Hearing Marley's propaganda against Eldians was a crazy experience. He knew it was nothing but lies but the Eldians in the internment zones didn't. They hold onto everything Marley tells them. Gabi was one of the biggest examples of the brainwashing that went on here.
There was no future for regular Eldians. Only honorary Marleyans could make themselves into someone. If he was going to survive, he needed to be someone. He couldn't be ordinary. He needed to become indispensable to Marley. He knew things from his old life that would benefit the country tremendously. In the canon timeline Marley fell behind with its technology, causing them to almost lose to the Mid-East Allied Forces in 850.
He could do it. He will do it.
He put on his standard Eldian flat cap and adjusted his armband to make sure it was on correctly. "Mom, I'm going to the library! I'll be back before dark!" Alexander shouted to his mother as he grabbed his satchel and walked towards the door.
"Alright be safe!" She shouted back at him and he made his way to get some books.
It was great that kids here could leave and wander wherever. Well great for him at least. Five year olds in his old world would never be allowed to roam like the children here.
The library wasn't that far away from his house. It was a 20-30 minute walk from his house. He had pretty small legs so it took him much longer to go to and from.
The library was at the edge of the internment zone. As he got closer to the library he walked past the walls of the ghetto. It was tall and made of stone. It looked a lot like Paradis' wall. There was no way for an Eldian to escape them. Especially with the guards standing around it. It made him wonder if he would ever see the world beyond this wall.
He tried not to think too hard about it.
He entered the library. It was quiet of course, but it seemed that it was because the building was mostly empty. No one really used the library unless it was to study a certain topic or read books about war heroes. Every book was filled with some sort of propaganda. Every page of every book had something about Eldians being less than and Marleyans being the best. And don't even get him started about anything doing with Paradis. The amount of hate towards that island was so great there were so many history books in there about how inhuman the devils on that island were. And story books had their villains shipped there and turned to titans.
But he wasn't there for books for someone of his age. He walked towards the back of the library. He had learned through the short years of him being outside that the books that Marley wanted Eldians to read were in the front. The books that were actually educational and not as heavy on the propaganda were in the back.
There were books on human biology, both for Non-Eldians and Eldians, (He didn't know there was that much of a difference.) biology for plants and animals, healthcare, blacksmithing, some basic technology books, baking, weaving, and what he was most interested in, books about titans and how they work and function.
Not many would come to the back because of all the books they could find in the front. Also, the books in the back were kinda boring. He had only seen people who were looking for books in the back to learn a skill for a job.
He looked a few books over. The most important book to him would most definitely be the book on Titans. But he needed other skills too. He had learned some engineering in his past life so upping his skills in tech was a must, even if this world's technology was not as good as his past world's. He wondered if he made something from his old life if he could get it patented. He also picked up two books about human biology. One for Eldians and one for the rest of humanity. And he couldn't forget about the book on healthcare. What if he got hurt and no one would help him because of his Eldian status? He wiped tears that had formed in his eyes. That was something to be afraid of. Oh, was that a book on sewing!? He had to have that too. It would be a very important skill here.
"That's a lot of books for a boy of your age." A man behind him said. The man got closer and crouched to his level. Alexander was thrown on edge. Stranger danger. He looked the man over. Grey armband with a star shaped explosion. He was no one important. "Wow, these are some pretty hard books. Think you can read them?" This irked the boy greatly.
"I'm five, not illiterate, sir." He glared at the man beside him. The man became sheepish and stood up.
"Alright, I'm sorry for asking, young man." The man turned around and left.
Alexander huffed and grabbed his chosen books and brought them up to the front desk. He had to lift them up one by one because of how heavy each of them were. He rang a little bell on the counter and waited for the librarian.
"I'm coming!" A lady shouted from a room in the back. A few seconds later a middle aged woman with grandma glasses came out. She looked at his books and then at him. "Is there something I can help you with sweetheart?"
He pointed towards his books. "I would like to check out these books please."
The lady grabbed a book. "Sent out to get books hmm?"
He shook his head. "No ma'am. These are for me."
The librarian smiled and looked at him like he was stupid. "Really? Don't you think those books are a bit too hard for you?"
"No ma'am. These are just fine."
She looked him over before meeting his eyes. They kept eye contact for a few seconds before the lady sighed. "If you say so." she murmured. She stamped each book. "Here you go. Enjoy your books."
He placed his books in his satchel. "Thank you ma'am, have a good day." He made his way towards the exit. He heard her hum in reply.
What a bitch.
He started walking towards his home. He turned to look at the walls looming over him. They were all caged like pigs–No. Like cattle–waiting to be picked off to be used however Marley wanted. Is this how Eren felt when he looked at the walls surrounding Shiganshina? He was so lost in his thoughts he didn't see the man in front of him until they collided.
