Attack On Titan: Wings Of Crystal
Chapter 40: Friends
Flashes of Ymir's life leading up to her death appear before Galliard's eyes. This was something almost every new Titan Shifter goes through. When it came to Titan Shifters who knew their predecessors in life, they only see what they need to see.
But Porco knew nothing about Ymir other than she ate his brother and stole his power. Everything else he only heard through Lazarus. After devouring her, he was able to see everything the orphan girl experienced through her own eyes. From the day she was taken in by a cult, to being turned into a Titan, to obtaining the Jaw Titan, to meeting Historia, and so on. Through her, he was able to witness everything his fellow Warriors did.
He eventually wakes up from his dream-like state shocked to the point he unconsciously sits up in his bed like he'd just woken up from a nightmare. He takes a look around as he calms his nerves. He was no longer in the ceremony chamber. He soon realised that someone had moved him into his bedroom within the Warriors HQ.
"You're awake."
He lets out an annoyed sigh knowing who it was sitting by his right. It was a concerned Lazarus sitting in his desk chair, staring at him like he's been waiting for him to wake up.
"Why are you still here?" He mumbled as he rubs the sleep out of his eyes. "Shouldn't you be back at the island with Pieck?"
"She's preparing herself for the trip now. Told her to eat and drink as much as she can before transforming. Who knows how long she'll have to stay in Titan form. She also wanted to say goodbye to her father in case something happens to her… I wanted to see how you were before my departure. How are you holding up? You looked like you were having some dream."
Porco rolls his eyes and scoffs at Lazarus. He was the last person he wanted to see right now. Now that he saw Ymir's memories, he was able to confirm his brother's fate. Lazarus was one of the two who did nothing when it happened. He and Reiner.
"I know everything now."
Lazarus glances over in his direction, curious to hear what he has to say.
"I saw what happened. Instead of using your many ridiculous powers to save him, you froze with fear and let him get eaten! And that idiot, Reiner! He ran away like a damned coward!"
"Hey, that's not fair!" Lazarus talked back at him. "We were all kids when it happened. You would've been scared too had you been there."
"If I had inherited the Armoured Titan instead of him, then none of this would've happened… My brother would still be alive."
"I take it you were able to see Marcel's memories?"
"I haven't. But I learned what I needed to from my predecessor, Ymir." Galliard glares up at the ceiling, still thinking about the empty look on her face before he became a Titan. "An ironically grand name for such a pitiful woman. Turns out you were right. She practically volunteered to give my brother's Jaws back."
"Yeah… she did." Lazarus places his hand on his chest, feeling the metal casing containing Ymir's letter.
"I saw how Reiner was through her memories. Acting like the tough, reliable type. Trying to prove to you that he can fill my brother's shoes." He clenches his fists around the ends of his bed covers. "The nerve of that guy!"
"That's enough, Porco. Reiner has been through a lot since we first landed on that island. If you really saw all of Ymir's memories you'd understand the pain he went through… That island changed him. He wasn't able to balance out his true self with the persona he created. As a result, his psyche had been shattered. The only reason he's holding himself together now is because he's set on ending this once and for all. And so am I."
"Get some rest. You'll need it for your Titan training. Once Pieck is gone, it's down to you to protect the motherland. No pressure." He lightly teased.
Galliard grunts in annoyance. Lazarus decided now was the time to leave him be. He still has to be ready for his long flight back to Paradis. This two-hour flight was going to be much more challenging than the first time. This time he'll be carrying the Cart Titan and the tons of cargo she'll be carrying on her back. He was not looking forward to this.
After leaving the Warrior barracks, Lazarus decided to take a stroll through the streets of Liberio, admiring the scenery. Something he hadn't done for years. He still had trouble accepting that it had been so long ago when he last took a moment to walk through town when to him it still feels like yesterday.
He even remembers where everything was and how to get wherever he needed to go. Five miles straight ahead was where Annie and her father lived, by the factory. To the left of him was an alleyway that was a shortcut to the town square and the statue of Hellos. And standing next to him to his right was an old run-down shop.
The doors and windows were boarded up. The building's red paint job had faded, and the sign hanging above the door was barely holding onto one chain. The other had rusted over and snapped off.
Despite its old, withered appearance, Lazarus still recognised it as the one place in the city that he always held a special place in his heart for… Lucia Muller's old blacksmith shop.
