《The Witness Awakens》 Prologue
"Vivienne, stop running ahead!"
"You''re too slow, Father! Uncle will be waiting for ages!" Her father always said she had little patience, that she could never wait. As if she were in a hurry. As if¡­ time were running out for her. The little girl ran, waving her arms. Vivienne came to a stop, hands on her knees, breathing heavily as strands of golden-blonde hair fell across her face. "Looks like a little gust of wind got stuck in front of me." Lifting her emerald-green eyes, she beamed. "Uncle ¨¦tienne!" Her uncle swept her up in his arms with a grin. "Looks like the prettiest young lady in the capital has landed right here." Vivienne giggled happily. "You still spoil her too much," her father muttered. "Someone has to. Isn''t that right, Edmond?" Her father stared at them for a moment before nodding. "It''s good to see you, brother." Her uncle had always been an inspiration to her. Unlike other nobles, he travelled beyond the different Walls and met people from all walks of life. Vivienne had never once left Mitras. Stories of the world beyond the capital fascinated her. She would spend hours playing adventure games in the garden, imagining herself beyond the Walls¡ªsomething few in her family, or those around her, could understand. The House of D''Aubigne thrived on trade and innovation. Engineering was their obsession, and many in her family dedicated their lives to it. Why would anyone want to leave the comfort of their home? Why bother with the needs of others? They were always told they were building for the future. But what kind of future would that be? It was late, and Vivienne rubbed her eyes sleepily. All she really wanted was to go to the toilet. But when the sharp sound of something breaking jolted her awake, curiosity took over. She couldn''t resist. "Why...? Why are you still talking about this nonsense as if we were children?!" "Perhaps because, unlike you, I still believe in wonder¡ªand I keep my promises." "¨¦tienne!" Vivienne crept closer, slow and hesitant. Weren¡¯t those her uncle¡¯s and father¡¯s voices? Light spilled through the crack. She had always complained about the monsters in her head. Every time she closed her eyes, they were there¡ªvoices and images of people whose names she didn¡¯t even know. Screams. Pain. Make it stop. Her father¡¯s arms wrapped tightly around her as she pressed her hands to her head. "I¡¯m here. You¡¯re here. Together, we¡¯ll make the nightmares stop. Because they¡¯re not real. I¡¯ll always have a free ear for you." Vivienne peered through the crack. Why did Uncle ¨¦tienne look so upset? Why did Father look so desperate? "If you won¡¯t tell me the truth, then I¡¯ll take matters into my own hands," ¨¦tienne said, clenching his fists. "What are you talking about?" Edmond asked. "I''m going to join the Scout Regiment!" Her father¡¯s voice rang out, sharp and furious. "Are you out of your mind?! Those people have nothing but a death wish!" "Brother, tell me¡ªwhen did you stop planning for our future?" Her father¡¯s eyes widened at ¨¦tienne¡¯s words. "Do you really think that just because our family has wealth and happiness, others won¡¯t suffer? That they won¡¯t still fight for our freedom? You promised to tell us about our father¡¯s legacy. But even now, you remain silent." The voices blurred. Her uncle turned his back on her father. "I have never stopped dreaming." Vivienne¡¯s eyes widened as she realised her uncle was looking straight at her. Heart pounding, she spun around and ran back to her room, diving under the covers. She wasn¡¯t sure how much time had passed, but when the door creaked open, she knew she was in trouble. Vivienne sat up, ready to apologise¡ªonly to find herself pressed up against something. "I''m sorry, Vivienne." "Uncle ¨¦tienne?" His arms held her close. Something warm and wet seeped through her clothes.