Journey to Orvud

Dolph started walking to Orvud district. The farms he passed were quiet. People were already up and doing their morning chores. Was his father doing the same? Or would he go into town in search of hands.

"Hey!" he heard in the distance. Dolph recognized that voice, it was Old Elina Zoë. She was the matriarch of a large family. Despite being so old, covered in wrinkles and sun damaged skin, she was always full of energy. A lifetime of agricultural labour had done nothing to tire her. Under her blouse were ripped arms, and her old hands were covered in calluses. Her family's farms were distant from his own, but they still saw each other at the town market every month.

Her cart pulled up to him. "Long time no see. Where ya headed?" Her smile was infectious. Dolph couldn't feel sad in her presence.

"I'm going to Orvud".

"What a coincidence. I'm headed there for supplies, myself. Gonna get some tools. Hop on, keep me company."

Dolph climbed on the front of the cart. The mule pulled them, slowly but surely on the dirt road.

"So how's your old man doing?"

"He's doing well. W-"

"That's good to hear. I'm doing pretty great myself. Whole family is. Little Bertha just got engaged to Fat Tom, and you know what that means?"

"She's in love?" Dolph remembered Fat Tom. He didn't know him too well, but he seemed nice, pretty quiet. He was one of the landlord's kids.

"Well love or not, means we get to expand our farm. I'm so excited to plan the field rotation. Can't decide what crop to settle with, should we just plant wheat or potatoes, or try and plant squash, corn and beans? You can plant them all together you know."

Dolph nodded. This was the cost of a free ride.

"But enough about us. I don't mean to talk your ear off. How are ya doing, Dolph? The farm doing alright?"

"Well yes, actually we just got this letter. Our debts have been cancelled."

Elina's eyes opened. She looked truly shocked.

"Never heard of that happening. Never, never in my years have I heard of a landlord forgiving debts. Did your Dad threaten the landlord or something?"

"No. Well, maybe. I think it's from the government. Gave us some money as well to improve our farm."

"Ya don't say." she says. She looks like she's thinking. She remains oddly silent for a few moments. You speak up.

"So I'm headed to Orvud because I.. I need to leave."

"I understand" she said. Dolph was a little surprised. This woman who loved farming, who lived her life farming. He had expected that she would try to talk him out of it. Part of him wanted her to talk him out of it.

"You do?"

"Course. Had a granddaughter, wanted to learn everything about the world. Became obsessed with Titans if you can believe that. Left a few years ago to join the survey corps."

"Really? Titans?"

"Yup. Talked my ear off about them."

"Weren't you worried?"

"Course I was. But I had helped raise her. She's a lot like me, got a big head and learns things faster. The family blessing. I trusted that big head of hers." Dolph looked at her, she was still wistfully staring in the distance.

"Isn't the army dangerous?"

"Everything's dangerous. Can't do shit without hurting yourself. You work too hard and your back breaks. You tend to the mules and they kick you in the face. You ride a horse and fall off. There's no such thing as safety, only safer. Besides, most soldiers spend their time drinking. "

Dolph thought about this. A stable job where you could spend it drinking? She must be talking about the garrison. Or maybe the military police, who spent their time in the inner wall living in luxury. Could be a good option.

"But isn't the survey corps-"

"The survey corps is the most dangerous. But I have trust that little Hange'll come back."

Hange was an odd name, Dolph thought. He wondered what this woman was like.

The two finally made it to the checkpoint in Orvud.