A/N: Hello, readers! Welcome to the prologue! This takes place after Isabel and Farlan died. Enjoy!

edited on april 18th, 2021 @ 12:06pm

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𝓟𝚁𝙾𝙻𝙾𝙶𝚄𝙴,
𝓞𝚁𝙸𝙶𝙸𝙽𝚂.

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A TWELVE YEAR OLD JULIAN Kirstein flinched when the instructor had yelled at a trainee for misbehaving. "Jeez, I feel bad for the poor girl." A boy with dark hair and brown eyes shivered. He looked over to Julian. "I'm Marcus. Marcus Bolt." He introduced himself.

"Julian Kirstein." Julian greeted back.

"Well, Jules." Marcus teased as Julian rolled his eyes at the girlish nickname. "What military branch are you planning on joining after we graduate?"

"Eh? I actually don't know." Julian replied.

"You don't know?"

Julian blinked. "Is that a bad thing?" He questioned.

"No, no. Sorry, I'm just shocked is all. Most people who enlist in the military already have a branch in their mind that they want to join." Marcus responded. "For example, I'm joining the Military Police."

A girl with short silver hair and golden eyes scoffed on the other side of Julian. "You have a problem?" Marcus asked her.

"The Military Police are a huge joke. They may be the most prestigious sector but they're also the most laziest. Half of them don't even take their job seriously." The girl said.

"I'm Maya Yamatazi, by the way." The girl added to Julian, who just nodded.

"Which branch do you plan on joining, Maya?" Julian asked.

"Me? I'm gonna join the Garrison. They guard and maintain the walls. I also have connections due to my older brother being in the branch." Maya answered.

"At least it's not the Survey Corps." Marcus said.

"That's one thing we can agree on." Maya agreed. "You have to be insane to join them. Joining them is like signing up for your death."

"Cadets! Are you talking?"

Marcus and Maya stopped talking when they heard the instructor's voice. "That's what our mouths are for, sir. And to be honest, you are quite boring." Julian spat back making Marcus and Maya look at him with shock.

"You! What's your name?"

Julian put his right hand behind his back while his left fist was on his chest, doing the salute. "Julian Kirstein from Trost District, sir!" He replied.

"You have some nerve don't you?" The instructor questioned.

"Leave him alone." A cold voice told him. The instructor just scoffed and moved on.

Julian saw a man with short, straight black hair styled in an undercut curtain, as well as narrow, intimidating dull gray eyes with dark circles under them and a deceptively youthful face.

"Who's that?" Julian questioned. Marcus and Maya gaped at him. "Did I say something wrong?"

"You mean to tell me you don't know Levi?" Marcus asked, shocked. "He's quite famous in the Survey Corps. He's called Humanity's Strongest Soldier, or something like that."

"I don't think I ever met anyone who didn't know him." Maya added with Marcus nodding in agreement.

"Don't even think about it." Marcus said, seeing the look on Julian's face.

"Huh?"

"I heard Levi doesn't get close with anyone. The chances you have of him noticing you is slim."

Julian smirked. "Then I guess I have to make him notice me then." He said.

Marcus and Maya both looked at each other as they sighed.

This wasn't gonna end well.

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"I have an idea." Julian said a few days later.

"That's never a good thing coming from you." Marcus and Maya said in unison as Julian just huffed.

"You two are so rude." Julian told them. "Levi's watching training. I'm gonna go challenge him."

"You really are dumb, you know that?"

Julian looked at him. "Listen, I told Jean that no matter what branch I end up joining, I would climb to the top and get respect. I want to work hard to make him proud of me. You'd do the same for Marco, wouldn't you?" He questioned.

Marcus sighed. The male who became his best friend in just a few days had a point. "Alright. Just be careful okay?" He told him.

"Always am, Mar."

"Hey, shorty!" Julian called out to Levi, getting the other trainees attention.

"Cadet Kirstein, what can I do for you?" Levi asked.

"I want you to spar with me." Julian responded. "If I win, you have to mentor me."

"And if you lose?"

"I'll leave that up to you." Julian replied as he smirked. They ended up getting the rest of the cadets attention.

"Kirstein is sparing with Corporal Levi?"

"He's asking for a death wish..."

