Humans fear many things.
Darkness, insects, animals, the depths of the ocean…
Death, hunger, disease.
But in this age, what people feared most could be summarized in a single word: Monsters.
No one spoke as the horse-drawn carriage returned to Safe Haven. Even the rhythmic clack-clack sound of the wheels hitting the stones felt tense.
Eren spent the entire journey by Leila's side. He wiped the sweat from her forehead a few times, listened to her breathing, and made sure her wounds hadn't reopened. His own arm was numb, but he didn't move a muscle. It was as if Leila's breath would stop if he moved.
Raphael sat in the opposite corner, squeezing the bloody rags wrapped around his arm.
Raphael: "Why don't you sleep for an hour or so?"
Eren didn't even lift his head. "No need."
Dusk was sitting in the front. Blood was still dripping from his shoulder, but there was no expression on his face.
Kayra, on the other hand, rested his sword on his knees, watching the forest outside. The shadows of the trees flowed past them like a silent pack of wolves accompanying the carriage. Every now and then, branches would break, a rustle would be heard, and everyone would hold their breath. But nothing appeared.
At one point, Leila stirred slightly. Eren straightened up instantly, as if he had reconnected with the world, but the girl only shifted her shoulder and fell back asleep. Eren's face relaxed.
Kayra saw this and chuckled quietly. "Man, you're literally standing guard."
Eren: "Shut up."
Kayra: "Come on, you've been awake since last night—"
Eren looked at him quickly. His eyes were tired but sharp. "What part of 'shut up' don't you understand?"
Kayra shrugged. Then he turned to Raphael. "Look, the guy is clearly in love."
Raphael: "I won't get involved. But you're right, Eren doesn't care about anyone, including us, this much."
The inside of the carriage filled with quiet laughter. Even Dusk turned his head for a second, looked, and then turned back to the front.
As the sun rose, the road became quieter. After a while, the horses slowed down.
Dusk lifted his head. "We're close."
When the outer walls of the Academy emerged from the mist, the same expression spread across everyone's faces: exhaustion. But also that dirty pride of having survived.
The horse-drawn carriage entered the courtyard. The silence inside was heavier than everything that had happened that night. Even the wheels hitting the stone pavement sounded muffled.
Eren carried Leila in his arms and got out of the carriage. The girl was still asleep.
Kayra touched his shoulder as he passed by. "Seriously... I've never seen you like this."
Eren didn't answer. He just walked. Leila's hair was draped over his shoulder; the girl's breath brushed against Eren's neck. Very light... very warm.
Raphael caught up with them. "Do you want me to carry her?"
Eren: "No need." His voice was darker than usual.
The horse-drawn carriage stopped in the courtyard. As everyone dispersed, Dusk said only one sentence: "Listen to me. From now on, training, sparring, everything will be harder. Since the incidents haven't stopped, you will rarely be sent on missions anymore."
Then Eren, gently carrying Leila in his arms, headed for the door.
It was at that exact moment that Dean came out from the other side of the courtyard. The sun was hitting his hair, and the man looked as if he had come not from another class, but another world.
Eren stopped. Dean did too.
Dean slightly raised his head. "Are you hurt?"
Eren shrugged. "Yes, but I'm managing. You?"
Dean: "Same."
Dean pulled his chin back. "I haven't seen you for a while."
Eren: "Busy."
Another brief silence. Both looked as if it would be easier if someone else spoke.
Then Dean exhaled. "Well... how is the girl you're carrying?"
Eren's face tightened. "She'll be fine."
Dean looked away for a moment. Then he turned back to Eren. "Be careful. Really strange things are happening lately. The team captain requested that we not be sent on missions."
Eren just nodded his head. He didn't add anything.
The two walked side by side into the building. The corridor was normal as they passed through the entrance... until they took a step and a cold vibration rose from beneath the floor like a wave.
The scene in front of their eyes suddenly changed. The corridor instantly disappeared. In its place appeared a massive hall, stretching as far as the eye could see, lined with hundreds of columns. The floor was completely covered with water, only one centimeter deep. But that water... was not silent. Eren noticed the water trembling with every step. As if it were breathing.
Dean tensed his shoulders. "Where... is this—?"
Shak.
Something quickly passed between the columns. It was impossible to follow with the eye. Not a shadow... a dark blur. Like a snake. But human height.
Eren drew his sword and pointed forward. "Did you see that?"
Dean: "Yes. And I don't think it's human. It's a... thing."
It passed again. Then once more. The space between the columns suddenly became the stage for that dark blur. A fast, silent, uncontrolled energy was moving.
Then... it stopped.
It slowly emerged from behind a column, as if the man had decided to reveal himself. Black hair, reaching down to his waist. His clothing was like an ancient Eastern tradition; black with purple embroidery. On the right side of his neck and face, a black liquid moving beneath the skin... wriggled like a worm. His lips were long. Like a snake. His eyes... did not look human. Neither cat, nor demon, nor human. Excessively clear, excessively calm. Excessively deadly.
He took a step. Even the ripple of the water came late.
Dean took a step back. "Who... are you?"
The man didn't answer at all. He examined both of them from head to toe. His gaze lingered on Eren's eyes for a moment. Then he slowly turned to Dean.
He approached. One meter... Half a meter...
Dean held his breath.
The man spoke in a whisper-like tone: "Not yet."
Dean frowned. "What are you talking about?"
The man tilted his head. Like an animal examining its prey. "You have time to mature. But I will wait."
He vanished instantly. In the next moment, he was behind Dean. Everything happened so fast that Eren didn't even have time to blink.
The man grabbed Dean by the shoulders and slammed him to the ground. Dean fell on his back, splashing water. Eren drew his sword, but the man's gaze nailed him to the spot.
He leaned over Dean. He brought his face close to him. Dean's breath hitched.
"Genetic line... beautiful," he murmured. "Someone who possesses you... can do many things."
Dean raised his fist, but the man caught his wrist in the air.
Then... one of those sharp, long nails lightly pressed against the skin just above Dean's neck. The skin didn't tear. But a black mark spread from there. Like a vein, but not a vein. A seal.
Sigrum's voice sounded deeper this time: "This is for you to find me. And when I want you... you will come."
Eren lunged forward. He swung his sword. The man's head was about to be cut off—
But the man suddenly vanished. Light flashed. The columns trembled. The water surface darkened.
Then everything returned to normal with a "click." The corridor. Normal walls. Normal floor. Normal lights.
Dean was lying on the ground. The black mark on his neck was still burning.
Eren leaned over. "Dean!? Are you okay?"
Dean, breathless: "Who... was that?"
Eren swallowed. He had no idea. But something inside him told him that nothing would be "normal" again.