The room is heavy with silence.
A faint creak from an old wooden chair echoes in the dimly lit hall as Eren sits surrounded by the leading officers of the Scout Regiment. Erwin Smith stands at the center of the room, his arms folded, sharp blue eyes fixed on the boy who had, only days ago, turned into a creature beyond understanding.
Levi leans against the far wall, expression unreadable, while Hange's eyes practically glow with restrained curiosity. Around the edges, the recruits—Mikasa, Armin, Ymir, Krista, Connie, Sasha, Jean—sit rigid and alert. The air hums with unspoken questions.
Erwin finally speaks. His tone is calm, measured, but layered with quiet authority.
"Eren Jaeger. I'll ask once more. Tell us—what happened that day?"
Eren looks around the room. Every eye is fixed on him, searching for truth or deceit—or perhaps both. He lets out a slow breath and lowers his gaze.
"I… didn't remember much at first," he begins, voice steady but soft. "Everything after I was eaten felt like a dream. But now—bits and pieces are coming back."
He raises his head. His expression is solemn, but his eyes glimmer faintly with something else—something colder, calculated.
"It wasn't just instinct," he continues. "When I was inside that Titan, I saw… my father."
Murmurs ripple through the room. Levi's brows narrow slightly. Hange tilts forward in her seat, practically vibrating with excitement. "You saw him? How? A memory? A vision?"
Eren shakes his head. "I don't know. It felt real. He told me something—something important. He said that before the fall of Wall Maria, he… gave me something."
The room falls dead silent again.
"What kind of something?" Erwin asks, voice even.
Eren's fingers tighten around his knees. "He said he injected me with a serum that would protect me. That I had to go to our basement—at our old house in Shiganshina—if I wanted to know the truth."
That catches even Levi off guard. He straightens slightly, arms uncrossing. "Your basement?"
"Yes." Eren nods, his expression hardening. "He said everything we need to know about the Titans, the walls, the world—it's all there."
The room erupts into quiet whispers. Hange is practically muttering to herself, piecing together theories at lightning speed. Armin looks both awed and terrified. Mikasa remains silent, though her eyes flicker protectively toward Eren.
But among the watchers, two pairs of eyes share a silent glance—Reiner and Annie.
Neither speaks. But both are thinking the same thing.
The Founding Titan… it must be connected to this.
The next day dawns gray and heavy.
The Scouts gather near the outer wall, soldiers bustling around, loading equipment and preparing carts. Eren stands at the center of the preparations, the early morning mist wrapping around him like a thin veil. His expression is calm, controlled.
Erwin approaches, his cloak swaying behind him. "You're certain about this, Jaeger? You think the truth lies in that basement?"
Eren nods. "It's the only lead we have. If there's any chance to learn why Titans exist—or what's beyond these walls—we can't ignore it."
Levi adjusts his gloves, giving Eren a sharp, assessing look. "And what about the hole? It still needs sealing. You gonna pull off another miracle for us?"
Eren smirks faintly, just enough for Levi to notice. "You'll see soon enough."
Later that day, beneath the shadow of the broken wall, the operation begins.
Eren's Titan form looms over the battleground once more, towering and steaming. The massive boulder he grips in both hands looks like a pebble in his monstrous grasp. He plants his feet and heaves. The ground cracks beneath the force.
Dozens of soldiers stop to watch, awe-struck, as he drags the stone forward. Sweat and steam rise in the air, the smell of heat and dust thick.
"By the Walls…" someone whispers.
"He's actually doing it."
Krista stares, hands clasped near her chest. Ymir, beside her, crosses her arms and clicks her tongue. "Show-off."
Mikasa doesn't say a word, but her eyes never leave Eren's back.
Finally, with a guttural roar, Eren slams the boulder into place, sealing the gap. A thunderous echo rolls through the air, shaking the ground beneath their feet.
A moment of stillness follows. Then cheers erupt—dozens, hundreds, spreading through the ranks like wildfire.
Eren turns his head toward the crowd below, and though his Titan face is expressionless, a flicker of satisfaction runs through him.
Phase one complete.
By nightfall, they set out toward Shiganshina.
The Scout Regiment moves like a dark river across the plains, horses pounding the dirt. Eren rides near the center, flanked by Levi and Hange, while Mikasa, Armin, and the others follow close behind.
The wind is cold, the air thick with tension.
For a while, only the sound of hooves and distant roars fills the night.
But then—one of the forward scouts screams.
"Titan sighted! Two o'clock!"
The formation shifts instantly. Smoke signals flare red against the dark sky. The soldiers fan out, maneuvering around the approaching threats.
Eren tugs on his reins, his heart hammering. "Not now…"
But as one of the Titans lunges toward a nearby squad, its shadow falling over a terrified soldier, Eren's voice cuts through instinctively.
"STOP!"
The word echoes across the field—loud, commanding, carrying something almost inhuman in its tone.
And then—impossibly—the Titan stops.
The creature freezes mid-step, its head twitching slightly. For a full five seconds, it just stands there, motionless, before turning and lumbering back into the distance.
Everyone stares.
Levi's eyes narrow dangerously. "What… was that?"
Even Hange is speechless, her mouth hanging open in pure scientific shock.
But none look more disturbed than Reiner and Annie.
Reiner's heart slams in his chest. He grips the reins tightly, forcing his voice low. "Annie. You saw that?"
Her jaw tightens. "Yeah."
"That wasn't just the Attack Titan's power," he mutters. "That… was the Founding Titan."
Annie doesn't respond right away. Her pale eyes flick toward Eren's back—calm, controlled, utterly unreadable.
"…Then he's the one," she whispers.
The holder of both Titans.
Night falls heavier as the Scouts camp briefly before reaching the ruins of Shiganshina.
Eren sits near the edge of camp, staring into the fire. The orange glow dances across his face, reflecting in his distant, calculating eyes.
Behind him, Mikasa tends to Krista's small wound. Ymir lounges nearby, pretending to rest but keeping her sharp gaze on Eren.
Reiner and Annie stand farther away, deep in low conversation.
"He's dangerous," Reiner mutters. "If he really controls the Founding Titan…"
Annie's tone is ice-cold. "Then our mission just got more complicated."
She looks up, watching Eren across the flames. His face is calm, almost gentle. But in his eyes—there's something else.
A flicker of knowing.
As if he can hear them.
When the camp quiets, Eren lets out a slow exhale and stares into the fire.
They took the bait.
Everything—the half-truth about the basement, the staged "command" to the Titan—had been deliberate.
He had wanted them to notice. He had wanted them to fear it.
Now they'd follow him right where he needed them to go.
Outside the walls. Away from civilians. Away from anyone who could interfere.
His lips curve slightly—a small, ghostlike smile.
Two birds, one stone. Reiner, Annie… this time, there'll be no walls to hide behind.
The flames crackle, reflecting in his cold, calculating eyes.
And somewhere in the distance, thunder rumbles faintly—like a promise of what's to come.
End of Chapter 36: Shadows Beneath the Light