The trainees of the Training Corps were preparing for their balance adaptability test.
The instructors patrolled nearby, observing carefully. A grizzled old instructor suddenly looked toward Mikasa, who was suspended in midair with a calm expression, and sighed with emotion.
"This is what talent looks like. Hardly any swaying at all."
"Yeah… so talented she fell asleep up there…" the younger instructor said blankly.
The old instructor looked over again, this time toward Chen Si. He too was hanging in the air with barely any movement, occasionally even rocking slightly as if on a swing.
Most importantly, Chen Si had actually fallen asleep.
During this period, Chen Si had secretly taken a blade from the equipment department and had been tempering it daily with electricity. He understood very clearly the importance of weapons. They didn't need to be perfect—just hard enough.
Many soldiers were strong, but once their blades snapped, they lost all combat capability and became lambs waiting to be slaughtered.
"Hahaha! Looks like we've got quite a few geniuses this year. It's exactly this kind of unconventional soldier who can accomplish great things," the old instructor laughed heartily.
"Uh… over there…" the young instructor was startled again.
Eren was hanging completely upside down, unable to straighten his body at all. His face was extremely ugly as he struggled desperately.
"Well, that's a kind of talent too. Even with boundless enthusiasm, he still can't overpower the others," the old instructor said, adjusting his glasses.
"What are you doing, Eren Yeager?! Get your upper body upright!" Keith Shadis roared.
Laughter erupted from the others. Eren gritted his teeth, unable to believe what was happening.
Chen Si was awakened by the commotion. Seeing Eren's despairing, upside-down expression, he found it rather amusing.
He held back his laughter. He would tell him later.
That evening, Chen Si was dozing against a rock. In the distance, Eren, under Mikasa and Armin's guidance, was repeatedly headbutting the ground.
With each thunderous thud, Chen Si slowly woke up, bleary-eyed, and looked at Eren, whose head was now covered in bumps.
Oh. I forgot to tell him. Oh well. A little suffering is good, Chen Si thought, and went back to sleep.
After Mikasa called him over, Chen Si looked at the troubled Eren and spoke leisurely.
"Eren, have you considered that maybe it's not your fault?"
"Huh? Then is it Instructor Shadis' fault?" Eren asked seriously.
Mikasa's expression immediately grew stern.
"It must be that I didn't teach you well enough. Eren, let's continue!" she said solemnly.
Eren clutched his aching head, wanting to refuse.
"Sigh. It's neither of those. I mean, maybe your gear is broken. Try mine," Chen Si said, rubbing his forehead and revealing the truth directly.
Eren froze, then retested with excitement.
"I did it! I did it! Hahaha! I can still join the Survey Corps!" Eren shouted joyfully.
Mikasa smiled with relief.
That night in the mess hall—
Under the ridicule of others, Eren flushed red and shot back:
"Just wait! Tomorrow I'll pass the test for sure!"
"This guy really overestimates himself."
"And he talks about driving out the Titans like that?"
Hearing their words, Eren's face burned.
"Eren," Mikasa shook her head.
"Don't worry. Chen Si already figured out it was the gear. Just prove it to them tomorrow," Armin reassured him.
Seeing that Eren was almost ready to drag everyone to the training field to prove himself immediately, Chen Si shook his head. Still such a kid. If you're going to slap someone in the face, you have to do it properly.
"Hahaha, maybe you'll be crawling back to the reclamation zone tomorrow. I heard your mother works there. They say she's quite the beauty—what a pity," mocked a trainee Chen Si didn't recognize.
After asking Marco, Chen Si learned that he was the son of Count von Miroslav within Wall Sina—Von Polino. He had only come to gild his resume. Whether he ranked in the top ten or not, he could directly enter the Military Police Brigade.
Because Kenny was the current commander of the Central Military Police and valued ability over background—even a marquis's son couldn't get in otherwise—Polino hadn't gone straight there.
"What did you say?!" Eren exploded when he heard someone mention Carla. Even the bandage on his head nearly came undone.
Mikasa's expression darkened, her eyes sharp with hostility.
Polino, still laughing, didn't notice Chen Si walking up behind him.
Suddenly, Chen Si clamped a hand over his mouth. Polino clawed at his hand, but no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't pry it off. Muffled sounds escaped him.
