I never realized just how much could change in such a short time. How long has it been now? Two- no, three years. I can remember it so vividly despite it feeling all like it was a dream. We were all still at the school so oblivious to the world around us. Not a worry in the world, everything was happy and peaceful. It all feels like a lifetime ago now. Little did we know that our lives would change this drastically. That war was on the horizon.

It all started with one greedy little businessman. Then the lawsuit that changed everything. Why couldn't he have just been honest about it? He wanted to fire a woman because she made a formal complaint about sexual harassment from him. Rather than just admit that he was wrong for firing her he made the argument that he didn't feel safe because of her power. Her power just happened to be a form of pyrokinesis.

Everyone could tell it was a bullshit excuse used to cover his own ass. Everyone except the judges apparently. The lawsuit made its way through every court until it reached the supreme court. The shock around the world when he won the case caused riots. By this point, everything had started changing in our everyday lives. I remember being kicked out of the cafe I had been going to for years just for wearing my school ID. It was a key indicator that I had powers and they made it known that I wasn't welcome.

More and more cases started popping up using the same bullshit excuse. That's when Pixis brought it all to our attention two years ago. When he gave us all the choice. I remember sitting there in the gym with nothing but fear as he spoke.

"As of tomorrow, I am shutting down this school. I am sorry everyone but it is hard to ignore the increasing hostility towards people with powers. I will pay for everyone's trips back home and see to it that you all get there safe. However, I don't think any of this is going to blow over soon. No, I suspect that it's going to get worse. So I am giving you the option to come with me. I have a place set up where we can go until all this dies down. Most of the teachers have agreed to come as well. After tomorrow if you are still here I am taking it that you are coming with me. The choice is yours come with me or go home. That is all."

I remember talking it over with the rest of the class. Most people were planning on going with Pixis since none of us really had homes to go back to anyway. It seems that our class was the only ones who thought so since when the next day came it was only our class and three other kids. They were younger than us. Pixis didn't ask any questions he just nodded and had us follow him. We all waited in the gym until night time before leaving.

He was right when he said things would get worse. I think the other kids must regret not going with him. A few months after going underground a bunch of new laws were put in place. Powered individuals, or as they called us now, "the cursed" are required to wear badges around their necks with their names and powers on them. Each badge was issued by the government with a different color. Red meaning the user had weak powers and weren't much of a threat, Green meaning medium-strength powers and to be cautious, and Dark Blue meaning strong powers and to stay far away from them.

After that system was put in place more and more places started banning "the cursed" from their businesses. Some businesses would have signed in their windows saying who was banned. One place would say "No blue and green cursed" whereas another would just say "no cursed" in general. Oh and don't even get me started about any government buildings. If a blue badge was even caught walking in front of it they could be detained if not shot on sight.

None of us have badges since we went underground before they made the law. Which means we have to be extra careful. Anyone caught with powers who doesn't have a badge will be arrested... if you're lucky. Some people are shot on the spot if they are suspected to have strong powers, or if they are expected to resist.

A little over a year ago all of us started getting restless, and we weren't the only ones. We wanted change and we were tired of hiding. We wanted to fight. More and more people started coming forward. Most people were detained and sent to correctional camps where they would be "fixed" mostly just brainwashed into believing their powers to be evil and to never use them.

We, on the other hand, decided to be smarter about it. We had outfits made that hide our identities. Masks and clothes we only wore when we were out making a stand. The government could no longer ignore us or any others like us.

They started calling us the Exiled claiming that we have exiled ourselves from society on purpose in order to break the rules. Which they aren't wrong since that's exactly what we are doing. However, the only rules we are breaking are the ones they put in to discriminate against us.

"Hey, you okay?" I heard a familiar voice ask as he placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I cleared my throat bringing myself back to reality. I realized I was staring through the cracks of the boarded-up window. How long was I sitting here? The sun was already going down. "Are you done training already?" I asked turning my head to look up at him.

"Eren," Levi's voice held concern as he took a seat next to me. Damn, it didn't matter what I told him he's probably been watching my thoughts this whole time.

"Sorry, I'm okay really. Sometimes it's just hard to stop myself from thinking what would have happened if that damn court case ended differently, or better yet if it never happened at all," I couldn't help but let out a depressed little sigh.

"Well, we will never know now, will we? We lost that day sure, but we still have a chance to win. If we stop fighting then we lose. If we back down and give in to all the shit they are doing then we will never get to win. They may have won the battle but we will win the war," Levi said before standing up and reaching his hand out for me to take.

I took his hand and got up off my ass and looked around the building for a minute. It's been empty for over a decade and now it's full of life. It's not the cleanest place, but it's home. After all those thoughts from the past, I can't help but feel a little nostalgic. I miss that grassy field we always used to lay in. You remember that field right Levi?

"Of course," he hummed "the place where you first kissed me, how could I ever forget."

"One day I want to go back there and marry you right there on that field," I smiled and Levi gave my hand a tight squeeze.

"I'll fight like hell to make that dream a reality," he said and I saw his eyes glance to Erwin who had just finished watching two other people spar.

He looked back at me and smiled, "so how about you and me spar a little, get some practice in for the night."

"Well, I've got nothing better to do." I laughed and Levi waved Erwin over to spot us.

We walked over to the circle spray-painted on the floor and Erwin stood just outside the circle and gave us a nod. "Alright, you know the rules. Don't hold back too much, but don't destroy the building and lastly the first one out of the circle loses. Okay, three... two... one...Spar!"