1st POV

.

.

The lengths this world goes through just to keep the timeline in check is mind-blowing. The survival of Levi Squad eliminated the necessity of choosing replacements for said squad, presenting me with a perplexing challenge. Convincing Levi to mentor the new recruits seemed impractical since he didn't require additional members, and the same applied to Hanji and the other squads. This situation left me uneasy about the prospects for season 3, but it was a burden I willingly accepted, driven by the desire to spare any further loss of life.

To my utter surprise, Erwin promoted me to squad leader and assigned me the responsibility of teaming up with the special operations squad to ensure the protection of the two royals.

That was way too convenient and I had to look up at the sky in disbelief after exiting the office, flabbergasted by this wild turn of events. But who was I to complain?! I ain't looking a gift horse in the mouth! I immediately accepted! I hadn't even thought of this!

In any case, we found ourselves in the same cabin the anime showed, far from any civilization.

My small squad, which consisted of my beans, Jean, Connie, Sasha, Ymir, and Marco. Erwin left Eren under my care. Not sure how the government will take this, but I couldn't give a rat's ass. I had the freedom to include anyone, but I decided to give Mina and Thomas a break. Thomas, being prone to freaking out, didn't deserve to face the madness of this upcoming arc.

Speaking of arcs, there was a lot to unpack.

Ymir's survival and Dina's involvement added an unexpected twist, potentially altering Historia's fate as a queen. However, in this world where events were set in stone, she might still find herself on the throne. The thought troubled me, considering her young age and the immense weight of political responsibilities she would have to bear. It was a heavy burden for someone so young, and even I couldn't imagine having the patience for all that political mumbo jumbo. Nevertheless, I remained unsure about the best course of action to take in this situation.

Let her take the throne and strip her of her freedom?

Just the thought of it made me uncomfortable and uneasy, and I couldn't bear the idea of subjecting Dina to such a fate, considering she had already endured the horrors of being a mindless titan for so long. She had finally been freed from that nightmarish existence, and it would weigh heavily on my conscience to impose further restrictions on her life.

Pragmatism and emotions were not a good combination that's for sure.

Not sure if the population will readily accept a purely military-led government, especially considering the current state of affairs. The government itself appears to be growing restless as the Survey Corps gains popularity not only among those residing within the walls but even those from Sina.

Their attempts to obstruct the scouts have become increasingly challenging. However, I find great delight in witnessing the recognition of Erwin Smith's brilliance grow even further, particularly after the last expedition's success without any casualties. This success has garnered us, the shifters, more hope and support, making it harder for detractors to demonize us.

Apart from that, my clones were tasked with monitoring the events unfolding in the world. #1, who was especially vigilant, had been providing me with regular updates over the past few months.

#1 was still in charge of the underground and had rapidly built a reputation you guys must be familiar with, [God]. Rather ironic, all things considered.

For the past two years, she has been giving the interior police a tough time as they were tasked with apprehending her. It's astonishing that she continues to play this game, especially since she is the most serious and composed clone among us. But then again, she is me, which should be self explanatory.

With her sudden appearance, the public's disdain towards the government seemed to intensify, and all their efforts to suppress this sentiment proved futile. The dissatisfaction among the citizens with the current regime had already taken root, and her presence only served to reinforce it further.

Sucks to be them.

Thanks to the enhanced living conditions in the underground and the decline in crime rates, the evacuation plan proceeded smoothly without any hiccups. While there were some initial worries about food supplies, those concerns were addressed once confirmation arrived that Wall Rose remained secure and had not been breached. As a result, the population returned to their regular routines with a sense of reassurance.

Ragako had been placed under quarantine due to the presence of Titans in the area. Right now, the idea of reversing them back into humans was deemed impractical, as it would raise suspicion and potentially jeopardize our plans. Nonetheless, I couldn't shake the belief that operations against the Survey Corps were imminent, a concern that Erwin seemed well aware of and prepared for.

Hopefully they'd follow Canon. Who am I kidding? They'll definitely follow Canon.

#2 had been stationed in Marley, responsible for providing me with regular updates on the situation there. Interestingly, she had established a restaurant that was currently thriving. Meanwhile, clones #3, #4, and #5 were spread across different continents, engaging in similar endeavors with slight variations. As for clone #6, after discovering the cure, she promptly skedaddled on a well-deserved vacation to some unknown destination.

Nevertheless, we couldn't afford to be complacent. The time skip after the end of season 2 to the start of season 3 remained uncertain to me—weeks, months, who knows? But one thing was certain: I was determined to utilize every moment to its fullest potential.

Upon receiving an unexpected promotion, I noticed the raised eyebrows of my colleagues, but surprisingly, no one commented negatively on it. The scouts actually warmly welcomed the news, likely due to my excellent reputation among them.

Good food never fails in bringing people together. Or whatever they say.

