The Empire of Titans

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The following 11 chapters are available for Patrons.

Chapter 22 (Lady Ymir), Chapter 23 (The Truth of Humanity), Chapter 24 (Historia Reiss), Chapter 25 (Annie's Pleasure), Chapter 26 (The Royal Titan), Chapter 27 (The Attack Titan Vs Levi), Chapter 28 (Historia's Love), Chapter 29 (Titan Serum), Chapter 30 (Levi's Titan), Chapter 31 (An Ackerman Titan), and Chapter 32 (Annie's Loyalty) are already available for Patrons.

"Which one of you holds the Founding Titan?" A bearded man wearing glasses and shabby dark hair interrupted their prayer.

Lady Reiss looked the most bewildered of all. And it truly was bewildering how a common man from some forsaken corner of Wall Maria could have gotten there.

"Who are you?!" Urklyn ran to shield his mother from the mysterious stranger. Florian, Abel, and Dirk all took refuge behind their brother. Lord Reiss seemed to recognize this stranger's threat more than anyone, so he took several steps back against the chapel's crystal walls.

Only one of the daughters remained still, unfazed by his raid.

She had black hair and big blue eyes, just like her cowardly father. Grisha wondered if, by any chance, it could be her.

"My name is Grisha Yeager. I have come to..."

"Go back to where you came from, Grisha Yeager. There's no room for sinners like you here. This is a holy ritual, and we are at prayer, as you can see." cried out Frieda, stepping past even Urklyn. Her calm and poised demeanor gave her away in Grisha's eyes.

Karl Fritz's will had taken over hers, beyond a doubt.

"Do you have any idea of what's going on out there!? Wall Maria has fallen! If you truly hold the power of the Founder, then you have to use it to save your people and rid the world of titans!" He was beside himself, but the young woman in front of him wouldn't flinch nor acknowledge his point.

"I shall do no such thing. There is no salvation for us for the things we have done. If retribution comes for us, we shall welcome it with open arms." She spread her arms right then. The long and smooth sleeves of her robe made her look like an angel.

"Are you out of your mind!? This is Marley coming for us, you and me both!"

The Reisses exchanged puzzled, frightened looks as they cowered together into a shivering embrace.

A realization dawned on Frieda just then. "Ah... It seems you still have your memories, Grisha Yeager. And it must be because you are not from here. You must be the spawn of the unworthy who didn't make it to Paradis when the Walls were built." Disgust and loathing twisted her facial features.

She didn't look so pretty anymore. It was like someone else had taken hold of her body and was speaking in her voice now.

"Frieda! Kill him!" She could hear Urklyn urging her a few steps behind. Mother and Father were too scared even to speak, and so were the little ones.

The Reiss woman turned back to look at her family. "No need to worry. Just stay back. It will be over soon. I will protect you."

"If you won't comply with my plea, then you leave me no choice, Frieda Reiss." The dark-haired man went from hysterical to pale and cold. It was a fearsome change to behold.

"I have people I have to protect too."

The silver glimmer of a blade, a wound that drew blood. A powerful lightning bolt scythed the air, and then the thunderous roar of a titan followed.

Frieda witnessed the whole scene like she wasn't new to it. She took one more step forth toward her opponent and bit her own hand.

Krista woke up from a restless slumber, her body drenched in sweat. They were back at the Training Corps. Her hand instinctively went to her forehead, which was clammy and hot to the touch. She felt like she couldn't catch her breath, and her heart was pounding so hard that she could hear it in her ears. It was then that she realized that she had been having these dreams for weeks, and they were only getting worse. As she lay there, trying to make sense of it all, Krista couldn't help but wonder what had triggered these nightmares.

As Krista lay in bed, her mind wandered into her dreams. In the dream, she saw a woman who looked like someone she had met before, although she couldn't quite place her finger on who it could be. The woman's face was etched into her mind, and the more she thought about it, the more it felt like she was encountering an old friend she hadn't seen in years.

The familiarity was striking, and as Krista tried to figure out the connection, she was filled with a sense of longing and nostalgia, wondering where this woman had come from and why she felt so close to her.

The man's last name was Yeager! Was he Eren's father, she thought, remembering that Eren told them that his parents were dead.

