The Second Son

819 – Marley

A tense atmosphere engulfed the Rohr Villa, as Lady Minerva was having a difficult labor. At the insistence of Lord Nestor, she was not taken to a hospital, as it was tradition for Rohrs to be born at home.

Francis, the firstborn, 4 years old at the moment, was trembling with concern, as he could hear the screams of her mother and the indifference of his father left him confused and even more distressed.

After 3 hours of labor, a boy was born, with apparent perfect health. Lord Nestor held him and named him Kaspar. Meanwhile Francis approached her mother, who was left in a frail state that could never fully recover.


823

Kaspar and Francis were playing in the courtyard, when Lady Minerva noticed that her youngest had much less energy than her firstborn when he had that age… he would trip constantly and complained about pain in his hands from time to time.

Francis would often tease and bully Kaspar due to his weakness, which was encouraged by their father. Kaspar did not understand what was happening to him or why he was bullied by his brother and his father. The only solace he found in his home… was the soothing embrace of his mother… whose light was slowly dimming off.


825

Kaspar's health never improved, so his father utterly ignored him. Kaspar found comfort in books, spending most of the time in the Villa's massive library, usually accompanied by his mother, whose frailty kept her on a wheel chair.

At that time, Kaspar noticed his brother had changed… although he maintained his disdain for his weakness, he started to incentive his interest in books, handing strange scientific books that were not available on the library.

Francis: Kaspar, I want you to read these books, they are very important all right? I'm not really good at studying but you are, you'll probably understand what they mean.

Kaspar: Um ok? But what are they? Where did you get these?

Francis: You will understand in a few years Kaspar… but I have a feeling about you… and these stories…


829

Lady Minerva died of her long illness, causing Kaspar to sink into depression. He felt useless and alone, as his affliction continued to slowly advance. He was a thin and weak boy, yet very tall for his age. He had abnormally long fingers that hurt. This caused him to be reclusive. The servants of the mansion gossiped about him, his only real interaction was with his brother, as both of them were home schooled.

The next day of his mother's passing, Lord Nestor sent for Kaspar to a room that was always kept closed. It was the same room his brother went when he was 10 years old. His 10th birthday had been a week earlier.

As he went inside an ominous feeling surround him. The room was filled with bookstands filled with ancient texts, the walls had numerous ancient paintings and a mysterious coat of arms.

Lord Nestor: Kaspar… I struggled to make this decision… but you must know by now that in this family… tradition and ancestry are the conduit of our lives… so I must complete the passing of the truth…

His father told him his real name was Ackerman from Eldia and revealed Josef and Flora's plight and the origin of the Ackerman power. He told him about the Eldian Empire, the secrets of the titans and the secret hand of the Tyburs in Marley.

Lord Nestor: Our destiny and duty… is to reclaim this world as our rightful heritage. Our family was stolen the reins of the empire of old and see what resulted… the eldians shamed and the plebe controls the world…

Kaspar: What about the Tyburs?

Lord Nestor: Lazy aristocrats… they have left the world to rot, using the divine power as entertainment… it is our destiny… to obtain the full power of the Founder… to free society from the shackles of the Fritz, to destroy that cursed lineage.

I'm going to tell you the secret that has maintained our family afloat all this years… something that Flora told Josef in privacy… as secret exclusive to the royal family. It's a prediction… made by an ancient holder of the Attack Titan…

When the squires of the king awaken their hidden power, the world will end and a new one will be born.

This was the true reason for the extermination of our clan. Our triumph is already written. The hidden power refers to our titan power, the Awakening. The missing half of the Founder, the ability to end the power of the titans.

Kaspar felt uncomfortable and amazed… his weak and frail body had such latent power… seemed almost like a joke.

Lord Nestor: Some of our ancestor had achieved the Awakening, gaining incredible strength, skill and endurance… but for many years none of the clan have achieved this power… I believe the time is nearing for the resurgence of our clan… although I don't believe it will surge in you… but I have noticed your intelligence… you'll be an appropriate support for your brother if he is the one to awaken. You are now allowed to read the books here. I expect of you to be of use. That's all.

Kaspar was left alone in the room. He stood still for a long time processing what he just learned. He was left with more questions than answers. What is the purpose of such power? Where did it come from? How can the Ackermans use it? Is violence the only outcome? Are the titans only purpose death and power?

The pain in his hands started again… and thought came to mind: is all this pain… necessary?

He then promised himself something:

I won't follow this path of death. I'll overcome my fate.


831

As Rohrs, the brothers were introduced to Marley's high society, much to the reluctance of his father, but he put tradition above all, so he felt obligated to include Kaspar.

Kaspar was particularly interested in the presentation of the Warrior Unit. He learned a lot about the titans from the books Francis gave him and was fascinated with them and their inexplicable power.

As he had read some of the secret Ackerman books, he knew a lot more than anyone else, particularly about the origin.

Terrifying, aren't they?

A distinguished gentleman was standing next to Kaspar.

Kaspar: Uh… well… I guess?

Willy Tybur: Heh… you are fearless aren't you? A true member of your clan.

