Chains [Levi Fanfic]

Chapter 4: New Recruits

It was finally the day where the soldiers were coming back to the base after their one week break. I can't wait to meet Zoë and the others. It was soul-crushing to stay in this castle, waking up to quiet corridors and dining halls for the past seven days. I even had to do Flagon's paper works just because he thought I wasn't 'busy enough'. Commander Shadis even asked me to help out in the stables and cleaned the castle ground. I hate cleaning, especially doing the dishes. Of course, I never complained. It was hard enough for me to express what I wanted to say to others, let alone defying orders.

I was extremely delighted however when Zoë arrived to the castle early in the morning and brought me all sorts of trinkets and knick-knacks from our district. She also bought a set of books for me to read and a selection of some of my favourite tea blends and coffees. She had to carry four bags the size of a potato-sack to fit all of the things that she had brought. In which two of those bags, I helped her carried it from the carriage to our room. I can't blame her though, it was our first ever break after joining the corps. I'm sure there were more things that she'd like to bring with her back to the castle but couldn't, due to lack of space. I'm just dissapointed that I wasn't able to enjoy my well-deserving break as much as the other cadets did.

By ten in the morning, after all of the recuits have returned from their hometowns, the Commander called us to assemble by the field. Zoë and I donned our best uniform and hurriedly walked out of the castle. As we were walking towards the field, we caught a glimpse of those Underground criminals that I saw last week. Which made us stopped in our tracks.

"Hey, do you know who they are?" Whispered Zoë as she nudged my elbow.

I scratched my head, thinking of ways to explain to her on how I got to know these guys.

"They're our new cadets. The reason why Commander Shadis held me back last week was because he wanted me to help Erwin recruit these guys." I told her.

Zoë fixed her spectacles and stretched her neck out to try and get a better look at them.

"Are they from another training corps?" She asked.

"Uhh....That's the thing..... they were never trained in the first place. They're criminals from The Underground." I stated.

Zoë's eyes opened wide, gleaming as if she'd seen something remarkably astonishing. I could just imagine the sparks flying in her brain, as she processes what she'd just heard.

"Criminals?! From the Underground?! OH MYY!" Zoë cheered as she leaps in excitement, while clapping the tips of her fingers lightly.

I yanked her arm, to stop her from jumping like a maniac and being noticed by those new recruits . It was too late however as the black-haired guy - I've forgotten his name, caught sight of Zoë's little hop and glared at us. Our eyes met, in which I broke it off immediately as he was giving me dirty looks. His strong gaze was somewhat unnerving as it sends shudders passing through my body. I took Zoë's right hand and pulled her away, leading her to walk towards the field. Her eyes were still glued on those new recuits and she was smiling gleefully at the thought of them being our comrades. As we walked away, somehow I could still feel him staring at us. Gosh that guy is going to be a nightmare!

When all of the scout members have fall in, we gave an astounding salute to the Commander who was standing on the stage in front of us . We then proceeded to stand at ease after he signalled us to. The Commander then did a hand gesture to invite those three new recruits up the stage. All of us staring at them blankly. For most comrades, it was their first time seeing them, but since I knew them, I could already guess the reason why Commander Shadis called us to this assembly.

"You're all summoned here because we are having new recruits." Announced Commander Shadis. Everyone was turning their heads - looking at one another, feeling staggered and confused.