With the melting of snow, Paradise Island welcomes the colorful spring.
The foggy sky clears, and the warm sunlight shines.
With a gentle flap of its wing, a swallow flies high in the sky, regaining its freedom; it returns to its home.
"Squeal," "Squeal"
A squirrel emerges from its burrow and, full of energy, moves with rapid motion, likely expressing its joy by dancing.
Everyone, regaining their mobility, flocks outside.
Inside the Karanese district of Wall Rose, the business blooms. Traders and vendors shout with full enthusiasm towards the flock of people.
"Madam, look at this pair of sandals; they will surely look good on you." A stall owner points at a delicate pair of sandals with his calloused hand.
Opposite him, a plump middle-aged woman stood, looking doubtful at the delicate pair of sandals.
Although they really looked nice, she is also aware of her own size, but despite that, the woman doesn't show anything on her face, and while feigning an interesting expression, she briskly asks, "Hmm, the sandals look nice, but their quality doesn't look fine."
"Haha, madam, what are you saying? Look at these hands." The stall owner flashed his deeply calloused hand before the woman, and with a self-assured smile on his face, he replied in a confident voice, "I have been making sandals since I was 10 years old, and I can take a guarantee for anything that these hands build."
"Oho," looking at the deeply calloused hand of the stall owner, the plump woman looks amazed, her gaze lingering back on the sandal.
Looking at their fine craftsmanship, the plump woman only hesitated for a brief moment and then said to the stall owner, "Fine, so what is the price for this pair of sandals?"
Hearing this, a 'kind' smile appears on the vendor's face, who emphasizingly said, "Well, for this particular pair of sandals, I have selected the finest material, and usually I sell them for 30 copper coins, but considering the start of spring and you as my first customer—I will give you a discount and sell them for just 28 copper coins." The stall owner flashes a smile.
"15 copper coins."
"What!? 15?" The stall owner's mouth hangs open as he incredulously looks at the plump woman.
"Yes, 15 copper coins; these are all they amount to." The plump woman replies in a matter-of-fact tone.
"How can you say so, ma'am? Even the raw material costs more than that." The stall owner cries out.
"I don't know about that. Here—" the plump woman brings out a pouch from her bosom, clinking with the metallic sound of coins.
"No, no, ma'am, anything less than 25, I will not accept that." The stall owner repeatedly cross-flashed his hand, completely rejecting the offer of the woman.
"Hmph," with a snort, the plump woman concealing the money pouch turns sideways.
"Clink," "clink."
After a few seconds, the woman puts back the money pouch.
Meanwhile, the stall owner was trying to get a look at what she was doing.
Suddenly, as the woman turns sideways, the stall owner starts looking here and there, trying to act nonchalant.
"Here are 18 copper coins; pack the sandals." The plump woman puts the money on the counter and then starts looking at another pair of the sandals, completely ignoring the stall owner, like there is no need for further discussion.
The stall owner looks incredulous, and then he decides to go for another round of bartering.
Suddenly—
"Clip-clop" "clip-clop."
The sound of horse hooves striking the ground reverberated throughout the market, drawing the attention of the stall owner and the plump woman.
Looking at the east side of the market, there, the crowd suddenly starts parting ways, making way for a military squad who rides on the horses.
"They are?" The plump woman confusedly looks at the cavalry.
An intense murmuring starts as the group on the horse passes by the crowds.
Looking at the tense and disciplined faces and the green cloak covering their back with a wing signia on it.
Realization dawned on the stall owner's face, exclaiming, he replied to the plump woman, "They are the Survey Corps."
"Survey corps! What are they doing here?" The plump woman wondered.
"The weather has cleared." The stall owner said while looking up at the blue sky, "They must be going out for the expedition."
The Survey Corps, one of the three military forces of the paradise island, consists of around 300 soldiers.
With the main motive of exploring the land beyond the walls, they have a very high casualty rate due to having regular conflicts with the titans.
Currently, with 60 members in this squad, they march toward the gate of the Karanese district, leading into the territory of Wall Maria.
After the fall of the Shiganshina district, the entirety of Wall Maria got compromised. Since then, the importance and power of the Survey Corps have increased severalfold.
As the survey corps moves through the crowded market, sudden silence falls over the place; some people look up at them in admiration, while others darkly murmur among themselves.
When they pass by the plump woman, the stall owner sighs with emotion in his eyes.
"Sigh, if only I wasn't forced to inherit this work, then instead of being a shoemaker today, I would have been accompanying them riding a horse."
"Oh, then what forced you to stop joining these suicide manics?" Suddenly hearing this from the stall owner, the plump woman asked him in a sarcastic tone.
"My father got suddenly ill." The tall owner said ruefully, "That's why I have to start making shoes and sandals so my family can continue our living."
The plump woman gives the stall owner a sidelong look, who looks melancholy at the back of the survey corps as they reach the gate leading towards the Wall Maria territory.
"Do you regret that you didn't join them?" The plump woman suddenly asks him.
"Regret? Yeah, I do regret it; it was my dream to explore the vast world outside of these walls." The stall owner replied with emotions flashing in his eyes.
"Hmph, fool, you should thank your father that you are able to dream today." The plump woman said to the stall owner as she gazed at the back of the survey corps, who, upon the opening of the gate, started rushing out.
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I hope the 'conversation' between the stall owner and the plump woman feels 'real' enough; it was my first attempt to seriously write a back-to-back dialogue exchange between characters.
From my own perspective, it came out better than I expected. Before starting to write this chapter, I didn't feel I would be able to write a conversation of this kind.
Although I got interrupted many times while writing, due to the festive atmosphere today, which broke my 'flow,' and in the end I didn't get the desired ending, but that is what it is.
I am still satisfied with how the whole chapter came out. The initial plan to start this chapter was to showcase Erwin sitting in his office or the Survey Corps getting ready for another expedition into Wall Maria.
But the plan changed when I sat down, picking up my pen. The moment I started writing and got in the flow, I totally wrote something else, completely irrelevant, but something that gives me the confidence.
To actually write a dialogue from an already established character, which has its own personality and quirks, is difficult.
So, today after writing this chapter, my confidence increases, and I hope when I write the conversation between the canon characters, they will not feel out of context.
Please point out the error, and the places where i can improve myself.
Thank you