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "We won¡¯t see each other for a long time." "Huh?" Vivienne looked up at him in confusion. "W-why not? Where are you going?" "I''m going on an adventure." Adventure? "I promise to write letters. As often as I can." Letters ? "Until then, be a good girl, okay? Listen to your mother more, study hard, and be someone who follows their heart. Don¡¯t listen to them. Don¡¯t listen to the people who walk blindly through our Walls. I know you can see through them. I know you can see through it all." There was so much she wanted to say. But why? Why couldn¡¯t she say the words? Why was her voice gone? Why was she so motionless? Her eyes fluttered shut. Darkness enveloped her. You may not have silenced me. But I will remain your witness forever. I will watch every step you take. I¡­ Her eyes snapped open, her breathing heavy. Vivienne ran into the parlour. Her mother¡¯s face was streaked with tears, her older brother held her hand, and her father stood with his back to them, gazing out of the window. "W-what¡¯s going on? Why is Mother crying?" "Uncle ¨¦tienne has gone off to join the Scout Regiment," her brother said. Vivienne¡¯s eyes widened. It¡­ wasn¡¯t all a dream after all? "I always knew he was an idiot." Her face flushed red. "Don¡¯t talk about our uncle like that! He would never do something so stupid!" They didn¡¯t have a good reputation here. The grown-ups all called them a waste of tax money¡ªcrazy idiots who couldn¡¯t do anything with their lives. Suicidal puppets who stood no chance against the Titans anyway. And no one questioned it. No one wanted to know. They were blind and refused to see. "Vivienne," her father said in a serious tone, "your brother is right. Your uncle has joined them." She didn¡¯t know what to do with this information and sank to the floor. Why¡­? Why hadn¡¯t she managed to say goodbye to him? Surprisingly, the first letter arrived sooner than expected. I¡¯m fine. The food will probably never taste as good as it does at home. But what¡¯s an adventure without a few hurdles? The presents lay unwrapped on her bedside table. Vivienne opened the envelope, and a dried flower slipped out. Happy Birthday! I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t say these words to you in person. I¡¯m also sorry I couldn¡¯t give you a better present. This is a flower I picked from outside the Walls. The others told me it was nothing special, but it reminds me of you. "Outside the Walls¡­" Her gaze remained fixed on the daisy. They were everywhere. But knowing this one had come from beyond¡­ changed everything. She hadn¡¯t even realised there were flowers out there. I hope you¡¯re eating well. I¡¯m glad to hear you¡¯re getting good grades. I always knew you were clever! Captain Levi has no fear. He¡¯s gotten us out of plenty of sticky situations. Vivienne walked through the streets, the taunts from the outer Walls echoing around her. Why? Why couldn¡¯t she read any of the stories her uncle wrote to her in the newspaper? Her emerald eyes widened. At last¡ªan article! "Tsk, another waste of our taxes. Stupid Scouts." "Why should we care? It¡¯s not our fault they can¡¯t find anyone to sleep with." The newspaper crumpled in her hands. "Shut up! Unlike you lazy men, they¡¯re actually fighting for our freedom!" Both men scowled at her. "You little brat¡­" They stepped towards her, but Vivienne didn¡¯t flinch. Only when they were right in front of her did she dart to the side. Before anything worse could happen, a firm hand gripped her shoulder. "Please forgive my daughter¡­ She¡¯s going through a phase." The men hesitated. But when they recognised her father, they backed off without another word. No one would dare touch someone from her family. Their status was too high¡ªengineers who shaped the future of humanity. "Vivienne, your behaviour is getting worse by the day. This is the third time in two weeks that something like this has happened." "How can you let them talk about Uncle ¨¦tienne like that?! The Scouts are out there fighting the Titans! He¡¯s fighting for our freedom, yet all anyone does is insult him and call him an idiot!" "Vivienne¡­" "You can¡¯t even read about it in the papers! And if someone is kind enough to write an article, all people do is complain that it¡¯s a waste of taxpayers¡¯ money!" "Vivienne." "Uncle ¨¦tienne is a hero, and you¡ª" "He¡¯s an idiot!" Her father¡¯s words made her shudder. Why¡­? Why did he speak about his own brother like that? Wasn¡¯t he the one who always told her that ¨¦tienne was simply free-spirited? Was her father¡­ just as blind? Her face streaked with tears, she ran into the room. Her father sighed, covering his face with his hand. One of my comrades fell today. The feeling inside me¡­ I don¡¯t know how to describe it. Is it emptiness? But don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m stronger than I look! Besides, you only die when you¡¯re forgotten. And you¡¯ll never forget me, will you, Vivienne? Above her, the blue sky stretched endlessly. She tried to convince herself that it