Lazarus slowly approaches the shop and places his left hand on its brick wall. He traces his hand to the broken sign. He wipes away all the years of dirt and dust that clung onto it over time, revealing the words "Lucia's Forge" the name of the shop.
He then peered through the cracks between the boards to try and look inside. It was too dark for the human eye to perceive. But he didn't have ordinary eyes. The inside of the shop was just as bad as the outside. All of Lucia's equipment was covered up by white sheets. Dirt covered the stone floors, and spider webs were hanging in all the corners.
It broke his heart to see his beloved mentor's establishment be reduced to nothing more than a hollow shell of what it once was. Since her death, there was nobody left to continue her business. She didn't have any other family apart from her cousin Leonardo who ended up passing the Colossal Titan onto Bertolt. He remembered her telling him that she used to be married once. But he was Marleyan and a military man on top of that. Last she heard he was transferred to the outpost, Fort Salta. She hadn't heard from him since.
"I'm sorry, Lucia. All your life's work is gone." He uttered to himself.
"Who's Lucia?"
Lazarus was startled by the sudden sound of someone speaking behind him. His instincts almost made him turn around and kick whoever it was. But he managed to stop himself upon hearing that this was a child's voice.
He turns around slowly to address this child, who appeared to be one of the new cadets Galliard had been training yesterday. He was wearing a grey armband, marking him as an Eldian.
"You're one of the new cadets training to become the next generation of Marleyan Warriors, aren't you?" Lazarus asked him.
"Yes, sir." He performs the Marleyan military salute in front of him. "My name is Falco Grice. I- I'm a huge fan of yours! It's an honour to meet you, Vice Chief Averbach!"
Lazarus chuckles at his attempt at a formal introduction. He could see how nervous this boy was looking up at him. He looked so young. Younger than he was when he first joined the military.
"Tell me, Falco. How old are you?"
"Ten years old, sir!" He immediately responded, not letting up on his formality.
"So young…" Lazarus muttered under his breath." I'm seventeen years old now. I was only twelve when I first joined the military."
"Um, sir-
"You don't have to be so formal with me. Just call me Lazarus when it's just us. You can only call me Vice Chief when in the presence of the Brass, ok?"
Falco relaxes his posture, relieved that he didn't have to maintain himself while in the presence of his superior.
"Earlier you said, "I'm sorry, Lucia" Who is Lucia, sir?" He shyly asks, worried this is something too personal to ask about.
"She was my mentor… And my adopted mother. This used to be her shop. She was a blacksmith and engineer. She taught me everything she knew, both about forgery and how to be a Warrior. She's the reason the Winged Titan is standing before you and not still rotting away in a deep hole."
"Wow. She was a Warrior too?" He asked.
"Indeed, she was. She was the Female Titan before Annie. And before her was my actual mother, Lydia Averbach. She died two years after I was born. And I never knew my father."
"I know how you feel. I had an uncle once. He was part of the Eldian Restorationist group. He'd been taken to Paradis to be turned into a Titan."
Lazarus places his hand on Falco's shoulder and guides him over to a bench a few feet away from Lucia's shop. He had a feeling he was in for a long conversation with the young cadet, so it was best to rest his legs rather than stand around.
Lazarus sat back and listened carefully to Falco's story and what drove him to want to become a Warrior, other than the obvious honorary Marleyan citizenship. He learns that he has an older brother named Colt who was the oldest in their unit and the first one made a Warrior Candidate. Handpicked by Zeke himself to be the successor for the Beast Titan.
In return, Lazarus would tell him his backstory and what drove him to become the man he is today. Though he held back everything he and his unit went through on Paradis, fearing the Brass would be against it. Commander Magath made it clear to him that what went down on that island stays between him, his unit, and his superiors. These kids aren't ready to learn the horrors of war yet. It's best to let them be kids for a while longer.
"Something wrong, Falco?"
"It's just that. Being here with you. Talking. Getting to know the real you. It feels like I'm unworthy of it. I'm nothing special like you. I'm just a kid."
"We were all kids once," Lazarus assures him as he places his hand on his shoulder. "When I was your age, I thought I was nothing special too. I thought I was the opposite. Everyone saw me as a research experiment gone wrong. And for a time, I believed them. Until Lucia helped me see the light and taught me to be at peace with what I am. Making the Winged Titan a legend was never to prove them wrong. I did it because I wanted to become an example."
