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The Empire of Titans Chapter 24 (Historia Reiss)
🕑 Added 2023-02-05 19:40:54 +0000 UTC"Perhaps I should have it." A voice broke the silence like a knife through butter.
This made everyone turn towards the source of the voice, only to see Krista looking at them with conviction. Her eyes seemed somehow different.
"Why you?" he asked, his voice low and measured, as he scrutinized her every move. Krista stood her ground, her own gaze fixed on his and a fierce determination etched on her features.
Despite the moment's intensity, Krista surprisingly didn't back down from his gaze. Instead, she looked as if a fire was burning in her eyes, a fierce passion that refused to be quenched.
"Because my name is Historia Reiss,"
Suddenly, a moment of complete silence descended upon the room, broken only by the sound of Levi clearing his throat. The tension in the air was palpable as Levi placed his hands on the table and leaned slightly forward, his eyes scanning the faces of the brats. "What do you mean your name in the register is Krista Lenz?" he questioned sharply, his tone laced with confusion and suspicion. Mike, who had checked the register, simply nodded in agreement.
As Levi's sharp gaze swept across the faces of the stupid cadets, he could easily discern the mix of shock, confusion, and disbelief etched across their features - all except for Ymir, who seemed to have already known about the startling revelation that had just been shared with them.
"What are you talking about, Krista?" Eren asked, looking at her.
As Historia sat across from Eren and Ymir, her eyes began to gloss over with a tinge of sadness as she began to recount the last interaction she had with her father, Rod Reiss. She spoke softly, with a slight downcast look, as she revealed that the last time she saw her father, he stripped her of her birth name and gave her a new identity- Krista. To make matters worse, he sent her away to join the Training Corps, seemingly to get rid of her. The memory of her father's callous words still stung, but as Eren reached under the table to gently squeeze her hand, she was reminded that she was not alone in this.
Erwin leaned forward and politely asked, "If it isn't too much bother, might I know your story?" His blue eyes glittered with excitement as he saw a perfect opportunity in front of him. But first, he wanted to make sure that Krista or Historia wasn't making all of this up for the sake of gaining a Titan Power.
Historia reluctantly nodded before retelling her story on the Farm.
One night. Historia watched as her mother walked outside to a carriage, wearing fancy clothes. She got in and disappeared for the night.
'Where are you going?' Historia thought. Historia grabbed her book and went back to reading.
The following day. Historia was feeding the horses when she saw her mother before deciding to walk up to her. Historia knew the way her mother treated her was not the way mothers should treat their children. She hoped that one day when she had children, she would never do the same thing her mother did.
"Mommy," Historia said enthusiastically, throwing herself in her mother's lap. Her mother grabbed Historia and threw her across the lawn.
Historia sat up, smiling with a bloody nose. Her mother stood up, and Historia didn't miss the hate and pain in her eyes, along with tears.
"If only I wasn't such a coward, I could've killed her." Her mother said to herself, but Historia heard her. Her mother walked away crying.
After that day, her mother left the farm and never came back.
Word got to the Farm that Wall Maria had fallen. Historia was in shock. Titans had broken through the gates. Why wasn't anyone doing anything about it?
One night a few days after the fall of Wall Maria. There was a knock on the door. Historia looked at the door with uncertainty before walking up to it. Historia opened it, and a man stepped in. Historia saw her mother standing behind him. The man took off his hat as he stepped into the house.
"Historia. My name's Rod Reiss. I wish that we could've met sooner. You see, I'm your father." Rod Reiss said with a blank tone, barely conveying any emotions. Historia gasped; her mother had never talked about him before. For a moment, she hoped this meant that they all would live together as a happy family should, but that hope was blown away when her eyes looked at her mother standing behind the man. Her mother looked away with sweat rolling down her cheeks.
"Now, listen. You will be living with me from this day forth." Rod Reiss led the girl out of the house. A man stepped out from the carriage and walked over. Their mother gasped and screamed, her body shaking. Historia saw men surrounding them as her mother tried to run for it.
"You know what this is, Lord Reiss." The man said. Men grabbed her mother. "The fall of Wall Maria's got you acting a bit reckless. I suppose you thought you'd get your pretty little secret to safer ground, huh." Historia didn't like the sound of his voice. It was cold. Historia studied him. He kept his face hidden in shadow, but there was an evil smirk on his face. Her mother was sobbing.
