The truth of freedom

Takashi tonight slept with his disordered memories, what were those memories that spontaneously arose when Christa asked him about a mother's love? 

Those memories he didn't get when he woke up in Takashi's body, which brings him to a crazy reality sensitive to his past. He couldn't understand but knew there was something hidden, something that could change things for good or bad for him in the future. 

Knowing it was something he could not control, he went to bed and tried to sleep to appease those strange feelings. 

... 

Some time later, Eren had an indescribable feeling, after laying out his bed he said, "I'm leaving this place, I don't know if I'll have a chance to come back." 

"Maybe we won't.... After all, we will graduate and do an internship in the Trost district for about two to three months." Armin said as he packed a set of uniforms in his backpack. In the blink of an eye, three years had passed. 

"Yes, the days of peace are coming to an end...." Takashi folded the quilt and knew that war would soon come. Therefore, he was mentally worried. 

"I can go home every day in the future, but I am very indisposed to leave this place." Thomas sighed with emotion. 

Today was the end of January 850. As far as Takashi knew, they would have to do an internship in the Trost district and work together with the Garrison corps for a few months. In mid-April of this year, there will be a graduation ceremony and in the next few days, the graduating cadets of the training corps will have the opportunity to select a corps from among the three corps. 

The four of them packed their luggage, closed the dormitory door and walked to the stable in silence. 

On the way, there were soldiers busy carrying luggage back and forth. This time, they would not return after leaving this station surrounded by desolation. 

Takashi took out his horse Babas and arrived at the large courtyard with Eren and the others, instructor Keith was already waiting for them silently. 

"We are about to leave, but I find that I can't bear to part with this ghost place." 

"Yes, we can finally become a soldier." 

"Okay, you can come back if you decide to become an instructor later."

"Forget it, first think about how much life you have, then you will decide." 

All the soldiers in training talked about it, here they spent an unforgettable time, and finally it was time to say goodbye to this place. 

After waiting for everyone to arrive, Keith looked at the training corps soldiers in the audience and shouted, "Are you ready?, now let's go!" 

Instructor Keith took the initiative and hurried to the Trost district. Takashi and the others also got on their horses. Takashi had a determined look on his face. He is not sad to leave this place, he is eager to start his own fight in this world. 

Some time later, a group of people arrived at the Trost district through the gate. They were all familiar with this place because they had been here once. 

After being assigned housing, the recruits began their internship careers. 

Primary duties included patrolling the streets, maintaining law and order, repairing and maintaining the cannons, fortifying, and patrolling the walls.

Of course, the soldiers in the garrison were actually quite free. Those seniors left all the dirty work to the soldiers who were still conscripts. In addition to simple training every day, they drank and played cards. 

This is still now. If it had been five years ago, it would have been a headache. 

The city wall is about 50 meters high. 

"Turns out the internship is so easy" Connie wiped the barrel with a cloth. 

"In fact, even if the seniors handed us the job, it's just a few simple things." Marco said with a smile. 

"Hey, look, is that a titan, it's so big!" Thomas reached the edge of the wall and leaned over to see a titan over ten meters tall underneath the city wall clutching touching the wall with his hands. 

"Yes, is it a titan? I've never seen a creature that big before."  Sasha looked at the giant under the wall in surprise. 

Although the students actually had some understanding of titans after taking the theory class, they were a bit surprised when they saw real titans for the first time. 

"Even an elephant is no match for these creatures." Takashi thought silently as he patrolled the ramparts. It should be known that elephants are three to four meters tall and these titans are ten meters tall, one of these things could even kick an elephant as if it were a ball. 

"Can humans really defeat such a monster?" Daz's forehead began to sweat, the difference in body shape is too great, these things don't have a vital point except for the back of the neck, every attack on the body can regenerate in a matter of minutes.

"Of course we can win. We have a three-dimensional maneuvering team, so we can definitely win!" Eren stood next to the wall. 

"Titans aren't wooden stakes, and they won't wait for you to stupidly cut them down, you fucking idiot!" Jean fiercely scolded Eren. 

