Chapter 29

Author's Note: I hope you enjoy this mini-arc. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Attack on Titan

Rated M for gore violence, language, and sexuality

Enjoy

Where shall I begin? Let's see. I suppose...I ought to begin with the day that everything changed.

In the sanctity of the Walls, no one knew about the war that raged throughout the world. A war that put thousands upon thousands of families through hell...in the east. Anscar lies to the west across the great Atlantic Ocean. We had our own history, our own wars...we did not trouble ourselves with the problems of the east. Or rather...we didn't care.

Dhavasco, Aragon Province, Anscar Empire, 818...

Roksana slouched on the comfy pillow she was lounging on. The grand tent was dimly lit and hazy. She sat in a small circle with her sisters and friends, all eating and joking. Granted, none of the other people were her personal friends. This was just the first time Ekaterina and Natasha allowed her to accompany them. Expectations were that she keep quiet. Listen and eat. Some of the other groups of people were smoking Qalyan, making their smell of roses and vanilla. The man sitting next to her, Dimitri, offered her a bowl of plantain chips. "Thanks."

"Sure thing." He leaned a little towards her. "So, uh, you're Kat's baby sister?"

She munched on a chip, enjoying the cinnamon flavor. "One of them. Susanna is the youngest daughter."

"Ah. Got it. And your brother's the youngest out of all of you, right?" She nodded. "How old are you?"

"Eighteen," she replied with a raised eyebrow.

"Eighteen," he mused as he popped a chip into his mouth. "Guess that's why your big sisters let you sit at the big kids table. Are you still in school? What're your-"

"Dimitri!" Natasha snapped, sitting on the other side of Roksana. She tossed a roll at him for good measure. "Leave her alone, you perv. She's not interested."

Roksana ignored their bickering. She took a sip of her cactus juice. Can't believe I chose this over helping Susanna watch over Vladimir. Her ears perked up as she caught wind of Ekaterina's conversation. "...isn't some circus, Joaquin. It's a festival."

Joaquin ran his fingers through his hair. "Festival, circus, same difference, if you ask me. Seriously, what's the point? What does your mother, Lady Ivera, expect to accomplish?"

"I don't know," Ekaterina said, thoroughly annoyed. "Maybe a distraction for the people since we're in the middle of a fucking world war. "

"A war we have no business being in," he argued. "Everything was fine. It was all in the east, but now that we're involved, it's gotten a million times worse."

"We were always involved," said Andre. "We were supplying the Wallachians with military equipment since the war began four years ago. The Council of Nine said that we were 'neutral' until the incident with the Quechuans, but the whole time we've been influencing who would win."

"Of course we have," Roksana added. "It's because we have the power to do so."

Everyone turned to her. Natasha nudged Roksana with her knee. "Hey. No one asked you. Don't act like you know anything about these type of things."

Roksana's right eye twitched and she nudged Natasha right back. "You don't act all high and mighty. We're only two years apart."

"So? Sometimes that can make a significant difference."

"Calm down, Natasha," Ekaterina scolded. "This isn't some formal dinner. We're just having a discussion. Anyone can speak their mind here."

"Yeah," Dimitri agreed. "Go on, Roksana. What were you trying to say?"

"I wasn't trying to say anything. Just adding to what Andre said," she clarified, ignoring Natasha's looming glare. "Anscar is the most powerful country in the west. It's not a brag. It's a fact. And everyone knows the Council is more than willing to influence whatever they can because of Marley."

Andre rubbed his chin in thought. "You got a point there. Since Marley established it's colonies up north...the tension between them and us has skyrocketed. That pitiful nation is trying so hard to erase it's old history that they're acting just as bad as old Eldia."

Dimitri folded his arms over his chest, nodding in agreement. "This entire war was Marley's fault to begin with. Causing dissent in Wallachia, and trying to reclaim old Eldian territory in the south? Gah! Makes me glad I was born on this side of the world."

"Do you say that...because of the titans?" asked the girl sitting beside Andre.

"Kinda," Andre said with a shrug. "I mean, the whole titan thing did make Eldia a force to be reckoned with, but for Marley? It's a crutch. They're never going to survive as technology advances. It's why they're struggling so much. They think controlling the titans means they are the superpower of the world, but they're just fooling themselves. Anscar has been doing just fine without such a power for almost seven-thousand years."

"Is Marley all bad?" the girl asked. "The Eldians were oppressing them."

