The next morning, I was abruptly woken up by a loud, enthusiastic voice.
"Aiden! Wake up, son! Today's the day we're going to have a proper lesson about the world!"
I groaned and buried my face in the pillow, hoping to ignore the persistent clamour. But Dad's enthusiasm was relentless. He flung open the curtains, letting a flood of morning light pour into my room.
"Rise and shine!" Dad cheered, practically bouncing on my bed. "We've got a lot to cover today, and I'm excited for you to finally learn about our quirks!"
I rolled out of bed, my hair sticking up in all directions, and shuffled downstairs to the breakfast table. The smell of bacon and eggs filled the air, and I gratefully accepted the plate of food that was set in front of me.
"So, Dad," I started, trying to sound nonchalant as I dug into my breakfast. "I've been thinking about quirks. You mentioned everyone in the world has them, but I don't know much about them yet. Can you tell me more about what everyone's quirks are?"
Dad, who was already halfway through his own meal, looked up with a mischievous grin. "Ah, yes, quirks. A fascinating topic indeed. Well, I can certainly give you a rundown of what your family members can do!"
Mum chimed in, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. "I'd be interested to hear about that too. It's always fun to see how quirks manifest in different people."
Dad nodded, setting down his fork. "Alright then, let's start with your sister, Sera."
"Sera's quirk is called *Titan's Gaze*," Dad began, his face lighting up with pride. "It allows her to see through solid objects and even perceive things at a greater distance. Very useful for keeping an eye on things from afar, if you know what I mean."
I raised an eyebrow. "That's pretty cool. What about Mum?"
Mum smiled warmly. "My quirk is called Titan's Embrace. It lets me create protective barriers around people, almost like an invisible shield. I can extend it to protect entire groups or focus it on one person. It's helpful for keeping everyone safe."
I nodded, intrigued. "And what about you, Dad?"
Dad chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Ah, well, that's where the surprise comes in."
"A surprise?" I echoed, slightly taken aback.
"Yes," Dad said, his grin widening. "I won't spoil it for you just yet. But let's just say it's a quirk that makes me the man of action and strength that you see before you."
I tried to press further, but Dad's eyes twinkled with an almost childish excitement. "Nope, no spoilers. You'll just have to see for yourself when the time comes. But I promise, it'll be worth the wait!"
I sighed, knowing I wouldn't get any more details out of him. "Alright, alright. I guess I'll have to wait and see."
Dad's grin widened as he clapped me on the back. "That's the spirit! Now, let's talk about the rest of the world."
As we finished breakfast, Dad went on to explain how quirks had become a fundamental part of society outside Paradis. He spoke of how people used their quirks in everyday life, from helping with mundane tasks to becoming heroes and villains.
The more he spoke, the more I realised how out of place our isolated island was in this vast, quirk-filled world.
"And while Paradis prefers to keep things traditional," Dad said, leaning back in his chair, "we've still got our own ways of handling quirks. You're a part of that legacy now, Aiden. Embrace it and use it well."
I nodded, absorbing all the new information. I was both excited and nervous about having a quirk. After all, the last thing I wanted was to accidentally set something on fire—or worse, destroy half the palace before I figured out how to control it.
---
After breakfast, Dad and I headed to the royal study. The air in the palace was warm, with the light filtering through the grand windows, casting intricate patterns on the marble floors.
As we entered the study, I noticed rows of bookshelves filled with ancient tomes and dusty scrolls. It was a room brimming with history, and I could almost feel the weight of the knowledge held within it.
Dad clapped his hands, and a slender figure in librarian's robes emerged from behind one of the shelves. Her name was Elaria, our royal librarian. She had an air of quiet dignity about her, but what made her stand out was her quirk.
Elaria could project anything she could imagine, creating visual displays from the depths of her mind.
She was basically a living hologram projector with a photographic memory, and Dad loved using her for history lessons.
"Elaria, we're going to need your help today," Dad said, waving her over.
Elaria nodded. "Of course, Your Majesty." She gave a brief bow, then turned to me. "Prince Aiden, this will be your first in-depth history lesson about Paradis and the world before quirks. I hope you're ready."
I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was definitely curious. I mean, how does an isolated island nation like ours end up with so much power? And what exactly were the Titans? I'd heard the term thrown around, but no one had given me a detailed explanation yet.
"Let's start with the beginning," Dad said, leaning back in his chair. "Elaria, if you would."
Elaria closed her eyes, and a shimmering image appeared in the air before us. It showed a vast landscape—forests, mountains, and rivers stretching out as far as the eye could see.
