Royal Calendar Year 850.
Southern forest near the 104th Cadet Corps training grounds. Heavy rain poured from the sky.
Keith Shadis rode alongside the column of cadets marching on foot through the mud.
"Move faster! This assessment will be recorded in your final evaluations!"
"It won't be long before your futures are decided. If you don't want to be eliminated at the last moment, give me everything you've got!"
He slowed his horse and drifted toward the rear of the formation.
"What's wrong, Arlert? Falling behind already?"
"Is that pack too heavy for you?"
"If this were the real battlefield, you'd already be Titan food!"
…
"Huff… huff…"
Armin watched the figures ahead growing more distant. His chest felt heavy—not from the weight alone.
"Give it to me."
Armin blinked in shock.
Reiner was beside him.
Without hesitation, Reiner lifted Armin's pack and slung it onto his own back.
Armin couldn't remember how many times over the past three years Reiner—and Lock—had helped him during physical training. And yet here he was again, being helped.
Guilt flooded him.
"If you do that, you'll lose points too!"
Reiner's voice was steady as always.
"It's fine—as long as we don't get caught."
…
Keith observed from the corner of his eye, already drafting a mental evaluation.
[Reiner Braun]
[Physically powerful, mentally resilient, deeply trusted by his comrades.]
…
"I'd rather die than drag someone else down!"
Armin suddenly surged forward and reclaimed his pack.
[Armin Arlert]
[Physically weak but intellectually exceptional. Nearly perfect in tactical exercises.]
…
When the column finally returned to base, most collapsed onto the ground, drenched and exhausted.
"You're all so slow. I almost fell asleep waiting."
Lock sat under the eaves in casual clothes, smiling at the soaked cadets.
A familiar word rose from the crowd.
"Monster!"
…
[Lock Leon]
[Possesses abnormal physical capability and unconventional thinking. His 'New Titan Hypothesis' has been acknowledged within military circles. Due to his family background, high-ranking officials monitor him closely. Known privately as the future 'Golden Lion.']
Keith paused before adding:
[Slightly weaker in Omni-Directional Mobility Gear control. Otherwise capable of contending for first place with Mikasa Ackerman.]
…
[Annie Leonhart]
[Efficient and precise in simulated Titan kills. Solitary personality. Limited teamwork aside from frequent proximity to Lock Leon.]
…
[Bertholdt Hoover]
[High potential. Lacks initiative.]
…
[Jean Kirschtein]
[Strong aptitude. Prone to verbal conflict.]
…
[Sasha Blouse]
[Exceptional sensory instinct. Immature mindset.]
…
[Connie Springer]
[Moderately clever. Poor long-term judgment.]
…
[Mikasa Ackerman]
[All-around prodigy. Once-in-a-generation talent.]
…
[Eren Yeager]
[Average aptitude. Extremely strong conviction. Impulsive.]
…
"Quiet down! Quiet down!"
Lock stood on the platform normally reserved for instructors, holding a crude paper megaphone he had crafted.
"Since today's hand-to-hand combat session isn't graded, Instructor Shadis was worried some of you might slack off."
"So I suggested we turn today's training into the First 104th Cadet Corps Freestyle Sparring Tournament!"
"Participation is voluntary. Completely voluntary."
"No one will be forced."
"However!"
Lock raised a finger dramatically.
"I am personally sponsoring extremely generous rewards for the top three."
Sasha's hand shot into the air instantly. She even rose onto her toes, leaning against Connie to be seen.
Lock adopted Keith's stern tone.
"Blouse. Do you have a question?"
Sasha's eyes sparkled.
"Is there meat in the prize?"
Lock pointed at her.
"Excellent question!"
"Third place receives a specialty steak from the Leon Estate. Seven full pounds. Fresh."
"And if you can't finish it, the head chef will store it for you."
"Until you do."
Sasha nodded violently.
"I'm participating!"
"Good. Those interested, report to Instructor Shadis."
"Hey! You didn't say the second or first prize yet!"
Lock glanced at Reiner and smiled.
"Reiner, don't be impatient."
"For second place—also generously provided by the Leon Estate—"
"A bottle of twenty-year-aged Leon wine."
Even several middle-aged instructors nearby shifted uneasily.
"Damn. Now I want in."
"Keith, sign me up too."
"You already take bribes from that Leon brat?"
"And for first place!"
Lock spread his arms.
"A free three-day stay at the Leon Estate after graduation."
"With me as your personal guide."
Gasps rose from the cadets.
Lock looked pleased.
…
"Why aren't you entering?" Sasha tugged Mikasa's sleeve. "We all thought you'd win!"
Armin looked troubled.
"Eren doesn't like this event. We didn't feel right participating."
Mikasa added quietly, "He's always disliked nobles."
Sasha frowned.
"But Lock's a good person. Everyone likes him."
Armin nodded slowly.
"He does help whenever someone asks. He encouraged Eren before."
"But…"
"After the Wall Maria fell, we spent a year clearing wasteland."
"We saw too many refugees starve."
"To Eren… it all feels unfair."
…
"Why aren't you competing?"
Annie stood beside Lock at the edge of the arena.
Lock looked up.
She was taller now. Sharper. More defined.
More beautiful.
He smiled faintly.
"I'm the organizer. And the sponsor."
"If I joined, wouldn't that be annoying?"
He smiled—but Annie could see it.
A faint loneliness was buried in his eyes.
Lock turned his gaze toward the cheering cadets.
"Annie. Look at them."
"These are the people you've trained and lived beside for three years."
"You speak the same language."
"You eat the same food."
"You suffer through the same drills."
He lowered his voice.
"Can you really say you're completely different from them?"
Annie's pupils trembled.
"What… are you trying to say?"
Lock did not look at her.
"Before graduation."
"I just want you to look at them a little more."
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