As she lay there, feeling her heart rate slowly returning to normal, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to calm the pounding in her chest. After a minute of deep breathing, she opened her eyes and gazed around the dimly lit room, her eyes scanning the sleeping forms of her friends. Her gaze lingered on Ymir, whose bed was the closest to hers, and then on Mikasa, Mina, Sasha, Annie, and a few others. The room was silent except for the soft sounds of their breathing, and the only light came from the moon shining through the window.

Krista smiled, seeing her friend sleeping with a smile. A part of her wondered what it would be like to... her face turned red before she could even finish that thought; Krista's head hit the pillow, closed her eyes; it would be better to fall asleep after minutes of shifting around, the sleep wasn't coming! A second later, she felt a hand touching her naked shoulder.

A hand reached out and covered her mouth, muffling her screams of terror. For a moment, she thought it was the end, but then she opened her eyes and saw Ymir's face above her. Relief flooded her body, and she sighed with gratitude that it was her tall friend and not a stranger. Ymir's dark eyes bore into Krista's, causing her to feel a wave of embarrassment and look away.

"Ymir, what are you doing?" Krista asked, eyebrows raised as she watched her friend move her hand away. Ymir's tall figure loomed over her as she smirked in a devious way. Krista wasn't quite sure how to feel about the situation, but she couldn't help but feel a bit intrigued. She licked her lips nervously, unsure of what was going to happen next.

"I have been awake for almost an hour now. Tell me, are you alright?" Ymir answered, forcing the blonde girl to look at her.

As Krista gazed around the dimly lit room, she felt a momentary urge to move her hand away from Ymir's grip, her heart pounding so loudly in her throat that she was sure it was audible to everyone in the vicinity. However, before she could act on her impulse, she forced herself to remain still, her eyes darting nervously around the room, hoping that none of the other girls were awake and witnessing the compromising position she found herself in.

After what felt like an eternity, Krista finally mustered up the courage to speak, her voice barely above a whisper as she attempted to downplay the situation. "I-I- just a stupid dream, Ymir, nothing to concern yourself with," Krista answered, her tone barely a whisper.

Ymir could tell Krista was lying through her teeth but didn't want to bother her, and Ymir knew if Krista wanted to tell her, she would have.

"Are you jealous that I fucked Eren?" Ymir suddenly asked out of nowhere. Krista looked back at her with widened eyes, her face turning redder by the second.

"Y-Ymir, stop it," she stuttered out. Sometimes she liked Ymir's blunt personality, but sometimes she really didn't know how to choose her words. Someone can't just say something like that out of nowhere.

"Ohhh, is my little Krista, Jealous? Don't worry, darling. You will always be my favorite," Ymir said teasingly, kissing Krista's cheeks, who tried to hide that it felt good.

Morning

As Eren woke up to a new day, he stretched his arms and let out a loud yawn, feeling an unparalleled sense of refreshment and readiness to take on whatever the day had in store for him. As he looked outside the window, the sun was just beginning to rise, casting a warm glow over the world around him, and he figured he had time to wear his clothes before Shadis barged inside to wake them up and remind them how worthless they were.

Surprisingly, two hours passed, and now Eren wasn't the only one awake; so were Armin, Jean, Reiner, and many others, and Eren knew he wasn't the only one who was surprised that Keith hadn't come to wake them up yet, silence had fallen over the boy's domain, except a few small talk between some of the cadets.

"Do you think something has happened?" Connie voiced out his concern; the others looked at him with uncertainty, except for Armin, who shook his head.

"Doubt it, yesterday he looked just fine, hell, he looked, ahhh, more alive than usual," Armin replied with a tilt of his head. His words were met with a few chuckles and some raised eyebrows; Jean nodded along.

"Yeah, maybe there's some kind of special training today," he suggested; the others looked to agree with him. Eren was about to suggest simply going outside and seeing for themselves when...

As the door creaked open, all eyes turned towards it, expecting to see Keith's face. Instead, a figure draped in the signature cloak of the scouts strode in, much to everyone's surprise. Eren, in particular, couldn't contain his excitement and leaped up from his seat with a grin plastered across his face. He couldn't believe that a scout was standing right in front of him.

