"Harry Potter continues to prove himself an enigma within our ranks, Commander," said Zeke Jaeger, who let out a long sigh as he took a seat across from his unit's commander, Theo Magath. This wasn't the first time in the last three months the two had met to secretly discuss the magic-wielding Warrior. But now, given that their departure to war was only a day away, the two thought it important to decide once and for all what to do with the boy. "His loyalty is questionable given his past, yet he has been nothing but helpful these last few months. Every order and every question has been followed and answered. His daily routine seems fluid yet decently consistent, and his friendships seem to have improved slightly. And yet I continue to hear murmurs of a rebellion forming within the government, with Potter at the center,"
"I've heard them too," muttered Magath. "Though I'm unsure of the validity of those claims. We've been tailing Potter for months and haven't noticed anything suspicious. Except for the fact that he mysteriously got himself a prosthetic leg, we can't find anything useful about him to warrant being concerned. I have legitimate reasons to believe his loyalty is to Marley,"
Zeke frowned. That wasn't possible. Zeke himself had his own agenda leaning away from Marley's world domination. And he sensed the same thing within Harry Potter. The same belief that the world would be better off with drastic change. For Zeke, that change meant the end of all Eldians in the world through euthanization. A plan he had developed with his predecessor, Tom Xaver. A plan derived from information the two had obtained about Zeke's true nature. The fact he was descended from the Fritz family line, giving him royal blood.
This, mixed with the powers of the Founding Titan, would make Zeke immeasurably powerful. But it would also bind him to the will of the very same King Fritz that had ended the Great Titan War. The will of a man desperate for peace. So desperate for it that he would be willing to sacrifice his entire people just to absolve Eldians of their sins. The will of King Fritz forced all those of royal blood in possession of the Founding Titan to not use the power in favor of peace. This was why Zeke could not inherit the Founding Titan. If he did, the Euthanasia plan would be ruined. Instead, he needed to find someone, not of royal blood, who could inherit the Founding Titan who also believed in the Euthanasia plan. This way, when the two made contact, Zeke's royal blood would activate the Founding Titan's powers, allowing the plan to succeed.
And for a while, Zeke believed this person was Harry Potter. An already powerful magical person who was capable of great things but who also seemed opposed to Marley's ideals. And yet Harry had never shown any signs of doubt for Marley or its military since the Battle for the Fortress. This confused Zeke, who wanted desperately to discover Harry Potter's true motives. His true goals for the future. Sure, the boy told stories of the stars, massive railway systems bridging nations, and world peace, but that stuff was decades from fruition. Zeke wanted to know what his main goal was. The endgame. Perhaps world domination? The end of Marley? Of Eldia? Perhaps Potter really was committed to Marley and had only voiced doubt about the military to keep his young sister from entering the Warrior program. That was a possibility. Zeke wished it wasn't. He had hoped Potter was the one to take the mantle of helping Zeke fulfill the Euthanasia plan.
August 9th, 845
Harry Potter took one look at the item located on his bedroom floor and let out a renowned sigh. It was a birthday present for his friend Pieck, whose birthday had been four days prior. He had been looking for a gift for over a month but continued to draw blanks. Now, he stared at the box in front of him and questioned why he had even bothered. But it was the only thing he could think of that might make up for his tardiness on the present-giving. After all, what could he give Pieck that would equal the prosthetic leg that she and Annie had made him? The emotional value of the leg he now used to stand on was too much to be quantified by a stupid gift inside a stupid box. Yet he couldn't think of how he could repay them otherwise.
So, he grabbed the box and stepped out of his bedroom. Unlike the days prior, the home was lively now given the preparations for Harry's departure. He would be going to the eastern Mid-Eastern Alliance border the next morning alongside Pieck. Porco would be shipped off to the western border along with his own forces. And Zeke would be sent to the southern border to assault the Alliance's naval ports. Meanwhile, Annie, Marcel, Reiner, and Bertholdt would be going off to Paradis Island to begin the operation to capture the Founding Titan.
Harry's parents, James and Lily Potter, were holding a large event in the Potter home, with most of the Warriors as well as several influential people in town invited. He had been essentially ordered by his mother to wear something 'General-y' which he took as something very formal. So, he stood in his dress uniform, his jet-black hair slicked back. He had only become slightly embarrassed when his mother grabbed him by the cheek, pinching it tightly as she told him how cute he looked. As a twelve-year-old boy, being called cute was not on Harry's to-do list.