"Let mom go," Historia shouted at them.
"No! I'm not that girl's mother! That girl is not mine. I've never even met her! Do whatever you want with her, but let me go!" Her mother shouted with desperation. Historia pressed her lips before swallowing hard. She might be ten, but she was smart enough to know that her mother didn't care what happened to her. Historia looked at her mom in shock.
"Oh? Do you have anything to say about that, Lord Reiss? Maybe it's just a coincidence the three of you are out here at the same time." The man said with an evil smile. Historia looked up at her father. Rod Reiss lowered his eyes and sighed.
"So be it." Rod Reiss said, his face blank as he said it. Historia gasped. "That's correct. These two have nothing to do with me." Historia's eyes widen in fear.
"I thought that might be the case." The man said, tapping his hat upwards. The men pushed her mother to the ground, making her gasp.
"Wait? What are you..?" Her mother sobbed, her face turning pale.
"You were never employed at this estate. And nobody here has ever heard your name." The man said. He pulled out a knife. Her mother looked at the man in shock. "Sounds to me like you don't exist," the man sneered, his voice dripping with malice and contempt. He brought the knife closer to Krista's mother, the sharp edge glinting in the light. Krista's mother felt a cold sweat break out on her forehead as she realized that she was completely helpless in the face of this dangerous, unknown man.
"No, I... Master, please!" Her mother's voice trembled with desperation as she looked imploringly at Rod Reiss, her eyes wide with fear. Her father, a stoic figure, turned his back to the scene, staring blankly into the distance, lost in his own thoughts. The air was thick with tension, and the only sound that could be heard was the soft rustling of the pages of Historia's favorite book as she clutched it tightly to her chest, her eyes darting helplessly between the three figures before her. Her heart raced with a mixture of fear and confusion, unsure of what was happening and why her mother was pleading with this man who seemed to hold so much power over them. "That isn't true. You have to tell them!"
"What are they... doing? Mother?" asked Historia, her voice barely audible, as she gazed at the woman with a look of confusion and fear. Her heart pounding in her chest, she watched in horror as the man standing beside her mother held her face in a vice-like grip, his fingers digging into her skin. With a sharp glint in his eye, he wielded a knife with menacing ease, pressing the cold blade against her mother's delicate neck. As the woman looked down at her daughter, her eyes filled with pure rage.
"If only you had never been born, I could..." were the last words the woman said before the man brutally slit her neck in front of her daughter. The young girl watched in horror as her mother's lifeless body fell to the ground, staining the lush green grass with crimson blood.
The room fell silent as Historia's eyes welled up with tears, and a chill ran down her spine, making her aware that she would be the next one. The weight of her guilt was too much to bear, and her arms trembled as her grip on the book weakened. Suddenly, the tome slipped from her grasp, clattering to the grass with a resounding thud. She stood there, frozen in place, not even realizing she was no longer holding the book.
As the man approached the girl, Historia's heart pounded in her chest as she stood there, frozen in place. She couldn't tear her gaze away from her mother's lifeless body lying on the ground beside her. The man's footsteps echoed in her ears as he drew closer, a glint of malice in his eyes. Suddenly, the man brandished a knife and brought it to Historia's neck, causing her to inhale sharply with fear.
"No. Wait." Rod Reiss suddenly said. Historia looked at her father as he turned towards the man. "Let her go far away and live a quiet life." The man lowered his knife. Historia felt tears in her eyes. "Your new name will be Christa Lenz." Her old life was gone.
Two years later. She had lived a life in the Mountains, but Krista was ready to join the Cadet Corps.
Christa stood with the new cadets in their uniforms as they all lined up.
"Everyone attention," a voice boomed in the air like thunder making all the cadets straighten up, looking forward, not daring to utter a word.
The voice belonged to a man who slowly approached the group of new cadets. Instructor Shadis was a tall and intimidating man. He was bald, with prominent wrinkles on his forehead and dark circles around his eyes. He had a small beard growing from under his chin. He was wearing the standard instructor's uniform for the Training Corps, consisting of black boots, grey pants, a dark-grey button-up shirt, and finally, his brown jacket with the Training Corps insignia on both shoulders and over his left breast.