Ekaterina narrowed her eyes, frowning in disapproval. "If you're trying ask if we should excuse Marley's actions because of Eldia's history...that's not really relevant. Anscar and Eldia were never really allies to begin with. We just defended the west against their expansion. In our territories, at least. Anscar has faced worse than Eldia, and as Andre said...we're doing just fine."

"See...that's why I don't understand this festival," Joaquin interjected, waiving a tortilla around. "A distraction for the people? Sure. But accepting refugees? Ludicrous. You say we're all indifferent to the Eldians, but isn't your mother's friend Eldian?"

Roksana exchanged glances with her sisters. "Alaric is a family friend," Ekaterina said carefully. "He grew up with our mother. It's not unheard of for some refugees to seek employment with noble families. Their children often serve as playmates for the children of their employers."

"Yeah, but hasn't his family served the Iveras since the Great Titan War?"

"And? That's not unheard of either. Besides shelter, refugees are in need of work. And they're willing to do the work our own people don't want to," Roksana pointed out.

"Aren't you worried about cross-breeding?" the girl asked. "About mixing Eldian blood with Anscarid?"

Roksana shrugged. She wasn't really sure how she felt about the idea. "An Anscarid would never have children with any other race," Natasha interjected. "Blood-purity has been engrained in our very DNA. Geneticists would probably disagree, but...it's important to maintain stability of our culture and values."

The girl scrunched up her nose in disgust. Andre snorted, shaking his head. "I suppose to an outsider it's a little unorthodox. Anscarids have been doing this since the beginning. Then, again...the three noble ladies here are more pure than anyone else."

"Wait...you three...are the daughters of Lord Niklaus Ivera?" the girl asked, gazing at the three sisters in awe.

"Uh, I thought that was obvious." Natasha shifted her annoyed glare to Andre. "Who is this?"

"Defne. She's a refugee," he answered with a smile. "I met her at Zafiro Isle, and we hit it off. She's from...uh...where're you from again?"

"Anatolia."

Roksana froze mid-bite. Isn't that a Marleyan territory now? She snuck a glance at the Anatolian girl as everyone continued the conversation. Why'd she sound so against Eldia if she's a refugee? A tap on her arm snapped her from her trance. "I'm really curious," Dimitri almost whispered, "since noble families are such traditionalists, are you already married or engaged?"

"Not yet," she confessed. Though, that thought saddened her. Both her sisters were promised to suitable husbands, but the war put those plans on hold. Somehow, they were completely fine with the partners Father had picked out.

"Doesn't matter how hard you try, Dimitri," Natasha said, leaning against Roksana. "She has only ever had eyes for older men. Like Alaric."

Roksana's entire face turned dangerously bright red. "S...shut up!"

"sHuT uP!"

Dimitri leaned away as Roksana suddenly shoved an entire sweet bread into Natasha's mouth. Ekaterina reached over and smacked them with her napkin, ordering them to stop. Defne watched them along with Andre and Joaquin. "Are they always like this?"

"More or less," Andre said with a sigh. "Can't be easy. Four girls all so close in age? I feel sorry for Lord and Lady Ivera. Their only salvation is their sole son who has impeccable manners."

"And who's Alaric?"

"The family friend."

Defne blinked in surprise. Could it be...?

The entrance of the tent were thrusted open. Bright sunlight pierced inside, and several people groaned from the harshness. The man scanned the entirety of the tent then noticed the Ivera girls. "Hey!" His anger startling the three of them. "Where have you three been?!"

"Oh, shit." Natasha whispered, wiping the smeared sweet bread off her face. Ekaterina tried to resume her composure as Roksana tried shrinking away, hiding her flustered face.

The man straight up to the girls, looming over them with a glare that sent shivers down everyone's spines. "Come. With. Me. Now."

"Calm down," Ekaterina scolded. "We're just eating with our friends. There's no harm in that."

"Except your mother's been looking for you for the past three hours," he growled. "She has half a mind to burn this whole place down just to find you girls. Now, get up. We're leaving!"

"Okay, okay. Jeez."

The man angrily helped each girl up. Roksana averted his gaze, keeping her face hidden from him. Ekaterina gave her friends a quick apology as they were dragged out. The girls shielded their eyes as they stepped outside. The sky was clear, and the sun was shining mercilessly. "Alaric," Natasha called. "You didn't have to make a scene."

"I don't care," he snapped. "Do you have any idea how upset your mother is? You girls were supposed to take turns accompanying your brother, not ditch Susanna."

"Would you lay off? What point is there in scolding us now if mother's going to do it later?" Ekaterina asked, dragging a silent Roksana behind her. "Besides, I'm the heir of the Ivera family. You should talk to me with more respect."