Ignoring his mother's teasing in his ears, Harry stepped into the kitchen, where several people were already conversing alongside their glasses of champagne. He spotted Ms. Wu in the corner, sitting quietly to herself. Without his glasses, he could see her shade clearly. Still violet, though much brighter in comparison to her near indigo shade from days prior. And she seemed happier too. No longer did she sit in a hunch position as she waited quietly for direction from Harry's mother. Now, she was sitting straighter, tapping her foot happily along with the music faintly playing from the living room. The changes done to her by Harry's manipulations had been slow, but they had taken effect.
His examination of Ms. Wu was interrupted by a sound at the door, which alerted him to new arrivals. Mr. Benjamin Golth, the now recovered Potter family errand boy, answered the door. And in stepped Karina Braun, accompanied by her sister, Eloise, her brother-in-law, their daughter Gabi Braun, and her son, Reiner Braun. The five were all dressed nicely. Karina was wearing a modest blouse and long skirt with her red armband tucked neatly around her arm. And Reiner was also wearing his dress uniform, though with considerably fewer medals and lower rank insignia on the shoulders. Karina stepped passed Mr. Golth's outstretched hand and moved closer to Harry, her smile expanding. "General Potter! Reiner's told me so much about you!" She grabbed hold of his hand and shoulder, shaking it in quick movement while gazing at the medals on his chest. "Wow, did you get all of those in the war?"
"I did," Harry replied, slightly uncomfortable by all of the physical contact.
"Hmm. Reiner has a few less than you, but I'm sure he'll more than make up for it when he succeeds on his mission to Paradis. Isn't that right, honey?" Ms. Braun asked Reiner, whose face took on an expression of anger before flushing with embarrassment. Karina pushed on, seemingly ignoring the annoyance emanating from Harry and the shame from Reiner. "What are your thoughts on the operation, General? Why aren't you going along? Is it because of your leg? Can you not regrow it with your magic? Reiner tells me you repaired an entire country with your magic after you destroyed it,"
Harry turned to Reiner, who ducked his head in further embarrassment at that. Harry sighed. "Unfortunately, I can't repair anything to do with myself or anything biological. I can repair plants, trees, buildings, and stuff like that. But living things. Animals. People. Those things I can't repair the same way. This includes my leg, which I inadvertently destroyed during the war, resulting in amputation. The prosthetic is the closest I can get to have it back. As for why I'm not joining your son on the operation, it initially had to do with my lack of a leg. However, when I got the prosthetic, it instead had to do with my schedule. I'm needed in the Mid-Eastern Alliance to negotiate peace treaties there, and then I'll be needed back here to continue my research. I've become rather busy,"
"I can tell. What else have you developed recently?"
"Well, we're in the process of mass-producing our room-temperature superconductors as well as our superconducting batteries, both of which will be instrumental when we start production of our maglev vehicles. We're in the process of laying the groundwork for a nationwide rail system, which will be the home of our maglev trains. Then we'll release maglev buses, maglev cars, and advanced airships," Harry explained. "As for medicine, we've come a long way in finding different cures thanks to genomic medicine as well as the neslov antibodies discovered a while ago,"
"I'm impressed," said Karina. "How soon will all of that be done?"
"Well, the train system is pretty basic given that it'll only be made with magnetic plates as well as spare rails for increased safety. That way, if the magnetic fields falter, the train can continue to its destination on rails. I hope the system will be done within the next three years. As for the cures, there's no telling when those will be complete,"
The door flew open once again thanks to Mr. Golth, who addressed the newest guests. The Galliards. Porco and Marcel, both dressed in their dress uniforms, and their parents, Herman and Minnie Galliard. As he gazed upon their souls, he couldn't help but be surprised by the stark contrast between Herman and Minnie. Herman's soul took on a bright crimson hue, indicating his terribleness, while Minnie's took on a bright cyan color, indicating her virtue. Marcel's soul was still navy blue with a yellow aura. Porco's shade was still Jacaranda, showing his near-terrible soul. The Galliards exchanged a brief introduction with Harry before moving into the living area of the house.
The next to arrive was the Fingers. Pieck led the charge into the Potter house, stopping beside Harry after giving him a quick hug. She was wearing her dress uniform, with her black hair tied back into an elegant french plait. Her grey eyes examined his for a moment as Harry turned to the rest of her family. He noticed her parents, Joel and Eloise Finger, who had indigo and navy blue soul shades respectively. And between the two souls was a third soul. A small child no older than four was gazing up at Harry in what seemed to be amazement. His white soul was covered in masses of blue light, which swirled around like liquids in a cauldron. Harry determined that the boy would have his own shade within the next year or two.
