The Truth and the Future

The walls loomed over the city, their sheer size a constant reminder of how small humanity had been made to feel. But after what we found in the basement, that illusion was gone. The world wasn't just bigger—it was crueler, harsher, and far more complicated than most of them could comprehend.

Not me, though. I already knew.

As we walked through the stone streets of Wall Sina, I felt Historia's presence beside me, quieter than usual. I could tell the revelations still weighed on her. She already knew about the basement's secrets—I had told her long before we even stepped foot in there. And yet, knowing wasn't the same as seeing it with her own eyes.

"You okay?" I asked, breaking the silence.

She exhaled, hugging herself slightly. "I knew what we'd find, but... it still hurts."

I nodded. "It always does."

She stopped walking for a moment, her gaze lingering on my face. "How are you so calm?"

I gave her a small smirk. "Because I expected this."

"That's not what I meant," she murmured, shaking her head. "You knew. You always know. More than anyone else, more than you should. But even after learning the truth, you haven't changed."

I just shrugged. "The world being bigger doesn't change what I want, Historia. I don't fight for some grand cause. I fight for the people I care about."

She stared at me for a moment before exhaling a soft laugh. "You make it sound so simple."

"It is."

But before she could press further, footsteps approached. Mikasa.

Her dark eyes flickered toward me, studying me the way she had been ever since the Reiner and Bertholdt reveal. I didn't need a system notification to tell me she had started paying closer attention.

"We need to regroup," she said simply. "Levi and the others are waiting."

I nodded, exchanging a glance with Historia before following Mikasa. I could feel Historia moving closer beside me, as if unconsciously drawn to my presence.

That was good.

The room was dimly lit, filled with the core members of the Survey Corps. Levi's old squad—Oluo, Petra, Eld, and Gunther—stood with arms crossed, their expressions unreadable. Hange leaned over the table, her excitement barely restrained despite the grim news.

Erwin stood at the head of the table, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room. "We need to decide our next move."

Eren clenched his fists. "We have to take the fight to Marley."

I studied him carefully. There was fire in his eyes, but not the same blind rage he once had. He was still the same Eren who had hope, who wanted freedom, who trusted in his squad. The fact that Levi's original team was still alive had changed things.

Levi turned his attention to me. "You've been quiet."

I met his gaze, keeping my expression neutral. "Just listening."

Levi narrowed his eyes slightly. "We don't have time for you to sit back and observe. What's your take?"

I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms. "We could try diplomacy, but it's laughable. Marley won't negotiate—they've already decided we're devils that need to be wiped out. If we sit back, they'll bring the fight to us."

Erwin nodded slightly. "Then a preemptive strike?"

I turned my attention to Eren instead of answering Erwin. "That depends. What do you want, Eren?"

The room fell into silence. Everyone watched him.

Eren inhaled sharply. "I want to end this. But I don't want to lose myself doing it."

A good answer. It meant he hadn't fallen into pure vengeance yet. That meant there was still room to shape him, to keep him from becoming that Eren—the one who threw everything away in the name of destruction.

I smirked. "Then let's make sure you don't."

Mikasa's eyes flickered toward me again, something unreadable in her gaze. Historia, too, studied me. They were watching, noticing, wondering how I always seemed to be a step ahead.

That was fine.

Because the war was coming.

And this time, I wouldn't just fight in it.

I would shape it.