Alex knocked on the door in front of him. He heard coughing from the other side of the office door.
He heard a weak, "Come in." and opened the door and stepped inside the office. There, standing by his desk was Ksaver. He looked slighted sickly and aged quite quickly now that his term was coming to a close. He looked like he was getting ready to leave.
This was good. He wasn't too late!
The man looked surprised at the boy's visit. "Ah, Alex! What a pleasant surprise. What brings you here?"
He stepped closer to the man. Now that the boy was thirteen, he stood just at Ksaver's shoulders.
Alex held up a folder. "This is my latest work. It would be revolutionary if it were to be proven true. You're going to discuss who's getting the Titan powers next. If you bring me with you, I can show this to the higher ups and it can be tested!"
Ksaver sighed. "You know I can't just bring you unannounced. It's unprofessional."
"Please!" Alex begged.
"You shouldn't beg. You're almost grown." Alex only pouted in response. Ksaver took the folder from his hands. "What even is this theory?"
"I call it, Titan Amalgamation!" This wasn't an original idea. He stole this one. "In short, it means that if a titan was transformed with titan serum made from a titan shifter's spinal fluid, then eats a different titan shifter, it will gain the traits of both titan powers. I have all the evidence in here. Please, Mr. Ksaver." He just took the Beast-Jaw Titan mix that Falco got and explained it so he could capitalize from it.
Ksaver put the folder under his arm to carry it. Ksaver looked him right in the eyes.
"You know, you'll be in big trouble if I bring you."
Alex nodded. "I'm willing to take a beating."
"That's not a view you should have."
"I know, but I need to."
Ksaver exhaled through his nose with an audible huff. "If a beating is the cost then a beating you will receive." He said resignedly. "Now come on, remember that,"
"an Eldian must never be late." They both said in tandem.
Willy held up his chin as he walked beside his mother. Today, they were going to discuss which Warrior candidates were to be chosen to be a holder of a titan power.
His mother, as the head of house Tybur, was attending this meeting to oversee the selection of the newest Warriors. She needed to be there to show that the family of the warhammer titan was still active in the success of the motherland.
He was dubbed as the next head of house when he was just ten years old. Since then he has been attending events alongside his mother as they charmed foreign officials and nobles alike. They needed to keep up their image.
The Tyburs were a family of heroes afterall.
The nineteen year old was coming alongside his mother to learn. He was only supposed to be an overseer. He didn't need to put in anything to the discussion. His mother made sure he was clear with that.
The two approached the two large doors of the room that would hold the meeting. A regular person would marvel at the sheer size and beauty of the craftsmanship of the door. But Willy was a Tybur. His whole house would even make other nobles from other countries jealous.
They did practically rule the country.
Two guards stood in front of the doors. The guards quickly parted and opened the doors as the two Tyburs walked up to it.
Willy looked around the room. There he saw the current warriors alongside a few Marleyan officials. Some notable names were Theo Magath, Calvi, and the current War Chief, and Colossal Titan himself, Roland Hoover.
Willy hid a shiver.
Hoover's eyes bore into him as he took a seat near the head of the table (beside his mother, obviously). He really started to look like his titan did with his now sunken eyes. His Titan was more muscular though, as the curse of Ymir made him look gaunt and sickly. He was still just as intimidating as when he first got the power of the Colossal.
His son was a warrior candidate. Willy wondered if he was just like his father.
"Who is this boy with you, Ksaver?" His mother's voice brought him out of his thoughts.
He turned to look in the Beast's direction.
Sitting beside him was a boy, maybe a few years younger than Willy, with slightly curly brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing the standard Eldian military uniform with a grey armband. So not Ksaver's son. He looked slightly nervous when the attention in the room shifted his way.
The boy stood and saluted. He was obviously not trying to show nervousness or weakness. "Please pardon my audacity, Lady Tybur, but I, Alexander Birken, came to speak with this counsel about a possible way to give a Titan shifter more abilities. I am willing to take any punishment you decide to give me for this bold action."
A tense silence filled the room.
His mother looked down on the boy as she raised a brow. "And what is this way to gain more titan abilities?"
The boy seemed to gain a small bit of confidence. "It's called Titan Amalgamation. Theoretically, if you create titan serum from a titan shifter's spinal fluid, and inject it in an Eldian, the Titan that results from that transformation will have the characteristics of the shifter's spinal fluid dormant inside of it. When it eats a shifter it will have the combined traits of both. For example, if the next Jaw Titan holder is transformed into a titan, using the Beast's Titan's spinal fluid, it will become a Jaw Titan with animal characteristics."
Willy knew from the tone of his voice, he was a titan researcher. Ksaver sounds just like that when he talks about the Paths Theory.
"Hmm, interesting." His mother hummed. Her eyes gleamed with an eager curiosity. Willy agreed with her. How did he even come up with such an idea?
"It takes at least a month to make the titan serum, doesn't it?" The current Armored Titan, Lio Rudel said. He didn't look as disheveled as the others. But his healing factor severely suffered. Thank goodness for the Armored Titan's durability. "And the Transfer Ceremony is in four months. There's time."
"That's correct." Ksaver said. Birken nodded as well.
"How do we know this would even work in the first place?" Hoover said as he sneered towards the researchers.
"There's no way for sure unless it's tested. I used logic from the Titan Classification study I did in '41 to come up with this theory. And I believe it has a chance." Birken said surprisingly honestly. Willy would have thought he would try his best to win over the counsel by fluffing up his case.
The current Female titan, Cecilie Hess, spoke up. "So you're the cutie who came up with that brilliant idea. I just knew your name was familiar." She purred. "Thanks for classing my Titan in the same level as the Founding." She winked at him.