"Listen here, maggots. My name is Keith Shadis. You are here to be trained to become soldiers. Unfortunately for you, I'm your instructor for the next three years. I will be the one to decide if you are ready to fight the Titans or if you're only Titan Food," he shouted, his voice booming throughout the whole field.
As Historia finished narrating her story, a sense of desolation and despair washed over her as she gazed at the faces of her audience. While some looked at her with pity, it was evident that Levi and Erwin were not entirely moved by her words, their expressions somewhat inscrutable. Nevertheless, Hange's acute perception and understanding of the two leaders' personalities allowed her to see past the façade of blankness, and she could sense the brewing anger within them, a palpable tension that filled the room.
As Hange looked on in disbelief, she found herself struggling to comprehend how a mother could utter such hurtful words to her own flesh and blood. Her mind raced with a flurry of questions, wondering what could have driven a parent to be so cruel and heartless. Meanwhile, Mike, who had always prided himself on his ability to maintain a stoic demeanor, couldn't help but show a slight frown, revealing the anger that was boiling within him. He knew all too well that there were all kinds of people in the world, but how could a child love anyone if they couldn't even count on the love and support of their own parents?
"I'm really sorry, Kri-Historia," Ymir said apologetically, grasping her hand under the table and giving it a little squeeze. As the girl with an abundance of freckles gazed deeply into Krista's eyes, she always had an inkling that her friend was hiding something extraordinary, but she could never quite put her finger on what it could be. It wasn't until Krista revealed her secret of being of the royal lineage that the girl's jaw dropped in disbelief, for she never imagined that her best friend could be part of such a grandeur world.
As Ymir watched Eren conversing with Historia and offering her his unwavering support, a smile of pure satisfaction graced her lips. For the past two years, she had observed Eren repeatedly demonstrate that he was the kind of person who would go to great lengths for the sake of his friends. Now, with the power of The Titans at their disposal, they finally had a fighting chance against the oppressive regime of Marley. The victory was no longer a mere possibility but a tangible reality that they could grasp with their own hands.
After, Armin and Mikasa also talked to Historia, trying to remind her that she was amongst friends. With gentle smiles and comforting words, they spoke to her, their voices filled with kindness and compassion. They reminded her that they were all in this together, that they were all friends, and that they would always be there for her, no matter what. As the conversation unfolded, it was clear that Historia was starting to feel better, her eyes brightening and her spirits lifting.
With a deep breath, he cleared his throat, the sound echoed through the room, and the attention of every single person was drawn to him. He raised his hand, holding the syringe tightly, a glint in his eye.
Erwin leaned forward in his chair, his eyes fixed on Historia's face. "I must say, Historia, that I am deeply grateful for your honesty and trust in confiding in us," he said, his voice warm and sincere.
"It takes a great deal of courage to reveal such a sensitive secret, and I want you to know that I truly appreciate it." He paused momentarily, his gaze flickering thoughtfully around the room before returning to Historia. "However," he continued, "I can't help but be curious about what made you decide to share your truth with us. Was it a sense of obligation? A desire for catharsis? Or perhaps something else entirely?"
If Historia became a Semi-Titan Shifter, Eren's word has sparked interest in the idea that more syringes could be made, but Erwin remains cautious and skeptical. He can't help but wonder who he can truly trust amongst the scouts, especially when the looming threat of traitors still hangs over their heads. Could the traitors be amongst the new cadets that will soon graduate and join their ranks?
As Historia's eyes glistened with tears, her lips quivered in sadness, and her cheeks were flushed with the color of despair. It was a heartbreaking sight for Ymir, who had grown to care deeply for the young woman in front of her.
But just as quickly as the sadness had taken over her features, a transformation occurred. Historia's eyes narrowed with determination, her jawline became more defined with newfound strength, and her lips curved up in a confident smile that radiated power.
Sitting with her friends, Historia took a deep breath and spoke with unwavering conviction, her words echoing through the headquarters room.
"As Eren said, we cannot defeat Marley without the blood of a Titan with Royal Blood. However, if my blood proves to be the key to unlocking this power, I am willing to make whatever sacrifices necessary to ensure we have enough syringes to fight back and create a brighter future for us all." Her gaze swept across the faces of her friends.