This pleasant surprise was short-lived though, as the urgency of the situation allowed no time for celebration, and within mere minutes, I was already engrossed in the tasks at hand.

The addition of Isabel and Furlan to Levi Squad came as no surprise, but what truly caught me off guard was...

"...Magnolia?" Eren repeated, stunned.

Isabel stopped mid-babble and stared at him in question. "Huh? Yeah, that's my last name."

"Is there a problem, Eren?" Mikasa inquired, her hand gently resting on Eren's shoulder, attempting to shake him out of his stupor. Armin and I exchanged bewildered glances and then joined in, asking if he was okay.

He let out a breath and uttered, "That's my mom's last name."

The room fell silent. Isabel gaped.

My eyes widened so much it hurt.

Isabel and Eren were related.

A development I sure as hell didn't see coming. Heck, it didn't even cross my mind, and what little we knew about Carla, let alone her background as a waitress, didn't help. For Allah's sake, they never mentioned her last name!

Then again, I shouldn't be surprised by this revelation; some fans had already speculated on this theory, pointing out the striking physical and spiritual similarities between Eren and Isabel. Attributing it mostly to the author's intention to create a parallel between the two and possibly push Levi to care about Eren. Although that last part was on me.

To be honest, it was a rather surprising revelation, but I found some comfort in the fact that the kid had more relatives out there. Dina's kind gesture of informing him about his grandparents was appreciated.

Yes, Eren finally spoke to the woman. I couldn't help but intervene, gently nudging him in the right direction. It's tough to watch him carry those grudges, but despite his rebellious nature, he still listens to me. The bond between us runs deep, and I cherish those moments—the perks of being a mama I guess.

As for Dina, she knows.

Know what, you ask?

What I am, naturally.

Why wasn't I panicking? Oh, I definitely did at the beginning. It seemed like every titan, and their grandma knew what I was. And my interactions with Mavea and Ethel proved it. The signs were undeniable.

But nothing could have prepared me for the overwhelming astonishment I felt when Dina, upon waking up, broke down in tears and thanked me profusely for saving her. I was taken aback but didn't think much of it and thought it would end there.

Little did I know that she would call me [Mother] leaving me utterly bamboozled.

Oh boy! Dieu merci, no one was around.

Nevertheless, this implies that I'll have to disclose what I am if I plan to transform all the Titans back into humans.

Just. Great.

I must admit, the idea terrifies me, but I can't allow myself to keep that mindset. Even though I dislike it, I've already resolved to move forward with my decision.

I'll leave it up to future Colith to deal with this.

Me? A coward?

I insisted that she promise to keep it all a secret. At first, Dina was confused, but once I explained the situation and saw her unwavering devotion, she agreed to keep it confidential. Her profound dedication caught me by surprise, and it led me to a daunting realization: This level of devotion would be true for every Titan I saved.

Fuck.

Apart from the looming possibility of a cult forming in the future, which would be future Colith's problem to deal with, the next few days passed without any major issues. My new squad was initially a bit uneasy about everything, but they adapted to the training smoothly.

"WHAT THE FUCK ?!" Connie screeched.

"MOVE MOVE MOVE!!" Jean shouted and swiftly pulled Sasha back, narrowly evading a vicious swipe that could have torn them to pieces. Unfortunately, the tree behind them was not as fortunate.

"Whoops."

"Whoops? WHOOPS?! ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL US?! WHAT IF I DIDN'T DODGE IN TIME?" Jean snapped.

"Yeah!" Sasha agreed.

Ymir rolled her eyes, simply offering a grunt in response.

"Now now guys," I called, drawing their attention toward me, "None of that! You know it's for your own good! And don't worry about dying, it ain't happening on my watch so keep it up!"

"But Colith—"

"Give it your all!"

Ymir cackled and then pounced. More screaming ensued.

Speed and evasion tactics were the focus. Confronting a smaller titan had its benefits—it honed their reaction time, especially when dealing with the swift Jaw Titan, which outpaced your typical titan, even faster than the Cart Titan. These exercises not only familiarized Ymir with her abilities but also enhanced her stamina and reflexes for encounters with multiple opponents or targets. Despite the initial protests, noticeable improvements emerged on both sides, making it a win-win situation.

And after having consumed the hardening liquid, her titan became truly fearsome.

Heck, she bore no resemblance to her former self. I had assumed her titan's lack of transformation was a result of two factors: firstly, they used spinal fluid from regular titans on her, and secondly, she lacked the hardening ability.

Upon witnessing the Galliard brothers' version of the Jaw Titan for the first time, a whimsical theory crossed my mind. Considering Marley's vast resources and expertise, the idea that they could amplify their titan's viciousness didn't seem entirely far-fetched.

The extent of their experiments was truly remarkable, and having Sieg with his peculiar and challenging-to-handle spinal fluid in their possession added to the complexity. Fortunately, true to his nature, the cunning individual kept his secrets guarded, just as one would anticipate from someone like him. Al hamdulillah for small mercies.