Kaspar eyes open in surprise.

Tybur: Don't be startled, my family introduced yours here in Marley. You are Kaspar right? The smart one. Truth be told, that's a rare trait in your family.

Kaspar chuckled, which pleased Willy.

Tybur: Such a burden we carry don't we?

Kaspar knew he felt like him for some reason. He looked at him in silence.

Tybur: Being perceptive… being smart… not a good thing for families like ours isn't it? It's tough… but maybe it's what's needed.

Kaspar is puzzled yet he understands what he means.

Tybur: Forgive me, you must be confused as to why an adult is talking to you like this haha

Kaspar with a determined look: No. Not at all.

Tybur smiles: You are just like they told me.

After the titan presentation, Kaspar walked along the Tybur's massive estate, meanwhile his brother mingled with the other nobles.

Kaspar sat down to look at a Helos statue. He began to reflect on what to do with his life… what he could do as he looked at his hands. They were skeletical and her most of the time. He began to visualize the Ring of the Ackerman's on his finger, the family heirloom, and could only see it falling off.

Suddenly a girl approached him:

It's so scary isn't it?

He turned and saw a Hizuru girl looking at the Helos statue. She was dressed in traditional Hizuru clothing. She stood in front of him and politely greeted him:

You are Kaspar Rohr right? It is a pleasure to meet you. I'm Shinko Azumabito.

Kaspar: Oh you are Hizuru nobility… I haven't heard of you I'm sorry.

Shinko giggles: That's no surprise… I'm kinda an outcast in my family.

Kaspar was intrigued: Oh? How so?

Shinko: You are a weird one too, aren't you? That's not something a noble usually asks heh

Kaspar startled: Oh… you are right sorry… I don't like these type of things… I don't need to learn how to play the act… my brother will take care of the family…

Shinko: Hmm don't you think… that's more interesting? You can do things you actually want to do!

Kaspar: Huh… I guess you are right.

Kaspar felt strange. He felt immediately connected and at ease with the girl even thought he just met her. He even forgot the pain in his hands for a minute.

Kaspar and Shinko decided to keep in touch through correspondence. That night, he realized he had stopped thinking about his struggle with fate for a while. Maybe that was the way to conquer his fate.


837 and on.

Lord Nestor was on his deathbed, afflicted from a mysterious illness exclusive to the Ackerman family known as The Burning. It happened spontaneously at any age to any Ackerman that had not awakened, causing the body to rapidly consume it's energy to the point of death, leaving a shriveled thin body.

Lord Nestor final words to Kaspar were:

We can't escape our fate. Don't forget it.

As expected, after Lord Nestor's passing, Francis became the head of the Rohr family. He focused on expanding the economic power of the Rohr's through military contracts and technology. Kaspar was in charge of industrial development and contracts due to his intelligence.

The Marleyan government on many occasions tried to take advantage of Francis' youth and inexperience, but Kaspar's advice managed to prevent any wrongdoing and bad decisions.

Unknown to Francis, Kaspar started to implement his own agenda into business decisions: military research, development of new weapons and transports rapidily made the Marleyan Military considerably more advanced than the rest of the world, but his goal was to make the Titans obsolete.

Kaspar over the years kept a close eye on the Warriors Unit of the military, lobbying strongly for it's eventual disbandment due to the ineffectiveness of the titans in comparison to the new weaponry. On the side, he still was fascinated with the power of the titans, it's history and mysteries, so he secretly funded study groups and protected the people involved in non military titan research, as it was negatively seen in Marleyan society, one of those people was Tom Ksaver, the holder of the Beast Titan.

Kaspar lobbied for Ksaver to maintain the Beast Titan for the entire 13 years, as the military leaders considered finding a new user, due to Ksaver's Beast Titan being useless for combat.

Ksaver: Lord Rohr, I'm very grateful for your support… but I need you to help me with something.

Kaspar: What is it?

Ksaver: My time as a warrior is ending… and I need you to help me… I need you to convince the military to select my candidate to receive the Beast Titan.

Kaspar: Oh? How come you need my help? That should be easy enough…

Ksaver: It's because who it is… it's a boy… whose parents where the leaders of the Eldian Restorationists… the son of Dina Fritz…

Kaspar was shocked and wildly intrigued: You wish to give the power of the titans… to a Fritz? Explain.

Ksaver: He shares my passion for studying, research and science, not war, not death… isn't that your main interest my lord? If not then why am I still alive? The boy himself delivered his parents to justice… he has proven his loyalty.

Kaspar brainstormed for a moment. He didn't care about loyalty, only his goal of rendering the titans and it's powers useless… if another warrior is unfit for battle and would continue the research… it would be good for him… and the armament business.

Kaspar agreed and managed to get Zeke Yeager selected as the successor of Ksaver.


842

Kaspar married his longtime partner Shinko Azumabito and decided to live in Hizuru with her, expanding the Rohr Industries in the region, focusing in technology and transportation.

As time went on… he stopped caring about his youthful obsessions of rebelling against his family's fate. He decided to live a quiet life with his wife, yet his interest in the mysteries of the world never ceased.


