𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍; 𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍

28

Nights had passed since the two spoke with one another. It seemed as though the king kept a close eye on his son. Not being able to gain information from Zeke about such indecent activities Eren seemed to partake himself in. Such activities included more frequent visits to the townspeople and even holding conversations with lower-class folk... on purpose. On purpose. The king was astonished. He was bewildered by such atrocious actions. Speaking to lower-class folk was only necessary if the beneficiaries would go toward the king, the royal family of Eldia of course, not to speak lightheartedly to one another as if they were friends, not foe. By God, the king could not have it, so he sought other means to discipline his son's sudden socialite behavior.

"Politics have become such a bore." Eren sat within the confines of his library. He was held captive within his own castle forced to read literature after literature. Scroll after scroll, Ridding him of his freedom so that he may dwindle back into servitude and political matters of a prince. He skimmed the pages and grunted in irritation as he gripped the desk before him and kneeled. "In Eldia's name, I am going to die at this very table if I dare read another war.." He slammed his fists onto the counter of his desk. "Over quite frankly a useless reason where people die and no one in Eldia gets a piece of mind!" He slammed his hand down onto the counter once more as the dresser aside his desk rumbled and books slid off one after the other from the desk's shaking.

Eren sighed as he scanned the many books that now rid the library floor. Getting up from his seat, he picked up one after the other, slicking his hair back when he took notice of an unfamiliar book. A book he had never seen through the years he spent living within the castle.

"What in Eldia's name is that?" Eren knelt to the dusted book and slowly reached to pick it up. As he examined the artifact, he realized how old such a book was. The pages were heavily damaged, but still readable to an extent. Then it dawned on him. He blew on the cover of the book and dare it was in fine print: "Wrath Of Thou Titan Heritage". Eren stared at the title and sighed. "This is but a silly old child's book. This is nothing of use to me... perhaps Venus would like to read it to Caroline and the other town's children one day, what a sight that would be." He sighed softly with a smile and sat down at his chair, gripping the book in one hand as he tapped his quill pen in the other. The anticipation of it all seemed to kill him. Heritage... perhaps there was something far more deeper. Eren slowly opened the book and carefully began reading page by page scanning the pages realized such a book was not even in his native tongue, but in Latin. "How peculiar..." Eren stated to himself as he finally began to read page by page. "The capabilities of a Titan can only be passed down through heritage. Heritage which is only enacted by consumption of one." Eren grimaced at such a revelation, he wanted to close  the book, yet something called him to read on.

Fingers dragging across the paper, he realized just what this book was. His hand gripped the paper as his eyes darted across the illustrations. A part of him saw great power as beneficial, perhaps this would end the wars of all wars. Eren would be a hero in the eyes of everyone... in the eyes of Venus. He smiled at such a thought.

"Perhaps if i were to entangle my own self... mind and body to the cause... maybe father will not seem me as an excuse to scream and yell to... perhaps." Eren continued to read as a revelation was brought forth to him. "Such powers are passed down through royal blood... through ones bodies.. the carriers of such genes will be condemned to such power." His eyes lit up as a low inaudible gasp escaped him. "Do I have such power?..."

"Eren, you there?" Eren slammed the book closed and tossed it aside beneath his feet as he smiled toward the direction of where the voice had came from. Zeke walked in with an annoyed gaze only to soften at the sight of his smiling brother. "Eren... you seem awfully happy. Has the condemning really treated you that well or has the dust finally got to your head?"

"Ah... away from father and surrounded by literature. I could not ask for anything better." Zeke smirked and sat down on a nearby sofa.

"Is that sarcasm I hear?"

"Of course its sarcasm!" Eren yelled as Zeke laughed in response. "Why must I be stuck in a dust filled room to read literature, the arts and what other Eldian bullshit rids our shelves to appease father? He only had me come here so I may stop doing my duty! My duty is to serve our people! Our people are the reason we live lavishly so why must I sit here and do nothing?"

"My... my... is your rant over?" Zeke added in and Eren sighed.

"Yes..." Zeke chuckled.

"Wow, that young servant woman has you tied around her finger... and she does not even know it herself. I should congratulate her on her charisma. Perhaps I should take some lessons from her so that I may find a woman who loves me so." Eren chuckled and sat back down on his chair.

"I have not changed too much have I?"

"You haven't changed Eren, she has only brought the good out of you." Eren smiled at the thought. "Although that is not why I am here, I wish I was here to gossip about your love life, but we are commanders in the line of war and princes to the throne."

"Speak Zeke, do not toy with me."

"Our father is worried. Worried about political matters all residing around that dead general."

"My God... what now."

"An uprising it seems, we must put a stop to it. The killing was deserved and just. He commited treason and for that he paid with his life, but many do not see it like that and want to go against the crown. I have already placed Venus in the care of Captain Levi, he is our most trusted captain. Do you understand what is at stake?"

"A civil war within our own people?" Eren questioned with disbelief. "I can not seem to get a damned break."

"It was only a matter of time Eren. Now then, be ready and be glad this fight will be a short one. It is only a few individuals against the crown. A swift and easy death for each will surely put the people of our kingdom back in line." Zeke stood up with a smile and held his hand out to his brother Eren for him to shake. "Lets make this battle a swift one."

"We shall." Eren smirked and shook the hand of his brother. The two locked eye for but a moment and soon Zeke released his grasp and walked away. Eren watched and with such swiftness grabbed the Latin book from the floor as he heard the door close. Kneeling down to the book and he stared upon its words... he seemed almost obsessed...

꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒦꒷

𑁍┊-TiredBunBun