"We have all faced difficult decisions, and we have all made sacrifices for the greater good. But this is not just about us. It's about the future of humanity. With this new strength, we can truly hope to make a better future, one where our children and grandchildren can live in a world free from fear and oppression." Despite the gravity of her words, Historia's eyes sparkled with fierce determination, a fire that burned within her soul. "I made this decision on my own. To trust my friends and the Survey Corps."
As she spoke, her words flowed with a sense of conviction that seemed to captivate everyone in the room. Even Levi, who had initially regarded her as fragile, was taken aback by the depth of her insight and the eloquence of her delivery. The way she expressed herself was unlike anything he had ever heard before, and he found himself arching an eyebrow in surprise at the sheer force of her words.
"Very well, said. Historia. All four of you will be protected by the Survey Corps, and everything you said in this room will stay here unless you feel comfortable sharing it." Erwin promised, with Levi, Hange, and Mike nodding along. The group of five visibly relaxed, their shoulders dropping as they let out a collective sigh of relief.
Eren's face lit up with a broad smile of appreciation as he gazed at Historia, who was sitting next to him. Finally, after months of waiting, things were starting to look up for their team. With Historia's help, they had a chance to turn the tables on their enemies and emerge victorious without even having to unleash the terrifying power of The Wall Titans. Eren was filled with hope and determination, knowing that they were on the cusp of a great triumph.
"That will never be repeated," he thought to himself, his heart heavy with the weight of loss and regret. For a moment, he allowed himself to dwell on the past, to relive the moments that had shaped him into the person he was today. But then, with a fierce determination, he pushed those memories aside and focused on today.
Erwin's mind was buzzing with curiosity, and he was just about to voice his query when Hange, the eccentric and unpredictable member of their squad, couldn't contain her excitement any longer. With a sudden burst of energy, she leaned in way too close to Eren's face, causing him to instinctively recoil in alarm. Hange's eyes were wild with fascination, and her drool threatened to spill over onto Eren's shirt. Despite his initial discomfort, Eren couldn't help but feel a sense of amusement at the situation's absurdity.
"Can I please see your Titan, Eren? I really want to see your true beauty?!!" Her request was met with a mixture of emotions from those around her, as Mikasa, Eren's fiercely loyal and protective friend, glared at Hange with a look of disapproval, while Ymir, the mischievous and carefree member of the Training Corps, chuckled with amusement at the situation. Despite the reactions of those around her, Hange remained unfazed and continued to eagerly await Eren's answer, her eyes sparkling with wonder and curiosity. She was just as fun as Sasha.
With his usual blunt approach, Levi once again tried to quell Hange's excitement with a dismissive comment, "Calm down, Four Eyes." Hange, undeterred by Levi's attitude, continued to express her enthusiasm for Eren like he was a piece of meat. However, Levi's disgust at her behavior was palpable as he recoiled from her with a look of disdain. Meanwhile, Erwin watched with amusement as Hange's exuberance filled the room, relishing in her passion for her work. Mike, on the other hand, simply let out a contented sigh, happy to be surrounded by such a lively and dedicated team.
"Well, you kinda already seen my Titan," Eren shifted uncomfortably in his seat as he anticipated the inevitable conversation about his Titan. He couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt and regret wash over him as he thought back to the day when he had unknowingly grabbed a helpless girl in a fit of desperation after Mikasa had been injected with the serum. His heart ached with remorse as he recalled the terror in her eyes and the way she had struggled to break free from his grasp.
As soon as Eren spoke, everyone in the room turned their attention toward him. Erwin, the commander of the Survey Corps, remained stoic, but his eyes betrayed that he had already pieced together the puzzle that was in front of him. Meanwhile, Levi, the captain of the Survey Corps, shot Eren a piercing gaze with his narrowed eyes, his mind already racing with a potential explanation for what was unfolding.
"When?" Mike asked sharply.
"Three years ago, you encountered me within Wall Rose. And to get away, I grabbed one of your scouts." Eren explained nervously. Despite possessing the power to transform into a colossal 27-meter Titan, Eren couldn't help but feel intimidated by Levi's piercing glare that seemed to penetrate his soul. However, Mikasa, who was fiercely loyal to Eren, responded with a murderous glare of her own, ready to defend her friend against any perceived threat. The tension in the air was palpable as the three of them stood there, locked in a silent but deadly battle of wills.