Alaric stopped and whirled around to face them. "You're gonna have to earn my respect after today, my lady. And you're not gonna get any of it until you take your father's seat, my lady."

Ekaterina and Natasha exchanged annoyed glances. "And what's more," he continued, "bringing Roksana along with you? That's completely irresponsible and I-!"

He suddenly broke out into a coughing fit. Alaric pulled a handkerchief from his jacket pocket to cough into. Roksana wiggled out of Ekaterina's grip and pushed ahead of them. "Alaric, are you okay?"

He waved for her to not approach. He coughed once more then stood up straight, taking a deep breath. "I'm fine. I'm just angry and tired. Seriously, you girls gave me quite a scare. You can't disappear like that. Your guards are upset, too."

Roksana lowered her gaze in shame. Natasha stepped forward and draped an arm across Roksana's shoulders. "Jeez, we get it. Everyone's upset with us. We'll accept all the scoldings later. Let's just get out of here before you cause another scene."

Alaric had the undeniable urge to yell again, but the sound of a stranger drew his attention. Defne stood rather meekly behind the girls. "Excuse me...sorry for the intrusion, but...are you Alaric Richter?"

"Who're you?"

"I'm right, aren't I?" A smile spread on her face that didn't quite meet her eyes. "They'll be so happy to hear that I found you. For so long...the Attack Titan has been hiding right here."

The girls blinked in confusion while Alaric widened his eyes. Defne reached into her pocket and pulled out a small knife. "My mission only had one goal, but...if I bring you back, well...Marley would see me as a hero, now, wouldn't they?"

Alaric gasped as she touched the blade to her palm. He wrapped his arms around the girls and shoved them away. "RUN!"

Defne sliced through her skin, splattering blood on the concrete. Roksana grunted as her back hit the guard rail. Her sisters had fallen onto the sidewalk. People stopped and stared in a mixture of awe and shock as Defne's entire body erupted into a flash of brilliant white light. The last thing Roksana heard was Alaric's screams as she was blown over the guard rail into the sea below.

The thing about empires is...that nationalism often turns into blind faith. Ignorance. Anscar is one of the most powerful countries of the west. When we entered the war, the Council of Nine assured the people that we would defeat all of our enemies. Just like we had done for thousands of years. "No one can hurt us," they said. "We are great, we are strong, we are power."

No one ever thought that our enemies would have the balls to strike back.

Roksana gasped for air as she broke through the surface of the water. She glanced around and then looked up. The blue of the sky was clouded by thick black smoke. The railing where she fell over was too high up. Gotta get to the edge! Roksana swam as fast as she could. The previous moments replaying in her head. Alaric's panic, Defne's murderous delight...my sisters...they were caught in it! Fear pushed her to swim farther. She found a mechanic ladder and hurried up.

Then, the whole fishing deck shook. Roksana held onto the rungs of the ladder. Monstrous roars vibrated through to her very core. She tired to cover her ears. No...it can't be real. It can't be real. She forced herself to keep climbing. She had to know. She had to see.

Roksana pulled herself up onto the deck, panting and shaking. She happened to look to her left and she gasped in horror. Several bodies laid beside her, burned beyond recognition. She slowly turned her gaze. Noticing the dozens upon dozens of bodies littered about. Men, women, children...all utterly obliterated. Which ones...are Ekaterina and Natasha? I can't...I can't tell! She slowly crawled around the bodies. Trying not to touch or disturb any of them. The ground shook again and Roksana yelped, nearly falling over onto a pair of charred children. It was getting harder to see. Tears blurred her vision. The stink of burnt flesh made her gag.

On the beach, two giants were fighting. Roksana recognized the blond-haired one. She had never seen Alaric's titan form. He moved with such fury. Punching and grappling and roaring. His entire body was riddled with muscle, a body built for fighting. The other titan was obviously female. Her brown hair covered most of her face, and she hardly had any skin. She roared back, trying to keep with Alaric's furious blows. Roksana turned her attention back to crawling carefully around the bodies. Her sisters' smiling faces flashing through her mind. They have to be alive. They have to be alive. They have to be...

Roksana froze. Her sisters were lying by the guard rail. Natasha's entre lower body was burned beyond recognition, and she stared up at the sky. Eyes empty and lifeless. Ekaterina was on her side. Numerous pieces of wood and metal sticking out of her. Her belly had been split open and her intestines were sprawled out beside her. Roksana couldn't move. She couldn't breathe.

