A Different Path

Chapter Twenty

    "ATTENTION!" The Commander shouted. "I'm here to present three new recruits who will be fighting alongside you!"

The three stand in front of the Survey Corps members, who stood at attention. Isabel was off to the right of Levi, and Furlan was to his left. She stood with one arm on Levi's shoulder and the other hand on her hip, a big grin across her face. Levi had his arms crossed and a black facial expression. He just wanted this to be over so he could go back and check on Lilith. Lastly, Furlan was attempting to stand at attention like all the other soldiers. He wanted to fit in.

"Now you three," He looked over to the trio, "introduce yourselves." There was a moment of silence before Levi's reply.

"Name's Levi." He said emotionless. There were whispers throughout the soldiers, they knew the name.

"Isabel Magnolia, nice to meet all of ya!"

"I'm Furlan Church...sir." Awkward.

The trio was assigned to the team of the man who insulted them, Flagon. None of them were happy about that.

.   .   .

It was time to move to the fields for combat training. Soldiers grouped up with people of their choice and began their leave. The trio stood together.

"Why do we need combat training anyway? That's not gonna do anything against titans." Isabel complained.

"It's to build endurance, idiot." Levi flicked her forehead.

"So, how do you guys wanna do this?" Furlan asked.

"I'll go against you, and the winner goes against Levi, done." Isabel just wanted to kick Furlan's ass.

"You're on." Furlan said with a sadistic grin.

Some may think Furlan had the advantage because of his smarts and size, but that was nothing but wrong. He was always the man in the shadows, the one planning the scheme. He was in control of the pawns, he never was one of them. Don't get the wrong idea though, he can still hold himself up.

Isabel, on the other hand, was a pawn. She was the one in the field while he was guiding. She was small and quick. She could get someone twice her size on the ground in seconds. Not only that, but her strong suit was the art of escape. One may think they have her pinned down, but Isabel always has a trick up her sleeve and they just played right into it.

The two readied themselves. Each group was given one wooden stake. The goal was to either pretend to stab your enemy, or avoid being stabbed. Furlan knew to bring his arms up because Isabel would lunge first, and she did. Isabel threw herself at Furlan, knowing he would try to block, she knew he didn't move fast enough to dodge her because of his size. Isabel had the stake in her right hand and her other was clutched as if she was holding something else. She brought her hand with the stake up to Furlan's throat but he grabbed her wrist, spun her, locked her arm behind her back, and pinned her to the dirt.

"Got ya, brat." Furlan grinned, so he thought. Isabel looked up at Levi and smiled, right into her trap.

Isabel opened her clenched hand that was full of dirt and threw it up at Furlan's eyes. He let her armed hand loose and let out a few curses. Isabel brought the stake up to his chest.

"Got ya."

The two stood up and brushed themselves off. "I thought you were supposed to be smart." Isabel was full of pride.

"I am, you just play dirty." Furlan was mad he didn't see it coming. The redhead let a grin grow across her face. "Well, you know what this means?" Furlan asked, crossing his arms.