Chapter 46: Boulder moved and PRE TUNA
The dawn of the second day found Eren already at the boulder, his hands pressed against its unyielding surface. He had slept little, his mind consumed by the challenge before him. The first rays of sunlight caught the determination etched into his features as he pushed, muscles straining with renewed vigor after his brief rest.
"Move," he commanded through clenched teeth, as if the stone might respond to his will alone.
The boulder remained motionless.
Hours passed. The sun climbed higher, beating down on Eren’s bare shoulders, turning them a painful red. Still, he pushed, adjusting his stance, seeking leverage where none existed. The ground beneath his feet continued to crack and compress, the earth itself yielding while the stone did not.
By midday, his hands were blistered, his arms trembling with exhaustion. Yet each time his strength began to flag, he thought of Naia—her face, her voice, the faith she had placed in him—and found reserves he didn’t know existed.
As dusk settled over the training grounds, Viva appeared with food and water. "You need to maintain your strength," she said, placing the simple meal on a flat stone nearby.
Eren didn’t look away from the boulder. "I’m not hungry."
"Starving yourself won’t move the stone."
"Neither will stopping to eat," he countered, pressing his shoulder against the rough surface, seeking a new angle of attack.
Viva sighed but didn’t press the issue. "The body needs fuel to perform. When you’re ready to acknowledge that, food will be here." She retreated to the edge of the training ground, where she maintained her vigil until night fell once more.
The third day dawned cold and clear. Eren’s lips were cracked, his eyes sunken from lack of sleep and nourishment. The food Viva had left remained untouched. He had spent the night in meditation, seeking insight, connection to whatever power might help him overcome this impossible task.