Part 81
Family
"No… Oh man, my head…" Isaah groaned, looking down at his plate of food for breakfast and only being made to feel nauseous even more.
Fury chuckled. "Best and fastest way to learn is through experience, shithead." She took her last mouthful of a slice of bacon, not liking the fatty rim all too much on it.
"Alright, alright. It's too early for your lecturing…" The boy would sigh, noting the sudden entrance from Hange.
"Today is the day!" She would boast, waving a local newspaper above her head as she took a seat at the table. Levi, sat in the corner with a cup of tea, took a sip of it whilst having a leg resting above the lap of his other.
"Where are the other brats?" He would ask.
"Shaking off the headaches!" Hange grinned. "This is an operation to stay among us. These Tybur's are important in Marely, despite being Eldians. We, as in Fury, need to find out why that is."
Fury grimaced her expression. "First time meeting that who is related to me, and it's just to find out intentions. Not sure how I feel about this…"
"You're going to have a choice to make today, Fury." Hange then warned, noting how Fury then looked over at Levi, and then to Isaah, as if she knew what Hange referred to. "These Tybur's are a big and close family. They may not take too kindly in having one of their own be an enemy to them."
"To stay with them, or fight against them." Fury muttered. "I know what you're saying. Fact is, I'm only related to them by name. Family is here, among me. Always has been."
A nod came from Hange as her finger pointed to an article in the newspaper she brought with her. "Willy Tybur is going to be making some sort of speech today over in Liberio. Looks like we arrived here in the middle of some sort of yearly festival, and it's tradition for a speech to come from the Tybur's. That's where you need to be, Fury."
"I'm going with her." Isaah interrupted.
"Kid…" Levi huffed, noting Isaah then standing from his seat.
"She can't go in there on her own, what if they pull something!" He would argue.
Fury then tugged on his arm to sit him back down. "Isaah, it's more risky with you there. We're still maintaining disguise here. For all they know, I've been trying to get a chance to speak with them since I found out, and the Festival was the best chance, as they're never in public much."
"We'll be stood close by anyway!" Hange surmised as Isaah crossed his arms, huffing, but accepting the decision.
The clock in the hallway rung loudly as the morning soon came to midday. Fury patted down on her clothes, more out of an act of nervousness than any need to do it. They all readied, as the others would stay back.
Onyakopon, the one who led them over to Marley, was then ready to lead them over to Liberio, where the majority of Eldian's were permitted to live, under certain conditions and requests.
He personally handed Fury a headscarf, informing her that most women wear them in Liberio, and would help get her closer to Willy at his speech without eyebrows being risen by his personal guards. Despite how ridiculous she felt already, Fury reluctantly wrapped it around her, including her mouth and nose whilst the others, Eren especially, watched them leave and follow Onyakopon's lead.
A finger pointed. "That's the man." Onyakopon muttered. "Willy Tybur. Popular for keeping peace between other countries and known as a family man."
"Family man that hired a murderer to have me and my mother killed…" Fury hissed.
Hange nudged her. "And now you'll get your truth."
"… and we will continue another year of peace for Marley!" Willy was heard addressing, a clap coming from the growing crowd.
"Now or never." Onyakopon insisted. "Once he goes back into his manor, that placed is locked down harder than the military barracks."
There was no thought from Fury, who then forced her legs to take her forward and into the crowd. The likes of Hange, still stood back with her hands clasped in anticipation for truth, with Levi there with his own concerns too. And with Isaah, who still sulked from not going with Fury. The crowd was busy cheering the overlooking Tybur, who continued to preach of peace and continued prosperity for the families of the Warriors. A sudden tug on Fury's headscarf was made as her eyes darted to behind her; soon frowning. "Shithead, what are you doing?!" She hissed.
"Making sure you'll be okay!" Replied Isaah, to which Fury simply sighed and allowed him to remain with her, despite the distant hair pulling from Hange, who was no doubt ranting to Levi.
Fury dared lift her view to land her hues onto Willy Tybur more closely. A whirlwind of unfamiliar emotions swirling malevolently upon finally accepting this man was of her relation. Their eyes met, and the man came to a sudden stall upon gazing down at Fury. The crowd soon mumbling to each other about the odd reaction from a man they looked up to, and even a guard leaned to his left to mutter something into the Tybur's ear.
