Other cadets behind the racing trio watched with a mix of awe and trepidation, Nara showing off his natural skill with the gear while Annella and Natalia barely kept up. It wasn’t long into Annella’s lead until they had reached a more branched area of the woods, making it harder to manoeuvre with speed unless one had amazing reflexes or years of training with the 3DMG.

With the race at the back of her mind, Annella slowed her pace so she could enjoy time to herself after spending time in people’s presence. She couldn’t help but think of her parents, who not long ago had flew past these very trees the same way she was doing it now. A small smile crept onto her face, her fists that had tightened on her trigger at the beginning now loosened as she relaxed. Natalia turned briefly; eyes squinted as she tried peering through her messy hair but didn’t slow down. Natalia knew the mousey girl needed space to herself every once in a while, especially since she had to deal with someone as energetic and boisterous as her. Instead, the brunette shrugged, promising to find the girl later [i]after she won the damn race[/i] and turned a sharp left, following behind the whooping blonde boy.

[i][color=f6989d]”Flying? Oh, my dear, it feels wonderful. I’ve never felt anything like it, being so free in the air!”[/color][/i]

Annella chuckled, now knowing exactly what her mother was talking about all those years ago. It was clichéd, but Annella wished she would never have to stop soaring in the air. Though, it made her wonder. [i]Is the Survey Corps truly the right thing for me…?[/i]

[i]No… of course it is.[/i]

[i][b]They’ll[/b] be disappointed in you if you don’t. And you’ve already hurt them once.[/i]

The bespectacled girl’s heart clenched in her chest, breathing heavily as she felt a sudden crushing weight on her shoulder.  Annella had to stop herself, standing on a high branch with a fist cradled to her chest as her eyes scrunched together to calm herself down. [i]Just thinking about [b]them[/b] hurts, doesn’t it? You’re [b]weak[/b]. You’re [b]selfish[/b]. [b]You don’t deserve th[/b][/i]---

[color=bc8dbf]“Shut up!”[/color] The girl brought her hands to her ears, to stop the toxic voices seeping into her mind. Annella’s breathing became uneven, pain flowing through her veins as her mind repeated two words over and over.

[b]Weak.[/b]

[b]Selfish.[/b]

It [i]hurt[/i], but the girl didn’t know how to make it stop. There was only one way she could stop it, but it hurt her to choose that path. Her rational mind [i]knew[/i] that they wouldn’t want her to throw her life away in the Survey Corps, but she had no choice. She [i]had[/i] to repay them somehow, to repent for being such a selfish child.

There was no way she could disappoint them again, even in death the thoughts of her parents wouldn’t leave her alone…

…after all, she was still too weak and selfish.