Rain fell in steady sheets over the dense forest.
Not a gentle drizzle—but cold, heavy rain that soaked through cloaks, weighed down boots, and turned the narrow dirt paths into slick mud. The trees stretched tall and thick, their trunks dark with moisture, branches dripping water into puddles below. The air smelled of wet earth, pine, and sweat. Mist clung to the undergrowth, curling in low clouds around the cadets' feet as they ran.
The cadets ran in a long, struggling line, breath ragged, gear clanking with every step. Packs strapped tightly against their backs made movement cumbersome; the rain cloaks flapped wildly like ragged banners in the wind. Small branches and roots threatened to trip them with every step.
Keith Shadis rode alongside them on horseback, boots splashing through mud, cloak plastered to his sides. His eyes were sharp, scanning the line like a hawk. His voice cut through the rain without effort.
"FASTER! If this pace exhausts you, you'll die before you ever see a Titan!"
Some cadets groaned. Others clenched their teeth and pushed harder, splashing through puddles and slipping on the mud.
Armin Arlert was already falling behind.
His legs trembled. Breath came in shallow gasps as the weight of his pack dragged him down. Mud splashed up his calves with every step, soaking his boots. He stumbled, barely catching himself on a tree root. Not yet. Not today.
Alex ran several paces ahead, posture relaxed despite the conditions. Cloak plastered to his frame, boots sliding slightly in the mud, but his breathing was steady. Too steady.
If someone looked closely—really closely—they might notice something strange.
The rain didn't touch him.
Droplets curved subtly around his body, never quite making contact. His uniform stayed dry beneath the cloak—not by luck, but instinct. A thin, unconscious layer of space bending just enough to redirect the rain around him.
Alex didn't even think about it at first.
…Oh.
He glanced down briefly, then sighed internally.
Right. That. Better dial it back.
He loosened his focus slightly. A few drops splashed against his sleeve. Good enough. No need to stand out.
Running with weighted gear in the rain, he thought lazily: This is supposed to break people? Huh. Guess I've done worse warm-ups.
Behind him, footsteps grew uneven.
Reiner Braun noticed immediately. He slowed, eyes flicking to Armin. In two long strides, he reached the struggling boy and, without asking, grabbed the strap of Armin's pack, hoisting part of the weight onto his own shoulder.
"I'll carry it," Reiner said firmly. "You'll collapse at this rate."
Armin shook his head, panic flashing in his eyes.
"N-no! I can't—if I rely on you—"
"You'll fall behind," Reiner interrupted calmly. "And I won't let that happen."
For a moment, Armin allowed it.
Then his jaw tightened. No.
He grabbed the strap, yanked the weight back onto himself, nearly stumbling from the sudden strain.
I won't be a burden.
His vision blurred—rain and sweat mixing—as he forced his legs to move faster.
Even if it kills me… I won't be left behind.
He surged forward—passing one cadet, then another.
Reiner watched him go, eyes narrowed, something unreadable flickering behind them.
Alex glanced back, catching the moment.
…Yeah. That kid's dangerous in a quiet way.
He tilted his head slightly, letting a small, faint smirk tug at his lips. Quiet strength… predictable rookies, except him. Huh. Could be fun.
The rain had stopped, leaving the training field damp but clear. Wooden frames stood ready, mechanical dummies lined up with their napes wrapped in thick cloth padding.
Shadis paced slowly along the line, evaluating silently.
Reiner Braun went first, swinging with strong, deliberate force.
Reiner Braun, strong, reliable. Good endurance, excellent control.
Armin Arlert moved cautiously next, cutting the cloth precisely.
Armin Arlert, physically weak, but his judgment and awareness are impressive. He compensates for strength with technique.
Annie Leonhart struck with minimal movement, blades clean and fast.
Annie Leonhart, efficient, precise… lacks teamwork, but execution is perfect.
Bertholdt Hoover hesitated but struck accurately.