"… As is a yearly tradition…" Willy then recollected himself. "I invite a single member of this crowd to come dine with me and my family this night, and to wander my halls of history that is my home." His finger pointed directly to Fury. The crowd all shifting their disappointed eyes her way, causing her to hide her face further behind the headscarf. "I'll be generous. The boy too!" Willy called out, seeing Isaah practically hanging off Fury's arm. A guard then made his way over to Fury and Isaah, as Willy had already returned to being behind the doors of his manor. Taking her arm, the guard almost forcefully dragged her with him; making it aware that it would be unwise to refuse an invitation from a Tybur. The manor itself growing larger the closer Fury got to it and before realising, the doors closed behind her.
She stood within the hallway. Either side of it littered in iterations of old battles and historical figures from the past. Fury took note of a sculpted statue in the courtyard of a man impaling another with a spear of sort, and she wondered how symbolic that might be in current situations. "What follows those living in the light, is nothing but the profound." Willy greeted, with a maid of some sort always behind him. "Empty darkness, born from the shadows." The Tybur then cleared his throat. "Finally, the day has come, where the last member of this family is finally with us."
Though silent, Fury's eyes widened to show her stun. "You knew…?"
"One must have eyes everywhere these days. And your friends trying to feed a car some carrots didn't go all that unnoticed." Willy hummed. "You've finally reached us for your answers, Aya."
"How did you know her real name?" Isaah then asked, his eyes narrowed as Willy tapped his nose, only then after inviting Fury further into the home, where he then personally lead her into the lounge, where the guards stood watch, and refused entry to two young children wanting to speak with Willy.
"My other children…" He would inform aloud. "Some things must be kept from them, unfortunately."
"… You have other children?" Fury asked, though timidly.
"Tell my wife I'll be with them all shortly." Willy then ordered his guard, only further adding shock to Fury. "Family is my pride and joy. I'm only sad you were never with us all to experience it."
Fury then scoffed. "Don't play best father of the year now. I already know how I was made to be gotten rid of."
Willy sighed. "And it is only now in which I am glad that Ackerman did not do it. But you are here for your answers, not to meet a family you never felt a part of. To know of what you are, to why you are. To how us Tybur's date back to the likes of 2000 years ago." Willy took himself to a window. Patterned drapes hanging over it as he moved some aside to gaze out to the streets below him. "But to truly see, your eyes must bear witness to both light and dark. There is much you have not yet been told. If your mother had not done what she did, this would have all been a more emotional reconciliation.
Where do I begin...? The Bloodborn's, in which you are, have long been a form of watchers of this world's history. All bearing their own eyes. And this was partially how Ymir's existence was preserved in a realm only known as Paths. However, for 2000 years, Bloodborn's have not been seen since the Blood Purge of the first king, in which both Ackerman and we Tybur's spoke out against. Ymir allowed you to be brought back as a Bloodborn for a purpose. And it most likely means that she is able to see through your own eyes."
Fury clenched her fists. "Could you just get on with what a Bloodborn actually is?"
Willy hummed as he then moved to take a seat opposite her. "Your years on that island has kept you from many things, even as we stand on the verge of war. Your battles... Your struggles… Everything you have experienced in life has been a stepping-stone to bringing you back to us. And it has all been done for Ymir.
Your birth was all done by Ymir and for Ymir. Just because she wishes to be free, just as Eldian's do."
"How is a human that has been dead for over 2000 years of any salvation now?" Fury asked.
"Salvation… What a curious word." Willy surmised. "I marked your own path to salvation, just as Ymir marked all Eldian's. However, no matter how great the salvation grows, there is always some form of darkness that grows in all of our hearts. Even Ymir's. Two realities split apart could be brought together, if Ymir so wished it. And in a way, she has, through the existence of both Titans and Bloodborns, which she had a hand in creating both.
The Titans; darkness. Made to push humanity back through a rumbling of chaos.
The Bloodborns; the salvation. To be what humanity need to push the Titan's back when the time came in which they would flatten this world. But even Ymir could not foresee the paranoia of a man she personally gave three daughters to. He single handily wiped out what Ymir had hoped to be a form of salvation for even herself. And for 2000 years, she lost hope of that salvation and freedom. And she continued creating the Titans and allowing Shifters to exist. So, for you to be born, 2000 years since any news of Bloodborns, means something has changed. Someone or something has set into motion a chain of events that Ymir felt a Bloodborn be needed once again."
Fury grimaced. "So why hasn't she made more?"