"An example?" Falco asked, confused as to what he was talking about.
"That's right. My parents' goal was to rise through the ranks and hopefully, one day change this nation. Make the world see us Eldians as a people. Not as devils. But they never came close to accomplishing that goal. Their unit reached the end of its cycle before the Paradis operation was fully in the works. Lucia's unit that came afterwards had proven to be too weak to carry it out in their place, so they waited until their run was over. Then we came along, and we managed to match, if not surpass the Alpha Unit. And I am close to obtaining the Founding Titan and fulfilling my parents' dreams."
Falco was moved by his story. He was right to idolise him. The two of them have the same drive that pushes them forward. They both wanted to become Warriors to protect the ones they love, and to make the world a better place for people of all kinds to live and get along with peacefully.
If he could choose whose Titan he'd want to inherit, it would be the Winged Titan. But Lazarus had told him that the Winged Titan was bound only to him and could not be taken away. Even if he was eaten by a Pure Titan, it would only result in the Titan being poisoned by his mutated spinal fluid and blood, while he would always come back.
That led him to wonder. If Lazarus was immortal, does that also mean he is incapable of ageing? Curious to find out, he asks him if he can still age like everyone can.
"… Honestly it's a lot more complicated than that." He simply responded. "I'm not twelve years old anymore, so I can still age. But I don't think it's the same as it used to be. Lucia and Leonardo told me that there's a possibility that the older I get, the slower I age. Theoretically, I could live for hundreds of years. Everyone I know will grow old and die without me. Hell, even you kids will become adults long before I will… It's not something I like to think about."
"Oh… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked you that." Falco looks away with regret.
"No, it's ok. Really. I'm not too worried about it. You know why?" He asked rhetorically. "Because I plan on taking the Founding Titan and using its power to make us all regular humans. As well as fix me. Some of you may think being the Winged Titan is awesome. But it's a lifetime of pain and misery. I want more than anything to be changed back to my regular self. I want to grow old alongside Annie, Michael, Reiner, and all my friends. Then one day die for real. Living forever is a curse, not a blessing."
The two of them sit in silence to clear their heads of all their deep talk. Falco did admit that he wanted to be just like Lazarus when he became a Warrior. But after hearing the hardships behind being immortal, he wasn't so sure.
Still, none of that would change the fact that despite those hardships, Lazarus still fought proudly for his country, and always put the needs of others above his own.
"Tell me, Falco. Which of the Nine do you want to inherit if you were chosen?"
He remembers Bertolt asking him and Reiner the same question when they were kids. This was long before any of them would learn of the Winged Titan. He was curious to learn what kind of Titan Falco would become.
"Hmm. I haven't really thought about that. My brother will inherit the Beast. And Gabi plans to inherit the Armoured."
"Gabi Braun? Reiner's cousin?" Lazarus clarified.
Falco nods. "To be honest, I don't want her to be chosen. I don't have anything against her. She's the best out of us. It's just that I care about her too much to live only thirteen years."
"Oh? You wouldn't happen to have feelings for Gabi, would you?" Lazarus teased him a little.
Falco blushes hard as he looks back at his mentor. His mouth was hanging open, struggling to form words at the moment.
Lazarus laughs. He can tell by his expression that he does have feelings for her. It was cute. Reminds him of the first time he started crushing on Annie, and she on him. Ah, to be young again, he thought. Even though he's only seventeen.
"It's ok, Falco. I get it. I felt the same way about Annie when I first met her. I don't know much about Gabi. You, kids, were very young when we left for Paradis. But I'm guessing she has the same fighting spirit as her cousin?"
"You don't know the half of it," Falco replied, finally getting over his embarrassment.
"Then all I can promise you is that I will retrieve the Founding Titan and put an end to this war. That way you kids will get to live long, happy lives. Where you actually get to act like kids, instead of soldiers like us. Until that day arrives, keep training hard and prove your worth to Marley. Do that, and you will be among the chosen candidates."
"I won't let you down!" Falco stood up from the bench and salutes his senior.
Lazarus smiles and ruffles his hair. He then notices the time on the clock tower in the distance and realises that it's almost time for him and Pieck to leave. He says his goodbyes to Falco and thanks him for the distraction. He needed it after seeing the state of Lucia's shop.
But as he was walking away, Falco decides to stop him once again with one last question.
"Lazarus. If I ever do become a Warrior…, would I ever be able to fly like you?"
