victory_road | Video; 001

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Video; 001

[When the video feed first starts, it seems like it is filming nothing at all. Just a forest clearing a little after dark. Might this be an accidental recording of some sorts? Ah, no! It does seem to be focusing on something. To be exact, it seems to be focusing on an odd little pokemon, shyly poking it's... head? out of one of the bushes, before scurrying forward to start eating from a small pile of pokemon food left there.]

I hope I am not disturbing anyone this late.

[Armin doesn't pop into view, and his voice is soft, just above a whisper. It looks like he doesn't want to scare the shy little creature.]

Could anyone tell me what pokemon this is? I think my gear might be malfunctioning. [He hopes it isn't though, he wouldn't know how to fix it.] I won't show me any information when I try to scan it. I've not seen one of these on this route before. Is it a rare type?

[He's very curious to say the least.]

Thank you for your time.

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That is what logic dictates.

[Too bad logic had never seemed to govern the titans.]

They actually do seem to gain some nourishment from the light of the sun, but it's-- it seems to differ between each individual titan. One of our squad leaders performed some experiments. One of the titans we captured went docile very quickly after it was cut off from the sunlight, while the other one remained active for several hours even in complete darkness.

There has never been any record of any titan reacting to any living creatures except humans. They leave our horses completely alone. It's just humans that inspire these reactions.

[He pauses. No. No, that wasn't entire true. There was one titan that had responded differently, one that had specifically targeted their horses. One that had killed rather than devoured.]

No, that's not entirely true. There was one. I saw it just before I came here. It acted... very unlike the other titans.

A being that subsists on sunlight, but otherwise acts as a predator?

[That makes no sense. Yet it is surely true.]

The difference in darkness autonomy could be due to each titan's personal strength and endurance, perhaps even health. Though a difference so great is strange...

...Unlike in what manner? Was it friendly, neutral, likely to attack animals?

It was intelligent.

The best way I can explain it is that the titans don't aim to kill us. We die when they eat us, but our death is not their main goal. But this titan... I never saw it eat anyone. Each of its actions was specifically aimed to kill us. And it did not kill indiscriminately. There was a specific person it was searching for. She even let me live after seeing my face.

[A small slip up at the end there. Armin hadn't shared his suspicions about who the Female Titan was with anyone yet, but it was something he kept turning over and over in his head.]

['She'? Well, it makes sense that a living creature would have a sex, but the thought of those things breeding...]

I imagine it's not due to a particularly fine palate, a certain pickiness about her meals, or even a respect for life forms uninvolved with her goals. Still, that does sound quite different from the others you've described.

No. I think...

[Might as well go all in, right? No reason to keep this part of his theories quiet.]

I think she was controlled by a human. Or rather, a human taking the form of a titan.

A human taking...? Your world has shapeshifters? Human shapeshifters?

[That's... intriguing, but equally alarming.]

So it seems. I don't think anyone thought it was possible until Eren turned into a titan at Trost. But now that we know it is a possibility, it seems foolish to deny what is right in front of us.

[That is to say, the idea that their enemy isn't regular titans, but instead humans who have the power to become titans. It has, at once, made the enemy all the more dangerous in Armin's eyes. Humans can plan, after all.]

You seem familiar with shapeshifters. Is that something you have in your world as well?

I suppose any world might have them. How could we even tell, until they decide to show their power...?

[For a moment he wonders if some of the locals secretly have the powers of a Ditto, but he squashes that thought quickly.]

Certain powerful monsters and Eidolons have the power to take a human form, though it can be seen through by those who are attuned to power and magic. However, it is not a common ability.

Eidolons? How do they differ from humans?

They have the appearance of terrible monsters and magical power greater than any human can wield, but the sentience and wisdom of sages. They also form bonds with humans called summoners, who can borrow their strength in battle.

[Armin makes a soft, curious noise.]

How do they bond with humans and why? It sounds like they have the advantage of both strength and intelligence. What advantage is there for them to enter into a relationship like this with a human?

[Armin can certainly see how it would be advantageous for a human, but this Eidolons sounds like they could get by just as well without humans.]

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