•| Risk

Hello, and welcome to my blog!

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Now, here's another part of Apolonija's story that I decided to illustrate. This one takes place when the Scouts go into Marley. Apolonija would be acting of her own accord but would be a cruical piece in gathering intel. With the personas she carefully built over her time in Marley, she could go about anywhere, and even further than that with the help of Damian, an anti-Marley soldier who knows these grounds like the back of his hand.

The story here is a bit more lengthy than in my first manga pages post, so I'll be putting it beneath the page.

Grazia Agnesi is Apolonija's disguise/persona here, just to clear any possible confusion, they're not seperate people. Proof for the art will be in the comments this time.

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Sunny clad streets swam with people as stall workers sold their wares, yelling for exclusive deals of the morning. A baker in front of his stall waved his fist at a scrawny dog that tried to steal a loaf, and a small child slithered between crowds, cutting purses and taking coin, while another one acted as a distraction close by.

None of this escaped the young woman’s vision that appeared sullen and distant as she walked with no end goal in sight. Her white-haired companion sported a hat that covered most of his hair this time and a different style of Marleyan clothes to match her own with a silver serpent brooch at his breast. Apolonija never imagined herself going outside her precious island, but fate has pushed her far more than that. The rich blond wig she wore felt like hay on her head, and the clothes were not her taste, but it concealed her. All this unease Apolonija felt made Grazia’s sweet character, her tastes and style, and who was Apolonija to deny an opportunity to live in someone’s skin, even for a day? Just a day of some semblance of peace and exploration with no fear, getting respectful treatment unlike her eldian race inside the internment zones.

“You seemed quite comfortable in your bed this morning, too comfortable I’d say. Why did you come with me then?” - Apolonija directs her question at her companion who meets the side of her glare with a half-hearted smile, exhaling a breath of air and taking his sweet time in responding to her. Soon after she added: “Surely, there are better things for you to do other than to make my time harder?”

“Apo..Is it wrong for me to yearn for my own home from time to time? I may not like the people, but these streets did me no ill will” answered Damian, playing with the long tip of one of her golden braids, pinching it between his fingers before letting go as crowds got narrow once again. It made him grunt as he bumped into a stranger and it made her clutch onto the bag of baked goods in her arms. The answer did not satisfy Apolonija, and she only grew more irate of his presence and easy behavior. They were supposed to be and act undercover. They were in the heart of enemy lines, and the risk of him getting recognized was blown through the sky, yet he did not share her caution. “No, it’s not. But putting a whole team on the line for that little selfish desire is quite wrong” Apolonija scolded in a quieter tone, and she felt Damian lean in closer to her shoulder so he could hear, chuckling in response to her quip.

“If you fear so much, you will forsake the best part of this..” he whispered behind her and she had to stifle the urge to scold him further. She sighed, came to a stop and managed a tight smile. He stopped before her, knowing what her next words may be. Their outings always had quick endings, and every time he got better at predicting when it would come.

“Leave me. Just go. I had it up to here with you, Hakan. I’ll pick up the rest of the groceries and be back home before lunch” she added with silent hope in her tone that he’d listen, being a little more demanding and using his cover name, catching a few looks from some ersby. Standing in the middle of the town square near a beautiful fountain, with an equally beautiful statue of a conquered titan in the middle, framed the moment quite dramatically for something so minute. Damian suddenly looked apprehensive, confused by her words but as his gaze washed over the crowds in thought, something in his demeanor changed, and he agreed. Leaving her alone for once without a banter or outright refusal and teasing. Staring after him as he got swallowed by the sea of people she turned to take a look around, unsure which way to head first.

Her eyes quickly got caught onto a little group of young kids, dressed all in uniform and wearing yellow armbands. ‘Warrior Candidates’ Apolonija thought, watching them by the fountain, feeling her chest squeeze with unease. The smell of air they left behind pulled at her limbs, taunting her to go. Damian noted there was a recent mission they should be back from today, but she never counted on encountering them this close and wanted to turn back to find the silver-tongued man and retreat. With a small whisper of the wind in her ear, she thought back to what they found out about their prior comrades in arms - Reiner, Bertholdt and Annie were in this program too. She always looked from afar, and she wasn’t going to engage with them until her curiosity screamed at her legs to move.

