Chapter Text
“One may wonder about the world and the concept of existence. Uncertain of what their purpose is, the reason they were born, the person they are, and the one they could have been. Some have tasted luck, as the right side of the world welcomed them into its embrace — to blend in, walk freely around without the worry of offending, just like the ones adorned with the too well recognisable symbol of the devil tightly tied around their left arm inevitably do. Those are marked at birth, the curse of an impure blood flooding through their veins, branding them as the vile progeniture of the abominations of the past. Pariahs, they are to the rest of the world. The black sheeps. The left ones.”
— Abstract of an objective thesis about the Eldian people in modern society.
The sun was sinking slowly, playing hide and seek behind the tall buildings and dyeing the sky with orange shades one could find on a prestigious painting. At this time of the day, people walked back home, moving in a regular, uniform movement, the shape of them fitting the streets of Liberio. This mass of men, all wearing quite decent suits, seemed to be never-ending, drawing more and more of them yet without ever growing larger. Like water in a riverbed — they just flew and flew around, these waves of greyish uniforms, causing no trouble that would disrupt the rhythm.
Yet.
Quick, light steps echoed against the tiles. The bottom of a long coat, tightly wrapped over one of those military attires, welcomed the cold breeze in its folds, fluttering softly behind. A woman — the gentle features hidden by the pulled-up collar did not allow an ounce of doubt to bloom — seeking calmness on her way back home, away from the tumultuous crowd and its thousands of eyes. Yet it was easier to move unnoticed within the sea.
Still, there was that armband , that little star that would immediately set her apart in a second.
Born on the wrong side of the world.
She neared the corner of the street when a voice behind her echoed.
Well-known, yet unfamiliar.
Her steps froze for a second before she turned back.
Reiner Braun.
"Damn it..." The blond muttered under his breath and repeated the names he had been shouting for a while. "Gabi! Falco!"
Then came the moment his gaze met hers. His brows furrowed further before softening faintly as he recognised her in spite of the years that had passed — Vivian Harter , the one he once called his childhood friend.
“Vivian?”
“Long time no see, Reiner.”
The words left freely, filling the wind that blew between them. And then just quiet looks. Sometimes a few twitches of the fingers curling up in the sleeves.
Both noticed the endless thoughts twirling in one another’s eyes — yet none dared to voice them. Fearing to trouble today’s waters by stirring back the shards of the past.
Still, their hands clung to them.
"Causing trouble again, I see." A polite — yet unforced — smile appeared on her lips amidst the lingering tension.
"Always do. Those two never listen to anyone, I swear. It'll get them killed one day."
“They’re children — rebellious, running around for a while before coming back exhausted, their knees covered in dust. Just like we used to. Don’t fuss too much.”
"Mhmm." He shrugged faintly. "Lately, times have been rather uncertain — I’m sure you’ve noticed. And even I might not be able to do anything if something were to happen."
"Any reason to believe so?”
"Maybe."
Silence crept through the secondary street, lined with sophisticated mansions mirroring another row of their peers. This neighbour was not known for its wealth — yet its proximity to the Internment Zone was the perfect occasion for the Marleyan to show off with the sole intention to rub their status of good men against the Eldian’s faces. A reminder of what they would never achieve, the tall fences accentuating the fracture between their two worlds.
Destined to lie down, to crawl in misery until none of them remained. “Reap what you sow,” were the words the starred ones always received. “And be thankful we have granted you the right to stand still.”
It might very well be a dead sentence, though their chests beat still.
"My mother told me you used to pass by when I was away." Reiner cleared his throat. "Thank you. Nothing was forcing your hand, especially after... You know.”
He then looked away, memories flashing back in his mind — heavy, bitter. Nothing a friend would have said.
"It's okay," she shook her head. "Karina’s always been good to me. And she was there when my own passed away."
"I’ve heard about it — it's been two years, right? I'm sorry for your loss."
"I appreciate it.”
To be a single mother in the Internment Zone was far from being a comfortable situation — and that hardship led the two women to bond. Soldier Franz Harter — Vivian’s father — met his end in the year 835 during one of Marley’s many campaigns, nearly two years after her birth. A required sacrifice according to the Empire, but not much apologies were received for depriving a family from its only man.