"Because she has still not been given a reason to see why a certain Path should not be undertaken." Answered Willy. "And though the majority of the Tybur's, 2000 years ago, were against the Blood Purge, there was one that fanned the flames of the purge itself. And despite the people's belief that the Bloodborn's would only come back and push back the mindless Titans, Ymir chose not to. Since then, I have devoted myself to this place. But now, it is time preparations bear fruit."
"But why?!" Fury then suddenly erupted, leaning forward and even earning a concern from Isaah. "Why want my mother dead before I was even born?"
"If the people here caught wind of Bloodborn's returning, to set them free, I would lose my place of popularity among the leaders of other countries. When I met you mother, I thought the worst of things was that she was of Marleyan heritage. And even still, for an Eldian and Marleyan to be considered more, was highly irredeemable. But my heart took the risk, and we married. I continued my support of the Marleyan military, and earned favours from other World Leader's. It was only after your mother, Mia, fell pregnant did I fall into news of immigrants hailing from the dying island of Atheria. Disguising themselves as that of Marleyan's, and your mother told it all to me. Of her heritage, and that her family line had Bloodborn's in it.
I reacted poorly. Thought only of my progression and risk it would bring that my own child would be an enemy of Marley. And as I came to the conclusion that perhaps a change to the world was needed, your mother left Marley with her lover, and fled to Paradis on a ship that cargoes Eldian's over to that island to turn them into mindless Titans. The affair she maintained had lasted years between her and the man I found out to be named Wilhelm. And I doubted the child in her womb was even mine, and so, I bared no guilt in the consequence that followed as I gave the order to Kenny Ackerman. A man I met when I visited Paradis myself many years ago to maintain surveillance. But Wilhelm was a Marleyan, not of Eldian blood. Therefore, impossible for a Bloodborn to be conceived. You, Aya, as what Kenny told me your name to be, are my daughter."
Fury simply scoffed. Sitting back in the process. "I could never call a man with this mind set my "father"… Do you know? That one of your own Titan Shifter's wants me to become some damn reproduction factory for more Bloodborn's?"
Willy sighed, gripping the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger for a moment. "War chief Zeke. Yes. But he knows not that a Bloodborn cannot be conceived with just anybody."
"He pretty much suggested himself." Fury hissed.
"… What?" Isaah then muttered, only now just learning of this.
"This world does need more Bloodborn's as a countermeasure should things go wrong." Willy continued as one of the guards then further blocked the door out of the lounge with his towering demeanour. "Like I said, you have been guided here for a reason."
"… You're disgusting." Fury wheezed. "I'm your own flesh and blood!"
"There would be nothing more pure. And this family would only become stronger for it."
As Fury grimaced in disgust further, a sudden sarcasm of clapping came from Isaah's way, who sat there, smirking as his hands clattered together. "Great speech!" He would condescend. Fury raised her brow, as the boy would continue. "But getting ahead of ourselves here, aren't we? Mr Big Shot Important Person? Salvation, freedom, produced babies… Why do people take philosophy too serious? But it's just diarrhoea of the mouth in my opinion. Humanity's history is littered with false leaders like you… Or, should I say, infamous false leaders?"
Willy huffed. "You must be Isaah. Bodyguard to my daughter here… I must say, I'm somewhat impressed you've made it this far with a mumble of a man such as Hexis was." Both Isaah and Fury both shared confusion of this reveal. "That old man also had problems with this family's philosophies. With mine. And in the end, it was fine to leave Marley because of it. But when rumours start to spread that cause jeopardy to me… Well they must be seen to come to a stop. And for being kind enough to shelter my fleeing wife that bore my child, his final wish was granted and I accepted his permanent opposing of my views."
"Bullshit!" Fury barked. "The old man died of natural causes, of old age! Are you that desperate that you need to plant false doubt?" And yet, Willy could only chuckle.
"Know this." He cleared his throat. "Should you choose to leave this manor, you will leave as an enemy to Marley, and to your own family."
"Family that are nothing but strangers to me…" Fury growled as the laughter of children then filled the room as they rushed over to Willy, who knelt down to embrace them. Fury's expression softened upon realising that she had relation to these kids too. And in a sibling manner.
"Won't you introduce your chosen guests to us too, dear?" Came the voice of a woman, who then embraced the man with a gentle kiss. His new wife. And Fury could only wonder if she knew anything of who Fury even was to Willy.
