It's not hard for me. Nothing is, I think, as I walk down the halls of my college. My dress shoes click quietly against the tile floor. The schools sure are more clean, I think appreciatively. However, I'm somewhat glad to be graduating. For my age, I should be a first-year. But I'm graduating this year. And I can be off on the front lines, fighting. I miss it.
Perhaps I should explain myself. I'm Levi, Sina's only prodigy. I'm the one who scored a perfect 1500 on my trial. The trial is a test you have to take after middle school to determine which high school and college you are going to, but also to decide if you will live in the gem sector or the "slum sector" as it's beginning to be called.
However, I, of course, live in the gem sector. With no questions wrong, no problems in my athletic ability, and my sibling as a soldier, I was made for greatness. I am going to be in the hierarchy of Sina forever. My older sibling, Hanji, has graduated already and is a Captain in the military. Though it was a difficult switch from scouting legion back to school, I'm glad to be getting out very soon.
I remind myself of this as I walk outside of my school. It's my lunch break, but I don't plan to be back.
The worlds most-known criminal is a former scouting legion member. He's identifiable by the 3DMG on his waist, which most soldiers ditched after we found a way to fight back with cannons. He also wears the jacket on every crime he has done. I wrinkle my nose, chuckling. Which of my old comrades would rebel? Could it be Historia, against her father?
Though Historia should be next in like for the throne, it's actually Petra. The Elites decided that we needed someone with military experiences, but was also considerate enough to the civilians. And in order for Mr. Reiss to accept the offer of having a former military soldier, it would have to be one of his choosing. And he had chosen Petra. Though it was a surprise to most civilians that he didn't pick his daughter, it was no surprise to me.
So, with former scouting legion in the next-in-line, why fight. Perhaps Ymir, who was always backing up Historia. However, Ymir is rumored to be out of the walls for a few years now. The criminal's real name is unknown at this point, but most people have started calling him, "Trost." This is for the rather silly reason which is: "Trost was the first battle humanity won."
Nonetheless, the name stuck. I suppose that it is better than "Criminal 001." We hardly know anything about the criminal. His fingerprints are always either impartial or non-existent. We have never gotten a blood sample. His endurance, strength and improvising is out of this world. He climbed the skyscraper in his sector in only six minutes and forty seconds.
I'm standing in front of the skyscraper of my sector; Ruby. All of them are the same height, used to shown important announcements from Sina. I stare up at it, eyeing the small hand and footholds. I pull out my stopwatch using my left hand, my dominant right hand gripped in the first hand hold. I can see places that I should use to hold my weight, and I let out a short breath.
"Ready," I murmur slowly. "Set." I continue, resting my stopwatch rope around my neck, the small device still in my left hand. "Go!" I exclaim, slamming my thumb into the button as the plastic device slammed into my chest. Instantly I'm scaling up the wall, my boots giving me a boost as I get a grip and then force myself higher. I can hear the stopwatch beep, meaning that it's been six minutes and forty seconds. I let out a frustrated grunt, but I keep going. I look up, and I'm close. I think I might be around the midway point. I let out a soft chuckle as I climb.
The average person in the gem sector would say this is impossible. That climbing the tower could only be done in 15 minutes, even by a soldier. But Trost is a legendary criminal, and I'm Sina's prodigy. I hum to myself, and I'm only a few minutes away to the top of the grey metal building, with windows of strong, bullet proof glass. I'm climbing up the side, and soon I reach the screen. My hand reaches for the top corner, pulling myself up. I finally reach the top of the screen, the top of my toes resting on the surface as I look up and continue climbing. It is then that I hear loud noises. My peripheral vision shows me that these noises are actually helicopters, and I frown.
"Levi, we want you to get down immediately." A speaker voice said, and I let go of the building with one hand to turn off my stopwatch. Eight minutes, six seconds. I probably would've reached the top by ten, or at least twelve minutes.
The person speaking must've realized his mistake, as he corrects himself quickly. "We want you to grab the ladder from the helicopter." I sigh and nod, my narrowed eyes looking over as they drop the ladder and move closer. I reach out with my right hand and barely grab one of the rungs, using my grip on the building with my feet to help boost me up. My left hand grabs the rung above my right, and then it's just climbing from there. My arm muscles strain without the foot support I used to have, but I remember pull-ups, and this helps me figure out what I have to do.
Eventually, I'm in the helicopter, meeting the angry face of Hanji. She throws me a set of the radio communications headset, and I put it on, readying myself for a lecture.
"Again." Was all my sibling said, her red hair moving in the wind from outside. I shut the door. "Again, you disobey not only the school, but my rules as well."
I don't look at Hanji, my eyes downcast. I recall a time where we fought side by side for humanity. But now, she's my adopted sister. She treats me like a little brother.
"You could always take me with you on your missions," I say hopefully. I miss being out.
"No." Was my one worded reply, and I roll my eyes. Since when did our roles and conversations switch sides.
