The makeshift roads were bumpy as the truck drove across them, away from the desolate area you and the other warriors had been fighting. It was weird to be outside of the trenches and away from the battlefield, but it was also terrifying. Were you going to be taken to be killed because of your stunt with Colt? Why else would Magath pull you away, especially at a time like this, when they needed to push towards the fort as quickly as possible?
You wondered if your heart was beating loudly enough for Magath to hear. His face seemed stony and impassive, purposefully set to not give anything away. Of course, that's how he usually looked, but you hated that you couldn't get a read on him. What was going to happen?
The entire ride was filled with silence. Eventually, the trunk pulled into a place filled with plant life, trees and grass lining the crumbled sidewalks of a destroyed village. You had no idea where, and even less of an idea about what you were doing there. You did your best to distract yourself by looking out the window, but it barely worked. All it did was give you more anxiety about whatever was to come.
The village couldn't be anywhere in Marley, you hadn't traveled far enough to get there, but it was beautiful. Most of the trees were growing strong, whereas vines and flowers were starting to grow on the crumbled buildings, all made from white stone. Marleyan soldiers were walking down the sidewalks, some standing guard in front of doors to buildings, and more vehicles drove down the destroyed road. You were out of place here: none of these soldiers wore an arm band. They'd know exactly what you were immediately.
The truck came to a stop. You tried to swallow, throat dry.
"Move," Magath ordered, getting out of the truck first. You followed, hopping out of the back and standing as straight as you could, chin uplifted as you walked towards one of the largest buildings in the village. The soldiers standing on either side of the giant doors gave you harsh looks that you did your best to ignore, not wanting anything to add to the anxiety you were already feeling.
It was impossible. Your heart felt like it would burst out of your chest.
You walked through a large entrance hall and up a set of crumbled stairs that had to have been elegant at one point in time. They led to the second story, where more soldiers stood, all watching you as you followed Magath to another set of large doors. The anticipation was killing you, but you stood straight and kept your chin up. Two soldiers opened the doors for him, and then closed them once you were inside. Inside had to be some kind of meeting room: there were battle maps spread across the single long table and hung on the walls. Parts of the ceiling were missing, allowing sunlight to stream in beautifully.
"General," Magath said, saluting to the only man in the room who was seated at the head of the table.
"Magath," the general responded easily, straightening up and staring at you. The general was a graying man dressed in a uniform decorated with medals, and while he seemed tired, his entire demeanor was relaxed to the point that he didn't look like a man fighting a war.
No, you supposed. He isn't fighting.
Still, you could barely believe that you were standing in front of the man. You made sure that your salute was perfect and unwavering, and offered your complete attention, still wondering what the hell was going on. Magath gestured towards you with one hand held palm-up. "This is (y/n), our oldest warrior candidate."
"Hm?" the general hummed, leaning his head on one fist. "Doesn't look like much..."
"I assure you, General, that we make sure every warrior candidate is completely capable before they inherit a titan," Magath replied.
"Hey," the general called to you. "How old are you?"
"Seventeen, General," you immediately replied.
"Older than the four originally sent to the island," the commander reported.
The General sighed through his nose, the noise a loud hiss in the otherwise quiet room. He got to his feet and glanced out the window, where one could see the distant battle raging on the sea, hundreds of miles away. "Do you know why you're here, (y/n)?" he asked you.
"No, General," you admitted.
"The Mid-Easterners have been giving us trouble," he said lowly, in clear anger. "They have weapons capable of combating our titans. This is not a good sign for the future." He looked over his shoulder at you. "We need something stronger. Something far more powerful."
You didn't know what, and you were afraid to guess. The Commander explained to you, "We need the power of the Founding Titan."
What!
It wasn't your place to question orders, and if you did, you'd only be punished for it. Still, you couldn't help but think back to your few conversations with Reiner, and how his mission had been to infiltrate, and eventually find 'the coordinate'. The Founder. So much information was kept from you, and you understood why, but...
The General walked to one of the battlemaps too far away for you to get a good look at. "Our reports have told us that the island devils are very much still alive, and that we could face a full scale attack at any moment. If they hold the power to the Founder, we will not be capable of fighting a war on two fronts. We need to strike quickly and quietly."
You glanced towards Magath, who nodded once to you in respect. "You proved yourself today. You're ready for this."
Ready. Fuck, you hoped so.
Just then, it really hit you that these people were entrusting you to hold the power of the Founding Titan. You knew stories, had learned world history when you were younger and just learning to be a warrior, and knew that that Titan was the biggest and baddest of them all. Whoever had that one controlled the Titans on Paradis. It was the first one, given to the founder Ymir by the devil himself, thus creating your cursed race of people. Thus sending the world into chaos, into destruction.
And your mission was to go get it.
"Scouting ships are preparing to leave tomorrow," the General explained. "You'll be under the command of Corporal Dierbo, who will be leading the secret mission. Infiltrate Paradis, find the Founder, and bring it back to Marley. Understood?"
"Yes, General," you agreed.
"This conversation does not leave this room," the General threatened, slowly walking towards you. "Only you and a select few soldiers will know of its existence. Is that clear?"
"Yes, General."
He nodded once, turning back towards the battle maps on the table. "Dierbo will have the serum on his person at all times. Find the Founder and inherit the power, even if you have to transform in broad daylight to do it. Understood?"
You nodded, wishing you could salute again, even though you'd held the position since the conversation had started. "Yes, General."
The General walked back towards his seat at the head of the table. "Magath, give a debriefing."
The commander directed you towards the other end of the table, where a thin stack of papers rested. They were handed to you, which you held as gently as you could. "These are the reports from our shifters that went on the original mission," he explained. "According to Zeke Yeager, the current holder of the Founding Titan's power is one Eren Yeager, not of royal blood. He also makes note of the strength of the devils he faced, and leaves a clear warning not to underestimate any of them."