"My apologies, my love." He smiled widely. "But I do feel that our guests were wanting to leave and get back to the festivities." With his sense of reply, Fury could only surmise that this new family of his knew nothing about her or in what relation they all have. Even the maid that followed Willy around, always lurking in the corner. Was she a Tybur too?
"Who could blame them?" The wife warmed as she patted Isaah atop his head, leaving the boy dumbfounded. "I always do love Liberio when it's this time of the year, where we celebrate Helos."
Fury got to her feet, forcing Isaah to do the same by pulling him up by his arm. "We just have plans!" She would fake smile to the rest of them. "But what history Mr. Tybur shared with me and my son here today truly was eye opening! And I can't wait to share it with my friends!"
"I must say, should you find yourself with changed minds about joining us for afternoon tea, you have until tomorrow to still be welcome to do so, until I must get back to my own duties." Willy spoke directly, only earning a frown from Fury as Willy nodded for a guard to take her and Isaah outside into the courtyard.
"What is it, dear?" Willy's wife would ask him.
"Oh. Silly me. I just forgot to share to the pair of them how Bloodborn's were once born already dead."
"Tell us the story again, papa!" His children would roar, as Willy chuckled from the eagerness.
"How many times, it is no story! It is our history. And when Bloodborn's were born 2000 years ago, they were born dead. Why?"
"Because of Ymir?" One child would ask.
"Because Ymir would choose who to send back as one!" The other cheered.
Willy nodded with pride. "And what would happen if the soul succeeded in its return?"
"The baby would then be a Bloodborn. And they could keep the Titans away when all grown up!"
One child lingered with a less than cheerful response. "But, papa, if Ymir made Bloodborns that helped us, why does she makes Titans to hurt us?"
"Because that is her duty." Willy patted his son's hair. "Just as it is mine to bring a unification to us all."
For Fury, who now strides back over to where the likes of Levi and Hange waited, she met her family, but at what cost? "Why didn't you tell me what Zeke was asking of you?" Isaah asked along the way. "I can't believe your own father would suggest even worse."
She halted. Her shoulders relaxed from the tension they had maintained throughout. "He's no father of mine. And when it comes to family, I already have it. Somehow, it only feels right that I am now an enemy to them all."
Isaah nodded. "At least we got to know a little bit more about this Ymir though. Wonder if Eren knew any of this about her in regards to her role."
"Daddy dearest still didn't explain much though. Especially in regards to the likes of Atheria. I had hoped he would know more. But I wonder if even they don't know as much truth as most people think they do." Fury pondered, rubbing her temple.
"He spoke as if Atheria was still a dead land to him…" Isaah muttered as Fury sighed.
"And yet Kiyomi expressed life was growing again over there… Something isn't sitting right with me. And I still think there's more to find out, but not from Willy. We need to have a little chat with Onyakopon and Yelena. Hell, maybe even Zeke himself."
"You're not… going to do what Zeke wants, right?" Isaah asked with a raised brow. "About more Bloodborn's?"
Fury narrowed her eyes. "No." She simply answered. "I wasn't born just to become a farming mechanic. Historia has made her mind up, but hell, all the bullshit about being selfless and doing it to save humanity doesn't wash with me. Humanity doesn't deserve it."
Isaah sighed. His expression saddened. To hear that she still didn't feel like people were worth saving irked at him internally. But Isaah couldn't blame her. She never asked to be what she is. Just as Eren never asked to be the bearer of the Founding Titan. "Your mother didn't run away from this place because she was within an affair. She ran away from this place to keep you safe. To give you a fighting chance. And in a way… so did this Kenny, if he chose not to kill you too as Willy ordered."
"Kenny wasn't a man filled with good conscience, that's for sure…" Fury mumbled. "But learning from him did lead me to Levi. Which lead me to Isabel and Farlan. Which lead me to your village. Which lead me to Hexis and yourself. All of this fate mumbo jumbo is nonsense to me, but… Who even knows anymore? I used to blame Kenny for a lot of things. I couldn't even forgive him as he died in front of me and Levi… I don't for a second believe he chose to spare me out of good will. Kenny had goals, and personal ones. And sometimes, people are used in order for goals to be met. I was just one of those people to be used for him."
"So this Ymir... Titans really exist because of her? And Bloodborn's too?" Hange would ask, all back at the table they congregated around earlier that day, along with the others and Eren too, who remained forever silent. "
"Willy told me what we already pretty much knew." Fury cleared her throat after a sigh. "Eren already told us a little bit about this Ymir. Willy only explained it in further detail. I think he's kept in the dark just as much as any other Eldian living here in Marley. The only new shit I got out of him was the reasoning to my mother's actions and her heritage. She came from this Atheria island." Fury then looked over at Isaah. "I can't help but think Hexis did too."
