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AN: Wow, we're almost at thirty chapters and we're still at the start of the storyish. I didn't think I've done as many chapters as I have, it's a bit of a shocker if I'm honest. I know not all of my chapters have been long and I'm slow at updating but still, wow. Feels like I've barely made a dent in the story yet we're almost as thirty chapters.

Just want to say thank you to everyone who's still reading this book. Thanks for those who have been voting and commenting as well.

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Mikasa was oddly enjoying being a basic cadet with her friends, it was a little bit fun to learn the basics all over again at a steady pace and hearing advice from soldiers more experience than herself. 

She didn't want to sound rude, stuck up or better but the pace was a little slow for her. But than again, she was personally trained by Levi, Mike and Hanji most of the time along with having their three squads take care of her as well.

She's been pushed to her limits since day one, slowly gotten use to the soldier life before pushed to survive while the rest of the fresh cadets was being taught slowly, having a whole month to slowly ease them into their new lives. 

But she still found the break in pace rather nice, it gave her a chance to act her age a little and experience the fresh cadets life a little. She was experiencing something new, something she missed out and why she doesn't regret becoming a soldier with how she did, she just .. liked to feel normal too. 

Of course, she still secretly gave tips to her friends and the rest when they were left to practice certain skills just shown to them or stuck in their hour long class with the teacher explaining over the basics of a titan and how to kill it. 

When lunch came around, she listened to them patiently as they complained over one thing or another over the morning so far. She didn't really struggle with any of the training or class, she's already gone through it all and just found it mostly boring but she understood that not everyone was the same. 

She spoke a couple words, joining in whenever a question was asked or just happily listening as Armin started telling her about a new book he bought and was reading through. Giving a remark or two towards Eren when he got a little too heated over something or was teasing the other's a little too much. 

It was strange having so many talk at once or laughing as loud as most of her new friends did but it wasn't unpleasant. It was nice to gain her own friends, to be apart of a team that wasn't already formed before she came along. She was odd compared to some of them and yet, she fit perfectly with them and it was nice. 

She knew that both Mike and Hanji squads were close to her, close to a form of family but they weren't her real friends. They took care off her like she was a younger sister or cousin to them, she was still a child to them. And, she didn't mind that most around her was older but it was nice to have someone close to her age and be able to just let lose a little without having to find middle ground over separate ages. 

The afternoon went off just as well, and well, she was able to help both Christa and Armin out when they struggled with hand to hand combat. It wasn't as needed but you had to train at it once a month, Survey Corps might be gaining fame and love but some still held a problem with them and their death count. Soldiers had to be ready to defend themselves or at least survive an unfair fight if they're left wondering the streets alone after a drink or just enjoying their day off and someone else decides to pick a fight. 

But Erwin made a strict rule, never be the first one to throw a punch unless you held the rank to get out of it. Always take the first hit or let your opponent swing a hit first at least, if you had to dodge to protect yourself than do so. He wanted his soldiers to be safe but he couldn't let them run wild either, he had to keep the Survey Crops reputation up and having his soldiers throw the first punch won't help that much. 

But with Christa and Armin, they weren't ready to throw a hit at someone or held much upper body strength to do so. That's why Mikasa showed them defence, showing them how to hurt a person without having to have much power to a punch or kick, showing a person body weak points and have to pin someone by using their opponent own strength against them. 

It helped, the two were still unsure and new to it but they practiced one of the moves and were able to almost pin Ymir who volunteered to go against them both. With a bit more practice, the two would be pros at it and no one would have to worry over defending them in a fight since they'd hold their own. 

Of course, Mikasa had to pretend that she wasn't the one to teach them since Erwin only wanted the basic defence and attack training to be taught and her ways weren't .. the basics. The rest all understood and as long as she was happy to help train with them now and then, everyone would keep their mouths shut. In truth, their threat to tell was empty and playful, they just wanted an excuse for her to join them in free lance training now and than. 

Mikasa was happy to accept the threat and would try to join them in free lance training once a week or at least once every two weeks once things got busy. She'd also agree to try and have lunch with them as much as she could, she couldn't promise the other meals since normally she'd have breakfast or dinner at the castle with Levi squad but if she's stuck eating at camp than she'd join them. 