He was a man of average height with a slightly darker skin tone. He wore a short crop of brown hair that was kept to a point on the back of his head. His attire consisted of a short light brown leather jacket with the badge of the Survey Corps on both shoulders, on the front left pocket and on the center of the back, a light-colored shirt, a dark brown sash around the waist covering the hips, white pants, and dark brown knee-high leather boots.

The scout's voice echoed through the air, awakening those who were still in the comfort of their slumber. "Everyone outside right now. Instructor Keith is waiting for all of you," he shouted, his voice carrying a sense of urgency that immediately sent shivers down the spines of those who were still drowsy. For a moment, the sound of scrambling feet filled the air as everyone rushed to obey the scout's command, fearful that it was the bellowing voice of Shadis that had awoken them.

Sir, where's Instructor Shadis?" Armin asked, his voice quivering with a hint of concern as he stood up from his bed, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of the instructor's presence. Except for Eren, who recognized the man in front of them as one of the few scouts that fought him back then when he had caught the girl in his hand.

"He's outside. Now, everyone out," With a commanding tone, he ordered everyone to join him, this time much louder than before. Some winced at the sudden shift in volume, rubbing their ears in discomfort. However, the urgency in his voice was undeniable, and they quickly complied. As the door closed behind them, Eren wasted no time slipping on his sturdy boots. Armin and the others followed closely behind him, eager to see what awaited them. As Eren stepped outside, the crisp fall air hit his face, causing him to take a deep breath and savor the moment.

"What do you think is happening?" Reiner inquired curiously, his voice echoing as they made their way outside to the training yard. The sun was shining brightly, casting long shadows across the ground, and the air was filled with the sounds of birds chirping and leaves rustling in the gentle breeze. As they stepped into the open space, Reiner's eyes scanned the area, taking in the sight of his comrades - Bertholdt looking nervous, his eyes darting back and forth as if he was afraid that someone would attack them out of nowhere. Reiner couldn't help but feel a sense of unease settle in his stomach.

Amidst the chatter and laughter among the Scout members, Jean's voice rang out, dripping with sarcasm as he mused aloud, "Who knows, maybe the Scouts have heard about the undying love that Eren has for them." As he finished speaking, a little smirk played at the corners of his mouth, indicating that he was not being entirely serious. Marco, who was standing nearby, rolled his eyes at Jean's remark, knowing that he was simply trying to get a reaction out of Eren. Everyone in the group turned their attention towards Eren, expecting him to respond with his usual fiery passion. However, to their surprise, Eren remained quiet, his thoughts appearing elsewhere.

"I doubted it, Jean, and if anything, they should take you. They must have heard of your incredible ability to hide and run away. You would be the perfect bait," Eren countered with a smirk after a short pause; Jean groaned, and the others snickered except Bertholdt, who kept looking around anxiously.

As Eren arrived at the serene location where they had first introduced themselves two years ago, he was immediately struck with a sense of nostalgia. The lush green fields spread out before him, and the soft breeze carried the sweet scent of wildflowers. It was then that his gaze fell upon a figure standing in the middle of the vast expanse. It was the man who was in their domain a few minutes ago, his imposing figure a stark contrast against the serene backdrop. But that was not all. Beside him stood a girl, her features strikingly familiar to Eren.

Shit, he cursed his luck; he remembered her as Petra, the girl in Levi's team and the same girl he had caught in his Titan form. Eren knew there was no way she would recognize him; it was not like his Titan form had 'Eren' written on the forehead with big red letters!

Eren's heart raced as he took a deep breath, attempting to calm himself. Beside him stood Armin, who seemed to notice the nervousness that Eren was trying to conceal. However, Armin's attention was fixed on something else entirely.

Armin leaned in towards his friend Eren and whispered, "If they're here, shouldn't Captain Levi be here as well?" As he spoke, his eyes involuntarily searched the training ground and fell upon Mina with a sweet smile that could light up the darkest of rooms. Her smile seemed directed at him, and he felt his cheeks flush with a tinge of embarrassment. However, he couldn't help but return the smile, feeling a sense of warmth and comfort emanating from her.

