lohen and varka remind me so much of levi and erwin in the most random ways possible.. their dynamics and their pasts and something about how the responsible commander figure is just Okay with a loose canon operating in their ranks because there's that implicit trust in them, that complete faith in the fact that he may be insane and a threat to everyone and a predator but he has a home in their ranks and he has a safe place to return to by his side so he will, he won't take advantage of the free reign he has to harm his allies
I know people have already talked about the chapter 89 hug but it gets me because it's such a fantastically devastating visual microcosm of their relationship.
The interesting thing about this hug is that while it's a gesture out of relief (since they don't even know each other yet) it's very indicative of the kind of future closeness they'll eventually develop.
And yet, because they are hugging, they cannot see each other's faces in this scene.
I've seen quite a lot of discussion on the way Qifrey reacts to this hug, which is understandable, because it's devastating - he practically melts into a total stranger because he was "saved". He seems to be actually quite amenable and starved for gentle touch, it's the stupid tree that's the problem. But I haven't seen much discussion on Olly's face here. Dear god this poor kid looks almost manic. Look at him scrunch his face into Qifrey's shoulder. Heâs okay! Heâs okay because Qifreyâs okay! :(
Yet, when Qifrey yanks himself back out of the hug, neither of them are making anything close to these expressions.
All Olruggio sees is Qifrey's brief panic and then him throwing up walls again. All Qifrey sees is Olruggio's bright smile. And this colours the way they think of each other. Due to the repeated loss of his memories, Olruggio is under the impression that Qifrey will always pull away from him, that he is forever chasing his past. Olruggio has no context for why Qifrey does this, and he is forced to find roundabout ways to support him. Qifrey, meanwhile, thinks of Olruggio as the kindest person he knows - and yes, he is very kind! But Qifrey, too, is missing important context here as to Olruggio's safety-oriented and conscientious mindset. Qifrey is forever questioning Olruggio's steadfastness towards him and never getting a clear answer.
Slipping into slight theory time: due to the nature of Olruggio's backstory being shown thus far only through a vague nightmare sequence and not one, but two other character's backstories, it is my current belief that he never actually did talk about what happened in Noz to Qifrey, or anyone really, in any direct way. I find it hard to believe that Qifrey wouldn't at least know of the incident, but Olruggio's attitude, both as a child and adult, strikes me as someone who decided "well, it's in the past, so why bring it up?" mostly because he just really doesn't want to think about it, and would rather work on never "failing" people ever again. [In this way, it would be interesting if this was confirmed because Qifrey is insistent on laying his past to rest to allow himself to move forwards, whereas Olruggio is just like. Okay. I'm just gonna tuck that into a dark corner somewhere. I am a fine and normal witch.]
The thing is, it's not like either of them are entirely unaware of these hidden sides of each other. They're too close, too observant, and they care about each other too much not to. We know Olruggio watches Qifrey carefully, tries to help him in the ways that he can. He knows when something's up, he just doesn't know what he's allowed to do, or what he's allowed to ask. This is made clear as early as the snugstone introduction - he doesn't know why Qifrey isn't resting well, but he sure does notice that he isn't. Olruggio has become increasingly indirect as they age in his attempts to provide support.
But even young Qifrey, who had to relearn social interaction basically from the ground up, pauses and stares when Olruggio has these non-sequiturs like "it's really easy to die out there" or "there are lots of things that can kill you", etc. Now, Qifrey also had very little context on what's normal and what isn't, but all the same, he clearly noticed that some of the things his new friend said were a little odd. It's very likely that he just, again, didn't know what he should or shouldn't ask, and when he finally does try to ask why Olruggio is helping him, he never actually gets much in the way of elaboration (perhaps Olruggio believes it should be obvious? perhaps he sees nothing special about what he does for him - that it's just what he ought to do for a friend. perhaps there's more to it we've yet to understand ourselves as readers.). As an adult, Qifrey continues to question why Olruggio goes so far for him; downplays the net positive effect he's had on Olruggio's life because he's so wrapped up in his own guilt and perceived selfishness.
Neither of them would want to overstep after all. They just want to keep holding onto each other - but the nature of the curse necessitates secrets between them. It's because they're close, because they love each other, that they cannot see each other clearly.