"Mr. and Mrs. Finger. It's a pleasure to meet you both at last," said Harry, who extended a hand. Joel took it, shaking his hand with enthusiasm as the man examined Harry's uniform. Harry in turn noticed the physical appearance of both parents. Joel Finger was in his early to mid-thirties, though his shaggy beard and long black hair gave him a much older appearance. His golden eyes were hidden behind round-rimmed glasses, which shined brightly against the room's lights. Harry turned to Eloise, who was a beautiful woman in her early thirties. She had dirty blonde hair, a pale complexion, as well as grey eyes similar to Pieck's. She smiled when Harry took her hand, gently pressing his lips against her knuckles. "Mrs. Finger. You look radiant," It was true. Not only was she beautiful, but her navy blue soul was radiating the room in color, something Harry rarely saw.
"A charmer, I see. He's a keeper, Pieck," Eloise replied, nudging Pieck in the shoulder with a smile.
Harry let out a brief chuckle, taking interest in Pieck's red cheeks for only a moment before turning to the young boy standing between Joel and Eloise. Bending down, Harry addressed the child. "You must be Emil. Your sister's told me a lot about you," Emil smiled, his golden eyes shining brightly as he continued to hide behind his mother's dress. Harry got back to his feet, turning back to the still-embarrassed Pieck. He reassuringly placed his hand on her back, tracing his thumb along the seam of her dress uniform's blazer as he smiled at her parents. "It's lovely to meet you three. Pieck's told me all about you,"
"We've heard a lot about you, son," said Joel, whose eyes narrowed ever-so-slightly at Harry's concealed arm. "Though I had no idea the two of you were da-"
"We're not!" Pieck exclaimed, her entire face turning into the shade of a tomato. After the sudden outburst, she deflated, sighing as she regained herself. "We're not. We're just friends,"
Harry let a single eyebrow raise as his smile expanded. He didn't mind that sentiment, though he hoped that reaction would change in the future. The two had been growing closer over the past few days, something he hoped to continue after giving Pieck her birthday gift. "Of course. We're just friends," Harry added, feeling the tension in Pieck's back and shoulders deflate slightly.
"That's a shame. You seem like good son-in-law material," said Eloise, whose mischievous grin made Harry laugh.
"Mother," Pieck muttered, now clearly annoyed by the conversation's turn.
"Oh, come now, Pieck. We're only playing," said Joel, who patted Harry on the shoulder. "Well, we should leave you be. I'm assuming you're waiting for the rest of your friends. We'll be in the living area with the others if you want to stop by again," Harry felt a bit disappointed when Pieck slid from under his hand, moving away toward the living room along with her family. He let his hand fall to the side, his fingers dancing over his pocket, where the gift he had for Pieck was waiting. He just needed a good time to give it to her.
"Harry," Turning back to the door, Harry spotted Bertholdt Hoover, who was also dressed in dress uniforms. But he seemed agitated. On edge. His paua shade bound towards Harry, who tensed slightly as the boy grabbed Harry by the shoulders. "What did you do to my father?" Harry's eyes widened. Bertholdt continued. "After you two talked, he...he...he...he changed. He hugged me. He told me he loved me. He...he told me about my mother. He told me he thought you were involved in his 'redemption'," Frowning, Harry turned to find Edgar Hoover himself stepping into the home. His new navy blue soul was radiating with energy as he smiled at Mr. Golth, who guided him into the living room. Harry's eyes lingered on the man for only a moment before Bertholdt shook him. "What did you do?"
"Nothing. I don't know what's wrong. Perhaps a change of heart?" Harry asked, unsure how to cover for his direct influence on the man. It had only taken three days. Three days to influence someone's personality and actions. Perhaps two. "When did all of this happen?"
"Last night,"
So it occurred in just over two days. In smaller creatures, the change occurred in just under three seconds, while in larger creatures, like humans and horses, the change took anywhere from eighteen to fifty-six hours. Harry would have to make sure to document that whenever his journals once again became private. He hoped the coup would occur soon, though given their current situation, he doubted it would be within the next six months. It was something Harry was looking forward to. After all, it was the first step to expanding the Pax Alliance past the four Founders as well as the Tybur family. If they could successfully pull off the coup d'etat, then Pax could thrive.
"I didn't expect you to be waiting for guests," Harry's eyes spun to the doorway leading into the kitchen, finding none other than Zeke Jaeger leaning against the frame. He was holding a small glass of water, his eyes narrowed on Harry as he stepped forward. "Your mother was just telling me about the day you left for the Warrior program. She told me you ran several miles around town in preparation. From your rankings in the program, I can tell it seemed to help," Zeke explained, extending a hand.
