An Unexpected Turn in Fate

Chapter 20 -- The Truth

With reports saying that Wall Rose has been compromised, citizens were forced to take refuge in the underground city of Wall Sina. However, even though emergency supplies have been prepared just in case, with over half the population relying on them, rations could only last about a week. Beyond that lurked a terrible choice: turn on each other like animals or face the prospect of starvation. To avoid a catastrophic crisis, the authorities declared Wall Rose secure.

I knock on the infirmary door. After a few seconds, the door swings open. Levi stands there, having a stern expression on his face. "Abby, what the hell are you doing here?" He asks sharply, intently staring at me.

"Levi, she has important information regarding the colossal, armored, and female titans," Erwin states, sitting up on the bed. Levi crosses his arms in annoyance as his steel grey eyes seem to pierce through my soul. "Explain to me exactly why you didn't tell us sooner," the captain demands.

I lower my head in dismay. "H-Honestly, I'm scared..." I admit as tears form in my eyes. "You guys have no reason to trust me or believe anything I say. I wish I could've told you guys sooner. For that, I'm sorry..."

Levi, who doesn't say a word, turns around and heads back into the room before leaning against the wall. I step into the room, closing the door right behind me. "Abby! It's great to see you again!" Hange exclaims cheerfully, walking towards me with her arms extended. Once she's inches away, Hange engulfs me in a hug.

"I-I..."

After a few moments, she backs away. "Now, Abby, I believe you have some important information on the colossal, armored, and female titans!" Hange states eagerly, dragging me over to a couch and forcing me to sit down. Hange sits down right besides me, having a curious yet serious expression on her face.

I shift uncomfortably as an eerie silence fills the room. Why didn't I prepare for this? I ask myself. When I told Erwin that I have essential information about the colossal, armored, and female titans, I completely acted on impulse. "Can you just spit it out already?" Levi questions in annoyance.

"Levi, give her a moment."

"Abby, it's..."

"There's civilizations outside of these walls," I say bluntly, squeezing my eyes shut. "Compared to us, their technology is extremely advanced. They have blimps, steamboats, cars and trucks, and phones."

Hange's eyes light up. "Abby, please elaborate!"

"Well..." I start. "Blimps are a type of machinery that can fly. This can carry a bunch of people, weapons, or materials to a certain location. Steamboats are used for transportation on large bodies of water. Cars and trucks are basically an improved version of carriages and wagons that can move much faster. Lastly, A phone is an item that lets you contact someone else from a far distance."

"That sounds amazing!"

Erwin's face softens. "I see..."

"Do you have anymore information, brat?"

I nod. "The people who can transform into titans at will are known as titan shifters," I explain, furrowing my eyebrows in concentration. "Originally, there was nine titan shifters, which are the attack titan, the colossal titan, the armored titan, the female titan, the jaw titan, the Warhammer titan, the cart titan, the beast titan, and the founding titan."

Hange studies me. "What makes them unique!?"

"The founding titan has the abilities of memory manipulation, titan control, and anatomical manipulation," I respond. "The attack titan can see the memories of its past and future holders. The colossal titan has an explosive transformation, emits steam, and is the largest titan. The armored titan has armored skin that gives the user the best defenses. The jaw titan is extremely quick and agile, and it has a crushing strength that can break through anything. The cart titan possesses the greatest endurance of the nine titan shifters and is fast. The female titan has adaption to other titan abilities, titan attraction, versatility, and hardening. The Warhammer titan possesses structural hardening and remote operation. As for the beast titan, he's different from the others. Normally, this titan exhibits animal traits. The current user can use hardening, create titans, and control titans to a certain extent."

The Section Commander stares at me in astonishment. "That's outstanding...!" She exclaims, having a twisted smile on her face. "So, does this mean that Eren is a titan shifter!?" A chill races down my spinal cord as I chuckle nervously.

"Yes," I say in a surprisingly calm tone. "Eren currently possesses the founding and attack titans. In the current rescue mission, he was able to control the titans with the founding titan's powers."

"That makes sense."

"Abby, please tell us more!"

"Okay..." I murmur. "I'll tell you the truth about the titans. Around 2,000 years ago, there was a slave named Ymir running away from her masters, the Eldians. She came across a large tree that has an entrance that leads into a pit full of water. Ymir was unaware of the water and enters the tree, falling into the pit. She sinks as a mysterious, spine-like entity attaches itself to her back. That's when she transforms into the very first titan."

"With her new power, she returns to the Eldians and serves under King Fritz, eventually bearing him three daughters," I continue. "When Ymir dies, the king orders his daughters to eat her in order to retain Ymir's powers among her daughters. Eventually, it split into the nine titan shifters, which Eldia used to conquer Marley and establish the Eldian Empire."

Hange studies me. "Wow! That's interesting!"

"After 1,700 years, Karl Fritz inherited the Founding Titan and chose to abandon the conflicts of the mainland," I inform. "In his absence, the Great War began, and the Marlyeans took over the Continent. The king and many Eldians fled to Paradis Island, where he used a bunch of colossal titans to construct three walls around his territory."

"Marley, huh..."

"That's where Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie are from," I point out. "They're also the ones responsible for the titan onslaught. The Marleyeans transform people into titans and then send them our way."

Hange's eyes widen in shock. "Huh!?"

"It actually makes complete sense," Erwin states, furrowing his eyebrows in concentration. "I just have one question. Even though the titans seem to be the foundation of the wall, I have a feeling that's not the only reason they're there. What's the purpose of the wall titans?"

I frown. "The rumbling."

Hange tilts her head to the side in confusion. "The rumbling?"

"The rumbling was a cataclysmic event that destroyed all life on earth," I explain, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "The colossal titans in the wall start to move forwards, flattening everything in their path and leaving death and destruction in their wake."

After a few minutes of silence, Levi walks towards me with his arms crossed. "Tell me, Abby, how you gained access to this type of information," he says sharply, having a glint in his stormy, grey eyes.

I pause for a moment as my hair covers my eyes. "It was a dream I once had," I murmur. Tears brim my eyelids as I clench my fists in desperation. With this comment, that was my way of throwing my past life behind me and accepting that I'll probably never return home. In the end, I need to move on and live in the moment. I've spent three years here, and I'm already 21 years old!

"While it's unclear on how you achieved this information, everything you discussed makes perfect sense," Erwin acknowledges, eyeing me carefully. "That's why we have to return to Shiganshina and get to Eren's basement. If what you're saying is true, then we must confirm it right away and act on it."

Hange nods in agreement. "Yeah! Sounds about right!"

Levi shoots me a suspicious look. "Tsk. If Erwin trusts you, then I have no choice then," he says in a monotone voice. I raise my eyebrows in astonishment as a slight smirk curves around Hange's lips.

"Awww, Levi!!"

"What, four eyes!?"

"Nothing!"

"Tsk. How annoying."

"Levi, Hange, Abby, if you don't mind, I need some time to think this over," states Erwin, who furrows his eyebrows in concentration. Hange nods lightly, grabbing my arm and following Levi out of the room.