Attack on Titans: Titans Edge

The day's training had been grueling. The 104th Cadet Corps had spent hours in the heat, running drills, sparring, and enduring harsh critiques from their instructors. By the time the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the camp, most of the cadets were worn out, their muscles sore and their minds exhausted.

Lorien sat at the table in the mess hall, his eyes fixed on his food, his hand absently stirring the stew in his bowl. He had grown accustomed to the daily grind of the training camp. His thoughts were steady and methodical, as he always sought to assess his progress, his strategies, and how he could become stronger.

Mikasa sat beside him, her usual air of quiet intensity never wavering. She barely spoke, as was her nature, but Lorien knew the exhaustion was just as deep in her as it was in him. Across from them sat Eren, his usual energy absent for the moment, though it was clear he was restless, tapping his foot and occasionally casting glances at Jean.

"You're slow today," Jean's voice broke through the silence, his eyes narrowing as he studied Eren, who was glaring back at him.

Eren, clearly frustrated from the day's training, snapped back. "I'm not slow. You're just too quick to judge."

Jean's lips curled into a smirk. "Maybe you should focus on that instead of thinking you stand a chance against Titans. You might survive the first year without embarrassing yourself."

The tension between the two was palpable, the air thick with unspoken rivalry. Mikasa, sensing the brewing storm, shot a look at Lorien, who didn't seem to notice. He was already accustomed to these small confrontations, knowing how they typically played out. Eren would throw a punch, Jean would retaliate, and the rest of them would have to step in and break it up before it escalated further.

And that's exactly what happened.

Eren, unable to control his temper, lunged at Jean, knocking over his bowl in the process. The skirmish was brief, but intense, and the mess hall erupted into chaos as cadets stood up, trying to separate the two.

Lorien stood from his seat, his calm expression not wavering. His hands remained at his sides as he stepped between Eren and Jean, pushing them apart with a quiet strength that came naturally to him. His presence alone seemed to have a sobering effect. Jean's irritation faltered, and Eren, for a brief moment, hesitated, his anger dissipating under Lorien's steady gaze.

"You both need to calm down," Lorien said, his voice low but firm. "This isn't the time or place for this."

There was no need for further words. Eren grumbled but backed off, taking his seat once more. Jean muttered something under his breath but didn't push the issue further. Mikasa, noticing the shift, gave Lorien a small nod of approval before returning to her food.

A few cadets, including Armin and Sasha, watched the scene from a distance, but Lorien knew it wasn't worth making a big deal out of. Jean and Eren had clashed countless times, but today had been different. Today, Lorien had been the anchor, preventing a volatile situation from spiraling.

At another table, far from the drama of Eren and Jean's clash, Annie Leonhart sat with a small group of cadets. Her eyes never quite focused on the others, instead scanning the room with a disinterested air. She didn't belong to the same circle as the loud, rowdy ones like Jean or the more impassioned Mikasa. Annie's demeanor was calm, calculated and always watching.

"Interesting," Bertolt said, looking toward the tension that had just subsided, his voice low enough to avoid drawing attention. "I didn't expect Lorien to intervene like that."

Annie's lips curled slightly, though it was not a smile. "He's not like the others. But you'd be wise to keep an eye on him. He's always calm, but there's something about him... something beneath the surface."

Bertolt nodded slowly, his brow furrowed in thought. "He's different from Eren, that's for sure. Eren's all fire, while Lorien... it's like he knows what's coming before it even happens."

Annie shrugged, tapping the edge of her cup against the table. "He's just aware. Some people are like that."

Reiner, sitting nearby, leaned in slightly, his voice laced with a hint of apprehension and curiosity. "Do you think he's going to stick with the others? He doesn't seem like the type to get caught up in all their petty rivalries."

Annie glanced briefly toward Lorien, who had returned to his meal, his posture relaxed but observant. "Maybe. But there's more to him than just being calm. He's dangerous. He doesn't act like he's here just to train. Watch him closely, and you might see it too."

The conversation drifted, but the undercurrent of suspicion and caution remained. As the cadets finished their meals, some of the more perceptive ones—like Annie—watched Lorien carefully, noting the subtle things that others might miss.

The rest of the meal passed in relative silence. Lorien didn't miss the quiet glances some cadets shot his way. His presence had become more notable over time. His reserved nature had earned him a measure of respect, and his uncanny ability to remain composed, even in the most tense situations, often made him a silent authority among the group.

As the dinner wound down, the cadets dispersed, heading to their barracks for the night. Lorien, feeling the weight of the day, stood up slowly, his muscles protesting. Mikasa had already left to see Eren, likely to ensure he wasn't brooding too much after the fight. Lorien, however, felt the need to be alone with his thoughts for a while.

Back in the barracks, he found his bunk and sat down heavily, letting out a slow breath. It had been a day full of minor skirmishes and exhausting drills, but there was something else lurking beneath the surface. Something he couldn't shake.

The upcoming mission—the first real test for all the cadets. It was approaching, and he could feel the weight of it. He wasn't the type to obsess over details, but his mind couldn't help but circle back to the inevitable event that would set everything in motion.

The Titans will breach the walls again, he thought, the images of that fateful day in Shiganshina resurfacing for a brief moment. And everything will change.

He pushed the thoughts away, unwilling to dwell on them. It wasn't time yet.

Instead, he turned his attention to the people around him—the ones who would play a role in the coming days. Eren, for all his recklessness, was driven. Mikasa, with her unwavering resolve, would be an asset. Armin, despite his self-doubt, showed a remarkable mind, and his heart was in the right place. Jean, though often dismissive of Eren, had a sense of pragmatism that Lorien could respect.

Sasha, with her hunger for food and her penchant for making others laugh, was more than just comic relief. Her skills in tracking and stealth would make her invaluable in a real fight. Connie, though not particularly intellectual, had a straightforward bravery that would make him a reliable ally when the time came.

Lorien ran a hand through his hair, his gaze drifting to the dimly lit window, the night stretching before him. He had always been good at adapting, at reading situations, understanding people. But this world was different. The stakes were higher here, and the uncertainty of what was to come made every decision, every action, feel heavier.

Tomorrow would be another day of training, another step toward the inevitable clash with the Titans. Lorien's role was clear: survive, protect Mikasa, and keep moving forward.

But he knew that the real battle had yet to begin, and everything they had trained for would soon be put to the test. The world was about to change again.

And when it did, he would be ready.

Lorien closed his eyes, the soft sounds of the barracks fading around him. Tomorrow was another day, and he would face it, just as he had every other challenge before.