"Oh my god! Willy!" Girls screeched as our security took them away.

"You seem to be such a lady's man," I tease. "So when are you going to start testing the waters?"

"Wha—? Me? Oh no. I'm barely 24. Besides—" there was a pause as he stirred his cup of tea. "I'm going to be busy while you're gone. Father's gone. So I'm going to need to go overseas and try to establish some friendships. Yuki's parents always loved me, maybe I'll start with our friends up north."

I smiled trying to seem like I understood a word he said. Since my arrival in this world, I still hadn't been able to unlock the memories of Elizabeth and I've been pretending that they were all wiped out when I glimpsed the future.

Willy's eyes locked with mine and realisation shined in them. "I'm sorry. I forgot about your situation." He scratched his head softly.

I shook my head. "Don't worry about it. They'd probably become a liability where I'm going. Better to start as fresh as I can to avoid screwing up any kind of backstory I might come up with."

"Understandable. As long as you don't forget how much your family loves you." Willy laid his hands on top of mine. "You're my sister. It hurts how Father couldn't care any less about your well being when he chose you as the Family inheritor.

"Willy." At this moment I could feel the familial bond I'd been building up with the Tybur family. "I will be happy to be going away from those brats though." That got a chuckle out of him.

"They really are the spawns of the devil, huh."

Willy's expression hardened. I could see he was troubled by the expression. The Tybur family might be worshipped by the world as their saviours and liberators of Eldian tyranny, but their blood still ran through our veins.

"How do you know we're spawns of the devil and it isn't the other way around?"

"What do you mean?" Willy cocked his head in confusion.

"I think that religion is a human creation. We can't accept that we aren't the byproduct of universal luck. A fluke of the system. Therefore, we create all-powerful beings to whom we can pin the blame for all the bad things that happen. And we also created beings to whom we can ask for things to happen.

"So I'll repeat. Who created who. Did the devil create us? Or did we create him?"

Willy sat deep in thought stroking his peach fuzz. "Your thought process is incredible. This truly does change my view on things. You might have given me a weapon for my work."

"Jeez. You're just a kid fer cryin' out loud," Willy suddenly blurted out. He pressed his palm against his eyes and clenched his teeth in anger. "You deserved a normal childhood. Now since you've inherited the Titan, you're like an older woman trapped in a girl's body."

He slammed a closed fist on the table shaking up the glass dishes. A river of tears slid down his face. I could see his hands shaking with rage and I couldn't help but feel useless at the moment.

"It's not your fault." Was the only thing I managed to squeak out. And I'm not sure Willy even heard me.

There wasn't anything more to say. I couldn't eat after watching Willy lose his mind. So while he regained his composure I simply watched the rising moon.

"I still can't believe that a few hours ago I was burning an entire military city to the ground."

Willy was calmer now and his face was back to its usual appearance. An almost mechanical cold smile. He was still some ways away from being the charming elegant Willy Tybur he's supposed to be. I wonder if he'll even have the chance to be that version in this new timeline I'm creating.

"I'll never know what it's like to be a titan. And I don't think I'd ever like to know. I really do wish to live a long life, no offence."

"I can't really take an O-fence anyways." Willy snorted at my dumb wordplay joke.

"I'm going to miss your more lively nature. That was the one good thing that came from your inheritance. Our father really messed you up." Willy frowned as he brought up our father again.

"Hmm. So far today, you haven't tried to make me give up on our plan."

He shrugged. "I know when to give up. Something you can't comprehend."

"Ah, there it is." More laughter.

"But I'm serious, Willy. I'm going on the Paradis mission with the other recruits."

"And what will you do there?" Oh, so we're doing this. Willy and Nan had been drilling me with the plan these past months now that we were so close to the date.

"I'm going to find a way to fake my death. If we can get the recruits to avert suspicion from the Tybur family, it'll become easier to move the chess piece into the right places."

"And what else?"

"Eliminate the Hunting Titan. Blowing the whistle on an uprising within the walls has made the Marleyan military take precautionary measures. By getting rid of their bloodhound, we give the Paradis Eldians the element of surprise.

"I'll need to lay low and only use my titan if Paradis is in danger of being defeated. From now on, I'll defend the Founding Titan. We can't risk the Warhammer being discovered but we can't risk our plans being soiled either."

"Good. And I know you're set on going, that's why I arranged for you to get some extra help."

"Hello, Elizabeth," the old woman I've come to know as Nan, my mother figure, smiled with closed eyes.

"Nan!" She moved under my weight as I hugged her. "It's been a good minute since we've seen each other."

"The military sure does have you very busy, doesn't it, child."

"Yeah. I've had to fill a crash course on being a warrior. I've even toppled a city or two," I displayed the muscles I'd been cultivating.

"I'm sure you'll make the family proud," she sighed. "Still, I wish this wouldn't be the last time I'll see you."

"Don't talk like that, Nan. I'll be back in a few years. There'll be enough time for us to catch up before I have to pass on my titan." I shuddered. I still had no idea how I'd be able to escape Ymir's curse. But I guarantee you I've been thinking about it during my free time. So far all I've been able to come up with is meeting Ymir herself on the day the rumbling begins.

