The whole day had been quiet amongst them; the trio barely talked with each other; Eren ate breakfast in complete silence, and so did Armin and Mikasa.
The Ackerman girl still repeated the words Eren said in her head.
I will tell you the Truth
What truth? Mikasa wondered through the whole day, and the face Armin was making showed that he must be thinking the exact same thing. Still, the silence didn't stop them from training like every other day since they started.
Mikasa glanced briefly at Eren, noticing the nervousness written all over his face; his body language showed that whatever he was about to tell them made him nervous.
Unlike the previous days, this day seemed to go on forever, just not wanting to end. Mikasa wondered if her only thinking about whatever Eren would tell them caused the time to feel as if it was going slower somehow.
Armin had, of course, asked why he couldn't tell them right away, but Eren shook his head in denial.
I need to show it, and fewer chances of someone eavesdropping on us. He had explained with a serious tone.
Both had reluctantly nodded before going through the day like 'Normal'. Eventually, the night came, and people were returning back to their beds, wanting to rest after a whole day of working on the fields.
Soon, everyone had fallen asleep except Armin, Eren, and Mikasa. They stood in silence, waiting for several minutes. Seeing everyone was sleeping, Eren stood up first from his bed, quickly followed by the other two.
Eren was thankful that it was still pretty hard to see outside, and he could transform without anyone far away noticing. From the coat left by his father, Eren pulled the letters from an inner pocket, hidden very well.
Armin was surprised to see the letters; he knew he was going to tell what was the deal with them. Same for Mikasa, who knew Eren didn't like poking around his stuff. Having them in his hands, he mouthed for both of them to follow outside, towards the forest. As they walked away from the others, not once did neither Armin nor Mikasa feel nervous or wary of the whole situation.
Soon after over ten minutes of walking through the forest, Eren suddenly stopped in a small clearing. Looking around, Armin saw nothing out of the ordinary. A trunk of a tree on the ground, they sat on it; Eren was facing both of his friends, his face visible sad. He didn't know how they would react to him; he just hoped they wouldn't see him as perhaps a monster. For several weeks Eren had wondered by himself if having these powers made him the same as the Titans who killed his mom. Still, knowing that all Titans were people before helped him in a way, and the words his father had written for him, explaining how, with this power, he could protect the people he valued the most, that sentence convinced Eren that it was worth it, he could protect his friends.
Soon silence fell over them; the only sound around them was the sound of crickets, and crows, a gust of wind passed by, making Mikasa's red scarf dance around, but it didn't fly away due to her always making sure it would never fly off.
Soon the silence was over when Eren cleared his throat, indicating that he wanted to start talking.
"I know you guys want to know what's happening with me. For the past four months since my father died, I have been acting differently and can't blame you for wanting to know what happened to cause this change. You have noticed that I disappear during the night, and I don't talk as often about the Titans" Eren started with a thoughtful look, and both of his friends nodded with understanding looks. Eren turned his green eyes to Mikasa.
"Mikasa, you remember when I told you my father came in the middle of the night and took me away to the forest?" Eren asked slowly with a low tone, earning a nod from Mikasa, But she wondered why he was bringing that up; did his father's death have anything to do with this.
"Well, when we went into the forest. My father told me The Truth," Eren said with a higher tone at the end, his voice suddenly different, with a hint of anger but sadness as well. Remembering his father's death was still a sore subject for him.
"The Truth?!" Armin repeated, not knowing what that could mean? Did he mean the truth about the Titans? The Truth of the Outside world? Did doctor Grisha somehow figure it out!!
"Yes. You see, two millennia ago; a girl named Ymir Fritz was the First Titan; she-" after saying those words, Eren kept on telling them about the Eldian people, how they used the powers of the Titans to conquer land after land for centuries, killing and spilling blood wherever they went; how Ymir had split her powers into nine Titans.
Armin and Mikasa had fallen silent during the whole explanation, waiting for their friend to end the story first. Eren appreciated their patience.
Soon, Eren explained about Marley, how the 145th king had planned the downfall of his own people and empire with the Big War of The Titans. He then explained how King Fritz built the walls using millions of Colossal Titans.
"What?" Armin shouted; he couldn't hold it anymore; when his friend said that the king and his subject had run off to an island, Armin immediately put two and two together, knowing they were most likely their descendants of them. Still, hearing Eren explain that the Wall was full of Colossal Titan. He glanced briefly at the wall on the horizon; despite being very far, he still could see the wall far away. That made him nervous, knowing the Titans like that giant were so close.
Mikasa was visibly disturbed; if anyone would tell her this, she would call them liars if they didn't have proof to back it up; but Eren, she knew she could trust him with all her heart.
"Yes. Even now, these Titans are in deep slumber within the walls, just waiting to be awakened. That's why we have people who are fanatics of the walls, religion that praises the walls," Eren added; his hand was a fist, thinking these idiots knew the truth all along.