He took a deep breath and spoke slowly, his voice low and dangerous, "So it was you." His hands instinctively moved towards the handle of his trusty blades, his fingers brushing over the cool metal. As he did so, a palpable tension seemed to fill the room, causing everyone present to hold their breath and wait with bated anticipation for what would happen next.
Levi's voice was ice-cold as he addressed Eren, his eyes burning with a fierce, hazardous glare that made the young recruit gulp nervously. "You grabbed a member of my squad," he said, his tone dripping with venom. "A fellow scout, one of our own. You could have accidentally killed her with your giant hand." Levi's words hung heavy in the air, the tension between the two soldiers palpable. As he spoke, his eyes seemed to glow red like a demon, piercing Eren's soul. Despite the fear that coursed through him, Eren stood up straight and saluted.
Eren's voice was trembling, and he looked scared but determined to make things right. "I'm genuinely sorry for what I did," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was only trying to get away. I wasn't trying to harm anyone." Levi's expression softened slightly, and he took a step closer to Eren.
Levi's piercing gaze scrutinized Eren with careful attention, as his trained eye had witnessed countless individuals attempt to deceive him throughout his entire existence. Having spent a considerable portion of his life residing in the subterranean depths, where the darkness shrouded everything in its path, Levi had developed an unparalleled ability to discern the truth from lies. As Eren spoke, his words carrying a weight of sincerity that Levi could not ignore, he knew that there was no pretense or deception in his voice. The conviction with which Eren spoke conveyed a sense of authenticity that could not be faked, and Levi was confident that Eren meant every single word he uttered.
"What is her name?" Eren suddenly asked. Levi blinked before answering.
"Scout Petra Ral," he answered, and having an idea of why he was asking, his hands no longer near the handles of his blades. "And you can apologize later to her. I'm not doing anything for now, but don't you dare endanger anyone else." Levi said strictly, accepting that Eren didn't really mean it and, in the end, had only convinced Petra to become even better at her job, being third in Levi's squad behind Oluo and Levi. Now that the tension had eased up a bit, Armin raised his hand.
Armin's eyes darted between the small box that Commander Erwin had just received from Eren and the horizon where the first rays of sunlight were starting to appear.
He could sense the urgency in the air and couldn't help but ask, "What now, Commander Erwin? The sun will rise soon?" Commander Erwin's eyes were fixed on the small box. Taking a deep breath, he closed the box and slid it towards Eren.
"Right now. We do nothing. Based on your words, the first thing we need to do is identify The Armored and The Colossal Titan. As for your syringe, we will use it later. We don't know where the traitors are. They could be anywhere. We must ensure that no one notices you coming to Survey Corps Headquarters. Otherwise, it would raise suspicions. For this reason,
"I would appreciate it if you could come back next month to test your Titan abilities," Erwin explained in a calm and collected voice as he leaned forward in his chair, his eyes meeting those of his listener. With a flick of his wrist, he stood up and gracefully strode towards a nearby table, his long coat billowing behind him. He deftly grabbed a map, unfurling it with a flourish on the main round table and tracing his finger along its surface until he found the exact location he was looking for. With a sense of purpose, he pointed his index finger at the spot on the map.
"This place is far away from everything within Wall Rose. That Castle is not used anymore. We can use it safely, away from everyone." Erwin explained, sliding the box back to Eren; he carefully placed it back inside his jacket, grateful for the opportunity to use the castle as a temporary hideout. Hange, couldn't help but feel disappointed that she wouldn't be able to observe Eren's Titan up close anytime soon.
"Now, you all will return back to the camp. We don't need anyone getting suspicious," commanded Erwin. The five cadets stood up in unison and saluted their superior. Erwin returned the salute, his eyes gleaming with pride as he surveyed the cadets.
"Two months later, there will be three free days for the cadets. That is a perfect opportunity to test the serum." Armin suggested. The others nodded in agreement, and as they began to make their way back to their barracks, Hange eagerly tagged along, already brainstorming a list of questions to ask the cadets about the serum's effects.
