The blue vial rolled back and forth. Clink, clank. It thumped against her nails each time and she pushed it away, sighing and looking out the square window of her workshop. Mister Thatcher had left for dinner hours ago and Elsie had continued through the dark, too focused on the ODM gear to call it quits. They were so close to completing the prototype and my, what a gorgeous thing it was. The black metal gleamed beneath the candlelight, sleek and shaped to fit perfectly against Elsie's thigh. It was thin enough to fit beneath her pants even. And the best part? It worked.
She only needed the wires and then she could fly again. Her head tipped back, leaning in the chair and letting out a dreary sigh. Her eyes opened at the answering silence. At one time she could've sighed three times before someone would've replied. Levi, hunched over his desk and trying so hard to focus on his paperwork, would snap and ask her what she needed. It was always the same thing- his attention.
Elsie missed Levi's office days. She missed Petra and Gunther, snarky Oulu and silent Eld. Her eyes drifted shut, the blue vial returning to warm her palm. It vibrated like a small bunny. She wanted to be in the drafty castle with green fields to ride Sunni around. She yearned to lay beneath Levi, whether it be on a bed or on wet grass being punched. A burning began in her palm and she gasped in pain, leaping out of her chair.
The vial burned her. She stared at the pill-shaped redness forming on her palm before crouching to stare through the still liquid, "What are you?" She breathed.
In the clouds of sleep, Freyja waited. She smiled awfully at the edge of the wall, white gown showing the swells of femininity, her right arm rotated to point at the looming trees of Paradis. Elsie stared and stared, frozen in her fright, unblinking as she attempted to see something that she might be missing. Why else would Freyja call her back every night?
Elsie woke with sweat on her body and the sheets kicked to the foot of the bed. She took the mornings to hide in the library or her room of heirlooms. She tried not to think of what Freyja wanted. It could either be for an amazingly good reason or a horribly awful one. She knew there were signs in everything she looked at; the right arm, Freyja's smile, the Titan forest on Paradis, the wall separating them from the rest of the world.
It gave her a headache to think about. She chose to save tea for the cold nights these days. In the freezing mornings, when her loneliness and wanton need for Levi ate at her, she chose the bottle of her favored red wine to keep her company until breakfast.
"Tinkering with that device again?" Zeke rounded the corner of Elsie's open door, eyeglasses glinting in the square light of sunshine.
Elsie's hands curved the shape of the black metal, grinning in appreciation for how sleek and modern it looked. Its original base sat clunky and unused beneath her bench, kicked to the back, and left to gather dust. She held no use for it now. Not with this little weapon at her fingertips.
"Putting on some finishing touches," She wiped the side one last time with a rag before covering it for the afternoon. "I've done all I can with it."
"I heard. Granfer was very excited to tell me about your experience with a welding torch."
The Lady Seer's expression soured dangerously, "He did, did he? That bastard."
Zeke laughed and gestured to the hallway, his red armband glinting prestigiously, "He's in the library if you want to beat him up. I've been desperate for some action."
"Go make your own then," Elsie turned her head, putting away screwdrivers and cleaner along her square pathway. She eventually passed the Beast titan to put the cleaner in a cupboard. "I have a date tonight, I can't afford to ruin my complexion."
"Oh la la la. And who is the lucky guy who captured our Lady's heart? Have I met him?" Zeke conspiringly leaned forward to whisper. "It's not Gustavo the butler is it?"
Elsie widened her eyes dramatically and said, "It's with Freyja."
"Ah, I should've known. You're mixed in with all that Goddess mumbo-jumbo. I thought you of all people wouldn't fall for it."
"That mumbo-jumbo brought me here," One last sweep of the room proved that her workshop had been cleaned and locked for the night. "I plan to find how to get back."
"Don't go telling people that. Probably shouldn't have told me," Zeke frowned down at her, his dusty blond hair scratching the door frame. "The fact anyone here trusts you is completely mind-boggling."
"Who are you going to tell? Willy?" Elsie mocked in a childish way, scoffing and rolling her eyes at the hilarity of it. "Don't get bold now."
He smirked, "Take your own advice, Lady Seer. I plan to watch as it all blows up in your face."
"We'll see who's plan works out in the end," Elsie grinned and coyly held out her hand, a tight fit in the doorway for the two. "I love to make bets."
"You're a different sort, that's for sure." Zeke murmured and none the less shook her steady hand.
"Glad you can be a man about it! How was your week? Any steamy rendezvous you want to tell me about?" She pressed into his side as they walked the empty white hallway of Tybur Manor.
Zeke shrugged her away, put off with her change in attitude, "Stop. You know I don't like to talk about it."
"It's true love, how can you not want to talk about it? If I was in love I would scream it from the rooftops!"
"You already do with that crazy Goddess." He breathed over his jacket collar.
The hallway sharply turned left to release Elsie and Zeke into the foyer. Granfer's booming laugh floated from the open doors of the library. He sat near the roaring fireplace, brandy, and cigar in hand as Willy vividly retold a story of visiting the Mid-East when he was younger.
"My father was a very strict man, you see, and when he found out that I had disappeared with the stable girl, well, I couldn't quite run fast enough. He threw his sheathed sword at my back and watched me fall in the towns square," Willy covered his face. "I'm sure they still remember. I'm too ashamed to show my face there again."
"Oh don't worry over such a little thing. I'm sure worse things have happened since then." Elsie comfortingly told Willy with a pat on his shoulder. She glided around the thick brown chair that he'd claimed to the coffee table. A silver platter gleamed with two empty wine glasses and a red bottle that called to Elsie's veins.
"I doubt it," Willy gruffly heaved himself into the chair, pristine boots fluttering in the air before landing heavily. "How is your machine coming along? Omni-atrics or whatever."
"Wonderfully, thank you for asking. In fact, it was Mister Thatcher's last visit."
"What does it do again?" Zeke asked from somewhere in the back, somewhere where he could stay silent and hidden in the shadows for the duration of this conversation for all Elsie cared.
"All sorts of things that will help Marley in combat." Elsie's hand waved carelessly in the air.
"Cheers to that!" Willy tipped his brandy towards the high vaulted ceiling. Elsie and Granfer eagerly followed suit, taking heaping gulps in salute. Zeke sulked in the corner.
Elsie refilled her wine, "Where's Porco? He's been late these past weeks."
"It's because of training, yes?" Willy looked over his shoulder for the Beast titan to answer. The Ambassador had too many things to concern himself with than what his Eldian soldiers did. Elsie knew to ask Zeke or Major Gross about plans before going to the head of Liberio.
"The new Warrior Candidates. Porco has been assisting with their training." Zeke said, tight-lipped after Elsie successfully dodged talking more about the ODM. He hated that Willy took everything she said to be Goddess forsaken truth.