"You think they know the truth?" Armin asked, but more like a statement, he now understood it, they simply existed to make sure no one would ever damage the walls; thinking about it, he understood after one hundred years, sooner or later, someone would be curious enough to investigate the walls, and the religion was there to make sure that never happened. Eren simply nodded his head.
"I don't know how much they know, but they clearly know the wall is full of Titans," Eren explained; it had taken time of thinking to come to that conclusion; since finding out the truth, Eren had started asking himself questions he hadn't asked before, one of them about the religion that worships the walls. Both of his friends looked lost in a way, but that wasn't even the end.
Clearing his throat again, drawing the attention of his friends. Eren started explaining how the king used the power of The Founding Titan to manipulate their memories, making everyone believe that they were the last of humanity and that the Titans had devoured everyone else.
Armin now understood why talking about the Outside world was considered a Taboo and why it was punished if someone did something that risked that secret.
After that, he explained his father's history, how he came from Marley, and how Eldians there were treated less than humans, but not just in Marley. Everywhere around the world, Eldians were treated harshly as less than humans. Eren explained that apparently, he has a brother out there; that caught both Mikasa and Armin off guard; from all the things they expected after Eren explained the truth, to hear Eren has a brother was a bigger surprise somehow.
"What do you think about it?" Mikasa asked softly, knowing Eren's brother had betrayed their father. Eren looked down, his eyes clouded. He himself wasn't sure how to answer that; despite knowing about it for four months, he had kind of just ignored that part, pretending he didn't know about it. Of course, he didn't know if he ever would meet him and if he was even alive, to begin with.
In the end, Eren left out a tired sigh before shrugging his shoulders. "Don't know, my father wrote that he wasn't a good father to Zeke and that he doesn't blame him for what happened, but a part of me can't help but think that there could have been a different way," Eren explained, knowing the past was written, the ink was dry.
Neither Armin nor Mikasa spoke more of it; both of them had already their minds full of information, still trying to process all of it.
Deciding to change the subject, Eren explained the rest of the story, how his father got inside the walls thirteen years ago, meeting his mother. And then finished with his father entrusting him with the power of The Attack Titan and Founding Titan.
When asked how his father gave the Two Titans to Eren, the boy suddenly went pale, his eyes welling up, looking down at his hands, seeing them covered in blood that wasn't there. Mikasa was about to confront Eren and tell him they could continue this tomorrow, but Eren lifted his head to look at his friends. He went on and explained how someone gains Titans Power in the Normal way.
Both Armin and Mikasa gasped at the last part; visibly shaken and disturbed, leaning closer, she put a hand on his shoulder, hoping to make him feel better.
"Why? Why would he give this responsibility to you, Eren? He could have done this himself, right?" Mikasa asked with a frown; she didn't understand why he couldn't do what he entrusted Eren to do himself. He was a grown man, and Eren was only ten years old.
"No, when we were discussing in the woods. My father told me that he was sick. He didn't elaborate further on that, only that he couldn't be cured of whatever he was sick. Saying that his time was running out and he needed me to have the power to protect myself," Eren explained with a grieving tone, remembering his father's pale face, as white as a ghost.
Armin arched an eyebrow before putting his hand on his chin, thinking about Doctor Grisha's words. Eren explained that someone with Titan powers could heal themselves from physical harm just like a Titan; Armin found no reason to think that wasn't the case for internal sickness. He wondered if there was something Doctor Grisha didn't tell Eren for whatever reason but decided to keep quiet; it was simple speculation.
Mikasa soon turned to look at Eren before hugging him close to her. "I'm sorry, Eren," she said softly; Eren relaxed in her arms before hugging her back, knowing that, in a way, he had killed his own father when he turned into a pure titan. He knew he had no fault, and his father had done it knowing the results.
"Don't blame yourself, Eren. Your father knew the risks, and you didn't do that intentionally," Armin said intelligently, trying to reassure his friend, hoping it would ease his pain.
The boy didn't respond but clearly appreciated his words. Soon they separated; Eren gave Mikasa a grateful smile, and the girl looked down, hiding her face with her scarf. "Thank You, both of you."
A few minutes passed before Eren decided to show it to them, finally. He was glad they didn't seem to be afraid of him thus far.
"Do you want to see my Titan form? I swear I can fully control it," Eren asked nervously, hoping they wouldn't show fear. Saying to anyone, 'Hey, do you want to see a 27 meters titan?' It was a ridiculous question. No one in the right mind would say 'Yes.' Right?
Mikasa looked uncertain but for a different reason. "Is it painful to-" "No," Eren quickly answered, easing her worries; he should have known Mikasa would ask if turning into a Titan harmed him somehow.
Armin, on the other hand, looked curious at the thought. Sure, Titans were terrifying, but he wanted to know what his friend looked like in his Titan Form.
