You are my Soul

☾hapter LXIX

Third person POV : 

He remembered that day as if it were yesterday. The day when Zeke and Pieck's Titan had approached a village with two Marley soldiers. The two soldiers set up a device while Zeke waited for it to take effect.

" They called it a gas weapon. It spread like fog downwind and engulfed that village. The gas contained my spinal fluid. Any Subjects of Ymir who inhaled the gas, even the smallest amount, were immediately frozen in place.

They no longer had control over their bodies, and they lost consciousness. They never told me how it works... But my spinal fluid makes its way inside the body of any Subject of Ymir, etching a coordinate inside of them to which the power of the Titans can be sent.

All that was left was for me to give the order. I used this path to send the power of the Titans to those coordinates. Those Titans are connected to one another through my Beast Titan. This is why I can impose my will on them, and why they move according to my orders". Zeke explained.

Levi glared at him," You called it 'that village.' Its name was Ragako. It was a village full of Eldians that you slaughtered, you bearded shit".

" Yes... I wish I didn't have to do it, either... But I had to... If Marley had learned that my true allegiance was to Eldian restoration, I would never have been able to bring hope to this island. I said all this when I first landed here, did I not ? Why do you keep asking about it again and again ?". Zeke inquired.

The silence was palpable around the campfire, where Levi and Zeke sat. The other soldiers present were positioned all around the forest, while Eld and Gunther looked angrily at Zeke. Whatever he may say will never redeem the crime he may have committed in killing those innocent people.

" Because I can see you don't carry a speck of guilt. I'm not sure if you really want to save Eldia or not... But I'm certain those people's lives meant nothing to you". Levi stated.

Zeke scoffed," You must've been really popular with the ladies. It's not nice to make assumptions about other people's feelings, you know".

" I know... And... I was popular enough...". Levi replied.

" Is that so ? Well. When are you going to have me meet Eren and start this experiment ? I want to see little Anelise too. I know she is not dead". Zeke said.

" That's not my call. I'm waiting for orders from HQ. Besides, the funeral of soldier Pierce took place on Monday". Levi responded in a cold tone.

Zeke narrowed his eyes at him," Tell them that if they think they have time to wait around, they're mistaken. And I know you're lying. If she was buried, why would you stay here ? You still have that glint in your eye, Levi".

" I don't know what you are talking about. I don't have time to get involved in your fantasies". Levi retorted.

For his part, Pixis sat with Yelena on one of the balconies of the residence, waiting patiently for her to start explaining herself.

" I did go to meet Eren that day". Yelena finally spoke.

Pixis looked at her with interest," Oh ?".

" I apologize for hiding that fact until now. This is reason enough for you to detain the volunteers". Yelena said.

" Charming as ever, aren't you ? So ? This secret meeting with Eren. Are you saying that's when you convinced him to go along with Zeke's plan ?". Pixis asked.

" I never did that, but I was... impatient. I know it's just how things are, but... you people don't know what the world is like. If you'd kept waiting to decide... It would've been too late for Eldia. Eren felt the same sense of danger.