"I have no doubt you won't. But I wasn't talking about that."

"What else could you have been talking about — oh."

Yeah, the one curse even more ancient than Ymir's curse, the curse of the titans, was the curse of life. Nan was 80 years old. And I would be gone for 6 years, maybe longer.

"Yes, my child. My years are numbered. I may be on my way today, or several years from now. Time is a fickle thing. It doesn't like being predictable."

"I don't know about that," I muttered. "It seems to be telling me all of its secrets lately."

"Yes. But who knows why that is."

I breathed out with melancholy. A breeze passed by and I could feel its soft greedy touch try to carry away several strands of my black hair.

"Well then, why don't we pray to whoever is up there beyond those clouds that you will still be here to greet me back home. I'm gonna need a familiar face after betraying everyone I'll meet."

"Sweet child. You will still have your brother waiting for you."

"And I'll receive you with the widest arms you'll ever see." Willy clasped a hand over my and Nan's shoulder and brought us into a group hug.

Tears started rolling down my face. They warmed up my skin that'd been being attacked by the night's cold. Why didn't this feeling feel familiar to me? Only memories were locked away, not feelings? So what kind of life did I live that would break my heart at such a normal family action?

A sigh tried clawing its way out of me causing my chest to rattle.

"I don't remember you guys at all. I don't even remember living any kind of life. But this past year has been the best I can imagine anyone having. Thank you," I was full out crying now.

Willy let go and I drew back to start brushing away the stubborn tears that came out with each sniffle.

"Don't go soft on me now, Ellie. I'm about to give you the best parting gift you could ever want," Willy cried.

"Asshole," I punched his arm playfully.

"My name actually means something smaller," he winked.

"Don't lie to me, taking the wheel on an entire nation takes bigger balls."

Honk!

The horn of a car, what we'd been waiting for, stole our attention.

"Let me help you down, Adaleigh," Willy dashed toward the open door of the car.

I stood, staring intently at the feet that touched the ground. Pale feet with perfectly manicured nails wearing strapped sandals.

Willy pulled the rest of her out of the car and closed the door behind her. He tapped the roof twice and it sped away.

I felt as if someone knocked the wind out of me as I looked at the woman. Her eyes shined like gold. Not to mention she was beautiful. I guess I'm attracted to girls then cause my head was pounding with emotions.

"I think I'm liking this goodbye present."

An amused laugh escaped from her. "Well isn't she a charmer."

"That's Elizabeth for you," Willy grunted in pain as I kicked his shin in response. "She's also a handful."

"My life will always be at the disposal of your family," she gave a polite bow.

"Ellie, this is Adaleigh. She's always been under the head Tybur's watch. We can't let anyone know who's the carrier of the Hidden Titan after all."

I felt all of my blood drain from my body.

"You mean…?" My stomach growled uncomfortably and I instinctively pressed my hand against my mouth.

Nan's familiar grip soothed me as she softly massaged my shoulders. She might be trying to calm both our nerves by doing that I realised as I looked at her eyes to see grief staring out into the world.

"Yes. You're going to have to consume her. The Hidden Titan will make it easier for the Titan holders to believe your death." He turned to Adaleigh nodding for her to continue.

"My titan will also help you infiltrate Paradis much easier than the others."

"H-how?" My eyes stung but I wasn't going to let it bother me yet.

"My titan allows its holder to inherit memories of the Eldians it consumes." Her eyes flickered down to meet my gaze. They were dark and violent. "Use me to save the world from Paradis' devils."

"I need a moment," I proceeded to run away like a coward. This wasn't like the faceless soldiers I massacred earlier. I didn't meet them before burning their city to ash.

I stopped when I felt light-headed, like I was at the point of passing out, and huddled next to a tree as I struggled to catch my breath.

"Elizabeth, wait. You're going to need all the help you can get." Willy's touch, normally a kind and protective gesture now felt rough and impatient.

"I can't, Willy. We're talking about eating another human! I can't do that. It's just wrong."

"You don't have to worry about that, Ms Tybur." Adaleigh interrupted.

I looked up in confusion. She was walking our way. Couldn't she see that this was too much for me? Or was she going to reveal another secret of this world, that the power of the Titans can be passed on without consumption?

"I'm nearing the end of my term." She smiled weakly.

"How long have you had the Hidden Titan?"

"10 beautiful years. Thanks to your family I lived a fulfilling and easy life in that time," her smile was soft and her gaze looked sad but somehow I could feel the life that she lived.

She looked up at me and her eyes ignited with the same determined look she had earlier. "Let me help you."

I sighed in exasperation. She wasn't going to give up and I really needed this power. Shakily I stood up. "I can't, unless you put up a fight. I-I'm not going to just take a- a fucking defenceless life." I wiped the tears from my face. "I've been training to be a Warrior for a year now. So deal?"

She took my hand with a firm grasp. "Deal."

"We're going to have to leave then." Willy turned to start walking.

"Yes, let the girls have their fun," Nan agreed.

While we waited for Willy and Nan to get out of range, we ended up taking the opportunity to make some conversation.