Levi took off his jacket, throwing it into another cadet's arms. "Oh Humanity's Strongest is getting serious." Julian teased.

Julian got into a fighting stance as he headed towards Levi. He aimed to punch him but instead Levi grabbed his wrist and flipped him over, sending Julian to the ground. This cause the cadets to laugh.

"What an amazing home run."

"Hey, Kirstein! How does the dirt taste?"

"Expect to do lots of cleaning." Levi said as he took his jacket from one of the cadets and walked away.

"You okay, Jules?" Marcus asked.

"Yeah, I'm good." Julian replied as Marcus pulled him up.

"He's so cool..." Julian thought, thinking about Levi.

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"I don't wanna say I told you so, but I told you so." Marcus was saying at dinner.

"Heard you got your ass kicked by Levi, Kirstein." A male with blonde hair and green eyes taunted.

"Fuck off, Felix." Marcus growled.

"You don't talk to me like that, Bolt. Especially since you were just like Kirstein here. Your face was met with the dirt when we spared." Felix said, getting into Marcus' face.

"Are you expecting to join the Military Police when you can't even throw a punch—"

That's when Julian got up and pinned Felix to the table. "I don't care if you bully me but go after my best friend and I'll make you regret it." He said.

Marcus looked at him with shock. Then smiled.  "I may have only met him a few days ago, but he does look like he'll make a great leader one day. I really hope he comes to the Military Police with me." He thinks to himself.

"Cadet Kirstein!"

Julian turned around to see Levi right behind him. "Sir, I was—" Julian began.

"Meet me for your first lesson tomorrow." Levi interrupted and left. Julian blinked in confusion.

"What just happened?"

"I think Levi just became your mentor."

The next day, Julian had met with Levi with his ODM gear in the forest. "Alright, what's the first lesson?" He asked.

"I want you to follow me." Levi responded.

"Huh?" Julian exclaimed. He had heard stories that Levi was a master when it came to ODM gear. "Are you kidding me? I won't be able to keep up!"

"I don't kid, Kirstein." Levi said as he took off.

"W-Wait, you bastard!"

Julian quickly moved from tree to tree trying to tail Levi. "Is he trying to test my speed or something? Argh! No time to think! I gotta catch up with him!" He thought.

Julian landed right beside Levi. "What are these?" He questioned, looking up at the cardboard.

"Titan dummies. I want to see how good you are with taking one down." Levi replied.

Julian said nothing as he used his gear to hop onto one of the tree branches, looking down at the makeshift Titan. He took out his blades and hopped down, cutting the nape of the cardboard Titan and finally landing in front of Levi.

Levi looked impressed, at least, that's what Julian thought. "Turns out you do have potential, Kirstein." Levi complimented.

Julian scoffed. "Can you please stop addressing me by my last name? It's weird." He informed.

"What do you want me to call you then?"

"You can call me Jude. If you'd like." Julian responded, looking away as he blushed.

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Three years have passed since Julian was being mentored by Levi. He was able to catch up with him using the ODM gear and was able to make fast cuts on the cardboard Titans. Soon enough, graduation would be coming up.

Julian sighed tiredly as he sat down across from Marcus and Maya. "You seem to be getting better, Julian. Heck you even threw Felix to the ground while sparing with him yesterday." Maya stated.

"I've been so busy training with Levi, I forgot graduation was coming to a close." Julian said.

"Speaking of." Marcus began. "Have you decided which branch you're gonna join?"

"I'm telling you, it's gonna be Garrison."

"I'm the best friend! He's joining the Military Police with me!"

"I'm his best friend as well!"

"I met him first!"

"Yeah, actually I have decided." Julian responded. Marcus and Maya looked at him.

"Well?" Marcus and Maya said in unison.

Julian smiled and crossed his arms. "I've decided to join the Survey Corps." He announced.

"Huh?!"

Marcus stood up. "You can't be serious, right? That's suicide! Come with me to the Military Police. At least there you'll be saf—"

"What? Be safer? Is that what you were about to say?" Julian questioned. "If I do that, I'm basically a coward."

"Your obsession with Levi is getting to your head. Think of Jean! Do you want him to be without a brother?"