Elsie cocked her head to the side, having heard this term only once before, "Candidates? I didn't realize you fought to become a titan."
"It's not a titan, it's an honor, Lady Seer," Zeke, the wonder boy, bowed his head with humbleness. Willy touched his heart and Elsie vengefully drank her wine. "We train ourselves to be the best we can be and are chosen for the position."
"So Porco is training the new era? Must be exciting," Elsie grinned. "When will they be ready?"
"Zeke is eight years into his term. Soon the Beast titan will be passed down to the most applicable," Willy said knowledgeably, glad to finally have something to say. "Every Warrior has a thirteen-year term before someone else inherits the power."
"Inherits power? You mean as in eating the other?" She thinks of Eren chained in Rod Reiss' basement, the serum shaking in his meaty hands as he tried to convince Historia to change.
"Well, yes. It's a horrible trend that King Fritz made sure we couldn't forget," Willy said spitefully, his aggression returning for Paradis. "We've tried to change the ways, believe me, Lady Seer, and for a moment we thought there was a chance with Zeke's spinal fluid. He is quite special but we don't know exactly why."
"Oh really?" Elsie's eyes gleamed in the fire. "You should let me look at that, Zeke."
"I'd leave it to the doctors." Zeke quickly shot down.
Willy turned, "It might be best to let her look at it. She knows many things, you'd be surprised."
Zeke said nothing, his glasses glinting dangerously with secrets. He knew best out of the room how well Elsie could surprise them. Elsie had shocked him the most, having been in the deserted stables one frosty morning when he'd snuck a tall, blonde woman in.
"Either way you know where my office is." Elsie said. Stop calling the broom closet your office. Levi's sharp, cold voice echoed in her ear, words from another time and another conversation coming to mind.
Sif entered the room with Porco at her side. She smiled wide at the taller man, his sharp eyes tracing the way her lips formed words and smiling almost as wide as the servant.
"Oh thank Freyja you're finally here, Sif!" Elsie called dramatically, holding out her empty goblet. "Can you be a dear and get more wine?"
Her smile turned as sharp as a knife, "Of course, Lady Seer, I'll be right back."
Porco shook Zeke's hand first, his yellow armband a stark contrast between him and the older man. Zeke was a Warrior therefore he had red. Porco was an Eldian, blessed with the ability to transform, yet nothing to inherit. He must be next in line for one of the titans then. But which one?
"I just heard the great news! You're training the Warrior Candidates, that must be a joy." Elsie gleamed with a smile and her full attention.
Porco grinned softly in reply. Zeke scoffed and turned his shoulder as his friend said, "Yes, it was the end of their first week. I'm impressed with all of them, some more than others, although I have to say that I saw it coming."
"I'm sure you're referring to Gabi," Zeke said dully. "She has the head of a bull, I'm sure she's done fantastic at hand to hand."
"You should see her out there, it's crazy. The exact opposite of Reiner." Porco snickered.
Elsie stiffened at the name, "Who is this Gabi?"
"Gabi Braun. She's the cousin to the current holder of the Armored Titan," Sif returned with a bottle of unopened red wine and that was good enough to prove to Elsie that she didn't spit in it. She had to worry about it after spotting Sif's spiteful yet contemplative look when serving Elsie her food. It made her too nervous to eat. "Thank you, Sif."
Porco caught her eye in gratitude. He looked at the servant like he would take a bullet to the face for her. It made the Lady Seer sick to her stomach.
"Y-You're welcome." Sif stuttered, instantly reddening in the cheeks and losing the mean, cold-hearted outfit.
That is until Elsie held out her hand, "Wine, please."
The servant smacked the bottle into Elsie's palm before situating herself along the wall. It was three in the afternoon on a Friday, and not just any Friday. It was Christmas. The eagerly anticipated December Twenty-Fifth had finally arrived and what a glorious day it was. Snow coated the grounds, fires lit, trees decorated to Willy's white and gold theme, and people were let out of work early to enjoy their family and friends.
Such a great day.
"Perhaps the Armored titan will stay in the Braun family for generations to come," Willy smiled at the thought. Elsie considered feigning sickness to get out. "Wouldn't that be nice?"
"I thought it was passed through the family?" Granfer asked.
"It used to be with the original families. Tybur being one of them and look at me," Willy laughed although it didn't sound as hearty. "Once Marley began to use their powers as a national guard it was to be passed through the trained."
Granfer noticed Elsie having difficulties with getting the cork out of her bottle. He quickly assisted her with a wink and she leaned back into her seat, sighing and relaxing. She closed her eyes, wishing this conversation over, and felt the heavy glass in her palm slightly calm the racing beat of her heart.
Gabi Braun. Damn.
The doors to the chapel swiftly opened, allowing the snow ridden wind to burst down the aisle and race up Elsie's green skirts. She looked over her shoulder, not expecting anyone to leave the Christmas festivities in the dining hall.
"Sif said you've been here for hours," The High Priestess pulled her robe tight around her thin waist. She shuffled down the aisles to sit in the one across from Elsie. "She was worried you killed yourself."
"Why does everyone think that?" Elsie scoffed, shaking her head. "I was talking to Freyja."
The High Priestess sat in silence before asking, "Do you feel close to her, Elisabeth?"
"I feel like she's laughing at me," She couldn't hide the spite if she tried. "I kneel beneath her and pray and she gives me nothing."
"What do you pray for?"
Elsie said nothing. Her jaw clenched and her fists balled on her knee caps. She prayed for Levi. Today especially. She prayed to see a part of his life because Gods did it tear her apart that she wasn't standing at his side.
"Freyja is the Goddess of love. She feeds off of it. In a way our love for her is an offering," High Priestess Catharina closed her eyes, tilting her head back so that the bangs of her clasped hair fell over her long forehead. "If you have no love for her she will not answer you."
Goddess of love. What a farce. Elsie was torn from her love for this shit. She would need to dig deep, deep down in the crevices of her soul to find any love for Freyja. It was hard to think Freyja wanted Elsie to win with all the frightful visions of the world crumbling and Elsie's body burning when she shared her knowledge. How was she the Goddess of Love?
"Shall I make some rose tea?" High Priestess Catharina offered.
Elsie shook her head, "I'm going to bed soon."
"Good. Hopefully, I'll see you at dawn prayer."
Once alone Elsie closed her eyes and exhaled. In the flickers of darkness behind her eyelids, she saw Reiner's slit throat on the forest floor.
She's screwed. She killed the Armored titan. Once Willy and Major Gross and Zeke, and all the bad guys that surrounded her and put her on a pedestal, would see behind the mask. It will all be revealed. She disgustingly regarded Zeke's words from their surprising run-in at the stables, snarling that he couldn't wait for it all to blow up in her face. The possibility of being found for murder had never afflicted her. She would return to Paradis. She said it there for it would happen.