Lazarus glances back at him. "I won't lie, that outcome seems unlikely. But who knows? The power of the Titans works in mysterious ways. But a famous man once said, "If you want something bad enough, you must fight for it. Keep moving forwards until it is yours for the taking".
"I've never heard that one before. Who said it? Your mentor?" He questioned.
"It was my dad. Apart from this hat, that was the only other thing he passed down to me. Those words kept me believing in myself. I know they'll do the same for you."
He then takes his leave. Falco waves goodbye and wishes him luck in the completion of the mission and hopes they all return home. Lazarus responds by raising his left arm, waving back without stopping or looking back.
Lazarus eventually meets up with Pieck who is already in her Cart Titan form. The soldiers were all loading the last of the cargo on the cart atop her back. The cart had two large handles on the sides to make him carry her to Paradis much easier on him.
"All set, Pieck?"
"You bet." The Cart Titan responded in a deep raspier version of her original voice. "It's been a while since I last assumed Titan form, but I haven't forgotten how to use it."
Lazarus strokes her huge horse-shaped mouth. The Cart Titan closes its eyes in response to his petting, like how any animal would respond. "I hope you didn't overpack. The last thing I want is to accidentally drop you into the ocean."
"The Commander only packed what was essential to completing the mission. You should be fine." She reassured him.
"Pieck! Averbach!" Commander Magath shouted, announcing his presence to them. Only Lazarus responded with a salute as Pieck was preoccupied with keeping her body still as the soldiers were finishing up loading her cart.
"We're ready to head back to Paradis, Commander," Lazarus responded first.
"I don't need to remind you how important this mission is. You've already failed to retrieve the Founding Titan twice. This is your last chance to redeem yourself. Find the Founder and bring it back, along with the Crystal Titan and the rest of your unit. That's an order!"
"Understood, sir. I'll try my best."
"Let's just hope your best will be good enough." Magath sternly responded before turning around and leaving the runway area.
The soldiers finished loading the last of the cargo and lock it all down to prevent it from falling over on the journey. The commander then orders everyone to clear the area, giving Lazarus plenty of space to transform.
The Cart Titan runs down the runway on all fours, clearing the distance from Lazarus as he slits his palm with the knife he keeps on his right ankle.
The whole dock lights up as he transforms into the Winged Titan once again. Some of the soldiers briefly look away while most weren't fazed by the brightness. As soon as the Winged Titan had finished manifesting, it started sprinting down the runway. Its huge wings stretch out to the sides and begin to flap, building up momentum for takeoff.
With one big leap, the Winged Titan was able to successfully lift itself off the ground. But it didn't get too high. It still needed to collect the Cart Titan below him. It stretches its arms down and opens its hands.
As it was nearing the edge of the runway, the Cart Titan takes a chance and leaps up and over the edge, hoping Lazarus would catch her. Her eyes were closed, expecting her Titan body to crash straight into the sea. But nothing happened.
She slowly opens her eyes one at a time and lets out a sigh once she realised that Lazarus is now flying her over the sea. She glances back and notices the Winged Titan's claws were grasped tightly around the cart's handles. He even took the extra precaution of hardening his hands over the handles, fusing them to her back. Smart choice. If he started to get tired, he'd be incapable of dropping her without undoing his hardening.
She takes one last look at the motherland behind her as they were getting further and further away from it. Hopefully, she won't be on that island for as long as Lazarus was.
Once Marley was completely out of sight, she turns her attention forward again. She looks around as a way of passing the time. But everywhere she looked, all she could see was water and clouds. She started getting bored already and they haven't been gone ten minutes yet.
"How long will it take to get there?" She asked Lazarus.
"About two hours." The Winged Titan responded in his demonic-styled voice. "Though it may be a little longer since I have to be careful with you and your cargo. Go too fast and I risk dropping you."
The Cart Titan groans with annoyance. She got that he needed to be gentle with her, but it still didn't make her wish she would hurry it up… She then gasped a little, realising the phrasing behind what she just thought. And it only got worse when she remembered that Lazarus could hear her thoughts.
"Please try and speed things along. I feel awkward hanging in the air like this. I feel like a mouse that just got snatched off the ground by a hungry falcon."
Lazarus laughs as he pictures the comparison in his head. He was glad that Michael wasn't here to witness this, as he would've teased him about it nonstop.
