The Walls We've Built - ◈ ARMIN ARLERT X OC ◈

Chapter 7 - Choosing Ceremony

The smell of smoke guides us down the graven walkway towards the highest-ranking scouts lined up on the stage of the outdoor auditorium. The crackling of the wooden torches and the crunching of gravel under the shoes of all the cadets from the 104th cadet corps is the only sounds in the air. Next to me, Jacob is looking straight ahead towards the stage, a focused expression taking over his face. I follow his stare to the blonde man on the centre of the stage, Erwin Smith, the current commander of the Scout Regiment.

As a child, the only thing I ever heard my father say about the scout regiment was that they are fat money stealing bastards. But what does he know, he was the one who was selfish enough to run away from his children to save his own life. He said they stole taxpayers' money to go play hide and seek with the titans beyond the wall and how he was astonished that the king still had the regiment running after all their unsuccessful exhibitions.

The few times we saw them return from exhibitions my father was always one of the few who had the audacity to spit at their feet as they returned through the wall of Shiganshina. Seeing the men and women who risked their lives for the benefit of the whole of mankind made my blood boil. I'm glad I never have to see my father again even if he did survive that day, in my mind he is dead and I will never allow myself to feel an ounce of remorse for the monster.

Once again getting lost in my own thoughts and Jacob stops me in my traces, I look over my shoulder to see him looking at me with a 'you're being weird, stop' look on his face. He guessers for me to look forward, 10cm from my face is the back on Reiner Braun. I jolt back beside Jacob and Gen who is silently laughing into her arm. I nudged her with my elbow making her unstably tip on her one working leg. Jacob grabs her around the waist before she even had time to fall, he gives me another 'stop being stupid look' and now both Gen and I are silently laughing.

Gen's ankle is still not fully recovered but it was mandatory she came to the choosing ceremony as it is for all cadets. She was given a crutch so she could stand and Adam trusted Jacob and I to make sure she didn't herself, not his smartest move might I add. To be honest, I think this is the longest amount of time Jacob and Gen have gone without fighting. No matter where we end up Jacob and Gen will always be my family. "What?" Gen whispers with Jacob looking over her shoulder, she must have caught me staring at them. "Nothing," I smile to myself returning my attention back to the stage.

Erwin begins his address to the cadets, the passion in his words and face is something I have never seen in any soldier before. The way he talks about the importance of finding what is in the cellar of Eren Yeager's home is overwhelming, he really doesn't hold back. He tells us that most will die and the rest will be emotionally scarred for the remainder of our lives, at this point I don't see anyone joining the scouts. Around me I see some cadets mortified and others viewing Smith as a joke, when my attention returns back to the stage it doesn't go to Erwin but to his comrade behind him.

Those men and women have seen what's outside the walls, they have survived. They look to us with pride in their cause and their regiment, they are a team, a true team of equals. They don't know what this mission could mean for the future of humanity or for themselves, but here they stand in front of us filled with dignity and honour. They do not care what the rest of us think of them, they know the importance of their role big or small and that is something I admire.

"Your hearts to the cause!" Erwin yells concluding his speech. We all stand in salute as respect to Erwin and the Scouts even though most of the cadets here think they are a joke. There was a moment of silence before Erwin asks the question we have all been dreading, "Cadets of the 104th cadet corps, the decision is yours, choose wisely. Those of you wanting to join the Scouts remain here, but the rest of you are free to leave." The silence is deafening as no one has the guts to move first.

I hear the distant shuffle of cadets leaving, I go to leave but my feet don't let me. My brain is saying leave, but my heart is telling me to stay. This is the future of humanity, until we find out the secrets of Eren's cellar we will continue to be in the dark about our own history. The scout has the key to getting the answers we need, they lead the trail humanity needs to follow towards the future.

The cadets continue to leave, one after the other, next to me Gen nudges my shoulder. "Zaryia what are you doing? What about saving the people in the Garrison regiment?" She whispers confused. I let out a long sigh as my emotions take over "What's the point of joining the Garrison regiment if there is nothing left of humanity to save?" My head drops as I reply looking at the gravel ground.

I look back at Gen expecting her to be surprised, angry? I don't know how to describe the look on her face. Her expression softens and I feel her embrace me with a short hug, she pulls back looking over her shoulder to Jacob, "You owe me tomorrow's dinner rations thank you very much!" She says to Jacob pointing her finger at him. He steps towards her looking down at her smirking "Yeah, yeah you win" he says sarcastically. I observe them confused, Jacob notices my gaze. "Huh?" I ponder tilting my head to the side, Gen turns her back on Jacob facing me.

"I knew you were going to change your mind and join the scouts! You have too much passion and curiosity in your heart to live your whole life behind those cursed walls" she says smiling at me. I am unable to talk, overwhelmed by excitement and joy when I notice neither Jacob nor Gen planning on leaving. "Why didn't you guys tell me you were joining the scouts!" I exclaim slapping them both lightly on the shoulder. Jacob scoffs shaking his head looking at Gen and then at me, "You never asked" he replies smiling.