Chapter 11 - Training Begins

" We now begin the enlistment ceremony for the 104th trainee corps! I am Keith Shadis and I had the misfortune to be assigned to train you bastards. And I'm not here to welcome you at all! Right now, you are a mere cattle, fit for nothing but titan food! No! Less than cattle! In three years we'll take you worthless pieces of crap and train you! Give you the means to fight the titans! In three years, when you stand before a titan, will you still be food?! Or! Will you be a noble wall, shielding the king?! Or perhaps! One of humanity's glorious soldiers that slay the titans? YOU will decide!" (Keith)

As Keith finishes addressing the recruits he started to go around the standing recruits inspecting them row by row, calling them out and further degrading them. After finishing one row he would ask them to face the back of the row. He went on and came upon Armin.

"Hey, Kid! " (Keith)

" Sir! " replied Armin while doing a military salute, right hand fist on the heart while the left hand folded at the back.

" Who the hell are you! " (Keith)

" I'm Armin Arlert from Shiganshina, Sir! " replied Armin with a shout.

" That so? A name fit for a retard! Who the hell named you that!? " (Keith)

" It was my grandfather, Sir! " (Armin)

" Arlert, why are you here?" (Keith)

" To contribute to humanity's victory, Sir! " (Armin)

" How very admirable. You would make a first rate titan food! Third Squat about face! " (Keith)

He went on to degrade some more recruits including Mina, Thomas, Jean who was head butted, Marco, and then Connie who saluted the wrong way. He was held up by his head by Keith with his eyes becoming slanted looking like an alien.

" Listen up Connie Springer...this was one of the things you were first taught! That salute means you're offering your heart to the king! Is your heart on your right side shithead!? " (Keith) while he was scolding Connie, from the corner of his eyes he saw Sasha eating a potato with a straight face. He turned his head to look at her with an incredulous impression that says ' What the f.u.c.k am I seeing right now?!'. He was so surprised that it took a while for him to call out to her.

In the mean time Asriel was trying to hold his laugh but was failing miserably. His cheeks were puffed out, his face was contorted and red and he has some tears in his eyes. He wanted to use his hand to cover his smile but couldn't as that would break military discipline. Mikasa who was beside him looked at him with a worried face. They were facing the back side of their row so Asriel could see clearly what is going on. Asriel as well as Eren, Mikasa and others were skipped of being inspected by Keith as he deemed them already underwent the passage of rite since they have walked through hell itself two years ago. Armin was an exception since Keith thought he looked weak and came from the inner walls.

" Hey.....you. What the hell are you doing?!" Keith asked with a low but audible voice, his face looking scary with his eyes wide open. Sasha thought he asked someone else behind her as she looked around and started to eat the potato again. Keith who saw this was extremely angered with veins popping out of his forehead.

" YOU! I'M TALKING TO YOU! WHO THE F.U.C.K ARE YOU! " Keith shouted with anger. Sasha swallowed the potato that she was munching on and with her right hand still clutching the potato she gave him a salute with a fierce and straight face. She would've been intimidating and would look like a model soldier with that look if not for the potato in her hand.

" I'm Sasha Blouse from Dauper, in Wall Rose's Southern District, Sir!" replied Sasha with a strong voice.

" Sasha Blouse.....what's that you're holding in your right hand? " asked Keith with a eerily calm voice.

" A steamed potato, Sir! I came across it in the kitchen, so I picked it up! Sir!" replied Sasha with a righteous tone as if her not picking up the potato would be a blasphemy to this world.

" You mean...you stole it? Why? Why are you eating a potato right now? " asked Keith with one more vein popping up on his forehead and a confused look. His voice is still eerily calm though.

" I wanted to eat it while it was still warm, so I figured it was now or never Sir! " replied Sasha. It was as if she made a life or death decision and was proud of the result. Not thinking one bit that what she was doing is wrong.

" No.....I don't get it. Why are you eating a potato? " asked Keith with a more confused look on his face. His face right now would make a good 'But Why' meme. Sasha scrunched up her eyebrows, looking at Keith as if he was stupid, thinking why he was asking these questions. She replied " Are you asking why people eat potatoes in general, Sir? " (Sasha)

When everyone heard what she said, they were surprised, shocked, awed, all their face had an impression of ' What the hell are you saying! '.

"..." (Keith) he was trying hard not to punch the shit out of Sasha. He was like a volcano that was about to erupt. At that time Sasha looked like she had some kind of enlightenment, with great reluctance she broke off a small piece of the potato and offered it to Keith.

" Take a half for yourself Sir." Sasha said with reluctance.

" Half.....?" Keith had a look of dumbfoundedness and unconsciously took the half of the potato. After she heard him said that she forced an ugly smile.

[Oh my god. This.....this is just too funny!!] thought Asriel, still trying to hold in his laughter but now he was also clenching his teeth and pinching his own hand. Seeing him like that Mikasa increasingly became worried. She started blaming Keith in her mind for not finishing this quickly as she thought Asriel was getting a heat stroke or a stomach ache. She glared at Keith with some killing intent.

Keith shivered a bit, lost all his anger somehow and just looked at Sasha with a dumbfounded look. He didn't know why but he felt like he was being preyed on for a few moments just now. Only after a while that he could recollect himself.

" Sasha Blouse.....why are you here? " (Keith)

" To reclaim lost land so that there would be more game to hunt, Sir! " (Sasha)

" .....I see.....Sasha Blouse you are to run around this training field until you drop! You are to not stop under any circ.u.mstances! Understood!? " (Keith)

" Yes Sir! " Sasha replied with a stiff salute.

" Give me that potato.....also you are not getting any food tonight! Now start running! " Keith took her potato and walked away, continuing with the other recruits. Sasha on the other hand, looks like her whole world was turned upside down. Her face was full of despair like someone just killed her whole family.

" Sasha Blouse! What are you still doing here!? I told you to start running didn't I, so start running! " shouted Keith who was a few distance away.

" Yes....Sir." replied Sasha with a teary voice as she started to run around the training field. Keith was finally finish with the recruits and dismissed them stating that there won't be anymore training for today and that its free time for them. He also told them that starting tomorrow there would be no more free time except for breakfast, lunch and dinner. He got one of the seniors to show the recruits where they would be staying and where the dining hall was. The recruits got themselves comfortable, changed into the civilian clothes and took a rest. They were all mentally exhausted because of Keith breathing down their necks.