AUTHOR'S POV:
A bird was flying above Singhansina in a circle.
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In a house, two babies with brown hair and green eyes were just crawling on the crib.
Grisha picked up both of them in his arms and cradles them while Carla was looking at him with a smile.
Baby Eren began to cry so Carla took Eren from Grisha and embraced him and baby Eren stopped crying.
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Behind them, Zeke and Eren were looking at them.
"These are... Dad's memories." Eren said.
"He sure looks happy." Zeke said.
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Grisha handed Faye to Carla and cradles Eren, who giggled a bit.
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Eren just stared at them with a small smile on his face.
"For someone who cast his previous family and friends into hell, that is." Zeke said.
"Why show me this?" Eren asked.
"So that you understand: How Grisha Yeager brainwashed and planted the seeds of nationalism in you and Faye." Zeke replied. "I'll show you as much as it takes."
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Grisha patted baby Eren's head and he fell asleep in his arms while Faye was sleeping in Carla's arms.
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Eren stared at his mother with a small smile on his face.
Zeke walked up to the door and opened it. He turned to Grisha. "Must be nice, Grisha..." Eren turned to Zeke. "Here, you can leave out a happy life without anyone to chastise you for forgetting your first family..." Eren looked back at his parents. "Even if you forget about the son you already had." Zeke left the room. "let's go."
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Carla and Grisha were looking at their children's sleeping face with a smile.
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Eren walked up to the door and stopped. He glanced at them one last time with a sad smile.
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Two years old Eren and Faye were slowly chasing a blue butterfly with curiosity outside their house.
The butterfly flew away and Eren and Faye walked up to Grisha who picked them up with a smile.
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Eren and Zeke were looking at him from afar.
Zeke turned around and started walking away. "Next one."
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After treating a higher up, Grisha was chatting with him with a nervous expression.
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Eren and Zeke were looking at Grisha through the window.
"Look, Eren. This is the true him." Zeke said. "He used his job as a doctor to get close to those in power to hunt down the King and steal the Founding Titan." Eren looked at him. "If he slipped up. his wife and children would suffer. But he continued nevertheless. Do you know why?"
Eren turned to Grisha who was still talking with the higher up. "Because he's an asshole who'd toss his family into a ditch to restore Eldia. I get it now. I was wrong. I never should've been born nor do Faye." He looked at Zeke. "I'm no longer brainwashed."
Zeke was looking at him with wide eyes and opened mouth. "We have all the time in the world. No need to rush." He walked away.
Eren just stared at him.
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Grisha, Carla, Faye and Eren were at a dining table.
Eren was poking his food with a spoon while Faye was being fed by Carla.
Grisha was looking at them with a big smile.
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Eren and Zeke was standing at the stairs, looking at them.
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A drunk Hannes was holding out a wine bottle while Faye and Eren were trying to catch it, cradled on Grisha's arms.
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Eren and Zeke were standing on the bridge above Grisha, looking down at them.
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Grisha was searching the drawer of one of his higher up patients while he was sleeping.
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Eren was looking at the patient while Zeke was looking at Grisha.
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Grisha took out a folded piece of paper from the drawer and looked at it, nervously.
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Kenny lifted his hat up and smirked as Grisha was leaving the building, nervously, passing by Eren and Zeke.
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Grisha stood at the entrance of the Reiss Chapel.
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Eren and Zeke were standing behind him.
"You're kidding. He tracked it down this soon?" Eren said in disbelief.
Zeke looked at him. "What is this place?"
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Grisha opened the door and stepped inside.
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"The King of the Walls' hideout." Eren replied.
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Grisha lifted the trap door slightly, having a unsure expression and looked inside of it.
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"That can't be." Zeke said, standing beside Grisha. "Grisha stole the Founding Titan on the day the walls fell."
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Grisha's expression changed to a terrified expression.
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"That's years from now." Zeke said.
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Grisha gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, having second thoughts.
