Attack On Titan: Wings Of Crystal
Chapter 34: Noah's Arc Part 2
Learning the horrifying truth behind his heritage left Noah in a state of disbelief. The origins of the Crystal Titan. The Ackerman Clan's connection to it. The voices of his ancestors spoke to him nonstop in his head. Learning the Reaper's true identity is Joseph Ackerman. All of it was too much for his innocent child-like mind to handle.
Ever since he discovered the truth, he's been going through a rough time. The moment he made the deal with Joseph to awaken the Crystal Titan's power and defend himself, he's never had a moment's peace.
The day after, he tried to return to his normal life of going to school and learning about Eldia's history. But the false information provided by the Marleyan Brass, caused the voices in his head to start complaining. Calling them liars and they are the evil ones, not the Eldians.
The unrecognisable bickering grew so much that Noah started slamming his head on his desk repeatedly, drawing the attention of the entire class.
Everyone around him had no idea what was going through his head to cause him to act out in such an unlikely manner. Noah envied them for not hearing what he hears constantly.
"Liars!"
"Damn Marleyan bastards! Manipulating our people into believing that!"
"They deserve to die! All of them!"
"SHUT UP! JUST STOP TALKING, ALL OF YOU!" Noah finally snapped as he frustratingly grabs the sides of his head.
"Noah, calm down." The teacher instructed him. But her words were silent compared to the increased volumes of his Ackerman ancestors raging in his mind.
"Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!" Noah continuously uttered, trying and failing to drown them out.
This strange misbehaviour got him in trouble with the Marleyans on several occasions. He got in trouble so often that he was inevitably expelled from the Eldian school.
As a result of his actions, his father was forced to face punishment from the Marleyans. Noah was forced to watch as a couple of guards repeatedly strike his father with their clubs, resulting in the loss of his legs.
Now a cripple, Noah's father was forced to spend the rest of his days in Liberio's hospital under the care of Doctor Yeager and his son, who was acting as his apprentice.
And if things couldn't get any worse for Noah. He ended up getting thrown into a mental asylum for the criminally insane where all the broken Eldians who were thrown into war by the Marleyans go after serving their time and living to tell the tale. His whole life had fallen apart in a single week.
Noah spent three years sitting all alone in a padded room that acted as his new bedroom. A fitting place for someone who's been driven insane by thousands of voices arguing with each other. Ever since he moved in all he'd been doing was sitting in the middle of the padded floor in a straight jacket, talking to the voices and trying his best to convince them to be quiet. Whilst outside his cell, an Eldian nurse saw him talking to himself. It made her slightly hesitant to open the hatch at first, but she stuck to her duties and followed through with her instructions.
"Uh, Noah? You've got a visitor."
Noah didn't respond and instead takes a few steps back until he's up against the wall. The nurse then opens the cell door and allows his visitor to walk in.
He was speechless to see that it was Alicia, all grown up into a vibrant young woman. Her hair had grown much longer compared to the last time he saw it in their young school days. Her figure had also gotten much curvier than how she was before.
Noah tries to focus all his attention on her and force the voices into the back of his head. It didn't stop them from speaking, but it at least made them quieter for him to hear what she had to say.
"Alicia? What are you doing here?"
"Hi, Noah. It's been a long time." She turns her attention to the nurse behind her. "You can go now. I'll be alright."
The nurse nods and slowly closes the door behind them, allowing the two of them to catch up alone. Alicia attempted to hug her friend, but Noah backs away from her, frightened that he might hurt her. Alicia respected his wishes and kept her distance.
"You didn't answer my question. Why are you here?" He asked her calmly.
"Is it wrong of me to wanna pay a visit to the boy who saved me and Frederick?"
"It is when said boy has been deemed insane in the eyes of the public." He retorted.
"I don't believe that." She denied it as she takes a few steps closer to him. "What happened in school all those years ago wasn't your fault. You were stressed out because of what happened to those Marleyans who died in warehouse demolition. You blame yourself because you were the one who led them there. But that doesn't mean you murdered them."
That last sentence caused Noah to look away from Alicia.
"Noah?" She asked worriedly.
"I… killed them." He muttered under his breath, too quiet for her to understand.
"What?"
"I did kill them!" He repeated himself intensely. "Their bodies were found after the demolition was done. But they were dead long before they dug up their remains."
Alicia's eyes widen in shock. She takes a couple of steps back until she startles herself by hitting the cell door behind her. Which was the appropriate reaction Noah was expecting.
