Chapter Text
As Mikasa walked away, she turned back to look at Armin one last time, and smiled at him. She didn’t know when she’d see him again, after all. Armin gave her a watery smile in return, and Mikasa turned away, determined to move away from everyone so she could find a way back. Back to her home, where she could finally give Eren some peace. And she began walking, not thinking anything, not feeling anything, except for her aim of reaching that tree on the hill.
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Had she not been lying down nestling her baby against her chest, Historia could have sworn she would have collapsed and dropped her daughter with the shock. As it was, she forgot to breathe when the sudden memories burst into her mind, as if they were there all the time and were brought to the forefront due to some trigger. And when she began recalling Eren’s words with greater clarity, she realised what the trigger was and her eyes began to water.
Historia, if you remember this, it means I’m no longer alive in this world. To be specific, it means Mikasa managed to kill me, and consequently freed this world from the Curse of Ymir. We Eldians no longer bear cursed blood, we can no longer turn into titans. We’re as human as every other human being on this planet.
Conflict among human beings will never cease. I leave the fate of Paradis Island in your hands, knowing that humans will never stop waging war against each other, and as head of the state, it will be a reality you have to deal with. However, through this course of events I set in motion, I have given humans one less reason to wage war: the imbalance in power due to the Titan blood borne by Eldians no longer exists. Neither can Eldians use the Titan power to subjugate the world, nor can other humans like the Marleyans take advantage of the Titan power to bring hell to Eldians. In the very least, all I could manage was bring everyone to a level playing field. I leave the future of the world and of Paradis Island in Armin’s hands and in your hands. Know that I have destroyed 80% of humanity outside the Walls through the Rumbling, so no nation can threaten Paradis Island again for many years to come.
You are all precious to me. You, Mikasa, Armin, Jean, Connie, Levi Heichou... I wish Sasha and Hange san were alive to experience this new world. Please take care of yourself Historia.
In parting, I have a favour to ask of you. I turned all my friends into my enemies, and as a result, they are now enemies of the citizens of this island as well. Jean’s family is here on the island, within reach of the citizens. Connie’s mom will have turned back to a human too. Please take care of them.
Historia vaguely registered the tears flowing down her face as she recalled his twinkling green eyes and bittersweet smile. Goodbye, Historia, and live freely.
Those were his last words to her. 80% of humanity outside the walls ... She gasped. They really were the enemies of humanity. But he was different, she realised. His motive was always to rid the world of the Titans, and now he had achieved it. But at what cost... He even sacrificed a life with Mikasa. Historia’s heart ached as she thought of what state Mikasa must be in, forced to kill the man she protected all her life. The suicidal fool , she thought angrily. No one asked him to get himself killed.
She suddenly realised she had to act fast. “GUARDS!”, she yelled out, startling her baby daughter. “Get me a paper and a pen. And get my private sea plane ready to deliver a message,” she barked as the guards poured in. She thought carefully for a moment, wondering who best to send, given Eren’s warning of friends now being enemies. “Find Officer Hitch Dreyse. She will deliver the letter. Also, find Officer Jean Kirschtein’s family and bring them to the castle. There will be a lone woman at Ragako village, Mrs. Springer; bring her to the castle as well, along with the family of the Late Officer Sasha Braus. I want a status update within the hour. Move .”
“Yes, Your Highness!”, chorused the guards, and filed out.
When one of the guards returned with a sheaf of papers and a pen, she began writing her letter, knowing that she would be in a very bad position if anyone but the intended recipient read it.