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Zeke stared at him with wide eyes.
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Grisha closed the trap door and left the church, head down.
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Grisha arrived at his home and hugged his confused children with teary eyes.
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Zeke and Eren were looking at them from behind.
Zeke stared at Grisha with wide eyes, remembering his past.
Then Eren looked at him.
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Grisha had fell asleep on his table, at his basement while writing his diary.
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Eren was standing behind Grisha while Zeke was standing in front of him.
"I see... He loved his second son and daughter enough to delay his Restorationist mission." Zeke said and looked at the book self. "A stark contrast from me. It seems he learned from his past mistakes. However, you moved exactly how Father wanted you to. The original you is gone. Sooner or later, you'll see."
Eren looked at Grisha and glanced at the family photo of Grisha's previous family.
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"I am sorry..." Grisha muttered in his sleep with a pained expression. "I am sorry, Zeke..."
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Zeke gasped and looked at him.
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Grisha opened his eyes. "Zeke..."
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Eren and Zeke gasped at that.
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Suddenly, Grisha stood up and looked directly to Zeke. "Zeke...? Is that you?"
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Eren and Zeke were staring at him with shocked expression.
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Grisha looked around for a bit and sat up on his chair. He rested his head on his palm and smiled awkwardly. "Don't be silly. That old, bearded man can't possibly be Zeke. This is just a dream."
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"What...?" Zeke asked with wide eyes.
Eren opened the door and looked at Zeke. "Next one. Next memory, Zeke."
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Nice years old Eren and Faye were talking with Armin in the middle of a market place with smiles on their faces.
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Zeke and Eren were standing a few feet away from them.
"At this point, you're nine years old." Zeke said.
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Armin spotted Grisha and waved at him happily.
Grisha waved back at him with a smile.
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"Grisha loves you and Faye and let you two grow freely." Zeke said. "To think, you were never bainwashed by him-"
"I told you this was pointless before we wandered for years in his memories." Eren said.
Zeke narrowed his eyes. "In that case, why did you betray me? Your father told you nothing and made you inherit a Titan, yet you're fighting, just like he wanted?" He looked at Eren. "Eren, why do you oppose ending the conflict? What were you planning to do with the Founder's power?"
"I'm..." Eren said. "...Who I always have..."
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Nine years old Eren was standing beside Mikasa after they had killed the kidnappers.
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"...from the moment I was born." Eren said.
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Grisha was standing at the doorway of the cabin, holding a lantern with a terrified expression on his face when he saw the three corpses of the kidnappers.
Faye was covering her mouth with her palm, looking at the sight before her in horror.
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Zeke, standing behind Grisha, had a shocked expression on his face.
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Grisha was checking pulse of the kidnappers. When he found none, he held his forehead in disbelief as his son murdered two man.
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"You may have thought we were the same, but you're wrong." Eren said, standing beside Zeke. "Rather than letting someone steal my freedom, I'll steal theirs first."
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Outside, all of them stood around a small fire.
Faye was holding Mikasa to comfort her.
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Eren and Zeke were standing on the balcony of the cabin beside Grisha.
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Grisha had kneeled before kid Eren, holding his shoulders. "Do you have any idea what you've done?!"
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"My dad didn't make me like that." Eren told to Zeke.
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"I got rid of some dangerous animals!" Kid Eren replied. "And prevented them from kidnapping children again!"
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"I've been this way since birth." Eren said.
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"Eren!" Grisha called out, angrily.
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"Since birth...?" Zeke asked.
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"They would've been long gone by the time the Military Police arrived! It would've been too late!" Kid Eren argued.
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"You won't find the pathetic little brother you were hoping, far in me." Eren said.
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"Even so, you were just lucky, Eren!" Grisha said.
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"Nor a convenient little brother to share your emotional scars with." Eren said and Zeke started to walk away.
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"The way you casually threw your life away is what I'm angry about!" Grisha yelled.
