XI. Welcome to the grounds

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Morning shined the streets, a week had passed since Roku's Application to join the training corps as planned by the higher-ups, Roku woke up and started to get ready to go to the office again, while he walked down the stairs he thanked the lady for taking him for a week, and he left.

Roku walked down the street which still seemed strange for him as he is not used to much noise in the streets, Roku walked till he found himself in front of the office.

Roku stood amidst the bustling activity, feeling a mix of apprehension and curiosity as the trainees assembled to depart for the training grounds.

The soldiers he recognized, the same ones who had been covertly observing him, now appeared assigned to accompany him.

Their presence was a constant reminder that he was under scrutiny, a lot of cadets were shocked by the scene; a cadet being escorted by the Garrison, some thought that he was a noble or something, but his clothes indicated otherwise.

As the carriages filled, Roku hesitated before stepping into the last one available. The soldiers flanked him, their watchful eyes never leaving him for a moment.

Roku paid them no heed, unfazed by their attempts to unnerve him. Upon arrival at the training grounds, the trainees were issued their training attire.

The two soldiers approached Roku "Hey you brat, don't think of doing anything funny, we will be monitoring every act of yours",

"Yes as Mob just told you and one thing more, if you do anything suspicious I will make sure to put a hole into your head," the other soldier told Roku while pointing his hands at him.

Roku didn't pay much attention to them, He started to get ready to join the other Cadets.

Claude Duvalier, he was the Instructor for the Training Corps, he was the former Survey Corps commander, presided over the training session.

The cadets were standing in line to introduce themselves to Claude,

"Your name soldier!!" Claude said "Marco Albert sir!!", "Next!" "Jiz Maximus", "Next!!",

When Roku's turn came the commander stopped as Roku looked older than the other cadets

"Name?", "Roku Ackerman," Roku said with medium pitched sound,

"Are you planning to survive with such a voice Ackerman?",

"Voice got nothing to do with survival sir", Claude looked irritated by the reply, Claude's demeanor shifted subtly, giving Roku a peculiar look,

"I had some orders from the higher-ups for you" Claude got near to Roku and whispered, "They told me to make it hell for you", Roku didn't look shaken at least a bit,

"100 laps around the camp cadet, start now!!", The other trainees snickered as Roku embarked on the task, determination etched on his face despite the ridicule.

By dawn, Roku had completed the grueling task without showing a hint of exhaustion. His perseverance caught the attention of some, though it also drew mockery from others.

Some seniors came to annoy him, "Hey newbie aren't you a bit tired from running, I guess you can't feel your legs now" Roku continued to walk without paying attention to them, he was trying to find his bed, "Hey didn't you hear him "I don't want any trouble so get lost",

"You..." one of them stopped the other, "I think your bed is right there," he said to Roku pointing at a bed that was all wet it seemed they were responsible for it,

Roku walked toward it and removed the sheets so he could put them outside to dry them.

As dinner approached, Roku sought solace in solitude. The seniors approached him again, it seemed they still didn't have enough, and one of them dropped Roku's food on the ground

"Ops I am sorry, it was an accident," he said with a smirk, Roku stood up and his face was full of anger he looked at them with a deadly look

"Listen, you shitheads I am a murderer that's why the garrison is keeping an eye on me, so let me be clear I wouldn't mind killing you too, I hope it's clear",

all the cadets in the dining room seemed to hear the conversation, and silence had conquered the place for a while, "Hey Max let's leave this guy he seems insane",

However, a young woman with a captivating aura approached him. Her presence was magnetic, her blonde hair radiant under the faint glow of the camp lights.

"Hey there I hope I am not annoying you, but mind if I join you" She had some food with her

"Let's share instead of what they spoiled, they are just idiots so don't mind them, my name is Anna by the way, you are Roku right?",

Roku nodded to her and he took a seat, Anna interpreted this as an acceptance, pulling up a chair to sit across from him.

She engaged in conversation, undeterred by Roku's reserved nature. Her enthusiasm was infectious, roku was a little irritated, he didn't like to interact with people much.

She started to talk about her background and the challenges of training as she is a senior too although she and Roku were the same age, Anna's genuine interest made him feel strangely at ease.

As the evening wore on, their conversation flowed effortlessly.

Roku found himself appreciating Anna's warmth and sincerity, a stark contrast to the coldness that often surrounded him. Though he remained guarded, a spark of connection seemed to flicker between them.

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End of the Chapter