The Past (Part Three)

In the dim Forest, starlight shone through the trees. Suddenly, with a loud bang, countless birds were startled into flight. The massive body of the Attack Titan crashed down in the woods, kicking up a cloud of dust. From the dust, a slender figure staggered out.

Grisha's clothes were disheveled, and he looked rather disheveled. His steps were unsteady, clearly indicating that he had just seized the Founding Titan Power, which had taken a heavy toll on him.

"Is this really okay? Will the future really change? Eren... Father doesn't want you to become like that, Eren, please believe in your father..." Grisha muttered to himself as he walked away, lost in thought.

Eren, Zeke, Yago, and the Founding Titan were watching Grisha from a short distance away. For some unknown reason, Grisha suddenly stopped and started walking straight towards them.

Suddenly, Yago felt someone tug at him. He turned around and saw that his Great-Grandmother had conjured two chairs out of nowhere, gesturing for Yago to sit down.

Yago paused for a moment, then, as if possessed, automatically sat down, leaving space for the fathers and sons on the field.

Thump! Just as he reached Eren and Zeke, Grisha lost his balance and fell to the ground. Struggling to his feet, he looked up at Eren and Zeke.

"Father, he... he can see me!?" Eren stared in shock, as did Zeke, who saw deep shame and love in Grisha's eyes.

"Yes, it really is you, Eren, Zeke, my children..." Two lines of tears streamed down Grisha's face.

"That's wonderful, you're here. That means the future has truly been changed. That's wonderful." Grisha stood up unsteadily, reached out his hand, and walked step by step toward his two children.

Eren and Zeke were startled and took several steps back simultaneously. Grisha's eyes dimmed, and his raised arm fell dejectedly. "I'm sorry, I'm really a terrible father, Eren. Please forgive me for not being able to be by your and Carla's side, and Zeke too..."

Grisha's gaze suddenly shifted to Zeke, his voice filled with remorse, "Zeke, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, Dina. I'm a selfish person. I shouldn't have ruined your childhood. I shouldn't have forced you like this. If, if I had a choice, I should have spent more time with you, watched you grow up, instead of letting you bear so much. I'm sorry, Zeke."

Zeke listened blankly to his father's words, his father's confession and remorse. This was completely different from the father he remembered. In Zeke's world, he had always regarded his father, Grisha, as a cold-blooded and ruthless father. He had no fatherly love in his childhood, and he had only experienced something similar to fatherly love with his teacher, Ksaver.

But no one else's love can ever replace a father's love. No matter what, Zeke always harbored resentment towards Grisha. He never imagined that Grisha would have feelings for him. Wasn't Grisha born him just to use him? To use him to fulfill that bullshit Eldia Restorationists dream.

When Zeke learned of Eren's existence, his first reaction was not anger. He wasn't angry that Grisha had betrayed Dina. He firmly believed that this younger Younger Brother he had never met must have been used and deceived by their father, Grisha, and that Grisha was no good person!

But when Grisha truly opened his heart to him, Zeke's eyes still involuntarily welled up with tears.

Grisha's voice choked with emotion. His Great-Grandmother, who was sitting in a chair watching the play with Yago, suddenly waved her hand. A glint of light flashed across Zeke and Eren's bodies. The next moment, Grisha actually hugged Zeke tightly—a physical hug.

"I'm sorry, Zeke. I'm a terrible father, but please believe me, your father loves you, Zeke. Protect Eren. You're brothers. Don't let Eren go astray. Trust Yago. The future of Eldia rests on your shoulders." Grisha hugged Zeke and spoke his heartfelt words.

"Eren! You've grown up, you're a man now. You must protect your mother. I'm sorry, please forgive my selfishness. Also, take good care of Mikasa. Mikasa is a good girl. Don't let your friends down. You must live a happy life." Grisha then hugged Eren as well, speaking sincerely.

While a poignant drama unfolded between father and son, Yago suddenly stood up, pointing at a distant figure, speechless with shock.

Wearing a fitted long robe, with flowing medium-length hair, his hands in his pockets, his green eyes were calm as water. As if noticing that Yago had discovered him, Big Eren turned to look at Yago, revealing a meaningful smile, and held up a finger to his lips.

Then, in the blink of an eye, another figure appeared behind Big Eren, disappearing from Yago's sight along with him.

(Just started school, Muzi super tired. Please forgive me for Muzi writing a filler chapter today. Please, please forgive me! <(ToT)>)