Her titan had undergone significant changes. A bone-white, Porco-like structure encased her entire face, leaving only two eye holes. The new mouth featured razor-sharp teeth, easily capable of slicing through regular hardening—a fact that didn't amuse Eren. However, considering she was the Jaw Titan, her previous biting force was already formidable. The bone-like hardening extended to safeguard her nape, collarbones, and knees. Meanwhile, her hands and feet exhibited a fading crimson hue, with long, honed claws made of the same composition.

To top it all off, the icing on the cake was the addition of two small horns proudly jutting from her forehead, complemented by the striking transformation of her eyes—golden pupils now replacing the eerie white dots she had before.

I could feel Ymir laughing at my expense. That little shit. She did that on purpose, I just knew it. The new design was incredibly familiar, especially after I remembered gifting her Bleach volumes some days ago. There was definitely an inspiration.

With my spinal fluid in her system, it would have been an easy task to permanently remove the horns. Nevertheless, I chose to let them be, as it didn't seem like a significant issue in the grand scheme of things. Moreover, Ymir appeared to be fond of her new appearance, especially after Ilse showed her a sketch of her previous form, which further cemented her appreciation for the transformation.

Speaking of the freckled artist, she wasn't slow to piece things together. However, I swiftly intervened, dissuading her from bombarding the shifter with questions that would undoubtedly land her on both Ymir and Historia's shitlist.

A sharp cookie she was, but a smart one? Yikes.

Mentioning the reason why she had been turned into a Titan would make anyone violent.

But back to the topic, Ymir looked like a menace.

I knew she had been able to speak before, so when I saw her new mug, particularly focusing on the lack of lips, I grimaced, displeased that she lost that ability.

"What's wrong with my face?"

Everybody stopped what they where doing to gape at her.

"Y-You can speak...?" Marco squeaked from a tree, flabbergasted.

"What does it look like I'm doing? Dancing?" despite the lack of expression, the deadpan was clear in her tone.

As funny as a dancing titan would undoubtedly be a sight to behold, we were dealing with a Falco situation here so let's leave the titan-nae nae for another day.

All in all, she had a normal mouth just behind the structure.

Eren sulked for the rest of the evening.

"I made you some omurice!"

He was quick to bounce back.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Are you planning to stand there and ogle at me all day?" I teased, flashing a lazy grin. "I mean, I know I'm drop-dead gorgeous, but I'm not sure Petra will be too thrilled with you ogling other women, you know."

"Are you a mage?"

"I'm not a Wi— oh that's a new one!" I blinked, "But nah, I just know a few tricks, don't worry about it."

He frowned and crossed his arms. I looked at him funny.

"If you have nothing better to say, you can leave you know, I'm busy with these so shoo." I said, waving some papers and then resumed my work.

"Why?"

"You're gonna have to be more specific, bootleg," I said without looking up from my work. I was stuck writing those damn reports on my team's progress, and they're due tomorrow. Being a team leader comes with a load of responsibilities and paperwork. Man, I'm already regretting this shit. He grumbled some incoherent nonsense, but I didn't bother trying to figure out what he said.

"Why the heck do you care about all this? Why the hell did you even join?"

"What's it to you? I enlisted because I wanted to, alright? Now quit with the interrogation; got anything else to waste my time with?"

His face showed sheer frustration.

Now that I think about it, ever since we came back, Oluo had been uncharacteristically quiet. Surprisingly, the hostile remarks and irritation directed at me were no longer present. Initially, I didn't pay much attention to it and assumed it was because of the near-death experience he went through. I mean, getting chomped on by the colossal titan with all that hellish heat – anyone would be pretty peeved after that.

I was just about to shoo him away when he persisted.

"I should be six feet under, but here I am, still kicking because of what?" He yanked the necklace into view. "A dumb fucking rock—"

"It's a gem, but I fail to see how it has to do with—"

"Everything!" he interrupted sharply. "You make no damn sense, and yet, everyone seems to buy into it! The worst part is, you act like you know exactly what you're doing!"

"Hah, let me guess! You're still convinced I'm gonna stab you all in the back, right?"

"N-no, I—urgh, I don't—" he stammered, unable to find the right words.

"What?" I raised an eyebrow, observing him with amusement and bewilderment at his agitated demeanor. Catching the attention of the other members of Levi Squad, I signaled that I'd handle the situation. Despite his usual annoying and arrogant behavior, our bickering had its charm, and his sudden change left me taken aback. My thoughts were interrupted by an irritated huff from him, prompting me to look at him in question.

"Just, just thank you, alright?!" he blurted out abruptly, catching me off guard.

"What?"

"And, yeah, you got promoted, but don't think you're some big-shot now, capiche?! You're still a snot-nosed rookie, so keep that in check!"

I watched him storm off, leaving me utterly puzzled.

"What in the world just happened?"