And so Olruggio knows Qifrey appreciates him, but he does not see the full extent of how at ease he makes Qifrey feel. Qifrey knows Olruggio cares deeply about him, but he does not see the full extent of how much Olruggio's well-being is wrapped up in his own.
oh my word im so horribly pissed at wha fans or not fans or readers or whatever the hell who are so obsessed with turning every relationship in the story to a romantic one and erasing the boundless layers of depth and complexity in each of them to js make it a stupid stupid romance story LIKE ARE YOU DAFT YOU ARE THE PROBLEM IF U THINK ANY RELATIONSHIP with devotion and depth and that insane tragic heartbreaking bond just has to be romantic, i would sacrifice my memories and my sanity and my whole life to be with my dear friends forever and if U are so lonely you have never experienced a heart shattering friendship then i am sorry for you. but pLEASE stop acting like everything HAS to be romantic simply because theyre "too close" like buddy who put a closeness limit on friendships??? why is romantic relationship always a step above platonic or friendship or whatever??? why does it matter if they're romantically involved or not when their whole relationship and dynamic IS UNAFFECTED BY THIS???? I honestly dgaf if someone ships them but it drives me insane when people act like its the only possible reading of them and u are homophobic if you do not see them romantically.
and DO NOT even get me started on the people who find out abt canon subplots and act like they're the whole story, did you read the manga with ur eyes closed? how can you possibly declare that all the intricate amazing beautifulll chapters pale before two side characters side relationship. you have clearly missed the point of wha. stop erasing the countless complex deep serious themes explored in such beautiful ways throughout the series because your romance fuelled brain can only think abt characters being canon couples. wha is not a romance!!! There's so much more to the story than some romantic plotlines, gay or straight. dont call me homophobic for this i am not homophobic i am simply romance-washing-everything-phobic irrespective of whether its straight or gay.
Some thoughts on Kamome Shirahamaâs handling of a hurt/comfort relationship in Witch Hat Atelier
>>up to and including chapter 90 spoilers under the cut<<
spoilers cover materials a couple of chapters beyond the Silver Eve arc's conclusion
Witch Hat Atelier readers are losing it right now because of the parasitic silverwood lore revelation in recent chapters.
Given that Qifrey is a host to the silverwood, he is required to be in a state of anxiety/discomfort to keep the parasite under control. The seed will only stay dormant as long as its host is in a state of unrest.
Every time Olruggio tries to help him with his most critical and consequential issues, Qifrey is in danger of his silverwood parasite overtaking him because Olruggio is his sanctuary, his safe space, his home.
The reader is shown the encroachment of the silverwood when the cat's out of the bag and Olly makes him talk. The parasite canonically takes over the body by feeding on hope, by feeding on ease and comfort.
Qifrey doesn't want to wipe Olly's memoryâhe does so out of necessity. He cannot have his support. He cannot have the peace of mind knowing someone is in his corner. He cannot have Olly providing the comfort that would truly put him at ease.
Qifrey visibly feels like shit immediately after wiping Olruggio's memoryâso much so that Coco asks him if he's okay when the girls come out to get them for dinner.
That time when Qifrey let himself sigh and lean into Olly's embrace was the first time in his new life that he felt a level of comfort adequate to allow the silverwood tree to germinate.
hug. lean. sigh. SPROUT.
And he FELT it.
Olruggio holding him after saving his ass from drowning was the first time Qifrey was in a position to feel the silverwood doing its thing and he was just like ??? wtf was that?? nope. nope. nope.
That panel is their relationship in a nutshell. Qifrey has to push him away.
At the point in chapter 40 where Olruggio is offering support
Qifrey is self-aware enough to be able to shield himself from the thing he would love nothing more than to accept: that solace, that support, that comfort, that peace, that hope.
Olruggio even offers him the clasp of covenant. The man is committed to helping him.
At the time of writing this, we have not yet been given the particulars of what Qifrey uncovered in the Tower of Tomes beyond the scrap that allowed some of his memories to resurface. We know they were testing a new type of forbidden spell (and I can go on and on about theories of mixing woodcruor with human blood following that nasty ink Iguin made and the whole incident with the valance leech; I can also go on about theories regarding Qifrey's likeness being duped, etc. and how he was the trial run for experimental nasty magic). We do not yet have the canonical details though. We don't know what they're doing or how it works yet.
What we do know is that Qifrey's findings made him quit. Beldaruit is under the impression that it was the discovery of his eye situation's legal irreversibility, but it's not outside the realm of possibility that he might have uncovered information about the silverwood and how it works. Again, we only have some puzzle pieces at the time of me writing this.
The point is that when he was a kid, Qifrey started out not knowing what was going on. He had nothing but scraps of memories. He had no awareness of the silverwood parasite or what was going on with his own body. Olruggio didn't make into the library when they attempted it together. We know Qifrey uncovered a scrap that made him remember being a guinea pig for a new type of forbidden spell.
