In the midst of Armin, Annie, and Reiner's conversation, a sudden fluttering catches their attention as a bird darts through the open window. Freiheit's return is unexpected, his presence drawing everyone's focus.

Eren's expression darkens. "So, Armin spills everything to Reiner and the rest. Trusting him seems like a mistake..."

Aya's eyes widen as she murmurs, "This is just perfect. They're coming to hassle us. I warned you that trusting him would backfire."

Jean interjects, "I'm not just defending Armin, but shouldn't Connie and Reiner at least know you're alive?"

Eren shoots a glare. "Nobody asked for your opinion, horse face. Reiner may not be a Titan anymore, but he's still my enemy. What good does it do if he knows I'm alive?"

Jean flinches at Eren's remark; it's been a while since he was called 'horse face' by Eren. Normally, he'd engage in a confrontation, but something stops him this time. Mikasa breaks the tense silence, "What's your plan regarding Armin?"

"Given how easily he betrayed trust, I suppose he's not my best friend anymore. Treating each other as strangers will suffice," Eren responds.

Both Mikasa and Jean frown, understanding Eren's sentiments. Eren had been granted a second chance at life, and now all he desires is peace with his children. At that moment, Gloria intervenes, "Let's change the atmosphere, shall we? How about a visit to Historia today? Little Ymir would love to see us again."

"Sounds good," Aya agrees.

They all decide to ride their horses toward the Reiss Farm. However, as they set off, they are unexpectedly spotted by Armin and the others, who are making their way to Eren's residence.

"Wait, isn't that Mikasa and Jean?" Connie's voice breaks the tension among them as they notice a group, including children, swiftly heading north.

"Isn't that Eren in the hood?" Reiner questions, squinting to get a clearer view.

"Where could they be headed?" Pieck wonders aloud, prompting them to decide to tail the group.

As they ride their horses in pursuit, Carla finds herself on the same horse as Erich, clinging tightly to him. Mikasa and Jean never had the chance to teach her how to ride, leaving her reliant on Erich's support during the ride.

Upon their arrival at the Reiss Farm, Historia and Ymir are already present. Historia rushes forward, embracing Eren warmly. "Eren! Aya! Everyone's here!"

However, her joyous demeanor shifts as she notices Mikasa and Jean. "Wait, what are those two... did you guys—"

"They're aware," Eren interjects. "And I suspect Armin, Reiner, and the others also know I'm alive. That's not favorable for us. Ten years of peace are disrupted once more."

Historia's expression darkens. "I understand... so that moment has arrived."

"Uncle Eren! Aunt Aya!" Ymir rushes over, hugging the two adults tightly. Eren inquires, "How have you been, Ymir?"

"I'm doing great, Uncle Eren!" Ymir responds proudly.

"Uncle?" Jean questions.

"It turns out that not only did Founder Ymir revive me, but she also gave me the same bloodline as Historia. That technically makes me Historia's blood-related brother," Eren explains.

"And possessing Frieda's memories reinforces that truth," Historia adds. "At least he's here with me after my husband's passing..."

The others' expressions turn somber, recalling Historia's husband's demise five years earlier. Eren and Aya had attended the funeral and concealed their identities due to the presence of representatives from other nations.

"So, apart from informing me about Mikasa and the others, is there anything else bringing you here?" Historia inquires.

"Didn't you forget about our commitment to give music lessons to the orphanage kids?" Katrina reminds her.

"Ah, right. The talent show is coming up," Historia recalls with a smile.

"Talent show?" Mikasa questions, intrigued.

"It's an event for the kids to showcase their talents—singing, dancing, even magic tricks," Aya explains.

"Some of the songs were actually composed by Dad himself!" Fay chimes in. "We're even invited to perform!"

"Wait, Eren wrote songs? That's unexpected," Jean remarks.

"I had to do something during our time hiding in the forest," Eren admits. "Some songs are based on events from ten years ago or even earlier."

"Let's head inside. I'm sure the kids will be thrilled to see you all again," Historia suggests as they enter the orphanage together.