As soon as the door swung shut behind them, Levi noticed that Erwin was wearing a small smile on his face, but something else, a hint of anger perhaps, was lurking beneath his calm exterior. Intrigued and concerned, Levi turned his head toward him and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
"My father's theory has been confirmed," exclaimed Erwin with a sense of satisfaction in his voice. "Finally, after all these years of hard work and research, we have a chance to turn the tides of our fate."
The group looked at him in anticipation, their eyes glued to his every word. "Our next objective is to uncover the identities of the Colossal and The Armored. We need to figure out who these Titans are. This is our first step towards victory." Erwin took a deep breath and continued, "We cannot let Rod Reiss get his hands on the Founder. If he does, he can manipulate our memories and turn us into his puppets. But with our current advantage, we have both time and strength on our side. We can fight back and take back Wall Maria." The excitement in Erwin's eyes was contagious, and the others couldn't help but feel hopeful.
"Do you think we can trust them?" His voice was laced with skepticism and uncertainty, as his mind was still trying to process all the information they had received, which was too much even for him. The overwhelming revelations had shattered his beliefs like fragile glass, leaving him with a sense of disillusionment and confusion. For years, he had dedicated his life to killing Titans with the utmost conviction that it was the right thing to do. But now, faced with new information that challenged his beliefs, he found himself questioning everything he had ever known.
"I lived sixty years as a Titan. Trust me. You're giving them mercy."
Levi remembered Ymir's words. Her words had resonated with him, and despite the fleeting relief it provided, Levi could not shake off the thought. His mind involuntarily traveled back to the memory of Isabel and Furlan - his comrades, his friends, his family - who had perished in the line of duty at the hands of Titans.
Levi remembered her bloodied head lying in the mud. He remembered Furlan being swallowed just as he had arrived. He had foolishly blinded the Titan before pulling Furlan out of the Titan's mouth in an attempt to save him, only to see that his lower body was missing before he had slaughtered the five Titans responsible for it. Levi remembered Furlan smiling at him. Even at his last moment, he hadn't cursed him.
Levi's mind was a jumbled mess as he tried his best to push aside the thoughts threatening to consume him. He was acutely aware that nobody could accurately predict the future, no matter how hard they tried. All they could do was follow their instincts and make a decision that they hoped they wouldn't regret later on. Taking a deep breath, Levi turned his attention to Erwin.
"I think we can trust them. They entrusted us with their secrets, and from what we learned, four of them are Titan Shifters. We have never fought against Titans who are smart. And Eren gave every bit of information. He didn't hold anything back. He entrusted us with that information. And we own him to return that trust." Erwin said, his drowsiness had all but disappeared from his eyes. As Erwin reached for a drawer, Levi and Mike held their breath, wondering what he was about to do. To their surprise, he produced a bottle of wine, hidden away as if it were a treasure. Levi couldn't help but chuckle at the situation's absurdity while Mike simply looked on in shock.
"We didn't know you drink, sir?" he inquired, his tone laced with curiosity and a hint of admiration. Without waiting for a response, he deftly grabbed four glasses from a nearby table, their crystal-clear surfaces glinting in the warm glow of the room's sconces. Placing them on Erwin's desk, he and Levi settled on the other side of the table, eagerly awaiting a taste of the mysterious liquid about to be poured.
Erwin stood at the head of the long oak table, his eyes fixed on the bottle of wine that sat in front of him. It was a deep crimson color, and the label was adorned with intricate gold lettering that read "Finest Wine in Wall Sina." Erwin explained to his comrades that Commander Pixis had given him this bottle and had told him that it was the best wine in the entire region. He had been instructed to save it for a special occasion and to have a drink only when humanity had successfully defeated the Titans.
Erwin expertly poured the wine into four delicate glasses, one for each of his trusted comrades: Mike, Hange, when she returned, and Levi. As he closed the bottle, he slid one of the glasses toward Mike and the other toward Levi. The latter, known for his stoic demeanor, looked at the liquid for a full minute, taking in the aroma and the color of the wine.
Levi, a man of refined taste, was not one to indulge in the pleasures of wine. Instead, he favored the delicate aroma and soothing warmth of a freshly brewed cup of tea. However, on this particular occasion, as he found himself surrounded by the cheerful company of his closest friends, Levi felt compelled to step out of his comfort zone and try something new. With a sense of adventure, he decided to take a sip of the smooth, velvety liquid that was offered to him.
