Ch. 5 Apprentice

" What are you reading?" Carla asked as she washed her hands.

" Huh, oh, this isn't a book. It's a journal I that write and draw in." I replied.

" Oh, what do you draw?"

" Mostly people I meet, places I gone to and animals I saw." I replied as I flipped the book to see the drawings of my parents. It was my first drawing, and it looked crappy but I had other books dedicated to my drawings of them to level my skill up.

I closed it before Carla could get a peek.

" Aww..." She pouted as she went back to cooking.

" We're back!" I heard Eren entering through the door along with Grisha, who was surprised to see me.

" Oh? Did you finally agree to stay with us?" He smiled.

" No, but I'm here to keep my up with my lessons." I replied as I looked at Eren, taking a seat across me.

" Cain! You should've seen this guy who had eye popped–Ah!"

" Not at the dinner table, Eren." Carla pulled his ear before going back to dinner.

" Well, I'm sure it was interesting. But please refrain from bringing up gross stuff at the dinner table." I said, agreeing with Carla.

" What? You're eating with us?" He asked.

" Free food. Besides, this is made by the greatest cook in Shiganshina." I shrugged.

This caused Carla to smile as she placed food on the table in front of us.

" Why, thank you, Cain." Carla smiled cheerfully.

" It seems you've gotten better." Grisha smiled with relief as Carla sat down with him as we began eating.

This was the start of getting better, and I also began realizing that I've been more open and talkative as well. Maybe it's my way of handling my grief or a chance to be better.

I didn't know, but it wasn't a bad thing. Sure, it felt weird and difficult, but I saw these guys as my second family.

' Maybe this is what I've been searching for all my life.' I thought as I saw my old self wandering the battlefield of no man's land.

" Cain?"

" Hm?" I looked up to see Carla's worried face.

" What's wrong?" I asked, looking at the two couples.

" We are wondering what you'll be doing from now on?" Grisha answered.

" I think I'll move out of my house for a while... probably go live in my grandparents' old home. And I'll also keep studying medicine."

" Ah, I see. So you wish to keep being my apprentice." Grisha nodded before opening his mouth again.

" What are you or should I say. How are you going to take care of yourself?" He asked.

" I can handle myself." I replied as I focused on eating, which stopped Grisha from asking anymore.

***

[ Herbology ] (B)

[ Requirement: +10 Intelligence, +7 Luck]

[ Level 14 ]

( 70% chance of finding a (S) grade herb, 7% chance of finding a (SS) Herb, 0.7% chance of finding a (SSS) herb.)

[ Chemist ] (B)

[ Requirement: +11 intelligence ]

[ Level 13 ]

( +65% speed boost when crafting drugs. -65% item waste when crafting.)

[ Medic ] (A)

[ Requirement: +12 Intelligence, +9 Agility]

[ Level 5 ]

( 25% increase in speed when healing a wound. 25% chance of success of saving a patient from death.)

I equipped these three skills on the skill slots after looking into my system book.

" Hmm, you have improved at a fast rate." Grisha praised as he saw the stitches and bandages on the dead rabbit that we used as practice.

" Well, it seems it's finally time for you to start with small wounds, we have a client tomorrow that has an son that accidentally fell from a tree a few days ago, we'll check on them again." He said.

I nodded stepper away from the dead rabbit and was about to leave the room when I looked back at him.

" Right, you wouldn't mind helping me move stuff with your carriage." I asked, surprising Grisha. It must've been an odd or a surprise to see me asking for help.

" Well, I wouldn't mind lending a hand." He smiled. After that, I left the Yeager household as Carla waved by the door while Eren yawned.

***

" You have a lot of books." Grisha commented on the amount of crates we put onto the carriage.

" Most of these books came from you." I replied as I put the last crate onto the carriage.

" Is that all?" He asked as he saw the amounts of crates I have.

" Yes." I nodded.

" Only seven?"

" ...yes." I replied, only looking at the crates that are filled with books and clothes.

" Alright then, hop on." Grisha said as he climbed the carriage and held the reins of the horses as I followed and sat on the other side.

I took one last glance at my home before looking forward.

" So, what are you going to do up at this cabin of yours?" He glanced at me as I crossed my arms and closed my eyes as I enjoyed the warm sun on my skin.

I felt tired, and I could feel myself falling asleep and let my let myself as I enjoyed the small warm breeze in the air.

This was it... the peace that I so longed for. No longer was the sky burning as ashes fell. Bullets and bombs no longer filling my ears, instead birds chirping filled its place.

And the best thing is those dreams became less and more vivid in my memories that I began to forget about them. Including the good memories...

***

" Cain, Wake up." I as shaken awake by Grisha. I rubbed my eyes before jumping off the carriage and observed the old house surrounded by dense trees.

The house was surrounded by a forest and looked a little old, but I remembered my father speaking about this house when he told me about my grandparents.

" Thank you Dr. Yeager." I looked at Grisha who smiled.

" Of course. Let me help you unpack."

" Thanks." I accepted as we both took a crate and entered the house.

" This place really needs to be cleaned." I muttered as I observed the dust and webs in the house.

Grisha nodded as we placed the crates on the floorbefore going for the rest.

" I think that should be it, I can do the rest." I stopped Grisha.

" Is that alright?" He asked.

" Yes, I'll probably be bust for the next few days cleaning and rearranging the house." I replied as i walked Gridha out the door.

" Well, if you need anything you can always stop by." He said before leaving as I closed the door behind him.

" Sigh...cough cough! Damn dust!!"