The next three years passed by almost in a blur.
During these three years, Bertolt shot up like a weed, and Reiner wasn't far behind in terms of height.
Annie, however, remained on a small side.
And Kana...Kana towered over all three of them...in their human forms, anyway.
"What is your goal?" Bertolt asked, sitting on the ground next to her
Kana had learned a way to communicate with her 'children'.
She traced the words 'Getting rid of the Curse of Ymir' in the sand with her finger.
"I hope you succeed." Reiner had joined them, and peered down at the words "You're nicer to me than either of my parents were."
Kana wrote 'Are they worth throwing your lives away for the benefit of others?'
"I used to think they are." Reiner whispered "But after hearing what my father had to say about me, I am not so sure anymore..."
"Reiner, what are you saying?" Bertolt frowned "You're talking treason."
Kana frowned, and wrote her next words in the sand.
'Children such as yourselves shouldn't be saying such words. Your lives should be filled with childish joy, not being sent to accomplish a mammoth-sized task and possibly getting yourselves killed.'
"But we...we need to atone for the sins..."
'Of your ancestors, I know. But what you're doing here is repeating the mantra Marley told you. Think about it, are you yourselves really responsible for the sins your ancestors committed before you were even born? And that is assuming Marley is telling the truth, which I am not willing to buy.'
"She is trying to deceive us." Bertolt announced "We mustn't lose sight of the objective. It was your choice to continue and see it through. Why are you having second thoughts now?"
"Because she does have a point." Reiner reasoned "She practically raised us, Bertolt. I can't kill her for the sake of a mission that will only benefit someone else in the long run."
"I have to agree with Reiner." Annie said calmly "For all we know, as soon as they get hands on the Coordinate, they'll use it to wipe all of us Eldians out?"
"Annie..."
"There are hard truths out there, Bertolt." she said mercilessly "But they are truths we must hear nonetheless, for better or for worse."
