Chapter Two

  The streets of Liberio were quiet as dusk began to settle over the city, the orange glow of the setting sun casting long shadows between the narrow alleyways. Eren, disguised in a stolen Marleyan uniform, moved with purpose, his mind consumed by the mission ahead. The attack on Liberio was only months away, and everything hinged on one key objective: stealing the War Hammer Titan from the Tybur family. They were powerful, elusive, and heavily guarded. But Eren knew this was his best chance to finally turn the tides in favor of Paradis.

  As his thoughts swirled, a sound broke through the quiet—soft and melodic, floating on the gentle evening breeze.

  It was a voice. A song.

  Eren stopped in his tracks, his body tensing as he listened more closely. There was something about that voice, something familiar. His heart pounded in his chest, his pulse quickening as he strained to hear the melody more clearly. It stirred something deep inside him, something he hadn’t felt in years.

  Could it be…?

  Without thinking, Eren turned and followed the sound. His feet carried him through the narrow streets, his mind racing with a mixture of disbelief and anticipation. The song grew louder as he approached a small courtyard hidden behind an old, crumbling building. And there, sitting beneath the shade of a large tree, was a figure.

  A young woman, her platinum-blonde hair glowing in the fading light. She was singing softly to herself, her delicate voice filling the air with an almost ethereal quality.

  Eren’s breath caught in his throat.

  Aurora.

  For a moment, he thought he was hallucinating. He had imagined this moment so many times over the years, wondering if he would ever see her again. He had long believed she was dead, taken from him all those years ago when her family had disappeared from Shiganshina. No one had known what happened to them. Not his parents. Not the neighbors. It was as if they had vanished without a trace.

  And now, here she was. Alive. Real.

  Eren’s feet felt glued to the ground as he stared at her, his heart pounding in his chest. His mind raced with a flood of memories—the two of them as children, running through the streets of Shiganshina, playing together before the world had grown so dark. She had been his first friend, his first crush, and her sudden disappearance had left a gaping hole in his life that had never truly healed.

  And now, she was here.

  Aurora seemed unaware of his presence, lost in her song. But as Eren stepped closer, her voice faltered, and she lifted her head. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, there was only silence between them. Eren’s heart raced as he saw the confusion and fear flash across her face. She didn’t recognize him—at least, not yet.

  But Eren… he knew her instantly. He had never forgotten those eyes.

  “Aurora…” His voice cracked slightly, hoarse with emotion. He took a slow step forward, his hands trembling. “It’s me… Eren.”

  Aurora froze, her eyes widening in shock. Her lips parted as if she wanted to speak, but no words came out. She stared at him, her body trembling as she slowly took a step back, her gaze darting across his face as if trying to make sense of what she was seeing.

  “Eren?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

  He nodded, his throat tight. “It’s me. I thought… I thought I lost you.”

  Aurora’s breath hitched, and she took a shaky step toward him, her hand reaching out as if she needed to touch him to be sure he was real. “I… I never thought I would see you again,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “After all these years… I thought…”

  Eren couldn’t take it anymore. He closed the distance between them in an instant, pulling her into his arms. The moment her small frame pressed against his chest, a wave of relief washed over him. She was here. She was alive. And she was in his arms again.

  “Eren…what are you even doing here? How are you here?” Aurora asked softly, her voice cutting through the stillness between them as she clutched his shirt tightly. “Why are you in Marley? What are you doing here?”

  Eren’s heart skipped a beat at her words, but his face remained neutral. He hadn’t expected this question so soon—but he had known the second he saw Aurora that it was coming eventually. He’d been dreading it, even. He didn’t know how to explain the truth without breaking the fragile bond they had just begun to rebuild.

  How could he tell her the full scope of his plans? How could he explain that his goal was to tear down the world she had known? How could he make her understand that everything he was doing was for the sake of Paradis, for their people, even if it meant unleashing a nightmare?

  He shifted uncomfortably, avoiding her gaze for a moment. His mind racing as he tried to find the right words. “It’s… complicated,” he finally said, his voice low and guarded. “I’m here on a mission for Paradis. That’s all I can say right now.”

  Aurora furrowed her brow, her gaze still locked on him. She could sense his hesitation, the way he was holding something back. “A mission? Eren, what kind of mission would bring you all the way to Marley? What could be so important that you’re risking your life here, pretending to be one of them?”

  Eren’s jaw tightened. She wasn’t going to let this go. He knew Aurora—she was always too smart, too intuitive to accept vague answers. She deserved to know more, but the truth… it was too dangerous. He didn’t want to lie to her, but he wasn’t sure how she would react if she knew the full extent of what he was planning.

