Rivetra. AU - canon divergence. R18+. Multi-chaptered.
The finale to the Telomeres series, a world where Petra lives.
Chapter vi. (the rhythm of eternity)
Petra tilted her head. "Telomeres?"
"That's something new. Never heard of that." Hange murmured, eyes narrowing thoughtfully as they leaned forward, eager to listen for more.
"They discovered it not too long ago. They're like caps at the ends of chromosomes," Onyankopon said, using his fingers to gesture. "They protect the genetic material whenever a cell divides. Normally, they shorten as people age. But for Eldians, they still appear to be longer."
"People from Hizuru also have long telomeres," Kiyomi added. "They say it is a reason for our people having long average life spans. It is not uncommon for some of our citizens to live past a hundred."
"That's incredible," Petra said, brows raised. "I've never met anyone older than eighty."
Levi scowled. No one in Paradis ever made it past that age because the former monarchy had enforced a quiet, brutal policy: once the elderly were deemed unproductive, they were sent beyond the walls. It was a means to control the population. An unspoken culling to preserve food and resources. Everyone in the Underground knew about it. Many of the elderly would often escape below ground, only for them to die later from famine and disease. Or homicide. Whichever came first.
Few above-ground knew. Fewer dared to speak of it. Only the inner nobility and high-ranking officers were ever told and exempted. Erwin had known. And it was one of the first things he had Historia abolish the moment she became Queen.
"If Hizurans have similarly long telomeres, then what makes us Eldians different?" Petra asked, her voice laced with the same curious spark Hange often had when unraveling something unknown.
Kiyomi set down her cup with a soft clink before answering.
"Eldian telomeres do not shorten," she said calmly. "You might say, it is as if there is no natural end to your life span… that your race is said to 'live forever'. I believe that is part of what makes your people feared. The very structure of your being defies nature as we know it. Add to that the ancient belief that your bloodline descended from a 'devil'… suddenly that fear isn't just myth. It becomes science. And the possibility that you might live longer than the rest of the world becomes harder to ignore."
From his place by the table, Levi could see the way Petra's brows knit together, her eyes fixed on something distant as she processed the weight of those words.
And then, in the quiet that followed, she murmured under her breath.
For some odd reason, the way she uttered those words brought a chill beneath his skin.
Levi turned back to the potted tree. One of the buds near the tip of a slender branch had already parted slightly.
Almost absentmindedly, he reached out and brushed a finger against it gently, like coaxing something fragile out of hiding. The petal resisted, refusing to unfurl any further. Not yet ready to bloom for this life, almost like it feared that doing so would lead it closer to death.
Those were Petra's words, spoken approximately eight months ago.
Death always comes for all of them. It didn't care for race or reason. Death comes. They arrive by natural means. By hunger. Disease. Murder. Titans.
>>> Read the full chapter in A03 here.
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