"Alicia… there's something about me that you need to know." He slowly started only to pause momentarily. He was still hesitant about how she'll take what he was about to tell her. "I did kill those Marleyan kids, but only because the voices made me do it."
Before giving Alicia the chance to question the voices, Noah started explaining everything he learned about the Crystal Titan, the Curse of Joseph Ackerman, and how it completely changed his life for the worst.
The more she listened to him, the worse the truth got. It sounded so surreal. Almost completely unbelievable. Had she been born Marleyan she would've easily accepted the fact that he was dangerous and insane. But deep down, a part of her wanted to believe that he was telling the truth. It did explain his strange behaviour ever since that day. But it didn't change the fact that he murdered two Marleyan senior-year students in cold blood. Even if he was being controlled, that wouldn't stop the Brass from sending him to Paradis and turning him into a Titan or killing him.
"Now do you understand?" He asked rhetorically. "Ever since that day, I've been hearing their voices. All of them are trying to persuade me to use my Titan powers to kill more Marleyans, and I've been holding myself back ever since! I wanted to be locked away so that I wouldn't be a danger to anyone else."
"Ha! As if this little cell can hold us back." One of the voices uttered.
"Shut up!" He shouted out loud all of a sudden, startling Alicia. "Not you. I was talking to-
"The voices?"
"I know it sounds crazy. But I swear I-
"I believe you." She interrupted him again. "I know about the Crystal Titan."
"You do? How?" He asked.
"My friend, Trisha Waldenburg, told me about it. But we both thought it was just an urban legend. A story to scare Marleyans into not attacking Paradis, along with the Rumbling."
Noah then decided to show her proof of his powers by telekinetically forming a crystal flower in front of her and levitating it into her hands.
"It is real, Alicia. And I am suffering the consequences of wielding its power… Did your friend happen to mention a way of breaking this Curse of Joseph?"
"No. But I think the school's library may have some knowledge of the Crystal Titan and everything to do with it… The problem is, it's kept in the restricted section in the basement. Students are forbidden to go down there."
"You've gotta get me those books!" He desperately pleaded. "If there's even a shred of hope of ridding my ancestors' souls from my mind, I will do whatever it takes to get it! Please, Alicia, help me end this nightmare!"
"But, Noah, we don't even know for certain if any of the books will have what you need to undo this curse. What if you're wrong?"
"If the books don't have the answers I need, then I'll go straight to the source and find out myself!"
The nurse from before returns to Noah's cell and opens the door, forcing both parties to cease talking about the Crystal Titan.
"Excuse me, miss, but visiting hours are over. I'm gonna have to ask you to leave."
Alicia nodded and was escorted out of the cell. Noah calls out to her one last time, asking her to think about it before the door closed behind her. As Alicia was walking down the hallway, she looked down at the crystal flower in her hand and clutches it tightly in her grasp.
"Don't worry, Noah. I'll help you break your family curse. It's the least I can do after what you did for me."
Once she was gone, Noah went back to sitting in the corner of his cell. The voices continued to converse in his head but he paid them no mind.
Suddenly, Joseph/Reaper decided to cease their banter so that he could properly talk to his latest descendant.
"You're wasting your life, my time, and our power by sitting in this cell and praying for a miracle. My curse cannot be broken. Do you think I wanted this for my bloodline? If there was a way to end the cycle, I would've ended it long ago… But Karl Fritz made it impossible to escape this destiny. Even taking your own life wouldn't make a difference."
"I know, and I don't care! I'm still determined to break this curse not only for myself but for all future Crystal Titans after me! No Ackerman will be forced to go through the hell I'm going through ever again… Somehow. Someway. I'll find a way."
Despite her initial hesitations, Alicia followed through on her promise. The day after her first visit, she snuck into the library's basement and found a book about the Crystal Titan and brought it back to Noah.
The book explained the myths and legends behind the Crystal Titan and how it was born around the same time as the Founder Ymir's Titan. But it contained no information about the Ackerman Clan, the Curse of Joseph, or any way of breaking it. This forced Alicia to keep going back to the library, sneak out another book, and bring it to Noah's cell.
This went on for several months until she inevitably cleared out the basement of every single book relating to the Ackerman Clan, Joseph Ackerman, the Crystal Titan, and its curse.
Afterwards, Noah orders her to never see him anymore, as he feared he'd put her and her family in danger of being accomplices of his. It killed him inside harshly pushing her away, but it was the only guarantee that she'll be safe.
