Eithne came to an abrupt halt and gazed in the direction of the steam that was rising into the sky. The other Fomhóire exchanged glances and whispered in hushed tones, speculating about what could have caused the plume of smoke. As they pondered, Eithne made up her mind to investigate the situation and headed back to the village. Upon reaching the village, she was taken aback to see Eldian soldiers perched on top of the goat-headed titan.
Whispering to herself, she uttered, "It was Saoirse who did it!" She couldn't help but believe Saoirse heroically sacrificed herself to bring down the titan. For her, the most crucial aspect was seeing the once-invincible monster lying motionless on the ground. "If Saoirse could discover the secret of killing the titans, maybe we could also do the same!" A glimmer of hope flickered through her mind.
Ulrika's thoughts raced like never before. She was still unsure about what had caused Hodritz's death, nor did she know how to proceed. Never before had a titan shifter died of natural causes. Was the Beast Titan's power lost forever? Could Hildegard fix this? One thing was certain: the body should be brought back to the mainland. The Bjorn clan would surely make a grand funeral for their deceased scion. As she looked around at the crowd of onlookers, she noticed a range of emotions etched on their faces. Some appeared shocked, others astonished, and a few even seemed to be filled with joy. The savages had gathered to witness the scene before them.
— Come on, men! We need to bring this body back! — She ordered the soldiers.
Enveloped in a makeshift shroud, Hodritz's corpse was loaded on a carriage and taken to Ala Nova. Without informing anyone about the situation, she went directly to Hildegard's quarters.
— Your Highness! I need to speak with you urgently!
— Come in, Ulrika. — The queen said after recognising the voice.
Ulrika tried to remain composed, but Hildegard noticed the nervous expression on the girl's face.
— Hodritz Bjorn is dead.
—Oh no! — She exclaimed, covering her mouth in shock. — How could this happen? Do you know who or what caused his death?
—It appears that he simply fell to the ground in titan form. Unfortunately, he was already dead by the time I removed him from the nape. — She explained. — Is it possible to find a replacement for him?
"By Ymir! I cannot find anything in the memories of the previous Founding Titans! This is unprecedented... What should I do?" — Hildegard thought as Ulrika waited for an answer.
— We can't hide the fact that he died. Inform the other titan shifters about this, as well as the generals, the few nobles we brought along, and the overseers. We must go back to Eldia and make a proper burial for him.
— Understood, Your Highness.
— But let no slaves or non-Eldians know of this. A titan's death might be the seeds of a rebellion.
Meanwhile, at the Fomhóire tribe, Eithne fervently discussed with Darragh.
— But chieftain, this is our chance! With one less titan, they will surely be destabilised!
Other bystanders agreed with her. Darragh sighed and replied:
— You don't know what you're talking about. We should not rebel against the Eldians for any reason. That would only lead to more suffering than we'd ever wish for. Besides, our tribe has just begun being integrated into their empire.
— You don't know what others like me have gone through, chieftain... I won't allow myself to be ruled by devils.
"Neither will I!" — A voice agreed. "Paradis belongs to the Paradisians!" — Another one shouted.
— Your sister Cliodhna would agree with us, chieftain. She is likely being tortured by the devils as we speak. Don't you want to avenge her? — Eithne asked, hoping to sway Darragh to their cause.
"I wont be able to face Cliodhna." — Darragh pondered. "Even if we're family, she knows what I've done and would try to make things right her own way."
— All I have in mind is the survival of the Fomhóire. I completely disagree with your point of view, but what use is a chieftain if his fellow tribesmen defy his decisions? — He said with deep melancholy in his voice.
— We know you care for us. The sacrifices made by Cliodhna, by you, and now by Saoirse shall not be in vain.
The whole tribe cheered. They would seize this opportunity to retake their island. The Marleyans always told them the titans were invincible, especially the Nine, yet didn't one of them die right in front of their eyes?
— Saoirse was chosen by our gods! She discovered their weakness and slayed the Beast Titan! The Fomhóire shall fight against the Eldian scourge! — Eithne rallied the tribesmen.
...
Sigrid found herself secluded in her quarters, trying to come to terms with the unexpected news of Hodritz's death. Ever since childhood, she had been in awe of the Nine Titans, and the passing down of their powers through generations had always instilled a sense of invincibility in her. But the loss of one of the Titans left her struggling with an unsettling feeling. She couldn't help but feel attached to Hodritz, despite his rough demeanour. She had stood by his side, fought battles with him, and even shared light moments. His untimely demise made her realize how much he meant to her. It made her feel a deep sense of grief, like losing a dear friend. However, as she was coming to grips with the loss, she also felt a tinge of guilt in her heart. Growing up as an Eldian, she was indoctrinated to believe that the people of Paradis Island were blessed with superior abilities, and therefore entitled to rule over the world. These teachings were, until now, unchallenged. But the apparent ease with which one of the Nine Titans was taken down made Sigrid question if the other nations, including Marley, were more powerful than what the Eldians believed. It raised doubts about what other unknown enemies Eldia was facing. Yet even with these thoughts swimming in her head, she couldn't let herself entertain uncertainty, as Eldia's destiny hung in the balance.
— Hildegard will likely order us to go back to the mainland very soon. Jurgen won't like to hear about this. What an untimely death, Hodritz... — Sigrid mumbled alone.