A new possibility overgrown with mayhem scooped forth from the seeds of sown chaos. And the great cost which hope declares is none other than despair.
Regardless of what he uncovered at the Tower of Tomes, at the point in the story where Olruggio offers his undying loyalty and support (again), Qifrey is aware that this is a catalyst so he has to leave Olly hanging like
Olly is offering to help him and
Qifrey's word-for-word reaction is
as in
he LITERALLY cannot have that.
He literally cannot have Olly's forgiveness (again).
He literally cannot have Olly's support.
Experiencing the ease, the peace of mind, the hope, the comfort, that comes with Olruggio's support would be the end of him.
Sorry again for the unofficial translation. The hard copy isn't out here yet.
So. Olruggio found out Qifrey was hiding things. Again. Qifrey had to wipe his memory. Again.
"yet again."
Olruggio keeps finding out Qifrey's secrets and keeps forgiving him for keeping them to himself. It's not an isolated situation. Olly keeps offering to help. It's also worth noting that having to re-experience Olruggio realizing that Qifrey is keeping things from him must be a source of tremendous guilt and suffering in and of itself. He keeps having to deal with being a source of Olruggio's pain. Over and over.
When Olly figures out that Qifrey's eyesight is going and that he's back on his bullshit tracking the brimmed caps, he finally spills his feelings about Qifrey keeping secrets from him.
The man is burning. He is wounded.
As an aside, this completely justifies how irritable Olly was when his character was first introduced.
He gets home already in a state so exhausted from a job that he lurches forward slightly in the doorway, and then Qifrey springs it on him that he brought a whole kid home without so much as talking to him.
The man is going through it. He's probably having one of the worst damn days in recent memory. The level of absolute disregard it takes to bring a kid home without a heads up is devastating! Qifrey didn't say a thing to him! And in witch society a Master has custody over an apprentice in such a way that their apprentice is considered to be their child. Your Master is the person who raises you. You're signing up for parenthood/guardianship. Atwert uses that as a legal loophole to prevent Galga from getting sent to Adanlee, the isle of oblivion. He's like. Nah. Fuck it. I'll volunteer to be his guardian. No doomed yaoi on my watch.
A Master's apprentice is their ward. You're adopting a child. Witches are considered to be the siblings of their fellow apprentices in witch society and culture.
Witches' culture of child rearing is not the same as ours. Their politics are not the same as ours. Their laws are not the same as ours. It was particularly traumatizing for Agott to have been banished from the House of Arklaum because it's considered to be a wild exception that they raise their own biological children in the first place. Richeh's sisters didn't even know she had a biological brother.
And it's taken seriously. Olly wouldn't undertake that responsibility because he knows he has other priorities. I could go on about the implications here.
So yeah. Qifrey brought a kid home.
Witch Hat Atelier won a fucking Eisner award for the volume in which Olly spills his feelings (among other big plot and social commentary things). He has so many questions for Qifrey.
Why would you hide that shit about your vision in your remaining eye?
Why would you hide being back on your brimmed cap bullshit? Why wouldn't you talk to me?
He's furious! His response is essentially I'm mad you for not talking to me and I'm mad at myself for not being the kind of person you can confide in!
Qifrey withholding information not only upsets Olruggio because of Qifrey's behaviour but it also makes Olly question himself and what he may or may not have done to create that barrier to trust. Imagine how hard it must hit Olruggio to not feel as though he's created enough of an approachable aura given that he is the legally appointed Watchful Eye of Qifrey's atelier. Witch government mandates someone with child protection services training to be present in remote locations to rat out bad behaviour. It's his job to be someone that people can come and talk to. What a blow. That's so fucked up!
Look at Qifrey's face.
bro feels so guilty he's dissociating
Keyword: desperately.
My guy. My dude. My heart. Shattered.
So. Qifrey spills the plot when Olly prompts confidence.
Olruggio forgives him and doesn't hold a grudge. He loves and cares for Coco as much as her sisters despite the circumstances that prompted her apprenticeship.
And then Qifrey takes it all back.
Because he cannot have that.
Qifrey's whole deal is how much he guards his secrets but Olruggio knows him better than anyone. He keeps figuring out what's going on with him. And keeps forgiving him. He's a source of comfort and care. He's present for the girls when work allows it. All this makes Olruggio Qifrey's closest and most dangerous narrative op.
The first time we see him using magic, it's a goddamn drying spell
which is the same spell he frantically whips up to save Qifrey, repurposed as a contraption
That's their whole deal.