  “It’s… complicated,” he repeated, his voice slightly strained. He wasn’t used to feeling uncertain, especially not after everything he had decided. But now, with Aurora, it felt different. She wasn’t just anyone—she was his oldest friend, someone he cared about deeply. He didn’t want her to see him as a monster.

  Aurora’s expression softened as she watched him, sensing his internal struggle. She shifted closer, her hand gently brushing his arm, as if to offer comfort. “Eren, you don’t have to be afraid to tell me,” she said softly. “I know things must’ve changed since we were kids. I know you’ve been through a lot.”

  Eren’s heart clenched at her words. The trust in her eyes, the way she looked at him—it was the same as when they were children. Pure, unguarded. And yet, he wasn’t the same boy she had known back then. He had changed—drastically. The weight of his decisions, the path he was on—it was too heavy to share with her.

  “I’m not afraid,” Eren said, though his voice betrayed a hint of the doubt gnawing at him. He glanced up, meeting her eyes, and for a moment, he allowed himself to be vulnerable. “I just… I don’t want you to think less of me. I’m not the same person you knew, Aurora. I’ve done things—things you might not understand.”

  Aurora’s eyes softened further, her heart aching at the pain in his voice. She had always known Eren as someone strong, someone determined, even as a child. But now, there was a sadness, a weight in his words that hadn’t been there before. She moved even closer, her hand resting on his shoulder.

  “Eren, whatever it is, I know you’re doing it for a reason. You’ve always wanted to protect people. I can see that in you, even now.” She paused, her eyes searching his face. “Just tell me. What are you really doing here?”

  Eren’s eyes darkened slightly as he looked away, his hand tightening into a fist. He knew he couldn’t hide the truth from her forever. If anyone deserved to know, it was Aurora. But the truth was harsh. Brutal.

  “I’m in Marley to destroy it,” he said, his voice hard and flat. The words hung heavy in the air between them, a stark contrast to the calmness of the clearing. “I’m gathering information, preparing for a raid on Liberio. It’s not just a mission, Aurora. It’s a declaration of war.”

  Aurora’s breath hitched as she processed his words, her hand falling away from his shoulder. “A declaration of war?” she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. “Eren… what are you talking about?”

  Eren looked at her, his gaze intense and unwavering. “The world wants to wipe us out. The rest of humanity—the people outside the walls—they see us as monsters. They’ve blamed us for the Titans, for everything. Marley, the Tyburs, all of them. They’re planning to come after Paradis and finish us off.”

  Aurora’s eyes widened, her heart racing as the gravity of the situation began to sink in. “Eren…”

  “I can’t let that happen,” Eren continued, his voice growing more resolute. “If we don’t act, they’ll destroy us. They’ll come for our home. For everyone. So I’m here, undercover, waiting for the right moment to strike.”

  Aurora sat in stunned silence, her mind reeling from everything Eren had just revealed. A raid on Liberio. A declaration of war. It was all so much—too much to take in at once. But as she looked at him, saw the determination in his eyes. He wasn’t acting out of cruelty or ambition. He was trying to protect his people.

  But it still scared her.

  “I understand why you’re doing this,” she said quietly, her voice trembling slightly. “But, Eren… all that destruction. Are you sure this is the only way?”

  Eren’s gaze softened, but the resolve in his voice remained unshaken. “It’s the only way I know how to protect Paradis. If I don’t act, they’ll come for us. I can’t let that happen. I won’t.”

  Aurora nodded slowly, her heart heavy with the weight of his words. She had always valued life, always believed in the sanctity of it. But now, faced with the harsh reality of the world, she realized that sometimes survival came at a cost.

  And as much as the thought of war terrified her, she couldn’t turn away from him. Not after finally finding him again.

  “I don’t understand everything, but… I trust you, I always have.” She whispered, her voice filled with quiet determination.

  Eren’s heart swelled at her words, and for a moment, the burden of his mission didn’t feel quite as heavy. He had been so consumed by his plans, by the weight of the future, that he had forgotten what it felt like to have someone by his side. Aurora’s quiet strength, her unwavering support—it meant more to him than she could ever know.

  “Thank you,” he said softly, his voice filled with gratitude.

  Aurora nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips.

  But as Eren studied her petite form, something cold and unsettling began to creep into his thoughts. What was Aurora even doing in Marley in the first place? How did she end up here?

  Her body felt frail, too light, and when he looked down, he saw the bruises on her arms, dark and ugly against her skin. Her dress was torn in places, frayed and dirty, and her hands were calloused, signs of hard labor. She had suffered.