"It did," Harry replied, reaching out to grip the man's hand. Gripping Zeke's outstretched hand, Harry was shocked when small bolts of lightning sparked around their hands. His eyes flashing a deep black, Harry's vision blurred and he found himself somewhere else. Somewhere far from Liberio. From Marley. A desert landscape stretching for as wide as his mind could comprehend. His eyes fell on the only noticeable thing in the land. A massive tower of light similar to the light he saw in people's shapes. Only this light was a tower of cyan light that branched off into a million different shades of blue, red, purple, pink, orange, and yellow. And at the base of the tower was one person. A young girl. He was within the Paths.
Created with the birth of the Power of the Titans, the Paths were formed to represent the connection between all Subjects of Ymir. Starting with her three daughters, Sina, Rose, and Maria. As the Fritz line continued, the paths multiplied, eventually moving past the Fritz line to include all Eldians in the known world. Though the Paths was an alternate dimension located outside of reality, what happened within the Paths had a direct effect on the real world. However, time didn't exist in Paths. Millenia could pass within Paths, and a single second would not come to pass in reality.
The ruler of this realm was none other than Ymir herself. The first Titan. The first Founding Titan. After her death, she appeared in Paths. She continued to watch over it for two millennia until the present day, though Harry was sure that for Ymir, it had felt more like several eons. Harry was not sure how he knew this information, and yet it came to him as naturally as the knowledge of the Great Titan War and the true downfall of Eldia at the hands of the Tyburs. It was just something he knew. He wasn't sure how. But that didn't matter. Nothing seemed to matter as he walked barefoot through the desert, his feet carrying him to the 'Coordinate' in the sky in front of him.
He thought about the Titans. Their powers. Their pasts, presents, and futures. Their future inheritors, who would one day eat his friends to gain the powers of the Titans. Harry thought of Eldia. The Eldians within. The Subjects of Ymir were forever bound to persecution as long as they lived. For as long as Titans existed, the Eldians would exist in a perpetual state of unrest. Perhaps the Euthanization plan was the best plan for Eldia. Perhaps the end of the Eldian race would protect the rest of humanity.
Harry frowned as he walked. Wait. Euthanization? What was that? Where had he heard of that? The name came from his tongue naturally. And the plan seemed to make sense in his head, and yet he didn't know where he had learned it. The idea to remove the Eldians' ability to reproduce seemed foreign to him, yet it seemed like it had come from his own mind. Harry stopped, reaching up to feel his head. He felt dizzy. Disoriented. Names. Places. Histories. They were beginning to meld together within his mind. Things he had never seen or heard of were becoming familiar to him. Familiar things were becoming distant. Untouchable. He wasn't sure what to do with it all.
When he reached the base of the Coordinate, things were not helped. The young girl was watching him through her bangs, though a mysterious shadow concealed her face. It was Ymir. She had revealed herself to him. Why? "Why am I here?" asked Harry. She didn't reply. Instead, more images and memories, some that were not his own, began to play in his mind. His entrance into the Warrior program. Harry revealing his true thoughts on the Marley military before the Battle for the Fortress. His sister's first birthday, which he hadn't been present to witness. Emil Finger's birth. Pieck's discovery of Harry and Annie's plans. Reiner's reunion with his unloving father. Ida Hoover's tragic death. Porco's rejection from the Warriors. The signing of the Pax Declaration. Then he saw something else. The same vision he had seen in his dream days prior.
Only this time it was more evident. Linear. He watched through unknown eyes as he passed through a small clearing into the hollow shell of a tree. He fell into the shell, dropping into a large pool of water at the bottom. He was submerged, his eyes landing on the creature he had seen before. A worm-like creature with the head of a man. The man's green eyes looked at him with a cold, near-dead expression as the worm flung itself toward Harry. The worm clung to Harry's spine, its tail reaching around to touch Harry's forehead.
Harry reemerged within Paths, unsure what to make of these visions and memories. What did they mean? Almost as if she had heard him, Ymir reached back, pointing toward the Coordinate. Harry frowned. Reaching out as well, he let his hand pass through the beam of energy, feeling it pull on him. Watching in amazement, the cyan color was overtaken by the same purple hue that made up Harry's soul color. The tower shifted into a steel-blue color, symbolizing the mixture of Harry and Ymir's energy.
"What...is this?" Harry asked.
The images of hundreds of people spread throughout the world all appeared before Harry. Though he began to notice something strange about them. Their souls remained the same as they had been, only now they all had an aura. Similar to that of the Titan shifter, only different. This new aura was not made of lightning like Pieck or Annie's. These auras were similar to Harry's own aura. Consisting of waves of energy that radiated around the person. Each person now had this aura. It was both concerning and beautiful at the same time.