"Oof!" He exclaimed as his face smashed against the man's legs. He groaned and put a hand on his soar face.
"Watch where you're going, devil spawn." Alexander felt a rush of adrenaline go through him. He looked up at the man in fear. He was a Marleyan soldier!
"I'm so sorry, sir! I promise it'll never happen again!" The man bent down and grabbed one of his books and looked through it. How did his books fall out of his bag? He was sure the man would ruin it. He really didn't want to pay a fine.
"Titans, hmm? You wanna be a warrior and become an honorary Marleyan?" He was confused. Why isn't he beating him?
The confusion must have been visible on his face. As the man crouched down and met his eye directly. "Calm down. I won't beat you unless you give me a reason to."
He hesitated before answering. "N-No, sir. I want to further Marley's Titan knowledge and create better weapons for the military so that our country may strive."
The soldier raised a brow. "Are you calling Marley weak?"
He paled and stuttered. He was so dead. "N-No, sir. I want Marley to become even stronger than it already is!" He squeaked.
The soldier made a hmph noise and offered the book back to the boy. Alex took it and put it and the other books that fell out of his bag back in.
"Kruger." The soldier said suddenly.
Alexander turned back to look at the soldier in confusion. "What?"
"My name. It's Kruger. Eren Kruger. Show some respect and address me as such."
He tried not to let the shock show on his face. He was right in front of the Eren Kruger! "Ah, yes Kruger, sir." Kruger nodded and stood up.
"I'll walk you home so you don't get into any more trouble."
"Yes Kruger, sir" Alexander rose to his feet. "This way." He started walking towards his home, Kruger right beside him.
They had been walking for almost five minutes before Kruger spoke again. "What's your name, boy?" It startled Alexander. He blinked and looked up at the soldier walking next to him. He was still looking straight ahead as he walked. "Keep your eyes forward. You don't want to walk into anyone else today do you?"
"No, sir." He turned his face back in front of him and looked forwards. "Oh, and uh, Alexander Birken, sir."
Kruger hummed. "I'll make sure to make a recommendation to the Titan Biology Research Society and Marleyan inventors about you. Though, you'll have to become a soldier to make use of it."
He hummed. Damn it...
He looked around him to see people staring at the two of them. They obviously thought I had gotten into some trouble. The eyes on him made him shrink into himself.
They eventually made it to his home. He pointed at his door. "This is it, sir." They walked up to the door. Alex thought the soldier would knock on the door. When he didn't he turned to him. Their eyes met.
"What do you want for yourself?" The soldier asked him.
The boy blinked. What did he want? It didn't take him long to come up with an answer. "I want to live life." It was something not many people in his old world wouldn't think about. But in this world so many people died with regrets and didn't live their lives to the fullest. He clenched his fists. "I don't want to die a horrible death." He sniffed and blinked tears out of his eyes before he wiped them. "'M sorry, sir."
There was a silence between them for a moment before the man knocked on the door in front of him. Nothing for a few seconds. Then the door opened to reveal his dad at the door. He looked shocked to see the not so Marleyan soldier beside the boy.
"Is there a problem, sir?" His dad asked hesitantly.
"Not at all." Kruger replied. "The boy walked into me, and I decided to walk him home so he wouldn't walk into anyone else. Please, teach your son to pay more attention to his surroundings."
"Yes, sir."
Kruger made his way away from the door.
"And young man," Alex looked back at him. "Good luck. You'll surely need it." He watched as the soldier walked away before he was dragged inside.
Alex laid on his bed and looked at the ceiling. Kruger being alive means he was born before Eren was. He was going to need a plan.
What will he do in the future? How will he stay alive? The safest option would be on Paradis. But to get there would be near impossible. Being a warrior could get him there but only certain titans would be allowed. What if he didn't get the right one? And besides that, becoming a titan shifter would shorten his lifespan. Not to mention he'd be nothing more than a weapon for Marley. And if he acted out in any way, even as an accident, they would just replace (kill) him. But the whole world is against the Paradisians. It might end up just like in the manga's extra pages and be blown up by bombs! And his parents wouldn't be safe if he betrayed Marley either. They would be killed in his stead. So he had to find a way to live in Marley. The only way to live on the mainland is to stop the Rumbling from ever starting. Which is easier said than done. He would still need to get on the island. Maybe if he joined the military he could join the warriors as a researcher. His recommendation from Kruger could make it possible. He'd have to be the best soldier and create amazing tech to be even considered for a mission like that though. Especially with how dangerous it could be. He might need a plan "B".
He begs his parents for a notebook. He writes the future in its pages. He writes about knowledge no one should have. He writes about knowledge this world does not yet have. He encodes the book in English, a language not known to any in this world. He would become indispensable to Marley. He would save the world. He would save it so that he could live in this cruel world.