This was Paradis, but it looked… different. Ancient. Pristine.
"This," Dad said, "was Paradis before quirks emerged. Back when the world was ruled by Titans, not superpowered humans. Long ago, there were no quirks. Instead, the world was dominated by the power of the Nine Titans—descendants of the Founding Titan."
Elara's projection shifted, showing nine colossal figures standing tall amidst the world's population. They were gargantuan, terrifying beings, each with its own unique powers.
"These Titans were the offspring of Ymir Fritz, the first Founding Titan," Dad continued. "They wielded immense power, and whoever controlled them held the balance of the world in their hands. Paradis was isolated from the rest of the world back then, hidden behind massive walls. But eventually, the power of the Titans would bring the world to its knees."
Elara's projection zoomed in on a specific figure—a young man with a determined, almost haunted look in his eyes.
"This," Dad said gravely, "is Eren Yeager. He was the one who brought about the Rumbling."
The image shifted, showing colossal Titans marching across the land, flattening cities, and wiping out entire populations. The ground shook beneath their feet, and humanity seemed helpless to stop them.
"Eren Yeager's goal," Dad explained, "was to eradicate humanity outside of Paradis. He believed it was the only way to protect his people from the endless cycle of war and persecution they faced.
The Rumbling destroyed nearly 63% of humanity, leaving only a fraction of the world's population alive. Those who survived were scattered, and many were too afraid to challenge Paradis again."
I sat there, stunned. I had heard of the Rumbling in passing, but hearing the full scope of it, seeing the destruction caused by Eren's Titans… it was hard to wrap my head around.
"So… he just wiped out most of the world? Just like that?" I asked, still processing.
Dad nodded solemnly. "Yes. The Rumbling was one of the most catastrophic events in history. But it also led to Paradis becoming the dominant nation under Queen Historia Reiss, who succeeded Eren and tried to rebuild a fractured world."
The projection shifted again, this time showing a young woman with long blonde hair and kind eyes—Historia Reiss.
"Queen Historia inherited the Founding Titan after Eren's fall," Dad said. "She became the ruler of Paradis and worked to restore peace and order. Under her reign, Paradis thrived, and the Titans' power was passed down through the generations. Eventually, quirks began to emerge around the world, changing the dynamics of power, but the legacy of the Titans remained."
At this point, Elara projected an image of a family tree, tracing the lineage of the Founding Titan. My heart skipped a beat as I realised that the line led directly to *us*.
"And now," Dad said with a smirk, "the Founding Titan resides with me. It's a hereditary quirk, passed down from Fritz to Fritz."
I blinked, trying to process that information. "Wait… so you have the power of the Founding Titan?"
Dad gave me a mischievous grin. "Indeed I do. But I'm not telling you what it can do just yet. That's part of the surprise."
I stared at him, dumbfounded. The Founding Titan was in him? The same power that had controlled the fate of the world, the same power that had once triggered the destruction of nearly 63% of humanity, was sitting right here in front of me.
And Dad was treating it like a fun little secret!
"Okay… but why haven't I seen you use it? And why don't you use it openly?" I asked, still struggling to keep up with everything.
Dad chuckled. "Because, son, there's a time and place for everything. We don't flaunt the power of the Titans. The world outside may have quirks now, but the Titans' legacy is still something we guard carefully. Besides, not everything needs to be flashy."
Elara nodded. "The Titans' power may not be as prominent as quirks today, but it is still revered and feared in many parts of the world."
I leaned back in my chair, trying to absorb it all. So, I was not only a prince of Paradis, a nation once isolated and ruled by Titans, but my own father held the power of the Founding Titan—the same power that had once nearly destroyed the world.
"So… do I have a Titan quirk too?" I asked, half-joking but also genuinely curious.
Dad grinned. "We'll find out soon enough. But remember, Aiden, the power of the Titans is just one part of our legacy. It's important to respect it, understand it, and use it wisely."
I couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and dread. This was way more than I had bargained for when I first started asking about quirks.
The Titans' history was dark, filled with destruction and devastation. And now, as the son of King Max Fritz, I was tied to that legacy in a way I couldn't fully comprehend yet.
"Guess history lessons aren't so boring after all, huh?" Dad said with a grin.
I let out a nervous laugh. "Yeah… definitely not boring."
But as the lesson came to an end, one thing was clear to me: this world was far more complicated than I had imagined, and I was only just beginning to scratch the surface of my family's strange, powerful, and dangerous history.
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