After that incident, our interactions pretty much reverted to their usual state, and the animosity had dissipated.

"You know, you're way less annoying when you drop the Levi act," I teased.

"IT'S CAPTAIN LEVI TO YOU, BRAT—"

Yeah, we might not be the best of friends, but things weren't all that bad between us.

Coincidentally, Oluo wasn't the only one I had some type of...heart to heart talk though, since, well...

"Not what you were expecting, heh?"

"W-what?"

"The pretty grey titan turns out to be a some weird lady you've never seen before. Is that why you've been avoiding me?"

"I haven't been avoiding you..."

"Oh? Then why does it look like you were just about to run off?"

"... I wasn't."

"Sure, sure, it's not like it's the first time. Go ahead, ask anything you want to know. Why is my skin so dark? It's because of a high concentration of melanin generated over centuries, even millennia, under the sun. I've heard that the first humans to ever exist were actually dark-skinned, although I could be mistaken. Melanin is a pigment found in everyone that affects skin and hair color. The more you have, the darker your skin gets."

For the first time in weeks, Furlan stared at me, utterly flabbergasted.

"That's not... why I've been avoiding you?"

"Oh? Then what's the reason?" I inquired.

Furlan blinked, seemingly processing his words before his face turned beet red as he stammered. He looked away, leaving me puzzled.

"Wait, hold on, you're not weirded out by my skin? I thought that was why—" I paused, then took a moment to study his aura and nearly recoiled in surprise.

Oh.

OH.

For his sake, and to preserve his dignity, I tactfully shifted the conversation to more mundane matters, such as how he and Isabel were managing. Furlan readily embraced the change in topic, which didn't raise any suspicions at all.

The duo had initially been out of the loop, given all the developments during their absence. However, the process of smoothly reintegrating them into our ranks was well underway. Of course, had to take precautions to prevent any potential spies from snitching through mind manipulation.

Receiving new recruits midway wasn't as unusual as one might expect, although it remained a relatively rare event. After all, the Survey Corps was typically the last destination for transfers. More commonly, soldiers transferred out of the Scouts and into the Garrison. The Military Police Brigade, on the other hand, had its own distinct recruitment methods, which naturally set them apart from the close-knit camaraderie shared by the Scouts and Garrison.

I didn't have the opportunity to observe how things unfolded after their inclusion in the special operations squad, as I was engrossed in my own duties and the paperwork that goes with it. Nonetheless, I did notice a significant change in their overall dynamic. While Eld still retained his position as Levi's right-hand man, with Furlan's return, I wouldn't be surprised if Levi began entrusting some tasks to him, especially considering the upcoming arc.

And Isabel? Boy oh boy, that girl was the embodiment of chaos. She had a way of interacting with Levi that could induce an aneurysm in just about anyone. She clung to him like a koala most of the time, causing quite the spectacle. The funniest part? Levi didn't seem to mind it at all, which only added to the cognitive dissonance. If the mere act of flirting with him was enough to trigger Oluo, you can only imagine his reaction when Isabel, their 'new' recruit, practically tackled Levi without a care in the world.

It became even more amusing when he realized that, technically, she was older than him. This meant he couldn't really call her a brat or try to boss her around, especially with Levi and Furlan watching from the sidelines. Nevertheless, it seemed like the duo had integrated smoothly, though Gunther and Isabel's interactions were hilarious. Girl sure knows how to hold a grudge.

However, I couldn't help but notice that Furlan appeared distracted whenever we sparred during Titan training. This was a stark contrast to his focused demeanor when facing off against Eren or Ymir. My Titan form was, to put it mildly, gorgeous, ethereal even, and the times I caught him stealing glances at me while I visited the cabin back then were quite telling.

It was clear that the guy was smitten. Not with Colith, but with Lith the Titan. And I suppose discovering that the Titan you had a sort of crush on was, in fact, a woman who seemed to be infamous for shamelessly flirting with your childhood best friend.

Oh boy.

Now, I understood why he'd been avoiding me and why his aura bore a complex mix of conflict, shame, and longing.

To him, I was technically 'younger' than Isabel.

Yeah, that, that was awkward...

"Aren't you a little too young to be flirting with Levi?" Furlan frowned suddenly as if hearing my thoughts.

Well crap basket—

"Would you look at that? It's time to make dinner!"

"We're in the middle of the afternoon—"

"Toodles!"

Future Colith's problem, Future Colith's problem, Future—

"Hanji, no."

"Hanji, yes!"

I pinched the bridge of my nose, "Look, I know you're eager to test these, but it's going to be incredibly noisy. Shifting alone generates enough sound, but with these, we'll practically be announcing our location to everyone."

"She's got a point," Levi chimed in.

"Oh, hush you!" Hanji hissed, clearly not thrilled with his agreement before turning to me with big puppy eyes.

