"Lock, do you want it?"
I turned, startled, to find Hannes standing behind me. At some point, he'd slipped into the warehouse without me noticing, wearing the same easy smile I remembered from long ago.
"You little brat," he chuckled. "Don't you recognize me?"
I must have looked puzzled, because he laughed outright. "I held you in my arms when you were a baby."
"Hannes… Uncle."
The name stirred old memories. In my previous life, my father and this man had been friends — comrades who'd trained together in the same cadet corps. After graduation, Hannes joined the Garrison, while my father took the harder road into the Survey Corps. His resolve had caught the eye of Captain Keith, and his future had seemed bright… until the day it ended on an expedition.
"I thought you'd forgotten me," Hannes said with a satisfied grin, then nodded toward the knife in my hand. "So? Do you want it?"
"I do," I answered without hesitation.
"Civilians aren't allowed to own this kind of weapon," he said, smirking at my calm reaction. Then, after a pause, "The conscription meeting's coming up soon. Shiganshina only gets three slots. Interested?"
"Predetermined?" I asked carefully.
"If possible, I wouldn't mind."
"Not exactly," he said. "I can recommend you for the reserve list. Whether you make it in will be up to you. Out of those three spots, at least one has nothing to do with family or connections. If you're skilled enough, it's yours."
I understood the meaning between the lines and nodded.
Hannes patted my shoulder. "Join the Garrison after graduation. I'll make sure you're safe."
"I want the Survey Corps," I said quietly.
He started to nod — then froze. "The… Survey Corps? Did you just say the Survey Corps?"
"Is there a problem?"
To most people here, those words meant one thing: death.
"Of course there's a problem!" His voice rose, earning a few curious glances from the others. Harry, across the room, glanced over before going back to work. Lowering his voice, Hannes leaned closer. "Do you even know what you're saying?"
"I know exactly what it means," I said. "And I have my reasons. Even if it kills me, I'll join."
For a moment, he looked at me the way I imagined he once looked at my father — trying to find the words to change a mind already set in stone. In the end, all he could do was sigh.
"You are his son. I still think it's a terrible choice… but you'll be fourteen next year. Old enough to decide for yourself."
There was a faint loneliness in his tone, but I didn't dwell on it. "Thank you, Uncle Hannes."
He gave a short nod and went back toward the door.
I turned back to my work. The inspection of the gear wasn't glamorous, but it was vital. In a world where humans were prey, strength meant survival — and if I could one day rip a Titan apart with my bare hands, I wouldn't have to fear them at all. I was still far from that goal.
Shiganshina sat at the southern tip of Wall Maria, the Survey Corps' gateway to the outside world and a critical resupply hub. The warehouse held not only Garrison gear but also Survey Corps equipment, all of which needed to be checked and polished. The sheer volume made my pulse quicken.
This might be my chance to finish my mission.
I'd only just started when Harry drifted over, hesitating before speaking. "So… I hear you're planning to join the conscription next year?"