With her out of the way, he was free to completely immerse himself in Titan research. One by one, he thoroughly read through every book whenever he had the time.
Being a patient of the hospital, he was able to memorise the times and shift changes between doctors and nurses. All patients are given breakfast every morning at 9 am, and dinner at 7 pm. The doctors will also come in to give patients some questionable medication around 4 pm. Between all those times, Noah would pull out a book from the hidden compartment he made in the far right corner of the room, underneath the padded floor.
Noah carefully studied the contents of each book, hoping it'll provide him with some kind of answer to his question. Eventually, he'll have read through all of them. His anger started to flare up as he was unable to find a single piece of useful information that could undo his predicament.
"Now do you see, Noah? There is no way to undo our curse. You, like I, are a servant of the Royal Bloodline. And there's nothing you can do about it." Joseph addresses him.
Noah clenches his fist and stands up. All the books were laid out open on the floor all around him.
"No! I won't give up! I know the answer is in one of these books somewhere. I just need to know where to look."
"You're only delaying the inevitable. You've gotta be the most desperate of my successors I've ever met." Joseph taunted him.
Noah takes a deep breath, ignoring his comments, and went straight back to looking through the books.
Years pass as Noah continues his never-ending search for answers. He is now in his mid-twenties, still rotting away in that cell, obsessing over his mission.
It wasn't until the year 753 that he finally makes a breakthrough in his journey of self-discovery. After memorising every written word in every book, he thought over the many ways he could cross-reference them with each other.
He discovered that no matter what combination he tried. No matter what new thing he learns about his heritage, it all kept going back to one thing… The royal family.
According to the books, the Ackerman Clan has been genetically altered and bred for the sole purpose of protecting Eldia's king. Joseph was the first Ackerman not only to harness the Crystal Titan but also the first to be restructured by Karl Fritz. He made it so that all of his descendants that shared his blood would inherit his fierce loyalty to the Founder, his killer instincts, and his unconscious desire to protect those with royal blood from all threats.
Those instincts were also said to have contained the essence of the Crystal Titan, linking all their bodies together. Readying them to receive the power from the previous user if they didn't pass it on willingly to their chosen host.
Those Ackerman instincts would lay dormant within their hosts until the Founder or a member of the Royal Family awakened them. At first, he didn't think much of it, but then he started theorising more about Joseph and the question as to why he was altered by the king in the first place. If he truly was a loyal soldier to him like Ymir was, then why was it only he was altered, and she wasn't?
Suddenly, a new theory hit him like a sack of rocks to the head. After all these years, he's finally come up with a decent plan to rid himself of the curse once and for all.
The excitement of finally being free had made him completely oblivious to the sudden appearance of a doctor who just unlocked his cell.
"What's all this?!"
Noah feels a shiver riding up his spine as the shocked expressions of the doctor reached his ears. He gulped nervously as he slowly turns to face them. But his face quickly relaxes as he saw that it was Doctor Yeager. The man who kept his secret all these years.
"Where'd all these books come from?" He questioned him.
"I know how this looks, but trust me, doctor. You're gonna wanna hear what I have to say." Noah avoided his question entirely. "I've just made a breakthrough on the curse behind the Crystal Titan! I think I've managed to figure out a way to free myself of it once and for all."
"Um, that's great, Noah. I came to tell you that you're free to go. Your father finally saved enough money to pay for your release." He explained, deciding to ignore the many books splayed across the floor.
"Dad? Is he alright?"
"That's another reason why I came here." He pauses briefly so that he could properly look Noah in the eyes for the news he's about to deliver. "…Your father is… dying."
As soon as the paperwork that was needed to legally release Noah from the hospital, he runs like hell through the hallways until he finds the room, they were keeping his father in. If what Doctor Yeager said about his condition was true, then he needed to be there for him in his final moments.
He bursts through the door without even checking to see if this was the right room, they'd put him in. Fortunately, he was in the right room, as he was standing right beside his much older and very sick father.
Time had not been kind to him. He'd lost all his hair and his body has become uncomfortably skinny. His breathing was ragged, and he would let out a chesty cough now and then. His legs suffered the worst of it. Since they had not been used in years, they've been reduced to nothing but skin and bones.
His body was weak to the point he no longer had the strength to turn his head to the right and get a good look at his son. All he could do was shift his eyes in his direction and muster what little energy he had left to speak to him for the first time in years.