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"All I see is a man who can't accept himself until he denies his father's wish to restore Eldia." Eren said, looking at Zeke.
Zeke walked behind Grisha.
"A pathetic man still haunted by his dead father." Eren said.
Zeke stopped before Grisha. "In that case, said man is grateful to his father. For the father's actions opened his son's eyes so he may save the world from the threat of Eldia. In a way, it's that father who saved the world." He walked away. "Don't you think that's a bit ironic." He stopped walking and turned to look at Eren. "Eren?"
Eren was looking at little Mikasa, Eren and Faye with a smile as little Eren wrapped the scarf around her, smiling and blushing.
Little Mikasa touched the sort fabric of the scarf. "It's warm."
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Eren and Zeke were standing behind Grisha as he was checking up some kids.
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"Listen, Eren. I have the power of the Founder in my hand." Zeke said. "I can carry out the enthanization plan at any time." He looked at Eren. "But I will never abandon you."
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Zeke and Eren were walking behind Grisha during a evening.
Children were playing catch with their fathers.
"Just like Mr. Ksaver did for me..." Zeke said, looking at the father son duo. "Before I save the world, I want to save you."
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Grisha dipped the fountain pen's nib on the ink pot and started writing something on the back of the photograph.
Zeke was standing behind him while Eren was leaning against a wall.
"'Humanity has not perished.' huh?" Zeke read from Grisha's writing, hand in chin. "Those are some hefty last words to leave behind.
Grisha attached the photograph at the front page of the book with a nervous expression.
He closed the book, placed it in a drawer and locked it.
After locking, he brought the key up and looked at it.
He looked up with wide eyes and opened mouth as Eren was standing before him.
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Little Eren opened the door to his home and him, Faye and Mikasa walked in.
"We're home. Mom!" Eren and Faye shouted.
"Welcome back." Carla greeted and smiled, looking over her shoulder.
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Zeke and Eren were standing near the dining table.
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When little Eren was empting the fire woods into a wooden box, Carla was examining his work.
"My, Eren, I see you've worked harder than usual!" Carla remarked.
"Yeah." Little Eren replied, looking down.
Carla pulled his ear for a second. "Your ear's red, that shows that you're lying. You had Mikasa help you, didn't you?"
Little Eren Eren just groaned, holding his ear
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Eren smiled sadly at the memory.
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Little Eren was sitting at the table with Mikasa, Faye and Grisha, stuffing his face.
Then little Eren looked at Grisha. "Oh? You're leaving, Dad? Is it for work?"
"Yes. Some checkups in the interior. It'll take a couple of days." Grisha replied, putting some books on his bag.
"Eren says he wants to join the Survey Corps." Mikasa said after a moment of silence, eyes downcast.
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Zeke stared with wide eyes while Eren smiled again at the memory.
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"M-Mikasa! I told you not to say anything!" Eren exclaimed.
"Eren! What are you thinking?!" Carla asked, walking over to him, grabbing his shoulders. "Do you have any idea how many people have died outside the Walls?!"
"I do!" Eren replied.
"Then why-" Carla was interrupted by Grisha.
"Eren, why do you want to go out there?" Grisha asked, looking at him.
"I want to know what the outside world is like! I don't want to live my entire life in ignorance inside the Walls! Plus if no one else is willing to take their place, then the lives of all who've died will be for nothing!" Eren replied with determination.
Grisha was looking at him intently. Then his expression changed back to normal.
"I see." Grisha said and stood and walked away. "The boat's about to leave. I better get going."
"Hold on, dear!" Carla called out, following after him. "Talk some sense into Eren!"
Then Grisha turned around and looked at Carla. "Carla, words can't hold back human curiosity." Then he looked at Eren and Faye. "Eren, Faye, when I get back, I'll show you the basement that I've kept secret all this time." He pulled out the key hanging from his neck.
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Eren was standing to his left while Zeke was on hie right.
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Little Eren and Faye then smiled excitedly.