"Speaking of Michael. I wonder if he's gotten back to the others yet."
Back on Paradis, Michael was still passed out in the tunnels. He had exhausted the last of his drained strength trying to protect the Scouts he once called his comrades. And Levi showed his gratitude by attempting to slice off his legs. It was clear where they stand with him now.
Michael eventually awakens from his long sleep, only to notice that everything was quiet now. The tremors from before have stopped. He struggles to get back on his feet as his body, though it had recovered, was still in the process of replacing all the spinal fluid he'd just lost.
"Ugh. What happened?"
He hobbles over towards the wall separating him from the crystal chapel. Part of him was hesitant to open it, fearing Levi might still be on the other side, waiting to finish the job.
With one hand, Michael partially opens the wall, only making it big enough to stick his head through. He was relieved to see that it was empty. There were no bodies to be found anywhere, which must mean the others were able to get out in the end.
He then notices the large crystal statue of Eren's Attack Titan and the dozens of pillars sprouting out of it, holding up the ceiling.
"Oh no! This is bad! Eren must've drank some of my spinal fluid and gained the power of hardening! I thought all the bottles were destroyed! How did he- No! It's no use dwelling on it now. And it shouldn't change anything. Nothing changes the fact that my hardening is still superior to his… Then again, he also has the Founding Titan."
He started to pace the floor as he monologued, trying to hypothesise how much stronger Eren's Titan must be now.
"No doubt the Scouts are gonna use this to their advantage and launch the operation to retake Wall Maria as soon as he masters his new power. I've gotta report back to Zeke and the others and warn them… But first, I still need to finish what I set out here to do. See my father."
Unknown to Michael, a whole lot of time had passed since the emergence of the Rod Reiss Titan. Erwin had been working on a plan on taking it down before it had a chance to break through Orvud District on the north side of Wall Sina. This plan also played a major role in his overall plot to depose the fake king and the corrupt council and fabricate a heroic story about the true heir to the throne who'd slain the 120-meter-tall Titan in the name of her people, winning their devotion and her rightful place as Queen of the Walls.
The plan was a complete success. Rod's Titan was destroyed, and Historia was declared the new ruler. As a result, the whole world was further down the path towards the truth of their world than they ever were before.
But now wasn't the time for celebration yet. They still needed to return to Shiganshina, defeat the Warriors, and locate Grisha's cellar. If they succeed, the secrets of the outside world will be revealed to them at last.
Right now, Erwin, Levi, Hange, and Miche, who barely survived his encounter with the Beast Titan, were all gathered together inside the office of Premier Zachery. Commander Pyxis was also present. They were discussing what their next course of action should be once they reach Shiganshina.
Many of the Scouts had voiced their concerns about actually pulling this mission off. Reminding them of the fact that the enemy not only has the Winged Titan but now the Crystal Titan on their side. Their chances of victory have significantly dropped. Almost a thousand to one.
"Commander Erwin," Miche spoke up. "While I do not question the wisdom behind delaying the mission, I do not think it is wise to stand around and think things through forever. Know that I am willing to launch a counterattack against the traitors at any cost. I owe it to Eld and Nanaba."
"Counterattack?!" Hange responded in a dumbfounded manner. "Perhaps you failed to notice the Winged Titan INCINERATE several acres of land in a single strike! What kind of counterattack do you think stands any chance of beating THAT?!"
"Calm down, Hange," Erwin ordered her, only to be backed up by Levi to his surprise.
"I don't normally say this, but I agree with Four Eyes. We all saw the kind of raw power Lazarus possessed. And now that Michael has joined their ranks, our enemy can obliterate us all anytime they please in the blink of an eye."
"That doesn't mean we should just keel over and surrender. We have to fight back if humanity is ever going to progress. To do that, we must find a way to tip the balance of power back in our favour."
"Do we not also possess a powerful Titan that could rival the Winged, Crystal, and the other Titans?" Zachery reminded them of Eren and the two Titans he has within him.
"Indeed. The Founding Titan they called it. But it is useless except under the influence of royal blood. And we need Historia to rule this country with an iron fist. We can't afford to have her in battle anymore." Erwin explained.
"Even if we could use her, any royals who attempt to use the Founding Titan will only end up under the influence of the first king of the walls. Everything we've learned in the past few days will be erased from our minds. All our efforts would've been for nothing." Hanger added.