was just the heat of the sun making her sweat. "We now begin the enlistment ceremony for the 104th Trainee Corps!" announced an older, balding man in a stern tone. "I am Keith Shadis, and I¡¯ve had the misfortune of being assigned to train you bastards. I am not here to welcome you. Right now, you¡¯re nothing more than cattle, fit for nothing but Titan food! In three years, we¡¯ll take you worthless pieces of crap and turn you into soldiers!" "In three years, when you stand before a Titan, will you be food? Or will you be a noble wall, shielding the King? Or perhaps, one of humanity¡¯s glorious soldiers, slaying Titans?" "You will decide!" Uncle... I will not forget 1 "Huh? Again? Aren¡¯t you a bit young to be sending letters to someone on the battlefield?" The shopkeeper eyed the envelope critically. "She must have read about one of them in the newspaper and fallen head over heels," another shopkeeper scoffed, smirking at her. Vivienne¡¯s expression darkened, a tight, burning sensation rising in her chest. She slammed the money onto the counter and left without another word. She had to endure comments like this every time. This was the third time in two weeks she had come here to post a letter. Normally, she was patient¡ªshe understood that whatever her uncle''s mission, it might take longer for a reply to reach her. But it had been over a month. Vivienne lowered her gaze, her emerald eyes dim with worry. Maybe she should have expected this. Maybe she shouldn¡¯t have been so surprised. She unlocked the front door and hung up her coat. "To what do I owe the honour of the Commander of the Survey Corps visiting me in person?" Father? "Indeed. I don¡¯t usually make house calls, but in this case, I¡¯ll make an exception." Vivienne peered through the small gap in the slightly ajar door. A man stood opposite her father. He was well-built, with neatly parted blond hair and piercing ice-blue eyes. For a brief moment, it seemed as though his gaze locked onto hers, but then he turned back to her father. "¨¨tienne D''Aubigne has been found dead." Vivienne¡¯s breath caught. The bag slipped from her hand, hitting the floor with a dull thud. She stepped into the room. "Lies¡­ No¡­ It can¡¯t be. Uncle, he¡¯s¡­" Her hands trembled violently. The Commander regarded her carefully, as if trying to decipher something in her. Then she turned to her father, whose face was unreadable. Edmond¡¯s expression shifted slightly¡ªjust a flicker of something bitter before he looked away. "I see." "I see?" Vivienne repeated, her voice rising in disbelief. "That¡¯s all you have to say?" She sucked in a sharp breath. "Your brother has just been pronounced dead, and all you can do is¡­ understand?" She couldn¡¯t stay. She couldn¡¯t look at them anymore. The young girl snatched up her bag and ran. The streets blurred past her as she sprinted, head down. Parents played with their children, lovers strolled arm in arm, drunken gentlemen laughed loudly. How could they? How could they all smile? How could they carry on with their lives when outside, people were dying for them? Vivienne clenched her fists as a tear slipped down her cheek. The weight of this utopian world pressed heavily on her shoulders. She stopped at the fence beside the river, her breath unsteady. She should have seen this coming. She should have known. There were rarely happy endings for those who joined the Scouts. Loud, drunken laughter echoed behind her. A group of Military Police officers staggered past, careless and carefree. Her grip on the fence tightened. Why? Why did they get to drink and laugh while real soldiers¡ª More tears spilled over as a quiet sob escaped her lips. She closed her eyes. Uncle ¨¨tienne had been the only one in her family who understood her. He knew why a little girl dreamed of adventure. He never dismissed her curiosity or her yearning to explore. The world had never felt so cruel as it did in that moment. She opened her eyes when a handkerchief was suddenly offered to her. Startled, she turned her head. The Commander of the Survey Corps stood beside her. "A lady shouldn¡¯t be left to cry," he said, his gaze drifting towards the river. Vivienne hesitated before taking the handkerchief, dabbing at her tears. She stared at the fabric for a moment, fingers curling around it.