Alastair nodded, his thoughts racing. If Liana had been a figment of his imagination, then what did that mean for his newfound courage? Was it all just a facade that would crumble the moment he faced his father's wrath again? He took a bite of his sandwich, the bread tasting like cardboard in his mouth.
Destiny leaned in, her voice low and conspiratorial. "You know, I've never seen Eren back down like that. You must have some serious guts."
Alastair swallowed hard, trying to ignore the doubt gnawing at him. "I guess...I guess I just had enough," he said, hoping his voice didn't betray the turmoil within.
Destiny's gaze grew more intense. "You know, Alastair," she leaned closer, her eyes gleaming, "sometimes, people need a guardian, someone to show them their worth. Maybe Liana was that for you."
He looked around the cafeteria, his eyes searching for any sign of her. The students chatted and laughed, their conversations a symphony of mundane topics. Yet, in the midst of the ordinary, he felt a sense of extraordinary potential. Maybe she was a symbol of the strength he had always had but never knew how to tap into.
The whispers grew fainter, replaced by the clink of forks and the rustle of plastic bags. He took another bite of his sandwich, the flavor finally registering. It wasn't his imagination that had changed the schoolyard dynamics. It was his own voice, his own actions that had shaken the foundation of Eren's tyranny. Liana Castellanos had been his beacon in the storm, guiding him to the shore of self-worth, even if she didn't truly exist.
And then, as if summoned by the very mention of his name, Eren strode over, his entourage trailing like shadows. The cafeteria fell silent, the air thick with anticipation. Destiny leaned back, her eyes gleaming like a cat watching a mouse.
Eren stopped at their table, his fists clenched at his sides. His face was a mask of fury, but his eyes darted around the room, gauging the reaction of his former subjects. "I'm sorry," he ground out, the words sounding foreign, as if they had been pulled from his throat with a hot iron.
The cafeteria was silent as a crypt, the only sound was the distant hum of the air conditioning unit. Alastair stared at him, his heart pounding like a drum. This wasn't the Eren he knew, the one who revealed in his fear. This was a boy who had realized he'd overstepped a line he didn't even know existed. "For what?" Alastair managed to ask, his voice steady despite the tremor in his hands.
"For...everything," Eren mumbled, unable to meet Alastair's eyes. The hallways had whispered of the confrontation, of the quiet boy who had found his voice. And now, here was Eren, the school's apex predator, offering an apology that seemed more like a peace treaty than a sincere expression of regret.
"Everything?" Alastair repeated, his voice steady despite the tremble in his chest. He hadn't expected this, not in a million years. "What does that even mean?"
Eren took a step closer, his eyes flicking towards Destiny before returning to Alastair. "I...I don't know," he admitted, his voice gruff and unpracticed in the art of apology. "I just...I won't do it again."
Alastair studied him, the bully who had ruled their school with an iron fist. Was it fear he saw in Eren's eyes, or was it something else? Something deeper, something more vulnerable? He felt a strange kinship with the boy in front of him, a bond forged in the fire of their shared secrets. "Okay," he said simply.