"I know the odds are slim. But if we play it safe and wait around for our enemy to destroy us all, then all of our fallen comrades' sacrifices would've been for nothing. We owe it to them to keep fighting. Even if we may have no chance of winning." Pyxis added.
Erwin grasps the stump of his severed right arm. He knows that they're all scared to face the enemy again. He was too. The world had sent its strongest warriors to get in their way. Quite literally. And now Michael has turned his back on everything he raised him to be.
There hasn't been a day that passed where he hasn't thought of him. He often wonders if he was able to regain his lost memories. If he had, then does that mean he decided to abandon the life he built here just to go back to his old life?
"Levi. When you reported your success of retrieving Eren and Historia, you mentioned spotting Michael in the cavern."
"Yeah. And I tried to cut down the traitor before he could escape. But he slipped away like the little rat he is… I know you still care for him, Erwin. But you can't deny how dangerous his Titan can be now that he's joined forces with Lazarus." He then reaches into his breast pocket and pulls out the case containing a syringe and a small bottle of Titan serum Kenny gave him moments after his death. "But if we were to obtain that power for ourselves, we may stand a chance at beating them."
"What is this?" Zachery questioned as he gave the case a look over once it was placed open on his desk.
Hange then decided to butt in and explain what she knows about it. "I tried to analyse it. But with our limited technology, I'm afraid we can't dig much deeper. As we heard from Eren and Historia, it seems to originate from some sort of human body fluid. However, it vaporises when exposed to air, making further analysis virtually impossible to perform. Whoever made it must've had technology that's far superior to ours. I can't imagine how the Reiss family were able to do it."
"Hmm. In that case, we should put it to use for our current objective." Pyxis suggested.
"But to whom do we entrust it?" The Premier turns to Erwin. "To you, Erwin?"
"No. With my wound, I'd be a poor choice. The syringe. It belongs in the hands of one of our elites. Someone with the best odds of survival… Levi, will you accept it?
"If it's an order then why don't you just say so? Why bother asking?"
"Because." Erwin pauses momentarily. He remembers a little detail about the serum and the Crystal Titan Eren shared with him. Something he overheard in a conversation between Kenny and Rod over Michael.
"According to what Eren shared. The power of the Titans can be stolen if this serum is used on a person. It'll turn them into a mindless Titan. Once that happens, we have to have them eat one of the enemy Titan Shifters to regain their humanity as well as another power of the Titans… He also told me the Crystal Titan's power can only be controlled by those of Ackerman blood."
Levi's eyes widen with shock. It wasn't even that long ago when Kenny revealed to him that he was his uncle. He carries the Ackerman blood within him, as well as one other among the Scouts. The girl who was constantly by Eren's side.
"What are you implying?" Levi questioned him.
"According to Hange. The Crystal Titan is the only one strong enough to combat the powers of the Winged. If we regain control of that power, then the balance of power will shift again… Levi. I want you to safeguard the serum because you have the option to use it on yourself and take Michael's power as your own."
"What?!" Hange burst out in disbelief. "Levi as the Crystal Titan?! That's… kind of ironic now that I think about it." She uttered to herself.
"We can still hear you, Four Eyes! And you can forget it, Erwin. I'm not gonna eat your kid and take his powers! I prefer killing Titans my way. With two blades, and the skills I was taught. I'd rather eat horse shit than become a Titan myself."
Erwin let loose a single chuckle. He anticipated that to be Levi's response. Though Levi had proven to follow every order he gave him, he knew this would be where he'd draw the line. He couldn't help but wonder why though. Was it because he hates Titans too much to become one? Or was it because he'd have to eat Michael? He doubted the latter, as Levi had already shown he wouldn't hesitate to kill him the moment he switched sides.
Whatever the reason, it was his decision on who to use the serum on. They also had Mikasa as a secondary option if they were to somehow capture Michael.
"I understand. Then you will save using it on yourself or Mikasa as a last resort. Our first priority with it is to steal the power of the Winged Titan. Gaining its power would benefit us a lot. The other Titans, even the Colossal, would be no match against it."
"Lazarus won't be easy to take down." Hange pointed out. "He's proven too strong as a Titan. And as a human, his skills are on par with Levi's." She sheepishly looks over in his direction. "No offence."
"I really hate that guy," Levi muttered to himself. He'd definitely take great pleasure in killing him. Both he and whoever controlled the Beast Titan.