"Sure," both finally said; Eren gave them both grateful smiles. Walking at least twenty meters away, neither Mikasa nor Armin showed signs of being wary or afraid of him, something that lifted a huge weight off his shoulders.
Taking a deep breath, he bit his hand, and a bolt of yellow lightning struck where he was. Armin's eyes widened slightly, seeing the yellow lightning. They stood their ground as a 27 meters Titan formed right in front of their eyes. What caught their attention was the sheer size of the Titan; before looking at his face, hoping to see signs of Eren still being there. Mikasa looked at his eyes, only to see Eren's eyes looking back.
"Eren," she called out, concerned; the Titan gave them a smile that sent chills on their spines before giving both of them a thumbs up, confirming that it was Eren.
"This is Amazing" Mikasa shouted, without thinking, running to Eren, who kneeled, still looking like a 17 meters Titan; Even on his knees, Eren put an open hand on the ground for Mikasa to jump too.
Armin did so as well; he brought them to his shoulders; Mikasa hugged his face, her arms spread across his left cheek, feeling the warmth, but she didn't mind it. Armin laughed seeing that.
"Can you talk?" Armin asked as Mikasa leaned back, sitting comfortably on his shoulder; Eren shook his head in denial; they only heard grunts in response. Armin understood his vocal cords weren't developed for speaking; he wondered if any of the nine Titans had the ability to speak.
But as he thought of it, only now did Armin understand the gravity of the situation, he knew the truth now, but suddenly the Titans weren't their only enemies now. Instead were, the people outside of Paradis, and not to mention two or more people who were Titan Shifters, were amongst them, infiltrating their population.
Hearing another grunt, Armin escaped his thoughts; when Eren made a gesture for them to climb down, they jumped to his palm, lowering them. Eren's Titan form started decaying and imitating steam.
Mikasa saw Eren slowly coming out of the nape; she quickly walked up to him before helping him. Soon Eren came out seeing a worried Mikasa, who breathed a sigh of relief before hugging his chest.
Eren smiled weakly as Armin approached, smiling. "Well. I expected many things, Eren, but I never expected that you would tell us something like this," the blonde said in a joking manner rubbing the back of his head.
Tomorrow
The following day, everything seemed to have gone back to normal, unlike yesterday when they were mostly dead silent.
It was late morning; they were eating stew; they had agreed to not discuss it out in the open about the truth, only in very secure places like the forest.
Armin and Mikasa had, of course, agreed last night they hadn't that much time to discuss the magnitude of it, but now that they were calm and understood everything and had time to think.
Last night, Eren mentioned there are two people out there responsible for what happened in Shinganshina. That's right, The Armoured Titan and The Colossal Titan, but now that Armin thought more about it, he highly doubted that Marley would send only two people to infiltrate the Wall and capture the Two Missing Titans.
Eren's father had explained in his letter the plan Marley had for years to send Eldians to the wall, but Armin understood there must be at least two more. Doing his math, he doubted Marley would send every Titan they had on Paradis and leave their country without their most significant assets.
They most likely left just enough Titans in Marley to fight in case of a sudden attack on the mainland, and since they have only Seven out of Nine.
Armin concluded that Marley sent four or three Titan Shifters to infiltrate the Wall. Colossal and Armoured Titans are here to breach the walls, which means the other Titans should be supportive Titans that are good at fighting.
He concluded Cart Titan couldn't be the one sent here. Since that one is not good at fighting, still he tried to find out who else could be there but soon gave up; Armin decided to think later about this; they didn't have nearly enough information regarding the other Titans; he just hoped they still have time before the Titan Shifters make their next move.
One thing he remembered was Eren telling them last night that tonight he needed them to go with him to the forest, saying he needed to show them something else. Something that, according to him, could turn the tides of the War completely.
As they were eating stew, Eren wondered if there was any way to figure out who held the Armoured and Colossal Titan, despite the obvious way. He figured seeing steam coming out of a wound was a good way to find out; the problem was that even Eren had figured it by now that he could make a wound not heal if he didn't want to; right now, he was trying to figure out how to harden his skin around his fists and focus his healing ability in a single wound, in case he needed it.
Mikasa wanted to ask questions about the Founding Titan; according to Eren, that Titan could control the Pure Titans, and according to their father, The Founding Titan's abilities were utterly unknown. He could make Pure Titans fight for him or die. If that were the case, why hadn't Eren simply used it to kill all the Pure Titans on Shiganshina? She knew something must be preventing him from doing that, so she decided to ask Eren tonight. Last night after Eren came out of his Titan, he was visibly tired; despite his protest that they could stay longer, Mikasa basically demanded them to go back so Eren could rest and wait until tomorrow.