Elsie's glare did nothing to Freyja's stained glass. She lovingly stared downward. Why would she put the Eldians here if she wouldn't protect them? Freyja, the damn bitch, probably sat in a cozy plush chair with purple wine and fluttering fairies vying for her attention, begging that the savior of love and fidelity and war and death -apparently Freyja was the mother of All- to eat their grapes. And Freyja reveled in it. Why would she leave such a sheltered place above the clouds? Death and war awaited her.
The Goddess did not fear the monsters. Her bare feet shuffled across fallen soldiers. Crooked elbows, hands growing out of the ground like trees, military-issued boots for the picking. Freyja walked through the graveyard. She smiled at the cracked skulls, shredded shoulders, lost heads and hands, and legs. Her steps stopped at the last soldier.
She stared at the abyss of green trees. She pointed.
Elsie stepped shakily from behind her. The Armored titan stood, smoking, in the shadows of the Titan forest. His glowing eyes cut like a cat, narrowed and suspicious, the hardened metal line of his mouth downcast and ghastly in the dark canopy of trees. His white hair shone as if representing Angel's halo, his muscle and armor divided forehead leaning ever so slightly out of the lining of the forest.
Freyja spun with a flare of her sheets. Her finger pointed at Elsie's chest. The Armored titan roared and charged from the trees. Elsie held her arms up to protect her, as if taking a mere tackle from Levi, and clenched her eyes, knowing that this was the end.
"You'll go mad in here."
"Who's to say that I haven't?" Elsie called lazily, folded on the floor of her storage room.
High Priestess Catharina admired Florence's portrait for a lengthy time. Her respect for the last Lady Seer still thrived after her dishonorable betrayal. Elsie wished to know why but with the Priestess being a nut for orderly learning, she had to wait after passing her Second test to hear about Florence.
The Priestess walked around the center table and surveyed all of Elsie's collection. She fingered a book, "This is familiar looking."
"An old servant's journal," Elsie said dismissively. She continued to sort through a box full of her mother's signature. "Jonas Frieden. He assisted the last Lady Seer with her trips."
The Priestess flipped through the pages, the papers rustling in the background. Elsie hunched over her crate of official documents, one fist full of crumpled memorized letters to Fort Slava and one cradling her glass of wine.
"I met Jonas the year Florence had been summoned," The High Priestess said suddenly. The blonde stiffened, her eyes burning a hole into the crate, and sensing that if she turned the Priestess would clamp her lips. "Before the Lady Seer that had been no reason for us to be involved with the politicians. I stayed here with her and Jonas was assigned as her liaison. He'd never done it before, and to be frank, he was shit at it, but he has the most darling face that you can't blame him for it," Elsie turned in shock. The High Priestess smiled bemusedly at the open pages. "We married a year after knowing each other. It's been seventeen years since then."
"That's a beautiful story," Elsie needed to speak to Jonas. Would he reveal the truth before High Priestess Catharina? In due time she would learn it all from the Priestess, she knew, and it wouldn't be so bad to be nice to the woman who held all the knowledge. "Do you have children?"
"No," She shrugged, unbothered. "We have enough with the orphanage babes. Jonas helped in the internment camp before we met and brought me into it. We got so busy with raising the children that we forgot to have our own. Not that it bothers us. As of now, I have forty-three children."
Elsie smiled without trying, "That's very sweet."
"Yes, it is. I worry that you won't experience simple things such as marrying and having children. Johanna allowed herself to be swallowed by Freyja. I'm sure you're tired of hearing me prattle on about it. She drank and partied and everyone left her because she was a mad mess obsessed over one thing," The Priestess eyed Elsie. "You are obsessed with becoming an Ambassador. I fear this is a bad choice for you, Lady Seer."
"I understand but what else can I do? I was summoned for the very purpose of helping Lord Tybur. He plans for me to replace him. It was never about Freyja or the Sight or even the technology," Elsie snapped. "I am next in line for controlling Marley because of my Seherin blood, not because I am Lady Seer. I appreciate you teaching me about my gift," She swallowed thickly at the word. "But I do not plan to delve further into it. It drove Johanna to madness. I swear to you that working with Lord Tybur will not do the same to me."
The High Priestess tied the cover of the journal to return it on the table, "Very well, I won't push you on the subject. Your second test has been completed, if you'd like to know."
"When did I take it?" Elsie's nose scrunched in confusion.
"You can have visions, that is Johanna's test. Now we can begin on your third and final - persuasion."
"I do pretty well in that department." She wanted to say that she charmed a man who claimed to be emotionally unavailable. She'd wormed her way into Commander Erwin Smith's graces and miraculously accomplished the same with Lord Willy Tybur.
"Florence's gift was speaking what she wanted into existence. When she was summoned tensions were high between a freshly annexed Middle-East and Marley. She would look a Lord in the eye and demand that he cease his war orders and sign a treaty. He'd immediately do it."
Elsie couldn't dream of doing something like that. Her fists curled with the promise to excel at this gift as well. If she could do something as little as speaking her will into existence then she would be in Paradis by the week's end.
"If she could control people then how did Grisha Jeager supposedly trap her?" Elsie asked, seeing the holes in her mother's mysterious case.
The High Priestess nodded, "Exactly. I believe they told the public that to save face. Florence worked with Mister Jeager willingly and for good reason."
She stopped speaking and looked at the doorway. Elsie waved her hand, "Go on! What happened to her?"
"If you plan to continue to work so closely with Lord Tybur then you shouldn't look further into your mother's case," High Priestess Catharina leveled Elsie with a forlorn expression. Her hard eyes were crinkled in sadness. "His pursuits are the opposite of what Florence fought for."
Elsie grinned, "Don't worry, High Priestess. My mom is pretty damn proud of me." She knew it like she knew the beat of her heart. She'd helped Grisha Jeager's son finish what her mother had set out to do eighteen years ago. She planned to finish Florence's deed and get Eren where he needed to be.
"Language," The elder quipped. "Very well. We will pray at dusk and speak more about Florence's gift. Don't drink too much. I'm sure you've noticed that it clouds your visions."
Elsie had noticed but she couldn't seem to stop. What was the point in praying to Freyja only to see the disaster? Ignorance was bliss. Elsie knew all that she needed to get back to Levi.
"They depress me. I don't want to see anymore." Elsie admitted to the safety of her storage room. Florence's portrait smiled down at her.
The High Priestess walked around the table. She crouched to gather Elsie's hands in her withered ones and said, "If things were peaceful then there would be no reason for you. No vision will show what you hope to see. You need to brace yourself and accept what Freyja has stored for you. She always helps in the end."
Help? Or lead Elsie to her doom? She still didn't know.