Eren's voice was barely audible as he leaned closer to Armin, whispering cautiously, "Maybe, but keep quiet right now." He then shrugged his shoulders slightly. As his gaze scanned the surroundings, Eren's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of the two scouts standing nearby, equipped with their trusty ODM gear, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. Mikasa walked up to him, and so did Ymir and Krista, Sasha was beside Mikasa, and Annie was alone but often glancing at Eren with curiosity.

As the cadets were discussing amongst each other what was happening, some even asked the two scouts, but Petra and her friend kept quiet.

Soon Keith walked up in front of the group of Cadets, the two scouts now standing behind him.

As Shadis stepped forward, the cadets turned their eyes toward him, curious about what was about to unfold. He let out a fake cough, catching their attention and silencing the whispers that had been circulating throughout the room. With all eyes on him, he began to speak, his voice projecting with confidence and authority.

"Everyone, today we will have a special type of training that has never been done before," he announced, his words causing a ripple of excitement to spread throughout the training grounds.

"Now, with the help of the Scouting Legion, they have successfully captured a Titan from beyond the wall," Keith continued. The place was filled with palpable tension as Keith's words sank in. The cadets shifted uncomfortably where they stood, some already trembling with fear. The thought of facing one of those monstrous creatures was enough to make many soldiers quiver with dread. Three cadets, in particular, had their eyes wide open.

"What the hell is the meaning of this? What are you fools thinking? You want to get all of us killed?" Samuel shouted, looking at the two scouts behind Keith, whose faces changed slightly, looking slightly nervous, especially Petra. Many nodded along with Samuel; Eren was astonished hearing that; he wondered if, by any chance, they had somehow found the truth that Titans had been human all along.

"QUIET!" The word reverberated across the training grounds as Shadis's voice thundered through the air, causing the birds to take flight and the leaves to rustle. His vocal cords strained as he shouted at the top of his lungs, hoping to silence the chatter amongst the soldiers. The sound of his command was so intense that many soldiers backed away, almost falling on their butts, startled by the sheer power of his voice. Keith's eyes scanned the area, piercing through the crowd, searching for anyone dumb enough to talk. The tension in the air was palpable as the soldiers stood at attention, waiting for their next orders. His eyes briefly flickered at Carla's son, whose face was as cold as snow.

Keith's voice echoed in the silence as he addressed the soldiers, his eyes scanning the faces before him. The tension was palpable, and he knew he needed to reassure them.

"The Titan has been chained and secured," he began, his tone calm and steady. "I checked it myself; he couldn't move a muscle except for his mouth. He's no threat unless you decide to stick your head inside its mouth." The words hung in the air for a moment before the group collectively let out a sigh of relief. However, as the relief dissipated, it was quickly replaced by anger.

As Jean shifted his gaze towards Eren, his heart pounding fast with anticipation, he was prepared to witness the outburst of pure rage that his friend was known for. However, to his surprise, what he saw was completely unexpected. Eren, who was usually a bundle of explosive emotions, had an eerie calmness about him that sent shivers down Jean's spine. He couldn't help but feel off guard and slightly unnerved by this unusual behavior from his friend. Jean had expected a barrage of curses or perhaps some intense yelling, but the complete silence from Eren was something he had never witnessed before. It was as if a storm was brewing inside Eren, and the calmness was simply the eye of the tempest that was yet to come.

"He will be brought here an hour later, so you have time to mentally prepare for what you are about to see. I know for the majority of you, this is the first time seeing A Titan. As I said, he's secured, and the Squad led by Captain Levi himself will be here to ensure your safety." Keith added, a determined look formed on Eren's face; this could be an excellent opportunity to finally talk with someone high in the Survey Corps and introduce himself to Erwin Smith.

Keith's words made many relax, and hearing that an entire squad would come and ensure their safety made many relax. Eren's eyes caught the sight of Franz embracing Hannah tightly, whispering something soothing into her ear as he wrapped his arms around her shoulder, offering her solace in her time of need.

"After an hour. I want everyone here; there will be no excuses. I don't care if your leg is broken or you're dying from sickness. Everyone is required to come here. Failure to do so will result in the person being dropped from Training Corps immediately. No exceptions!" Keith finished. The sound of Keith's voice was akin to a gunshot as it reverberated across the training grounds, sending shivers down the spines of many who feared the consequences of failing the entire corps just because they didn't want to see a Titan, chained or not. Many thought that wasn't fair.

