A boy who accidentally bonds with a magical Beast must set off on an adventure in the mysterious Woods in this whimsical and cheeky middle grade fantasy debut—perfect for fans of Nevermoor and How to Train Your Dragon.
The last thing Barclay Thorne ever wanted was an adventure.
Thankfully, as an apprentice to the town’s mushroom farmer, Barclay need only work hard and follow the rules to one day become the head mushroom farmer himself. No danger required. But then Barclay accidentally breaks his town’s most sacred rule: never ever EVER stray into the Woods, for within the Woods lurk vicious magical Beasts.
To Barclay’s horror, he faces a fate far worse than being eaten: he unwittingly bonds with a Beast and is run out of town by an angry mob. Determined to break this bond and return home, Barclay journeys to find the mysterious town of Lore Keepers, people who have also bonded with Beasts and share their powers.
But after making new friends, entering a dangerous apprenticeship exam, and even facing the legendary Beast of the Woods, Barclay must make a difficult choice: return to the home and rules he’s always known, or embrace the adventure awaiting him.
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Suitable for fans of (nevermoor/httyd/and pokemon)
Most people think that Mikasa stopped receiving character development at some point, and I couldn’t disagree more with that. Even though she didn’t have a lot of dialogue in the Shiganshina arc, I think that she received more development in the last two arcs, than in the first three. She didn’t talk much, but that doesn’t mean she wasn’t developed. Actions are much more important than words, and her actions spoke for herself.
For instance, Mikasa only said around 380 words in the Return to Shiganshina arc. In comparison, Floch sad more than 800 words, while others (Eren, Armin, Levi, Erwin, Jean, Hange, Reiner, Bertolt, Grisha, etc.) said thousands of words in this arc. Mikasa simply isn’t a very talkative person, so in order to understand Mikasa, you have to pay extra attention to her facial expressions and actions, because usually they tell us more than what she’s saying.
I don’t think Mikasa’s character is easy to understand. Because in most manga/anime, when a main female character is close to protagonist, she is usually:
1. A girl who doesn’t think she’s romantically interested in the protagonist, but eventually realizes her feelings for the protagonist, and accepts that she can’t live without him, or
2. A girl that always has an unhealthy romantic obsession for the protagonist (’Yandere’ girl).
Those usual tropes for a main female character can be found in many manga/anime. However, Isayama reversed that trope for Mikasa’s character. Her character goes from someone who thinks that she’s in love with Eren, and someone who thinks that she can’t live without him, and even acts ‘Yandere’ at times, to someone that through the course of the story slowly realizes that she’s not in love with Eren, and that she can live without him.
I don’t think there’s even a slight chance of Mikasa ending up in a romantic relationship with Eren. To some people, if you don’t think that Mikasa will/should end up with Eren, that means that you don’t like Mikasa. It’s needless to say that I have an opposite opinion.
This analyses focuses on Mikasa’s relationship with Eren and Armin. While other characters do influence Mikasa’s development as well, it’s Eren and Armin that have the biggest impact on Mikasa, and they are the key to understanding her character. I divided her characterization into 3 parts:
1. The familial/romantic aspect of Mikasa’s relationship with Eren.
2. Mikasa’s actions and thoughts regarding Eren’s safety.
3. Mikasa’s thoughts on Armin, and his bond with Eren.
A little teaser of what we are going to talk about with the next endgame posts.
Oh Isayama, honey...
Are you sure Eren ?
Well, that's something.
Also the fact that most of the last chapter is about Eren and Armin talking and be more physically and emotionally closer than the main supposed het ship.
Also Friendly reminder that the last word of Eren in the manga is "Armin".
Good Night, Dear and Sweet Dreams Vol. 12 Reiner Braun
As the recruits returned to the barracks having finished training, Connie noticed something.
"What are those Garrison members doing over there?"
"That squad's probably off duty tomorrow. I bet they're heading out to go drink or something."
It was a group of more senior soldiers that he had spotted in the distance. As he walked beside Connie, Reiner pointed toward where they were headed, Trost District.
"Huh. That must be nice," Connie said, watching them go. Armin responded coolly.
"You know that we can eat at a pub, too. I've heard rumors of past recruits even getting married to pub girls."
"Why do you know about rumors like that?"
"I just happened to hear the instructors talking about it."
"That's not what he means," Jean interrupted. "It's like, it seems like it'd be fun to grab a drink on the way back from work. Right, Reiner?"
"Yeah, that might be true."
******
Alcohol was the topic of discussion in the boys' dorm that night.
"You used to see Garrison members and MPs enjoying drink, but not as much lately."
"It's because there aren't as many fields growing the fruits and grains needed to make it now that humanity's been forced into a smaller area."
After hearing this from Eren and Armin, Connie sounded jealous as he replied.
"But it would be nice to drink during the few times we get days off."
"Hah! You sound like an old man, Connie!" Jean laughed. Marco smiled alongside him.
"It would be interesting to see what would happen if everyone got to drink as much as they wanted. What if Bertolt actually became talkative when he was drunk!"
Now that the topic of conversation was on Bertolt, he suddenly broke his silence to shoot down the idea in a panic, causing everyone to laugh.
"What?! N-No, I don't think that'd happen!"
"You know what? Let's all get together again and drink when we're old men. I'll even pay for your drinks once I'm an MP, you suicide bastard. If you're still alive, that is."
"You won't need to do that, Jean. I'll have slaughtered so many Titans that I'll be making even more money than you."
"Now, now, don't fight," Marco said, getting in between the two and causing everyone to laugh.
"We might all go down different paths from here…but it would be nice to survive and get together."
"Yeah, sound interesting," Reiner said, merrily continuing on with the topic.
******
"Hey! One more bottle over here!"
Reiner was gathered with his fellow corpsmates in a dim and hazy pub. They teased one another as they poured drinks.
"Alright! Now sing, Jean!"
"Hah! You'd better not get scared off when you hear my beautiful voice!" Jean began to sing in an incredible voice, his face bright red.
"Hey, Eren! You go next! Turn into a Titan!" a drunk Connie said, putting his arms around Eren.
"Okay… Wait, I can't do that here!" Eren replied, putting his hand out before coming to his senses and stopping.
Reiner was in such high spirits that he had to say something.
"Hm? You know that we can do that trick, too…"
Reiner looked for his hometown friends.
"…We can't."
A chilled hand grasped onto Reiner's arm as it held a beer mug high. It belonged to Bertolt, his face pale…
"Not us."
"Bertolt?"
"This isn't something we can drink."
******
Reiner's eyes opened wide.
…It was late at night. It would be a long time till dawn.
"Ugh…"
He could hear Bertolt moaning in his sleep nearby. He sounded like he was in pain as he slept in an awkward position.
"I…I'm sorry…"
"Ack!"
Reiner shivered when he heard Bertolt's delirious words.
…That's right. Not us.
He slowly sat up and looked around at the others sleeping in the room.
We can't imagine a future with them.
Reiner's sharp eyes glinted.
…Sorry about that.
Reiner shook his head, as if to cast off the bonds he wanted to cling to, before falling back into a dark sleep.