This was such a risk, she scolded herself mentally, but noted there were no grown ups nearby, no official Warriors to watch over this little group of four. And for a moment Apolonija had herself think of them as nothing but unguarded sheep, and in her palms they might as well be.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here? The little spears of Marley, hm?” Grazia’s voice shone through, the voice Apolonija found herself practicing every so often. Her shadow fell over the children, having caught their attention sooner than her voice did. They were cut off in their chatter, and turned to look at her with different looks. She noted confusion, unease, relative calmness and hurry on each of their faces.

“Pray tell, what are you doing all the way out here at this hour? Aren’t you supposed to be back at base, or has the enemy gotten the best of you this time?” Grazia added with a tilt of her head, a motion the blonde kid of the bunch seemed to mirror subtly. The brunette girl perked, almost offended by her comment but she grit her teeth and huffed, a sudden wave of confidence and pride oozing off of her in abundance. “Actually, we just got back from the front lines, we were just talking about it, I will have you know, ma’am-” the girl started off strong but stuttered, “-and what would you even know of our missions anyway?” she added, while her taller friend tried to silence her. He pointed to Grazia's arm where an armband was worn by Eldians, and seeing as she did not possess one the others were to approach the conversation with a little more care. The temper girl bit the inside of her cheek and quieted down. Grazia persisted and shook her head, not offended by the girl’s temper.

“I’m sorry, miss-” the tall boy stepped forward but he was cut off, gently but firmly. “No need for apologies, child.. I am a journalist. It is my duty to know and report” the blonde woman stated, smiling a bit more at the kids and taking a good look at their faces which still held suspicion and surprise. A fanged sheep smiling at the lambs. “I’m not here to shame you, as surprising as that may be for people like me. I simply wish to talk to you, the chance was too good to up on as I saw you walk by. Which mission was this exactly? Fort Slava again?” she adjusted her footing, pushing her bag into one arm. “I heard you suffered quite the great loss the last time. Although I don’t share the same sentiment for your people, especially those I did not know myself, human life is still precious nonetheless... so I do hope this mission was a little better? Oh- how rude of me.. I haven’t even asked your names..”

“My name is Zofia, this is Falco and Udo, and this is Gabi” came the polite tone of the girl in front, a silver head with honed eyes, introducing each one of them, and Grazia nodded her head at each name before saying her own. “The name is Grazia Agnesi. Well met, young ones”.

“The mission was a success!” Gabi interjected after a moment, but this time her voice bore less fire and more genuine enthusiasm instead. “Oh, here we go-” Udo started with a sigh, his voice overshadowed by Gabi’s triumphant retelling of the war at the front lines. Apolonija never saw any other child this excited about going to war, and it made her wonder of everything these kids were being taught. “Your victories and hard work aren’t for naught, though, are they? Your armbands, I mean.. you’re going to inherit one of the titans." Grazia pushed on, her focus maintained on Gabi and in the short span of their following conversation, the girl had paced in her spot, back and forth, making her story even more lively with an added occasional movement of her hands and arms.

“Mhmm~ And all that is why I'm the best candidate for the Armor too" the brunette girl hummed, taking in a breath of contentment as her comrades looked on at her. “Well.. she will inherit the Armor.. She’s the best in our group..” Grazia’s ears perked at the silent comment, and when her eyes flickered over she saw Falco distantly watching his friend. Grazia pretended not to hear him and her gaze went unnoticed. Udo and Zofia were talking over Gabi calmly, while Gabi went on about something on the side, third wheeling in the conversation of the other two. Grazia watched them for a little, watching them bicker, and she couldn’t imagine that these four are being sent out as first line soldiers. They are even younger than she had been. Their voices became slowly drowned out, a muffled sound that came and went before a bell cleared her ears. A sudden name caught her attention, one she didn't hope to hear this soon.. Reiner Braun..

Reiner still lives then, huh… The mention of him brought a heavy stone on her heart that she couldn't understand.

“How about this, I won’t keep you here much longer but I hope to hear more of you the next time we meet. I don’t want you kids getting in trouble on my accord, right. But how about a small parting gift? I bought a little more than I can eat, and I have no one else to share it with.. how about you take some, hm?”