It's the essence of their relationship dynamic.
Olly keeps being a fucking threat.
Qifrey keeps being a shit over and over again both as a child and as an adult; but Olly forgives and arguably enables him since he is such a people pleaser fucked up by his own trauma following the Noz incident where they decided to send a child on a dangerous a rescue mission and unnecessarily expose him to mortality and leave him with lifelong guilt and self-blame. It rewired his brain and is largely responsible for who is is as a person. Olruggio is so desperate to be the type of witch who can still save people that he keeps sticking around, providing support. Providing care. That he truly cares for Qifrey poses a tremendous risk.
Qifrey has to push him away. He has to leave him hanging. He has to make him forget. He lives with this anguish out of necessity. He carries the agony and the guilt with him every single day. He is damned to live in a state where he cannot allow himself to be held by Olruggio ever again. The answer to the Romonon query was instant. Automatic. It's the man's whole life.
everything Olly does is a freaking danger to him; from the magic he uses to the support he gives to the contraptions he makes
Qifrey is playing with fire by having Olruggio in his life at all.
It becomes a deeply personal matter to Qifrey when he deduces what's going on with Custas, who is also a host to the silverwood.
Coco informs Qifrey about Custas falling asleep in Dagda's arms. Qifrey proceeds to have a normal time about it.
Qifrey who felt the presence of the silverwood for the first time in an embrace, in his safe haven:
It's also implied that Qifrey had his memories wiped in order revert him from a state of parasitic takeover. When the silverwood sprouts in Custas, he reverts with his hair turned silver.
Restys observes that the silverwood parasite taking over its host can be undone with Custas in hand.
It's the same storytelling device Rebecca Sugar used in Steven Universe where the audience wasn't told what happened to Lion, but was shown what happens to Lars to make him pink. By seeing what happens to Custas, we can now infer what happened to Qifrey. He got taken over by the tree, had it undone, and his hair is now silver. Like with Custas.
EDIT: vol. 15 cover reveal has clarified that Restys also has silver hair. It makes sense that she would give the seeds to Custas and Ininia.
Qifrey knows how to save himself from others but he also knows how to save himself from himself.
He's telling on himself. Why would he have something like that on his person if not to be used as an absolute emergency backup plan?
If you take away the serenity of the host, depriving them of their comfort and solace, you can undo it.
Qifrey carries those obliviation seals like Aspirin for a heart attack.
That said, he's made his stance on memory erasure very clear.
It's a deeply personal subject for him given his lack of memories when first exhumed in the forest of Thristas. He had practically no memories until some of them came back in the Tower of Tomes (occasional trauma response or flashback aside). He's experienced firsthand how shitty it is to not know anything or anyone. He had no magic. He had no skills. He had to start his entire life from scratch.
When Coco becomes privy to Qifrey's situation, she asks why she isn't enough to keep him in a state of anxiety. Qifrey begins a response about how she just isn't, but doesn't finish articulating his thought. He stops himself and, instead, goes into dad mode, telling her that he can't be anxious for a witch with such a bright future. She's on the right track. She's going to become an excellent witch. She's going to be fine. This is also the reason he doesn't wipe her memory the way he wiped Olruggio's. The fact of the matter is that Coco just isn't his safe haven. She isn't what he needs. It's Olly's embrace that did it for him. It's Olly's embrace that put him in danger. It is Olruggio that he cannot have.
Kamome Shirahama examines the hurt/comfort trope by taking it and turning Witch Hat Atelier into a story of hurt/[forbidden] comfort.
I've been thinking about so many potential outcomes and loopholes that I could ramble about them for ages, and might reblog this with some notes as well as what about my perspective, opinion, predictions are and how they change as the story progresses. Shirahama hasn't put anything in a the story for nothing. Every plot point serves as a precedent for something to come or as an illustration for something parallel. Everything in the story so far has served a purpose, foreshadowed, explained, illustrated, expanded, etc. so I've been mulling over Olruggio and Qifrey's character dynamic and what it means in the bigger picture.
Although their relationship's threat to Qifrey's life has become one of the major plot points, I'm eager to see how it's going to play out in the grand scheme of things. Coco is supposed to be the "child of hope" who stands to counterbalance despair. I could go on for ages on status quo and kyriarchy as depicted in Witch Hat Atelier. Shirahama's commentary on how design is the key to healing or harming draws attention to the much broader scope than the individuals' intentions. We see that in how they deal with the "failure" of the phantasmal fireball, and how Olly has to encase it in crystal so that people don't lose their healthy respect and fear for fire, as it can burn as easily as it can keep people warm and alive, for example. Magic is a double-edged sword. Actions can be double-edged swords. You can't always predict outcomes no matter how good your intentions, and the way to address that is a major point of contention in the plot. The macro ties to the micro and vice versa.