The boy grimaced as a slurp came from Levi, who calmly sipped on his fresh cup of tea, which he had come to like the taste of the Marleyan kind. "So we're not much closer to anything, then." He'd speak lowly.
Hange clasped her hands together. "I wouldn't say that. Willy all but confirmed it for us that these Marleyan's have been turning Eldian's into Titans's using Serum made from the spinal fluid of a Shifter. And used our home to give the Titan's a playground. They're mindless, and pure, because they have no Shifter to consume. I don't think Ymir intended for Titans to exist in such a way. It was us, humans, who caused that to be the case. Kings and such, from our own past, that caused all of this to happen."
"He had the walls built... to keep letting his subjects think they were all that was left of humanity." Eren muttered. "To keep the power of the Titans for himself, due to the mass of enemies he had created from the likes of Marley, and for what he did with the Bloodborn's."
Fury frowned, recalling a disturbing passage. "I saw a scripture in the hallway of Willy's home... Something about how the Bloodborn's, or anyone under suspicion, had their eyes gouged out to prevent the use of their powers... And that to punish the Ackerman's for disagreeing with the Blood Purge, he had them hunted down to what they are now; a scattered family line in hiding." She looked over at Levi, an irk in her chest even after she gazed upon Mikasa too. "Anyone against that mad King were dealt with. He fucked up so much that his last option were walls."
"And Willy announced an upcoming preparation for war too?" Hange would ask, with a nod from both Isaah and Fury. "Then it has still yet to be declared on us..."
Eren stepped forward "Couldn't we use that to our advantage? Attack first? Deal with the problem before it's announced as one?" There came a moment of silence. All knew he made a point, but not everyone in Marley was an enemy where the civilians and children were concerned.
Opposite Eren, Armin stepped out. The likes of Hange sat in the middle at the table they all huddled round. "I'm not sure it would be wise to attack now. Not when we're still in the dark when it comes to Zeke's own plans and reasoning's of helping us himself. He's trusted here. Willy called him a War Chief? Something's not sitting right."
"Armin's right, Eren." Hange agreed. "An attack now could work against us more than helping us.
"So you'd all rather sit and wait?" Eren growled. "Until both Historia and Fury are in the middle of being reproduction farms?" He darkened gaze fell upon Levi. "You're okay with that, Captain?"
Before Levi could find the words to reply, with logic rather than what he personally wanted, Fury tugged on Eren's arm, causing Mikasa to flinch slightly as she did so. "Now's not the time, shithead. As much as I agree with the fact that Willy needs dealing with... Attacking now is suicide."
"I'm with Eren on this!" Isaah barked, pushing himself up from the table. "You said you weren't going to do what Zeke wants of you, and yet us all waiting for the next move is making it more and more probable that you're going to have to do what he wants for the sake of everyone else, just as Queen Historia has!" Hange's brow rose from now hearing Fury had already made her own decision. Although the new Commander respected it, she couldn't help but hope negotiations would change from Zeke's side of things when speaking with Kiyomi again about them.
"This needs to all be debriefed with Historia present." Levi surmised.
"Waiting will only kill us faster!" Eren argued, frowning deeply to Levi, who kept his stoic expression as the reply.
"I wasn't asking." Levi would speak back. "It was an order."
Gritting his teeth, Eren turned and stormed out. Mikasa following him as a sigh came from the likes of Jean, with Sasha and Conny left silent about everything, and yet in some sort of agreement that an attack now was too soon.
Isaah slowly sat back down next to Fury, her eyes fixated on her hands that rested atop the table as thoughts and conflicts still circled her. They boy sighed. Despite his opinion, and that he only wanted what was best for the woman that came back and saved him, he would follow her lead no matter the decision. The world had become a whole lot bigger and more confusing for him since leaving his village behind. A piece of land in which was all he ever knew about, unaware how much bigger the world he lived in really was. He took notice in how both Fury and Levi often looked over to one another, only then for Isaah to notice that the Bolo Tie in which Erwin once wore was no longer hanging around Fury's neck. He smiled. Not truly knowing why, other than the fact some small shred of hope returned to him that Fury was able to let go, and care about the here and now, just as Hexis hoped she could do.