"How will we catch Trost if we can't even beat him in strength and stamina." I say, narrowing my eyes.
"Intelligence and luck." Hanji says, looking over at me. "One of which you have."
I meet Hanji's eyes expectantly, wondering what my sibling meant.
"You are extremely intelligent, you have been ever since grade school. However, your luck is... hardly even noticeable. Perhaps if you had more luck, we wouldn't have to have these meetings after all your stunts." Hanji grins, and I shake my head.
This is Hanji, for you. Though she most likely was angry at first, she seems to agree that my "stunts" are important in my growing.
"I got you out of school, for the day. You can go home and spend time with your cat."
I roll my eyes at the mentioning of the cat, who I named Wings. I named it with a few of my old friends in the scouting legion. Petra is one of them. Along with Auruo.
I force the thought away, as it's not necessary. I can feel myself walking through the library that's known as my brain, and I, the librarian, carrying this book about those friends, and locking it far away into the cells of darkness.
"Thanks," I say to Hanji, who is still looking at me expectantly.
Hanji rolls her eyes. "Seriously though, Levi. Stop with the stunts. Study for now, and when you graduate you can do them."
The helicopter touches the ground, finally, and I take off the headset that we were talking through.
I hop off the helicopter first, throwing open the door and jumping, my knees absorbing the entire shock. I slowly fall into a sitting position, and the whirring of the helicopter slowly comes to a stop as the pilot stopped, and I feel Hanji pulling me by my collar to get to my feet.
She's yelling at me for something or other, but she silences when Erwin approaches. Everyone does a salute; Hanji and I to Erwin, and Erwin to us. Hanji and Erwin are of the same rank. Their leader is a mystery, they just refer to him as "the boss".
"Boss told me to come here to help you, if there was any trouble, Captain Hanji." Erwin says, and I look between the two.
"Actually, could you please take my little brother to our apartment." Hanji says, and I scowl slightly at the "little brother". I can't tell if she means the small age difference, or height. But with the cheeky way she always looked when she started to first say it, I'll have to guess that it's both.
Erwin clasps his hands on my shoulders and forces me to walk towards the car, and I sigh as I do so. "So, Erwin. How was your day." I stated, though I should've used a questioning tone.
Erwin just shakes his head. "It was fine, Levi. Another daredevil act from you? Nearly worried Hanji shitless. In the middle of a lead on a criminal when suddenly," he pauses and changes his tone to sound like the school principal. "Uh, yeah.. Captain Hanji, Levi is no longer in the school." He shakes his head. "You'll be the end of her."
I shrug, though I do feel a little bad. "If Hanji took me on her missions with her, I wouldn't have to find things to do when I'm bored." I remark.
"Hanji is trying to keep you safe. After you went to the last mission and got stabbed in the arm she decided that it was too dangerous for you, and I think she's right. More importantly, you should respect your sibling's and friend's opinion, and live with it. You're supposed to graduate this year anyway. You'll probably be placed in the Platinum Sector."
The Platinum Sector is the highest sector. It's within the walls of the original Sina, and is very loosely populated. It's for the best of the best citizens, the military police and of course, the ruling King, Mr. Reiss.
I reply with a quick and indifferent, "Maybe." The conversation ending as we reached my apartment that I shared with Hanji. Don't get me wrong. It's huge. It's just part of a complex. I nod slightly to Erwin, who is now driving away.
I enter my house, calling for Wings. The cat peeks it's head from the upstairs, and I look up at her. "Come on, Wings! It's just me!" The cat slowly trots down the steps and walks to me. For some reason, my cat often hangs around me or comes when I call, but it's nice to see an animal so nice to me.
When she gets close enough, I scratch the top of her head and listen to her purr. After a minute or two I walk away, moving towards the kitchen to make me something to eat.
Though it's only been a couple of years since we have gained back all of the land lost, a lot of technology has come out. Some materials we find from small expeditions outside of the wall. By we, I mean the small about of scouting legion left, for most of them decided to become workers, as we don't go outside the walls offer anymore. The garrison is a weak army force from the slum and/or Gem sector; for those who score around 800 to 1200. Anyone from either sector who gets above 1200 is automatically bumped into Sina, and put in the military police. Everyone has the option to either be in their military section or they can choose to be a worker; except those in Sina. As long as you passed, you were put into the military police. Funny how things changed.
Not only our society, but a lot of daily things have changed. Even to the simplest new discoveries like stronger and more accurate cannons. All of our houses are no longer simple with just stone or wood, and in fact, most cities are this boring shade of grey, white and black. The street lamps are a fluorescent shade of blue, which come from special kinds of... Algae? I don't recall exactly. They are apparently fluorescent at night. Hanji was rather excited about this when they first came it about it.
Hanji is nearly four years older than me at age 23. I'm only 19. Or rather, that's what the doctors said. They wanted to keep the commanders of the survey legion young until the titans were, for sure, weaker than humanity. So they came up with some kind of drug. Hanji wanted me to take it. I probably wouldn't have if she didn't convince me.