Reiner's, on the other hand, was alive — yet never bothered to acknowledge the existence of his son. The young boy that once showed up to his door, a nervous yet hopeful smile etched on his features as he held up that cherished red armband before the man’s eyes, was nothing more but a foolish mistake .
A repellent Eldian .
And no honorary Marleyan title would ever change that.
"You'd tell me if you saw them, right?" He once again looked around, hoping to see the two children pop up at the corner of one of the buildings, exhausted but safe and sound. "She's the noisy, proud kind, always followed by that softer yet clever boy."
Details multiplied, feeding the hope it would suddenly spark a memory in Vivian — something, anything . Alas, the blond had to make up his mind as she shook her head once again.
"Alright. Sorry for pushing it onto you."
"No need to apologise. Need help?"
A quiet hum escaped him as soon as she asked. No mock kindness was to be seen on her features — or perhaps she was better than most at crafting bittersweet lies.
"I’ll be fine, don’t let my problems bother you." Reiner then glanced toward the Eldian Internment Zone. "The night’s been falling quickly these last weeks — you don’t want to miss the curfew. And don’t get into trouble for my sake. You might have it a bit easier than the others thanks to your military records — still, I wouldn't recommend wandering around."
Her eyebrow lifted faintly. She did not remember him as the caring kind — always too focused on his goals, nearly thinking about the consequences, be it on others or himself — as long as he earned what he longed for, it did not matter.
Reckless, yet dedicated for sure.
"I wouldn’t have proposed, had I been hesitant to do so." Her fingers brushed against the greyish armband a few times before she walked past him — heading in the opposite direction of the fenced district. “Come on, let’s go.”
Needless to say he did not expect her to take the lead. Young Vivian used to be passive, standing in the back, following without a blink anything one standing ahead might suggest.
And now it was as if confidence had met her.
"You're still reluctant to ask for help, even after all these years." Vivian broke the quiet atmosphere a moment later, its embrace akin to a thick, unyielding blizzard.
Reiner turned his head as she spoke.
"And you still dive blindly into potential troubles for me. Maybe it's a habit you should break."
"I made the call myself. If there's any consequences to carry, that's on me."
His gaze shifted, a hint of guilt shining briefly in his eyes.
"Sorry."
The alleys immediately filled up with more men in those grey, fancy suits as they crossed one of the main districts of Liberio. Though they did not draw much attention at first, there was still that cursed star on her arm that made more than one eye turn to them, the air around them filling up with disdain as soon as they noticed that small, tiny, but oh so significant symbol.
"I've heard about your achievements in the war against the Mid-East Allied Forces." Reiner was, this time, the one breaking the silence. "They say you're the one who took down the two enemy aircraft during the last raid. That's impressive."
"Only one actually — it appeared the pilot lost control after I aimed at his engine, and crashed into his peer."
"Impressive still. And clever. You don't need to humble yourself."
Harter glanced at him.
"That's a lot of compliments coming from you."
"Huh?"
It hit him like a cold, icy wave.
Then he remembered the way his younger-self used to behave with her — always pressing her to follow his playful plans, not even bothering to acknowledge if she was still running behind or not, and reproaching her when she was not pouring enough interest into it. Their games were filled with dreams of becoming those strong, fearless warriors, indulging in the tales of previous battles the Empire had always bragged about — the valiant Marleyan soldiers driving the devilish foes away, embodying that invincible nation that could reach anything it craved for by the sole use of those precious shifters. Those dreams — or shall he say, his dreams, as Reiner was the one pushing them onto her — were what ruled their friendship. And for reasons he had never really thought about, Vivian had not once protested.
"I get it." The blond man sighed quietly, shaking his head to push the memories away. "I'm sorry".
"Don’t be.” Her gaze lingered over his frame. "It's just always a bit unsettling to be praised for taking lives, though I signed for the job knowing this."
"And it was either you or them. It's not like you had a choice."
"I know it too well."