Quirking her brow Gabi scanned the paper bag and was about to decline, and it seemed the other three were ready to follow suit before Grazia added “It’s from the bakery on Brickvaile Street-”.

The best bakery in town. No one would miss a chance to get something from there, especially when it was free, and even more so if you had no prior access to the outside world beyond the Interment zone. Grazia giggled at the kids as they munched on their pastries, biting onto her own to make sure they held no further doubts. “Tastes well, doesn’t it? Goodness, do they even feed you? I know you’re Eldian but-”

“Who are you?”

"Huh?" Grazia's long golden hair slid down her back as her head snapped in the direction of the new voice. In a heartbeat the kids recognized him and Gabi beamed, her mouth full: "Galliard!"

One look at the armband and she had her own silent inquiries answered, and all of a sudden the fact she overstayed this misplaced welcome became suffocating. She swallowed the lump in her throat, but her lips smiled, being slow to swallow the food in her mouth to buy herself some more time.

“Well, good day to you too” Grazia greeted with an easy lilt in her tone, “Grazia Agnesi. A journalist from the local newspapers. Gabi mentioned you just now and I have to say, you got quite the skillful titan at your command” she feigned innocence, taking another bite of her pastry, doing anything to ease the nervous jump of her heart. Galliard’s sharp gaze scrutinized her, suspicion swimming in his eyes.

“A journalist? Are you one of those Eldian sympathizer or something?” he threw the question out as he looked at the kids, who were now watching their exchange with curious eyes.

Grazia’s brows furrowed in offense, her heart jumping in her chest. “Godness, no. Nothing like that. I believe all sides of the stories should be told, and that there is merit in shedding light on the seemingly unfamiliar. These warriors have gone through things some can’t even imagine, and I'm sure you could agree some of those stories are fantastic. It is my duty to report to the people, Marleyan or Eldian” she responded with dignity, placing her half eaten pastry back into the bag and standing a little taller, the heel of her boot scraping across the pavement as she shuffled a step back.

The heavy gaze of Galliard lingered for a moment longer before a sigh left his lips and he looked at the young group again who were happily munching on their food, this likely contributing to his decision to let his guard down.

“Well, we have a debriefing to get back to. Be careful with what you put in your papers, miss. We have enough enemies outside and inside our walls, and we don’t need more” he told her as he stepped closer to Udo. She hadn’t realized she was standing among them too, as if seeking the protection of their naive veil and childish innocence that was hanging by a string.

“You needn’t worry about false allegations or accusations. No such thing will be printed or written from my hand..” she reassured and gave him a smile. A movement from the crowds garnered her attention shortly. Her eye caught a familiar face over Galliard’s shoulder and the recognition nearly made her drop the act altogether. Apolonija felt her heart leap into her throat, her blood running cold as her eyes noted Reiner moving his way through the streets; looking, searching.

She had to leave before her cover was compromised. Turning to the kids and Galliard she forced a smile and straightened her back. Reiner was getting closer by the second.   "Ah, it is my time to take my leave. I need to be back at the office in a few, and I better not waste more time here. But I’ll be sure to fluff you guys up in the next article” she said with a side look thrown to the older Warrior. Falco’s words were muffled and she hardly could make out his words aside from the thumping of her heart between her ears, but Zofia made up for it, asking if she really was leaving; met with a nod she suddenly looked crestfallen.

“I wish you more success on your missions, young warriors. Do that true strength lies not only in combat prowess though.. there is power in understanding as well”

Without waiting for further response she turned on her heel and allowed for the sea of people to merge with her . A familiar flash silver caught the side of her eye, and when her nervous gaze met the calm one of Damian, she knew he understood and that he had seen the exchange. His slithering serpent pin was never a more welcome sight like it was now. He smiled down at her though and nodded his head to the right street, and fell in with her pace, standing a few steps away from her but walking with her as they took a different road back. Damian’s calm stature helped Apolonija ground herself, and briskly they faded into the crowds, making it hard for anyone to single them out.

The anxiety she had felt began to ebb away as the distance between her and the Warriors grew larger, but she understood the risk she took was too great to ever attempt again.

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