Chapter 21 - XIX

🕸️ The Gear That Separates Soldiers

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Later, the cadets lined up outside the yard as Keith Shadis introduced their first piece of true military equipment:

The Omni-Directional Mobility Gear.

"Those of you who fail to master this," he said, "will wash out within the week." Shadis was very serious because you cannot fight titans without ODM gear.

One by one, cadets strapped in and were tested.

Mikasa only needed a second.

She hovered in place. Effortless. Silent, she knew she was in an edit right now, sadly I don't have it.

Kaelen went next.

He launched up, balanced with ease, then lowered himself back down with a casual sigh.

"Guess that's working," he muttered, balance was a basic skill, I mean, have you ever fought on the back of a Tie Fighter?

Armin and Krista both took longer, but passed.

Even Sasha, despite swinging wildly, found her footing.

Then came Eren.

The gear pulled him up.

He wobbled.

Then tipped.

THUD.

"Reset," Shadis said calmly, as if he hadn't rigged this.

Again.

THUD.

"Again," Shadis said calmly, the casualness of his sabotage was astounding.

The sun dipped lower.

And Eren kept falling.

...

Later, Mikasa knelt beside him near the supply shed, watching Eren rub his aching forehead, bringing his breakfast as he had skipped to try and master the ODM gear.

"You should give up," she said plainly. "Being a soldier isn't the only way to live," Mikasa said calmly, Eren sighed, she was still trying to get him to quit.

He didn't answer.

She stood to say more—

And everyone else walked away, as Mikasa left

"Can I have the bread?" Sasha asked sweetly, pointing to the leftover loaf beside Mikasa.

Mikasa took it.

And ate it.

In front of her.

Sasha cried softly into the dirt, sadly, if Sasha had eaten that bread, Mikasa would have been NTR'd in a way, so no.

That evening, Eren sat on the edge of his bunk, frustrated.

"Hey, Jean," he said.

Jean looked up, still mildly bitter.

"Any tips?"

"Yeah. If you suck, just quit."

"Thanks."

Eren turned to Connie.

"Tips?"

"Same thing."

Sighing, he walked over to Reiner and Bertholdt.

They were sitting by the fire.

"Got any advice?"

Reiner looked up.

"You serious about this?"

"More than anything."

Bertholdt raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

Armin stepped forward, voice quiet but strong.

"Because the government sacrificed over 200,000 people to retake Wall Maria."

Bertholdt blinked.

"That's true…"

He looked down.

"I saw a Titan once. Outside my hometown. But… I can't remember anything after that."

Silence.

He shook his head.

"Most people here are just avoiding land work. Cowards, hiding behind uniforms."

He stood and motioned to the woods.

"Come on."

Bertholdt and Reiner led them to a ridge.

Below—an open lake. Trees. Moonlight.

Peace.

"This is what's worth protecting," Reiner said.

Eren stared.

And nodded.

"I'll kill them all."

Reiner patted his shoulder.

"Then good luck tomorrow."

...

The next morning, Keith ordered the cadets to retest their ODM handling.

The pulley rose.

Eren steadied himself.

His breath held.

Everyone watched.

And—

He tipped again.

Shadis frowned.

"Wagner. Trade belts with Jaeger."

New gear.

Same station.

Lift.

Steady.

Stable.

"Pass."

The air deflated from Eren's lungs.

His chest felt warm. Not just from the win, but from relief.

Kaelen approached.

Clapped once.

"Congrats."

Then ducked.

A rock flew past his face.

"Where the hell were you when I needed help with this?!"

Kaelen smirked.

"I had stuff to do."

Eren scowled.

"You're impossible."

Kaelen shrugged.

"You're you."

They both laughed, as time passed...also it's quite a bit of time.

...

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[Auther: My editor says that it's clear when I'm being overworked since my quality dies quite a bit... but there wasn't much here anyways.]