As Armin and the others arrive, they observe Eren engaged in conversation with Historia. "So, Historia knew they were alive all along? And little Ymir seems quite close to Eren," Connie remarks in surprise.

"Historia backed the Rumbling plan, much like the Yeagerists, so it's plausible that Eren confided in her," Armin explains.

Suddenly, strains of music drift from inside the orphanage, catching their attention. Curiosity piqued, they decide to investigate and see what Eren and the rest are up to.

In the building, Eren stands before the children, poised and prepared to lead, while Aya sits at the piano, her fingers poised over the keys. The rest of the group watches the rehearsal intently.

"Let's begin," Eren announces as the children gather, readying themselves. With a nod from him, the performance starts, Eren orchestrating the children's actions while Aya's fingers dance across the piano, guiding the melody for the young singers.

Daichi to ōzora wa naze wakareta no darou (Why did the earth and heavens separate from one another?)
sekai wa zankoku de saredo utsukushī (Though the world may be cruel, it can also be beautiful.)

As Eren continues to direct the children through their performance, something within him stirs. Feeling the rhythm of the music and the infectious energy of the kids, he finds himself drawn into the song. With a sudden, heartfelt impulse, Eren's voice blends in with theirs, adding his own vocals to the chorus.

His voice, once solemn and filled with the weight of responsibility, now harmonizes seamlessly with the children's melodies. There's a softness to his tone, an unexpected warmth that resonates through the room, infusing the song with a newfound depth and emotion. As he sings alongside the children, it's as if a moment of genuine joy and connection has been woven into the music, transforming the rehearsal into something far more meaningful than mere practice.

Ishi o nageru mono to nagerareru mono ni wa (Those that throw the stones and those who are in turn hit by them,)
yōi ni koerarenu saku ga aru (between the two sides stands a fence not crossed so easily.)
tachiichi ga kawareba seigi wa kiba o muku (But by changing where we stand, justice will come to bare its fangs.)
ori no naka de hoeteiru no wa hatashite dochira ka (So who is it really that's been left howling within the cage?)

Amidst the musical arrangement, Eren takes on the primary role, leading the song with his resonant voice taking center stage. The children, in perfect harmony, provide the supporting background vocals, their voices weaving around Eren's with an innocent and vibrant energy, adding depth and texture to the performance.

Eren's voice, steady and strong, leads the melody while the children's voices intertwine, creating a beautiful blend that fills the room with a sense of unity and shared purpose. Together, their voices echo in a symphony that transcends mere music, echoing the spirit of hope and resilience.

Shinzō wo sasageta modosenai tasogare ni (The hearts offered to a dusk we can no longer get back.)
susumitsuzuketa yoru no hate rakuen wa doko ni aru? (Will paradise wait for us at the end of this ever-continuing night?)

Requiem! Requiem!
kono yoru ni chitta namonaki hana yo (O' nameless flower who lost its petals tonight.)
dōka yasuraka ni akatsuki ni nemure (Please, rest peacefully when dawn breaks.)

As they transition into the second part of the song, the vocals maintain the same arrangement as the first part. From children's lead into Eren's.

Akatsuki to tasogare wa onaji sabishī iro daite (Daybreak and twilight embrace the same lonesome colors.)
sugisarishi tori no kage daichi ni yakitsukeru (The birds flying by paint shadows on the earth below them.)

Ishi o hofuru mono to hofurareru mono ni wa (Those that slaughter the will of others, and those whose wills are slaughtered,)
yōi ni aiirenu kabe ga aru (between the two sides stands a wall not so easily taken down.)
shinjitsu o nozomeba sekai wa kuzuresaru (But if you wish to know the truth, the world will come to collapse.)
ori no naka de miageta sora wa hatashite "jiyū" ka (Is the sky you've admired in your cage really the freedom you seek?)