Eren looked behind his shoulders; Krista looked a little insecure; their eyes met; he smiled brightly at her, making the poor blonde flush.

One Hour Later

The entire training corps stood at attention, their crisp military uniforms neatly pressed and their eyes fixed firmly ahead. They formed a long line, stretching as far as the eye could see, with a second line of soldiers standing behind the first. Each soldier stood tall and proud, their hands raised in a crisp salute, as they awaited the Titan's arrival. As the minutes ticked by, tension began to mount amongst the troops. Everyone could feel the weight of the upcoming challenge bearing down upon them, and many started to have second thoughts. Doubts and fears crept into their minds, causing their hearts to race and their palms to sweat.

Eren kept his eyes forward and stoic; an hour ago, Sasha and Krista had approached him asking if he was alright; he had told them he was okay before asking them if they were doing okay, especially knowing they would soon see a Titan.

Many asked why they even needed to see one. Armin, as usual, reasoned that it was to prepare them somehow in case they ever faced a Titan. This made many moan loudly, saying they were joining the Military or the Garrison for this reason. To never see a Titan.

The silence was so profound that one could hear a pin drop. The cadets' hearts were pounding in their chests, and the fear that gripped them was palpable. Some of them had begun to sweat profusely, their faces drained of all color as if they had seen a ghost. The tension was so thick that it felt like a physical presence, and no one dared to break the stillness with so much as a whisper. It was as though the entire world had come to a standstill, waiting for the arrival of the Titan.

As the wooden wheels creaked and groaned under the weight of the approaching carriage, curious onlookers turned their heads in unison, their interest piqued by the unusual sound. All eyes were drawn to the imposing wooden gate that slowly opened, revealing a glimpse of what lay beyond. The gate's heavy, weathered planks creaked and groaned in protest as they swung open, showing what could be described as a creature from hell.

Suddenly, some of the cadets began to feel lightheaded, their vision becoming fuzzy as they gazed up in fear at the large wooden platform with wheels that was slowly making its way toward them. Despite the dizziness, everyone's eyes were glued to the Titan chained at the very top of the wooden platform, its massive form towering over the crowd and its muscles rippling under its leathery skin.

Bound by chains and spikes that secured its arms and legs, and even its fingers were restrained. The metallic clinks and clanks echoed in the air as the Titan shifted its weight, trying to break free from its shackles. Despite its confinement, the Titan still posed an intimidating figure, with its empty eyes fixed on the cadets as if studying them closely. It was in a kneeling position, as if in submission, but there was an eerie aura surrounding it that made everyone feel uneasy.

Eren could hear the sound of his fellow cadets fainting in terror around him, but he didn't bother looking, his eyes not leaving the Titan, who was a six-meter titan; for some reason, he had expected a much larger one.

Ymir found herself standing in the front line alongside her fellow soldiers; her attention was drawn to the chained Titan as she stared into its lifeless eyes, and a strange feeling of familiarity washed over her. Ymir stood her ground, her eyes narrowing as she desperately hoped her gut feeling was wrong.

Keith's eyes were filled with disappointment as he watched many cadets fainting one by one, their bodies hitting the ground with a heavy thud. He couldn't help but feel frustrated at their lack of resilience, knowing that if they were to face any real danger, they would crumble like sandcastles under a wave. With a deep sigh, he took a few steps toward the right side of the wooden platform, deliberately avoiding standing in front of the chained Titan's big smelly mouth, emitting a putrid stench that made Keith's nose twitch in disgust.

Eren saw Captain Levi's squad, including Levi himself, walking up to stand just behind the wooden platform. From his height, everyone could tell which one was Levi. With a keen eye, he took note of each member of the squad, their weapons, and gear glinting in the sunlight, but it was Levi who stood out the most. Even from his vantage point, Eren could sense the unwavering strength and determination that radiated from the captain, making it clear to everyone who the true leader of the squad was.

Levi was short, straight black hair styled in an undercut, as well as narrow, intimidating steel blue eyes with dark circles under them and a deceptively youthful face. His face was expressionless; his extremely calm demeanor often made it difficult for Eren to guess what he was thinking.