"I'm not obessed with him. I respect him as a person, there's a difference!" Julian yelled. "And I am thinking of Jean. I want him to live in a world where we're free from the Titans, and I'm going to help us get that freedom. I won't be much help if I just enjoy a peaceful life because it's 'safe.' Nothing you say or do will change my mind."

Marcus scoffed. "Fine. Then consider this friendship over, Julian." He said with his voice laced with venom.

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"You're the only one?"

Shadis was looking at the only person who was willing to join the Survey Corps; Julian Kirstein.

His classmates had joined either the Military Police or the Garrison. With Julian graduating first in his class, Shadis expected him to join the Military Police, not the Survey Corps.

"Yes, sir!"

"I see. So, if I say "die", you're ready to die, right, soldier?" Shadis questioned.

"I'm prepared to sacrifice my life, sir!" Julian responded.

Shadis closed his eyes and then opened them. "You do look the part." He said. "Okay then! From now on, you're apart of the Scout Regiment. Now salute! And do it like you really mean it!"

Julian moved his left fist onto his heart. "Yes, sir!" He shouted.

Julian walked into the Scouts HQ with everyone looking at him.

"I heard he's the only one who chose to join the Survey Corps."

"You're kidding, right? Out of his whole class?"

"I'm not. All of his classmates either joined the Military Police or Garrison."

"I also heard that Levi had mentored him. Perhaps that's what made his decision."

"Hello! I'm Hange Zoë. You must be the new and only Scout." Hange greeted. "Your uniform is in your room, follow me."

Julian walked into a room. He thanked them as Hange went on their way after dropping him off. Julian just stared at the green cape that was folded neatly. He placed it down and spotted the tan jacket that all the other Scouts were wearing with the Wings of Freedom insignia on the pocket as well as the back.

Julian put his jacket on as it russled loudly when he did so. "Huh. Never did I think I would join the Scouts. Perhaps it was Levi's influence after all." He thinks to himself.

"It looks good on you." Julian turned around to see Levi standing in the doorway.

"Did Humanity's Strongest just compliment me?"

"Don't get used to it, brat." Levi replied as Julian snickered. "Why did you decide to join the Survey Corps? You were the only one."

"I don't want to have a peaceful life and just hide in cowardliness. If I can do something to save humanity, then I'm gonna do it." Julian answered. "There's one thing I'm certain of, I don't want to witness only one person joining the Scouts anymore."

Levi stayed silent for a moment. "We're going on an expedition in a few days." He finally said. "You're gonna be with me."

Julian just nodded as Levi left. He took a deep breath. He may have lost his friends, but he knew the decision he made was a good one.

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A few days later, Julian was in his green cape and was next to Levi. They were waiting for the gate to open.

"Jude." Levi began as Julian hummed in response.

"Don't you die on me."

Julian was shocked, but smiled. "Same goes to you, Levi." He said back.

The gate opened as the Scouts headed out, following Shadis. They were riding for a while, no Titans in sight as they went into formation.

"Switch to ODM gear!"

Everyone did so as they left their horses somewhere safe and activated their gear.

"Titan sighted!"

Julian looked over to see a 11 meter Titan. "I got it!" He informed as he headed towards the Titan.

Julian attached one of the wires to the Titan as he cut the nape in a flash, sending it to the ground.

"You're quite fast." Levi commented.

Julian looked at him and smirked. "I learned from the best." He stated. "Though, I finally understand why you wanted me to hold my blades like you do. It's a lot easier to cut the Titan's nape."

Levi spotted Julian holding his blades like he did. "Tch, and you used to complain about it too." He said.

"Not my fault! At first, it was uncomfortable as hell. But I got used to it in the end." Julian complained.

"Jude?"

"Hmm?"

"Welcome to the Survey Corps."

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It had been years since Julian made the decision to join the Survey Corps. He decided to take a ride throughout the town.

He rode to the main square of Wall Rose. Where the survivors of Wall Maria were at. He slowly went down the trail as people were getting breakfast. Julian saw the dull look in the people's eyes as they got bread from the Garrison Regiment.

"They are a waste of space!" Julian heard a Garrison soldier exclaim. He jerked his head over at the two soldiers with shock. There were two guards, looking at the people with disgust.

"Yeah... Look at them all homeless."

