CHAPTER 16: THE KING'S GAME
The throne room was cold.
Not in temperature. In atmosphere.
The boy king sat on his golden chair, looking at Sukuna with eyes that were too old for his face.
"You're not afraid of me," the king said.
"Should I be?"
"Most people are."
"I'm not most people."
The king smiled.
"No. You're not."
He stood up from his throne and walked down the steps.
He was shorter than Sukuna. Smaller. But his presence filled the room.
"Do you know why I summoned you, Eren Yeager?"
"Because I saw the crying Titan."
"Partly."
The king stopped a few meters away.
"I summoned you because you're different. I can see it in your eyes. You've seen things no one in these walls has seen."
"Maybe."
"Where did you come from, Eren? Really?"
Sukuna looked at him.
"A place far from here. A place with no walls. A place where kings don't hide the truth."
The king's smile faltered for a moment.
Then it returned.
"You're lying."
"You asked for the truth. I gave it to you. Whether you believe it is your problem."
The king walked back to his throne.
He sat down and gestured to a chair near him.
"Sit."
Sukuna sat.
"I'm going to tell you a story," the king said. "A story about this world. About the walls. About the Titans."
"I'm listening."
"Long ago, there was a great empire. An empire that ruled the world with fear. They used Titans as weapons. They crushed anyone who opposed them."
The king paused.
"My ancestor, the first King Fritz, hated what the empire had become. So he took a portion of the people and built these walls. He created a paradise. A place where Titans couldn't reach."
"But Titans did reach," Sukuna said. "They broke Wall Maria. They killed thousands."
"Because someone from outside the walls sent them."
Sukuna said nothing.
"There are enemies beyond the sea, Eren. Enemies who want to destroy us. Enemies who will stop at nothing to see these walls fall."
"And the crying Titan?"
The king's eyes darkened.
"A victim. Someone who was transformed against their will. Someone who remembered their humanity."
"You said the king cursed them."
"The king tried to save them. But some curses cannot be undone."
Sukuna leaned back in his chair.
"You're lying."
The king's face hardened.
"Excuse me?"
"You're lying. Or someone lied to you. The crying Titan said the king cursed them. Not saved them."
"The Titan was confused."
"Was it?"
The king stood up.
"You dare question me in my own throne room?"
"I dare question anyone who hides behind walls and calls it paradise."
Silence.
The king's hands trembled.
Then he laughed.
A loud, sharp laugh.
"You're interesting, Eren Yeager. Very interesting."
He sat back down.
"I'm going to make you an offer."
"I'm listening."
"Join my inner circle. Work for me. Help me protect these walls."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then you go back to your training corps. You live your life. You die like everyone else."
"That's not much of a choice."
"It's more than most people get."
Sukuna stood up.
"I'll think about it."
"Don't think too long. My patience has limits."
Sukuna walked toward the door.
Then he stopped.
"One question, Your Majesty."
"What?"
"Do you know what's really outside these walls? Not what your ancestors told you. The real truth?"
The king said nothing.
"I didn't think so."
Sukuna left.
Outside, the night was dark.
Mikasa emerged from the shadows.
"Well?"
"The king is a child playing a game he doesn't understand."
"What does he want?"
"He wants me to work for him."
"Will you?"
"I don't know yet."
They walked through the dark streets.
"Where are we?" Mikasa asked.
"Somewhere inside Wall Rose. A secret facility. The king's private playground."
"How do we get out?"
"We walk."
They walked for hours.
The facility was a maze. Corridors that led nowhere. Doors that opened to walls.
"They don't want people leaving," Mikasa said.
"They don't want people finding the truth."
Finally, they found a gate.
Two soldiers stood guard.
"Stop! Who goes there?"
Sukuna kept walking.
"I said stop!"
The soldiers raised their weapons.
Mikasa moved.
Three seconds. Two soldiers on the ground. Unconscious.
"I thought you were going to stay hidden," Sukuna said.
"They were going to shoot you."
"I would have dodged."
"Maybe. But I didn't want to take the chance."
They stepped through the gate.
Outside, the world was dark and cold.
"Which way?" Mikasa asked.
"That way."
Sukuna pointed south.
"How do you know?"
"I can feel it. The walls. The energy. Something is pulling me."
Mikasa looked at him.
"You're strange."
"I know."
They walked until dawn.
The sun rose over the walls.
In the distance, they saw the training corps barracks.
"We're back," Mikasa said.
"Barely."
They walked through the gates.
Shadis was waiting.
"You're alive."
"Disappointed?"
"Don't push it, Yeager."
He looked at them both.
"Get some sleep. Training resumes tomorrow."
He walked away.
That night, Sukuna sat on the roof.
Armin climbed up to join him.
"Mikasa told me everything."
"Did she?"
"Not everything. But enough."
Armin sat down.
"The king summoned you. He wants you to work for him."
"Yes."
"What are you going to do?"
Sukuna looked at the stars.
"I'm going to play his game. For now."
"And after?"
"After... I'll play my own."
Armin was quiet.
Then he said, "I'm scared, Eren."
"Good."
"That's not comforting."
"It's not supposed to be."
END OF CHAPTER 16