"Really?!" Both Eren and Faye asked in excitement.
Grisha tucked the key back under his shirt.
All of them went outside their house to bid goodbye to Grisha.
"Take care!" Eren and Faye said happily, waving at Grisha.
Grisha walked down the stairs with a terrified expression on his face.
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Birds flew by during the following day's evening.
Grisha was standing before the Reiss Chapel with a horrified expression.
Through the trap door, he went inside the glowing Reiss Chapel.
He approached the Reiss family, who were present there for prayer.
Grisha stopped a few feet away from them.
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Eren and Zeke stood behind him.
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"I'm an Eldian that came from outside the walls!" Grisha said and brought his fist up to his chest. "I'm a subjects of Ymir just like you! King of the Wall! Please, you have kill the Tikans attacking the walls! Before my wife and children...! Before the people of the walls are eaten!"
Frieda gasped and looked down. She closed her eyes for a few moments.
After a few moments, she opened her eyes, but this time, her eyes were purple.
"We mustn't escape our sins." Frieda, possessed by Karl Fritz said. "Judgment day has come for the Subjects of Ymir."
Grisha gasped.
"When it comes to great power, people are weak." Frieda said. "I realized something from the Great Titan War:" She opened up her arms. "We mustn't allow the Power of the Titans to fall into people's hands." Grisha was shaking with gritted teeth. "If the Founder's power falls again into weak hands, the world shall again become hell. To save the world, we must accept our sins and welcome our ruin."
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"That girl and are on the same page." Zeke said, looking at Frieda. "But this whole family is slaughtered by Grisha." He looked at Eren. "You once said you saw this memey and were disgusted with him. Was that a lie too?" He gasped with wide eyes as he saw Eren's angered expression.
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"My house is right where the wall was broken!" Grisha said. "I live there with my wife, son, and daughter!" He threw his hand back. "The people of the walls don't know about their ancestor's sins! Because you erased all of their memories! You think the ignorant getting eaten by Titans is atonement?!"
"No. No matter how much we repent, it won't bring back any of the lives that Eldians stole." Frieda said and brought her hand to her chest. "However, we can prevent more lives from being stolen beyond the walls. If we remain ignorant and accept the world's hatred, it's only us Eldians who need to die."
Grisha was staring at him with a shocked expression.
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Behind Grisha, Eren was boiling in anger, while Zeke was staring at him with wide eyes.
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Grisha felt it and moved his eyes to his side.
"It's pointless to try and persuade me." Frieda said and brought her hand to her elbow level. "And even if you steal the Founding Titan from me, you can't-"
"I know. I know I can't use The Founding Tim's power." Grisha said, firmly with furrowed eyebrows.
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Zeke gasped with wide eyes.
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"Huh?" Frieda said with slightly wide eyes.
"Each of the Nine Titans has its own special trait- including the Attack Titan within me." Grisha said. "For ages, the inheritors of the Attack Titan have never bowed to anyone. And I know the reason why: To fight the King's self-righteousness!"
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Eren walked up to him and stood in front of him.
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Grisha looked down and held his head. "Yes. We were led by our memories-all for this moment." He looked away. "The Attack Titan can glimpse into the memories of its future inheritors." He removed his hand and looked at her. "In other words, it's able to know the future."
Frieda gasped with wide eyes.
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"Know... the future? What does he mean, Eren?" Zeke asked.
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"The Attack titan's special trait- I've never heard about-" Frieda said.
"I knew you weren't aware of that, too." Grisha said. "And seeing how you're bound by the vow renouncing war, you can't fully use the Founding Titan's power either." Frieda stared at him with wide eyes. "This is where I eat the Founder and end the royal bloodline!" He searched for something in his coat pocket. "That future is already decide!" He pulled out a knife and held it with his shaking hand.
Frieda gasped and turned to her family. "Run!"
The Reiss family ran away and Frieda looked at Grisha with gritted teeth.
She brought her hand and to her mouth.