For now, she was heading back towards her horse as her friends headed to eat their own dinner for the night. She was welcomed to join but she knew Oulu was doing his famous mushroom soup and she couldn't miss out on that.  She felt bad for her friends who were stuck with watered down carrot soup with some bread but she wasn't going to give up her chance on a decent meal while she could have it. 

Reaching her horse and finding that only Petra horse seemed left in Levi Squad stables but she just guessed the shorter women was finishing off some paperwork or last minute add chores. 

Climbing on her horse and riding out towards the castle without a second thought, glancing over her shoulder to make sure she wasn't followed as she first entered the forest before going as fast as she wanted. 

She knew the location had to be kept secret but sometimes, just riding through the forest felt so .. breath taking. It was past just fun, it was exciting and so free. Any thoughts or burdens just lifted of one shoulder as they let themselves go to the ride through the trees and just enjoying the rush. 

But the best part was you didn't even have to ride quickly to feel so good, you could slowly ride along and just feel yourself relax under the trees and night sky. It was rather nice, a small secret bliss that all within the Levi squad got to enjoy to themselves. 

And as she reached the castle stable, placing her horse in his own little bit before noticing the other horses already taken care off and left in their stalls. Showing that everyone but Petra had returned now and she left towards the castle doors. 

The wood shutters of the windows all closed apart from her own and most likely Petra's but her room faced the back so she couldn't really see if they were opened or not. Candle light hidden away behind the shuttles and once Mikasa stepped inside, she felt that the was already burning and heating the castle up for them. 

Slipping her boots off before heading to her room, smelling the soup already and never feeling as hungry as she did right now by the scent alone. Throwing her boots inside, hanging her cape up and throwing off her jacket leaving it on her bed for now before quickly stripping off her straps. 

Leaving herself in her basic white uniform and socks before heading back down, tugging on her scarf a little as a chilly breeze caught up to her before she hurried closer towards the main living room to stay near the fire until the soup was completely ready. Giving a small greeting nod towards Eld and Gunther who sat playing a card game on the floor, their sides facing the fire. 

Glancing around and biting back her laugh as Oulu came walking in, wearing his grandmother style apron and a thin hair net hat with it's cap bent up a little. A knife metal spoon in hand, clearly showing he's just about to test to see if his soup was ready or already did so and about to announce how much longer it'd take or if it was done. 

Even Levi had glance up from where he sat reading one of his novels, eyebrow perked as he wondered if they'll be able to eat one of the greatest meals ever or be left disappointed as they had to wait even longer with the castle filling up with the delicious scent. 

"Mikasa, did you see Petra on your way back? She's meant to be home by now, she's never missed out on my soup before and it's almost ready" Oulu asked with a worried look on his face, clearly uneasy over his childhood friend still being out. She had hours left before the nightly curfew on the main camp but still, she'd knew he was cooking his soup tonight and wouldn't stay to eat at the camp food hall instead. 

"By "almost ready" how almost are we talking about. A few seconds, minutes or past five minutes to the point that we'd start eating anything that holds the smell of the soup" Eld shamelessly asked, clearly having his priorities sorted and no one blamed him for placing the soup before Petra since they all felt the same. 

"I won't tell you until I know over Petra" Oulu huffed back, waving his spoon towards Eld like a scolding grandparent making both Eld and Gunther laugh at the sight. 

"Her horse was still in the camp stables. I haven't seen her all say in truth but the food hall has just opened again for dinner meaning it's still rather early. I'm sure she'll hurry back soon" Mikasa replied with a straight face and Oulu just nodded in understanding. 

Everyone watched as he turned to the clock, finding that it was only now half five in t he afternoon showing the food hall would only have been opened fifteen minutes ago. He was early cooking himself but it was shared bath night for most of them and eating early gave the four soldiers in Levi squad a chance to share the hot water.

