The day had finally come. Many Eldians and non-Eldians had gathered inside a colosseum, a Marleyan-designed structure originally used for gladiatorial battles. Banners hung around the edges of the colosseum, all bearing the nine-pointed star flag of Eldia. Broken statues depicting unnamed deities and renowned people, relics of the subjugated Marleyan empire, ornamented the surrounding outer walls. The next heirs were in a separate chamber within, protected by guards and awaiting the king's call. The first would be Hodritz, followed by Sören, then Hildegard.
King Anders stepped into the arena and the crowd cheered in a disorderly manner, shouting and waving small flags. The king raised his hands, silencing the colosseum in a few seconds.
— Citizens and conquered peoples of Eldia! — He said in a booming voice. — We are here reunited to witness the inheritance of our titans to the next generation! Since Ymir Fritz, our progenitor…
Anders' voice echoed from the arena, fading from Hildegard's mind as she daydreamt and pondered about her next speech. She wore a long pure white toga and sandals, her braided hair adorned by a golden circlet. Hodritz approached her.
— Princess, I wish you a glorious reign and I swear to serve you. — Hodritz said with a bow.
He wore a black bearskin tunic. Hildegard looked at him inattentively. He had brown, curly short hair, and a long, strange face that seemed almost goat-like, complete with a long goatee hanging from his chin. For some motive, his amber eyes were hard to look at.
— Uh… Yes, thank you. — Hildegard said as she was forced to pay attention to the real world.
— If Your Highness excuses me, King Anders called my name. My time has finally come. — His lips curled in an eager smile.
She simply nodded. Her father's voice was like background noise while her mind raced. She gave herself a tap on the cheek and focused to listen intently now. Her plans could wait more.
There wasn't much acclaim from the crowd when he walked in, but Hodritz was unwavering. It was a life-changing occasion and he thought he deserved this more than his late brother and any of his relatives. His cousin, the current Beast Titan, was standing in the middle of the arena, his eyes filled with tears. It seemed like he wasn't yet prepared to die. The king screamed and, in a flash of light, Hodritz turned into a pure titan seven times larger than a regular human. It had a bloated body and an unnaturally long face eerily similar to his original form. Its wide mouth and thick eyebrows were contorted in a strange expression, as if he felt pain. It seemed like its thin, trembling limbs barely supported the thick body.
— Devour. — The king ordered, pointing at the previous Beast.
The titan dropped to the ground and swooped the man with his mouth like an animal. The crowd was in absolute silence as the titan munched a bloody mess. The giant then collapsed to the ground, a stream of steam rising from its nape. Hodritz then emerged and was quickly carried off by some five or six servants. As the hulking body dissolved into steam, the king signalled a servant to call for Sören.
A completely bald man entered the chamber. Sören was sitting in a wooden bench, his arms crossed and his chest moving rhythmically, perhaps doing breathing exercises to calm himself. Unlike the other two, he wore a white armour similar to the one Klaus used during the battles.
— Lord Sören, the king calls.
He got up and walked towards the arena, his feet becoming heavier with each step. The crowd cheered loudly when Sören appeared. He smiled sheepishly, holding back tears. His uncle stared at him with a peaceful expression, his white armour shining under the sunlight.
— Live well, Sören. — Klaus said.
The king screamed and Sören transformed into a pitiful-looking quadrupedal titan. The head was too big and heavy, forcing his face to turn towards the ground and its long black hair to brush against the dirt. Its large mouth had no lips and exposed many teeth. Its ribs appeared from under the stretched skin, and its fingers were sunk into the ground with force. The king once again uttered the order and the titan lunged towards Klaus, biting him in half. The titan dropped to the ground and Sören emerged from a surge of steam from its nape. Once more, the servants carried him away as they had done with Hodritz.
Hildegard heard the two explosions and the cheering of the crowd. She was trembling and breathing heavily. "I will become the Queen." — She thought to herself. The same bald man came into the chamber.
— Your Highness…
— Yes, I'm on my way.
Hildegard stepped into the arena. The cheering was deafening. King Anders looked at her with a sympathetic smile and gave her a hug.
— I wish I could've spent more time with you.
Hildegard remained silent.
— You will understand once you become the queen.
She knelt on the ground. Anders took her circlet away and placed his own crown on her head. It was golden and encrusted with nine gemstones. The nine-pointed star was engraved in the centre. As the crowd cheered, the crown was taken away by a servant who walked far away from both and awaited at one of the many arches around the arena. The king walked some distance away from her and screamed, a yellow flash illuminating the colosseum. Her titan form had pale skin and blonde, messy hair. Its face was warped in an angry expression, the icy-blue eyes wide open and its teeth exposed by grimacing lips. Its body was thin, similar to a starving person's.
— Devour me. — The king ordered.
It grabbed Anders with its long fingers and devoured him. It then fell to the ground in a loud thud, raising a dust cloud. As with the other heirs, servants took her away. The crowd's noise became ear-splitting. Hildegard could barely force her eyes open and was surprised to find herself in a strange place. She was laying on a sand dune, a starry sky spreading out over her. A blonde girl appeared just before Hildegard collapsed again.