"Tell me—why do some people have mouths but can't make a sound, while some without mouths have others speak for them? I don't recall you even taking the balance test," Chen Si said coldly.
He had no fondness for useless parasites relying on connections. His grip tightened unconsciously, and Polino's face twisted.
Armin was stunned. He hadn't expected the usually calm and easygoing Chen Si to suddenly flare up. He and Marco quickly pulled Chen Si back to their table.
"Ugh. Your spit got on my hand. Disgusting," Chen Si said, wiping his hand on Polino's clothes before leaving.
Mikasa thoughtfully handed him a handkerchief.
"Bastard! Do you know who I am?!" Polino roared, rubbing the bright red handprint on his face.
The surrounding trainees looked at him with disgust. He often relied on his status as a count's son to speak arrogantly. Watching Chen Si handle him, they inwardly applauded.
"Haha, Chen Si, nice one! Damn nepotism! Tomorrow we'll compete fairly. If you lose, get out of the barracks!" Eren shouted righteously.
Mikasa was just about to knock Polino down—
Bang!
The door burst open.
"What are you all making such a racket for? This is a military camp!" Keith Shadis glared at everyone, his eyes finally locking onto the only one standing—Polino.
Silence.
"Polino! Skipped the balance test, caused a disturbance—run two hundred laps immediately. If you fail tomorrow, you're out!"
Shadis threw down the order and left. As a former soldier, he despised privileged brats like Polino even more.
Polino dared not protest in front of Shadis. Though he could complain to his father later, he couldn't guarantee what Shadis would do to him in the meantime.
In his heart, he marked down the instructor, Eren, Chen Si—all of them. Especially Chen Si. He would make him pay.
Unfortunately, he would never get the chance. When he returned home, he would only discover he was an orphan. Miroslav had been killed by Sawano , and even his mother had been disposed of.
Chen Si knew none of this. A spoiled noble would surely run to his father. If he came looking for trouble—kill him.
Night. Boys' dormitory.
"You two are from Shiganshina too, like Chen Si?" Reiner asked Eren and Armin.
"Yes. The three of us—and Mikasa," Armin replied.
"Then you must know how terrifying Titans are. Why join the Training Corps?" Bertholdt asked.
"I didn't face them directly like Eren did. But when I think about how the government forced residents into the mission to retake Wall Maria… I can't just sit by," Armin said sadly.
"I see," Bertholdt replied.
"Where are you two from?" Armin asked.
"Outside the Walls…" a lazy voice drifted down from the top bunk. Chen Si preferred sleeping on the top—if the bed collapsed, at least he wouldn't be crushed.
Reiner stiffened, looking up sharply.
Bertholdt felt the hairs on his neck stand on end.
"It must be beautiful," Chen Si said with a bright, harmless smile toward Reiner.
The sudden remark left everyone momentarily speechless.
Armin thought of the forbidden book's descriptions.
Eren thought of freedom beyond the Walls.
Reiner felt as though Chen Si was hinting at something—but dismissed it as paranoia.
"We're from a mountain village southeast of Wall Maria," Bertholdt lowered his head and shifted the topic.
They all stepped outside. Chen Si followed—the dorm was too noisy.
They walked to a cliffside.
Chen Si and Eren stood together. Reiner and Bertholdt stood opposite. Armin stood slightly behind them.
Night stretched endlessly. Moonlight shimmered across the lake. Trees surrounded them. A few late birds fluttered through the still air.
The beauty softened the violence in their hearts.
Each had their own thoughts.
Eren had nearly accepted that Grisha might never return. The basement held the truth.
Armin stared at the lake, thinking of the vast ocean his parents once described—the book they compiled that cost them their lives.
"I will return to my hometown," Reiner murmured.
Chen Si felt a pang of nostalgia for his own family—from another world. His mother loved him. His father was often absent, but aside from their strained relationship, their family had been warm.
"Maybe… we can go back…" Chen Si muttered, unsure whether he was replying to Reiner or himself.
"We definitely will," Eren said firmly.
They looked at each other and nodded.
Under the moonlight, five youths stood together—each carrying secrets, dreams, and inevitable futures.