She woke up wormed into the pillows and swaddled beneath layers of blankets and tight arms around her waist. The fine hairs on Levi's chest tickled her nose, slowly drawing her to alertness, and she breathed deeply as the day hit her. They were leaving for Shiganshina once daylight hit.
"We have an hour, don't move." Levi whispered in the darkness.
Elsie traced his ear to his jaw to his chin, "I wouldn't dream of it."
He turned his head to kiss her fingers. She hummed and wiggled in his hold to encourage him to touch more of her. His palm burned her back when he pushed her further into him. She traced the muscle of his leg before resting her leg on his hip, luringly pressing their groins together.
His lips moved on from her fingers. He bit the base of her throat, licking her collar bone, and he playfully bit too hard on her shoulder. She gasped and pushed his shoulder, only getting a second of safety before he fell upon her.
She giggled into his ear. He continued to bite at the juncture between her shoulder and neck. Levi's hips naturally rolled into her, enticing small fires to ignite in her body. They were naked from their late-night romp and every movement drew thick wetness between her legs. His breath hitched suddenly as the head of his swollen dick skimmed across her wet folds.
The blankets scratched noisily against their grating hips and only slipped to her waist when Levi's hand moved to lift her leg. Elsie's head fell back when Levi's thick cock slowly teased at her entrance, leaving her aching and needy before returning to messily rub up and down her pussy lips.
Elsie rotated her hips in excitement. She couldn't wait longer. With lightning-fast speed, she pressed her hand over his and encouraged him to slide into her. Elsie whimpered against his lips, hating that she had to be quiet on the third floor when Levi filled her so well that she had to let him know. It would be a sin to not let Levi hear how he made her feel.
Just as fast as she got her taste of him Levi grabbed her hand from between them and held it against the pillows. His slow roll of the hips hit every sensitive part of her core, luring her eyes shut and head to rest back. She enjoyed the pleasure he gave. Levi kissed her flushed breasts, returning to his hickey, and his hand flexed against her wrist before releasing to entwine their fingers together.
"Good morning, Lady Seer!"
Her hands fisted beneath her fluffy pillow, refusing to open her eyes. It was not Sif who entered her bedroom. The voice was too low and far more enthusiastic than it should be to awaken the devil from her sleep.
Elsie kept her head on the pillow when she said, "What do you need, Zeke?"
"Mister Jeager! You can't be in here!" Sif's awful exclamation joined the meeting in Elsie's room.
Zeke yanked the curtains open. Afternoon light spilled into the room. Elsie rolled into her blanket and curled into a ball, wishing there was a gift to eradicate annoying pests.
"The Lady got drunk before the rest of us could join but I'm sure she's slept it off by now," Zeke said with glee. He pats the edge of the bed, jostling Elsie. "Get up and have dinner with the rest of us."
Elsie sighed and held out her hand in a 'what do I care' sign, "If I wanted to socialize I would have waited for you. I've had a long week, Zeke, fuck off. I don't plan to join this Friday."
"Lady Seer, language!" Sif hissed and then said. "But yes, Mister Jeager, please do fuck off. You can't be in here."
"I'll leave when the Lady agrees to come down." Zeke said without a care.
Her dream of Levi left her cold and frustrated on her bed. She smacked the sheets and glowered at the smirking giant at her bedside, "Very well! Leave so I can get dressed. Give me some decency."
Sif rightly marched the man to the hall. Once the lock turned Elsie said, "You're the worst servant ever."
Zeke's buoyancy was soon explained when Elsie and Sif entered the dining room. High Priestess Catharina stood with her luggage at her side. Willy lifted his glass of wine in greeting, a cigar in hand, and a smile that lit the manor.
"Lady Seer! I'm glad you could make it to our last minute going away party!"
Elsie suddenly couldn't imagine a day without the High Priestess. She grabbed the woman's arm in urgency, "You're leaving? We haven't finished our third lesson yet. We've barely begun!"
"A family emergency has happened back home. I have to return immediately but we will continue our lessons. You will just have to visit me."
Willy's smile dimmed, "I don't think that's quite a good idea."
"Nonsense it's a swell idea," The Priestess dismissed Willy. He wasn't so heartbroken about it and moved to strike a conversation with sitting Pieck. "He's only upset because it's the Liberio internment camp."
She knew of the camps and the segregation. She didn't see it within Willy's safe walls but sometimes Major Gross slipped with Porco. There was strife everywhere she looked in the world. All she could fix was the problem in the Walls she cared for.
"Oh yes, I see," Elsie did not see. She didn't understand why people became scared of things they didn't understand. Unless it was a flesh-eating monster. Then she understood why people became scared, yet these people controlled the monsters to keep fear from breaking out. "Yes, when's the earliest that I can arrive?"
High Priestess Catharina lived with her husband, Jonas, deep in the dwelling of Liberio's internment camp. She explained her quaint, brick cottage with a large fireplace that filled the sitting room with smoke and the moss-covered path leading to the orphanage. It was common for children to dart in and out of the street, chasing balls and stray cats, and Jonas held a bonfire monthly to celebrate birthdays in one big, rowdy celebration. Elsie found herself eager to meet these people, hanging onto every word that left a brighter look on High Priestess Catharina's face.
"Lady Seer," Granfer parted from the treat-filled table to join their conversation. His beard held the remains of a tart. "How goes your Friday? You retired for the evening at noon."
"Unfortunately for me, someone informed Zeke where my room was. It seems we have a love-hate relationship."
Overhearing his name, the Beast titan casually said, "If I have to suffer through these dinners then so do you, my dear Lady."
"Oh, joy. Thanks for that." Elsie muttered.
"In fact, I was hoping you could show us a performance. I've told Lord Tybur of the machine's abilities and he's very eager to see it finished." Zeke grinned at the end of his dreadful sentence.
Elsie cocked her hip in faux thought, "I'm waiting for wires to come in the length I need. Surely after they are delivered I can show Willy, and of course you, Zeke."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Granfer said, "Well, I don't know about that. Our trip is scheduled at the end of January."
"Is it already the end of the year? It feels like yesterday was Christmas, my Freyja." The High Priestess said in realization, counting the days and coming to the conclusion that yes, Granfer was correct, and that the New Year began in a day.
Elsie despised Christmas and all the other holidays fast approaching. She spent them alone, trapped, and she hated every second that ticked on.
"That makes it four weeks until we depart," Zeke met Elsie's eyes in eagerness. "I can't wait to return to Paradis. Do you think that the military squad will still be in the area? I could try my experiment on them."
"Most likely. They will have secured the ocean's wall by now." Elsie lied. Her throat dried as concern twisted her stomach. What was happening behind the Walls? If Levi was dealing with Kenny then Elsie didn't know if Erwin was in control of the Scouts or in the deep caverns of the Capital's prison cells.