"And what happens if you fail to secure the Winged Titan?" Zachery asked Erwin.
"Then the serum will be used for any of the others. We need to capture at least one enemy shifter. Then Captain Levi will decide who the power goes to." He glances at Levi on his left side. "We'll be counting on you to make a decision swiftly and with little deliberation. Judging when to use it and on whom will be your responsibility." He holds the case in front of him. "Will you accept it?"
"If this dream of yours comes true. What will you do then?" Levi answered his question with his question.
Erwin pauses yet again. He hadn't thought about that. He first joined the Scouts to hopefully one day fulfil his father's dream and prove that they are not alone in this world. He shared this dream with his own son too. But now that he's gone, his mind wandered from that goal and more towards the possibility of ever seeing him again.
Despite his choice to join the Warriors, Erwin still loved his son, even if he wasn't his blood. That boy was responsible for bringing joy into his life for the first time in years. What he had with him was exactly what he lacked with his father.
"…I don't know." That was all he could say. "And I won't. Not until it happens."
"I see. Alright. I'll do it." Levi takes the case from him and places it back in his pocket.
No matter what may transpire when they reach Shiganshina, someone is going to receive that injection. So, he better use it wisely.
After the meeting was adjourned, Erwin was finally entitled to some peace in his office. He still needed to make the preparations for the upcoming mission. But right now, all he wanted was to just sit back in his chair and not think about it for a while. He doesn't let it show, but even a great leader like him gets stressed out.
He leans back in his chair and places both his legs crossed atop his desk. He places his only arm over his eyes, thinking about the possibility of having to kill Michael if necessary.
"How did I bring myself to tell Levi he had permission to murder my son?! I never would've imagined how painful saying those very words can be." He sighs deeply. "I don't want to kill Michael. Not when I hadn't gotten a chance to know the real him."
"Well, now's your chance to get to know the real me." Michael suddenly bursts out of the wardrobe sitting to the right of his office.
His sudden appearance startles Erwin, causing him to accidentally fall backwards in his chair, hurting himself in the process.
"Oh shit! Dad!"
"Stay back! Don't come near me!" Erwin shouted back at him without even looking.
Michael halts his attempt to help his father up, frightened by the intensity of his voice.
They were then interrupted by the sound of a random soldier knocking on Erwin's locked office door, worried the commander may be under threat. But, to Michael's surprise, Erwin dismisses his accusations by claiming he simply fell out of his chair after waking up from a nightmare. Nothing more.
Once the soldier was gone and he was sure they were alone, Erwin picks himself up and stares down at his prodigal son who had returned.
"Michael. You're back."
"I never left."
"You mean to say… you've been hiding in there this whole time?" Erwin guessed, worried he may've been overhearing their past discussions.
"What?! No! I wasn't." Micheal quickly dismisses his assumption.
"Because if you were-
"I wasn't. I swear it! I've only been here for twenty minutes. I'm sorry. I just wanted to speak to you alone… Are you gonna report me?" He asked worriedly.
"Had it been Lazarus or anyone else I would've. Are you really with them, Michael? Or was this all part of some plan to earn their trust to get what you wanted from them?"
Michael steps out of the wardrobe, closes it, and walks over to the other side of the desk. He noticed Erwin was holding a knife in his hand, showing that he didn't trust him. He didn't hold it against him though. If the roles were reversed, he would've been cautious too.
"I'm sorry, Dad. But I am with them now… I finally got my memories back. I remember my real name. My home. My true parents. Everything. And Lazarus was an important part of my life growing up. He was the very first friend I ever had. That's why I chose him." He quietly responds. His head hanging low.
"If your loyalty is to him and your true home, then why did you come back?"
"Because I wanted to see you again." Michael takes a step forward, only to be met with Erwin raising the knife above eye level. "I just want to talk. Please, Dad. Just hear me out. Let me explain why I did what I did."
Erwin looks away from Michael to think over his proposition. He wished it was Lazarus, Reiner, or Bertolt that broke into his office. It would've made the decision to capture them and take their powers much simpler. He couldn't help but wonder if maybe this was part of some kind of distraction so that Lazarus could rescue Annie or something.
But Michael was risking his life just to stand before him. He taught him how to tell when someone was lying by reading their facial expressions. And it looked like Michael was telling the truth about coming here simply to say his final goodbyes to him.
Thinking back to everything he'd done for him and the Scouts before his turn, he did feel like he owes him some of his time.
