"Hey! Eren, how big is that guy anyway?"
"Probably just big enough for his head to peek over the wall."
"Huh? Didn't they say he could step over the wall in one stride?"
"That's what I heard too."
"That's what they say in the village too."
"No, he's not that big."
Inside the dining hall, everyone had gathered around Eren, eager to hear about the Colossal Titan. Most people here had never seen a titan before, and by now, curiosity was stronger than fear.
Eren spoke calmly, but deep inside, he still felt a simmering anger. Every time he recalled that moment, the image of his mother's tragic death would resurface, filling him with unbearable pain.
While everyone was chattering away, Jean watched from the side with a disdainful expression.
Sure enough, he could not hold back and said to Eren, "You said you want to join the Survey Corps?" His tone carried more mockery than curiosity. Eren caught it instantly and glared back at him, his voice cold and sharp.
"Yeah, I remember you saying you wanted to join the Military Police and live a comfortable life, right?"
Words clashed like swords. In the corner, Rayan, still chewing on his bread, stood up and headed for the door. He had no interest in listening to their argument.
Outside, the sky had already darkened. Rayan had only taken a few steps away from the building when a shadow suddenly lunged at him.
Instinctively, he reached out to shove it away, but in the next instant, something clicked in his mind. His expression shifted, and he quickly pulled his hand back.
Thump.
The dark figure collided with him and fell to the ground. Rayan was perfectly fine, but the attacker had achieved her goal — greedily tearing into the bread she had snatched from him.
"Hey, I say..."
Rayan crouched down, staring helplessly at the ravenous Sasha, the infamous Potato Girl.
"I already ate half of that bread."
"Mmph mph mph!"
Sasha ignored him completely, devouring the bread with frightening speed. Within seconds, she had swallowed every last crumb. Then, she looked up at Rayan, her eyes wide and pleading.
"More?"
"..."
"Um..."
A soft voice floated over from the side. Rayan turned his head, but before he could react, Sasha was already a blur of motion, lunging at the newcomer and snatching away the bread in her hand with one feral bite.
"Kya!"
The long-haired girl yelped and stumbled back. Seeing this, Rayan quickly stepped forward and helped her to her feet.
"Thank you," the girl said timidly. Her eyes were clear and gentle, like still lakes, carrying a shy glimmer. Her figure was slender, delicate even, like a lotus stem that could snap under the slightest pressure. Yet beneath that fragility was a hidden resilience.
No one could have imagined that this seemingly frail girl would one day ascend to the throne and bear the fate of an entire nation on her shoulders.
"It is okay," Rayan said, offering a small smile.
"I am Krista Lenz," the girl introduced herself, hesitating for a moment before peeking up at him. "You are... Rayan Kafka, right?"
"Yeah."
Rayan nodded. It made sense that Krista was often called the most beloved goddess among the 104th Trainees. It was not just because she was beautiful, but because she genuinely cared for others. Even now, she remembered the names of classmates she had barely spoken to.
"Hey, what are you guys doing, having a secret meeting so late at night?"
A playful voice cut through the moment. Krista's face flushed instantly. She turned and glared at the newcomer.
"Ymir! What are you saying?"
"Hehe."
The tall, dark-skinned Ymir sauntered over, glancing first at the stuffed and exhausted Sasha, then at the water bottle still clutched in Krista's hand. It was not hard to guess what had just happened.
She turned to Rayan, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Sorry, Krista. You would not date a shorty, right?"
"..."
Rayan's eye twitched slightly. Krista gasped, looking flustered.
"Ymir!"
"Hahaha, okay, okay, I am just kidding," Ymir laughed, raising her hands in mock surrender. She looked at Rayan again and added, "You are not mad, are you? As a man, being narrow-minded is not a good look. Besides, you are pretty cute, you know."
"Then I should thank you."
"No need."
Still chuckling, Ymir bent down and hoisted the unconscious Sasha over her shoulder.
"Come on, Krista. If the instructor catches us out here at night with him, he might get the wrong idea."
"Ymir!"
Krista quickly grabbed her, trying to stop her from saying any more. She turned back to Rayan, gave a flustered apology, and hurriedly dragged Ymir away toward the girls' dormitory.
"Ymir..." Rayan watched them go. "As expected of the Jaw Titan. Even without transforming, she still bites with her words."
Shaking his head, he made his way back to the boys' dormitory.
Lying in bed, Rayan stared up at the ceiling. The stories of the titans swirled in his mind. It had been a long time since he had watched the original tale, and many details had grown fuzzy. Still, he remembered the major events. As long as he stayed careful and avoided key danger points, he could survive for a while longer.
But... was surviving for a while all he should aim for?
Rayan turned over, opened his eyes, and stared at the wall in front of him. Slowly, he lifted a finger and pointed at an invisible spot.
Survival came first. That was instinct. There was nothing wrong with that. True, some people would sacrifice themselves for others, but only when it felt worth it, when it would not leave regret.
Right now, there was no one and nothing Rayan would willingly die for.
If something like that ever appeared, maybe then he would change his beliefs.
But for now, he would live for himself.
And the unavoidable threats were already looming.
His finger moved on the wall, as if writing invisible names.
Reiner. Bertholdt. Annie.
Three warriors from Marley. Three dangers hidden within the ranks. Right now, they were the greatest threat to Rayan's life.
"How to deal with them..."
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Try Other Fics I Have
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•Anime: I Want Harem
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•Genshin Impact: I have Broken System