Eld and Gunther would share downstairs, the two playing rock paper scissors to see who got to go first before the second would go for theirs ten minutes after the other finished their own wash. As always, Oulu and Petra would share with Oulu normally going first and leaving Petra to go last so she could just return to her room without worry over the rest seeing her. Since she and Oulu took the bathroom on the same floor of their rooms and she'd just hurry back to her own room once washed, no one having to see her in just a towel and everyone got to happily carry on living without any second hand embarrassment. 

"I'm sure she's fine, Erwin placed her in my squad for a reason meaning she can handle herself just fine" Levi spoke up, knowing Oulu was still uneasy over his friend not being back yet. 

"Your right, sir. Sorry for acting like an worried mother. I'd go back to cooking now, the soup will be ready to dish in a minute" Oulu replied, giving a quick salute before hurrying back to the kitchen. 

"Just a minute and we'd be eating heaven itself" Gunther blissfully smiled as Eld nodding agreement over the statement. Levi and Mikasa rolling their eyes over the two before sharing an amused look.

Soon the five of them sat around the dinner table, the soup pot left with it's lid on to try and keep the soup warm for second servings and Petra share. A rather content silence filling the room as they all fell in love with the soup and didn't care how foolish they looked while they ate as if they were kings. 

"If Petra doesn't marry you than I'll make you my wife for sure" Gunther grinned without any shame, Oulu  choking on his soup over the comment. 

"Yeah, if I wasn't already engaged than I'd make you my wife" Eld agreed with his own cheeky grin, clearly at war over choosing the soup or the love of his life right now. 

"Don't joke around like that and what makes you think I'd be marrying Petra. We just grew up together" Oulu huffed back, rolling his eyes and going back to eating his soup while the rest all gave him a deadpanned look. 

Oulu and Petra might have grown up together and been childhood friends but they were past the close friends or family line ages ago. Oulu followed Petra into the survey corps to help protect his friend and to make sure she didn't have to face the next chapter of her life alone. And Petra, as much as she acted embarrassed or annoyed over her friend, she deeply cared for him and was always close by. She'd defend his honour if anyone but those in the squad spoke a bad word about him. 

She might a crush on her captain but even Levi knew that Oulu would always secretly be the number one man in her heart. He could marry her and she'd still act like a married couple with Oulu more than him. 

The two were just too blind to see the type of connection and feelings they held for the other, their bond had always been strong like Eld and Gunter's bond was but they'd reached a different path in life now. Why Eld and Gunther held a family and friendship love, ready to die for the other and fight to the bitterly end beside each other. Oulu and Petra was ready to die protecting the other and sacrifice themselves to make sure the other lived a longer life. Their bond held a love to it, one that those who were lucky to marry for love held. 

"Oh right, you'll be sent out tomorrow with Nanaba. She's being sent out to collect some documents for Erwin and you'll be accompanying her for the mission. Dress in your basic uniform but no cape or straps, you'd just need your jacket. Make it seem like you've got the morning or afternoon off and went to town with a friend. We need you both looking harmless. The documents aren't life or death but they hold part of budget, we can't let other's learn over how little our founding is otherwise we'd have the wrong type of people trying to .. sponsor us while expecting unrealistic favours" Levi spoke up as he passed on Mikasa orders before it left his mind again, knowing she'd need to know before waking up tomorrow. 

"And you want to send me?" Mikasa asked with a raised eyebrow, her air normally spooked other's without her having to say a single word.

"Nanaba can fight but her skill sets are best with ODM gear. She can defend herself just fine if needed but I voted for extra .. muscle if things go south. We can't risk having one of Hanji squad members going with her or another of Mike since it'd be a little too obvious that we're carrying something of slight importance. Everyone knows that one squad would either have the same day off and out in none uniform or they're sent as a team for some form of chores in town. With you and her, seems like it's a free morning instead and your both accompanying the other as you walk around. You'll be given some money to buy some deserts as well. You'll both be eating them once leaving the shop and only enter the shop after collecting the document. Understood?" Levi replied calmly, stirring his soup mindlessly before glancing to her to make she understood what she had to do. 

"Understood" Mikasa repeated without skipping a beat.