Bab 21: Departure and Decisions
The night after Floch's speech passed in a quiet haze. The trainees were allowed to do as they pleased, finally free from the daily grind. For Aiden, it felt surreal—after six months of intense training, the idea of having time to himself was unfamiliar.
The next morning, the barracks began to empty. The cadets left one by one, heading off in different directions. Some were returning home, others to loved ones, each with their own plans for their time off. Aiden packed up his things in silence, a feeling of restlessness settling in his chest. He had only one place in mind to go—the cottage where he and his mother had been staying before training began.
As he made his way through the forested path back to the cottage, the wind was cool against his face, carrying the scent of the wilderness around him. The journey felt longer than he remembered, his thoughts drifting between the past six months and the uncertainty of what lay ahead. His comrades—Udo, Elena, and Zofia—had their own paths to figure out. Aiden hadn't asked them what they planned to do after their break, but he assumed they were in similar states of uncertainty.
By the time he arrived at the cottage, the sun was beginning its slow descent, casting long shadows across the forest floor. Aiden reached the door and pushed it open, expecting to find his mother waiting for him. But the space was quiet—too quiet.
"Mother?" Aiden called out, stepping inside.
There was no answer. Instead, his eyes landed on a piece of parchment on the kitchen table, folded neatly. His heart sank before he even picked it up, sensing the worst. His fingers trembled as he unfolded the letter and read.
---
Aiden,
I'm sorry for leaving without saying goodbye in person. I've been thinking about things for a long time now, and I've made the decision to go back to my friends in the Scouts. They need me, and I think it's where I need to be as well. I know this will come as a shock, but please understand that this isn't goodbye forever. We'll see each other again soon. Take care of yourself and follow your heart, wherever it leads you.
Love,
Mother
---
Aiden stood there, staring at the letter, his mind racing. She was gone. She'd left without waiting for him. He clenched his fists, fighting the emotions that surged within him. She had gone back to the Scouts, to Armin and the others, leaving him behind in this empty cottage.
He walked slowly to the door and stepped outside, gazing at the dimming sky. The sun was already dipping below the horizon, casting the landscape in deep orange hues. It would be nighttime soon.
Aiden sighed, his breath coming out in a shaky exhale. There was no point in leaving tonight. The journey to Trost would take a day, and it was too late to start now. He decided he'd stay at the cottage for the night. First thing in the morning, he'd head to Trost. There was nothing else for him here other then memories of the time he spent with his mother and father.
---
The next morning, Aiden left the cottage early, his heart heavy with the weight of his mother's absence. The journey to Trost was uneventful, the monotony of the road offering little distraction from his thoughts. By the time he arrived in the bustling city, it was already late afternoon.
The city was alive with activity, people moving in every direction, shops lining the streets, and the smell of food wafting through the air. Aiden rented a small room at a nearby inn, a simple place with just enough space for him to lay his things and rest.
He spent the evening wandering through the city streets, his mind still swirling with thoughts of his mother and the choices that lay before him. As he walked, he realized that he had never really explored Trost before. The city had an energy to it, a pulse that felt different from the quiet of the training grounds and the cottage.
---
The next day, while walking through the marketplace, Aiden ran into Udo. The two boys exchanged surprised glances before breaking into smiles.
"Didn't expect to see you here," Udo said, adjusting the strap of his bag.
"Same," Aiden replied, glad to see a familiar face. "I've been wandering around, just trying to clear my head."
As they strolled together through the bustling city streets, the conversation turned more personal. Udo seemed to hesitate for a moment, but then started speaking about his supposed past.
"You know," Udo began, looking around the busy streets of Trost, "I grew up around here. My family was... well, we weren't rich, but we managed. It's strange being back here after everything. But, I suppose it's also a bit comforting."
Aiden nodded, listening carefully as Udo painted a picture of his life in the city, though something about his story felt rehearsed—almost too perfect. Aiden couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Udo than he let on. But he didn't press. He knew everyone had secrets, and Udo's were his own to reveal.
"What about you?" Udo asked, changing the subject. "I feel like I barely know anything about you."
Aiden hesitated for a moment, unsure where to begin. He hadn't talked much about himself during their training, keeping most of his thoughts to himself. But after hearing Udo's story, he felt compelled to open up.
"Well," Aiden started, "I grew up with my mother mostly. She's... strong. Fiercely protective, but she's always been there for me. My father... he died a while ago. I don't remember him much, just small things. But I think about him sometimes." He paused, his mind flashing to memories of his mother's quiet strength, and his father's shadow, always present but distant.
Udo nodded thoughtfully, his expression softening. "Sounds like you've had a lot to carry. You're strong, Aiden."
---
Meanwhile, over in the quiet countryside, Elena had made her way back to the farm where she lived with her mother, Historia. The farm was peaceful as ever, a far cry from the world of military life. Elena sat across from her mother in the small, cozy kitchen, the two of them catching up on the time they had missed.
"So," Historia began, a warm smile playing on her lips, "how was the training? Did you meet anyone interesting?"
Elena leaned back, thinking about Aiden for a moment. "Yeah, actually, there was one person who stood out to me. His name's Aiden Yeager."
Historia's eyes widened in surprise, the name hitting her like a wave. "Yeager? Aiden... Yeager? As in... Eren and Mikasa's son?"
Elena nodded. "Yeah, that's right. Eren and Mikasa's son. I couldn't believe it either when I first heard it, but... it's him. He joined up in the military at the same time as me, we're in the same cadet core, the 108th cadet core."
Historia's expression shifted to one of disbelief, her voice hushed. "Mikasa's son... in the military?" She shook her head slightly, still processing the information. "I heard Mikasa went back to the Scouts... I didn't expect her son to follow in her footsteps so soon."
Elena smiled softly. "He's... different. Taller than most, strong, but he has this quiet confidence about him. His black eyes—definitely from his mother—and his hair is dark and short like his father's. It's strange... even though we've all just started, I feel like he's going to do something big."
Historia chuckled softly, though her mind was clearly still reeling from the revelation. "So... Eren's son is already making his mark in the world."
As Aiden and Udo continued to spend time together over the next few days, Aiden's decision grew clearer. Reading the letter from his mother had unsettled him at first, but now, after spending time in the city and thinking it over, he realized that his path was leading him in the same direction. He would follow in his mother's footsteps and join th---
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