"No…ah? Is that…you…my son?" He weakly uttered, quiet enough to sound more like a whisper.
"Yes, Dad, it's me." He smiles and takes hold of his father's hand. "The doctor told me you paid for my release. Why would you do that?"
"Your friend, Alicia, told me…what you're doing… You can't break your curse… by staying cooped up in here."
"Alicia told you?" He repeated. "… How is she?" He hesitantly asked.
Noah's father lets out a couple of coughs before clearing his throat enough to respond. "She's happy. I heard she recently got engaged to that kid you protected from those Marleyan brats."
Alicia and that scrawny, dorky kid, Frederick? Engaged? Noah had a hard time comprehending such an unlikely turn of events. He knew he had feelings for her too, but he didn't think Alicia felt the same way towards him. Had it not been for his curse, he could've won her over before him. But instead, he was forced to sever all ties and push her out of his life to keep her safe. Frederick most likely provided the shoulder for her to cry on and was there for her when he couldn't.
As heartbroken as he was over this, he knew it was for the best. At least now she'll have a happy, somewhat normal life, and a future that doesn't revolve around him and his problems.
"Well, as long as she's happy, I'm happy. But what about you? The doctor said you're sick. What kind of illness is it?"
"They don't know." He utters weakly. "I have some kind of virus. Doctors don't know what it, is so there's nothing they can do… I've not got much time left. That's why I called for you. I wanna spend my last moments in life with my son." He starts coughing a lot more. Noah gently wipes his bald head with a wet cloth, soothing his nerves.
"Father… I think I've found a way to break the Curse of Joseph." Noah finally tells him."
He grabs a hold of the chair across the room from the bed and drags it next to him before sitting down.
"The curse started with Joseph Ackerman, the first Crystal Titan. But he was always in control of his power until he was brainwashed by Karl Fritz and Ymir's three daughters, Maria, Rose, and Sina. The Founding Titan was used by them to change the structure of his DNA to make him, and all who come after, obey the Founder without question. So, the only ones who can undo this alteration are the Founding Titan and the Royal Family."
"But son…" His body spasms as he lets out a couple of coughs that started to hurt his throat. "…The Founder, and the royal family, are on the island of Paradis. The Marleyans will never let you travel there unless you've committed a terrible crime."
"I know. But I'll figure out a way without exposing the Crystal Titan."
Fortunately for Noah, he already did something worthy of having him shipped off to Paradis. But he thought it best not to mention it to his father. The news alone might be enough to send him over the edge and cause him to die immediately.
Noah's father's breathing starts to get heavier. Each breath he took felt like he was out of breath after doing a tough exercise. If his body has grown weak to the point where breathing has become a chore, then no further evidence was needed to show that he was moments away from losing his life.
"Father!" Noah started to grip his father's hand tightly as his breathing devolved into tiny gasps.
With the last of his energy leaving his body, it was now or never if he wanted to utter his final words to his son before departing this cruel world.
"…I know… you'll do… what's right." He looks him dead in the eyes as he holds his hand. "I'll always love you, Noah. No matter whose blood you have… I can't wait to see your mother again…"
With those last words said, Noah's father slowly closes his eyes and exhales his last breath. His grip loosens in Noah's hand and collapses to the bed.
Tears start to pour out of Noah's eyes, overwhelmed with despair. He'd only ever spent time with his father during his days as a child before fully unlocking the Crystal Titan. Since then, he'd been spending most of his life in a padded cell and treated like an insane patient. Just when he finally discovered a way to rid himself of this curse and get his life back, he ends up losing the only family he ever had.
The room fell silent, apart from the sounds of Noah crying and yelling into his father's chest, refusing to let go of him. Now he was all alone. He would soon realise that he'll have to learn to survive on his own and fight with all he's got to break the curse or let the voices of his ancestors consume him and take control of his body, resulting in the destruction of all of Marley.
After attending his father's funeral, Noah decided to finally put his plan into motion. He said his goodbyes to Alicia and Frederick and wishes them all the best before leaving Marley for Paradis.
He accomplishes this by confessing to the murder of Ramon and Alonso to the Marleyan military, resulting in him being tied up and carried away to a ship full of Eldian prisoners who're charged with treason against the motherland and will be turned into Titans as a result of their actions.
When he finally arrives on the shores of the island, his eyes were met with a nice view of its beach. He honestly was expecting it to look more like a hellish landscape from what he heard about it being a paradise atop a mountain of corpses. He should've known it was metaphorical.