With his hand reaching out, Levi's fingers curled around the stem of the elegant wine glass that had been filled halfway up with a rich, red liquid. He lifted it to his lips, and the taste of the wine filled his mouth as the aroma lingered in his nostrils. As he savored the flavor, memories flooded his mind, taking him back to a time long ago. He remembered Kenny, the man who had forced him to drink when he was just a kid living underground. Despite the bitter memories, Levi found himself enjoying the wine's complexity, its subtle blend of flavors a perfect match for his melancholic mood.
Swallowing the liquid, Levi put down the glass. Mike turned to Erwin with a thoughtful look.
"If what Cadet Eren said is true," he repeated, his voice low and serious, "and we can truly make more Syringes to turn someone into a Semi Titan Shifter, who do you think should have it?" The silence that followed was deafening as everyone exchanged wary glances. Mike knew that right now, they had no idea who they could trust. The circle of trust was very small.
"If it works, you, Hange, and Levi should be the first to have Titan Powers," Erwin answered. He took one last sip of the rich, red liquid before setting the glass down with a soft clink. Resting his chin on his hand, he gazed out at his comrades, his mind already racing with the possibilities of what they could achieve with such power.
"What about you, Erwin?" Levi asked right away.
The Commander smiled after Levi asked that before answering...
Tomorrow
The following day, Eren was abruptly awakened by the incessant ringing of a bell outside his window. He groggily rubbed his eyes and tried to shake off the remnants of sleep, but before he could even sit up, a cacophony of loud knocks echoed through his room. Suddenly, the door burst open, revealing a stern-faced member of the Military Police in full uniform. The sudden intrusion startled Eren and the other boys in the room, causing some of them to nearly tumble out of their beds in shock.
The soldier's voice bellowed through the barracks, causing every sleeping soldier to jolt awake and scramble to their feet. "Everyone, Wake Up!" he roared, his voice echoing through the walls. The suddenness of the announcement made many eyes widen in shock upon hearing that they were all required to come to the instructor's office for questioning, with no exceptions. Eren, however, was not that much surprised, as he had already anticipated the development. So far, everything was going according to Erwin's plan. The soldier's words hung heavy in the air, causing a sense of anxiety and unease to fill the room.
Armin, who had just woken up. "I'm sorry. What has happened?" he asked in a sleepy and groggy voice, rubbing his eyes to clear his vision. He then proceeded to wear his favorite shirt, which always made him feel confident.
"The Titan captured by the Survey Corps was killed last night." The soldier informed them. The soldier's eyes darted around the room, carefully observing each person's reaction before leaving the room, leaving behind an eerie silence.
Once he left, Eren was about to wear his uniform when Jean decided to open his big mouth. The others were discussing amongst each other, wondering who could have done it, some being thankful that it had been killed, some pointing out that it was a waste of good information.
As Eren was putting on his pants, Jean couldn't resist the urge to taunt him by asking, "So, Eren, do you have anything to say?" With a playful smirk, Jean looked down at Eren, who was already bracing himself for the impending attention. Eren's eyes rolled in exasperation as almost everyone else in the room turned to face him, curious to see how he would respond.
"What do you mean, Jean?" Connie asked with an arched eyebrow.
"Jean, I didn't do anything, that Titan was a perfect opportunity for us to learn something new about them. I would never do something that would prevent Humanity from learning something new." Eren said, bored of Jean as he stood up, ready to leave the place.
As soon as they stepped out into the open air, Eren's eyes scanned the horizon for any sign of the Survey Corps. It wasn't long before he spotted a group of soldiers, at least ten of them, standing in the distance, their silhouettes etched against the fading light of the setting sun. Eren's breath caught in his throat as he recognized one of them - it was Hange, their eccentric and passionate comrade, standing in front of a decomposing Titan, nothing but bones left from it. Eren could see tears streaming down Hange's face as she mourned the creature.
Eren looked around, trying to notice whoever had done this, but he couldn't. He wondered if it even was just one person.
Soon they were all put in a long line, and all of them would be questioned by the Survey Corps.
In front of Eren was Annie. When he had seen her, he tried to start a normal conversation, but the quiet girl had been extra quiet today. After a few tries, Eren gave up and waited silently for his turn.