It is that which Qifrey so desperately needs to heal his soul threatens to destroy him. We're just sitting here watching a man live through torture.
Read to chapter 90, then go back to the beginning and read the whole damn thing again. You'll be clutching your face the whole time.
What's soooooooooooo fucked up about the Olruggio and Qifrey thing is that we're shown time and time again that everything about Olruggio will slowly kill Qifrey. Just by following his nature to help. On first meeting, he didn't just pull Qifrey out of danger, he pulled him out of the water, Qifrey's biggest trigger, the thing that makes him feel most unsafe. And then, for good measure, casts a spell on him to make him feel warm and dry. He hugs him and tells him he's glad he's alive and Qifrey is so desperate for both those things it almost kills him on the spot. He pulls him out of the water again when they leave the great hall, taking him aboveground to wide open skies. He takes the drying spell and carves it into rings so he always has it on hand, ready to go. He invents contraptions to help Qifrey sleep at night. He offers to help when Qifrey's struggling, be it emotional support or just sweeping the floor. Everything about Olruggio is about making people feel comfortable and safe.
The reason he's in Qifrey's life in the first place is because he couldn't stand the idea of watching Qifrey die. But every moment that he stays in Qifrey's life ensures that he will.
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LEVI ACKERMAN: WHY HE IS HUMANITY'S STRONGEST SOLDIER
This post contains:
An in depth analysis on Levi's motivations and what underscores them
His view on his strength
Why Levi is so reserved
Why Levi was obsessed with killing zeke
Levi presents a nuanced exploration of the gap between initial impressions and underlying motivations.
While his initial demeanor appears stoic and potentially aloof, bordering on arrogance, a closer look can reveal a profound sense of responsibility and dedication driving his actions.
Levi's act of comforting a dying comrade while vowing to eradicate the Titan threat signifies a deeply ingrained sense of purpose.
This act transcends mere pragmatism, demonstrating an emotional connection to the fallen and a commitment to the collective cause of the Survey Corps.
His vow is a promise to honor the sacrifices made by countless individuals, carrying their collective resolve forward in the fight for a Titan-free world.
He is burdened by the weight of loss yet driven by an unwavering commitment to the ideals and the fallen comrades of the Survey Corps. He embodies the collective hope of humanity, particularly those who dedicate their lives to the eradication of the Titan threat, ensuring that the sacrifices made will not be in vain.
His physical prowess is a defining aspect of his character and role within the narrative.
His strength serves as a pillar of support for those around him. His ability to consistently survive and excel in battle, as evidenced by his reassurance to the dying comrade, instills a sense of hope and security in his comrades. He becomes a symbol of unwavering resilience amidst the constant threat of annihilation.
However, Levi's perception of his strength extends beyond its immediate utility. He views it as a burden, a responsibility inextricably linked to his title as "Humanity's Strongest Soldier."
He recognizes that his superior abilities often come at the cost of countless lives lost around him, leaving him as the sole survivor in dire situations. This realization fosters a profound sense of duty within him.
Levi's strength compels him to carry the memory and legacy of the fallen. He acknowledges that his survival necessitates fulfilling their unfulfilled aspirations and carrying forward the collective resolve of the Survey Corps.
This is exemplified in his willingness to take responsibility for Eren, even to the point of eliminating him if necessary, and in Erwin's unwavering trust in Levi to handle crucial tasks, such as subduing Beast Titan.
While Levi's immense strength grants him immense power, it is not a source of pride or personal gain.
As Kenny said, Levi is a slave to being a "hero".
He feels an immense responsibility to utilize his power for the greater good, becoming a protector and champion for humanity in their desperate struggle against the Titan threat. This unwavering commitment manifests in various ways, from advocating for the desperate measures of feeding civilians to his relentless dedication in the fight against Titans.
Levi's reserved demeanor is a consequence of a life marked by constant anticipation of tragedy and the loss of countless comrades.
His atypical upbringing, from the harsh realities of the underground to the brutal world of the Survey Corps, has instilled a deep-seated expectation of further losses.
This environment makes emotional expression difficult, leading him to adopt a detached exterior as a coping mechanism.
