Chapter Two: The First Strike
Morning wasn't much different than the ones before.
The sky was as gray as Reign had come to expect, and fog crept along the ground like a shroud wrapping around tired bodies.
But something in the air hinted at a fire waiting to ignite.
The trainees stood in a circle around the sand-covered training yard, where Instructor Keith Shadis stood tall and grim, his voice splitting the stillness like thunder:
"Today… you'll learn how to bring down your opponent before they bring you down.
Hand-to-hand combat is the foundation of survival when your blades fail—or luck runs out."
Reign stood at the back, arms folded, his eyes holding nothing but a frozen calm.
"Reign. Eren… into the ring."
A low murmur rose among the cadets.
Marco approached him, voice cautious:
"Eren doesn't know when to stop. Be careful… or maybe just be merciful."
But Reign didn't reply.
He walked toward the ring steadily, as if nothing that was about to happen mattered.
---
Eren entered with energy, fists clenched, breath quickening.
"Whoever you are, I won't let you take me down easily."
Reign showed no reaction.
He said nothing, only raised his fists with quiet precision.
"Begin!"
The instructor's shout rang out.
Eren charged in, but his movements were reckless.
Within seconds, he took a blow to the chest, followed by a swift kick behind the knee, and then a punch to the jaw that slammed him to the ground.
Gasps echoed around them, but Reign didn't step back.
When Eren stood again, Reign dropped him once more with a harsher strike.
"Enough!" someone cried out—but Eren refused to yield.
"I won't give up… I won't let anyone drop me twice!"
He lunged again—but Reign caught him by the shoulder and hurled him out of the ring.
Silence.
Then Instructor Shadis bellowed, voice heavy with anger:
"Reign! This is a training session, not a battlefield!"
But Reign didn't respond.
He showed no regret.
---
From the other side of the circle, a girl stepped forward—her eyes as cold as steel.
Mikasa.
"You fought Eren like he was your enemy. Think you're strong?
Then fight me."
There was a smoldering anger in her voice, just beneath the surface.
Reign looked back at her. His eyes didn't reflect fear or challenge—only emptiness.
But before Mikasa could move, another girl stepped between them.
Small, blonde, with shy eyes—but she stood firm.
Historia.
She spoke gently:
"Please… this kind of fight serves no purpose. We're not enemies."
Silence fell again, and all eyes turned to Reign.
A moment…
Then a familiar prompt appeared before him:
---
> [Destiny System: Moment of Choice]
> [Current Situation: High Tension – Unexpected Intervention]
> [Available Options:]
1. Ignore Historia and provoke Mikasa with harsh words.
(Maintain ruthless persona – reinforce "cold-blooded killer")
2. Thank Historia coldly, without remorse.
(Sign of limited human interaction)
3. Stare silently at Historia, then walk away without a word.
(Reject emotion – return to isolation)
4. Admit her intervention stopped something you weren't sure you wanted.
(Clear breach in emotional walls – high risk of change)
---
Reign remained silent.
Everyone waited for his decision.
His eyes shifted between Historia and Mikasa.
One moment… was enough to change everything.
---
> [Choice Selected: Thank Historia coldly]
He spoke in a low voice—barely audible, but clear:
"Thank you."
Then he turned calmly and walked back to his place in line.
---
Faces around him were struck with surprise.
Even Mikasa, usually unreadable, didn't hide her shock.
Marco whispered:
"Did… did he just say thank you?"
---
That night, Reign sat on his bed.
The sound of his fellow cadets breathing filled the quiet, and cold wind slipped in through the gaps in the barracks window.
He stared at his hand for a moment.
Then looked at the ceiling.
"Thank you…?"
It was as if the word still echoed in his mind.
---
> [System Update]
Second emotional interaction recorded
Character status: Consistently cold – slight deviation
"Risk of change": 12%
> Next mission in 48 hours.
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End of Chapter Two
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