Birken shifted uncomfortably, slightly where he stood. Willy didn't blame him though. There's a big rumor in the military that she's a cougar.
Which wasn't completely false.
Personally, Wily would use the word slut. She didn't just sleep with younger guys. It was pretty much common knowledge that she slept around with Marleyan officials to get her Titan. No one really took action against her though, (even though it's frowned upon to have relations with an Eldian) she's at least good with her Titan. Definitely one of the best Female Titans Marley has ever had.
"Please focus on the task at hand, Hess." The current Cart Titan, and Vice War Chief, Isaak Feig, said tiredly before he sipped his coffee and tried to bury himself deeper inside his parka. The man has started getting progressively drowsier and colder as he gets closer to the end of his term.
"Of course, of course." She said as she passively waved him off. She winced and massaged her hand and wrist. Most likely her newly developed arthritis acting up. Feig only grumbled back in response.
The current Jaw Titan, Silke Heim, scoffed. "Remember, we're in a war. We are currently fighting. We'll have to heal after the spinal fluid extraction. And some of us," The young woman, who had aged terribly due to the curse, pointed at the Cart, Armored and Beast. "don't heal as fast as the rest of us."
Ksaver frowned. "You know I don't fight."
Heim sneered at him. "Yeah. And that's three of the six Titans that fight in wars not available."
"Our country is strong." Magath intervened. "And it would only take a few days for them to heal at worst."
Willy raised his hand. "Permission to speak to the council?"
Eyes shifted to him. "Permission granted." General Calvi said.
"We should at least try. We don't have much we would lose from this. If it works, it works. If it doesn't then at least we didn't give up on an opportunity of a lifetime, and only wasted a month to make new Titan serums. This can make our grand nation much stronger."
There were many hums in agreement.
"We will vote on this before we continue." His mother said before she raised her hand. "All in favor!"
"Aye!" His mother, Ksaver, Rudel, Hess, Fieg, and General Magath had their hands raised in the air.
His mother dropped her hand. "All opposed!"
"Nay!" Hoover, Calvi, and Heim raised their hands in opposition.
"Then it's been decided. We'll try this out. Ksaver, organize the extraction of the spinal fluid for these special serums." His mother said. "Now let's start with the process of choosing the next Titan Shifters." The others in the room nodded in agreement. "And cadet Birken? I would like to hear your insight as a titan researcher."
The boy blinked before he answered nervously. "Of course, Lady Tybur."
Magath opened up a folder labeled 'Female'. "First, the Female Titan. Versatility is its biggest strength. On top of its mobility and endurance, its hardened strikes are incredibly destructive. Though its range is limited, it can call Pure Titans as well." He laid out a picture of a young blonde girl with a slight scowl. "Leonhart is perfect. Her fighting style is deadly. Paired with the strength and the endurance of the Female Titan, she'll be Unstoppable."
And the review of each Titan power and Warrior candidates to claim them continued like this. There were only two Titans that had been questioned.
"The Armored Titan specializes in hardening. If it charges in at full speed, the gates of any wall will crumble. As Marley's shield that must withstand attacks. Porco Galliard is strong and determined. He'll do nicely." Magath said.
The brunette boy raised his hand. "Permission to dispute?"
Magath's eye slightly twitched. He seemed to be annoyed at him for speaking out.
"Granted." His mother said as she nodded.
"I believe Reiner Braun, would be a better fit for the Armored."
"And why would that be?" Magath asked as he raised a brow.
"Braun's perseverance and devotion to Marley will keep his armor strong. I'm sure Mr. Rudel will agree. And I've looked at Porco Galliard's files; while he is skilled, Porco is brash and does not work well with others. Furthermore, even his own brother believes that a Titan doesn't suit him. I suggest waiting for him to mature more and claim the Jaw Titan after his brother." Birken then handed Braun's file to Rudel.
"He seems like a fine young man." Rudel said.
A look of amusement flashed through Birken's eyes and he bit his lip. Presumably to not smirk. That confused Willy. What was so funny?
Rudel looked at the Armored Titan recommendations. He then raised a brow. "Why wasn't he considered for the Armored?"
Calvi spoke up. "He doesn't do that well. Determined? Yes. But skill? There are better Warrior candidates."
"But we can't deny that it would be best for Porco to take the Jaw after his brother. His inherited memories would help him master the Titan quicker." Ksaver said.
There were mumbles that both agree and disagree.
In the end, Braun was chosen. And Magath continued.
"And then, there's the Colossal Titan... A god of destruction. I'm sure Bertholdt Hoover will be able to handle it."
"No." Hoover, the current Colossal said. "He's too weak willed for that Titan. There's no way he would be able to kill so many people at a time and not go insane. He's incapable." He said as he scowled.
"That's the exact reason why he's perfect. He'll know when and where to use it to benefit Marley." Calvi said dismissively. "Ugh, do you Eldians even think?"
The Warriors' eyes held disappointment and sadness within them. Like they were ashamed to exist. But Birken's we're different. They were filled with anger. At just the thought of someone doubting his humanity and insulting him, would he fight? Did he know the truths of the world?
"And that concludes our meeting. Dismissed." His mother said.
Everyone rose from their seats and prepared to leave.
"Oh, Calvi. Please teach our guest some manners."
"Gladly." The man moved over to the boy. Birken didn't move from his spot, ready to take his punishment. Calvi punched him in the face, causing him to fall over with a thud. The general then kicked the fallen boy several times.
"Ksaver, your students are interesting." His mother said to the Beast Titan that stood beside her.
"I know. They're going to do great things." He said.
"It's a shame young Birken might not live that long." Ksaver only frowned in response. "You know that it's not likely he'll survive. War will eat him alive." His mother walked away from the Beast and Willy followed after.
It really was a shame that boy had to die.