"I still don't understand," said Harry.
The image of a massive castle appeared in his mind. A castle so large it took up his entire view. It consisted of four different wings. The north, south, west, and east wings. The south wing closest to him had a massive stained-glass window revealing the interior. It was a dining hall. It had four stories full of tables and booths, lit by chandeliers and light fixtures. There were four banners lined against the walls. A crimson and gold banner with a lion emblem. An emerald and silver banner with a snake emblem. A yellow and black with a badger. And a blue and bronze banner with an eagle. There were names beneath each banner, along with a large display with numbers below each name. Gryffindor had 321. Slytherin had 317. Hufflepuff had 291. And Ravenclaw had 362.
Harry's eyes fell on the front of the castle, where a group of children was all standing in front of the red, green, yellow, and blue stain-glassed window. The children were all different ages. Some looked to be eight or nine, while some were as old as seventeen or eighteen. The different age groups wore different colored robes, perhaps indicating their ages or skills. The younger children were wearing pink. Some were wearing purple. Blue. Green. Yellow. Red. And some of the older students wore golden robes. It was...odd.
He approached the group, surprised to find them responding to his appearance. One of the girls, who was wearing a cyan robe, jumped forward, grabbing hold of his forearm with excitement. Her bright red hair bounced as her blue eyes watched him. "Harry! Did you hear the news? Sebastion is coming back from the red planet! He's going to be here tomorrow for the ceremony!"
"Red planet?" Harry asked, confused.
"Mars, silly," The girl replied, smacking him lightly. "Did you forget that Sebastion lives there?"
His eyes widened, and Harry took a moment to acknowledge what he had heard. Living on Mars. He peered up into the sky and was shocked to find things other than the sky. He spotted a massive man-made ring orbiting Earth. And off on the horizon was a large elevator reaching up to the ring. He felt his breath hitch as he turned back to the kids. "W-What year is it?"
"Year?" The girl asked. "Wait...you didn't time-travel again, did you? The Headmaster told us not to do that again, Harry,"
"What? No. I just - What's the year?"
The girl took a step back. "1995...are you ok?"
"No..." 1995. One millennium to reach Mars. No. Not to reach Mars. It was already reached. Already colonized. He felt himself being pulled back to Paths. In his desperation, he grabbed the girl's shoulders. "When did we reach Luna? Mars? Any other planets?"
The girl's eyes widened at the question. Suddenly uncomfortable tet still responsive, she replied earnestly. "We reached the moon over a thousand years ago. We reached Mars around the same time. The Coalition of Planets, consisting of Mercury, Venus, Ceres, Jupiter, and the other outer planets, was founded four hundred years ago. Why?"
That meant sometime in the next hundred years, humanity would venture out to space and colonize not only the moon but Mars as well. He was unsure if that meant the planets within the 'Coalition' was founded in the 1500s, or if the individual planets were all colonized prior, and had only been made into the Coalition afterward. "What did I have to do with all this? How did I influence the world?"
"Um...you mean Harry Potter? I admit it's a bit weird you two have the same name, but unless you are secretly immortal, I doubt you did anything but attend Hogwarts. Your doppelganger on the other hand. He's a legend. He ended the reign of Marley. Established Pax. Helped establish the Coalition. All before his death. Pretty amazing stuff. Not only that, but he developed a lot of the technology we still use today. His wives helped a lot too,"
Harry contemplated it all. The coup d'etat. Pax. The 'Coalition'. His own death. His legacy. He was pulled back into the Paths, where Ymir was waiting for him. He still didn't understand any of it. He wasn't sure what it all meant. He introduced his energy into the Paths. The future he had seen. The memories she had shown him. He didn't know why she would go through so much effort to show him those things. "I still don't understand. Can you speak? If you could answer me, we can talk about what I'm doing here. What this means,"
Ymir didn't react. She merely motioned to herself. Then to Harry. Then she proceeded to point past Harry's shoulder. He turned and spotted a young boy in the distance. His face was obscured by the same shadow as Ymir's, though it was unmistakable. It belonged to the man's head on the worm-like creature. The boy was younger than the man whose head was on the worm, but they were the same person. Harry's vision once again flashed with images of the worm-like creature, only this one had no human head. He watched it attach itself to Ymir's spine, followed by her turn into the first Founding Titan. Then the same vision of his own interaction with the worm replayed.
