One Step Forward

Year 846

Dragonstone, AOT World

Anger is an emotion that Levi is intimately familiar with, but this goes beyond anger. This is rage and a slew of other negative emotions he doesn't care to identify right now, and looking around the room he can tell that he isn't the only one. Erwin has been largely silent and stoic since the interrogation ended, but the pulsing vein in his temple gives him away. Aemon's little soldiers, Johan and his friends, seem ready to commit murder. And Hange, well Levi has never seen Hange so quiet since they've met and especially not when in the presence of Aemon and his wolf.

The only ones that don't seem enraged are Aemon and Balalaika. Levi has never been able to properly read Balalaika, and Aemon doesn't seem to be the type of person enraged unless he's personally targeted.

Bertholdt's revelations had set off an explosion within their minds and even now, an hour or so later, they struggle to process it all. It's one thing to be told by an outsider that the world hates you, it's another thing entirely to be told by someone indoctrinated in those beliefs. Still, there are many more questions that have yet to be answered that Levi wagers only the King would know, the true King and not the puppet currently sitting on the throne. And isn't that a surprise, the current King is a puppet for one reason or another.

"What now?" asks Hange, finally breaking the silence.

For a moment no one answers her.

"The first step should be acquiring the Titan Shifters, whether through brainwashing or transferring the power to someone else. Regardless of the method, Paradis will need the Titan Shifters." Balalaika says, her still lit cigar held between her fingers.

"Maybe we can convince them. Find out what makes them loyal to Marley and use it to change their allegiance if possible." one of Johan's friends suggests, causing Aemon to nod.

"An operation like that would require us to know their personal lives." Balalaika says. "We don't have the time to launch such an operation."

"The Titans beyond the walls are traitors to Marley right? Why don't we find some Titans and just feed them to the Shifters. We'd get rid of the Titan Shifters while getting our own who hate Marley. It's a win-win." Johan says, causing the room to fall silent as they think over his idea.

After a few seconds of silence, Levi turns to Aemon and Erwin, the two military geniuses in the room.

"You two have been quiet for a while now." says Levi, causing the two to look at him before turning to each other, an unspoken conversation passing between the two before they turn back to him, causing Levi to questioningly raise an eyebrow at them.

"Bertholdt claims that the Coordinate Titan possesses the power to command all Titans and the Subjects of Ymir." Aemon says. "Yet, somehow, the government is ruled by the nobles and a puppet king. This begs the question, how did the true royal bloodline lose power?" Aemon asks.

"The royal family lost the Coordinate Titan." Erwin answers.

"Aye, but regardless, according to Bertholdt the Ackermans were a family, loyal only to the true royal family, that are as powerful as Titan Shifters without the need to shift into Titans themselves. Yet you, Levi, are the only remaining one and you did not even know of this." Aemon continues to say, and Levi is beginning to see the picture he and Erwin are trying to paint.

"You're saying that there was a falling out between the Ackermans and the royal family that resulted in the Ackermans going into hiding, and that without the Ackermans to protect them when they lost the Coordinate Titan the royal family has been completely pushed to the side." Levi says.

"Aye, but the conspiracy goes much deeper than that I fear. It is widely accepted within the walls that the people within are the last remnants of humanity, and yet Bertholdt, Reiner, and Annie's very existence is proof of the contrary. Somehow, in the past hundred years or so, all knowledge of the world beyond the walls and Eldia's history was lost. How? Even should written documents and artifacts were burned and lost, that history could be passed down through word of mouth from parent to child. Such a secret could never have been kept." Aemon explains.

"Not unless the people were made to forget. With the Coordinate's power to command who says that it can't make people forget also." Erwin says.

"Not all people." Balalaika adds. "If the Coordinate could command the Ackermans then regardless of their falling out the Ackermans would be made to obey. But they weren't, which means the Coordinate has no power over the Ackermans and that the falling out was most likely about King Fritz's decision to erase the people's memories."

Once more silence falls over the room as they process the secret that they have just uncovered, and for the first time in a long while Levi feels lost. What should be their next step? Surrounded by threats from all sides, which should they tackle first?

Lost and full of questions, Levi does something he finds himself doing much more recently, he turns to Erwin. But when he looks at Erwin he finds him and Aemon staring at one another.

After a few seconds of much the same, Erwin sighs before reclining in his chair with a smile.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" questions Levi with a frown.

"Don't you feel it? The relief and excitement from no longer being in the dark?" asks Erwin, and Levi internally admits that he does feel it.

A weight has been lifted from his shoulders and despite knowing that threats surround them Levi can't find it within himself to care once the rage has run its course. Visible threats are much easier to deal with than 'knives in the dark', as Aemon likes to put it.

"Now that we have enough information, it's time to go on the offensive." Erwin says before turning to Aemon. "We wouldn't have been able to identify the Titan Shifters without you, can you do the same for the Coordinate?" asks Erwin.

"Aye, before the new year you shall have the Coordinate Titan identity at the very least." replies Aemon with a nod.

