira stood at the furthest side of the row, signalling her as the top graduate. Miika was next to her, and Eren was a few spaces down. She couldn't help but internally smile at the thought of how well all of her closest friends did, out of all these cadets, none of them got below 15th place, 'I'm proud of you all.'

Commander Erwin, a prosperous Scout, centered himself on the stage and, with both intimidation and motivation, proclaimed what your mindset would have to be to get into the Scouting Regiment and how you would have to be dedicated and lay down your life, no matter what the situation. This caused sweat and fear to drip from most of the Cadets as they shuddered at the thought, and once they were given the chance to leave, they had all disappeared in a matter of seconds. 

"Cowards." Akira spat under her breath as loud footsteps of the majority of the Cadet Corps rumbled through the now silent air. The small amount remaining had several Cadets trembling, their expressions devoid of anything but terror. 

Commander Erwin eyed each Cadet intently, a small smile gracing his lips as he saw the ranks of the people who actually stayed, most of them in the top 10, "Your services will never be forgotten and will always be honoured." He saluted once more before exiting, dismissing the remaining soon-to-be Scouts. 

Turning to face each other, the quartet nodded to each other as they walked side by side down to the Mess Hall, wailing cheers and clanging of tankards resonating from within the Hall of now excited graduates. As the small group of people who stayed back for the Scouts entered the room, everyone stared at them, a few going into states of shock at the sight of Akira. Eren, Armin and Miika stood in the back of the room, Eren swiping a tankard of drink up on the journey there. Eren stood in the center, leant against the wall as the other three made a small semi-circle next to him. Thomas, a male with similar attributes to Reiner, greeted the four, taking a quick sip of his drink, "Hey Eren, so who are you joining?" 

"Scouting Regiment." He stated blankly, causing Thomas to choke back the drink that was ready to be spewed back out of his mouth.

"You're just going to turn your back on the MP's!? You came 6th place!" He exclaimed, his state of shock excessively growing within the second.

Akira stepped in front of Eren, instinctively shielding him, "I am joining them too." 

"Are you crazy!" He yelled, forcing the rest of the room to stare, now in an interested silence, "You are top of the class, you are going to give up your place as a Military Police Commander for the Scouts?!" He continued, ignoring the masses of people who were eavesdropping. 

"I don't want the easy life, not with all the hard work I have put in, I trained to fight titans, and that is what I intend to do." She replies, making him go silent with an expression of shocked confusion.

"We are talking about a 5th of the population being killed out there, we have no chance of beating them, so why try? Why put your life on the line for a fight you are guaranteed to lose...this is our life now." The blonde stepped back, looking down at his feet.

Eren hissed under his breath, placing his arm in front of Akira as a way of asking her for him to take the lead. She slowly nodded, knowing it was going to be a long, motivational speech. And, it was exactly that. Tears began to brim his eyes at the end, forcing him to run out of the Hall, Miika and Armin quickly following behind.

"He is right you know." Akira huffed, still stood where she was before, casting the attention back to herself. 

Thomas shook his head, "He is insane."

"No, he is devoted, he isn't scared, he has loyalty to humanity, he has a sense of purpose, he wants to fight even if it means laying down his life for a lost cause, he wants to give humanity a chance because we can't just allow ourselves to be cannon fodder, we can't lounge around, hoping for a life of tranquility when they are already finding ways to get within the walls. If you can't fight, then you will die, but there will be less chance of you dying if people like Eren fight for your freedom, and at least slow down the process of the Walls being breached, or buy you time to escape the district. That is what the Scouts have being doing for you all along and you haven't even realised it because you have been too wound up in making sure YOU are alive and well, making sure YOU have the chance to live a good life, without sacrifice or death. But sadly, Wagner, that is not what you can have in this world. Its all in the odds, you live inside the walls and die as a coward, nothing but sleeping cattle, or you die as a hero, you die as someone who, despite knowing there was little chance of surviving, fought to increase humanities chances of survival. Maybe take that into consideration next time there is a breach. Who will be protecting the people and ensuring their safety as they evacuate? Not the Garrison, nor the Military Police - it's the Scouts, and we should be thanking them for how far they have gotten us today, and I am doing that by aiding them with my strength, no matter how many people try to go against me. I am joining the Scouting Regiment, and there is nothing anyone can do to change my mind." Her expression still beholding its monotonous nature, she ran out to catch up to her friends, the three sitting on a set of steps outside the Hall. 

Armin noticed her and patted down the area next to him, gesturing for her to sit down, "You are joining the Scouts too, right?" 

"Yeah, and not only because I want to protect you all and be with you, it is because I want to fight for humanity, despite how much I may seem like an introvert who hates people, I want people to live, I want them to be at peace." She comments, Eren staring at her with red eyes and a small smile. 

"You know, I didn't want you all to join me, but...I'm glad, we will be able to fight side by side, and even when the times get so tough we will need to lay down our lives, it won't phase me because i'll know you have watched me fight for our survival." He smiled even brighter, grabbing the three in his arms, pulling them into a tight group hug, "I'm so lucky to have you all  by my side."