The words sank with unease — too familiar. Grimness flew between his clenched jaw.
They escaped the crowd of Marleyan men, the rumble of their shoes now a far-off echo in the newfound calm.
Within minutes, Reiner’s anxiety over the two children doing God-knows-what in a place they did not yet belong to, grew more intense. They were, indeed, warrior candidates and could walk out of the Internment Zone more freely than any other Eldian. But had they done anything a bit too wrong, a bit too eldian , he knew not only they would face retaliation — their entire families would pay the price. Falco's relatives were already under close watch after his uncle was exposed as an Eldian Restorationist — new accusations against the Grices, even unfounded, could send them straight to Paradis Island.
To many, death was a sweeter fate.
"Soldier, huh?" The blond man muttered under his breath. "Not a warrior, at least."
"Did you say something?".
Reiner's thoughts escaped him before he could even acknowledge it.
"No... No, I didn't.” He cleared his throat. “Nothing important."
Nothing you need to worry about.
Vivian did not push the conversation further.
It did not take long for them to hear commotion nearby and see the two missing children burst out of the corner of a small park.
"I know you placed this rock there on purpose just to win the final race!" Gabi grumbled, her knees stained with mud. "That's unfair!"
"You're imagining things!" Falco shook his head, offended by the accusations she had been throwing at him since she fell. "How could I even place the rock on the road if you're the one who led us to the area—"
"You're trying to confuse me again! — like always!" The young girl cut him off, refusing to hear him out. "Still, that's unfair!"
She stopped in her tracks as soon as she noticed her cousin from afar. Immediately forgetting her argument with the boy, Gabi ran toward the newcomers and gave the tall man a rough but affectionate embrace.
"Reiner!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with joy as his arm wrapped around her shoulders in return, keeping her from falling into him. "What are you doing here? And you too, Vivian? It's been a while!"
"You know each other?" Reiner asked, surprise briefly flickering across his features at the warmth between his cousin and his childhood friend.
"We sometimes cross paths when I spend a few hours with Pieck." Vivian nodded.
"I see." He stepped away from the girl and dusted his long beige jacket off. "Makes sense."
Falco caught up to them a few seconds later, his chest heaving rapidly from the race.
"Good evening, Mr. Braun." He greeted him with great politeness, his left hand raised the way Eldian soldiers are taught to, before turning toward the young woman as well. "I wish the same upon you, Ms. Harter."
"Come on, Falco," Gabi scoffed and patted the blond boy’s back hard enough to push him a few centimetres forward. "No need to be so formal."
"Gabi's right," Vivian’s lips curled into a small smile at Falco's display of respect. "There’s no such need for the official salute."
Gabi grinned briefly before turning once again toward Reiner.
"What are you doing here? Don't tell me you were looking out for us again?"
"I think they were." Falco said — unlike her, he had noticed the slight frown of concern on the warrior’s features.
She let out a grumpy sound before glaring at her cousin — yet it was far from impressing him.
"You don't need to monitor me every day," the girl placed a fist on her hip with the intention of accentuating her words. "I'm grown enough to take care of myself."
"Gabi, you're barely ten," A sigh escaped Reiner’s mouth. Vivian, meanwhile, could barely hide the brief amused glint in her grey irises. "Don't you dare talk to me about maturity and independence."
"That's still ten years!" Gabi insisted. "A whole decade — a lot of things are possible in such a long time. And you always seem to forget I'm the best warrior candidate — that means I’m able to handle any situation, including the necessity to take care of myself."
Reiner crossed his arms as soon as that explanation of hers reached his ears — it was not the first time she tried to justify herself and convince him she knew best.
"It has nothing to do with being a talented warrior candidate. I just worry about what could happen to you out there." He paused for a few seconds. "I've been there too, I know what I mean."
"You should be glad someone cares that much for you, Gabi." Vivian patted her head gently, removing some dirt that fell onto her hair. "This is something to cherish."
"I know, I know. I just… don't want to be seen as a defenseless child anymore."