He and the other Eldian prisoners were then escorted out of the ship and forced to climb up a set of stone stairs leading up to a wall that separates the dock from the rest of the island. Below their feet on the other side of the wall was a vast desert that stretched on for miles without end. Somewhere across that desert were the three walls that are protecting his fellow Eldians from the threats of the outside world.
One by one, the Eldians were forced onto their knees, trembling with fear, sadness, and regret for what was about to happen. Noah stays calm as he watches the guards ready the Titan transformation serum.
Though his hands were tied he could easily break free with his Titan powers and save the other Eldians. But he feared that if he saves the others and allows them to escape, the Marleyans would retaliate and send a battalion after them. So he proceeds to close his eyes and drown out the sounds of the prisoners begging for their lives. It was hard, but it was a necessary evil to give him the best chance of breaking the curse.
"You're just gonna sit there and let them turn our people into Titans?" Joseph addressed him, startling his eyes open.
Noah chooses to ignore him and focus on thinking up when the right time to strike must be. But Joseph and the others had different plans.
"I won't let those Marleyan bastards turn any more of my people into Titans! As a soldier, it is my duty to protect them!" He declared proudly.
"Shut up!" Noah sternly responded as quietly as possible. Unfortunately for him, he was heard by a Marleyan guard.
"What you say, Devil?!" The guard shouted down at him before kicking him in the back of the head. He then pulls his body back up by the back of his shirt collar. In his other hand was a syringe full of Titan transformation liquid. "Since you've got such a big mouth, I think I'll make you a four-meter Titan."
Soon all of the guards were standing behind their prisoners, readying their syringes for injection. The head guard raises his arm high, signalling them to be ready, before bringing it back down, ordering them to inject all the prisoners at the same time.
Every single prisoner was injected in the back of the neck before being kicked over the side by the guards. A large collection of bright lights appears simultaneously on the ground below. Within the lights, the silhouettes of the prisoners grow and mould until they're completely transformed into Titans.
Noah, however, was able to save himself by hardening his neck, breaking the syringe upon contact. The confused guard brings the broken needle of the syringe up to observe the damage, giving Noah the opening, he needed to break free of his bonds and slit his throat by hardening his fingertips.
The other guards aren't given much time to react as Noah starts attacking the rest of them. Using his hardening, he creates a sword and shield in his hands and slays them without mercy. His eyes start glowing blue as he could feel Joseph's influence over him growing with each Marleyan he kills.
Those that managed to get away made a beeline for the ship, warning the others on board and hoping they'll send an SOS to the motherland. Noah couldn't let that happen. Though hesitant at first, he does eventually cut his hand and begins his transformation into the Crystal Titan for the very first time.
His Crystal Titan was very much different compared to his unborn grandson. His Titan body was less bulky than Michaels and the crystals that covered his body were white and looked more like smooth armour plates than spiky crystal shards sticking out all over his body. Its body was all crystal too, not a single uncovered part of flesh could be seen. He also had short brown hair in the same style as his human body.
Without thinking, Noah's Crystal Titan leaps off of the wall and slams both its fists into the ground, triggering a tremor powerful enough to create a wave big enough to wash over the ship, washing away its crew and sinking it. Every single Marleyan was killed in the attack, leaving only him.
"You fool! Why did you wait until now to transform?! You could've saved the people!" Joseph internally shouted at him.
"They would've died anyway if I saved them!" Noah argued back. "At least as Titans, they'll still be alive. Someday they'll be changed back into their human forms. But for now, I will put all my focus on saving myself before saving anyone else!"
Noah's Crystal Titan stands back up and climbs up and over the wall. Upon landing on the other side, he was surrounded by the prisoners who are now Pure Titans. They all reach out to him in the hopes of devouring him and regaining their humanity. But neither of them could bite through his crystal skin and end up breaking their jaws and teeth.
The Crystal Titan focuses its attention on one specific Titan in front of him. It was the prisoner next to him. A young woman who was pleading for her life to be spared more than anyone else. Noah didn't know what her crime was in the eyes of the Marleyans, but he knew from looking into her eyes that she was innocent.
His Crystal Titan places its hand against the Titan's left cheek, showing sympathy for the woman. The Titan responds by biting down on his hand. Though he didn't feel any pain thanks to his hardened crystals. The same could not be said for the Titan, who ended up breaking all her teeth.