He was wearing his Scout Regiment uniform, with a light gray button-up shirt underneath, along with his trademark white ascot.

Beside him was Petra. She was a relatively short woman with shoulder-length light ginger hair that had bangs swept to the left side and amber-colored eyes.

She wore the typical uniform of a member of the Scout Regiment with a white button-up shirt underneath. Beside her was a blonde male.

He has brown eyes and long blond hair, which has a middle parting and a bun folded at the back to keep his hair tied. He also has a small beard. He has small brown eyes and a serious face. Like most other Scout Regiment members, he was wearing a green cloak with The Wings of Freedom emblem on the back.

Another one had a much older appearance than his peers, having more pronounced wrinkles despite being implied to be around the same age as his teammates. He had slightly curly, light brown hair styled in an undercut and small hazel eyes. He wore the standard Scout Regiment uniform, as well as a cravat, and his eyebrows were often pulled down in a condescending manner, similar to Levi's. The other member was the one who had woken up the boys; Petra had woken up the female cadets.

"Very well," Keith said, his voice carrying a sense of seriousness. "As you can see, this is the Titan," he continued, gesturing toward the massive figure that loomed before them. Its chains glinted in the sunlight, adding an air of danger.

"I want everyone to get a better look," Keith suggested, though it was more of an order than a request. His eyes scanned the cadets, daring anyone to challenge his authority. The Titan itself seemed to be almost dozing as if it were tired of being gawked at day after day. Its massive frame shifted slightly, causing the chains to groan in protest. For a moment, it looked as though the creature might fall asleep right then and there, lulled by the monotony of its captivity.

They exchanged unsure glances with one another, each one wondering if they were truly prepared to face the beast before them. The Titan was chained, but it stood tall and imposing, its massive size making even the bravest among them feel small and insignificant. Suddenly one stepped forward.

As Keith stood there, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as he watched Carla's son slowly approach the chained Titan. However, as the boy drew closer, Keith noticed something that caught him off guard - Eren's usually bright and sparkling eyes were instead clouded with a profound sadness that seemed to radiate from within him. Keith had expected many things from Eren, given his reputation for being quite the firebrand, but sadness was not one of them.

Eren walked up to the Titan, whose eyes focused on Eren, now standing one meter away; Keith stood in hand-grabbing range in case Eren made any sudden moves so that he could stop him.

The Titan's empty eyes glimmered with a pang of ravenous hunger and fixated on Eren with an unrelenting intensity. Despite being chained, the Titan strained against its restraints, attempting to lean closer to Eren and satiate its insatiable hunger. Its enormous mouth hung agape, saliva dripping from its jagged teeth as it futilely snapped at the empty air.

Eren leaned in close to the massive, chained Titan, his eyes locked on the creature's lifeless gaze. He couldn't help but wonder about the being's past, what kind of life it had led before being reduced to a pure titan.

"I wonder who you were?" he whispered, his voice tinged with a heavy sadness that he made sure no one else could hear. Not seeing a reason to stick around, Eren turned around and started walking back to the others.

"Brat, what is your name?" Eren turned to see Captain Levi addressing him. His cold eyes almost made Eren stiff where he was.

Saluting almost instinctively. "My name is Eren Yeager," he said proudly. The captain did not react; he simply gestured for him to keep going.

Back at the row of cadets, Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie were watching Eren. Well, Annie was; Reiner and Bertholdt were huddled together, deep in conversation, as they whispered conspiratorially about their next move. Their gazes shifted nervously between the chained Titan and Eren.

"This is bad, Annie if they find-" "Quiet, you fool," she hissed, her words laced with warning. "Do you want everyone to hear you and ruin everything we've worked for?" Reiner, taken aback by her sudden outburst, stared back at her defiantly, unwilling to back down despite the intensity of her stare. However, even he knew that Annie was making a good point, and he wisely decided to keep his thoughts to himself.

As they stood in the midst of the bustling crowd of cadets, Reiner shut his mouth tightly, knowing that one careless word could shatter their carefully crafted cover and bring their clandestine mission to a disastrous end. The slightest slip-up could expose their true identities and turn the tide of their mission against them. Reiner knew that if their cover were blown, they would have no choice but to make a frantic escape, using whatever means necessary to evade capture and probably kill everyone by doing so.