"The ocean's wall?"
"It faces the Red Sea," Zeke explained. "You will see it when we approach. It's the place where our prisoners are disposed of."
"How pleasant," Granfer held no impressment. "How do we plan to get over this wall?"
"The steps, of course."
"Of course."
Elsie waved her hand for Sif to usher a glass of wine over.
On New Year's Eve, Elsie locked herself in her storage room with two bottles of wine and clear directions for Sif to disappear. She leaned her back against the leg of the center table and uncorked the first bottle, taking a generous gulp that tasted as necessary as water. She met her mother's artfully painted green eyes.
"What am I going to do?" Elsie groaned, banging her head twice before sighing. "Granfer and Zeke plan to leave at the end of the month and I'm no closer to being on that ship than I am with getting wires for my gear."
She paused to take a drink. Her room had been subjected to spring cleaning (or rather, Elsie couldn't focus the day after Christmas and decided to rearrange the cluttered sprinkle of boxes) and not a single thing had been touched in her absence. It bothered Elsie that she didn't have to worry about a nosy person wandering into her space. They were all too welcoming of her and slowly Elsie found herself welcoming of them. She found her footing with Sif and Major Gross cheered her name when she entered in the mornings. Willy bought her fancy jewelry to make up for kidnapping her. In a way, they all knew their duty and they fell into it without asking Elsie about her background.
"It would be easier if they were terrible people," Elsie cursed her captors. "I'm sure you understand my situation mom since you risked your life to rescue Grisha. What was it about him? Wasn't he given the Attack titan by pure coincidence? You didn't have visions so how could you have known?"
Florence smiled lifelessly. No answers could come from a painting but Elsie halfway hoped that this would be a Harry Potter moment and the magic of their blood would entangle them in a beautiful mind connection or combine bodies, or something along the lines of Florence telling Elsie what to do.
"This is shit. All I have is a dead mom, a weird connection to the Goddess who somehow created titans, and my family in another world! This isn't fucking fair," She kicked at nothing. "It's fucking New Years' and I'm alone," At this, she pouted pathetically at her mother. "You'd like him, mom. He's stoic and tough and he says what's on his mind. And yeah, there was a time where I thought he didn't like me any more than his horse, but that's just him. He doesn't show love in words," She smiled. "But it's just. He looks at me and I feel loved, ya' know? His eyes get a little smaller and he tries not to smile but I can always see the way his lips turn up. Maybe I watch him too much."
She sighed and closed her eyes, "He keeps me alive. He's done it since the very beginning. If he hadn't walked down the street of Trost, I would've died. And he was the first one to stand up for me when I choked in front of Erwin. He walked me home most times after work and if he didn't show up I always thought something happened. And it's true," Tears were falling down her cheek. Her lips trembled against the wine tip. "My first day of work he walked me home. I was so excited and I wanted to tell someone about it. I made tea and all he did was drink my tea and listen to me and then say what a shit career I picked before leaving."
Elsie covered her mouth and concentrated on calming herself. Perhaps talking about Levi wouldn't calm her aching heart. Her red eyes focused on her mother instead.
"I don't know how to get back to him," She admitted in a broken voice. "I can fix the ODM gear but it can only get me so far. I need a ship," She sighed and had to tilt her head back to finish the last of her bottle. "I need to get out of here before Willy makes me the next Ambassador of Liberio."
Her alcohol tolerance has risen in the past month and a half. Elsie's hands are stable in taking the cork out and she paused, briefly, before taking another sip. With High Priestess Catharina officially out of the manor, Elsie could skip all of her dusk prayers without being hounded.
"How did this happen, mom? It must be from your dad's side of the family but his last name is Eiriks. I wish someone had kept track of this shit so that we could've had a head's up," Elsie laughed. "You won't have to worry about it being passed on anymore, though, that's for sure. Either I die in Marley or I somehow make a miraculous escape to live happily ever after with Levi - which believe me, I can't imagine a child in that future. He has the Ackerman gift and I, apparently, can pass my Seer abilities down. That child would be a force to be reckoned with," Elsie whistled with impressment, imagining a dark-haired ball of fury chasing children across the schoolyard. "And sought after to be used. I could never curse a baby with that."
"Anyway, what I'm trying to say is," Elsie waved away the fantasy life. Just as marriage and Levi didn't mix, Levi and babies were as unimaginable. "Lady Seer ends with me. All of it. After this Tucker won't have to worry about his daughter or grand-daughter disappearing like we did. I will make sure it," Florence's eyes flickered in the candlelight. "I'm not wasting my time here. I've gathered all the information about us and I plan to make a trip to the supposed Pond of Ymir. There I will find the strongest connection to Freyja, I'm sure of it, and maybe I can speak to her," Elsie's burned with ferocity. "Maybe then she will finally show something that can help me out of here."
Florence Fraser smiled at her daughter. Elsie closed her eyes. That was the best approval she could ever get.
Tybur's 'stables' managed to keep afoot on mere luck alone. The rickety wood creaked and groaned beneath the chilly wind. Elsie found the abandoned structure during her second week (having been avoiding dusk prayer and ignoring Sif's hysterical call). It was her fourth week that Elsie had happened upon Zeke meeting a dull-eyed woman in the back stall. They'd separated fast enough to alert Elsie of their presence, who merely sat by the first stall and watched the moon and read the latest journal she'd discovered. The woman rushed to getaway. She dressed like a man in pants and a button-up blouse, her arm raised to block Elsie from seeing more than her ash blonde hair. Elsie commented on the hypocrisy of political women dressing and Zeke stormed out of the stalls, too flustered and annoyed to speak about the dress code with her.
Since then Elsie never worried about spotting the couple. She barely mentioned their meeting and Zeke went into a steaming pout. It was great fun to tease but she knew to not push him too far. He gave and take the attitude Elsie exuded and she hated to say it, but he reminded her of Levi. He was as honest as they came in Liberio. No wonder he turned his own parents in, he probably never lied in his life.
Elsie stepped over the cluster of stones that made a half wall to announce the coming into horse land. No horses were on Tybur's property, sadly. Elsie constantly told Willy that she'd rather prefer a horse to the expensive necklaces. She trampled over the wet grass, shielding her eyes from the bright sunlight. The first week of January brought sunny days yet cold air. The snow slowly chipped away. Not fast enough to Elsie's liking but sure enough it was melting.
"Duck!"
Elsie dropped to the floor, her chin grinding against the soil and her dress flying over her stocking covered knees. Something that sounded sharp and deadly thunked into the tree just behind Elsie. She gasped, slowly pushing herself into a kneeled sitting position, and turned to examine the arrow lodged into the tree trunk.