"Everything will be alright." He mentally assured her, even though he knew they could not hear him. "One day you will all be freed from your mindless bodies. You all have as much a right to live as the Eldians in Marley… Until then, stay out of sight."
The Crystal Titan pushes past them and starts making its long trek across the desert towards Wall Maria. The Titans attempt to follow him, but he immediately traps them in a field of crystal spikes that impaled their feet, stopping them in their tracks.
"You do realise that they can't understand you as Titans. They're just mindless beasts now." Joseph reminded him.
"I am aware of that. They may be mindless, but at least, in those forms, they'll get to live forever. Until the day they change back… or die." Noah hesitated in that last sentence. Even if he wanted to, he may not be able to convince the current Founder to change all the Titans back to humans. It may take some convincing to fix himself.
He starts picking up speed as he feels enough time had been wasted. The sooner he finds the royal family and breaks the curse, the sooner he can return home and live his life in peace.
Paradis's royal family were located within the Orvud District, north of Wall Sina. It was the safest place to be if one wanted a nice, peaceful, and safe life away from the Titans. It was a fitting place for the royal family to be. Away from all the responsibility of actually ruling the walls. For years the noble Reiss family were keeping their true identities as the true heirs to the throne hidden and had a fake king assume the role and left the actual governing to the four chosen nobles.
Their one true purpose was not to rule the kingdom within the walls, but rather to protect the Founding Titan and keep it well out of enemy hands. A task meant to be carried out by the Ackerman Clan. But due to the Curse of Joseph, the first Eldian king inflicted upon him, all members of the Ackerman bloodline were seen as no longer fit to protect them. The collective consciousnesses of past Crystal Titan users ended up driving their successors insane.
To ensure this doesn't continue, the Reiss family had all members of the Ackerman Clan assassinated in the hopes of having the Crystal Titan die alongside them.
But the current head of the Reiss family discovered that if the Crystal Titan were to disappear forever, then so would the power of hardening. At first, they thought they'd ruined their chances of replenishing the power of hardening for the Founding Titan by killing a vast majority of the Ackermans and allowing the last Crystal Titan user to commit suicide.
But hope for their family's wellbeing had come before them in the form of Noah Suurvalta. The newest Crystal Titan.
It took a while, but he was successful in tracking down the Reiss family's chapel north of Orvud District on the northern side of the island. One of the few good things about hearing voices in your head is that you learn a trick or two from the past Crystal Titans.
The greatest secret of them all is the secret network of underground tunnels constructed throughout the island by a past Crystal Titan user who lived there. With the aid of some of his predecessors, Noah was able to reach Orvud in half the time it would've taken for him to travel above ground.
The tunnels eventually led him into a massive underground chapel made entirely of Titan crystal. These crystals were nothing like the ones he constructs. These carried a luminescent light that lit up the whole cavern like it was daylight.
Noah takes a good look around, examining every little detail behind the construction of this place. To his right was an altar with two staircases leading up to it. It was identical to the underground alter the Marleyan Warriors would take part in a ceremony to pass on their Titan powers to their chosen successors. It was clear to him that this was where the Reiss family would pass on the Founding Titan every thirteen years.
Noah calls out to anyone who might be there. His voice echoed throughout the vast, crystal-constructed, cavern until it reached the very end of it. He kept calling out as loud as he can hoping somebody would finally respond.
"IS ANYONE HERE!" He shouted out loud.
"No need to shout. We're here."
Noah quickly does a 180 jump towards the altar and manages to spot the ones who called him out. Standing atop the altar was an old man, who looked around fifty, standing up front. He was wearing a black suit, bowtie and a large top hat. He had a bushy grey beard across his face and held a wooden cane in his left hand. His eyes stood out the most compared to the rest of him. They were purple. An unusual colour for a man to have. But not only that, they appeared to have streaks of white lines within them.
Noah knew instantly that this man must be the current holder of the Founding Titan, and those eyes represented the Vow Renouncing War that was passed down alongside the Founder throughout the many generations of the Reiss family.
Behind him were the other members of his family. An old-looking woman who's supposedly his wife. A young adult male who he assumed was his son, and a young woman who appeared to be his wife. She was holding a baby in her arms.
The family members slowly descended the crystal staircase to properly greet their mysterious visitor.
"We knew you would find your way back to us one day, Crystal Titan." The Founder slowly spoke.
"You know what I am?" Noah asked as he quirked an eyebrow at them.
