Chapter 1: Elias Reiss
The streets were packed with thousands of soldiers marching in perfect unison. Their boots struck the ground like thunder, echoing across the city. The banners of the Eldian Empire waved high in the air, each one proudly displaying the symbol of the royal family.
Above them, the cheers of millions of citizens filled the sky. The people stood shoulder to shoulder, their voices united in a single, powerful chant.
"Elias Reiss!"
"The blood of the Royal Family! The Holder of the Founding Titan! The Great Apex Titan! EMPEROR OF ELDIA!! Save the world! March the Divine Legion and destroy the Marleyans!"
"Heil Elias!"
"Heil Elias!"
"Heil Elias!"
At the center of it all, Elias Reiss stood tall on a grand platform overlooking the parade. His figure was regal, his presence commanding. The sunlight reflected off his golden hair, and his piercing blue eyes seemed to glow with power.
He raised his hand, and the crowd roared even louder. Their devotion was absolute. To them, Elias wasn't just a leader. He was their savior.
The soldiers stopped in perfect formation, their weapons gleaming in the light. The air was thick with anticipation, every eye fixed on Elias. He took a deep breath and stepped forward, ready to speak to his people.
And at that moment he woke up.
A young child with a golden flock as hair beautifully woven like silk woke up with a heavy breath, sweat trickling down from his forehead as his chest heaved up and down as if a giant boulder was taken off him.
"Nii-san! Wake up, sleepy head!" A young and cute girl shook the boy. She has the same hair as him which was a clear indication that the two were siblings.
"Just a dream…" the young boy murmured.
"What?" The girl said, confused. He looked at his cute little sister and smiled.
"Did you have breakfast yet, Krista?" He said and stood up lifting his little sister like a cat who was sitting on top of his stomach.
"Not yet, Nii-san I was waiting for you to wake up so we could eat together!" She smiled at him. When he saw that smile Elias felt warm.
This smile. He will protect this smile, by any means necessary.
"Yeah, thank you. Let's eat together." The two of them ate in peace on the table. The smell of cooked potato wafted in the air.
"Did mom eat yet?" Elias asked Krista. Who put on a somber expression and responded with her head down.
"Not yet. She ignored me again."
She sounded sad. Elias felt a pang of pain when he saw that and patted her back.
"Figures. But hey, wanna go to Shiganshina after this? We'll play with Eren, Armin and Mikasa!" Elias said, lifting her sister's spirit up.
"Really?" Her expression beamed with joy making the world around her bright.
"Yup! So eat up your vegetables and we'll go there later!"
"Umu!" She bobbed her cute head and ate the food with joy.
After eating their fill the two sneaked out of their house and headed towards Shiganshina with an ear to ear grin.
On their way they encountered the guards from the Garrison, which the two were very familiar with.
Hannes. Hannes was a tall, well-built man with short blond hair, a thin dark mustache. He wore the typical uniform of the Garrison Regiment along with a v-neck shirt underneath.
The man was a close friend of the two as they were the one that let them sneak inside Shiganshina.
"Hannes-san! Goodmorning!" Krista greeted him cutely with a smile.
"Goodmorning." Elias followed. The man looked up from his playing cards and looked at the two.
"Oh! If it isn't our little sneaking friends! HAHAHAHA! Good Morning to you too!" Hannes stood up from the crates he was using as a chair and ruffled the sibling's hair.
"Not too close! You reek of alcohol!" Elias pushed him away which made Hannes chuckle.
"Why do you even drink alcohol? It's the middle of the day? What if a Titan attacks how will you defend the wall!?" Elias shouted.
"Haha! Funny you should mention that. Eren said the same thing earlier!" Hannes grinned and patted him on the head.
"As much as an idiot Eren is, he's right on that one!" Elias said and removed his hands.
"Mmm Nii-san, stop fighting with Hannes!" Krista pouted and scolded Elias.
"Man… you're quite useless Hannes-san!"
"Hahaha! It's better for me to be useless in peacetime than rather be useful in war times…" Hannes said with a profound expression. Momentarily Elias stopped as some kind of nostalgic feeling hit him.
He didn't know why but this was kind of familiar. It felt like he heard this somewhere before. He didn't notice it but a small streak of tears ran down his cheek.
The two stopped and looked at him. Hannes put on a genuine worried expression as he kneeled down in front of him and checked him up.
"Are you okay, kiddo?" When he heard Hannes' voice he awoke from his stupor and wiped away his tears.
"Must be just a headache…" Elias said.
"Are you sure? I have some medicine on me, I'll give it to you, if you're feeling unwell"
"No need Hannes-san, just use it for your hangover!"
The two hang out with Hannes for a bit, the older man even giving the two his stash of candy. After that the siblings headed to the Jaeger household.
The two arrived at the house and they knocked three times.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Eren! Mikasa!" It was Krista who shouted. The door swung open revealing a beaming young boy with black hair and teal-green eyes wearing a defiant but joyful expression.
"Yo! Elias! Krista!" The young boy approached Elias and then performed some kind of elaborate bro handshake.
"Hi." Mikasa greeted them with a simple and curt greeting.
"Good Morning guys!" Krista said and Elias followed.
"Morning."
"Good Morning to you too, have you two eaten yet?" Miss Carla Jaeger, Eren's mother said with an affectionate expression.
"Yes, Aunt Carla, we just finished our meal earlier, we're still full" Elias said.
"Are you sure?"
"We have some pie if you want?" She offered a deal he couldn't refuse.
And so Elias conceded and ate with them.
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