Hanataba wo sasageta hatasenai yakusoku ni (The flower bouquets offered to a promise that won't be kept.)
susumitsuzuketa michi no hate rakuen wa tōzakaru (Paradise slowly recedes from sight at the end of this ever-continuing road.)

Requiem! Requiem!
kono yoru ni chitta hakanaki hana yo (O' fleeting flower who lost its petals that night.)
dōka yasuraka ni akatsuki ni nemure (Please, rest peacefully when dawn breaks.)

"Shin no jiyū" o motomete (If you wish for freedom, what will be taken away?)
nanika o ubau no nara (Will we get back again what has been taken away?)
ubawareta mono o mata ubaikaesu deshou
iki o hikishibori (The《killing intent》(bow) is drawn out to its limit...)

Sekai wa tanjun de
sore yueni nankai de (The world is simple to understand, but that it is exactly why it's so complex.)
onaji higeki nando mo kurikaesu (The same tragedies keep repeating time and time again...)

Requiem! Requiem!
Kono yoru ni chitta toganaki hana yo (O' innocent flower who lost its petals one night.)
semete yasuraka ni akatsuki ni nemure (I wish you'll get to rest peacefully when dawn breaks.)

Soshite itsuka katarunara (And if one day my wish will come true,)
karamitsuku inga tachikitte (and the entwining karma will be severed,)
nā tomo yo kabe no nai akatsuki ni aou (then, aa, my dear friend, let us meet at daybreak where there are no walls around us...)

Eren and Aya take a moment to catch up with the others after the song concludes. Eren turns to Historia, seeking her thoughts. "What do you think, Historia?"

"It's incredible, Eren. You've managed to turn children who couldn't sing into a beautiful ensemble," Historia responds, her smile expressing genuine admiration.

Meanwhile, Mikasa interjects with a question. "Eren... the song you were rehearsing... did you compose it?"

Eren's voice softens as he recounts the vivid vision behind the song. "Yes, I did compose that song. It came from a vision I had." He pauses, closing his eyes in contemplation. "When I glimpsed the future, I saw countless possibilities. But before the memories of the Rumbling, I saw something else. I found myself sitting under the tree in Shiganshina, where I often sought solace as a nine-year-old. Suddenly, I witnessed my older self, at 19 years old, standing before gravestones. Confused, I approached closer, only to see my 19-year-old self grieving at the grave."

Eren's expression tightens with the emotional weight of the memory. "Tears streamed down his face as he knelt and kept repeating, 'I'm sorry... I'm sorry...' I didn't understand what was happening, but I followed him. We stood before Capital Mitras; guards bowed to my older self, and we entered. Inside, I saw Historia and her daughter, Ymir, who ran towards my older self. Despite the supposed joy of their reunion, I sensed my older self's anguish as he knelt and wept again."

He continues, his voice tinged with deep regret. "I reached out to touch him and witness the memories. That's when I saw how I initiated the Rumbling, causing widespread devastation and mercilessly ending countless lives. I saw a parent clutching their baby in tears, and even then, I showed no mercy. Disgusted with myself, the scene shifted to the battle in Liberio. I roamed among the ruins and deceased, realizing I was responsible for their deaths. I gritted my teeth, desperately seeking an alternative, but no matter what I did, no other path presented itself. More graves appeared before me, and eventually... I succumbed to the grim inevitability and followed through."

As Eren concludes his recounting, Mikasa and Jean, lost in their own thoughts, remain silent. Meanwhile, outside the room, the others listen intently to Eren's words, struck by the weight of his emotions and the gravity of his experiences.

"Nevertheless, I didn't want the song to be entirely about grief and pain," Eren continues. "So, I collaborated with Historia for the first part. She shared the story of how she met her husband, and that's how the initial segment of the song came to be."

"I understand," Jean responds quietly, still processing the depth of Eren's intentions and the complexity behind the creation of the song.

With this new chapter, I've incorporated "Akatsuki no Requiem" into the storyline, intertwining its essence with the narrative. I hope this addition enhances the fic and resonates with you as readers. I hope you enjoy the chapter.