"When the last Crystal Titan ended their life so unexpectedly, we knew it was only a matter of time until it finds its way home." The Founder responded whilst not taking his eyes off him or changing his expression once. "Only the Crystal Titan can access the labyrinth of tunnels and find this place. Tell me your name, Crystal Titan."
"I am Noah Suurvalta. My mother was part of the Ackerman Clan. I received the Crystal Titan power the day I was born."
"I see… My name is Johnathan Reiss. The current holder of the Founding Titan. "Have you come to devote yourself to us again?"
"No!" Noah replied harshly. "I came to take back my life, not throw it away! I came here because I know you have the power to take away the Curse of Joseph. Your ancestors placed this curse on my ancestor, Joseph Ackerman, so I know you can undo it as well."
Johnathan chuckles to himself and then says "This is true. But allow me to answer your demand with a question."
Noah raises his left eyebrow in curiosity and nods for Jonathan to continue.
Johnathan then asks: "Why? Why should I? After all that we have done. You, the Crystal Titan, and I, the Founding Titan. Why should I not allow you to suffer in atonement for the sins of our ancestors and our forebears?!"
"Because it's not fair that I have to suffer for the acts of my ancestors! Why must I be forced into the same role Joseph had instead of choosing what I want to be?! You are the only one who could EVER understand what I'm going through… You, and all in your family who inherit the Founding Titan, are forced to obey the will of the 145th King who built these walls alongside my ancestors. And never use the Founder's power for yourself! If you had a chance to free yourself of the Vow Renouncing War, wouldn't you take it?"
"Yes, without a shadow of a doubt."Johnathan instantly replied without even needing a second to think about it.
"Then you understand why I need your help. You may not be able to free yourself from your curse. But you can save me from mine." Noah then gets down on one knee and pleads with the Founder, showing him how serious he was about his proposition. "I beg of you. End this nightmare and give me the freedom to choose my own path."
He drops his head in supplication, like how a knight would bow to their king. Though in their case, it was accurate. Though he was affected by the 145th King's will, Johnathan admired the man's dedication to ending his family curse for himself and future members of the Ackerman Clan.
However, the Founding Titan still needs the power only its protector could provide. The power of hardening was too precious a resource to let slip out of their fingers. He could always just use the Founder's power to alter Noah's memories to make him believe he was always a loyal servant of the Reiss family. But that would only alter his mind, not the souls within them. They've learned the hard way that not all the past Crystal Titans were completely submissive towards the Founding Titan. And every user couldn't die in thirteen years since Joseph got to live a full life before dying of old age.
Johnathan was an honourable man. After giving it a moment's thought, he decided to accept the young visitor's offer.
"Raise your head, Noah Suurvalta." Noah follows his instruction and looks him in the eye with a glimmer of hope. "I have decided to grant you your request… On one condition.
"And that is?" Noah asked nervously.
"I want some of your spinal fluid in exchange for your freedom."
Noah's eyes widen in surprise. He almost instantly gets back up to clarify what he just said at eye level.
"After the first Reiss king came to this island and used the combined hardening of both our Titans to construct the three walls, the Founding Titan's power to harden started to deteriorate. My ancestors used what was left of it to construct this very chapel we're standing in now… But after the Vow Renouncing War had taken effect, your ancestors took this as a sign of cowardice and abandoned their duty to protect us despite the voices of the dead arguing against it."
"It was because of this betrayal that they ordered the execution of all the members of the Ackerman Clan, as well as any who carry their blood. To permanently kill off the Crystal Titan. But my great, great grandfather discovered that if the Crystal Titan were to disappear, the power of hardening would disappear with it, which would destroy everything built with it, including the walls… The massacre was halted, but it resulted in a vast decline in the Ackerman bloodline. It took me a long time to track down the current host for the Crystal Titan. But she took her own life before we could get to her. Resulting in the power being randomly transferred to the newest-born member of the Ackerman Clan… You."
"I understand. But what does that have to do with you wanting my spinal fluid?"
"The power of hardening originated from the Crystal Titan. Knowing this, Karl Fritz made sure that the power could be given to the other nine Titan powers, by consuming their spinal fluid. The source of all Titan power. But because it came from a source outside of Ymir's bloodline, it wasn't permanent. Over time, the power would deteriorate and weaken with every new inheritor of the nine until it inevitably fades away. We need to replenish the power to harden by consuming more Crystal Titan spinal fluid, of which we have none… So, I'll ask you once more. Give us some of your spinal fluid, and I will free you from the Curse of Joseph… Do we have a deal?" He extends his hand to him, awaiting his response.
