'Do you really think Willy Tybur is going to take on the Paradisians? How long has it been since his House ever spoke out publicly on actual issues?'

I could hear one local pout, walking by the Theatre stand, huffing as he strolled along with his friend towards the nearest terrace.

'Not sure. But if the man has finally found his spine, he'll be first in the firing line for any Eldian restorationist.'

The man's companion would respond in a quieter tone, but audible enough to hear from a distance.

'Well, wouldn't that be ironic. An Eldian dying to an Eldian. Makes me wonder what kind of nation we're even going for here if we can't even get along with eachother.'

His companion shrugged, taking a pocket watch from his jacket to the check the time, before saying,

'Some say it's just a matter of a few people, not everyone.'

The more cynical citizen was unconvinced, spitting out onto the ground before picking out a match box.

'You believe that? Do you really?'

His companion hesitated, continuing to stare at the ticking clock.

'Helps keep Marley together don't it?'

The Eldian laughed.

'A fool's errand if you ask me. We're just going to keep this up until we're all dead aren't we? Some dream of Marley this turned out to be. This country has no chance in hell.'

The companion was about to reply until he saw me staring at the two of them blankly. Nudging his opinionated friend, who casted him a confused look until he followed the other's eyes. Tipping his cap nervously, he'd say quickly,

'Pardon us madame. We meant no disrespect.'

My gaze softening and showing a small smile, I would bow to assure the two Eldians.

'It's alright, gentlemen, politics is inescapable for any of us. Go ahead and take your seats before the show begins. It's not one to miss.'

The two men looked at eachother, then back at me, surprise riddled all over their rugged faces. Bowing back to me, they would jointly respond,

'Thank you, ma'am.'

Making their way off hastily to the terrace, my gaze followed them with tired eyes and a tight lip, as if I still had more I wanted to say to them. Sighing instead, I returned inside to help get everything ready.

After five hundred years, the day of judgment for our family had finally come. The night was young, the shadows of darkness only just having blanketed the Liberio internment zone. The guests, from their homelands all across the world, took their seats in view of the grand stage on which Lord Tybur of Marley was to make his case of war to the rest of the world; a war of a unified front against the one true enemy of all mankind; against the cruelest of beings since the spawning of the first Founding Titan herself; the man they call Eren Yeager.

I stood near the left edge of the backstage, observing the various staff assume their positions and make their preparations for the upcoming 'performance', so as to ensure all was in order. But despite the confidence we all had for tonight, I felt a coldness cascade over my shoulder, as if a ghost was right behind me.

'Madame Bollena.'

My moment of unease was suddenly ruptured by the address from the Prefect of the Tybur Guard, a tall man in a red uniform and wearing a beige pickelhaube. Turning to him with raised brows to signal that he had my attention, he said,

'We are all ready for his Lordship.'

Giving him a subtle yet visible smile of gratitude, I replied in a soft voice,

'Thank you, Potier. He will be arriving shortly.'

He would bow his head and rejoin his group, while I maintained my post awaiting the coming of my Lord. But even the odious smell of makeup and blaring chatter of the countless guests below could not make the chill that ran through the cotton of my dress go away.

[I]Well, your father needs to get going

My skin began to dilute of what little colour remained, my hands becoming numb and my intake quickening.

[I]Be good kids and listen to your big sister

I Clasped my hands tight to try and hold it all back. Was this fear? Or was it grief? Inhaling deeply, I gazed to the ceiling in hope of relief from the heavens. But I knew that was in their hands, the hands of fate.

'Lara.'

My heart was refreshed when I heard his voice, felt his hand gently grasp my shoulder. Looking back I saw his warm smile, and looked in to his loving eyes with a face of sorrow.

'It's alright. We all have to pay our dues someday. Father, Aurelius, Magnus, they've all gone through theirs. But now, it's my turn.'

He would say in a gentle whisper.

'And no matter what happens, remember your honour, for you are stronger than he ever will be.'