"I am so sorry about that, Lady Seer!" Granfer hollered. Already he'd made it halfway across the field, leaping over the wall of rocks that circled Elsie and the beaten pillars of wood. "I thought no one came out here!"
"It's her own fault, you should've been paying attention!" Zeke lowered the bow. He stayed to watch over their weapons, not that Elsie's well being concerned him enough to move.
Zeke behind a bow made Elsie uncomfortable being in the field. She gathered herself and wiped the knee of her pale blue dress, waving off Granfer's advance to see if she was unharmed.
"Zeke said no one came out here, I should've been making sure no one approached while we practiced. Please accept my apology." Granfer continued.
Elsie brushed the hair off her cheeks, flustered, "There's no need, please. I'm alive. You're practicing your bow skills?"
"I'm playing teacher for the day. Zeke mentioned never learning and it's a shame to throw a man in a foreign land without knowing a basic skill."
"Yes, I'm sure he needs all the help he can get," He planned to murder her friends with rocks. The man knew how to use basic things and an arrow was less helpful than a gun to him. "Do you mind teaching me as well?"
Granfer grinned, "Of course not, my Lady."
Sif crossed her arms. She puffed her cheeks with a deep breath and then spun to face the wall. She said something under her breath and then returned to glare heartily at the three slumped adults dispersed in the sitting room.
"It is Monday," Sif stressed. "Lady Seer, you have dusk prayer with the High Priestess in four hours!"
Elsie yawned and stretched on the couch, "Then let me take a nap. I had a long day."
"Yes because getting drunk on the lawn and shooting arrows is such a tiring job," Sif sneered. Elsie was too tired to fight the servant and rolled onto her side, cuddling into the cushion. "Freyja save us!" Sif threw her hands up and stormed out of the room.
Granfer murmured from the sitting chair, curled like a cat and half asleep, "She's so mean."
"Don't let her ruin your buzz, buddy." Zeke whispered, stretching his hand from the love seat. They held hands until they fell asleep.
Elsie stared at their entwined palms. She snored softly, pretending that it was Levi, before she too succumbed to a drunken sleep.
"Please, please, do not let any of those children touch your belongings," Willy urgently reminded Elsie. He tripped down the steps, rushing to speak before she closed the carriage door. "They are all pick-pockets out there. And also, the food, terrible. Trust me."
"Alright, Willy," Elsie rolled her eyes, getting comfortable in the leather backseat. Sif slammed her door shut and fixed the brim of her hat. "I'm going to the High Priestess' house, not to the entire camp."
"Anything is possible with her," He grumbled with unease. "Then with the comfort that you are only going to her squabble of a house, I bid you goodbye. Be safe."
She didn't dignify him with a response. Willy closed her door and fixed his jacket lapels as the carriage pulled off. She watched him from the backseat. He did a nervous twirl before returning into the warm comfort of his manor. She expected nothing like his house where the Priestess lived. Elsie, in fact, worried that she might have too high of expectations for the living conditions inside the internment camp.
The driver looked back, "To the Liberio internment camp?"
"Yes. You can drop us at the gates." Sif answered confidently.
Elsie leaned close to Sif and whispered, "Are you an Eldian?"
"No!" She jerked back in astonishment, and in somewhat insult. Elsie internally smacked herself for being so quick to ask. "Of course not, Lady Seer."
"Sorry, I didn't realize it's an insult to ask."
"Why do you think they wear armbands?" Sif snapped. "That they want to be known as Eldians?"
"I thought they wore them to warn silly girls away." Elsie hummed without meeting her eyes.
She lost herself in the busy streets of Liberio. In another world she would describe it as London. Towering grey buildings popped up at every turn. The streets filled with Monday traffic. Woman in long skirts and tight belts, and fluffy jackets, skipped across the cross walks in towering heels. Sif made sure to point out the multitude of bobbed styles they saw.
The buildings suddenly stopped. Elsie gasped at the fifteen-meter gate suddenly expanding across the street. The passenger backdoor opened before Elsie had time to control her shock. She slowly emerged from the carriage while Sif ordered the driver to pull onto the side and wait an hour. Her short black heels crunched across the gravel to meet a guard.
He stepped out of his little office made into the pillar of the gate. His black hat gleamed in the lowering sun as he nodded in agreement and waved his hand. Sif returned to Elsie's side, only to encourage her to walk, and there was a shout of warning before the gate loudly creaked open. Large rails encouraged it to slide slowly and held it still for the women to hurriedly skip over. Two steps away and the thick gate began to slide shut at a much faster pace.
The internment camp was in the midst of their own Monday rush. Some stopped to watch the gates open with yearning gazes before continuing their errands. Elsie picked the edges of her tame green dress to avoid the mud puddles. It became pointless when no sooner a carriage - an actual carriage with horses - rolled past on delivery business. The wheel hit the puddle and the mud splashed on her dress and Elsie had never felt so dirty and so returned to her regular life that she smiled at the stain.
Sif tutted, "We'll clean you at the High Priestess' house. It's this way."
"So if you're not Eldian how do you know the camp so well?" Elsie dodged a busy mother chasing her troublesome toddler. "You've been here before."
"As a child. This way!" Sif cut through a fabric filled alley.
Elsie slowed to take in the vendors. She stared for their beautiful paintings and dyed fabrics, dresses cut and torn in ways that made Sif turn her head. It didn't take Elsie long to realize that the vendors were glowering at her.
"Hurry up, let's not linger." Sif hissed, reaching back to grab Elsie's hand.
She tugged her out of the alley and into another busy street. Instead of apartments, there were little shacks made up for families that transitioned into square buildings layered upon each other. They dared not surpass the gate containing them.
"This is it," Sif pushed a white gate hidden between green hedges. Elsie did not see the squabble house that Willy depicted. A nicely trimmed lawn laid on either side of the pathway and Sif knocked on a red door. "Don't stare at his scar."
"The what?"
Just as Elsie asked she understood why. The door opened and instead of High Priestess Catharina, her husband Jonas Friedan greeted them with a while smile and an encouraging hand gesturing to enter. A scar stretched from Jonas' cheekbone to his chin, crooked and badly stitched resulting in a rough healing process. He trimmed his light hair short, proud of his mark, and wore tan jeans with a knitted sweater. Elsie busied herself with the button of her black cloak, happily letting Sif lead conversation.
"Hello, Sif, it's been a while since I've seen you," Jonas grinned. His brown eyes bore into Elsie and he chuckled, running his hand over the spiky tips of his hair. "Wow, you really do look like Florence. Cat warned me but still... It's uncanny."
"Thank you," Elsie met his eyes in gratefulness. It was the first compliment she's received in her life in comparison to Florence. "I found your journal from when you worked with her. Here." She pulled it from the folds of her dress.