"Potter?" Harry's eyes flashed in recognition as he felt Zeke's hand squeeze his own. The man was sweating slightly, though he showed no sign of having known of what transpired. Harry pulled his hand away, unsure of what to make of it all. It was clear that Ymir wanted to illustrate a similarity between herself, Harry, and the boy, though he wasn't sure which. He had tried to injure himself with a clear goal in mind, and he had yet to turn into a Titan. Though he had only ever tried it in his bedroom. Perhaps if he found a spot in the forest, or tried it outside of Marley, he could determine if somehow he was the Founding Titan. That seemed to be what Ymir was hinting at.
His eyes widened as he examined Zeke, whose aura had changed. Now, he - like those in Harry's visions from within Paths - had another aura. A 'Screamin' Green' color. The same aura Harry had. A mixture of emerald...and yellow. Suddenly feeling nauseous, Harry took a step back. "I...I need to leave. I need to think. I need to be alone," He took off past Zeke, moving out the door. He passed a group on the way out, which happened to be the Leonharts. Annie turned as he moved down the steps of the home. Harry stepped onto the street, moving down the sidewalk, as he tried to regain his bearings.
"Harry!" He spun around, spotting Annie as she sprinted to catch up to him. She was wearing her dress uniform, with her blonde hair tied back into a waterfall plait. "What's wrong?"
"We can't talk here," Harry said, grabbing Annie's hand. With a crack of black light, the two disappeared and reappeared within the forest. Harry collapsed against their favorite tree, resting his head against the bark as he tried to regain his thoughts. Annie knelt in front of him, grabbing his head as he tried to think. Ymir. Paths. The boy. The Founding Titan. He was moving the pieces within his head, trying to piece it together. "I saw it. Paths. I saw Ymir. I saw you. I saw my future. The future of Pax. I saw it,"
Annie's eyes widened. "I...what? What are you saying? What's Paths? You saw Ymir? The Founder Ymir? Why? Where?"
"Paths. It's the realm that Ymir uses to create the Titans. It's where the Coordinate lies. The Paths connect us all. Subjects of Ymir are all connected to the Coordinate through Paths. I saw it. I was there. I met Ymir. She showed me things. My past. My sister's first birthday. Emil Finger's birth. She showed me the dream I'd had. The one about the Source of All Living Matter. She showed me her own interaction with the Source, and how it had turned her into the Founding Titan. And she showed me the future. Or a future. A thousand years from now. The entire solar system was colonized. We'd expanded past Earth into the other planets. Things were peaceful. The coup succeeded. Marley and Eldia were disbanded and Pax merged all nations into one,"
Annie collapsed onto the ground next to him, her mind racing as she tried to process that information. Harry continued. "But that's not all. There was another person there. A boy. A boy whose face reminded me of the man's head on my Source. The boy was like Ymir. Shrouded in darkness. Silent. Still," He explained. "I touched the Coordinate. I pushed my energy into it and now I think it did something. Something that affected all Subjects of Ymir in the entire world," His eyes lingered on her teal shade, which had the same light green aura as Harry and Zeke's. She had been affected by his magic as well. Had all Subjects of Ymir been made magical because of him?
"What happened?"
"When I touched the Coordinate, I pushed my magical energy into it. It changed colors. It was cyan. But after I touched it my purple shade seeped inside and turned it into a steel blue color. I was confused. But when I woke up in the real world, I noticed what had changed. Magic,"
"Magic? What about it?"
"You all have it now," Harry replied.
Annie's head spun to face him. "I...what?"
"My aura always confused me. I saw a light green shade that flowed like water and moved like lightning. I didn't know what it meant. The lightning-yellow aura is for titan shifters. I learned today that the emerald-ocean aura is magic. I was the only one I'd ever met to have it. Until now. Both you and Zeke have both. Titan shifter and magic. Yellow and emerald. I have the same aura,"
She shook her head, still confused. "You...I'm now magical and you're now a Titan?"
"I think I've always been a Titan. At least since the dream. I just can't seem to transform. Whether I can turn into the Titan or I just have traces of Ymir's power is unknown. As for you, yes. You're now magical. Whether or not you can use it, I'm unsure. I had access to it since I was an infant. With you and Zeke, you're both older and haven't experienced. Either it won't come to you or you'll have a harder time using it than I do," Harry explained. "But it doesn't make any sense. Why me? When did I meet the Source? Why can't I turn into a Titan if I have Ymir's power? How can I use Ymir's power? And what does my magic have to do with it all?"
"I'm not entirely sure. Though I think it's something to look into," said Annie. "Do you think...do you think you can teach me how to do magic?"