The young woman's hand remained on her head for a few more seconds before she pulled away and looked up — a painting of dark, dull blue-ish grey hovered by a slightly lighter veil of clouds, giving the scenery some sort of tiny contrast. Reiner was right — the night has been falling quickly lately.
"...And you better not cheat this time!" The girl exclaimed, interrupting Vivian's contemplation. “The one reaching the Internment Zone first wins!”
"I didn't—" Falco protested before Gabi began to sprint, not waiting for him. "Hey! You're the one not being fair, we're supposed to start running at the same time!"
He then sighed and quickly greeted the two adults goodbye before leaving as well.
"A perfect copy of you." Harter said softly, a hint of amusement in her tone. "As stubborn as a mule."
"I wasn't that bad." Braun scoffed faintly.
"You were. Should I remind you when—"
"No need to — you're going to find a way to be right."
She hid a smile. If there was something young Reiner was known for back in time, it was for his need to prove to anyone he was right and could achieve anything he had in mind. A thousand souls could prove him wrong, he would never lose that passionate fire burning within himself and would keep fighting for his goal until the last opposing voice died on their lips. A confident demeanor — yet often leading him to troubles and drifting apart from his peers.
And now he seemed to be a completely brand new person, acknowledging whatever flaws he might have had.
"It was a pleasure to see you again." Vivian tucked back a strand of brown hair that escaped her low bun. "I missed it."
Something undefinable sparkled in his hazel gaze. His head raised at the sound of her voice — yet immediately hidden behind a neutral expression.
"Wait, Vivian..." The blond man trailed.
She faced him back.
"Would you mind having dinner tonight?" He asked, a sudden hesitation tugging at him. "I'm certain my mother would be delighted to receive a guest."
"Would she?"
"Absolutely. You know how she is. And she’s quite fond of you, I don't think it'd cause any issue.”
"If she's fine with it — I can't disappoint."
They set off toward the Brauns mansion, once again in that silence that had been following them ever since. And this time she let him take the lead — though she knew the way.
Her eyes moved a few times toward his tall figure illuminated by the dim rays of the streetlights, the sharp angles of his face highlighted slightly, bringing some softness to the painting. His once full and childish — although already a bit square-like — cheeks and jaw had vanished to form a more masculine, defined ensemble that fit perfectly with the shape of his nose, the hump on it bringing a certain harmony to his profile side. The golden glimmers of his eyes had slightly faded over the years, making his gaze sterner and unreadable — yet without taking away the beauty of it, akin to a rock that had been shaped, broken and reshaped over and over, giving a certain sensibility to it.
But it seemed to Vivian that he was a bit skinnier than he should be.
"You've been staring," His voice interrupted her thoughts. "Have I gotten something on my face?"
"Sorry," She answered, readjusting her gaze quickly. "Don't mind me."
She then spoke again, this time with a touch of uncertainty in her tone.
"You've changed a lot, Reiner. I can barely recognize in you a single sign of the boy you once were."
"I guess I have." The blond man nodded faintly, his fingers twitching by his sides — he knew this topic would come, eventually. "Much happened during all those years. And you as well, Vivian — you're a completely different person. I didn't expect to find out you'd returned to the military path after cutting all ties with the Program. Didn't you say after being denied as a warrior candidate, that you couldn't see yourself taking up arms for real? That you couldn't bear the thought of having blood on your hands?"
"I guess I did." She looked down, allowing the distance to settle once again.
The two of them turned into another street, passing a small coffee house whose waiters tried to get the attention to consume their beverages, and then immediately backed off after noticing the little star on her left arm.
"Why this sudden change?" He kept on pushing. "And you used to smile way more back then. And you're colder — nothing like the brighter and a bit shy girl I played with."
"Are those complaints?"
"N-no, they're not."
Reiner passed a hand over his face, aware that his words may have been too harsh, or given the wrong impression.
"I mean..."
"You expected me to build a different life." Vivian finished the sentence for him, an answer to which he nodded. "Sometimes it doesn't happen the way you planned it."
“Right, you’re right.”
A sigh left his lips. Then another question slipped out.
“What would you have done differently?”