With a cry, Grisha was about to stab his plam but when he looked at the children faces, he stopped and dropped the knife to the ground.
Frieda gasped and removed her hand a bit.
Grisha fell to his knees and looked down. "I can't. I can't... kill children. I'm... a doctor who saves life."
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"Impossible..." Zeke said with a surprised expression. "Grisha's supposed to take the Founder and slaughter this family. The past... Can't just... Change."
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Frieda's eyes turned back to normal. She was staring at Grisha without shocked expression.
"What are you doing, Frieda?! Hury and kill that man!" Rod yelled, hiding behind a pillar, pointing at Grisha with a horrified expression.
Frieda gasped and turned to him.
"The Founder is unmatched! Kill him!" Rod yelled.
"Don't let him leave this place alive!" Ulklin Reiss said with a horrified expression.
"Hurry and kill him, sis!" Dirk Reiss said.
"Our Paradise will be destroyed!" Abel Reiss said.
"Frieda, you've gotta protect us!" Her mother said.
Frieda just stared at them with wide eyes, opened mouth, conflicted. She then turned to Grisha.
Grisha closed his eyes in guilt.
"Sis!" Ulklin yelled.
"Frieda!" Her mother yelled.
Frieda just stared at Grisha with sympathy. Then she gritted her teeth and hesitantly brought her hand to her mouth.
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"What are you doing? Stand up, Dad!" Eren said, standing over Grisha.
Grisha gasped and opened his eyes.
Eren kneeled down beside him, grabbing his shoulder. "Did you forget what you came here to do? To avenge your little sister eaten by dogs."
Zeke gasped and took a step back.
Eren leaned to Grisha's ear. "For your comrades. Dina. Kruger. To avenge them. You keep moving forward Even if you die. Even after death."
Grisha searched for the knife and cluched it with his shaky palm.
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"Isn't this the story that you started?" Eren asked as Grisha remembered his late sister.
Zeke and Frieda's eyes widened as Grisha stabbed his plam with a cry.
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The dead bodies of the Reiss family was on the ground, crushed and squeezed.
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Eren was looking down in guilt while Zeke was staring at him with wide eyes.
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After getting out of the chapel, Grisha abandoned his titan body and walked ahead with guilt while steam was emitting from his body.
"I killed them!" Grisha shouted, moving here and there mindlessly in guilt. "Even the little kids! With my own hands!" He fell to his knees and looked up. "Eren! I killed the Reiss! All but their father! Are you happy now?! Is this what you wanted?! Will Eldia really be saved because of this?!" He looked down with teary eyes. "Why won't you show me everything? The wall being destroyed... The day it happens... If Carla is safe..." He grabbed his forehead and his body began to shake. "Was this really the only way?"
Zeke was standing before him.
"You are there, aren't you, Zeke?" Grisha said.
Zeke stared at him with wide eyes and opened mouth.
"From here on, things won't go your way. Only Eren will get what he wants." Grisha said.
"What... Did you say?" Zeke asked in disbelief.
Grisha slightly looked up. "I saw Eren's memories of what comes next. But I never imagined it would be so terrible." He fully looked up at him and gasped with teary eyes. "Zeke...?" He stood up and brought his hands up to his chest. "Is that you?! How you've grown! I'm sorry... I was a terrible father. The things I put you through were so cruel." He moved forward and hugged Zeke. "Zeke... I love you!" Tears started to roll down his face. "If only I had spent more time with you..." He continued to cry.
Zeke got teary eyed. "Father..."
"Zeke... please stop Eren." Grisha said.
Zeke gasped as he saw Eren with a dark expression.
Suddenly, Eren's 10 years old self's face when he lost his mother flashed in Zeke's eyes.
Blue lightning crackled again and Zeke fell to his ass at the Paths.
Zeke held his face with closed eyes.
Then he looked up and gasped as Eren was looking down at him with Godly eyes, still chained up.
"Eren..."
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