849

Francis was drunk, celebrating a business deal with Kaspar. Neither of them cared much about the world and it's troubles at that point.

Francis: Hey… have you heard about what's going on with the Devil's Island?

Kaspar: Some things, I don't really care.

Francis: Boy that wife of yours has truly changed you… weren't you all concerned about the history of the world, the titans and shit?

Kaspar: I did… but…

He looked at his hands. His health had gotten much worse as he got older, he was permanently in pain, his movements were stunted… and it seemed he couldn't father children…

Kaspar: I decided to just live in peace…

Francis: That's nice… that would be a good change of pace for the Ackermans… hey speak of that… I got some interesting information for the Tyburs… it seems there are still some Ackermans in Paradis…

Kaspar: Oh? I thought they were all dead…

Francis: Well it seems they got good at hiding heh… but that's not at all… hear this… the only confirmed Ackerman is a girl… with Asian traits… intelligence believes… she is of Azumabito inheritance! How about that!

Kaspar was surprised and intrigued: Really? Huh…

Francis: What a coincidence right? This girl… they say has extraordinary agility, strength and skills… she can singlehandedly kill many titans with some apparatus that the devils use… something that makes them fly or whatever…

Kaspar's heart skipped a beat. What his brother said brought back questions of old that disturbed him. He needed to know more. He told his wife and Hizuru's ambassador, Lady Kyomi, about the gossip of the Ackerman girl in Paradis…


850

Francis and Kaspar, as usual, were invited to the annual festival in celebration of the liberation of the world from the Eldians. As he watched Willy Tybur revealing the truth to the world, he knew something was wrong. He sensed he was part of play, in a part he was unwilling to play. He told Francis to leave, but he refused.

As Kaspar left, war began behind him, knocking him unconscious. When he woke up, he witness the spoils of war. He desperately searched for his brother in the ruins of the plaza, finding him grunting, drenched in blood, with a bolder crushing his lower body.

At that moment, he felt a jolt of electricity course through his body. He ran towards his brother and shockingly managed to move the boulder away from his brother. His body was mangled in a pool of blood.

Francis gasping: What… a surprise… it was you… all along… heh…

Francis removed the heraldic ring of the Ackermans and gave it to Kaspar.

Francis: Maybe… you… are the one…

Kaspar was filled with rage… his fathers words when he revealed his origins returned… he was right about the Tyburs… weak and stupid…

Knowing the world had changed in an instant, Kaspar decided to transfer his wealth from the companies into his account and invest in survival implements. He stored in an underground room large quantities of gold, precious metals, blueprints, weapons, survival implements, spare parts for transports, food, water.

Shinko: What are you doing? You are acting insane.

Kaspar: We'll see about that in a few weeks. Fucking idiots have doomed the world to hell. We need to think in the future.

Shinko: But we should be safe! Lady Kyomi told me so!

Kaspar: No… this is something that goes beyond politics and money… it's a battle of more than a thousand years…

Shinko: Dear…

Kaspar held her: All I want is for you to be safe… nothing else matters.

Shinko: You… somehow feel different… stronger… oh no… no… NO.

Kaspar had told her everything about his family and the legends: Don't worry, I don't care about any of that as long as you are with me… besides… there already is another awakened Ackerman…

Shinko holds him: Poor girl… to be a slave to such destiny…


The Rumbling

Kaspar and Shinko managed to survive with the group that reached Fort Salta. Kaspar witnessed in horror the entirety of the battle, cursing himself for giving up his quest to somehow end the titan menace, maybe he could have done something to prevent what happened… he had awakened… and did nothing with that power.

He looked at Shinko and felt a bit relieved… at least he managed to protect her. At that moment an explosion occurred, and he saw the Founding Titan's head fall off the massive skeletal body.

The Rumbling had stopped. Shinko approached some of the survivors to aid them, meanwhile Kaspar saw something that left him paralyzed: a golden, shining, slithering creature emerged from the Founding Titan's head.

There it is… the source… it's real… the power… is free

At that moment a strange cloud engulfed the place… and titans started to appear from all directions. Kaspar was thrown off a few meters due to the effect of the simultaneous transformations… when he got up… he saw something that changed him forever…

Shinko was screaming in terror… as a titan had grabbed her… with it hands it ripped Shinko's head off and started to eat her body… all in front of Kaspar… who couldn't move…

He slowly approached the titan that had eaten her wife… but it started to run in direction to the Armored Titan.

He reached the place where it happened... it was drenched in blood… he noticed something… Shinko's hand had fallen of her body before being eaten… it was stepped on by the titan so it was crushed… but her wedding ring was mostly intact.

Kaspar sat down and stared at the crushed hand for what seemed to him an eternity… he did not notice that the battle had ended and the titans had disappeared.

He slowly picked up the ring… and felt a jolt of electricity in his body. With his hand, he crushed the ring without noticing.

Kaspar then started to laugh while profusely crying… he looked at the heraldic ring in his hand:

I guess you were right