Noah takes a moment to think over his proposition. The only thing stopping him from agreeing to it straight away was the lack of specification on how much spinal fluid he needed to give them. Too much could result in his death, or worse, if he's not careful. But giving them just one vial wouldn't be enough to satisfy them or give the next Founders much power for the next few decades.
"How much of my spinal fluid do you want?"
"Ten bottles should be enough for a few decades."
"Make it five." Noah insisted.
"Nine." Johnathan offered.
"Seven!" Both of them managed to come to the same conclusion.
"Deal," Noah responded, satisfied with the outcome. He takes Jonathan's hand and shakes it thoroughly. Sealing the deal.
The procedure commenced shortly afterwards. Johnathan's son uses a syringe he pulled out of a briefcase to suck out shot after shot of Noah's spinal fluid from its source, and empties them into seven small, tightly sealed, bottles. The fluid had a strange cloudy appearance. It was glowing white in response to the light shining off of the crystals.
Once the spinal fluid was safely extracted and stored away, Johnathan began fulfilling his end of the bargain. He closes his eyes as he channels his Titan energy through his body and focuses it all in his hands. He then approaches Noah and places his hands on the side of his head.
Noah cries out in agony as he could feel the bioelectricity flowing into his brain. His whole head started spasming in response to getting brainwashed by the current Founder. A brainwashing to undo the brainwashing of his ancestor. There was a sense of irony there.
"You may have escaped your fate, Noah. But this won't permanently stop us! Eventually, you will die, and your successor will carry on my legacy in your place. Mark my words!" Joseph angrily stated before he and the other past users were silenced for good.
When it was finally over, Noah ended up collapsing to the ground. Johnathan quickly kneels to his level and held him in his arms, fearing he may've gone too far. No one had ever used the Founders' power to undo the effects left on an Ackerman by Karl Fritz before. So, it was a high risk to both him and Noah. Had he made one slight miscalculation he could've caused permanent brain damage, turning Noah into a vegetable.
But to his much-needed relief, Noah awakens from his short bout of unconsciousness, gasping for air. After taking a couple of deep breaths and waiting for his headache to pass, he takes a moment of silence to regain his composure.
Suddenly he realised. The silence was all he was hearing. For the first time in years, since he was thirteen years old, he experienced true peace. The voices have stopped. They no longer lingered in his mind, flooding their thoughts into him. The curse had been broken.
"It's… so quiet." He finally uttered, still struggling to accept this revelation as reality. "I'm free… I'm finally free!"
He leaps right out of Jonathan's grasp and starts jumping for joy, basking in the moment of peace and happiness.
He celebrated much longer than the others would've liked, forcing Johnathan to interrupt and address something else he decided to keep hidden until after the deal was done.
"Forgive me for interrupting your premature celebration, but there is something important that you need to know." As soon as he'd gotten Noah's full attention he proceeded. "What I just did to you will permanently break the curse for you. But I'm afraid it will not pass over to your successor. Once you pass the Crystal Titan onto its next host, the cycle will begin again. Therefore, if you wish to free them as I freed you, then you must instruct them to return here and have the procedure done to them."
"And I'm guessing they'll have to give you more spinal fluid in exchange?" Noah assumed.
Johnathan nodded in response. "That is the price for freedom, I'm afraid. There is no other way to escape your curse. I want you to promise me that you'll have your successor fulfil your end of the bargain in exchange for their freedom."
"After what you've done for me, I'd say it's worth it… I'll make sure my chosen successor finishes what we've started."
The two men give each other a respectful nod before Noah starts making his way back the way he came.
Using his powers, Noah reopens the entrance to the underground tunnel network underneath the wall to return to the land outside of Wall Maria whence he came.
He cuts his palm, triggering his Titan transformation. Getting back as a Titan would be much faster than going as a human. But Johnathan had one last thing to say to him before he departed the crystal chapel for good.
"Do not forget that you made a promise, Noah. I may not be around when your successor is chosen, but my family will carry it out in my place… Do not forget that our help is not unconditional."
Noah's Crystal Titan glances back at them over its right shoulder one last time before dashing down the large, dark, Titan-sized tunnel until he was no longer in sight. The tunnel then closes itself behind him. Sealing off the crystal chapel once again.
To Be Continued