Harry smiled. "Of course, I'll show you. Once the coup is over, I'll join you all at Paradis Island. Once we get the Coordinate, we can come back. I can teach you everything I know. Potions. Herbs. Astronomy. Spells. Jinxes. Curses. Everything," He said. "That's a promise," Annie smiled, leaning over to rest her head on his shoulder. Harry let his head rest on hers, taking in the scent of the hairspray she had used to keep her hair down. He felt a deep sense of anxiety at her going away. It would be the first time in their history together that they were separated for a long period. He wasn't sure if he liked it. She and Marcel would be all alone in Paradis, unable to confide in Reiner or Bertholdt.
His vision blurred once more as he began to see something. It was the Female Titan, stranded in the middle of a forest of massive trees. She was trapped, impaled by hundreds of massive cords linked to large barrels. She was scared. Helpless. A small man was standing on her head, wearing a forest green cloak, armed with a strange device attached to his lower back. He was carrying two rectangular blades. An odd contraption. With desperation, Annie's Female Titan let out a gut-wrenching scream, used to attract Pure Titans to her location.
The vision ended, and Harry was left to contemplate it. Eldians within the Walls had developed mobility gear to be used as a counterattack against the Titans. They would use these devices as well as massive cords to trap Annie, who would then be forced to destroy her own Female Titan body to escape. He sighed. She would have to kill dozens, if not hundreds, just to avoid detection. To avoid gathering suspicion from Reiner and Bertholdt. Annie would be a murderer for his sake. Both for Pax's anonymity and his procuring the Founding Titan. He didn't like it.
"I - " Harry took a deep breath. "I'm gonna miss you, Annie,"
Silence. Harry thought for a moment that he had made her uncomfortable, but his worries were shattered when she leaned her head closer into the crook of his neck on his shoulder. "I'll miss you too, Harry," The two sat in comfortable silence for a moment before the sounds of footsteps drew their attention to the edge of the clearing. It was Pieck. She appeared out of breath. Annie smiled against Harry's shoulder. "Hey, Pieck,"
"Hi," said Pieck, who bent down to clutch her knees as she collected herself. She turned to Harry. "Are you alright?! I saw you sprint out the door. Did Zeke say something? He seemed confused,"
"Zeke said nothing," Harry replied. He told her about the interaction with Zeke, as well as his journey to Paths. He told her of the dreams, memories, and visions he had experienced there. His interaction with the Coordinate, as well as his possible Founding Titan powers. She had a similar reaction to Annie, collapsing to her knees as she tried to process what he had experienced. "What does this mean?"
"It means...we have a coup to start,"
Harry, Annie, and Pieck returned to the Potter home within Liberio roughly an hour later, having discussed everything that had occurred. When they entered, they were met with the tail-end of Lily Potter's speech. The one she had prepared about Harry. "- and I know that my son will do great things in the future. With his whole life ahead of him, Harry can continue to restore the Potter name. His grandparents would be proud. So, please. Let us raise a glass to my son, Harry Potter, and his Warrior friends, as they prepare to embark on a journey that will decide the future of Marley. To them!"
"TO THEM!" Echoed through the living room as Harry slipped past Annie and Pieck, heading for the corner where Marcel and Porco were sitting. Marcel caught his eye, with Harry jerking his head toward Annie and Pieck. Marcel nodded, understanding as he got up to follow Annie and Pieck out of the home once more. They would debrief him on everything that had happened. Harry looked to Reiner, noticing their still dark blue thread. The thread between Harry and Bertholdt had gone from an indigo color to a darker shade of cyan. A massive change. The connection between Harry and Porco remained a deep shade of indigo. Harry approached Bertholdt and Reiner, who was quietly leaning against the wall in the corner.
"I'm glad you two came. I wasn't sure given everything," Harry said.
"It's all in the past," Reiner replied, referring to the reveal before the Battle for the Fortress. "You've once again proven your allegiance to Marley through your actions. The War Chief seems to think so too. He was telling us about how much you've improved after we returned to Liberio. He's excited to see how you perform in the war given your return to form," Reiner motioned to Harry's prosthetic, which was hidden due to his pants. "It's fair to say everyone is looking forward to your strategy, as well as seeing you back in battle. I only wish I could see it,"
"Once I mop up the floor with the Alliance, I can join you four on Paradis to speed up the operation. I don't expect the war to last longer than a few months at most. Not after seeing the things we've developed in the last few months,"
"That would be nice, having you there. Your magic would make things a lot simpler in tracking the Coordinate down," said Bertholdt.
"Agreed," Reiner nodded.
