ANGELIC – CHAPTER TWO
The rain poured down heavily on the Cadets, the trees above didn't seem to provide much, if any shelter for them. It had been two years since the 104th Cadet Corps had begun training yet the exercises never became any easier.
Over the course of the two years Isabel had made some friends who she could rely on which was a completely new thing for her as everyone she had ever known were people her father affiliated with.
Her closest friend had become Annie Leonhart which was rather surprising as she was one of the quieter girls. The friendship was slow but quickly bloomed, so much so that the girls had become rather tightly knit. Annie would braid Isabel's hair as she had never quite got the hang of doing it herself and in return Isabel would be good company.
She had also become close with Sasha Braus and Connie Springer as the pair never failed to make her laugh, she occasionally sat with the pair on their table with Marco and Jean when Annie wanted to be left alone. Isabel enjoyed their company, however, something about Jean didn't sit right with her, maybe it was the fact he was always trying to one-up the other Cadets, or maybe it was how he was always looking down on her for wanting to 'throw her life away'. Either way, she did not like Jean, not one bit.
"Isabel," Annie spoke again, her voice slightly louder as she stared at her friend. "Come on, we're falling behind." Isabel shook her head and turned around quickly to see that Jean and Marco weren't far behind the pair.
"Surprised you're not further ahead!" Isabel yelled loudly as she met Jean's eyes. "I thought horses were supposed to be fast."
His face grew bright red in anger, his pace quickening. "For your information, twinkle toes, I'd be further ahead if you weren't being so slow!"
"Come on, Annie." She said smugly, her lips formed into a smirk. "Let's see if we can outrun the horse." Isabel hiked the bag higher up on her bag and gave the blonde beside her a quick nod before they began to speed up, though the rain and the weight on their backs didn't allow them to reach their full potential.
After about five minutes of running in the hard rain and dodging the logs that lay on the path, they began to slow down, Marco and Jean being further behind. Annie sighed and faced Isabel. "We can slow down now, they're way behind."
"Yeah, your right." Isabel said as she began to pant heavily.
Annie looked up at the slightly taller girl, and shook her head, she tried to yank her rucksack off her back but instead of taking her backpack the pair slipped in the mud and fell to the ground, Isabel on top of Annie.
"Hi." Isabel grinned, her hands either side of Annie's face to stop her from crushing the blonde beneath her. Annie's eyes widened, steel meeting jade, her cheeks turned bright pink. "And that'll teach you to try to take my backpack won't it?"
"Would you look at that," A voice said loudly from behind the pair. "That's my dream pairing right there."
Isabel managed to push herself up, she wiped the mud off on her raincoat and leant her hand down for Annie, the blonde hesitantly took it and glared at the taller blond boy. "Shove off, Reiner."
–
Her heart pounded heavily against her chest as she swung through the trees, eyes wide in excitement as she looked up at the branches that flew by her like blurs. Isabel never could have gotten over the feeling of being able to fly, it was truly amazing. Her vision singled in on a large wooden titan, the nape being a texture to mimic that of titan skin.
"He's mine!" She heard a yell from her left, lips curled upwards in a smirk she shot ahead towards the fake titan at full speed.
Isabel pulled her swords behind her and began to spin before striking down on the spot, completely obliterating the neck. "That was mine, Smith!" The boy yelled over to her, shooting towards the girl.
A triumphant grin grew on her face before she jumped from the wooden titan and began shooting in another direction. She flicked her head over her shoulder, a smug grin on her face as she watched his eyebrows furrow in rage. "You're too slow, Kirstein, speed up and you'll maybe do it right!"
"That's unfair!" He yelled loudly as he shot towards her, only slightly behind her now. "You heard me yell for that kill, had you not I would've got it!"
Isabel shrugged her shoulders, "I saw it before I heard you shout, regardless, I would've stole your kill anyway." Her response only seemed to anger him more.
"Jean! There's one over here!" Marco yelled from their far left before darting through the trees.
The pair stared at one another for a few seconds before they shot over to where Marco had disappeared off to. Isabel grinned as she fired ahead, using her gas up far too quickly. "Speed up, Kirstein, otherwise I may get your kill again!"
Jean watched carefully as she darted through the trees, silver plaits flying behind her in the wind. She seemed at ease when she was in the air, she was so quick. Without realising he had slowed down, just watching as she dashed through the air with excitement.
She flicked her head over her shoulder and rolled her eyes at him. "Do you want to get this kill or not?!" Her voice echoed through the trees around them. He shook his head quickly, regaining his need to out-do her.
Jean gripped his swords at his sides tightly before he shot forward, almost instantly catching up with her. He looked down at her before he attacked his gear with the titan, he shot up into the air and sliced the nape. "And that's how it's done!" He yelled.
"Nice," Isabel answered back, "but not as good as me!"
–
"As of this moment, you have three options open to you, choose wisely. The Garrison Regiment, whose job is to protect the walls. The Scout Regiment, who ride out into titan country to take back what was once ours. And the MP Regiment, maintaining law and order inside the walls. Those Cadets who are eligible for the MPs have already been named. The rest of you take a look, these are the top of your class!"
The Cadets stood in rows, each with their arms behind their backs and legs spread slightly apart. It was the final night of being Cadets for the 104th Cadet Corps, the air full with excitement and sadness. Many people were excited to finally get to where they had always dreamed, and some, like Isabel, were sad as they were going to have to leave the people they had grown the closest with.
In the first row stood the top 10 Cadets, they were a good few feet in front of the main rows and they stood proud. In first place came Mikasa Ackerman which was really no shock to anyone, next came Reiner Braun and Bertolt Hoover. In fourth and fifth came Isabel Smith and Annie Leonhart. After that, Eren Jaeger and Jean Kirstein, the latter rather angry he came after his rivals. Finally came Marco Bodt, Connie Springer and Sasha Braus.
The silver-haired girl grinned widely as she felt pride swell in her chest. She came fourth, they're going to be so proud, she thought as could only imagine their reactions to the news. Though Isabel worked hard and deserved her spot, she couldn't help but feel that she was taking someone else's place who may have wanted to join the MPs.
The Cadets were dismissed and Isabel couldn't help herself but jump up in joy, her arms flying around Annie's neck. "I did it! I did it, Annie!"
The blonde hesitantly wrapped her arms around the slightly taller girl's back. "You made the top ten. Have you considered my offer?"
Isabel sighed heavily as the recruits headed towards the mess hall. "You know I can't do that." She said quietly, after a few seconds of silence, she threw her arm over Annie's shoulder, a grin spread across her cheeks as she stared down at Annie. "I'll come visit you though? After every expedition, I promise!"
"Will you come visit us too then?" Marco asked as he turned and looked over his shoulder, Isabel nodded her head.
"Of course, Marco." She grinned. "Like you had a choice of me visiting."
The raven-haired boy smiled down. "And we can visit you when we have days off and you're not busy, isn't that right, Jean?"
"Yeah, right." The shorter boy scoffed, shaking his head. "Couldn't pay me to visit, Smith."
Isabel let out a sarcastic laugh as she entered the building, arm still over her blonde companion's shoulder. "See, Kirstein, you say this but you'll miss me when you don't get to see me everyday."
"If you say so." He waved his wrist dismissively as himself and Marco split up from Annie and Isabel. "I'll let you visit if you don't get eaten by the titans on your first expedition!"