Bertholdt Hoover, hesitant… but learning. Good timing once he commits.
Jean Kirschtein went after Annie. His swing was aggressive but uneven.
Jean Kirschtein, strong, quick reflexes, but poor discipline. Needs focus to utilize potential.
Jean muttered under his breath, muttering about ranking in top ten. Top ten… military police material… can't mess around. Gotta get faster, smarter.
"There I found one". Jean was about to go and hit the dummy until_
"Thanks Jean, I know it was right to follow you"
Connie Springer grinned and successfully swung wild and fast before Jean but unsuccessful.
Whoa Sasha!?
Connie Springer, fast and energetic. Reckless, but low mental agility.
Sasha Braus launched and swing her blade before anyone could hit the dummy, cutting the cloth perfectly, and almost lost balance midair after it, then corrected herself,
Sasha Braus, reflexes sharp, sometimes mind wanders, but she adapts quickly.
Sasha laughed as she balanced herself. Almost fell… nailed it anyway.
Mikasa Ackerman moved next. Her swing was precise, clean, flawless.
Mikasa Ackerman, exceptional, no observable weaknesses. Pure execution.
Eren Jaeger gripped the handles with determination. He swung his blades hard, cutting the padded nape cleanly—but when he landed and looked back at the dummy, he noticed his cut was smaller than Mikasa's.
"Damn… hers is cleaner, longer…" he muttered, frustration lining his voice. I'm strong… but I still fall short. Gotta push harder. I won't be left behind.
Shadis observed silently.
Eren Jaeger… no standout talents. But willpower and determination? Faster than anyone here. That counts.
Eren clenched his fists, teeth set. I… I don't have a natural talent… but I won't stop. I'll work harder than anyone.
Finally, Alex stepped forward. His movements were calm, deliberate, precise. Blades struck the padded nape perfectly and swiftly.
Shadis observed silently. Unusual… fluid, precise. Not a typical cadet. Eyes alert, movements almost instinctual. He reads patterns without thinking.
Alex landed lightly, scanning the cadets, subtly noting patterns. His thoughts drifted in Gojo fashion: Body's light, reflexes decent… perception solid. Not full strength yet, but enough to see everything. Daily training. Gotta keep this body in shape. This playground's perfect.
Alex exhaled slowly, letting the subtle hum of power fade. Around him, the cadets continued talking, laughing, reacting naturally: Connie smiling, Sasha giggling, Jean muttering, Eren determined.
Different world, same effort. Guess I'll play along… for now, Alex thought, smirking faintly as he stepped back.
The open field echoed with clashing wood and shouting. Eren and Reiner had just finished sparring—Eren victorious, Reiner flat on the dirt—and the cadets were settling into their own practice rounds.
Jean Kirschtein yawned exaggeratedly, swinging his wooden sword with half-hearted effort. "Ugh… this is so boring," he muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes. Top ten… military police material… why am I even wasting energy here?
Nearby, Connie Springer and Sasha Braus were having entirely too much fun. Connie crouched low, wooden sword held like a ridiculous kung-fu pose, one leg lifted dramatically. "Hi-yah!" he shouted, almost toppling over but recovering with a laugh.
Sasha mirrored him, spinning in circles before lunging, arms flailing, grinning like she was performing for a crowd. "Take this!" she squealed, nearly falling backward, then catching herself at the last second.
Alex leaned back, wooden sword dangling lazily, one eyebrow raised. Ah, the comedy relief squad. Perfect. Someone's gotta keep morale high, or we'll all be asleep before lunch. He stifled a chuckle, tilting his head.
Eren's eyes narrowed. He wasn't focused on Connie or Sasha, though—they were harmlessly goofy. Jean, on the other hand, was yawning mid-swing, clearly treating the sparring as a nap opportunity.
Eren muttered under his breath, frustrated: Some people really don't care…
Just then, Keith Shadis strode forward, eyes sharp. His patience was thinning. Without hesitation, he leaned down slightly and head-butted Connie squarely on the forehead, sending the boy stumbling backward with a surprised yelp.