As I pulled my dead sisters into my arms, I kept asking myself..."why"?

Why?

Why us?

Why now?

What did we do to deserve this? Why did this have to happen to us?

Don't get me wrong. My heart was filled with utter hatred for Marley and despair over the loss of my family and my city. But...there was also confusion. Anscar is the most powerful country in the west...so how could this happen?

Roksana sat there, watching as Alaric twisted the Female Titan's head around. He kept twisting and yanking and pulling and then...he ripped her head clean off. Her headless body stumbled back a bit and collapsed onto the shore of the beach. Alaric threw down her head and roared. He roared long and deep, unleashing his anguish. Then, something pierced his temple and his head exploded. Roksana gasped and turned to the ocean. Three battleships were cruising, their large guns aimed at the shore. Even from far away, she recognized the painted symbol on the hull and the flag the ships bore. Marley?! How the hell did they...?!

Roksana flinched as Alaric's titan body collapsed beside the Female Titan. Once he was down, the Marleyan ships simultaneously fired. Further inland, the high rises and hills became riddled with explosions. No...all those people will be...

She jolted to her feet. An instinct drove her to abandon her sisters. To sprint over the sea of bodies. As soon as her feet hit the sand, she noticed Marleyan boats headed to the port. Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! She hurried over to Alaric's steaming titan body. His head was completely gone, but his nape was still in tact. And fortunately, he had collapsed onto his stomach. And his real body was hanging half-way out of the nape. "Alaric!"

Roksana slid as she dropped to her knees beside him. She ignored the jolt of pain, and gabbed onto Alaric's shoulders. His skin was hot, almost searing her palms. Alaric coughed, blood seeping out of the corner of his mouth. His eyes fluttered, struggling to see. "Roks...ana? Is that...you?"

"It's me. I'm here." Roksana eased his head onto her lap. "We need to get out. Marley's coming."

"I...can't," he confessed. His breathing turned shallow and wheezy. "I'm at...my end. My wounds aren't...even healing."

Roksana couldn't see any visible wounds, but she did not doubt is worsening state. She glanced back at the approaching enemy boats. "What do I do? Tell me what to do. Please."

Alaric heaved a hard breath, coughing. He weakly grabbed her hand. "Take my power."

"What?"

"You say...Marley is coming? Then...take my power. Keep it...out of their hands." He guided her fingers around his neck to touch the top of his spine. "Take it."

Roksana shook her head. "No, I...Alaric, I don't know how-"

"Yes, you do," he urged. "Please, Roksana. If you don't do this, they will kill you. Everyone...your sisters...they'll have died for nothing. You have to stay alive. You have to keep my titan...out of Marley's hands. Please."

She was speechless. Her mind throbbing with numerous questions and doubts. Alaric gently caressed her cheek with his other hand. "I know...I've always known, Roksana. How you feel about me. I'm sorry I never...I'm sorry I'll never be able to comfort you. I'm sorry this happened to you. To your people. To your family."

Roksana pressed her forehead against his, trying to stop the tears from flowing. No...stop it. Don't say anymore. Please!

"I will never truly be gone. You know what my titan is. You know what it represents." He tilted his head up to kiss her cheek. "I will see you again."

"I love you," she whispered.

"I know." He caressed her cheek once more. "You know what to do. You've seen your mother do it before. You're the strongest of your sisters. I trust you, Roksana. I trust...that you'll find someone worthy to inherit my titan."

Roksana blinked through her tears as she nodded. She readjusted herself and wrapped her arms around his head. Alaric did not resist. He did not scream. He made no sound. Only smiled as she twisted his head, breaking his neck. "I'm sorry."

During the Great Titan War, Marley had taken control of most of the Nine Titans. Each titan had been passed down between noble families for generations. So amidst the chaos, the Richter family fled as far west as they could. They landed in Anscar. And by some strange miracle, they were accepted into the Ivera Family's service.

Alaric was the last of his family. He had no siblings. No cousins.

So I suppose...his legacy would've ended one way or another.

Roksana ignored her shaking hands. She had managed to rip open the back of Alaric's neck. Her hands were covered in his blood, and tears still streamed down her face. She dug and dug through his body to expose the top of his spine. The bones were still intact as well as the spinal cord. Roksana tried to clear her mind. Her hand hovered over the bones. She closed her eyes to concentrate. She had seen her mother perform this ritual before. Block all the noise out. Listen. Don't think. Don't feel. Just...listen.