"Well, if all goes well, the Warriors can rendezvous at the border of Paradis and go from there. Though given your tactical brilliance, Bertholdt, and your leadership, Reiner, I doubt you'll need our help. Who knows, you may retrieve and return with the Coordinate before we finish the war. That way, I can use the Founder to end it all and unite the world under one flag. The Alliance and Paradis," Harry explained. He was being truthful. He truly hoped they could succeed in their mission without Warrior's assistance. Having Zeke or Porco on Paradis would only mean more destruction and death. And he truly did want to unite the world under one flag. Only not Marley's flag. The still-pending flag of Pax.
Reiner leaned closer, pressing his finger into Harry's chest. "We'll get the Coordinate for you Harry. You'll be able to use it the best out of all of us. Just...try to remember what we were taught. Why we do what we do. Why we fight for Marley,"
Harry raised an eyebrow. Why we fight for Marley. They fought to ensure Marley's expansion as well as the protection of its borders. They fought to protect the Marleyans as well as all Eldians within the border. They fought to protect their cities. The industries. The jobs. The people. Their families. They fought to ensure peace for their loved ones. They fought to ensure peace for future generations. Harry leaned closer to Reiner, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I won't forget. Never. As long as you don't forget what we said to each other that first battle,"
Reiner smiled. "Warriors. Friends. Until the end,"
"Until the end," said Harry, who turned to Bertholdt, who nodded with a smile. The connections between the three all deepened, with the blue of Harry and Reiner's becoming bright while the tether between Harry and Bertholdt crossed from purple to a shade of navy blue. Harry smiled. Perhaps he could rely on Reiner and Bertholdt after all. He turned to Porco, who was watching the three of them with narrowed eyes. "That counts for you too, Porco. I hope you succeed in pressing against the western border,"
"Hmm?" The boy asked, his eyes narrowing further as he examined Harry. "Yeah...you too," Porco said, seeming oddly suspicious. Harry frowned, taking a moment to peek into his mind. He was relieved to find that Porco didn't know about their exploits as Expansionists. Yet he was suspicious of Harry's loyalties. Something that had been occurring ever since they returned from the Battle for the Fortress. Retreating from Marcel's mind, Harry turned to the crowd of people standing in their living room, trying to spot anyone he recognized. He saw the families of the Warriors, the Potter servants, as well as a few people he saw from time to time, but other than that, he didn't recognize anyone.
"I had begun to think you died," Harry turned to the doorway leading into the foyer, spotting Zeke there once again. He was watching Harry carefully, trying to gauge something. He still had the new aura wrapped around his shape. "Is everything alright?"
"Of course. I got a bit overwhelmed by the crowd that was forming. I needed to step away. I apologize for doing so during our meeting, it wasn't part of the plan," Harry replied.
"Don't worry. I'm not offended. I merely wanted to ask if you were ready to leave,"
Harry froze. "Leave?"
"Meet me outside. That counts for you three as well," Zeke motioned to Reiner, Bertholdt, and Porco. "Finger, Leonhart, and the other Galliard are all waiting outside for us," Without further explanation, Zeke turned and left the house, passing Mr. Golth as he stepped out the door.
Turning to the others, Harry shook his head and shrugged, unsure of what was happening. They weren't all leaving now were they? Their departure was set for the next evening. There was to be a grand spectacle at the docks for the people of Liberio to watch the Warriors leave. Reiner, Bertholdt, and Porco followed close behind as the Warriors left the house. True to his word, Pieck, Annie, and Marcel all stood on the sidewalk, all standing next to several automobiles. Zeke motioned to the vehicles. "We'll be departing earlier than scheduled. There are reports of assassination attempts being planned. Attempts directed toward you, Potter, as well as some of the Warriors venturing to Paradis. To evade something unseen happening, we'll be leaving tonight,"
"B-But...what about our families?" asked Bertholdt.
"They will be escorted to the docks in separate vehicles to ensure safety. There, you can all say your goodbyes," Zeke answered. "Get in. We don't have much time," The Warriors did as their War Chief commanded, and began entering the two cars. Harry, Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie in one. Marcel, Pieck, Porco, and Zeke in the other. Without a hitch, the automobile began down the street, heading for the docks. Harry leaned back in his chair, his eyes falling out the window as he tried to picture the next ten years of his life. Ten years. It was devastating to think that that was all his friends had left. Eleven years and they would be dead. Only ten years of actual living, given that the last of the thirteen years for one of the Nine Titans marked their increased aging. He sighed. What could he do to fix it? Could the Founding Titan reverse the Curse of Ymir? If so...would Harry want to? What would stop murderers and psychopaths from stealing the Titan powers just to have them for the rest of their lives? Harry's eyes hardened. What could he do?