Something in her grey irises sparked — quiet, almost faint, yet still there — and a subtle tension curled the corners of her lips.
“More.” The words came with a certain softness. “I would’ve done more.”
Their journey came to an end before he could even respond, as they reached a large, sophisticated wooden door adorning the front of a refined house, surrounded by other mansions built in those same elegant bricks. It was a huge change for the Brauns who once lived in a small, almost mediocre building — a common type of Eldian housing in Marley, designed to contain dozens of families without taking up too much space. Vivian still remembered the cold winter afternoons at his place, wrapped in a thick blanket as the heat did not always function properly.
And now that he resided in such a place, all those pitiful life conditions were part of the past. A distant, unpleasant memory he had left behind.
"Come in." He took a step aside and gestured for his friend to go first.
She nodded a quick thanks before moving in, her coat already hanging from her arm. It took only a few seconds for Reiner's mother to show up to welcome her son, an apron tied around her waist. Her smile widened as she noticed the guest.
"What a surprise!" Karina immediately pulled Vivian into a warm embrace — exactly the way one would welcome someone sharing their own blood. "Vivian, my dear Vivian..."
"Good evening Ms. Braun." Harter could not help but smile a bit at this sudden display of affection and joy. "I hope I am not—"
"No 'Ms.’ with me, young lady. You're a friend of the family, I told you so many times."
She then looked at her son and offered him a small smile.
"It took you too long to make up with Vivian, Reiner. I thank the Lord you have finally decided to put your pride and stubbornness aside."
“Yeah, I guess I have.” The mumble left his mouth with a faint frustration clinging to the words.
Karina then led them to the dining room, insisting on taking care of dressing the table by herself, delighted to see the two friends sitting in the same room for the first time in years.
"She’s a bit too enthusiastic," Reiner took a seat, his tone low, careful not to let his mother hear. "It never happens when it's Zeke or the others coming over."
"It's okay," Vivian shook her head, her fingers playing with the hem of the lacy tablecloth. "It feels nice to be held dear sometimes."
He remained silent for a moment, her words settling uneasily in his chest as the silverwares were placed before him.
"I suppose it is."
The dishes were brought on the table, the portions quite generous, as if Karina had been expecting guests for dinner. It was a habit of hers to always cook more than necessary, making sure to have something to offer had any potential guest — known friend or Marleyan official — paid the Brauns a sudden visit. She was committed to appear as a flawless host, just as she had always strived to be the most perfect honorary Marleyan — though it often led their peers to see her as obsequious and rather keep their distance.
"Here," she smiled proudly after placing the last plate on the table — right in the centre. "I hope you don't mind eating herring again, Vivian. I do recall I offered the same meal the previous time you came over."
"I have no issue with it." Harter responded with a small smile. "Your cooking is always excellent, Karina."
The blond woman gave a gentle squeeze to her guest’s wrist before she turned toward Reiner, who was pouring himself a glass of water.
"Don't you think you should serve the ladies first? I don’t recall raising you this way."
"Sorry." He mumbled before serving the two women as well. "I thought it was a simple friendly gathering, not something that required etiquette."
Karina then once again faced Vivian, a frown of concern etched on her features.
"Sometimes I fear Reiner won't find a fine woman to marry."
"Mom!" The sip went down the wrong way. “Not this again.”
"It concerns me a lot , son." She placed a few slices of tomatoes on Vivian's plate before filling her own. "Your free time is spent locked in your room, absently staring through the window as if you couldn't take the few steps separating you from the outside. Meeting someone would be good for you."
"This position as Vice-Captain of the Warriors takes all my attention — I have neither the time nor the wish to bother with a hypothetical marriage."
He then grabbed the seasoning to pour it onto his portion of salad.
"Besides, wasn't it you who wanted me to focus solely on proving we were worthy of being Honorary Marleyans?"
"This you've done very well," Karina smiled softly, the slight hint of sarcasm in her son's tone unnoticed. "But it would be time to think about our family, our future. Do you really want the Brauns to simply vanish after all you've done?"
“They won’t — at least, our name won’t. Gabi’s doing a great job at honoring us.”