However, Levi's emotional self-preservation doesn't diminish the profound care he harbors for human life. He fights relentlessly for the sake of strangers, suffers immense anguish with each squad he loses, and his empathy for suffering stems from his own deprived childhood, where basic necessities like sunlight and food were scarce.
Throughout the manga, Levi endures a relentless cycle of loss, constantly grappling with the responsibility of being the "last man standing."
He carries the weight of their sacrifices, driven by the unwavering determination to fulfill their shared dream and ensure their deaths were not in vain. This ever-growing burden continues to shape his reserved nature and fuels his unwavering dedication to the fight for humanity's survival.
Levi's unwavering dedication extends beyond his own burdens. He readily takes on the emotional weight of others, particularly evident in his interaction with Erwin.
When Erwin confesses his guilt and internal turmoil regarding the lives sacrificed in the charge, Levi deliberately chooses to shoulder that burden himself.
This act transcends mere support; it is a conscious decision to relieve Erwin of the immense pressure associated with the lives lost.
Levi explicitly states, "I am making the choice," signifying his deliberate assumption of the responsibility.
This choice carries immense consequences. Levi takes on the horror of the charge and the weight of all the lives lost â the recruits who perished and ultimately, Erwin himself.
This decision contributes significantly to the profound weight that burdens him throughout the manga.
It manifests in his overwhelming sense of failure when he ultimately cannot eliminate Beast Titan, and his heartfelt apology to the charging recruits further underscores the gravity of the responsibility he carries.
As the manga progresses, the weight on Levi's shoulders intensifies. Eren, the boy he once vowed to protect and take responsibility for, ultimately betrays humanity, leaving Levi questioning the "awful joke" of the sacrifices made throughout their journey.
The lives he feels deeply responsible for, even going so far as stating to Zeke that he views them as "killed" by their actions, become a constant source of internal conflict and fuel his unwavering determination to continue the fight for humanity's survival.
As Levi enters the final battle, the physical and emotional toll he bears surpasses anything he has faced before.
He loses the last remaining comrade from his friend group (Hange), faces the seemingly impossible task of fighting his former subordinate, and suffers critical injuries, losing an eye and fingers just days prior.
Despite his weakened state, his sense of responsibility intensifies. He refuses to rest even when Armin urges him to, driven by an internal pressure that compels him to fight.
No external force compels him to engage in this final battle; it is solely driven by his overwhelming sense of responsibility.
His determination to protect his remaining comrades manifests in his actions â offering himself as bait for Mikasa, saving Jean, and enduring further injury while saving Connie.
Even while coughing up blood, he maintains a facade of strength, burdened by the weight of being humanity's strongest.
Finally, after temporarily being sidelined due to his injuries sustained while saving Connie, the immense pressure he has been carrying throughout the narrative culminates in a moment of vulnerability.
Levi is forced to confront the "awful joke" of their situation once again. Now physically broken, Levi contemplates his inability to contribute further, succumbing to self recrimination in the face of immense loss, horror, and guilt.
He questions the purpose of their struggle, wondering if it was all in vain.
However, amidst this profound despair, Levi exhibits a remarkable resilience. He reaffirms the idealistic dream that the Survey Corps fought for, recognizing the inherent value of the lives lost and refusing to succumb to regret.
He chooses to look forward, believing in a better future and the potential of the next generation of idealists. Even in the darkest moment, physically unable to walk and coughing up blood, Levi remains the voice of reason, urging Mikasa to pull it together as they are the "only ones left who can kill Eren."
This unwavering commitment to his duty proves the fact that Levi never stopped fighting, even when his own body betrayed him.
Despite being presumed out of the fight, Levi's unwavering spirit compels him to push through his debilitating injuries and excruciating pain.
This final act of defiance proves crucial in both halting the Rumbling and saving countless lives, fulfilling the promises he made to his fallen comrades and granting meaning to their ultimate sacrifice.
In the aftermath, a profound shift occurs within Levi. He acknowledges the immense contributions of his comrades, recognizing that their unwavering dedication fueled his own actions.
The immense pressure and the burden of countless lives he carried finally lifts, allowing him to release the pain he had bottled up for so long.
For the first time, after enduring countless tragedies, we witness Levi shed tears, signifying a release of the emotional weight that had burdened him throughout his arduous journey.
Levi's title as "Humanity's Strongest Soldier" extends far beyond his physical prowess.
It is his unwavering mental fortitude, forged from constant struggle, that truly defines him. He chooses not to succumb to bitterness or resentment, even after facing a lifetime of hardship and loss. Instead, he exhibits an extraordinary resilience, fueled by an unwavering determination to protect humanity.