Erwin Smith
Sitting comfortably in his chair as Commander of Survey Corps, in the Head Quarters, waiting for a report from Levi and his squad, it had been four months now. However, Erwin still mentally kicked himself for not discussing this sooner with Doctor Grisha.
When the word came that Grisha Yeager had been found dead, only his son alive, Erwin knew they had lost a good man that could probably help their cause to find out the Truth.
While true, he had met the doctor only once and had one discussion, the words the man had said still repeated in his head over and over...
"Sometimes the biggest secrets are hidden right in front of us, all we need to do is open our eyes, and everything will stop hiding and become visible to everyone."
"What do you mean?" Erwin asked, intrigued, taking a sip from the good tea the doctor had made.
"Who knows, my father always used to say that things are never that simple. Secrets are hidden in plain sight that becomes visible only at night."
Now, Erwin was resting his head on his hands, thinking of what happened that night; the MP had reported that the area looked like it had been burned. Usually, MP wouldn't care much when someone was kidnapped or robbed, but the reputation of Grisha Yeager was well known even in Wall Rose, forcing them to be a bit more serious in their investigation.
But still, it was all for naught, but Erwin knew to see beyond just that, especially how Grisha's corpse was found, half of his body missing. Erwin didn't know what could have caused it. Sure there were all kinds of people out there, but where was the other half; not mentioning why his son was still alive, not that Erwin wasn't grateful for that, especially with Shadis saying that the kid would most likely join the Survey Corps after what happened to Carla Yeager, driven by the desire for vengeance, that kind of desire was a double edge sword.
As he started writing down ideas about different formations, he was thinking of, personal thoughts, and even traps, a knock on the door stopped him. The commander stopped writing and announced for them to come in.
The door opened, revealing Levi approaching with documents in his arms, same for Hange. Levi was wearing his usual dull face and a hint of annoyance; Hange, on the other hand, looked ready to burst into flames from excitement. Erwin raised an eyebrow in confusion; why was Hange here? He had asked Levi, not her.
Reaching his desk, they both saluted in respect for their commander.
"The report, sir," Levi said with a bored tone handing him the letters; Erwin started flipping through pages before looking at Hange, just as he was about to ask what had brought her here.
"The report, sir!" She said excitedly before he could even start. Levi rolled his eyes at her face and the excitement in her tone. He couldn't understand what was so interesting about stupid reports of Titans in the forest.
Titans were stupid creatures; if there was indeed a Titan inside wall Rose, the dammed thing would have already attacked someone; he wouldn't just hide in the woods waiting for the perfect opportunity to attack.
"Report! Report about what??" Erwin asked, grabbing the report from Hange and opening it; he waited for her to elaborate, knowing there were only two things that could make her this excited, one of them being Titans, and in this case, was most like that reason.
"A week ago, I heard people discussing that they saw Titans inside the wall. With that information in mind, I spent the whole last week asking around if anyone had seen anything strange. Mostly it was nothing but several people reported they heard thunders; some said they saw a Giant Titan the size of Colossal; some said they saw hundreds of Titans in Forest Alenia near Trost," Hange explained with stars in her eyes.
Erwin understood that was a bit exaggerated, a Titan like the Colossal would be noticed immediately, and the same was for a large group of Titans. If anything on this report was actually true, there most likely was only one Titan, and it was much smaller than Colossal, if there were any, to begin with, Erwin concluded.
"Seriously, Four-Eyes, a Titan doesn't just hide in the woods; not even an abnormal would act like that," Levi countered with annoyance, but he knew when it came to Titans, they were many who acted strangely. Some attacked only if there were a group of people nearby, not a single person; sometimes, there were Titans that focused on a singular person, ignoring everyone else around them as if they didn't exist.
But a Titan that hides in the woods was something he had yet to see.
Hange was about to counter with her own argument, saying that only a year ago, he wouldn't believe there were Titans that could destroy the wall. Still, before she could utter a word, Erwin stepped in before they could start a discussion that would most likely last for hours; while they were funny and amusing, he didn't have the time right now.
Coughing
They straightened up and turned their attention to Erwin, ignoring each other.
"Now, Hange. I doubt there is any group of Titans inside wall Rose or another Colossal Titan," Erwin concluded, his hands in front of his face; Hange was about to open her mouth to speak when Erwin wasn't done...
"But there might be a singular Titan but much smaller. I want you to take your squad and Levi's squad to check the forest. If you see anything unusual, report to me and don't tell anyone," Erwin ordered with a firm tone, getting nods from both of them.
Erwin soon checked the report from Levi, and there was nothing new, the doctor's son was apparently living with two of his friends. Nothing unusual about it. After that, he told both of them they were free.
After leaving the room, Erwin stood up from his chair and walked to the window, showing Wall Rose far away in the distance. His eyes narrowed slightly.
Hidden in plain sight, he repeated the words in his head.
Just what did you know, Grisha?