"You're a little mature for your age."

Oh yeah. I keep forgetting that I'm 12 years old. Marley really liked getting children to inherit weapons of mass destruction. I guess it was because of their flexible morals and mouldable brains.

"I get that a lot." My stomach churned at the idea of small talk.

"Willy told me that it might be because you spent a long time experiencing memories of the future when you inherited your titan."

I nodded.

"So, the Hidden Titan's supposed to let you manipulate your appearance. How do you do that?" I asked.

"You're supposed to be surrounded by Titan skin to do that. So I transform with the goal of changing my appearance, with permission of course." She combed her fingers through her red hair.

"About your Titan memory inheritance, what's it like? Does like my personality get affected with all the memories I get?"

"No. It's more like watching a Theatre Play except through a more personal point. When you watch a play you don't have your own person overwritten, do you?" I shook my head. "Exactly. And when you want to 'remember' something, their experiences get recalled.

"Oh, it looks like they're far enough away now," I turned to see my brother waving at us. "I hope you're sure about this, cause I'll give you the fight of your life," she smirked.

"I've done a lot of training, which I doubt you've done recently," I raised my knife menacingly. I hope she didn't notice the shaking.

"No, but I've got experience."

She was extremely fast. I still hadn't even registered her movement when she bit into her hand. The blast of hot air was threatening to throw me away as titan energy wrapped around her.

I ripped my blade out of its sheath and let the rushing air steal it away. I couldn't help but yelp as I plunged it into my palm and initiated my own transformation. The darkness of night had been chased away by the eerie glow of our titans as they formed.

Before my titan had finished forming, I raised a bony arm half-covered with muscle and summoned a massive spike out of the ground to pierce Adaleigh's titan in the torso.

With the head start, I was able to concentrate on creating my titan. And while the Hidden Titan had finished forming, it struggled to get out of the spike.

Light was refracted from my palm as I created my weapon of choice, the scythe. Adaleigh stopped struggling by now and just watched as I reared back and struck with the blade. It sunk through her neck like butter and the titan head rolled on the ground.

Heated air hissed as Adaleigh exited her nape and I stood glaring at her. I was still hesitating despite being reassured that she would be dying in a few years anyway. It just felt wrong eating someone else.

As a result of my hesitation, Adaleigh was able to leap out and form another titan. I reeled back again for another attack but this time when I swung, her Titan weaved under my attack. I was committed into the swing now and all I could do was watch as decked me in the face.

I was knocked back a couple of steps. Fighting another titan was not like fighting all of those soldiers from earlier today.

Adaleigh raised a fist and roared. I raised my fists and covered my face behind my arms but she didn't swing the way I expected.

My scythe snapped as she brought her fists down on my head. I was knocked down on the ground causing the ground to shake.

Before Adaleigh could hit me again, I reached out and dragged her feet flipping her onto her back. And just like that, I was on top dominating her.

Spikes sprouted from the ground shattering her wrists and puncturing her torso and shoulders. With her immobilised, I pulled her head forward and leaned into her nape.

My real teeth ached as my Titan's teeth punctured tissue. And moments before I closed my jaw over her body I could hear her last words.

"Good luck."

I wasn't too happy when I dragged myself out of my titan. The Titan creations I made were already disintegrating back into nothing.

Adaleigh's Titan, the only thing that was left of her was also falling apart now. Exposed veins dripped their secretions on the ground which slowly turned into steam. She was 20, she could've lived for another 3 years but I had to arrive in this world.

I could feel her in my mind. Her entire life was now a part of me and I could watch them like someone watches a movie. They will never meet their owner again. New memories will never form to add to the story they'd been weaving.

But I had to do this. She was on a time limit anyway.. I'm a woman on a mission now. And I can't afford to lose sight of the objective.

The objective. What was the objective again?

The Warhammer was almost gone by the time Willy came back. Within the evaporating flesh a rose bush made of hardened titan skin was peaking out. My tribute to Adaleigh's life.

"Look at me, Elizabeth."

I reluctantly looked up at him.

His eyes didn't betray a single emotion. He had the one thing I needed. A hardened soul to perform my duty.

"Your plan is to save the world. To save me, to save us. I'm here to tell you not to do that, focus on yourself instead. Your main mission from now on is to survive no matter what. Screw anyone else. You need to stay alive for us." He embraced me tightly. At that moment I wasn't looking at the man that had become my brother. No, I was looking at Satan himself. Lord of the devils. The man who will be pulling on the strings behind the scenes.

Humans are so much worse than devils. Humans will always find reasons and excuses to kill each other and will always find a way to shrug off the blame while a real devil would take pride in its work. Maybe I should take pride in what I will be doing and embrace being a true devil.

As long as I can keep up with school, I'll be updating every Sunday at 2 pacific time. Like an hour after Attack on Titan airs its episodes so that people can catch up with them first.

cdog3789: thank you. I'll continue trying to make this ebic ;)

Joker555888: I get what you mean. So many fics for post apocalypse fandoms are always centred around what if it takes place in the real world. Hopefully, I'll satisfy your want for Warhammer content. It's fun playing with its powers after all.