As he approached the door, Eren's eyes scanned the area. It was then that he noticed Hange leaning casually against the wall, her arms folded and her eyes fixed on him. As their gazes met, Eren felt a sense of comfort wash over him, and he couldn't help but return her nod.
Annie didn't take long, and once she came out, Eren walked inside.
As Eren cautiously entered the room, his eyes quickly scanned the area, taking in the sight of Mike and two unfamiliar Scouts sitting in front of a sturdy wooden table. The third Scout, who he couldn't quite place, was flipping through some pages of what seemed to be an old, leather-bound book, the pages rustling gently as he turned them. The room was dimly lit, casting long shadows across their faces, but Eren could sense the tension in the air as they all remained silent.
One was a woman. She had short light hair styled in an undercut with bangs, which she parted just slightly off to the right side. She was not very tall and had a somewhat petite build. She was dressed in a standard Survey Corps uniform with a light-colored v-neck underneath.
The other was a man, and Eren was sure he had seen him with Hange last night. He had short, smooth brown hair parted down the middle and light brown eyes. He was of average height and build. He wore the typical uniform of a member of the Scout Regiment with a green button-up shirt underneath, and he wore black pants with a white button-down.
"Name?"
"Eren Yeager."
They asked him questions like everyone else, but Mike ensured Moblit and Nanaba didn't get suspicious of Eren.
Eren stretched his arms and walked outside the building, taking a deep breath of fresh air. His eyes roamed around the vicinity, admiring the beautiful architecture of the building, when they landed on Annie, who was leaning against one of the columns of the building.
He felt a sudden rush of excitement as if he had stumbled upon something unexpected. His voice was hesitant as he called out her name, "Annie?" He watched as she stepped away from the column with cat-like grace and walked up to him, her eyes fixed on his.
Eren couldn't help but feel a little intimidated by her, but at the same time, he was drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Her predatory look was both thrilling and seductive, even if he knew that it wasn't her intention.
Annie's voice was firm as she spoke, "Eren, we need to talk."
Note: The way Levi remembered Isabel and Farlan's Death in this chapter is how it happened in the Manga 'No Regrets.'
Unlike the Anime, in the manga, there were five Titans instead of one Abnormal, and Levi arrived just as a Titan grabbed Farlan.
Comments
Ghost
Well I recently I cam across a fic, in which more light was shed on the history of AOT world. For around 1000 years, Eldians not only ruled the continent, treat non eldians as second class citizens, erased their culture, raped them, forced them to bear their children, made examples by devouring them, and more such cruel treatments. Imagine what if colonization period lasted around 1000 years, instead of 200-300, where Europeans had a comparable population compared to the colonised nations. Personally, since my country was once colonized, I get the hate rest of the world in AOT has towards Eldians and understand their desire for genocide, as they had been free only for around 100 years. What do you think about this? What are your opinions regarding Eldians? As thousands of years of rape, pillaging, erasing religion, culture, language, devouring people left and right, genocide, can't be forgiven in a mere 100 years.
Quinn Bernal
Excellent chapter. I'm really excited to see how things will go now that the Survey Corps knows the truth about themselves and the Titans. If I did have another thing to say, it's that I'm not impressed with Levi's attitude. He gets all pissy at Eren for almost killing Petra, yet he forgets that they were the ones trying to attack him and he was just defending himself. Granted, you can argue they were just doing their job and didn't know any better, but Eren was just a kid and of course he was going to defend himself. The fact that he tried to be gentle with Petra should speak volumes while the Scouts were trying kill him, and they probably wouldn't listen to him back then if he tried to explain himself. I don't think you did anything wrong here, Levi is that big of an asshole, and he's not the only one that lost or has been close to losing people he cares about. I get that Eren is young and is still a cadet, so of course he's going to be terrified of Levi, but I hope we get to a point where he won't be scared of him at all or his threats. Besides that, I like the chapter. That one part did bug me, but I'm not the biggest Levi fan so that was to be expected.
Drinor
Levi’s Titan will be terrifying. Glad you liked it.
Troy Wallin
I really like the direction you are taking the story. Having historia be a titan is going to be interesting, and Levi as well? I feel bad for anyone that has to go up against him and mikasa at the same time hahaha