His mother raised an eyebrow.
"She's already being praised quite a lot during training." Reiner said after swallowing a bite of food. "No doubt she'll do good the day she inherits one of the titans."
"What wonderful news!" Karina's eyes suddenly glowed with genuine joy and admiration. "I wasn't aware that Gabi was as talented as you!"
He let a simple hum pass his lips before focusing on his plate again. Although he now occupied a high rank within the Warrior Unit, Reiner still remembered his years of harsh, intense training during which he was almost always at the brink of not passing through — there was Marcel and his incredible leadership, Porco and his already shaped strength, Bertholdt and his impressive dexterity, Annie and her invincible hand-to-hand combat skills and at last, Pieck and her clever tactical mind.
And then there was him — just being there, with no talent to claim.
Reiner never received those praises Gabi effortlessly did. But to keep his mother proud, he had to make things look better, invent some achievements he could not even dream of completing.
All for the simple glints of affection the child he once was so desperately craved.
"I remember to this day when I used to prepare pies for the two of you," A soft sigh escaped Karina. "You were always asking for more until your stomachs were completely full. Sometimes Reiner couldn't make it to dinner and then I had to make sure there was something he could eat by himself during the night. And here you are, all grown up but finally, oh finally, sitting side by side at the same table."
"You’ve really held on to these memories.” Vivian said, her knife slicing a piece of herring.
"Of course I have." The older woman chuckled. "I've been taking care of you and watching you shine all these years — like the daughter I’ve never had. Thus, seeing that Reiner and yourself have made up sends me over the moon."
Her smile softened further.
"And I owe it to Teresa, may she rest in peace. I'm certain she’d be proud of the woman you've become, Vivian."
"I appreciate—"
"But a pretty lady like you risking her life on the frontline? She’d never approve — why waste your most precious years there, buried in mud for weeks when you could wear feminine dresses daily and receive flowers from a good man?"
"Mom, please, I invited her to spend a cosy evening," Reiner’s grip on the silverware tightened. "Not to embarrass her with your questions."
Disbelief flickered across her features.
" Embarrass her? I am not embarrassing her! Am I, dear?"
"I must say it’s a bit unexpected to be suddenly questioned on such topics." Vivian nodded subtly.
"Are you sure?" He glanced up. "My mother will put you on the spot over and over."
"I know."
"You’re making me sound like an awful person for asking genuine and normal matters." Karina’s tone sharpened faintly, a narrowing of her eyes following.
"Because you're insisting way too much, mom."
"I care for her future, son. Women aren't made to fight their entire lives — their strength doesn't lie in battles and wars like it is the case for men. And when it comes to children…"
Reiner pinched the bridge of his nose as she kept talking — her words intrusive, out of place .
Vivian's hands toyed slightly with her fork. She remembered the few conversations she had shared with her own mother on that very topic before losing her to a lung disease. Teresa did wish for her daughter a loving husband and happy marriage, the thought of attending her only child's most precious day — an event she had always longed to see. The gown, the delicate bouquet, and the ring that would mark the passage from girlhood to womanhood — as momentous as the day Vivian was born.
But her hopes had never turned into pressure.
"Please, let’s not linger on the matter." She interrupted politely, a stiff smile playing on her lips. "My talents are needed in the military, and I don't think marrying the first man who shows interest in me to avoid loneliness suits me best."
"The young people today," Karina sighed heavily. "Are utterly blind to what is of real value."
The herring and tomato salad gradually disappeared from the plates as the dinner continued. Then came the sweeter dishes and beverages — lemon cakes and cinnamon tea, the former supposedly Reiner’s favorite according to Karina.
"This tea flavor has grown quite infamous in Liberio.” She offered a pleasant smile to her guest. “It is said the most influential ladies of Marley consume it day and night."
"I suppose it must taste good then." Vivian lifted the cup to her nostrils, the warm trail of smoke caressing her senses.
"Oh, I’m certain of it. These women embody timeless elegance — from their demeanor to the dishes they savor. A true example for ordinary women like us."
