Heritage
Four years after the Rumbling
The negotiations between Paradis and the Allied Nations continued and had achieved positive results. Paradis restored full communications between the nations and agreed to start trade of certain products. Hizuru was the nation who benefited the most of the deals and started to gain terrain politically.
Queen Historia, with the intimidating assistance of Mikasa, had managed to de-escalate the tensions and nationalistic pretense of the military and some nobles. This had caused for Mikasa's image to be even more popular to the public, but much more deteriorated to the military and the yeagerist nobles.
New opportunities had begun to emerge, especially to Hizuru's officials in Paradis…
Mikasa's Home
The Ackerman Woods were the assigned properties to Mikasa as the ruling noble of House Ackerman. The property was not great in size, but very fertile, peaceful and beautiful, with large woods and crops. The land did not need many workers, but all of them had good lives and unusual benefits in comparison to other properties.
Mikasa lived in a decent sized cottage made of wood built mostly by herself, at her request. She had no servants and did all her own housework, although she was daily offered help and was given her meals by the workers of the land as a sign of gratitude. She shared her meals with them… mostly without saying much, but enjoying their stories and seeing their families grow…
Lady Kiyomi frequently visited Mikasa in a friendly fashion, but for the last few months her demeanor had changed… much to the annoyance of Mikasa…
Lady Kiyomi: My lady, our nation has an opportunity to become a ruling power in this new world… but we still are leaderless.
Mikasa had heard all of this before and was getting pretty fed up about it…
Mikasa: Lady Kiyomi, as I've said before, I have no interest in becoming leader of anything… I just want to live my life as quietly and peacefully as possible.
Lady Kiyomi: Well my lady… your interventions at the governing cabinet could say otherwise… You are destined for greatness Mikasa… I know these years have been difficult for you, but it's time to move on… You are much more than what you see yourself as…
Lady Kiyomi takes Mikasa's hand, uncovering her Azumabito tattoo: It's time for you to take your place in history.
Mikasa gently pulls away and covers her tattoo again: This tattoo has no meaning to me anymore… Lady Kiyomi
Lady Kiyomi is shocked requesting Mikasa to explain herself.
Mikasa: My mother… told me this tattoo was very special… it signified my heritage… and that the only person I should show it to in my entire life… is the father of my children…
Tears start to stream down Mikasa's face, keeping an unchanging stern expression.
Mikasa: So… as I've already told you before Lady Kiyomi – Mikasa wipes the tears off her face- my husband died before we could conceive… so I won't have any descendance. My suggestion is for you to find another leader for Hizuru. I have no intentions of changing my mind.
Lady Kiyomi is upset and uncomfortable: Excuse me my lady if I have upset you, I will take my leave now. As she is at the door she stops: You should think about more than yourself my lady. You have too much to give.
Mikasa is left alone for the rest of the day… she starts to feel truly lonely for the first time in years…
The next day – Shiganshina
Mikasa is sitting next to Eren's grave, having brought her lunch with her… intending to stay there for a few hours.
Mikasa: Eren… I'm sorry I haven't come to visit you for a while, I've been busy.
Mikasa starts to clean the gravestone and places a bouquet of fresh bellflowers under it.
Mikasa: Things are going well, I'll say better than you would have expected… To my surprise, I've become an important person… without having done anything. My life has not been as quiet as I would have wanted…
Mikasa with a sarcastic gesture: I guess I have to thank you for that.
The wind is softly blowing and birds on the tree are chirping. There are a few bird nests in it.
Mikasa: I wish you could tell me what to do Eren… You were always so sure about what you wanted and had to do… even if it didn't make sense…
I… don't have any real goals… I just go with the motions most of the time… I guess I always did that…
Mikasa nostalgically looks forward at the scenery.
Mikasa: I think I should go visit Armin and the rest… take my mind off these things…
Liberio
Levi is cleaning up his home with difficulty while Gabi and Falco are at work…
Levi: Those damn brats… they are here just a few hours and still leave a mess…
Meanwhile a mysterious slender figure enters the house, without Levi noticing.
Mysterious man: So, I see you are doing the cleaning. Quite a short maid, aren't you?
Levi furiously: What the hell?! This isn't a hotel, get the fuck out before I kill you.
Mysterious man: Oh, no need to be rude Captain Levi Ackerman… in any case, your Awakened Power won't be any good with that crippled leg.
Levi is stunned: What? Who… who the fuck are you?!
Mysterious man: Oh, forgive my manners, I got too excited from meeting you I guess. My name is Kaspar Ackerman… I just want to talk to you for a bit.
Levi is shocked: Ackerman?!
Kaspar: Yes, I'm an Ackerman. I understand for you to be surprised… The island devils don't know anything about our family, the Fritz and the Reiss made sure of that.
Levi: I don't give a fuck who you are, what do you want?
Kaspar: As I said, just to talk. I have been searching for my family for so many years now… unlike you, I know all about our family's history… and our divine role now that the Fritz Power is gone…
Levi is slowly approaching a closet… in there is his old vertical maneuvering equipment and his swords…
Levi: I don't give a shit about anything you say. Get the fuck out now.
Kaspar: Aw, I thought you would be more excited to meet your family Captain… But I guess you really couldn't contribute to our cause… being a cripple and all…
Levi: You son of a bitch…
Kaspar: But no matter, you were only the first stop of my journey… There is another Ackerman in Paradis isn't it? A Mikasa Ackerman... The devil's harlot.
Levi explodes with anger, his awakened power returns for the first time since the rumbling and in an instant grabs his swords and attacks Kaspar, who manages to stop the attack clashing the swords with two short knives.
Kaspar: Oh! Nice moves for a cripple! Too bad my powers have been awakened too.
Levi notices a figure running to the back of the house.
Kaspar: I do not wish to kill you… you are family after all, no matter how worthless. But that doesn't mean I can't cripple you a little more, you know, so you won't become a pest.
Levi suddenly moves to the side, revealing Gabi with an anti-titan gun pointing directly at Kaspar.
Gabi: GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HOUSE YOU THIN SON OF A BITCH.
The blast is so strong that it destroys the front door of the house, but it didn't hit Kaspar, who escaped.
Gabi: FALCO DID YOU SEE HIM?!
Falco is outside shocked: He... had vertical maneuvering equipment… he was so fast…
Gabi: SHIT! Who the fuck was that guy Mister Levi?! MISTER LEVI?!
Levi drops to the ground in excruciating pain.
Gabi: FALCO GET IN HERE!
Falco: Oh no... we have to get you to a medic Mister Levi!
Levi pushes Gabi away: We have to go and tell Armin about this. Right now.
Falco: But Mister Levi, your leg…
Levi angry: FUCK MY LEG. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY. TAKE ME TO HIM NOW!