RIVAL | Levi Ackerman

v. HIGH ENOUGH

CHAPTER FIVE
HIGH ENOUGH

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      "There's no way in hell I'm doing this."

A reluctant remark passed through her mouth with the conception of susceptibility spiraling in her mind. The afternoons passably reared to a much tepid temperature. Correlated to the frigidness of waking mornings, she reveled in the blazing heat, delighted from the kiss of the sun, contacting skin, the top of her head, and engulfing her in comfort and warmth. A cycle of sharp chill to humid weather. But today, regardless of how warm it turned out to be, a shiver dragging on her spine had her bear on the tip of her soles. Diffident wouldn't be the world to delineate her ambivalent feelings of the situation. 

"Do you want to die in the field or not?"

Oluo swept the curls from his hair to the side, arm dragging over his face as sheen sweat coated his temple, cheeks, jaw. Muscles ached down from the very bone. Heavy lifting was not his forte. But it couldn't be helped as it was him and Petra. It wouldn't be very gentlemanly of him if he dragged the red head along to do work. Freya was an option he considered in querying for assistance. But his pride and stubbornness led him to setting alone. Thus, the bitter and foul mood he found himself in accumulated, along with tempestuous utters that he aimed towards Freya.

Freya shot him an incredulous stare, a look that told she wasn't happy with the arrangements either. Minutes prior, she was called to meet the Special-Ops squad at the back of the castle. Less eyes, fewer stares, and not a whole lot of whispers going behind her back. Arriving, her view was met with Oluo assembling a large contraption and Petra observing with a few encouraging and nagging words here and there. Apparently, today's week was to witness her ability with the omnidirectional mobility gear and start from there which brought her here, scrutinizing the nearly completed handiwork. Sarcasm dripped off her tongue. "How inspiring."

A month of practice. That was all she was given. It wasn't a lot of time for her to do much before crossing out the remaining days til her first expedition out the walls. Seeing them head out from this morning clicked the puzzle as they returned with such heavy equipment. In front of her, out in the open grounds behind the castle, was a large triangular wooden stand with wires bunched up to the side and enclosed in the middle for her to test out. It was meant to asses her stasis. Except, for the look Freya was sending it, it was evident that she was hesitant about utilizing it. She crossed her arms over her chest, lips pouting as she eyed the contraption in skepticism.

Oluo chuckled. But it then turned into a booming laugh. Condescending and cavalier that Freya was half tempted to smack him on the back of his head. The sound filled with anything but humor as he stood on his feet, dusting the palm of his hands on his lap. He admired his handiwork for a moment, reveling in pride and joy at his accomplishment. "Wait till you get to the real thing."