Many characters within the narrative succumb to the cycle of violence and hatred. They wield their power to inflict pain and dominate others, fueled by the trauma they have endured. Others, like Ymir, become paralyzed by their past, unable to utilize their abilities to help others. Still others, like Zeke, lose hope in the possibility of a better future.
Levi's journey stands as a powerful counterpoint to these destructive tendencies. He demonstrates that even individuals who have suffered immensely, who have every reason to be disillusioned and apathetic, can choose to believe and fight for the betterment of others. He views his exceptional strength not as a privilege but as a profound responsibility, a tool to be wielded for the benefit of humanity and the preservation of individual lives.
Even as the world around him crumbles, Levi continues to exhibit compassion and a desire to contribute positively. He chooses to break the cycle of hate and despair, actively seeking to put more good into a world that inflicted immense pain upon him. This unwavering commitment to hope and the value of human life stands as a testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit, even in the face of unimaginable adversity.
Other analyses by me:
Levi and Kenny
How Levi utilizes his intellect in fighting and decision making and his leadership in final battle
Levi Ackerman (an overall analysis? One of my first one so it's not that good ig)
The Yeagers and the Ackermans I: Their motivations and dynamic
The Yeagers and the Ackermans II: The Similarities and the Contrasts
(Goes without being said, but spoilers for 5.6 Paralogism quest ahead (and inversion of genesis quest))
I'm seeing a lot of confusion related to the Durin-merging-madness of Paralogism, and since I failed to write any sort of Albedo analysis for Paralogism or Wanderer analysis for Inversion of Genesis, I will at least try and explain away some of the confusion around the Durin situation (based on my potentially flawed understanding, so. don't jump me if I get somethings wrong.)
(ac @lic_617_)
The fate of names
The first concept to understand is that Mini-Durin's entire existence is a parallel to his real-word counterpart. Written into a fairytale yes, but simply by virtue of sharing the same name he will share the same fate. This was explored in Simulanka and is a prevalent theme in Genshin as a whole - names are inextricably linked with fate.
The fact that Mini Durin was created as a part of a fairytale world allowed that fate to be altered somewhat, with the aid of everyone's favorite fate-defying maniac, Wanderer. (I love this, by the way, he really is the perfect person to play that particular role of subverting and saying stick-it to fate.)
Now that Mini Durin has subverted fate to some degree and had a happier ending re-written for him, it's possible to use his pure soul as a means of subverting the fate of the Dragonspine Durin. Now here's where things start to get a bit muddy, so I will use Wanderer as an example and a parallel since we have a post-fusion example ready in him.
Wanderer as a Durin parallel
(ac @chencuya)
Wanderer is a parallel to Durin's story in many ways, from the obvious start as an innocent being who is then mistreated by the world and turns "evil", down to the merging of an innocent form with an "evil" form to create a new whole.
If we look at what Wanderer went through in Inversion of Genesis, we can compare Mini Durin to the form of him that remained after Scaramouche was erased from the Irminsul. A being who is innocent and has a peaceful life, yes - but also someone empty, someone lost, seeking a purpose that he doesn't know how to find. Mini Durin exists in an idyllic fairytale world, but ultimately he hungers for something more, something real, something to give meaning to his life.
The way the empty Wanderer found his meaning was by reuniting with his past, with his sins, with his "evil self". Does this mean he "lost his innocent version" in the process? Sure, maybe. That innocent false-image of Wanderer is certainly gone, but he found what he was seeking even in that form - a purpose, a goal, something meaningful. At the same time, it's not like that existence is overwritten entirely, because he didn't become the person Scaramouche was at the time of his erasure.
His desire for atonement and to rewrite a new fate for himself are stemming from the "clean-slate" version of himself who could see his own past actions from an outside perspective, as someone who has broken free from the blinds of Scaramouche's pain and rage. This is what allowed him - along with the realizations that erasing himself cannot fix anything - to strive to atone for his evils and become someone new.
In the same way that the current Wanderer is neither wholly Scaramouche nor the blank-slate Wanderer, the fusion of Durins is somewhat similar.
Mini Durin is fundamentally not a different entity than the Dragonspine Durin, he is merely an alternate reality of Durin's fate. A version of him who has seen a different perspective, and that will allow him to view Dragonspine Durin's life and actions freed from the blinds of his pain and rage. Mini Durin isn't any more erased than the empty-wanderer is post-fusion, and he himself found what he was seeking for by fusing with his real world counterpart. Saving him, reclaiming the fate of the name Durin, and achieving a higher purpose.