  Eren pulled back slightly, his eyes scanning her appearance with growing concern. “Aurora… what happened to you?” His voice was quiet, but the anger simmering beneath the surface was palpable. “How did you end up here in Marley? Where are your parents?”

  Aurora’s face fell at his words, her body tensing in his arms. She stepped back, her eyes filled with a deep sorrow that Eren hadn’t seen before. She wrapped her arms around herself, her shoulders slumping as if the weight of the world had settled on them.

  “My parents…” Her voice cracked, and she looked away, unable to meet his gaze. “They’re gone, Eren. They were taken from me. Just like everything else.”

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  Eren’s heart sank, and a knot of dread twisted in his stomach. “What do you mean gone? What happened to them?”

  Aurora took a deep breath, her hands trembling as she tried to steady herself. “In Shiganshina… we were kidnapped by the Tybur family.”

  Eren’s eyes widened in shock. The Tybur family?

  “They found us,” Aurora continued, her voice filled with pain. “My father… he had stolen the War Hammer Titan from them. That’s why they came for us. They tracked us down, and the Jaw Titan… the Jaw Titan ripped my father’s limbs off right in front of me, and then they feed him to a pure titan…one of the Tyburs.”

  Eren’s blood ran cold. The Tybur family, the Marleyan nobility who wielded the War Hammer Titan—they had been hunting Aurora’s family all this time. And they had found them. His jaw clenched in anger, his fists trembling at the thought of what she must have witnessed, what she must have endured. But what was Aurora’s father doing with the War Hammer Titan in the first place? How did he manage to steal it from them?

  “They took me and my mother,” Aurora whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. “We were just tools to them, Eldian slaves. They made us work for them, and when my mother got sick… they refused to treat her. They let her die, Eren. They let her die because they didn’t see the point in saving someone like her.”

  Eren’s heart shattered at her words. His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, the fury boiling inside him threatening to spill over. He wanted to tear the Tybur family apart, to make them suffer for what they had done. For taking Aurora’s family from her. For turning her life into a nightmare.

  “Aurora,” he whispered, his voice hoarse. He gently cupped her face in his hands, wiping away the tears that streamed down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

  Aurora shook her head, her lips trembling. “It wasn’t your fault. There was nothing anyone could do. But… I never stopped thinking about you. About the life we had in Shiganshina. You were the only good thing I had.”

  Eren’s chest tightened, his heart aching for the girl he had lost all those years ago. “I’m not losing you again,” he said, his voice filled with determination.

  His grip tightened around Aurora as her words sent a fresh wave of anger through him. His heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing with possibilities, calculations, and the growing need to protect her from the nightmare she had endured. There was no way in hell he was letting her go back to that place—to the Tybur family.

  “Eren,” Aurora whispered, her voice trembling, her body still shaking from the overwhelming emotions of their reunion. She looked up at him, her ice-blue eyes filled with fear. “I… I have to go back. If I don’t, they’ll come for me. They’ll hunt me down, and… I have nowhere else to go. Nowhere safe.”

  Eren’s jaw clenched, his fists trembling with fury. The thought of her returning to that estate, to those monsters, was unbearable. He could imagine her being dragged back into that place, forced to suffer more at the hands of those who had already taken so much from her. The bruises on her skin, the scars, the brokenness in her voice—he couldn’t let her endure it any longer.

  “No,” he said, his voice low and hard, filled with an intensity that left no room for argument. “You’re not going back there.”

  Aurora’s eyes widened, and she shook her head, panic flashing across her face. “Eren, I have to. You don’t understand. If I don’t return… they’ll think I’ve escaped. They’ll send their guards after me. I won’t be able to hide for long. And… where would I even go? I can’t just disappear.”

  Eren gently cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to meet his gaze. “I won’t let that happen,” he said firmly, his voice filled with an unyielding resolve. “I won’t let anyone hurt you again, Aurora. I’ll protect you. I’ll find a way to keep you safe.”

  Aurora’s lips quivered, and she lowered her gaze, her hands clutching his jacket as she trembled. “But how?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper. “How can you protect me here, in Marley? You’re… you’re a soldier. You have a mission. I don’t want to get in the way of that.”

  Eren’s heart ached at the sound of her fear, her doubt. He had planned for this—planned to stay in Marley for months, undercover, pretending to be just another wounded soldier suffering from trauma in the internment zone hospital. That cover had been essential to his plan, giving him time to observe, to blend in until the day of the raid arrived. Seven long months, waiting in silence, biding his time.

  But now, all of that had changed.

