The day of the 104th Cadet Corps graduation had finally arrived.

After years of blood, bruises, sleepless nights, and countless hours of training, the reality of it all had finally begun to sink in. You stood among the remaining cadets, shoulder to shoulder with the other members of the Top Ten.

Ten soldiers. Ten names that had risen above the rest.

And yours was second.

Only Mikasa Ackerman had ranked higher.

Despite the hundreds of eyes fixed upon you, your expression remained composed.

The atmosphere was suffocating.

Cadets shifted nervously beside you, boots scraping against the ground as whispers died the moment Erwin Smith stepped forward.

Behind him stood the higher-ranking officers—Levi, Hange, Mike, Shadis, and the others. Their presence alone was enough to remind every cadet standing there exactly what waited beyond these walls.

Erwin continued his speech, his voice calm but commanding as he spoke of humanity, sacrifice, and the soldiers who would inevitably be lost.

Then Shadis stepped forward.

“Everyone, look at the Top Ten soldiers!”

His voice thundered across the ceremony grounds, silencing even the smallest murmur.

“These are the soldiers you should strive to become!”

One by one, the crowd’s attention shifted toward the ten of you.

You could feel hundreds of eyes crawling over your uniform.

Some looked at you with admiration.

Others with jealousy.

And a few with the quiet realization that, someday, they might have to follow orders from you.

You didn’t move.

You simply stared forward, expression unreadable, as Shadis continued.

“Remember their faces. Because from this day forward, they are no longer merely cadets.”

The wind swept across the field, tugging faintly at your uniform.

“They are soldiers of the Survey Corps.”