Despite my reservations, Hanji was relentless in her pursuit of innovation. Or chaos in general. I understood her fascination with pushing the boundaries of our titan abilities, but this time, I feared the noise would outweigh any tactical advantage.

She wanted to test grenades on my crystallization.

How on earth did she get those?

I may or may not be to blame.

Allow me to explain. With the knowledge that the rest of the world was out to get them, especially with Dina's assistance, they became acutely aware of their technological disadvantage.

While they relied on carts for transportation, other nations possessed advanced vehicles such as cars, ships, submarines, and planes. Some even had airships, though I personally consider them impractical. Moreover, there were anti-titan weapons and whatever they had going on gaining popularity out there.

And given that Paradis was decades, nay, a century, behind everyone else, and only had trillions of colossal titans to its name—which should've been a deterrent, but, well, shiganshina—it came to absolutely no one's surprise that, yeah, they were in deep shit.

Thankfully, coming from a different world and still having internet allowed me to obtain blueprints for various inventions, books, and with the power to create whatever the heck I wish, popping the required resources to construct them was no big deal, so we're safe on that front.

Still, it was kind of mind boggling when I realized that I had access to the real deal, not just incomplete stuff too, even though I understood jack shit about what I was mostly seeing. I mean, If I was told to build a microwave from scratch, I'd probably laugh in your face and tell you to get the hell outta my face before I slap you. Knowing how something works versus knowing how to build the damn thing is waaaay too different.

Becoming an op deity? Sure, why the hell not. Wrapping my head around science and weapon engineering mumbo jumbo ? Yeah, no.

Anyway, you might be sitting there, pondering: "Why the heck was I arming them?" Even though my previous world was, for lack of a better term, a total mess, it was only when we got our hands on weapons of mass destruction that things sort of chilled out – well, as much as they could, considering the ongoing minor clashes.

Now, the big question: Was I actually planning to let them dive into this arsenal?

Hell to the no.

I ain't out of my mind – the humans in this realm are on a whole 'nother level of crazy. No way in hell am I about to introduce them to nuclear power. They've already got titans for that.

Nah, my motive was simple: I just wanted them to have the means to stand their ground. 'Cause, let's be real, nobody in their right mind goes picking fights with someone packing more heat than they are. Yet, I get it – you're probably thinking, "Isn't that just gonna keep the cycle of hate going? Dish out the tools to defend, and they might just turn greedy and unleash havoc all over again!" And yeah, I'm well aware of that grim fact. Humans sure know how to wreck things.

The thing is, that's only possible without me in the picture, and considering that I'M in the picture, well, not planning on letting that happen. This matter was primarily discussed between Erwin, myself, and Pixis. Meeting Pixis was an inevitable event, especially given the future events that were looming. If I had any reservations about his eccentricity, particularly in relation to his desire to be devoured by a giant woman, the old man didn't bring it up. He was too absorbed in digesting the revelations about their world to indulge in such comments.

In the anime, everything hung in the balance of Erwin's audacious gamble. However, this time, armed with concrete evidence to support their cause, Pixis was resolute in his determination to bring about change. I had never seen such determination in an old man's eyes as I did in that moment.

While I might not have a deep understanding of politics and all its intricacies, it was clear that both commanders, who were far from being warmongering dipshits, approved of the ideas I presented.

But here's the deal: once the power shift goes down, that's when the real makeover of Paradis, as I like to call it, will kick off. Let's not kid ourselves, though – I'm not buying into the idea that a bunch of these officials won't see it as a golden opportunity to start a fight or push for some serious payback for what went down five years ago. Don't worry, though, I'm totally on it. I'll make sure to shut down any of those thoughts before they even get a chance to sprout.

When I got asked where all this high-tech wizardry came from, I was seriously scratching my head for an answer.

"Oh, you know, just run-of-the-mill stuff back in my world, I'm from a different world you know? Oh yeah, y'all are manga characters!"

Yeaaah no.

Feeling a bit lost, I just blurted out the first thing that popped into my head, "They're from home."

Admittedly not my finest moment, but it beat flat-out lying or pretending I whipped them up myself. I'm definitely no genius inventor, and I'm fully aware of that fact.

To the surprise of absolutely no one, questions concerning the location of 'home' were raised and I simply told them the same thing I told my beans; woke up six years ago in a forest, yadda yadda yadda and left it at that. They were skeptical but I refused to further elaborate. Regrettably, we couldn't jump into constructing all those grand things, which disappointed Hanji – she was obsessed with that darn airship, typical. So, we had to settle for smaller projects.

Like the Grenade she was currently trying to test on me.

I eventually gave in, which earned me a strange look from Levi and a joyful whoop from Hanji. It's not like I hadn't cast a soundproof barrier in a 2km radius every time we went titan training.

"You really think this is a good idea? I mean, I'm happy you're rolling with it, but things could get overwhelming."

I gave a casual shrug, replying, "Well, it's either this or going with the rumbling option. And honestly, I'd rather avoid that whole mess."