"WAH!" Connie squeaked, wobbling on his feet.
Sasha jumped back, half-laughing, half-gasping. "What the—?!"
Shadis didn't say another word, just gave a sharp glare before returning to observing the cadets. The sound of the headbutt echoed across the field, silencing the ridiculous antics instantly.
Alex smirked quietly to himself, leaning on his sword. Ah, discipline. Painful but effective. And hilarious. Poor kid didn't even see it coming. Classic.
Eren exhaled through his nose, slightly amused despite himself, and focused back on the training. Finally… some sense around here.
Eren shook his head slightly, focusing on something more serious. The open field stretched wide, grass flattened from all the movement, dirt kicked up by boots. The sun had finally pierced through clouds, drying the worst of the mud. The wooden swords felt light in his hands after all the heavy gear and rain-soaked packs earlier.
Reiner stood across from him, ready. Eren flexed his fingers around the hilt.
"You ready?" Reiner asked, smirking slightly.
"Always," Eren muttered. Then, with a quick lunge, he moved.
The spar was fast, precise. Eren ducked a swing, stepped around, and in a few sharp movements, Reiner went down on the dirt.
Eren landed lightly, breathing evenly, adrenaline still high. "Why do we even need this?" he asked, eyes narrowing. "Shouldn't we be practicing on killing Titans instead of each other?"
Reiner chuckled, brushing dust off his coat. "You think you'll survive the real fight without knowing how to deal with humans? This is part of being a soldier. Believe it or not, it matters."
Eren frowned, glancing at the other cadets. "Some of them aren't taking it seriously. Jean's yawning, and… some are just messing around."
Reiner's eyes scanned the field, landing briefly on Annie. "Yeah… she doesn't mess around. You could learn a thing or two if you spar with her."
Eren's eyes widened slightly. "With her?"
Reiner nodded firmly, giving a small push. "Come on. It'll be a good lesson. Stop overthinking it."
Eren swallowed and squared up as Annie stepped forward, her eyes cold and calculating. The spar began. Annie's movements were sharp, precise, overwhelming. Eren lunged, blocked, countered—but within moments, he found himself disarmed and gently pushed back by Annie's superior skill. He stumbled, breathing heavily.
Annie's expression remained neutral. "Focus. You need to anticipate, not just react. Strength alone won't save you."
Eren straightened, frustrated. I… I can't let this stop me…
Alex watched from a short distance, hands casually resting on the hilt of his own wooden sword. A faint smirk tugged at his lips. Ah, rookie energy. Reckless, determined… I like it.
When Annie stepped back slightly, Alex stepped forward, swinging his sword with a calm precision that contrasted sharply with the rookies' frantic motions. He used a subtle feint, a slight shift of weight that made Annie overcommit. Then, with a smooth tap, her sword was nudged aside.
"Gotcha," Alex said lightly, eyes glinting with amusement. "You're fast, precise… but sometimes speed without reading the rhythm is predictable. Remember, it's not just about hitting; it's about control."
Annie blinked, impressed despite herself, and stepped back, a faint smirk crossing her lips.
Eren and Reiner exchanged glances.
"Not bad," Reiner muttered.
Eren's jaw dropped slightly. That was… effortless. How does he make it look like that?
Alex laughed softly, sheathing his sword. "Training's important. Discipline, control, awareness—hit harder, yes, but hit smart. If you forget the why behind what you do, the how won't save you. Keep that in mind."
Eren exhaled, a mix of frustration and admiration in his eyes. Okay… got it. Gotta push harder.
Reiner nodded approvingly, glancing at Alex. That kid… yeah. I see why he's different. Might be trouble, might be exactly what we need.
Alex leaned back, relaxing on the field, one hand in his pocket. This is fun. I like this playground. Lots of potential… and lots of opportunities to mess with these rookies while still teaching them something. Perfect.