"Very well. I'll hear you out." He picks up his chair effortlessly with one arm and sits down on it. "You've got ten minutes. Make it count."
"Ok. Well, first of all, Dad. It's great to see you again. Under the circumstances, I want you to know that there isn't a day that passes where I don't think of you." He started safely.
"And I you." Erwin unintentionally let slip out. Realising he was letting his guard down; he raises it again before allowing him to continue.
"There are times when I still wish you were by my side." Michael continued.
"If I were at your side, I fear you would not like all that I have to say." Erwin interrupted him again. "The decisions you have made since the retrieval of Eren go against all that I've taught you."
"I know, Dad. But I had to take this chance. You encouraged me, remember?"
"Of course. I was foolish into hoping that you'd come back to us once you got what you seek… You may think I don't understand your choices. You may be right. So, indulge me."
Michael slowly nodded and took a deep breath before hitting him with the mother-load of all explanations.
"My true last name is Suurvalta. My grandfather was the one who passed the Crystal Titan on to me. I came to this island in the hopes of breaking the Titan's curse. The cost of my freedom was the loss of my memories. Lazarus and the others came here so that they could save the world, and remind me of who I really am."
It was difficult for him to reminisce on his past, as well as Noah's, the same way he told the Warriors, in only ten minutes. So, he trimmed it down enough to still include the important details.
By the time he got to the point where he was dumped on a branch in the forest of giant trees, Erwin raises his hand, silencing him. He did not need to hear what happened after that since he was there.
Michael's story seemed to be a lot more complicated than he thought. He will admit that he has a somewhat understanding of the choices he'd made now. Though nothing could convince him it was worth betraying him and everything the Scouts stood for.
"I just want you to know that even though I got my memory back, I'm still the same Michael you raised to be a soldier. All that's changed is my perspective of the world. I remember what the world beyond the walls is like now. You can see it for yourself if you agree to come back home with me."
"I already told you that I can't." Erwin rejected his offer without hesitation.
"I know. But I don't want to lose you, Dad. You and Lazarus are the only family I have left. It isn't fair that I have to choose between you two."
"Maybe. But that's just how things are, Michael. We both have our own cause that we would never betray for anything… Not even family." He replied sternly.
Michael lets out a sigh of defeat. He knew there was no way of convincing him to return to Marley with him. But it was worth a try.
"I don't want to kill you, Michael. But I cannot allow your "allies" to come between us and the hope for a better future."
"That's exactly what we're fighting for!" Michael attempted to get through to him. "That's why we need the Founding Titan. It is the world's only chance at breaking free of its endless cycle of hatred."
"I've heard enough." Erwin turns his back to him. "You're ten minutes are up. You must go now."
"Wait! I need more time. There's still so much I wish to say."
"If you stay here, you will be discovered, captured, and executed for your crimes. We know that your powers can be taken away by another Ackerman. Levi will not hesitate to strip you of your powers and give them either to Mikasa or keep them for himself. I don't want that to happen. Go now while you still can." He warned.
"This can't be the last time I ever see you! It can't!" Michael shouted back. His eyes started filling up with tears.
Erwin notices his pain. But the best thing he could do was let him run away. If he refused, then his fate would be out of his hand.
"Think about everything I said to you. It isn't too late to do the right thing." He turns around to properly look his son in the eyes, showing him how serious he was. "Join us again. Share everything you know about the world beyond the walls with us. Help us move forward."
"… I can't, Dad. Not like this. There has to be another way."
"There isn't one, and you know it." Erwin shakes his head in disappointment and opens his office window. "Last chance. Leave now and you may just survive."
Michael hangs his head in shame and climbs out the open window. Though he was in the heart of Wall Rose, in a city full of patrolling guards, he wasn't too far away from the nearest entrance to the tunnels.
As he was climbing out the window, he hears Erwin speak to him, probably for the last time.
"I will always love you, son." Michael pauses for a moment so that he could look back at him. "Be warned though that we will meet again. Only next time, it'll be as enemies."
Michael acknowledges his warning and continues climbing down the drainpipe. Erwin stares out the window and watches him sneak through the streets until he was out of sight.
He then closes his window and sits back down in his chair. As bad as his stress was before, seeing Michael again only made it worse. Now he has to live with the fact that he may have to kill his son if he were to get in his way. If only he had never met him.
To Be Continued