Jonas fondly held it to his chest, "I haven't seen this old thing in years. I used to write in it every day. Your mother would confiscate it so that I would pay attention and then wonder why I didn't have notes at the end of the meeting."
"Oh, Lady Seer, you've made it." High Priestess Catharina rounded the corner and Elsie blinked in shock.
"Are you seriously calling the kid by her title still?" Jonas rolled his eyes. "She's always been about the rules. Come on, Elisabeth, sit for dinner before you start your dreadful prayers. I don't know how you manage to get through it." Jonas shuddered as he leads Elsie past Priestess Catharina dressed in a cooking apron.
"It's not all that bad," Elsie said breathlessly. The sitting and dining room were held in the same room, separated by a single wall. On the side of the wall facing the kitchen were numerous pictures. She knew without counting there were forty-three. "Your house is beautiful."
"Thank you! We've lived here seventeen years and have put many restorations into it. Now, tell me, what is Tybur manor like now? I haven't been there since your mother."
Elsie fell into the seat and smiled, "It's busy. Lord Tybur likes to host Friday dinners for the Eldians."
"I've heard! He invites Zeke Jeager and Porco Galliard," Jonas grinned and glanced to where Sif and Priestess Catharina gathered food to serve. She instantly felt a rush of guilt and shame for not offering to help but Jonas grabbed her attention once more. "I used to yell at them as kids. They always cut in line at the butcher's."
"Not much has changed then," Elsie retorted. "Zeke is the biggest annoyance. I think Porco is nice, if not a little mute."
"Porco's like that because of his company," Sif handed off Elsie's plate of tomato and pesto pasta. She gingerly sat beside her mistress, the two exchanging a small smile, and dug into their food with thanks to their hostess. "Believe me, he never stops talking once he's going."
Priestess Catharina nodded over a bite, "He does talk a bit. I try not to talk to him in the market."
"He has a tendency to go overboard but he's passionate about what he believes in," Jonas defended quickly. Eren came to mind as the man spoke. "He just doesn't know when to stop, is the thing."
"I don't think he talks too much." Sif defended honorably.
Elsie quickly chimed, "Of course not, Sif, he's perfect to you."
"Well, he is." Sif shrugged.
"Are you planning on talking to him about it?" High Priestess Catharina asked. "He's a swell boy and I'm sure he'd be tickled to have your affection."
"Tickled?" Elsie mocked over her cup of water.
"Thanks for the advice but I prefer that he make the first move," Sif decided. "That way I know how he feels and I'm not confused."
"Who made the first move between you two?" Elsie asked, drawing a finger between Jonas and Priestess Catharina.
She grinned at him, setting her fork down as she thought back to all those years ago. Priestess Catharina appeared younger in her home. Her hair fell loose to her elbows, black in the dim lights of her cottage, and she wore a loose blue camisole that complimented her collar bones. Jonas held her hand on the tabletop.
Sif relaxed as the attention turned away from her. Elsie leaned on her elbows, transfixed as Jonas spoke.
"A sudden supply of help was needed at Tybur's manor. I dashed off to make enough money to move my family further West to Fort Slava. My first day was crazy. Florence tried to run away before I arrived so the guards were wrestling her back into the foyer and she cried out in pain when one man twisted her arm. I moved to assist this woman in pain - not knowing who she was - and before I could raise a hand in defense, this woman came out of nowhere and twisted the man's fingers until he was on his knees begging. She had my heart at that point."
Priestess Catharina smiled, "He followed me everywhere. He left flowers and notes for me to see. Florence told me that if I didn't accept, she would."
"That very night we went for ramen." Jonas finished.
"I didn't know you could fight." Elsie said in shock.
Priestess Catharina shrugged, "Less fighting and more protecting myself."
"Can you tell me more about Florence?" Elsie asked.
Priestess Catharina nodded to her husband. Elsie rejoiced and chomped another bite of her delicious pasta. Jonas cleared his throat and took a sip from his black cup, wiggling his eyebrows at Priestess Catharina in teasing. She laughed and shook her head, scraping her plate with her fork.
"She was wonderful to work for. If I messed up she was very understanding and helped me fix the problem before it was discovered. I attended every meeting during her three year reign as Lady Seer-"
"Wait," Elsie held her hand out. "My mother was alive for three years? I thought she died the year she arrived."
"No. Florence spent two years traveling between the Mid-East and Marley. She negotiated the land for Hizaru to grow and develop when they had to disperse after a natural disaster. Other villages wished to separate from Marley as well, towns that were so far from civilization that nobody considered them part of Marley anyway. We stayed in Marley when tensions rose between the Revolutionist and police."
"That's when she met Grisha." Elsie urged.
"Yes. She planned a secret meeting with the leader to discuss a truce. Florence always got her way. We walked into that meeting knowing that without a doubt we would walk out with no revolution. She told Grisha that she wanted a treaty and he laughed and said absolutely not."
Jonas looked as astonished as he'd been back then. He shook his head in disbelief, "He was the first person to not submit to Florence's gift. They had a very good conversation after that, one about life decisions and big talks that were thankfully not up for me to decide. Florence swore me to silence, and of course, that meant I told Cat."
"After that Florence constantly met with Grisha. Before him, I don't think she really understood what was happening with the Warriors. She thought they were passed through families and a joyous thing to celebrate. She didn't realize that an entire race was locked and treated like animals, only to be pulled out for being the meanest and most brute. She saw things his way, in the end, and for a while, things began to be looking up. I thought that Eldians might be free," He sighed wistfully. "Then Grisha's son turned him in. No one saw that coming, not even Florence who spent time with the child, or my dear Cat who prays for visions. We only had a night to form a plan to get Florence out of Liberio before Tybur made a show out of her for turning against the dynasty."
"The first to be caught was Dina Jeager," Priestess Catharina said when Jonas no longer spoke. Elsie met her eyes, hanging off of each word. "There was a big debate about sending her off. She was a Fritz, one hundred percent, and royal blood was a big thing. When Grisha and Florence didn't turn themselves in they decided that she wasn't all that necessary. They headed for the wall to send her off and by pure coincidence, they arrived at the same as Florence and Grisha."
Priestess Catharina continued bravely, "There was no chance of a Lady Seer being turned into a titan. They sent Grisha and Dina over the wall and returned to give Florence a hearing. It was quick, mainly to make a point out of her, and they decided she was guilty of terrorism against Marley. They sentenced her to death."
"Where were they heading?" Elsie asked, enraptured at the truth.
Jonas grinned, "Grisha thought he could survive on Paradis. The police found them at the docks in Odiha, a major port where many ships are left unattended and easy to steal."
"Did Florence ever discover why Grisha didn't react to her power?" Elsie already had a vision of Zeke so she knew that he was as penetrable to her as any other person.
