CHAPTER 15: THE LETTER
Weeks turned into months.
The cadets trained. They waited. They watched.
The world outside the walls remained silent. No new missions. No new orders. Just the same routine, day after day.
Sukuna grew restless.
"They're hiding something," he thought. "The king. The government. Someone is pulling strings."
He spent his nights on the roof, staring at the inner wall.
"Behind that wall... the truth."
One morning, a messenger arrived.
A soldier in a black uniform. Different from the Survey Corps. Different from the Garrison.
"Interior Police," Armin whispered. "The king's personal guard."
The messenger handed a letter to Shadis.
The commander's face went pale.
"Everyone, dismissed," he said. "Except Yeager."
The cadets looked at Sukuna.
Mikasa didn't move.
"You too, Ackerman," Shadis said.
She stared at him for a moment. Then she left.
Sukuna stood alone in front of Shadis.
The commander held the letter. His hands were shaking.
"Do you know what this is?"
"A letter."
"Don't be smart."
Shadis handed it to him.
Sukuna read it.
His eyes narrowed.
"To the cadet known as Eren Yeager,"
"You are hereby summoned to the capital. The king requests your presence."
"You will come alone. You will tell no one."
"Failure to appear will result in the execution of everyone in your training corps."
"Signed,"
"The Interior Police."
Sukuna folded the letter.
"When do I leave?"
"Tomorrow. At dawn."
"And if I refuse?"
"You read the letter."
Sukuna smiled.
"The king wants to see me. How flattering."
Shadis leaned forward.
"This is not a joke, Yeager. The Interior Police don't summon people unless they have a reason. What did you do?"
"Nothing."
"Liar."
"I didn't do anything. But someone inside me did."
Shadis stared at him.
"I don't understand you."
"No one does."
That night, Sukuna packed his bag.
Mikasa stood in the doorway.
"You're leaving."
"Yes."
"Where?"
"I can't tell you."
"Why not?"
"Because if I do, everyone dies."
Mikasa's face hardened.
"The Interior Police."
Sukuna said nothing.
"I'm coming with you."
"You can't."
"Watch me."
Sukuna turned to her.
"If you come, they'll kill you. They'll kill Armin. They'll kill everyone."
"Then I'll fight them."
"You can't fight the entire government, Mikasa."
She stepped closer.
"Watch me try."
Sukuna sighed.
"You're impossible."
"I learned from you."
He almost smiled.
"Fine. But you stay hidden. If they see you, we're both dead."
Mikasa nodded.
"I can be invisible."
"I know."
Dawn came too quickly.
Sukuna stood at the gate. A black carriage waited for him.
Two Interior Police soldiers stood beside it. Their faces were masks.
"Eren Yeager?"
"Yes."
"Get in."
Sukuna climbed into the carriage.
The door closed.
The horses started moving.
Inside the carriage, Sukuna sat in darkness.
The windows were covered. He couldn't see where they were going.
"They don't want me to know the way," he thought. "They're taking me somewhere secret."
He closed his eyes.
"Let them try to scare me. I've seen worse."
The carriage rode for hours.
Sukuna counted the turns. Left. Right. Straight. Left again.
"We're going deeper into Wall Rose," he thought. "Not the capital. Somewhere else."
Finally, the carriage stopped.
The door opened.
They were in a courtyard. Surrounded by tall walls. No windows. No doors except the one they came through.
"Get out."
Sukuna stepped out.
A man stood in front of him. Tall. Bald. Cold eyes.
"I am Commander Nile of the Interior Police."
"I don't care."
Nile's eyes narrowed.
"You have a smart mouth, boy."
"I have a smart everything."
Nile led him into a building.
Dark hallways. Stone floors. The smell of old blood.
"This is where we question traitors," Nile said.
"I'm not a traitor."
"Then why are you here?"
"You tell me. You're the one who summoned me."
Nile stopped in front of a door.
"The king wants to see you. But first, I want to know why."
He opened the door.
Inside was a small room. A table. Two chairs. A single candle.
"Sit."
Sukuna sat.
Nile sat across from him.
"Tell me about the day Wall Maria fell."
"What about it?"
"What did you see?"
"A Titan. A big one."
"And after that?"
"I ran."
"Did you?"
Nile leaned forward.
"Witnesses say you didn't run. They say you stood still. Staring at the Titan. Smiling."
Sukuna said nothing.
"What were you smiling at, Yeager?"
"The future."
The interrogation continued for hours.
Same questions. Different angles.
Sukuna gave nothing.
Finally, Nile stood up.
"You're either innocent or the best liar I've ever met."
"Maybe I'm both."
Nile left.
Sukuna sat alone in the dark.
Hours later, the door opened again.
A different man stood there. Older. Dressed in white.
"Come with me."
"Where?"
"The king is ready to see you."
Sukuna stood up.
"Finally."
They walked through more hallways. Deeper into the building.
Finally, they reached a large door.
The man in white opened it.
Inside was a throne room.
And on the throne...
A boy.
No older than Sukuna. Blonde hair. Blue eyes. A crown on his head.
King Fritz.
"Leave us," the king said.
The man in white bowed and left.
Sukuna stood alone in front of the boy king.
"So," Sukuna said. "You're the one who rules this cage."
The king smiled.
"And you're the one who saw the crying Titan."
"Yes."
"What did it tell you?"
"That you cursed them. That you lied to everyone."
The king's smile didn't waver.
"And what do you plan to do with that information?"
Sukuna stepped closer.
"That depends on you."
END OF CHAPTER 15