Chapter 15
That night, Rio Ackerman sat alone in his room, the soft glow of the oil lamp casting calm shadows across the wooden walls.
He held the official training uniform that had been set out for him days earlier, gently running his fingers over the fabric. With a light sigh, he threw himself onto the wooden bed, closed his eyes, and whispered to himself with a faint smile:
"Tomorrow… the journey begins."
His emotions were a blend of excitement and resolve. He didn't feel fear like the others. Instead, he felt that every step he would take in training would be another nail driven into the path toward his goals: revenge, change, and protection.
The hours passed, and sleep crept over him.
At dawn, Rio awoke before the sun had risen. He dressed precisely in his military uniform, tied his long black hair tightly back, glanced at his reflection in the mirror for a moment, then slipped silently out of his room.
---
The training grounds were packed. Hundreds of new recruits—more than a hundred boys and girls—stood aligned in five neat rows. Some were trembling with anxiety, sweat beading on their brows despite the cold morning air. Others seemed more composed, steadier.
Rio stood in the second row, firmly planted. He clenched his left hand and placed it over his heart like everyone else—a gesture of oath and loyalty. He looked around.
Beside him stood Mikasa Ackerman, her sharp eyes and emotionless face like carved steel.
Behind him stood Annie Leonhart, cold as ever, her gaze piercing through everyone. A row away stood Ymir, leaning confidently with a mocking smirk, as if this were a picnic, not the beginning of hell.
And then… he appeared.
Commander Keith Shadis.
A bald man with a short beard, his features looked as though carved from iron. His voice thundered across the training field like a storm:
"You scum!!! From this moment on, you are no longer children!!! You are soldiers! Your only duty: to become shields for humanity—or die trying!!!"
Shadis began walking slowly between the rows, his eyes scanning each face as if he could dig into their souls.
He suddenly stopped at the third row in front of a skinny boy with blond hair and terrified eyes: Armin Arlert.
He bellowed:
"Hey!! You there!!"
Armin flinched, snapping his hand to his chest:
"Yes, sir!!!"
Shadis stepped toward him, looking him up and down, then growled like a blade drawn from its sheath:
"Who are you?!!"
Armin stuttered:
"Armin Arlert, from Shiganshina District, sir!!"
Shadis raised his eyebrows mockingly:
"Arlert, huh?! What a stupid name! Were your parents the ones who cursed you with that ridiculous name?!!"
Armin forced himself not to break:
"It was my grandfather, sir!!"
Shadis gave a terrifying sneer, then shouted:
"Arlert!! Why are you here?!!"
Despite the tension, Armin raised his head and declared:
"To help lead humanity to victory, sir!!!"
A moment of silence passed.
Then Shadis stepped forward, placing his heavy hand on Armin's head:
"That's what I like to hear!!! If necessary, become a tasty snack for the Titans!! Got it?!!"
"Yes, sir!!!"
Shadis moved on, barking:
"Third row!! About-face!!!"
Then he approached a girl with tightly tied orange hair, her face riddled with fear:
"You!! Who are you?!!"
She raised her hand despite the trembling:
"Maya Beyoner, sir!!!"
Shadis stared at her for a moment, then said:
"You look like you'll be the first to get swallowed!! Prove me wrong!!"
And he continued down the line.
---
About ten meters away from the new recruits, two Military Police soldiers stood behind a low wooden barrier, observing the events in the wide field.
One of them, a tall man with a hardened face and narrow eyes behind a straight-framed pair of glasses, crossed his arms and muttered:
"Look at them… all lined up like lambs to the slaughter. You know, this scene takes me back…"
His partner, a man with long blond hair tied back and a loosely tied neckpiece, replied with a sarcastic smile:
"Ah, yes… same treatment. Same shouting in your face. Same pressure. Nothing ever changes. What an annoying kind of nostalgia."
The man with glasses chuckled briefly, then said in a more serious tone:
"But this isn't just about scaring them. It's ritual, my friend. The joining ritual… Commander Shadis does it deliberately—to strip them of self… until only the soldier remains."
The blond soldier scoffed:
"Stripping the self, huh? That might work for some. But I can already see a few who'll crumble before real training even begins."
He glanced back at the lines and pointed:
"But look at that girl. Why hasn't he spoken to her? Not a single word!"
His companion adjusted his glasses and replied calmly:
"Ah… that's Annie Leonhart, isn't it? Yeah… Commander Shadis has an old habit. He never speaks to recruits who show no fear. Says he can read it in their eyes."
He added:
"That girl… there's no fear on her face. No nerves. No hesitation. That's why he ignores her."
---
At that moment, Commander Shadis was pacing slowly between the rows, his boots thudding heavily on the dirt.
He stopped for a moment, staring at Annie.
His iron gaze had broken the spirit of many recruits before—but not her. She didn't blink. She didn't look down. She didn't flinch.
Just cold… steady eyes.
Shadis exhaled slowly, shook his head, and continued toward another recruit who looked like he might vomit from tension.
---
The ground still trembled beneath Shadis' heavy steps as he moved among the recruits. His eyes weighed each one as though reading their souls. His gaze cut like a sharp sword—tearing away weakness, drawing out hidden fear.
Silence dominated the field—broken only by his voice, barking, rebuking, testing each recruit's patience one by one.
But as he reached the second row—he stopped abruptly.
His eyes locked on one face.
Rio Ackerman.
Shadis stared silently for a moment. Then he took a few steps forward until he stood directly in front of him, eyes fixed intensely.
His features suddenly tensed.
A voice in his head whispered:
"That face… I know that face."
He pressed his lips slightly and said, surprised but authoritative:
"What's your name?!"
Rio raised his left hand to his heart, his voice firm and unwavering:
"Rio Ackerman, sir!"
The moment that name was spoken—Ackerman—Shadis' eyes widened slightly, and his tone shifted.
"Ackerman?!"
He smiled—a rare expression on his face.
He stepped even closer, his eyes gleaming with a mix of surprise and old memory:
"Is… Commander Vig Ackerman related to you?"
Rio met his gaze with confidence and replied:
"Yes, sir. He was my father."
A brief silence.
Then Shadis placed his hand on Rio's shoulder and gave a light squeeze, as if confirming something deep within.
He spoke with a tone that neared respect:
"So… you're Vig's son."
Then he closed his eyes briefly and added:
"Your father saved my life once… years ago, on a mission beyond the walls. I would've fallen if he hadn't grabbed me—though it nearly cost him his own life."
Opening his eyes again, he stared at Rio:
"He was a warrior beyond compare. Not just strong… he was as solid as the walls themselves."
Then, his voice grew sharper:
"Which is why I don't want to see the son of that great man crushed under a Titan's foot. Do you understand me?!"
Rio lifted his head
high, his voice strong and clear:
"Yes, sir!! I won't let you down!"
Shadis took two steps back, nodded with rare respect, and continued walking among the rows without another word.
To be continued…