And she kept on praising them, describing with awe the way they appeared in those rich fabrics, their silky hair braided in a perfectly harmonious way with no strands running away from the dozen hairpins, always making sure to shine to one’s eyes. “A flawless, prestigious culture” were her words, giving as much detail and reasoning an expert on the topic would — it was clear she had admired them for years and still was.
"This is what Eldian lack in the Internment Zone. And we could not be more blessed, as we had joined this highly educated society thanks to Reiner’s efforts." Karina rested her hand on her guest's forearm. "You could be a part of it if you wished, Vivian."
Her speech was filled with genuine affection, yet Vivian was not convinced. She responded with occasional, polite nods to avoid offending her host.
Next to her, Reiner remained silent to his mother's tirade, focusing on the lemon cake before his eyes — joining in the conversation would be pointless.
She glanced at the clock hanging on the wall — past seven-thirty. Not too late, yet reckless for an Eldian like her to be out of the Internment Zone. The curfew was only half an hour away. Her fingers met the fabric of her armband.
Her friend caught the urgency blooming on her face and stood, informing his mother that their guest had to leave. Karina pouted slightly but let them go, offering another of those sweet smiles to the young woman.
"I apologise again for my mom's comments," he leaned against the wall after reaching the entrance, observing his childhood friend pull on her coat. "For some reason she's been like this since I returned from the Island. I thought it would fade after a few weeks."
"It's okay, I don't think she meant ill."
After a few seconds of quietness, her voice rose again.
"Lemon cake's your favorite? Funny. You used to hate it back then — its sharpness a real torture for your palate."
"And you used to dislike vinegar seasoning." Reiner shrugged. "Too bitter for your taste."
"Was there vinegar in the salad?" Vivian lifted an eyebrow.
"There was."
A faint chuckle escaped her. Then she gazed back at him, her coat now fully buttoned.
"You want me to walk you back?" He asked, his voice gentler now, as he opened the door, the evening breeze brushing through their hair.
"I'll be fine," Vivian shook her head before taking a step out. "Thank you for the offer. And for having me. See you… soon?"
"Yeah," he confirmed with a nod. "Soon."
She gave a small wave and walked away, the sound of her boots echoing quietly against the paved road, accompanied by the murmurs of distant vehicles. Reiner's eyes lingered on her frame until she turned at the corner of the street, vanishing in the dark, with the trembling rays of the streetlights and flickering shadows behind the other mansions' windows the remaining actors of the scenery.
"I haven't had such a delightful evening in a long time," Karina said with a smile as she carried the empty plates to the kitchen. "It always brings me joy to receive Vivian at home."
"That's good to hear." Reiner faced her after closing the door.
"Please do so more often."
She then approached him and dusted imaginary crumbs off his chest the way she always had after every dinner with the Harters — even though Reiner's attire was completely clean.
"You should rest a bit." Karina took a step back, that same fondness lingering on her face. "Our Empire needs you at your best."
"Sure." The blond man brushed a hand through his hair. "I'll borrow the bathroom for a while."
He walked past her and made his way toward the stairs.
Then he paused, hesitant, and turned back.
“Good night, mom.”
Gentle, heartfelt words.
Yet only a hum came in reply.
The wind caressed her face, its cold flow cutting through the warm aftertaste of the cinnamon lingering still on her lips.
Vivian moved unnoticed, her steps quick amidst the shadows, avoiding the rays cast by the elegant streetlights. The few Marleyan civilians she passed were too busy or drunk to even acknowledge her presence, chattering and laughing loudly at the exit of the few restaurants nearby — something she was grateful for.
Then came the moment she reached the Internment Zone's large fences. Her gaze caught the two officers standing by, the mink grey uniforms fitting sternly on their frames, toying from time to time with the truncheons that usually hung to their side — as if looking for an excuse to use them tonight.
A faint shiver ran down her spine before she forced her heartbeat to steady and stepped toward the entrance.
"Look at that," one of the men scoffed, his venom echoing harshly to her ears as soon as he noticed the armband. "Can't figure out what 'curfew' means? You're wandering on Marleyan ground when you should be holed up inside your miserable place, doing devilish things."