"Heh, I wouldn't mind that, to be honest. What? Don't give me that look, it's pretty monotonous having to watch Mikasa all day when he's not busy."

"Oh? I thought you shipped them."

"Believe me, I do, but I'd rather not get stuck in a teenager's fantasy," Ymir shuddered, prompting a chuckle from me. "But seriously, are you really certain about this?"

I let out a thoughtful hum, responding, "Yeah, no worries. Starting small and working my way up seems like the best plan."

Ymir winced, "I suppose, fine, whatever tickles your fancy." With a swift move, she nabbed the vial from my grasp, adding, "It's not like I'm some bona fide Goddess. Who knows what effect it'll have on you? Hopefully, the headaches won't be as brutal as they were for me."

I did a double take, blurting out, "Wait, what headaches—"

Before I could finish, Ymir had already downed the vial in one gulp.

.

.

3rd POV

.

.

"Hmm?"

"Is something wrong, Captain Jaeger?"

"Oh, no, no, pay me no heed," Sieg remarked, waving a hand dismissively. He placed a hand on his chest, a quizzical look forming on his face.

'How... '

'...Curious,'

Erwin pondered, his eyebrows raised in intrigue as the peculiar sensation vanished as swiftly as it arrived.

The commander of the Survey Corps found himself puzzled for a moment but swiftly returned to his tasks, shrugging off the odd sensation until a knock on the door caught his attention.

"What was that?"

"Huh? You felt it too?"

"Yeah! It was all warm and fuzzy, and then poof, gone!"

"That's so weird. Maybe we're sick or something..."

"Nope! I'm totally fine! See, I can lift those without a problem!"

"Gabi, you've always been able to lift those. You're strong," Falco said with a slight giggle.

He emitted a curious noise, looking up. The few titans visible from his cabin seemed to have momentarily recoiled before nonchalantly continuing their aimless meandering.

"Judging by your startled expression, I'd venture to guess that this isn't an everyday occurrence?"

Although his guest hadn't been here for long, this marked their first exchange. Old man Arlert absentmindedly scratched the back of his head.

"Well, I can't say for certain, but they do have their peculiar moments. You'll find yourself adapting to it over time," the old man chuckled. The visitor offered no reply, prompting Arlert to clear his throat.

A tough crowd indeed.

"You're finally kicking the bucket, Captain?"

"Don't be too dang ridiculous. That ain't near enough to stop an old coot like me," Kenny grunted, nonchalantly patting his chest. "What's it you're after?"

Caven casually tossed him a letter, and Kenny snatched it out of the air with ease.

Upon spotting the stamp on the letter, Kenny let loose a string of colorful curses before begrudgingly settling down to read it.

Mikasa quietly closed the door. A sigh escaped her lips, a mixture of weariness and worry hanging in the air.

"Is she alright?" came a sudden voice from behind, causing her to startle. Her body tensed as she swiftly turned to find Levi, casually leaning against the wall, his steely gaze fixed upon her.

Suppressing a growl, her narrowed eyes met his, and she answered with a hint of irritation in her clipped tone, "Yes. Just asleep."

An awkward silence hung in the air for a moment, punctuated by the weight of unspoken thoughts. Mikasa couldn't fathom what Colith saw in this man, couldn't wrap her head around it. Levi hadn't done anything to her personally, but an inexplicable discomfort lingered within her, making it impossible to warm up to him.

"I see," Levi eventually responded.

Mikasa's eye twitched, and she finally broke the silence, her tone crisp, "May I help you, sir?"

He sighed softly, his posture straightening as he replied, "No, just checking."

Her gaze remained fixed on him as he strode past her, toward the stairs, seemingly on his way downstairs.

"You like her, don't you?" she asked, forsaking hierarchy.

Levi's steps came to an abrupt halt.

"I am not having this discussion with you, cadet," he retorted, his eyes narrowing as he continued his descent, leaving no room for the girl to counter.

Mikasa couldn't help but scoff in response.

Technically, he hadn't denied it.

She may not like him, but an irrepressible wry smile tugged at her lips.

The door swung open abruptly, revealing a slightly disoriented Colith. Mikasa sprang into action, hastening to assist her in regaining her balance.

"Are you okay? Do you need anything?" she inquired with genuine concern.

Colith's response came slowly, her voice still groggy. "I, I think I'm good. How long have I been out?"

"Five hours," Mikasa replied softly.

A quiet "damn" slipped from Colith's lips as she frowned, her eyes switching from glazed to focused repeatedly. Mikasa watched her closely, her own worry etched across her face.

Just hours ago, during their training session, Colith had suddenly collapsed, sending a ripple of momentary panic through the group. None among them could discern the cause; neither Historia nor Marco had detected any physical issues—no injuries, no signs of exhaustion. She had been drifting in and out of consciousness until this very moment, and even now, she appeared as though she might collapse again at any given moment.