"It pities me, we have to take care of these stinking people." The two soldiers kept criticizing the survivors. Julian stopped his horse and stared at the two in silence.

"They call themselves the Garrison Regiment? I really hope May didn't end up like these guys. Then again, she would take her job seriously." Julian thought as he hopped off his horse and gave the reins to a Garrison soldier. Julian looked at the soldiers again to see something that made him intervene.

A couple of kids were talking to those guards and one of them punched them to the ground.

Julian stormed over to the guard with a glare. "I usually don't put myself in these situations and usually ignore them, but if it involves kids, I have no choice but to intervene." He thinks to himself.

"...We can cut off your food—" The guard spoke with a smirk until he saw Julian. "What do you— Gah!"

Julian grabbed the guard's wrist and flipped him over, sending him to the ground. The people around them stared in horror. Julian pressed his foot down on the guard's chest.

"A-Ah..."

"You call yourselves the Garrison Regiment?" Julian questioned, narrowing his eyes. "Because all I see is a pair of idiots who think they are superior compared to these people, which I find disgusting."

"W-Who do you think you are tryin' to act all big?" The other guard, the one who Julian didn't tackle, yelped in fear and anger.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, what's going on here?" Julian heard a voice chim in. It was a tall, well-built man with short blond hair, a thin dark mustache, and brown eyes. Julian glanced to see that he was apart of the Garrison Regiment.

"What's going— huh?" He turned pale upon seeing Julian. "S-Section Commander Julian! What brings you here?"

"I'm just strolling through town, and I see this guard beating up a kid?!" Julian replied, pointing to the guard. "What kind of Regiment are you?"

"I-I sincerely apologize, Section Commander. I'll take care of this issue."

"Are you their leader?" Julian asked and watched him approach him, reeking of alcohol.

"Y-Yes. Squad Leader Hannes."

"You aren't supervising your guards?" Julian questioned.

"Because he drinks a lot." One of the kids answered. Julian turned to look at the boy who responded; blonde hair and blue eyes. The leader, Hannes, turned white.

"I can tell." Julian responded and glanced at Hannes. "Keep your soldiers in control because these two idiots are harassing kids for no reason."

"They were talkin' bad about us!" The other guard defended them.

"Because you are degrading people around you just because they're victims of a tragedy." Julian snapped at the guard who turned pale at his response.

"D-Don't worry about it, Section Commander. I will handle them." Hannes reassured as he dragged the two guards away. Julian sighed as he looked at the kid on the ground who looked at him with awe and respect.

"You alright, kid?" Julian questioned.

"Y-Yes!" The boy squeaked out. "U-Uhm... You're a Section Commander at the Survey Corps?" He asked, looking at the Wings of Freedom insignia on Julian's right shoulder.

"Yes." Julian nodded.

"That's so cool!" He squeaked with excitement. "I-I want to join the Survey Corps and kill all the titans too!"

"Eren!" A female came in with worry. "You can't!"

"You can't tell me what to do, Mikasa!" The boy, who Julian guessed was Eren, spoke back to the female, who was Mikasa. "Besides, you told me you'll go wherever I go, right? And I want to be with the Survey Corps!"

"Don't mind him." The blonde boy said with a smile. "They're always like this..."

"So this isn't anything new to you?" Julian questioned.

"Yeah." He nodded. "Thank you for defending us."

"It was really cool!" Eren jumped with excitement in his eyes. "You really taught them a lesson!"

"Thanks..." Mikasa mumbled.

"Of course. I have a younger brother around your age. I couldn't stand by and watch. I just hope you're not injured." Julian looked over at Eren who was so hyper he doubt that he wasn't injured.

"Well, I should get going." Julian sighed and ruffled Eren's hair. "Keep that motivation, Eren. I hope to see you and your friends in the Survey Corps when the time comes."

"Thank you! And you will!" He beamed with excitement.

The three of them followed Julian to his horse and bid him farewell as he took off. "Such adorable kids. If only Jean was like that instead of being a little shit." Julian thought.

Though, there was something about Eren that made him feel uneasy.

He wasn't sure what it was, but that young boy will play an important role if he ever goes through with his plan and joins the Survey Corps.

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A/N: The prologue is finally done! Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 3285 words.