As soon as Eren stepped in the arena he felt regret seep in his body. He felt bad for getting upset at Mizuki, especially knowing that Mizuki didn't mean to imply that he didn't think Eren was going to win.
Eren knew that if Mizuki actually thought he was going to die today he would have simply grabbed him and ran away with him. But he also knew that despite believing in him, he was still afraid of what could happen and Eren would be lying if he said he didn't feel the same way.
He was scared of the possibilities of what today might bring but with all the severe training he had been doing with Arlan he was also confident in himself.
He could do this.
He would do this.
Eren let his eyes roam over the crowd in hope of finding Mizuki to make sure he didn't think he was still mad at him. He wouldn't let this be their last interaction before the battle.
His eyes finally landed on Mizuki who was standing next to Emilio in the crowd and when their eyes met he smiled at him, a comforting smile.
'I love you.' Mizuki mouthed and Eren felt a small smile tug at his lips and he hoped that the look he gave Mizuki conveyed the message he was trying to tell him.
Eren's attention shifted when he heard footsteps approaching him and he looked at his brother as he walked closer to him.
Aslan was geared up in the royal suit just as Eren was with his hair slicked back in a bun as usual. In his hand was his designated double edged spear and Eren couldn't say he was surprised because he wasn't, in fact he was expecting it.
Eren's own long and sharp dagger was clutched in his hand and Aslan's eyes twitched when he saw the switch of weapon since he was expecting a bow and arrows.
Augustus walked in the arena and stood in front of his sons. Looking at them, he realized that one wasn't going to make it alive. That after today he would only have one child. And he knew exactly which one was going to be the one standing alive.
Aslan.
He knew the only person who could inherit the throne was Aslan. He had the same values and ideas as him. Augustus never understood why Eren was such a disappointment but over the years he had lost any kind of remaining fatherly affection he had for his eldest son.
"The rules are quite simple. You each have one weapon of your choice and you can use it to kill your opponents. There isn't anything you can't do except having another weapon in your disposal The battle isn't over until one of you is dead.
There's no backing out once it starts. It doesn't matter how much you beg if the fight has already started it won't stop. As soon as one of you is dead the other will be crowned on the spot and the ceremony will happen in a few weeks. If a Royal member is displeased with the results of the fight they are allowed to challenge the winner for the crown but I doubt that will happen." He said and both sons nodded their heads.
Augustus left the arena and stood in the kids of the crowd and then at the count of three he motioned for the soldier to hit on the gong to make the noise that signalled the beginning of the battle.
When Eren heard the noise indicating the beginning of the battle he didn't move. He stood there and stared at Aslan who also seemed to be contemplating his moves.
"Scared?" He taunted and it took everything in Eren not to roll his eyes.
Of course Aslan would try to taunt him with words.
"There's no reason for me to be scared of you." Eren said, twirling the dagger in between his fingers and Aslan's face hardened as he started approaching him and Eren caught the dagger in his palm, tightening the grip.
Aslan didn't make a move to raise his spear towards Eren which worried him but he kept his defensive position up. He knew he wouldn't be able to get close to him without getting hit so he would have to wait for Aslan to make the first move.
Sure enough, Aslan started moving closer to Eren. Eren didn't know what to expect but it definitely wasn't Aslan raising the spear in the air and launching it towards Eren's chest.
He was planning on ending it in one move?
Thankfully, Eren was quick on his feet and he managed to move before it hit him where Aslan was aiming but unfortunately he wasn't quick enough to avoid the hit completely.
"Fuck." He gasped out with wide eyes as the spear inserted itself on his left shoulder, tearing the clothing of his suit.
He heard the audience gasp in shock and then he started hearing loud cheers, making him grit his teeth in frustration.
He saw Aslan move towards him, probably to get more hits in but Eren quickly gripped the spear and ripped it out of his chest, emitting a painful groan out of him and then he threw it on the other side of the arena, watching it roll away from them.
He shifted his attention back on Aslan just as the man raised his hand to clutch at Eren's injured and bloody shoulder but before he could touch it Eren raised his dagger and to stab Aslan on the stomach, the only area he could reach.
But Aslan expected it and his hand shot down to catch Eren's wrist in his grip and he tightly twisted Eren's arm behind his head. He pushed his other hand against Eren's injured shoulder and then he pushed him down, making him fall on the ground.
Eren bit his tongue to stop the painful scream to leave his mouth and instead he focused on making sure Aslan didn't get ahold of his dagger. Aslan had went down with him and was using his legs to push Eren against the ground with one of his hands still applying pressure to Eren's shoulder and the other trying to get the dagger from him.
Eren felt Aslan's fingers move closer and closer to his hand but before he could reach his destination Eren raised his head and slammed it against Aslan's.
Aslan wasn't expecting it and his grip loosened, letting Eren free his arm and then he raised the dagger and stabbed Aslan on the side.
Aslan gasped and doubled over and Eren raised his legs to push him off of him and then he crawled towards his younger brother and wrapped his hand around his throat and pushed him back so now he was laying underneath him.
Eren could feel sweat trickling down the side of his face and his breaths were getting shorter as the burning pain in his shoulder intensified but he tried to ignore it the best he could.
He continued to squeeze Aslan's throat and thé look of panic on his younger brother's face brought Eren a sick feeling of pleasure.
As Aslan struggled under Eren, a flash of memories went through both of their minds. Memories of when they were kids, not yet taught the cruelty of their world. A memory of them laughing together while fighting with pillows. A memory of them sneaking out of the castle to watch the soldiers fight.
They had both blocked those memories out of their minds when the innocent brotherly love they once had for each other had been replaced by a fueling hate that was stored in them.
Eren watched Aslan's eyes fill with tears and he felt a hint of hesitance climb into him but then more memories slammed into him.
Memories of Aslan trying to poison him. Memories of Aslan trying to suffocate him. Memories of Aslan purposely bringing up his mother or Elias to taunt him. Memories of Aslan bragging about the amount of innocent people he killed from Rivania.
"I hate you so much." Eren whispered as he let his hand fall from Aslan's throat watching him heave for breaths as relief filled his face for a split moment only for it to be ripped away when Eren raised his other hand, the one holding the dagger and slashed it against his neck.
Eren watched the life leave his younger brother. He watched as the blood seeped out of his neck. He watched his airway cut off. He watched him take his last breath before he fell limp, blood pooling underneath him.
Eren felt tears spill from his eyes as relief filled him and he let the dagger slip from his fingers as he pushed himself away from the dead body. As his body fell back on the floor and his hand pressing against his injury he finally let his mind quiet down the noise around him that he was blocking out during the fight reached his ears.
There was silence.
And then, a scream.
Hello!
Thoughts?
It finally happened ð©ð©
Spoiler alert, it isn't over yet :d
-till next time <3