The following day, it was as though nothing unusual had occurred. Colith exhibited an almost miraculous recovery, seamlessly resuming her daily activities, even as the others couldn't help but worry about her. She repeatedly assured everyone that she was perfectly fine, and to drive the point home, effortlessly hoisted ten boxes that even Mikasa would have found challenging. While most of the group seemed convinced by her display, Mikasa couldn't shake her skepticism, a sentiment echoed by Armin.

"Something about her feels different." Armin had said and she couldn't help but agree with him.

There were moments when she appeared rather unusual, particularly in the way her eyes seemed to possess an uncanny knack for peering beneath the surface, delving into the thoughts and emotions of others. However, since she appeared physically well, those peculiar glimpses were often dismissed as mere quirks, and Mikasa chose to overlook them.

"What was he like before?"

"Who?"

"... Dad."

Dina's gaze softened as she closed her book and regarded Eren with a melancholic smile. The boy hadn't welcomed her presence, and she understood why. Unintentionally, she had ended his mother's life, which understandably fueled his hostility toward her. On one hand, his fervent determination to make things right reminded her greatly of Grisha, or at least what she had glimpsed of Eren.

She conveyed her perspective to him, and he responded with a peculiar expression, appearing genuinely perplexed and largely unconvinced. It came as a surprise to her how the Grisha she had once known seemed to be an entirely different person from the one Eren described. According to him, Grisha was notably more composed, if not tamer, and less inclined to be driven solely by his emotions. The sole constant seemed to be his chosen profession.

She was surprised but ultimately kept it to herself. After all, neither of them possessed precise knowledge of how Grisha had originally become a shifter or how he had managed to survive. The conversation then shifted to her son, Sieg, and she described the cruelty he had endured.

"In a way, I don't hold it against him for what he's done," she confessed. Back then, she hadn't comprehended the depth of his distress, blinded by her hatred for Marley and the sudden betrayal from her own flesh and blood. It was only after her transformation and years of being trapped that she had the opportunity to reflect on her actions and what might have led to Sieg's ultimate betrayal.

In the end, he was just a child, and they had failed as parents.

"Dad never pressured me into anything," Eren admitted.

"Even though he knew about the outside world?" Dina inquired, surprised.

Eren shook his head, his brows furrowing in thought. "He's never mentioned it, or at least I don't think I remember if he did."

Dina lowered her gaze, a hint of regret in her eyes. "I see, it appears he's learned from his mistakes. I wish we had done so sooner," she sighed, her voice tinged with remorse.

"Yeah, you guys were awful, but I guess the situation called for it, since you were fighting for freedom."

She winced slightly at his words but chose not to dispute them.

"What's your plan if you meet him?"

"Meet him?" she asked, seeking clarification.

"Colith mentioned he's the current wielder of the Beast Titan. We might face him in the future. No clue what'll happen to him if we capture him, but if you cross paths with him, what will you do?"

Without hesitation, she responded, "Apologize. I'd apologize for everything." Her words carried a weight of sincerity and remorse.

"Even though he's cleary an enemy and doesn't care about Eldians?"

"He's still my son," she said with a heavy sigh. "I'm fully aware he must've committed unspeakable acts to reach where he is now, but... I can't help but long to see him and extend my apologies. I know he's likely disowned me as his mother, and there's a certainty that he'll reject me once he discovers I survived." Her voice quivered with emotion. "If, if it's at all possible, may I attempt to persuade him to change his allegiance?"

"I'm not the one you should be asking that," Eren replied flatly, implying that the decision wasn't his to make.

"I know, but I feel it's necessary to share with you," Dina admitted.

Eren stared at her briefly, then shrugged indifferently. "Suit yourself," he responded, signaling the end of their conversation. As he left her room, she sighed, relieved that the discussion hadn't erupted into a heated argument.

"It went rather well. I was anticipating more shouting, but I suppose I raised him well,"

She jumped in surprise and turned her head toward a corner of her room, eyes wide with shock. There stood [Mother]—or rather, Colith, who raised a hand innocently.

"Didn't mean to eavesdrop, just making sure the kid doesn't try to strangle you in my absence," she chuckled lightly. Dina offered a nervous chuckle in return.

"So, it seems you're concerned about your son, eh?" Colith remarked. "Don't worry, we'll do our best to recruit him to our cause."

Dina's heart skipped a beat at the reassurance from [Mother], feeling a warmth of gratitude for her support. Dina sensed Colith's reluctance to disclose certain information, and her curiosity got the better of her.

"Are you... planning to share it with them eventually?" she asked cautiously.

Colith fell silent, her gaze drifting into the distance. She felt a pang of concern, fearing she might have upset her. Then, to her relief, Colith let out a snort.

"I guess I'll have to spill the beans eventually. Gotta ensure they don't go into full-blown panic mode, you know? Yeah, it'll be fine."