Priestess Catharina shrugged, "We assumed it was a lost blood-line like the Ackerman or just his Fritz half. They were able to ignore the Founder's command and held immeasurable strength. They were very promiscuous when they were around and I'm sure there's someone walking around with Ackerman in them."
"Yes, the Ackerman bloodline. That was Florence's theory." Jonas snapped his fingers.
Elsie shuddered at the name and sipped her water. She wanted her Ackerman and she highly doubted that the Jeager's held any relation to them. It had to be something else regarding their blood. She knew that much from Zeke's intriguing spinal fluid. The very one that he refused to let her investigate. She needed to try to get her hands on him before his voyage with Granfer.
"It was lost when King Fritz created the Walls. A majority of the clan chose to follow him in hopes of a better life." Priestess Catharina lectured.
Elsie nodded numbly, "Interesting."
"As did the Fritz's. However, I don't think Dina was able to resist Florence." Jonas thought hard.
"No, she couldn't. That's what led us to the Ackerman's."
"Interesting." Elsie repeated. She finished her plate without speaking, overwhelmed by the knowledge.
Priestess Catharina turned the lights off in her house. Sif sat on the couch while Priestess Catharina and Elsie kneeled before her lit fireplace. Jonas bid good night and disappeared into his room. Like any other night, the Priestess passed Elsie a mug of rose tea and they drank it in silence. Elsie closed her eyes and relaxed, completely sober for the first time in weeks, and nervous for what would happen should she have a vision.
Instead of Levi, she thought about Eren. What was he doing? She had visions of Eren as well. He wasn't like his father. Whatever Grisha had been it didn't matter anymore. He'd passed it all to Eren when he'd devoured him. She calculated how many years Eren had left before his term - his death sentence - was up and it didn't paint a white picket fence and kids for him.
"Try again."
Elsie stepped to the side to avoid stomping on Eren's trembling hand. He kneeled in the grass of Levi's castle. The afternoon sun beat down on his back, sweat slicking his elbows, and he snarled in anger at his lack of doing what he planned. He couldn't shift?
"Eren, focus." The voice sternly demanded.
Elsie turned to see Annie in wide stance feet away. She stared at Eren, weak and tired, and scoffed before turning her head to allow him a second of privacy.
"I can't," Eren ducked his head. "I-I'm sorry, Annie, I don't know what's wrong with me."
"I told you. You have to stop focusing on all the bad shit happening around you. So what, people die. It happens every day in every part of the world," Annie said sharply. "You made it out alive so you can make a difference. You're doing complete shit at it but that's okay, you just need to focus."
"You say focus like it's something I can just do!" Eren roared. "How can I focus with you yelling at me? Elsie never yelled at me! She he-elped me," His head bowed, emotional before he raised his steel-blue eyes to glare at Annie. "And none of my squad is here! We're spread out everywhere and Erwin barely got out of prison, and I wasn't there for any of it! I was locked up in a cell unable to do anything!"
"Eren-"
"There's no hope," Eren murmured, depressed. "I can't shift and the hole in Shiganshina is still there. We managed to get to my dad's basement by mere luck and we found out he had another family in a world we already knew about. We lost so many people to find out what we already knew."
"Look, here comes Mikasa and Armin," Annie said in a far way too cheery voice for her face. "Thank God." She muttered under her breath as Eren's two friends approached.
They grew up within weeks. Mikasa's hair had been trimmed so it brushed to the back of her earlobe. Her red scarf wrapped tightly around her neck and fluttered in the wind as she strolled confidently around the corner of the castle. Armin, his hair longer and somehow appearing taller in his knee-high boots, rushed to keep up with her eager strides.
"Armin! Mikasa!" Eren gasped in shock. He leaped to his feet, suddenly invigorated, and ran to meet them halfway. "You guys are back early! Is everyone okay?"
"Everyone's fine. They're waiting for you in Captain Levi's office," Elsie jerked, stumbling to keep up. The trio walked far ahead, slowly disappearing as the vision came to end. She struggled to stay in the blurry image. "Something was spotted in the ocean. They're calling it a ship."
"A ship?" Eren blinked in disbelief at Armin. "What is that? In the water? Was it floating?"
Armin opened his mouth to respond as they turned the corner. Mikasa flicked her scarf and Eren seemed more alive than he had in the past five minutes. Annie stared at the departed group before kicking the ground and tucking her hands into her tan pockets, following behind.
"Oh, you're back." Sif yawned, waving when Elsie blinked at her.
"What time is it?"
Priestess Catharina appeared from the kitchen. She wiped her hands on a towel and Elsie noticed her teacups and kettle had disappeared, "Just after eight. You should return to the Manor, Lady Seer. Lord Tybur is probably stressed and pulling out his hair."
"I think you're right." Elsie said dreamily, blissed at what she'd heard.
Priestess Catharina raised an eyebrow, "Did you finally have a good experience with Freyja?"
"You can say that." Elsie admitted as she stood.
They'd know. They'd know that someone was coming and they'd be deep in Wall Rose. To see that they were allowing Annie to train Eren meant things were getting heated within the Walls. It warmed her heart to see Annie at least trying to work with him. She also remembered a time when Eren struggled with his transformation and cursed that it had to happen at this important moment in time. When Zeke arrived and performed his experiment, the insides of Wall Rose would be fulled of shifted villagers hoping to devour all of humanity. He needed to get it together.
It snowed in the dark night. The streets cleared out once darkness had arrived and Sif rushed to get them back to the gate. They had stayed longer than they had told the driver and Sif felt guilty. Elsie flexed her hands in thought. That gave her four weeks to somehow gain passage to Granfer's ship.
"Grab those kids!" A voice howled from behind.
Sif and Elsie did the exact opposite. They lurched to either side of the street as four bodies ran through the icy streets. One slipped on hidden black ice, landing with a resounding crack and a groan of pain. Elsie immediately crouched and cusped the back of his head, rubbing the bump growing as she urged him to sit up.
"Can you see?" She asked.
He blinked wide amber eyes at her, "Y-Yes."
"Hurry, get out of here. Don't sleep for five hours." Elsie instructed sternly, helping him to his wobbly feet.
A small body returned, skidding on the ice as she grabbed the boy's arm. She yanked him down the street, "Hurry up, Falco!"
"W-Wait Gabi, she helped me!" Little Falco turned and waved over his dragging body, waving happily at Elsie's astonished face. "Thank you!"
No sooner had Gabi and Falco disappeared around the corner did two burly guards come slipping up the street. They didn't ask for directions.
"Gabi, I'll get you, you little shithead!" One bellowed, holding the side of a building so he didn't slip on his sharp turn.
The other fell on his side and slid until he hit the hedge of a house, "Damnit, get those twerps, Ronald!"
Elsie stared after Gabi Braun, her gut sinking lower in her stomach.