  “I’ll figure it out,” Eren said, his voice steady, though his mind raced with possibilities. “I’ll find a way to provide for you. I’ll keep you hidden. No one will know you’re with me.”

  Aurora blinked, confusion and uncertainty clouding her face. “But… Eren, how? How can you do that with me here? It’ll put everything at risk.”

  “I don’t care,” Eren replied, his voice filled with a dangerous edge. “Plans can change. I can change them. But I’m not letting you go back to that estate. I won’t lose you again.”

  Aurora’s lips trembled as she processed his words, her heart pounding in her chest. She wanted to believe him, wanted to trust that he could find a way. But the fear of being hunted down by the Tyburs, of being dragged back to that place where she had been nothing but a slave for so long—it paralyzed her.

  “Eren…” she whispered, her voice fragile. “They’re powerful. They’re connected. If they find out you’re helping me…”

  “I know what I’m doing,” Eren interrupted, his green eyes blazing with determination. “I know how dangerous the Tyburs are. I know what they’re capable of. But I’m not afraid of them. I’m going to destroy them, Aurora. All of them.”

  Aurora gasped softly, taken aback by the sheer intensity of his words. She could see the cold fire burning in his eyes, the single-minded focus that had come to define him over the years. He wasn’t the same boy she had known in Shiganshina. He was someone else now—someone darker, someone who was willing to go to unimaginable lengths to achieve his goals. But in that moment, she knew that protecting her had become one of those goals.

  “I’ll keep you hidden,” Eren continued, his mind already working through the logistics of what he would need to do. “There are safe places in the internment zone, places where no one looks. I’ll bring you food, clothes—whatever you need. You’ll stay out of sight until the time comes.”

  Aurora hesitated, her hands trembling as she clutched his jacket tighter. “But… but what about you? If something happens to you… If they find out who you are…”

  “They won’t,” Eren said, his voice hard, unflinching. “They won’t find out. Not until it’s too late.”

  He pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her protectively, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “I’m not letting you go back to them. You’re with me now. And when the time comes, I’ll take you back to Paradis. You’ll be safe there.”

  Aurora’s eyes filled with tears, her chest tightening at the thought of being free—truly free—for the first time in years. The idea of leaving Marley, of escaping the horrors she had endured, was almost too much to hope for. But Eren’s words, his presence, his unwavering determination—they gave her something she hadn’t felt in a long time.

  Hope.

  She nodded slowly, her tears spilling over as she leaned into him, burying her face in his chest. “Okay,” she whispered. “I trust you.”

  Eren’s grip on her tightened, his heart pounding as he held her close. He had changed, become someone colder, harder—but for Aurora, the girl he had thought he lost all those years ago, there was still a part of him that would never let go. He would protect her, no matter what it took.

  And when the time came, the Tybur family—and all of Marley—would pay for what they had done.

  Because this time, Eren wasn’t just fighting for freedom.

  He was fighting for her.

  …

  Eren held Aurora’s hand, his grip firm yet gentle as he led her through the winding alleyways of Liberio. His mind raced as they moved, his eyes scanning every corner, every shadow, searching for a place where they could hide—somewhere they wouldn’t be seen, somewhere safe. But with every passing minute, it became more and more apparent that nowhere in the internment zone would be secure enough. Not for them.

  He was public enemy number one in Marley—the man who possessed the Founding Titan. And now, Aurora was a runaway slave from the most powerful family in Marley, the Tyburs. Every step they took felt like the weight of the world pressed down on them, and Eren knew the risk. They couldn’t stay somewhere with a lot of people around. They couldn’t trust anyone.

  Aurora followed him in silence, her fingers gripping his hand tightly, her fear evident in the way her body trembled beside him. She glanced around nervously, her eyes wide as they darted across the unfamiliar streets. Eren could feel her unease, and it only strengthened his resolve.

  They couldn’t afford to be found.

  Eren led her through the familiar routes he had scouted during his months undercover, areas of the internment zone he had once thought were safe. But as they approached each potential hiding place, his instincts screamed at him—too open, too exposed. He wasn’t willing to risk it. Not with Aurora.

  His thoughts raced as they passed through the outskirts of the zone. The realization slowly crept over him: nowhere here would work. The Tyburs had eyes everywhere, and the Marleyan military wouldn’t hesitate to drag them both back to face whatever punishment they deemed fit.

  Aurora kept glancing at him, confusion flickering in her eyes. “Eren, where are we going? What are we going to do?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Eren stopped for a moment, his jaw clenching as he considered their options. He couldn’t stay in the internment zone, and he couldn’t take her to any populated area. He needed to think outside of the box—somewhere they could be truly alone. Somewhere isolated.

