章節 26: Hope
Moonlight cast its eerie glow on Eren's ice-cold face, his hand gripping like a vice around the neck of a bruised, short, and stout brunette. Blood dripped down his temples, splattering onto the dry, barren ground. Mist escaped Eren's mouth, his breaths long and deliberate.
"I don't know where he is... Please, let me go... My wife and children are wait—AHHHHHHH!" The man, dressed in gold and crimson, screamed, but his hoarse voice was swallowed by the infinite void of darkness. Eren's knife plunged deep into the corrupt noble's stomach.
"Heal..." Eren whispered against his ear as a mythic glow radiated from the wound. Healing and Burning at the same time. The worst form of torture yet the man didn't spoke up or did he even know anything. Eren wondered.
"Wh... What the hell are you...?" the man gasped, struggling for air. Eren sighed, releasing him, letting the man collapse to the ground with a dull thud. Bowing slightly, Eren pressed his foot against the noble's head.
"So you weren't lying after all..." Eren said coldly, his hands slowly sliding into his pockets.
"Master Yeager, allow me..." Eren glanced back from the corner of his eye. A group of kneeling soldiers, the Yeagerists—rebels handpicked by Eren from the underground—waited for his command.
"Ackerman... I'll leave this one to you," Eren said flatly.
"Do whatever you please. If he doesn't say anything within two days, kill him and make it look like an accident," he added, grabbing his cape and pulling up his hood before turning away.
As Eren left, Kenny also known as The Ripper smirked. "This brat really is something else," he muttered.
Kenny's eyes drifted to the noble, who was clutching his neck, scarlet finger marks evident against his skin. "Traute," Kenny called, his smirk widening.
A blonde girl, well-known for her talk of justice within the interior, stepped forward.
"You know what to do," Kenny said. She nodded, grabbing the noble by the hair and dragging him toward their hideout.
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"Eren," Christa cooed softly, her voice lilting as she watched him clean his blades with a damp cloth. Eren didn't respond immediately, his mind clearly elsewhere. Yet, from the corner of his eye, he glanced at her—a subtle acknowledgment that he was listening and then back at Mikasa.
"Ackerman... twenty more," Eren muttered, his tone indifferent. He lounged on the sofa, watching Mikasa do pushups in front of him. She wore a white vest and purple shorts, her movements steady and disciplined, despite the strain on her body.
"Kay," she replied with a nod, sweat trickling down her lean, muscular frame. Her scarred skin glistened under the dim light, each motion a testament to her resilience.
"Eren... Hey..." Christa pouted, clearly seeking his attention.
"What?" he asked, sighing as he finally turned toward her, his voice edged with impatience.
"How was the trip to Mitras? Oh, and how'd the ball go? I heard all sorts of nobles were invited," Christa said, her smile bright as she slid onto the seat beside him, placing her head on his arm.
Eren's hands didn't pause. He continued polishing the blades, which already gleamed with a mirror-like shine. It was a ritual, something he bothered to do daily, despite their pristine state.
"Fine," he said curtly, placing the last blade back into his ODM gear box before standing.
"Ackerman, that's enough for today, finish the day with 200 situps that'd be better for your core." he said. Mikasa nodded and sat back, grabbing a towel to wipe the sweat off her face.
She rose to her feet slowly, her breaths long and shallow, her muscles taut and aching from the relentless training. "Thank you for having me."
Eren glanced up and just gave a curt nod. "H... Hey Eren how do you think I'm doing." she whispered, Eren's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he exhaled deeply. "It's impressive. I never thought you'd ever be able to catch up to my daily workout routine this quick. At this pace, you might even end up in the top ten," he said, his tone neutral but tinged with rare approval.
As if guided by instinct, Eren's hand reached out and brushed her short hair—a recent cut he'd suggested on for practicality during training. It had been a small ordeal, especially for Jean, but Mikasa had complied happily.
"Eh?" Her eyes widened slightly as his hand rested on her head, patting her silky and soft hair. His touch was soft, and for a fleeting moment, her downcast gaze met his. In his expression, she saw it—an almost imperceptible hint of softness, the faintest curve of a smile on his lips.
A wave of nostalgia swept over her, bringing memories of their childhood rushing back. Eren had often patted her hair back then—whether to comfort her tears or reward her smiles. It was a gesture she cherished deeply. She'd always cling to his hand, refusing to let him stop, as though anchoring herself to those rare, tender moments.
Nearby, Christa's posture stiffened. Only she had ever received such a gesture from this Eren. A jolt of envy surged through her, sharp and undeniable. Her fists clenched at her sides, her teeth grinding as she glared at Mikasa, who seemed lost in a private moment of quiet happiness.
Eren's hand slipped away, disappearing back into his pockets. "Skip training for two days to recover," he instructed Mikasa. Then, without missing a beat, he turned to Christa. "And Christa… focus more on training instead of slacking off. Ackerman try helping her every now and then."
With that, Eren left the room, his cape swaying as he disappeared through the doorway.
Mikasa stared after him, her lips curving into a soft, beautiful smile that lit up her tired features. Christa, however, shot her a sidelong glance, her eyes dark with simmering resentment. The air between them grew thick—a quiet rivalry crackling to life in Eren's absence.
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"Eren!" The blonde-haired brunette called out, his voice cutting through the stillness of the night as Eren sat alone on the staircase, his gaze fixed on the stars above. Slowly, Eren's eyes shifted back toward him.
"Can I sit here?" Armin asked with a bright smile, his tone light and familiar.
Eren gave a slight nod, his expression bored and indifferent, as though even company failed to stir anything within him. Armin took a seat beside him, casually settling in.
At first, Eren assumed he had something important to say, yet Armin remained silent, almost statue-like, his own gaze drawn to the endless sky. The quiet stretched between them, filled only by the faint hoot of an owl and the distant chirping of crickets.
Finally, Armin broke the silence. "Hey, Eren... can I ask you something?"
Eren turned his head slightly, signaling for him to continue.
"What... what do you think lies beyond the walls?" Armin whispered, his voice tinged with quiet wonder. His blue eyes shimmered with hope, as though the mere thought of an answer might uncover something extraordinary.
"T... The sea?" Eren muttered pressing a hand against his temple as if the words had escaped unbidden. Eren looked away, his expression hardening, eyes narrowing as though searching for something within himself.
"Eren, are you alright?" Armin's voice softened, his brows furrowing with concern.
Eren sighed and glanced at him from the corner of his eye. "Just forget what I said, Arlert," he murmured.
Without another word, he stood and walked away, his figure fading into the darkness, leaving Armin alone with his thoughts.
"Eren..." Armin whispered, his mind reeling with endless questions. He pressed his palms against his knees, his breathing shallow. "He remembers?"
A lump formed in Armin's throat as the weight of Eren's words settled over him, sparking a flood of emotions. Somewhere in the vast expanse beyond the walls, their dream lay waiting, distant and untouchable. For the first time in years, a faint flicker of hope stirred within him, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"He's lost.... And I'll save him."
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票