Inside Wall Sina, at a suburban farm.
It was early September. Gale and Historia, both wearing straw hats, strolled across the meadow.
They walked along a rocky path, with a crystal-clear stream flowing gently beside them.
The abundant summer sunlight made the plants look lush and green, while golden rays filtered through the leaves, dappled across the ground. Butterflies and dragonflies fluttered through the air. Gale looked up; the sky was as clear as a giant sapphire.
Historia stopped, pressing her straw hat down with her feet.
A breeze whispered through the leaves, and her long dress fluttered in the wind. Clouds drifted across the sky, constantly changing shape. Everything was peaceful and serene.
"Isaiah has returned home. Yesterday, a ship from his country arrived at Paradis Island and took him back," Gale said after receiving a report. "He's on his way home."
"Have the investigation results come out?" Historia asked with some interest.
"They have. The verification agency confirmed his identity on the list of soldiers who never returned, provided by the Middle Eastern Coalition. His country is one of the poorest in the Middle East. Before joining the coalition, he made a living stealing coal. Later, the coalition forcibly conscripted him. He didn't kill anyone on the island," Gale said as he stepped forward and continued, "He has three younger brothers and two younger sisters. He said he misses his family very much. I told him that Paradis Island would send him home safely so he could reunite with them. Before I left, he kept thanking me."
"Really?... I hope he makes it home safely." Historia brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
The two continued walking, carrying a pair of large shears, specialized tools for shearing sheep.
They arrived at the sheepfold. Dina and Zeke were among the sheep, which bleated softly, their fluffy wool resembling cotton candy.
Gale stepped forward, grabbed one sheep by the chin with one hand, and with the other pulled it gently to the ground, holding its two upper legs firmly.
The sheep was very obedient, sitting quietly on the ground.
Gale picked up the large shears and began clipping the wool from the sheep's belly, his movements as skillful as if he were undressing it.
He had done this kind of work since childhood; to him, this task felt like returning to old habits. Although he hadn't worked on a farm in many years, his skills hadn't faded. Constant practice had only made his hands even more dexterous.
However, they weren't there to work today, but to rest and relax.
He quickly finished shearing one sheep, and Dina exclaimed in amazement as she applauded, "Amazing!"
"Miss Dina, why don't you give it a try?" Gale said, handing her the shears.
Gale helped restrain a sheep, and under his guidance, Dina sheared it.
Dina was very careful, afraid of hurting the little sheep. It was a completely new experience for her.
She had never been so close to a flock of sheep before. After clipping off a tuft of wool, she patted her chest in relief and immediately raised the shears to show them to her son.
She tried holding the sheep herself before encouraging Zeke to give it a try as well.
"Teach me too." Historia tugged on Gale's sleeve several times.
Gale didn't say much, skillfully bringing another sheep to the ground.
At noon, the farmer served them lunch: simple bread and grilled pork chops.
After lunch, Gale and Zeke stood beside the sheep pen, talking in private.
"Mr. Zeke, how have these past two months been?"
Zeke leaned against the fence, looked toward Dina, and waved to his mother. "To be honest, it's been hard to adjust. Mom is a little too enthusiastic."
"Do you hate that enthusiasm?"
"No, not at all." Zeke shook his head. "Just as you said back then, I never truly felt the joy of living. I longed to live with Mom, but I wasn't willing to face my own feelings."
"I haven't thought about anything these past two months. I've simply spent every day with my mother. She plays dodgeball with me, cooks for me, and even knitted me a shirt. I'm very happy."
"For her, living like this with you is her only wish," Gale said, recalling what truly mattered when it came to healing emotional wounds.
"But I only have two years left." Zeke looked down at his palms in confusion. "Even though nothing has changed, thank you anyway. Whether your guess about the Founder's intentions is correct or not, thank you for giving my mother and me this chance to spend time together."
"Mr. Zeke, do you remember what I told you two years ago? That method that might free the soul of Founder Ymir, who has wandered for two thousand years." Gale looked at the sheep he had just sheared inside the pen. The little fellow looked relieved as it chewed on bran cakes.
"Of course I remember. That's why I came to the capital following your advice," Zeke said with a slight nod before recalling, "You said that if I lived according to my own free will, then perhaps the Founding Titan could be freed. But now, nothing has changed, has it?"
"Nothing has changed?"
Gale shook his head and said quietly, "No. There's still one person who hasn't made a decision."
"Let's wait a little longer. Tonight is the final night."
...
That evening, many people arrived at the farm.
Ymir, holding a small bucket of snacks, stuffed herself with chicken nuggets, looking a little chubby.
Pixis, Zeke, and Dina sat together, chatting about the current situation in Anteiku.
Hannes and Miche stood standing tall nearby, dressed in military uniforms.
Eren, Mikasa, and Armin sat together. They had arrived at the farm earlier that day and had participated in the sheep-shearing activity during the afternoon.
Erwin, Hange, Levi, and Pixis, along with other high-ranking government and military officials, also arrived and sat in the same room.
All of the Intelligent Titans were present, including Gale.
Erwin and Hange looked somewhat serious. Although the war was over, many matters still remained unresolved: contacting representatives from various countries, scheduling meetings, and establishing the World Peace Alliance.
As the victorious nation, Paradis Island had to shoulder these important responsibilities. Yet, in the middle of all this, Gale had summoned them.
They speculated whether Gale had an idea regarding the next political step or whether he was about to introduce the next major technological breakthrough.
The current state of Paradis Island existed solely because of Gale's efforts, so Erwin, Hange, and even Pixis and Hannes all sensed that Gale was about to make an important decision, which was why he had gathered so many people.
Gale had indeed made an important decision, but no one was prepared for it.
"I apologize for calling all of you here," Gale murmured, removing his hat and bowing. "I am truly grateful to have worked with all of you for so many years. This may come as a surprise, but this is a sincere decision. I have thought about it for a long time, and I have made up my mind. I ask that you allow me to resign from my position as President of the Senate. Starting today, I will no longer participate in matters related to my office."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone saw a ghostly silhouette appear in the dim light of the kerosene lamp.
Eren and Dina were stunned. It was the Founding Titan, whom they had seen many times within the Coordinate.
The so-called power of the Founding Titan—all of it originated from her. The power of the Founding Titan depended entirely on her existence.
The more Eren used the power of the Founding Titan, the more he felt that what he possessed could not truly be called "power." If anything, it should be called a "license"—a "license" to borrow power from the Founding Titan.
"Founder Ymir, this is my answer." Gale looked up, meeting the gaze of the girl holding the bucket of sand, and extended his hand toward her.
The girl slowly approached, observing everyone in the room.
Everything changed in an instant. Everyone was suddenly outside the house.
Eren looked up at the star-filled sky illuminated by the aurora borealis and the dusty ground, where branching light like a great tree connected every Subject of Ymir.
"These are... the Coordinates."
"Why...? I clearly didn't use the Founding Titan's power."
"Aunt Dina and I... we didn't even touch each other, so why are we in the Coordinates?!"
He seemed frightened; something invisible had happened.
Founder Ymir, acting of her own free will, had brought everyone into the Coordinates, something unprecedented since the birth of the Titans' power.