In the silence she had created, there was a pulse. Energy of something living in the depths of Alaric's existence. His body twitched. The vertebrae of his spine began to part, exposing the fleshy spinal cord within. Roksana turned her hand over, keeping her palm open. Alaric's spinal cord protruded between the bones. It moved like a snake, slithering out of the spine to curl around her hand. Roksana remained utterly calm. Once the sentient spinal creature was free from his body, she pulled her arm in. So this is the true form...

The creature was fleshy and delicate. Roksana carefully unbuttoned her shirt. The Marleyans had docked at the port up head, and it wouldn't be long before she was found out. Roksana opened her shirt up and pulled down her chemise. She softly whispered a prayer to the spinal creature and held against her bare chest. The creature slithered down inside her chemise. It circled around her waist before settling. It laid flat against her skin and fused with her. Roksana breathed a sigh of relief. Success. Thank the gods.

My ancestors were quite innovative when it came to the succession ritual for the Richter family. Most did not know we had an Eldian hiding in our service. Even less knew that we had a titan shifter. Removing the spine was a technique my great-grandmother came up with. It allowed the power to be transferred without the need to transform the successor into a pure titan and eat the predecessor. It was a quieter way.

What I had done had never been attempted. Allowing the power to...hibernate, so to speak...inside me. I'm not Eldian so...I couldn't become a titan. There wasn't any real risk to me...but there was no way to be sure how long the power could remain without a proper host.

Defne felt the heat of the sun on her face and the pain in legs. She opened her eyes, memories slowly coming back to her. A shadow enveloped her. She tried to focus on the person standing over her. Who is that? The person raised their arms, and their face became clear. Defne gasped. "W-Wait!"

Roksana brought down the piece of wood in her hands. It smashed Defne's skull to pieces. Roksana felt a small satisfaction at seeing the girl's brains splattered everywhere. She tossed her make-shift club aside and rolled Defne onto her stomach. Her legs were mangled, but still steaming. Still healing. Roksana pulled her knife out of her pocket and began roughly cutting the back of Defne's upper neck. She did not care to be gentle like before. POP!

The gunshot made her flinch. Roksana glanced up at the seawall. Soldiers were gathered at the edge. Their rifles raised. They were too far for her to make out what they were saying. The men were running towards the stairs. Shit.

Roksana forced the bones apart, hooking her finger around Defne's spinal cord. The Marleyans were getting closer, still shouting and screaming. Just a little more...

"...gez oop!" shouted the soldiers. "Stahp! Gez oop!"

The moment she heard the click of the soldier readying his rifle, Roksana pulled the spinal cord out with all her strength. The soldiers stopped and gasped in horror. Roksana scrambled to her feet as the spinal cord lashed about. Whipping and smacking her arm, splattering the ground with blood. Roksana held up her hands. "Ivera! Me yamo Ivera!"

The soldiers exchanged confused glances. Roksana cursed herself. "Solo ablan Eldian...my name is Roksana Ivera."

"Shut up!" a soldier snapped, aiming his rifle. "Back up!"

"My name is Roksana Ivera." She kept her voice calm and steady. The spinal creature began to calm as well, spiraling around her arm.

"I don't care! Back the fuck up!"

"My father is-"

"I don't care!" he shouted over her. "Back! Up!"

Roksana took a few steps back, keeping her hand raised. The spinal creature was settling, laying flat against her skin to fuse. A soldier with glasses knelt down by Defne's body which had ceased steaming. Another soldier knelt beside him and they began whispering urgently. After a moment, the soldier with glasses stood up and turned to Roksana. "Ivera? You're the daughter of Lord Niklaus Ivera?"

"Yes," she said, meeting his gaze. "Take me to your commander. I need to speak with him."

The man pointed to Defne. "What did you do to her? Why is she not healing?"

"Take me to your commander," she repeated. "I'm surrendering myself as a political hostage."

"A political hostage? Are you kidding me?" the soldier snorted in disbelief. He pulled out a pistol and pointed it at her. "I could execute you right now. You've sabotaged a Marleyan weapon."

"If you do that, Marley will never get it's weapon back," she said carefully. "Her successor won't be born again. It won't be born for awhile."

"What?" The man stepped closer, keeping his gun aimed at her head. "What did you do? Speak, witch!"

Roksana flinched at the sudden harshness. "Take me to your commander. I will explain everything to him. As Lord Ivera's daughter, I have political value. Believe me...your commander will want to speak to me."

