The Island of Devils

Chapter 32

"Dammit! It's bullshit!" Grisha shouted. 

Zeke was covering his ears with his hands, trying to hold back his tears.

"Don't say that! He's trying his best!" Dina argued.

"He'll never be a warrior like this!" Grisha retorted.

Zeke had a blanket covering his face as he sat outside the room his parents are in. He flinched and curled up as he heard a loud thud from inside the room.

Zeke caught a ball and Ksaver laughed heartily. "You were a mess the other day." He said and held up his hand, ready to catch. 

Zeke stared at him and said, "It's not funny. They're just having me run errands now. It's over for me."

He threw the ball which was easily caught by Ksaver. "Seems to me that you never wanted to be a Warrior."

Zeke looked down and said sadly, "I have to become one, yet I totally failed."

Ksaver got ready to throw the ball again and said, "No big deal. It's stupid for you to become a Warrior." 

He threw the ball and Zeke caught it. He stared at Ksaver, shocked.

"It's dumb to shorten your life for Marley and get sent to fight other nations." Zeke jumped and stared at him incredulously.

"Huh?!" He looked behind him to check if someone was there.

"Why did you become a Warrior?" Zeke asked in a low voice.

Ksaver continued to smile at him and caught the ball. "To learn the secrets of Titans. I'm a researcher, you know."

Zeke caught the ball as Ksaver continued, "Everything started when the Founder Ymir touched 'something,' but I wanted to know the truth of it all-"

Zeke stared at him. "-enough to shorten my life and look through titan memories."

Ksaver turned and looked up, "That's why I'm pretty much useless when it comes to war. Compared to the mysteries of Titans, hatred and war seem so trivial." He looked back at Zeke. "That's why you and I aren't interested in their war games. We're just two decent people- a real rarity in this world." Ksaver smiled widely.

Zeke had a smile on his face as he mopped the floor. "This is for the best. Even if I can't leave the zone, as long as I'm alive..." The smile slipped off his face and he looked down.

He walked through a tunnel with the mop and a bucket in hand. He passed a door and stopped as he heard, "We finally got a lead, They're the 'Eldian Restorationists'."

"It's a pretty large group. A traitor called the 'Owl' formed it." Inside the room, Marleyan officers were discussing. "We've got a few hunches already."

Zeke was still eavesdropping on them. His eyes were wide with fear. "It's just a matter of time till we get solid proof."

"Zeke?" He startled and looked up. "What's wrong?" Dina asked in concern as Grisha ate his food.

"Eat up." She told him.

"M-My stomach hurts." He lied to her as she stared at him.

He looked down to avoid eye contact and noticed Grisha staring at him while chewing. Zeke sighed in frustration and closed his eyes and spoke, "Dad, Mom... Stop doing dangerous things." Grisha and Dina stared at him in shock. He continued, "If they find out, we'll be sent to paradise- sent to the island of devils and made into titans."