Sure enough, eventually, I started looking younger. My face got more round, my eyes larger and the bags under them diminishing. I didn't get shorter. Hanji looks the same. Erwin... Looks hardly different. Just a rounder face.
I think about all the advancements we have made as I cook myself dinner, and hearing me open the refridgerator, I hear a loud pounding down the stairs. A small hiss from my cat, Wings, confirms my assumptions; it's Sawney- the dog that Hanji named after her miraculous titan. The large dog comes bounding towards me, jumping and pressing its front legs against my upper leg. I grumble at him, shaking my leg to get him away.
I decide to just make a microwave meal because I'm feeling particularly lazy and I would rather hit the gym than stay here and cook. I open the box and throw the plastic tray in the microwave, setting the times. I throw a small biscuit at Sawney, watching him leap into the air to catch it. Sawney is something like a collie, though instead of black spots he has brown.
A beep catches both the attention of me and Sawney, and I quickly move to the microwave. My meal is cooked, as perfect as it could be, and I sit down at the table and start to eat. It has some chicken parts, and as I get more full, I throw some at Sawney, setting one or two aside for Wings.
I put my trash and silverware away, locating Wings and picking her up. I carried her to where I put the spare chicken, offering them to her with my free hand (as I has my right hand wrapped behind her front legs). She licks the first gingerly before snapping her small jaw around them, chewing thoroughly. I set her down, but she doesn't leave, and I take the second and kneel, giving it to her. She meows after she's finished, and I pet the top of her head.
As I'm washing my hands, I look out the kitchen window to see young children playing frisbee outside. How nice it is to see people just a few years younger than "me", (who, after the medication, is now "19") not learning how to fight for their lives.
I make sure to leave some more cat food, waiting for her to finish. I have to keep Sawney away, as he has a tendency to try and steal Wings' food. Once she is done, then I poor some dog food for Sawney. Leaving water in two bowls for them, I change into gym clothes and sneakers before walking out of the house.
I lock the door behind me, putting the key back into my pocket. Around me, I see soldiers patrolling, and I notice the roses on their jackets. Garrison. I study their guns. A newer model, it's one of the ones that have a silencer, I think.
We exchange nods, and I keep walking towards the gym. I flash the door my ID card, and the door opens. I'm on the treadmills in an instant, but not soon after I'm working on punching bags and then bench pressing.
I keep working until I'm tired, then I walk home, take a luxurious bath, change into my silk pajamas and head up my elegant spiral staircase to my room. I fall asleep quickly, comfortable under my sheets. I don't hear Hanji come back, as I was too absorbed in my sleep.
Wings had curled against my leg as I slept, her nimble tabby-grey body causing my eyes to open slightly. "Wings," I mutter, her green eyes closing. I let out a sigh as I rest against my white pillow. The blankets are crisp and everything smells clean.
I quickly fall back asleep, dreaming. I dream about being at someone's funeral. Everyone has blacked out faces, and I cannot tell who is who. I shake hands with the black blobs, and from their misty grip I assume that whoever died was important. The Elector? Is this even a real dream?
I look around in my dream. The casket is closed and the sky is cloudy. What gloomy weather for a gloomier day. My tongue snakes across my bottom lip, and I turn to feel a gaze. There's two black figures further spaced from the rest. I can hear whispering, but it's nothing distinguishable. Just like wind. Their words swivel around me, and I close my eyes to hopefully distinguish the words. Hearing silence, I open my eyes. Raindrops hit my cheeks, and I look up. More water runs down my form as I realize everyone has disappeared. I move towards the casket, the casket was in soft grey marble, with rubies and diamonds encrusted on the casket sides. A shaking hand moves to run through my black hair, which is sticking closely to my head due to the rain.
The waterdrops run down the sides of the casket, and my right hand rests against the surface. I open my mouth to speak, but it's silent. As if the words have been stolen from my own throat. I take a deep inhale of the cold air, calming my senses down. I want to talk, give my grievances, but I don't even know who it is; even if I could speak, I would still be at a loss.
I start to shove the cover off, my muscles still a strain against the heavy weight of the lid. It won't budge, and slowly the imagine darkens. I lose hold of the dream, and dissolve into a dreamless sleep. I am aware that I'm sleeping, but my dreams won't come back to me.
By the time I wake up, it's time to go to school. I hear Hanji cooking, and I slowly budge into my uniform, wrinkling my nose as I slide down the bannister of the stairs. My sibling excitedly wraps their arms around me, resting her chin on the top of my head.
"Morning," I say, my voice somewhat rumbling in my throat as I spoke.
"Morning!" Was Hanji's all too excited reply, and I shake my head, moving over to the counter island to receive my plate of breakfast. Omelette, I thought with a slight smile, sitting in my chair and leaning back. We ate in peaceful conversation in our home, with it's glittering lights and shining floors.
I'm glad I live in the Gem Sectors.
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