The man said nothing. "Please, sir. I'm wearing Ivera colors. I am who I say I am," she added. "Yes, I killed your weapon, but it's not lost. I have it. If you want it back...take me to your commander."

"Shut up," he growled.

My life was in the hands of my enemies. Marleyan soldiers sent to deal out death and destruction.

Everything was a gamble. I could've run away. Perhaps they never would've found me if I had just run with Alaric's power, but...some part of me knew running would've meant death. In the chaos, an idea formed in my head. An idea which I had no basis of ensuring it would've worked...but it did.

The Marleyan soldiers lowered their guns and ordered me to accompany them to the boats. I nearly fainted in relief. They were rough the way they shoved me and ordered me, but...I felt an odd sense of ease. Most women would've felt terrified to be surrounded by dozens of men armed to the teeth and full of rage.

Not me.

My idea began unfolding in my head on the ride to the Marleyan battleship. I needed to guarantee my survival. I needed to guarantee the security of Alaric's power. His last wish. I could not fail him.

"In here."

Roksana obeyed. She stepped into the small room. An officer's sleeping quarters. The soldier quickly closed the door, and Roksana listened to the click of the lock. She almost laughed. Where was she going to go? There were no windows. No glass. Only an aluminum mirror above the small sink. How was she going to escape?

Roksana sat down on the bed. She had no answers to the questions building in her head. Those questions turned to thoughts. Those thoughts turned to memories. People burning and smoking. Her sisters dead on the sidewalk. Digging into Alaric's back, defiling his body. Did her brother and other sister survive? Did her mother? She imagined their bodies all charred and black.

How was it that she survived? Why did she survive? Did the gods have some sort of cruel plan for her? Some fucking greater purpose?

Two hard knocks on the door snapped her out of her trance. Roksana did not move as the door opened. A soldier stepped inside. "Get up."

"Why?"

"Get. Up."

She sighed, standing up. She stepped into the cramped hallway and followed the soldiers to the main deck of the ship. Sailors and soldiers were busy cleaning the massive guns. Roksana paused in front of the ladder to the upper deck. The burning Anscar coastline was far. Just a dark green and black blur. The soldier behind her nudged Roksana forward. She latched onto the guard rail and ascended the steps. The men they passed by whispered to each other, eyeing Roksana warily.

At the north end of the upper deck, a man with a captain's hat was waiting. He was scanning the horizon with binoculars. "Captain Dormer," a soldier announced. "We've brought the prisoner."

Captain Dormer lowered his binoculars. He was an elderly man with sagging cheeks and intelligent eyes. "Miss Ivera, I presume?"

Roksana did her best to curtsy. Captain Dormer tilted his head. "My dear, you look dreadful. I must say, I did not expect for there to be any survivors. We also weren't expected to take prisoners. So tell me, my dear...why you are here?"

"I thought...did your men not tell you, sir?"

"Oh, they told me what they found when they arrived and what you said," he explained, nodding. "I want to hear your story."

Roksana hesitated for a moment. Then she rolled up her right sleeve, exposing her arm. Captain Dormer hummed, extremely interested in the black imprint of the spinal creature curled around her arm. "I stole the Female Titan."

Captain Dormer tilted his head again. "Stole it? Are you telling me Anscarids can turn into titans, too?"

"No. I'm...holding onto it, so to speak." She rolled her sleeve back down. "It's hard to explain, but I took out the host's spine. That's what this mark is."

"So you're keeping it hostage then?"

"Yes."

"Until when?"

"Excuse me?"

"How long do you plan to keep this power hostage?" he asked calmly. "You think this will, what...save you? We had one objective today and we-"

"You had an objective and you lost a weapon you are so proud of controlling," she spat. She did not react to the soldiers' tension. "You think a massacre is going to make Anscar lose hope? You think my father will just abandoned the southern theater? This was nothing more than a low-blow. Using a titan to wreck devastation until your enemy is too distraught to fight back."

Captain Dormer smirked. "You think one titan matters to us? We have six more."

"But what happens when the world learns you lost one of your most powerful weapons?" she challenged, taking a step towards him. "You could kill me. Sure. But, what happens when the successor of the Female Titan is born on Paradis Island? One titan does matter, sir. Because if one can be taken away so easily...the rest will be like taking candy from a baby."

Captain Dormer's smirk grew which unsettled Roksana a bit. "My, my...you are just as formidable as your father. Very well, my dear. Have it your way. We'll let the government decide what to do with you. Pray to your pagan gods, little sorceress. Pray...that Marley doesn't find a way to rip that power right off your pretty little body."

End of Chapter 29