(An aside, but I don't think "becoming human" was Mini Durins higher goal - it was to make a difference in the world, save Albedo's brother - a once-innocent soul, do something meaningful. That he became a human was a byproduct of his initial goal. But this part is merely my own opinion and also wholly unrelated. It just irks me to think of "becoming human" as a way to achieve greatness and I don't think that was what was meant.)
After all, he and the real world Durin are both written from the same fate, and while Dragonspine Durin's past actions are not directly Mini Durin's past actions, there are still two parts of the same fate. Their lives - past, present, and future - are intertwined, and that's why Mini can be the salvation for Dragonspine's Durin. He is the same being with a different perspective, the Wanderer to Durin's Balladeer. The blinds of pain and rage can be lifted by an outside perspective, hope of a better ending can be introduced by one who has lived the better ending, the alternate reality.
It never was about who is more or less in the Fused Durin, because they are one and the same - two shards from the same fate, two angles of the same story, two facets from the same gem. One has seen the light and brings it to the side which remained in the shadows.
(ac @NeytiRv)
Ultimately, I have complete faith in Durin-the-being's ability to live his new life, aided by one who understands where he's coming from entirely and another who is there to teach him the ways of the human world. Durin - the lost, lonely child - finally has friends and family and understanding, and a true chance to live his life the way he's always wanted to. He can fight for the things he believes in, carve for himself the life he always wanted to live. He has a chance to rewrite fate the way he himself wants to. Sounds familiar... but if I yap anymore about just how similar Wanderer and Durin are, I'll be here for another few hours...
I think about this dialogue from S1 all the time; to me, it succinctly sums up the differences between Erwin and Leviâs perspectives and motivations.
When it comes to Erwin, itâs much like what Armin said in S1: the people who are capable of making change have to be able to throw everything away and abandon their personal humanity in order to save the greater humanity. Erwin embodies this perfectlyâhe never hesitated to sacrifice the lives of others on behalf of a greater cause, and even knew how to inspire them into willingly self-sacrificing.
What was that greater cause? For Erwin, it was his dream of finding out the truth and avenging his fatherâit just so happened that this aligned with what was best for Paradis. If it werenât for his own personal ambitions, I donât believe Erwin would have had the same level of commitment or drive.
Erwin knew that all of the deaths of his soldiers and the civilians caught in the crossfire were potentially pointless (and we eventually see that catch up to him right before his death); but at the same time, he knew each death and sacrifice was a necessary step in uncovering the truth.
Thatâs not to say he saw no value in human life or that he was an evil personâitâs just that he saw more value in the bigger picture and the greater cause, and he didnât have time to consider his personal humanity in that pursuit. Erwin knew that he needed people like Levi and Hange to stay alive in order to achieve this bigger picture goal since they filled in the gaps of skills he lacked himself.
This also isnât to say Erwin is purely selfish, nor is he the only one with personal motivationsâEren was motivated by his motherâs death, Mikasa was motivated by protecting Eren, Hange was motivated by learning about Titans. The list goes on.
Levi is uniquely one of the few characters without selfish motivations and dreams (which is ironic since people view him as cold and heartless). Levi had no ulterior motives pushing him to the other side of the war, and nothing personal to gain.
He chose to follow Erwin because of that look Erwin had in his eyeâthe same look Armin had in his eyeâhope for the future, like he could see something no one else could. Levi, simply, didnât want to make choices he would regret, even though he openly admitted that he never truly knew or understood what the outcome of those choices would be. He believed that following Erwinâs commandâand eventually choosing Arminâwas the best way to do this.
Levi doesnât view the lives of his comrades or squad members as disposable. He has a fiercely protective and loyal nature. We see this time and time againâwhen he adamantly tells a dying soldier that his death wasnât in vain and that heâd made a difference, how he doesnât ever truly forgive Annie and Reiner for the lives they took from the Scouts, and his incessant need to avenge Erwinâs death, to name a few.
To me, Erwin and Levi are somewhat of a yin and yang in this wayâErwin was willing to do everything it took to achieve his dream, no matter the sacrifice, and Levi was willing to do everything it took to make sure those sacrifices werenât made for nothing.
Erwin had to be willing to send people to their pointless deaths; Levi had to make sure those deaths werenât pointless in the end.
This is a little bit of a half-baked ramble, but I always found this exchange so interesting and telling.
everytime wanderer becomes relevant i go revisit the post in my drafts thats explaining inversion of genesis and trying to clear up the misunderstandings that so many ppl hav abt it but im too shy to actually post it
