The dull ringing of the bell from the clock tower roused Kuro like it did every morning. He sat up in bed and ran his hands through his messy hair. The wild, jet-black locks stuck out at all angles, and he always awoke looking like he'd just been struck by lightning. Around him were the sounds of everyone else waking up- everything from yawning to mumbling about needing a few extra minutes. The barracks beds were never truly comfy until someone was trying to get you out of them first thing.

Kuro yawned as he retrieved his towel and wash bag. A good shower was sure to wake him up properly and somewhat tame his wild hair. Still, despite how ordinary this morning was, he felt a difference. It certainly wasn't the weather- the clouds had formed a white blanket over the sky, making the landscape look dull and monochrome. There wasn't anything else special either, but Kuro still felt it. After all, it was his first day of medical training. As everyone else roamed around in their still half-asleep state, there was almost a sense of purpose to each step he took... or as much purpose as anyone could have at this time in the morning.

He found his way to the shower block and pulled off his off-white shirt and brown trousers he'd slept in. They were the two pieces of clothing that Kuro didn't mind looking rough. The hem was even starting to come undone on the shirt... fixing that had been on his to-do list for a while now. He just hadn't gotten around to it yet.

The Scouts' showers were crude, and no matter how many times they were cleaned, they still always looked a little dirty. The water in them was no better. It was only just warm enough not to be called cold. It wasn't too bad on a hot day, but on days like this, a few degrees warmer would have been nice. The Scouts never really had the funds for luxuries though, just the bare essentials. Everyone had heard of how much nicer the Military Police's accommodations were. It all seemed a little unfair to him that one branch was held up so much higher than the rest.

Kuro let the water tame his bedhead and run over him. He had a busy day ahead and needed to give off the best first impression. It was a new start for him. After today, he'd have a lot more responsibility on his young shoulders. He still felt anxious about becoming a medic, and he wasn't sure how he'd do. It was a large jump from someone who knew how to sew to someone who had the medical knowledge to deal with the injuries their battles threw at them. He thought back to how terrified he'd been stitching up Section Commander Hange. He'd never done anything like that before. Fixing up a popped seam and sewing someone's head back together were two very different things. Fabric was always way more forgiving and leather usually had the holes already punched through. Human skin was altogether new territory.

Still, Kuro felt drawn to doing this. Despite his nerves and his doubts, this felt like it was the right path for him to take. He felt much better about the idea now than back when Section Commander Hange had first suggested it. Even if he wasn't the ideal person, or anyone's first choice under normal circumstances, Kuro knew that he'd give this his all. Once he'd started looking up proper stitches, he'd quickly become immersed what else the book had to offer, and his page of notes had turned into a nearly-filled notebook.

Though, Kuro shouldn't have been surprised. Even when he was younger, he could easily sit for hours listening to whatever his mother or father was teaching him. He'd then take time practicing what he'd learnt and working hard until he'd gotten the hang of it. His whole childhood had been spent learning, practicing, and perfecting a craft. Even now, as he watched the water swirling down the drain at his feet, Kuro could remember the sounds of his parents' voices as they carefully guided him through each step of each new thing.

As he turned the shower off and grabbed his towel, Kuro's thoughts turned to the day ahead. While it was good to remember the past, he couldn't let himself get drowned in it. Today, he had to focus. Look forward. He quickly changed into his red shirt and white uniform trousers before rubbing his hair all over with his towel. It still baffled him who on earth chose white as a uniform colour. Soldiers were bound to get covered in mud and grass stains, to mention the least. There couldn't have been a less practical colour chosen.

Kuro walked over to a sink and looked into the mirror as he dropped the towel around his neck. Trost felt like an awfully long time ago now, but he still couldn't get used to his scarred reflection. After all those years of seeing an unmarked face and two deep blue eyes staring back at him, his expectation to see that likeliness still wasn't shaken. He'd never forget the shock of seeing his reflection for the first time after taking the bandages off. Since then, it always seemed like a stranger was looking back at him. His left eye didn't open as fully as his right one anymore, and the muscles around that area didn't seem to move as well, either. Unfortunately, this now and then left others confused with the state of his mood. The left half of his face often looked slightly ticked off, even if his right looked neutral.

Sighing, he hastily combed his hair while it was still damp. It was one of the only ways to control it. It was getting a touch long though, even for Kuro. He'd have to cut it again when he next had the chance.

With his hair still damp, Kuro made it back to the barracks to dump his wash bag and hurriedly pulled on his harness. The holes where his buckles fastened had stretched slightly, as any well-worn belt or watchstrap would. Kuro slipped his jacket on before swinging his cloak over his shoulders as he and the rest of his squad left for the morning run.

The day remained cloudy and cool, but it wasn't at all unpleasant to be outside in the fresh air. The morning passed quickly and routinely, and Kuro managed just enough time to freshen up before heading to a small building nearby the military base.

The hanging sign out front had the familiar medical symbol carved into the wood- two vertical snakes twice intertwined and facing one another. A second, smaller sign hung under the first and read "Dr. Jacob Lewis."

Kuro took a deep breath as he looked at the sign. No turning back now. Keep moving forward. He opened the door and headed inside.

The interior of the clinic had white walls with wood beam wall supports and wooden floors. A sturdy oak counter greeted incomers, and a tiny brass bell jingled above the door as Kuro entered.

A tall man with a rather round front and grey, curly hair looked over from where he was unpacking a small supply crate behind the counter. His chin tilted downwards, and his bushy eyebrows lifted. "Well, you don't look like an emergency," he observed in a calm, jovial tone. "What can I do for you?" In one hand, he held a wooden box with a lattice of square compartments, and the other was removing glass apothecary bottles one by one and placing them on a shelf.