"You don't...sound entirely convinced."

"That bad?"

She nodded with a grimace. Colith sighed. There was a lull in the conversation.

"How's everything going with Historia?"

Dina hummed. Having had numerous conversations with the young girl, both being of royal lineage, she had an inkling of the expectations placed upon them. The possibility of one of them ascending to the throne loomed, a responsibility that felt overwhelming. Nonetheless, a bond had formed between them, and she made it her mission to provide reassurance and support to Historia to the best of her abilities. Over time, their connection had deepened. She told her as much.

She was mostly left alone when inside the cabin but had a guard accompany her when outside. This allowed her to become acquainted with her new entourage, especially [Mother]'s children, Mikasa and Armin. Mikasa, the young Asian girl, often observed her with an air of indifference and remained mostly silent when on guard duty. Armin, on the other hand, maintained a generally civil demeanor, exchanging greetings and occasionally posing questions about the world beyond.

The others were generally polite, though some exhibited signs of wariness around her. Interestingly, the individuals she had met during the meeting seemed entirely unfazed by her presence. Nonetheless, she was never left alone with the bespectacled woman named Hanji, who displayed an intense fascination with her physiology.

Colith nodded but didn't offer any additional comments. Afterward, she took her leave, leaving Dina to sit alone by the window, her gaze contemplative as she stared outside.

The moon looked exceptionally lovely this evening.

"Wait, let me ask again. So this thing can really prevent death?"

"I thought that was already clear—"

"Shut up, Ymir, let her respond! So?"

"Yes, pretty much."

"How?!"

"And if your response is 'Magic~' once more, I swear I'll go insane!"

Colith wisely kept her mouth shut.

During a training break, Connie suddenly recalled the necklaces and promptly directed his question to Colith, effectively capturing the entire squad's interest. Up until now, Colith had been quite evasive regarding their origin.

With a sigh, she decided to finally provide an explanation. The necklaces did indeed prevent death, but solely in cases of accidental demise. Wearing them ensured that death by old age would be the only outcome. If the body endured a lethal injury, the gem embedded within would swiftly react by mending the—

"But how?!" Connie blurted out.

The boy yelped in pain as Jean swiftly delivered a resounding smack to the back of his head. "Don't interrupt her, you idiot! But seriously, how does it work?"

"Ha! Just admit you were curious too!" Connie retorted, earning a flustered grumble from Jean.

The distinct sound of a blade being drawn redirected their attention to Colith, who had produced a knife seemingly out of thin air. Nobody really reacted with alarm when she sliced her arm, having grown accustomed to such actions from the frequent shifter healing sessions. What truly surprised them, however, was the way the wound vanished almost instantly right before their eyes.

"Hold on, I think I've seen this before..." Armin chimed in suddenly, breaking the stunned silence. Colith nodded with a smile.

"I believe you might be referring to the trial," she said, prompting the blond to nod.

"The trial?" Marco questioned.

"Yes, that's what you used after being shot, correct?" Armin clarified, face grim.

"It's called [Instant Heal]. I had to use it instead of the other method since my heart was directly hit," she confirmed.

"I-I see.." the freckled boy stammered, face pale.

"Besides the fact that you can...do that," Ymir began, blinking slowly, "I'm not sure why you'd show this to us—"

Ymir's words were abruptly cut off by a gasp from Armin, who seemed to have connected the dots. The blond eagerly shared his theory, and Colith proudly confirmed it. The gem will trigger the spell automatically, nullifying death and placing the person in a sort of slumber that only she can awaken them from.

The not-casualties from the recent expedition, Mike and his squad...it all suddenly made sense. Sorta.

"That...kind of explains everything, actually," Jean mused, dumbfounded like everyone except Eren, Mikasa and Armin.

"But how is any of this even possible? How can you do that?" Connie questioned.

"Magic~"

Their collective response was an immediate series of groans, followed by Colith's amused chuckles.

Eren examined the jewel with newfound interest. "What's stopping us from just taking them off? Anyone can just try to snatch it, no?"

"Try removing it, then," Colith suggested.

They all attempted and failed.

"What the hell..."

"It won't budge...!" Sasha exclaimed, struggling to free herself from the necklace.

"Only I can remove them," Colith declared, easily snatching the one from around Mikasa's neck. "As for those without one, they'll get a nasty surprise if they attempt to steal it."

Her sharp grin was enough to dissuade them from pressing for further details. This unquestionably raised more questions than it answered, further highlighting Colith's baffling knack for defying logic. If things weren't strange enough in her presence, this certainly pushed the boundaries of the bizarre.

"You sure you're not some kind of fairy?" Connie scrutinized her suspiciously.

"Fairy?!" Sasha gasped, her attention snapping to Colith, who was now holding an apple in her hand.

"Who knows."

"IT WAS YOU?!"

Hmmmm, I think that's all for this chapter, mostly exposition and stuff!