"Here, the pass." Vivian quickly pulled the paper from her pocket.
Yet the Marleyan slapped her hand away.
"Don't you dare act before I allow it, Eldian wench! This paper doesn't give you the right to disrespect the Empire’s authority, you know what comes of—”
"Quit it, this one’s in the rules." The second man interjected, sternness etched on his features. "Let's not waste time on such petty details when there are bigger issues around, ready to strike at any honest citizen."
"Fine," The former one growled, pushing the cap he wore further down on his head — as if to remind that he still held authority. "But I still believe we should’ve taught her a lesson so she’d remember what happens when her kind dares to act rebelliously."
The second officer then gestured for her to leave quickly and slammed the iron gate immediately after, the shock vibrating through her ears. She caught her breath, her stiff fingers clutching the pass finally loosening.
Sometimes, the Marleyan authorities did not think twice before abusing their power, beating the first unfortunate Eldian passing by with no mercy, just to taste the mad satisfaction of dominating them. Of breaking them. Whether they had violated the law or not did not matter in the slightest. Eldians were barely seen as human beings — meaning that the guilty officers were rarely punished and could easily convince anyone they were acting for the sake of their beloved Empire.
A mock justice that made the starred ones lose faith in hope itself.
Unlike the other districts of Liberio, the Internment Zone lacked light in its streets — akin to the starless sky that had watched over them these past months. “A mere bother for the Government” — the living conditions imposed on the Eldians were of little importance, insignificant . The uneven sidewalks, the cracked walls — silent agents of danger amidst Night’s embrace. Almost left on purpose.
A place perfectly designed for rats to curl up in misery.
After a couple of minutes, Vivian reached home. Her hand quickly sought the key and, with practiced gestures, she opened the door, accompanied by a faint squeak, revealing the dim shapes of the furniture inside. It took a few seconds for the bulb to light up, the sparkles within pulsing briefly before stilling, its yellow light — akin to an old stone on a jewellery — reflecting on her pale skin.
"I'm back," The young woman mumbled to the void welcoming her, took off her coat and shoes, and left them at the entrance.
She then made her way to her room, her fingers untying on the way, the hair band that kept the strict bun she always wore when adorning the uniform. Her brown curls cascaded down her shoulders, brushing softly against her back with each step.
Her gaze lingered for a few seconds on the portrait hanging over the small sideboard in the corridor — one of her parents, the only picture of themselves they ever possessed. They posed with shining smiles before a refined yet simple backdrop, Franz's hands gently resting over Teresa’s covered shoulders, his touch mirroring the affection he held for his wife and their soon-to-be-born daughter.
Happier times — before came the cold, sweeping them apart.
As her hand curled around the wardrobe handle, Vivian met her own reflection in the mirror embedded in the wooden material. Her eyes studied herself as Reiner's comments resurfaced. It was true — her younger self used to smile more. A little girl with still a hint of innocence in her eyes, her palms pure and soft, the cruelty of this world — though already witnessed within the fences of the Internment Zone — just a distant event that involved grown people only, a place a child like her could still avoid in the warmth of her mother's arms.
Yet still a world that had taken her father away before she could even remember a fraction of him — a voiceless man with a sole smile and grey irises like hers as memento of his existence, as well as the personal belongings her mother kept of him, unable to let go of what was left of her beloved husband.
Vivian could have chosen to stay away from this somber reality — instead, she dared face it, dive into an abyss of blood and monsters for the sole reason it was whispering her name, almost like an invitation to feel closer to that unmet father with that same illusion she could protect a tiny amount of what she possessed, akin to the memory of Reiner’s heroic dream that lingered still in her heart. Yet carmine now ran down her fingers, a few drops sprinkling her adult features, which bore a stoic, almost cold, expression — far from the softer one the blond warrior seemed to have kept, her feet crushing the path of white, untouched flowers her mother had laid, her long, dark hair whipped by the wind as she kept on walking, kept on moving forward toward something herself was not certain of.
"I supposed I've changed, indeed," Vivian murmured softly before finally pulling the closet’s handle. "As much as you have."