"I'm Private Kuro Oscuro," he introduced himself politely. "I was sent by the Scouts for medical training." Kuro stood there smartly with his hands behind his back like he was reporting to an officer.

"Ah, so you were." Dr. Lewis observed the boy's stiff body language, and he chuckled as he turned to place the box on the counter. "Relax, son. No need to stand with a pole at your back on my account." The doctor wore a white shirt with the top button undone and a brown waistcoat with matching pants. His jacket was hung on a wall peg near the door.

Kuro wasn't really sure how else to stand, so he opted to let his arms hang down by his sides. It didn't have the desired effect, as he now felt more awkward than he did before.

"Well, come on over," the older man invited. "Don't stand there like a bump on a log... you're here to learn, aren't you?

There were two back rooms, one much smaller than the other. This was the one Dr. Lewis moved into, and Kuro saw that it was a cramped but well laid-out office space. There was a desk and a shelf with some books and a small cot in one corner for long nights. There was also a very tiny stove, and the doctor whistled a tune as he prepared a tea kettle atop it.

"Yes, doctor." Kuro walked over to the small office. Dr. Lewis' relaxed attitude was not what Kuro had been expecting at all.

"Now then." Dr. Lewis put his hands together and rubbed them vigorously as he turned to face Kuro. "They tell me you're to be a field medic. So why you?" He crossed his arms and tilted his head with a curious expression. "Do you have prior training?"

"Well... err..." Kuro rubbed at the back of his neck. "The only training I have is the basic first aid that everyone learns in the Cadet Corps. The only additions to that are that I've read through one medical book, and I've already attempted stitches once on Section Commander Hange."

"I'd say it was more than an attempt," the doctor stated, sounding impressed. "I was the one who looked after the injury on her return. For someone with as little training as you, I'd say you couldn't have done better." The tea kettle began to whistle, and he turned to lift it from the burner.

"Thank you, doctor." Kuro tried to sound a little more relaxed than he was feeling. "I have to admit that although I'm lacking when it comes to medical knowledge, I do know my way around a needle and thread."

Steaming hot water flowed from the spout into one teacup and then another. "Well you've come to the right place. Here we are..." Dr. Lewis picked up both cups before turning and offering one to Kuro.

He took the cup carefully. "Thank you." After taking a sip, Kuro looked back to Dr. Lewis. "I am looking forward to what else I can learn."

"Then by all means, let's get started." The kindly old man gestured toward the larger of the two back rooms as he headed in that direction. He then opened the door to an examination clinic and a small surgery with a table in the very center.

Dr. Lewis explained to Kuro that, once he was qualified, he'd be issued an armband displaying the twin snakes medical symbol along with a lightweight, canvas first aid pack to be worn during expeditions. It would contain all the basics he would need in an emergency, from bandages and disinfectant to suture threads and needles. Kuro would need to get accustomed to the new equipment and instruments until using them became second nature to him.

The doctor also assured him that eventually, he would learn clinical medicine, but first thing would be first... Kuro was here primarily to learn about field medicine, which didn't always mean fixing the core problem. Many times, he would be required to simply stabilize a wounded ally so that they could survive until the doctor could tend to them. The hardest part of this, Dr. Lewis explained very seriously, would be triage... deciding who to treat first based on degree of injury and knowing when to leave someone at the mercy of their wounds. His goal would be to save as many lives as possible, and sometimes that would mean deciding not to spend precious time on a patient with a smaller chance of survival.

Kuro made sure the listen carefully and understood just how serious this was. It hadn't crossed his mind at first that there would inevitably be some people he would have to turn his back on. He knew he couldn't save everyone, but hearing it put like that really drove it home. Everything Kuro felt from the morning was starting to waver as he realised just what he had signed up for. As much good as taking on this role would do, there would be choices he would have to make that would only lead to more sorrow and despair.

But... someone had to do it. Right now, the Scouts had no one, and they were in desperate need. Kuro had seen it himself as bodies piled up on carts when they returned from their expeditions. Maybe, if there had been a medic, that number might have been smaller. No matter who took on this job, the cold, hard facts wouldn't change. It was hard to hear, but that was life in the Survey Corps. The life Kuro had already signed up for. He didn't know if he would make any difference at all, but if there was even a small chance that he could do something, then it would be worth it.

Dr. Lewis sent him on his way after their first session with plenty of reading material and some marked pages to complete as an assignment. Whatever free time Kuro had had before would now be taken up by his new responsibility. He'd report to Dr. Lewis daily for training, and evenings would be spent studying.

Soon, all of this became a normal part of Kuro's life. Any time he could spare, he dedicated to studying. In fact, it wasn't uncommon to see him reading at the dining table during meals. His notebook continued to fill up as well, and he even included sketches and diagrams to aid his comprehension. He was a skilled sketch artist, and he often had to remind himself to continue studying rather than spend time perfecting his drawings. Training was tiring, but Kuro persevered. It wouldn't be long before their next expedition, so Kuro would have to learn fast if he was going to be a qualified medic in time.

However, even with all his book-learning and hands-on training, he knew nothing could fully prepare him for the raw and uncut reality of his new role as a medic in the Survey Corps. Some things could only be learned by experience... when he would inevitably find himself in the middle of a raging battle with the screams of the wounded echoing all around and the very lives of his comrades balanced on a knife's edge.

Concept art by IceFireWolfDragon, drawn over official SNK art