"Huh? A coward spoke to me, go to the inner city then you idiot..." Eren wasn't going to be left behind, and his mouth was sweet. 

They all looked at each other in dismay. Come on, let's watch the aunts' fighting show again. However, Armin stopped them in time, "Don't argue, the soldiers are here." 

At this moment, some soldiers from the garrison corps approached, smelling of alcohol. 

"New recruits, what are you doing? Hurry up and go to work." 

"Oh they're looking at the titans haha don't worry they can't get in." A burly soldier said with a confident expression.

"That's right, it's just a few titans. Even if they get in, I'll tear them apart." A middle-aged, brown-haired garrison soldier patted his chest and said confidently. 

They were actually quite worried at first, but it had been five years since the super titans had appeared, so they eventually relaxed. 

The recruits didn't talk much and ran to check the fort, they had been here for almost two months and now it was March 850. 

In the past two months, they didn't know how many times they had heard the nonsense from these seniors, and they were used to it by now. According to what they said, the titans were just a piece of cake, and they couldn't even do anything to the Trost if the titans from that time showed up again. 

All the newcomers have expressed their knowledge, and they were relieved to see that everything was still normal. 

The garrison corps soldier was not angry as he watched the recruits walk away. "This is fun, they can believe anything we tell them and even if they don't believe us, they will listen carefully." 

The brown-haired soldier chuckled. "They must think we're alcoholic bums, they're still too tender, if humanity really needs soldiers to fight, the Survey corps is the place to be." 

"I don't want to experience that kind of hell five years ago again. It is better that this peaceful life can continue, even if I am scolded as a waste, I will acknowledge it." The garrison soldier said with lingering fears that he had seen the scene of titans devouring people back then, and often had nightmares.

Takashi's squad had walked to the other side of the ramparts, looking at the vast passage in the distance. 

They patrolled for a while and found a place to sit down. 

"Today is another day of peace. After staying in one place for a long time, it's easy for people to immerse themselves in their own world and forget the true face of the world." Takashi said with a smile. 

"I feel very good about this kind of life." 

Christa looked out into the sunset. The sunset dyed half the sky red, and the cold wind was pleasant. She remembered when she was on the farm. During that time, she was sitting alone on the lawn, watching the sunrise. 

She had no friends, and every time she wanted to hang out, kids her age threw stones at her. Compared to before, at least her friends are here, and it would be better without this giant wall. 

"In fact, there is nothing wrong with a peaceful and stable life. Humans are actually very strange animals. Many people have never traveled very far and have spent their whole lives in one place, and they don't feel that they are not free." 

"But if he knew that he is only allowed to stay in this place and cannot leave for the rest of his life, he would feel tied down. Even though he would never have left this place if it was the first case."

Christa tilted her head and looked at the smiling Takashi with wide eyes, "Why do people think like that?" 

"It's very simple, because the former is the way of life he chooses himself, and the latter doesn't give him the right to choose, so even if they live the same life, the feeling it produces is different." 

Christa put her chin on her hand, "You mean freedom is the right to choose?" 

"I think so, many people don't want the vast world and don't have to travel around the world to feel free. People just want to be able to choose the lifestyle they like without feeling a restriction on their bodies." 

Christa smiled, she hoped that someday she too would be able to choose the life she wanted. 

Ymir looked at Takashi and said nothing, she still remembered the words he said to her a long time ago. 

A month ago... 

"The wall will be destroyed by the titans that can change from human to titan in a few months, I don't know when but it's about to happen." Takashi said with a cold expression. 

"How do you know, do you even know who are the ones who attacked the wall Maria?" Ymir asked with a serious expression. 

"No, but we must be prepared. The only thing you must do is stay in my sight, I will take care of protecting them if the opportunity comes, as long as you do what I say in the next few days, you can live the life you want without people fearing you because of your power." Takashi left the room before leaving those words. 

Back at the wall, Ymir thought about her life outside of this place and everything he knew that she hadn't told Takashi yet. "If you can protect me, then I will trust you fully, Takashi."