"Good." says Erwin before turning to Balalaika, Levi, and Hange. "While Aemon searches for the Coordinate, the Scout Regiment will launch an offensive to retake Wall Maria."

For a second no one reacts to his words before Hange starts to laugh.

"It's a feint." Hange says. "You want to draw everyone's attention to Wall Maria. Why?"

"To plan a coup." Erwin says. "If Paradis is to survive then the current government can't remain in power. So we'll make a show of trying to reclaim Wall Maria before Hange, Levi, and I return to the internal walls to bring the other commanders here so they can hear the truth from Bertholdt's mouth. Between the three branches we can depose the nobles and give ourselves a surviving chance when the outside world finally turns their attention to us. Besides, the Scout Regiment has been too quiet lately and they are no doubt growing suspicious." Erwin explains.

"And if one of the commanders goes to the nobles?" asks Levi.

"Then they shall be indisposed until the coup has run its course." says Aemon, causing Levi to turn to him. "None in this world know of Dragonstone's existence save for those within this room. They can be detained here in comfort until the coup is over." he explains, making Levi nod in agreement.

"What about the Titan Shifters?" asks Balalaika.

"They remain here until their fate is decided. There is always at least one dragon here, and even the smallest is big enough to contend with the Colossus; to say nothing of their flames. I would love to see them try and escape." Aemon says.

…

…

…

Evelynn watches from the window as her Lord makes himself ready for bed, his scarred back facing her and igniting the rage within her as she thinks of the one responsible. With a deep breath she smothers the rage, continuing to observe as he lays on his bed, falling asleep as soon as his head meets the pillow. She does not blame for the past week has been harrowing and nothing but pure willpower has allowed him to present a strong front before the gods, his siblings, his interdimensional friends and the leaders of the Scout Regiment.

She stays there for a few minutes, watching as he completely succumbs to his slumber before slowly spreading her raven wings and taking flight. From the air she scours the island of Dragonstone and miles from the coast, searching for any ship that may inadvertently make its way to Dragonstone. It is a process she undertakes every night when the island is devoid of activity as its inhabitants sleep. None have stumbled upon it yet, but she knows it is only a matter of time. Besides, should she stumble upon a Marleyan ship it would do wonders for her Lord's cause on Paradis should it be taken and studied while its inhabitants are questioned. And should luck shine upon them there will be vials of the serum that turns the Subjects of Ymir into Titans. With it they could turn loyal members of the Scout Regiment into Titan Shifters.

As per usual, she finds nothing and returns to Dragonstone just as Caraxes exits his lair for his nightly flight.

Landing before the dungeons she finds Reina waiting for her as planned, her werewolves nowhere in sight.

Shifting from her raven form, Evelynn greets Reina with a nod.

"Is he asleep?" asks the werewolf leader.

"Yes." Evelynn replies.

"Good, the past week has been pretty bad." Reina says as they make their way into the castle of Dragonstone.

"Do you have it?" she asks.

Rather than answer verbally Reina retrieves a vial filled with golden blood from her pocket, the blood of none other than Koios.

"Will that be enough?" Evelynn asks with a frown.

"It was hard enough getting this much blood from the Titan without drawing the attention of the demigods, so it will have to be enough." Reina says.

"And Dairic is sure that it will work?" Evelynn asks.

"I am quite sure." says a male voice before Reina can answer, causing the duo to turn around and face its owner.

Dairic, one of the six fey members of the Wild Hunt and the closest they have to a leader. The Fey are an enigmatic bunch and their hierarchy is not one that can easily be understood by outsiders, especially not by vampires and werewolves. Their culture is one that neither Reina and Evelynn have been able to understand despite their continuous attempt, but they understand at least this much; despite their obedience and respect for Aemon, the fey do not fully accept him as their leader for he is not the Seelie Queen and they are of the Seelie Court. It is for this reason that they present themselves in such an indifferent manner to Aemon.

Even the aid that Dairic is about to render to Aemon came at a cost, a cost that Evelynn still does not understand for what use could the fey have for vampire blood. Still, as long as her Lord is able to see out of the Titan's eye Evelynn does not care for the cost.

Taking the vial from Reina, Dairic studies it carefully.

"This shall suffice." he says before walking past them towards their Lord's quarters.

"Will the spell have any effect on him besides allowing him to see from the eye?" asks Evelynn.

"Who knows." replies Dairic with a shrug. "While he is a Fey, there is more to his bloodline than that, much more. And I cannot say how it will react to the introduction of ichor to his system."

His response does anything but please Evelynn and for a second she considers ripping him apart before Reina places a hand on her shoulder, calming her down.

Taking a deep breath Evelynn controls herself while silently vowing to rip the damn fey to shreds should the spell have any adverse affects on her Lord.

Author's Note: Here's the latest chapter. Originally I wanted Aemon to figure out how to use magic to make himself see out of the eye, but I decided to showcase the competency of the members of the Wild Hunt instead. I don't want to make Aemon a one man show, so from time to time the members of the Wild Hunt and Aemon's other subordinates will get their own shine. Tell me what you guys think.

If you want to support me please do so at patreon.com/servantambrosius