"Strange! I thought Eren would be furious; I wonder why he didn't- you know, lash out!" Bertholdt pointed out, watching Eren say something to Mikasa. Reiner nodded, seeing that his friend was right; everyone knew that Eren hated Titans, and to see him walk towards one and not try to kill it was baffling, to say the least!

"Who knows, perhaps he is maturing," Reiner replied with a little shrug, not really paying much attention to Eren; Annie's eyes narrowed at Eren. She knew for sure something was going on here.

As the group of cadets approached the towering Titan, their hearts were pounding with fear and anticipation. One by one, they stepped closer, their eyes fixed on the massive creature in front of them. Some of them couldn't help but feel a wave of nausea wash over them as they stared at the beast, its chains creaking ominously in the quiet air.

Despite her own fear, Sasha steeled herself and took a step forward, her eyes locked on the Titan's face. She could feel her heart racing in her chest as she drew closer, her legs shaking with each step. But as she looked into the creature's eyes, she saw something she couldn't explain - a glimmer of sadness.

Jean wasn't afraid, but he almost looked lost when he approached the thing. A part of him was trying to picture something like that, but the size of a building and not chained.

Marco had a nervous smile all the time; Krista surprisingly didn't show fear; she walked up to the Titan with surprising confidence, much to Ymir's delight. The blonde girl had seen Eren's titan. This puny titan was a toddler compared to Eren's Titan.

As the other cadets had their turns approaching the chained Titan, Ymir stood at the back of the crowd, observing each of her peers with a sense of detachment. However, when it was finally her turn to step forward and face the creature, she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had been gnawing at her insides. The closer she got to the Titan, the more her heart pounded in her chest, not out of fear but out of a strange familiarity that she couldn't quite place. It was as though she had seen this Titan before, in some distant memory that was just out of reach, and the thought of not being able to remember it made her all the more uneasy.

Ymir approached the Titan, its gaping maw looming just a meter away. But as she met the creature's gaze, she noticed something unexpected - its previously empty eyes seemed to fill with emotion, turning from blank to sad instantly. Something Ymir and Keith noticed. Stepping back, The Titan started releasing grunts, trying to move his arms and legs; The wooden platform beneath him creaked and groaned under the strain of his movements, causing many of the cadets to step back in fear of the thing escaping.

Levi's hand went to his swords, eyeing the girl and the nasty thing. His moves got more violent; the chains started creaking.

"I-Is going to Escape!" the voice shouted in fear, causing panic to spread like wildfire. Without hesitation, a small group of cadets immediately followed the voice, sprinting towards the direction of the escapee. Seeing the opportunity, Reiner quickly told Annie and Bertholdt to follow him. They needed to talk right now and far away from everyone.

The Titan opened his mouth wide and released a thunderous grunt that echoed throughout the training yard, almost resembling a ferocious roar. As the sound reverberated through the air, his eyes welled up with tears, slowly rolling down his cheeks

"T-The thing is Crying!!" Jean pointed out, despite every part of his body telling him to run away to safety, he forced himself to stand his ground. Eren saw those things. I should not show fear, he thought, clenching his teeth; now a part of him understood why Eren hated the damn things.

"S-Su-Sub-Subject-" his words were hoarse, almost without meaning, but Levi and his squad heard them, and so did Keith and Ymir, whose eyes widened in shock. Keith looked at the tall girl from the corner of his eyes, wondering why the Titan was acting like this in her presence.

Eren wondered why they looked shocked. He hadn't heard the Titan speaking; to them, it sounded more like grunts. Armin noticed that Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie were gone, wondering why? Levi's squad prepared to cut down the thing; Ymir wasn't sure if they wanted to kill the titan or her.

With a deep sigh, she turned around to head back to the others. As she began to walk, she heard a faint whisper in the distance. At first, she thought it was just the wind, but then she heard it again, this time more clearly. It was the voice of a Titan, and it was addressing her. Ymir's heart raced as she turned to face the creature.

"Lady Ymir. Welcome,"