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[usurpers]

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[servileness]

It's worrying. That it's feeling natural to you is also worrying.

How you deal with your memories is up to you, but some things should still not be accepted as normal.

[usurpers]

A long time ago, there was a woman named Ymir Fritz. She made a pact with the devil for power, and was given the power of titans. She became the Founding Titan.

13 years later, she died, and her power was split. Nine different people inherited her powers and became shifters, and that gave origin to the Eldian people— the only race who has any potential of becoming titans. The power of the Founding Titan was entrusted to the Royal Family, the direct descendents of Ymir Fritz and the only ones who could unlock the Founding Titan’s powers. The rest were scattered.

All shifters had an expiration date called The Curse of Ymir. In a span of 13 years, just like her, the shifter’s body begins to deteriorate until it can’t be the vessel anymore, and dies. To keep the power under select lineages instead of losing it to a random baby or having it fall into the wrong hands, the Eldians discovered a way to keep the chain constant: the next chosen vessel must ingest the spinal fluid of the predecessor, as a mindless titan, to transfer their powers over before they die. They turn people into mindless titans through a special injection, and the only thing the mindless titan thinks is to eat the first person it sees.

Shifters can also steal another shifter’s power if they do the same thing, except this time they’re conscious: ingest the spinal fluid of the shifter. This was the case with my past life’s father and me.

None of this was right, it was disgusting and wrong, but it was a fact, and it was necessary. It’s not normal, but it’s such a detached story from my life now that . . . Honestly, I’m not bothered by it anymore. It’ll never happen again. This all died the day that world’s reality died, and I’m glad for it.

[servileness]

[ Clover feels a little sick, reading this. It makes some sense, but the level of perpetuating that power... it really is the devil's work. To think about Eren dealing with all that, even in another life, even if it's not the Eren that's here.... Vivid flashes of seething anger spark within her, and she has to take a few moments to breathe.

It's a little while before Clover replies. ]

Truly, your inner strength is one of your most admirable qualities. That is something I don't know if I could process if it were something I had to recall.

It sounds like you've really thought about this, so I won't linger on it. I'm glad you're that far removed from it, and I'm glad you don't have to deal with those politics here.

Thank you for telling me.

[usurpers]

It took a while to. Remember when I yelled at you? I yelled at a lot of people, and I still pushed you away the same way when dad died.

I don’t deserve nearly as much credit when it’s you, Elliot, my family that are the ones giving me that strength in the first place.

[servileness]

Death and grief take a toll out of all of us.

It's how you act and what you do with that support that builds your character. I know I'm only standing where I am now because of you and everyone else I love.

Eren, this may seem like it's out of nowhere, but I want you to know: it's only a theory of mine that I haven't fully tested, but I may have something like the reverse of the Curse of Ymir. That is to say, I don't think I can die by natural means anymore.

[usurpers]

What do you mean? You’re immortal?

[servileness]

Something like that. I don't know the lifespan of an Intoner, but I'm very durable. Almost all wounds will heal eventually.

But I think... I haven't confirmed it yet, but I think dragons are my, or an Intoners', biggest weakness.

[usurpers]

Shifters can rapid heal from just about about anything, too. Even severed limbs grow back. If the curse doesn’t kill us, I guess a severed central nervous system is the only way.

You mean dragons can hurt you permanently?

[servileness]

Yes. One of my sisters in my memories has a prosthetic arm of some kind. It should've regenerated if it were blown off by anything else.

[usurpers]

Be careful with dragons, then.

What’re Intoners?

[servileness]

I will.

I don't know for sure. I just know they were first thought of enemies by the humans of Midgard and then they were thought of as saviors, perhaps even like goddesses. They were enemies because the Intoners wanted to depose the despotic lords of the land. They became revered once they gained rule over Midgard. There is magic in their song, and they can all summon creatures called Daemons. Some of them are allied with dragons, some of them aren't.

[usurpers]

All you need to be good or bad is word that you are. It’s the same everywhere I look now.

Yours is a dragon, right? Like the one I fought in the dream.

[servileness]

In part, I think... the people of Midgard were weak to the song Intoners sang. Perhaps that's my wishful thinking in that people wouldn't revere someone like [ me ] Four, but that's my conjecture. I'd like to think people would try to delve deeper than just believing someone else's word.

The me that summoned a dragon was not stable. There is another... it's a fortress connected to wyverns. It's a bit much.

[usurpers]

That’s what separates the leaders from the followers.

A living fortress?

[servileness]

Followers should be able to think a little for themselves.

Is it living? I suppose it kind of is, but it's a little weird to call it that. I won't say it makes any sense, considering it didn't make sense to the person I was facing in memories.

[usurpers]

I agree.

A lot of things don’t make sense and they’re still what they are. If you can control a living fortress one day, that’ll be the second coolest thing you’ve ever done.

[servileness]

... What's the first?

[usurpers]

Being a Jaeger.

And getting me custom shelves.

[servileness]

[ leaves him on read ]

[servileness]

[ for 15 minutes ]

You're really stuck on those shelves. If I didn't know better, I'd say you love your Hot Wheels or mecha models more than me.

[usurpers]

[ oh darn he thought he had success!!! ]

You’re the one who spoiled me with them. It’s the first Clover thing I see in my room.

[servileness]

[ Sometimes, Clover is dumb, and you have to spell things out for her. ]

... Oh. It's because I thought you deserved it, and what kind of sister would I be if I didn't spoil you sometimes?

[usurpers]

A horrible, horrible sister. When’s the last time I spoiled you?

[servileness]

You spoil me everyday.

[usurpers]

God.
Speaking of spoiling, I have news for you.