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. "How¡­ how did my uncle die?" Maybe she wasn¡¯t meant to know. No one wanted to hear how their loved one had been crushed between a Titan¡¯s teeth, swallowed whole, lost forever. But she had to ask. She had to know why she would never laugh with her uncle again. "That depends," Erwin said, reaching into his coat. He held out a piece of fabric¡ªworn, but unmistakable. The symbol of the Survey Corps. A pair of wings, one blue, one white. The Wings of Freedom. Confused, she took it from him. Erwin¡¯s ice-blue eyes studied her, measuring something unseen. "How far would you go to uncover the truth?" "You there!" Keith Shadis'' voice sliced through the air like a blade. The cadets stiffened as he pointed at a blond-haired, blue-eyed boy. "Who are you?" "Armin Arlert, from Shiganshina!" "Yeah? That¡¯s a stupid name." Shadis barely waited for a reaction before continuing. His sharp gaze scrutinised Armin, then he scoffed. "Did your parents actually give you that name?" His tone was filled with mockery. It was clear¡ªthis man wasn¡¯t going to go easy on anyone. After a moment, he moved on. His piercing stare landed on someone else. "Who are you?!" Vivienne¡¯s breath hitched. She hadn¡¯t expected to be called out so soon, but she quickly straightened, raising her arm across her chest in a firm military salute. "Vivienne D''Aubigne, from Mitras!" The silence that followed was heavy. She could feel the weight of dozens of eyes on her. Of course, she was probably the only recruit here from the capital. Shadis scoffed. "I see. A noble from the interior who wants to be a hero, is that it?" Before she could even attempt a response, his voice rose to a bark. "Listen up! You¡¯ll get no special treatment just because your family has money!" Vivienne clenched her jaw but kept quiet. She had expected this. Her background would always be a target, but she wasn''t here for privilege¡ªshe was here to prove herself. Shadis had already turned to the next person. "Who are you?" "Jean Kirschtein, from Trost!" Jean had spiky brown hair, shaved in an undercut with the shorter parts a darker shade. Another boy from Trost. When Shadis demanded to know why he was here, Jean hesitated only slightly before answering. "To join the Military Police and live a comfortable life in the interior." Vivienne¡¯s eyes flickered towards him. One of them. Should she judge him for it? Her uncle had been mocked for joining the Survey Corps. Yet, as someone who had grown up in safety, it felt hypocritical to condemn those who sought the same security. "Oh, I see," Shadis sneered. "You want access to the interior?" Jean¡¯s mouth curled into a confident smile. "Yes." Shadis responded with a headbutt. Jean crumpled to his knees. Vivienne wasn¡¯t sure whether to find his honesty impressive or ridiculous. "Who said you could sit down?! If you can¡¯t handle that, you¡¯ll never make it to the Military Police!" She wasn''t sure she agreed with those words. From what she had seen, it didn¡¯t take much to become one of those officers. The way some of them strutted around, drunk on authority, made her doubt their competence entirely. Shadis continued. Another cadet stepped forward¡ªMarco, another who wanted to join the Military Police. Then came Connie, a boy from Wall Rose. Vivienne barely had time to process how easily Shadis lifted him clean off the ground by his head. His voice thundered across the field. "This salute shows your determination to give your whole heart to the people!" All eyes shifted to the side. A girl was biting into a potato. Vivienne blinked. Is she¡­ seriously eating? For a moment, she could only stare. She had expected the others to see her as a spoiled brat, the privileged girl from Mitras. But even she knew that eating at a moment like this was beyond inappropriate. The girl, however, continued to chew, completely unfazed. It didn¡¯t take long for Shadis to storm over. "You! Who are you?" he bellowed. The girl swallowed, snapped to attention and saluted¡ªwith the potato still in her hand. "Sasha Blouse, from Dauper, sir!" Shadis¡¯ eyes narrowed. "And what are you holding in your right hand?" "A boiled potato!" she said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "The kitchen had a fresh batch, and I couldn¡¯t resist." Vivienne exchanged a look with the cadets beside her. Is she serious? Nobody spoke. The silence stretched on. Then, as if to break the tension, Sasha tore off a piece of the potato and offered it to Shadis. He took it. Stared at it. And as punishment, made her run laps. A lot of them. Vivienne exhaled slightly. What could possibly go wrong?