  And then, like a spark in his mind, an idea hit him.

  The experiments with Hange.

  Back in Paradis, when he was still new to his Titan abilities, Hange had run a series of tests on him to determine the extent of what he could do in his Titan form. During one of those tests, he had successfully constructed a small cabin out of nothing but wood and stone, using his Titan strength and speed. It had taken him less than two hours to complete.

  I can do it again.

  He turned to Aurora, his gaze intense, though there was a flicker of hesitation behind his eyes. “I know a place,” he said quietly. “But… it’s going to sound a little crazy.”

  Aurora furrowed her brow, worry flashing across her face. “What do you mean?”

  Eren let out a slow breath, his mind already working through the next steps. He hadn’t told Aurora everything—at least, not yet. He had told her he was a soldier, that he was on a mission to destroy Marley. But there was something bigger, something more dangerous that he had kept hidden. And now, if they were going to survive, he needed to tell her the truth.

  He couldn’t lie to her. Not to Aurora.

  Eren squeezed her hand gently and turned to face her fully, his eyes locking with hers. “Aurora, there’s something I need to tell you. Something important.”

  She tilted her head slightly, her eyes searching his face for answers. “What is it, Eren?”

  His heart pounded in his chest, and for a moment, he struggled to find the right words. How could he explain what he was? What he had become? Would she still look at him the same way once she knew the truth?

  He took a deep breath. “I’m not just a soldier. I’m… I’m a Titan shifter.”

  Aurora blinked, her confusion deepening. “A… a Titan shifter?”

  Eren nodded, his voice low and steady. “I can transform into a Titan. I’m the holder of two Titans, actually—the Attack Titan and the Founding Titan.”

  Aurora’s eyes widened, shock and disbelief flashing across her face. She stared at him, as if trying to process what he had just said, her mind racing to make sense of it. “You… you’re a Titan?” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

  Eren swallowed hard, his throat dry. “Yes. I’ve been able to shift into a Titan for years now. That’s why I’m able to fight Marley—why I’m able to destroy them. It’s why I’m here.”

  Aurora took a step back, her hands trembling as she stared at him. Eren’s heart clenched at the sight of her reaction, but he pressed on, knowing she needed to hear the full truth.

  “I didn’t want to keep this from you,” he said softly, his voice filled with sincerity. “But I wasn’t sure how to tell you. My mission… it’s bigger than just me. It’s about freeing our people, freeing Paradis from Marley’s control. And the Founding Titan is the key to that.”

  Aurora’s breath hitched, her mind still reeling from the revelation. She had heard of the Titans, of course. Seen them up close an personal when her father was killed and eaten right in front of her. They were the monsters that haunted every Eldian’s life, the weapons Marley used to subjugate her people. And now, Eren was telling her that he was one of those Titans—one of the most powerful, no less.

  But he was still Eren. The boy she had cared for since they were children. The man who had protected her when no one else in the world gave a damn about her. The man who had promised to take her away from this hell.

  Aurora’s voice was shaky as she spoke. “So… so what does this mean? What are we going to do now?”

  Eren’s gaze softened, and he reached out to gently cup her cheek, his touch steadying her. “It means I’m going to take care of you. We can’t stay here in Liberio. It’s too dangerous. But I can take you somewhere safe. Somewhere isolated, where no one will find us.”

  Aurora blinked up at him, still unsure but trusting him nonetheless. “Where?”

  Eren’s voice was calm, but there was a determined edge to it. “I’m going to build a cabin for us. Away from here, in the outskirts. Somewhere no one will think to look.”

  Aurora’s eyes widened in confusion. “But… how? How can you—”

  “I’ve done it before,” Eren interrupted, his voice filled with quiet confidence. “Back in Paradis, during an experiment. I can do it again. In my Titan form, I can build it in less than two hours. It’s the safest option.”

  Aurora stared at him, the weight of his words sinking in. She didn’t fully understand how it was possible, but the certainty in Eren’s voice, the way he looked at her with such determination—it calmed her fears, if only a little.

  “Okay,” she whispered, nodding slowly. “I trust you, Eren.”

  Eren’s heart swelled at her words. He had changed so much, hardened by the world, but with Aurora, he still felt something soft, something worth protecting. He wasn’t going to lose her again. He would burn down the world before that happened.

  With one last glance around to make sure no one was following them, Eren took Aurora’s hand once more and led her toward the outskirts of the internment zone. It was time to put his plan into action.

  And this time, Eren wasn’t just fighting for freedom.

  He was fighting for the life he wanted with Aurora, no matter the cost.