His softness took on a taste of conviction when he spoke those last words. I gave a small nod, my eyes slowly dropping to the floor, as doubt invaded my mind. My face however stayed where it was so as not to disrespect him.

'Lara…I.'

Before he could say another word, I would glance up at him once again to respond,

'Sir Potier says that everything is ready. All they need now is their lord.'

He stared at me for a moment with a surprised look, but his gaze soon relaxed as he placed both his hands on either side of my head and kissed my forehead, before letting go.

'Do you still think I'm deserving?'

I shook my head as a smirk graced my lips.

'You always will be, Willy. Now go on, do what you need to do.'

The Lord chuckled, locking gazes with me until he saw Potier walk over to the left backstage once again. Knowing that it was time, he went to walk past me, quickly whispering into my hear.

'Wish me luck.'

I took another deep breath, and then looked back to him as he strutted over to Potier.

'Good luck, brother.'

I muttered, watching as Lord Tybur made his way onstage.

-

He came in a flash lightning. The entire apartment area behind us were blown apart by a surging yellow and white light. We all looked up in shock and terror to see the swirling debris collide together to form a horrific being with the face of a lipless demon; steams of hate and fury emanating from his intense green eyes, bearing the teeth of a monster who could snap entire ships in two. Before any of us could even react in our petrified states, the hand of the Titan fell upon the whole theatre.

Spotting Lord Tybur, frozen and still staring up at his impending doom, I had a sudden lust to rush over and save him. But I never got the chance, as I felt a sudden push against my back, throwing me the other direction just before the hand came down, and I couldn't remember anything that followed immediately after that.

What came to me when I woke was total blackness, my gasping breath and the wet feeling of blood flowing from my cracked scalp down my right cheek, my own eye having to blink the scarlet away from ruining my vision.

I tried to push against the rubble above me and stand back up, but my legs would not respond. I figured that they were broken.

My whole body screamed in pain, the healing processes within my system trying to ameliorate my agony, all while tears formed in my eyes as I recalled the event that just transpired prior to my brief period of unconsciousness. The terrible reality that I momentarily felt I did not deserve to experience. It had finally happened; Willy was dead.

I covered my mouth with my hand in a fruitless gesture to hold back my grief, my untold sorrow only exasperated as the screams and running of terrified crowds trying to escape the demon from Paradis pounded my ears. In my thoughts, I blamed myself. I blamed myself for not being there to prevent his death, to prevent all the carnage, to save Potier and the rest whom I assumed were also dead.

I slammed my fist against the ground, all the while weeping at this failure of protection. Was this my fate? No matter how much I tried to do good? Was this how it was supposed to end?

My watery eyes trailed to the splintered parchment, my hand impulsively reaching up to my neck and making its way under my collar band. It re-emerged with the beautiful sapphire embellishment of a silver necklace which I had put on just prior. Engraved on the gemstone was the image of a hammer, and just under it the impression of two mountains, equal in size.

[I]This is my gift to you, maiden of the hammer.

For some time until my limbs would regenerate their strength, and zoning out all the violence I could hear from my mind, I would gaze into the blue crystal. I caressed its hard and jagged texture with all the care of a midwife. My eyes went aflame with remembrance at the stone's simple beauty. Feeling my spirit rejuvenated, I gripped the gemstone and held it close to my heart. Taking one last look at it, I would rip it from my neck. I then gave it a kiss, before placing it down on the wood next to me.

Feeling the strength and resolve course through my veins once more, I pushed with all my body against the rubble above. Gritting my teeth, desperate to remove this relatively meagre obstacle in my way to the true enemy, I would eventually prevail and the dark smoke-filled sky came into view at last. My legs now fully healed, steam seeping out from under my dress, I stood up to full height to see the devastation all around me.

But I offered no solace to it, for my opponent was just ahead, roaring away as he tried to defend himself against the Marleyan guns.

'Brother, you fulfilled the Tyburs' duty admirably. I'm so proud of you…'

I managed to utter, juts of golden light appearing from around me as I started to transform.

'Now allow me to complete our family's story. For you and for our country.'