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.
When they emerged from the cellar door, Eren, Kayra, and Raphael were walking terribly. Hunger... was both gnawing at their stomachs and making their knees tremble.
Kayra: "Man... is it normal to be this hungry? I'm going to die of starvation."
Raphael: "The ritual probably gave us diarrhea or something. Right now, if they put raw chicken in front of me, I'd eat that raw chicken, I'd even bite a live chicken."
Eren said nothing. His mind was still in that cursed city in his inner world. Lunar's voice was like a whisper on the back of his neck.
The three stumbled towards the cafeteria. As they turned the corner, a group of students passed by them. Leila was not among them. Eren involuntarily searched for Leila with his eyes...
Raphael immediately caught it. "Heh... haaa. Our man is attached to the patient again."
Kayra: "I have no idea how you're still thinking about that girl after the ritual."
Eren: "Shut up, man."
Just as they reached the cafeteria door, two people came out from the opposite direction: Arlo and Milo. Both were Shadow Path. And all three were walking behind Azel.
Azel: "You two. It's your turn for the ritual. Come downstairs."
Dusk was also with them... but Kayra laughed immediately when he saw him. Dusk's under-eyes were dark purple, his face was like stone, but he was trembling from exhaustion.
Kayra: "Are you tired?"
Dusk: "If I do one more ritual, I might pass out, yes."
Eren: "Aren't you second-years? Why are you having a ritual?"
Arlo: "There are 10 rituals, one is done every year, if your body can handle it, of course."
Azel gestured with his hand. "Come on. Eren, you guys... go eat now. You must be hungry."
Kayra: "Captain, will we pass out again, will something happen?"
Azel: "If you pass out, it won't be because of me, it will be because of your empty stomachs."
As Arlo and Milo went down to the cellar, Eren made eye contact with Milo for a moment.
Milo: "I hope I don't die."
Kayra: "We didn't die, you won't die either... probably."
They disappeared from sight.
Eren, Kayra, and Raphael entered the cafeteria. It was crowded, but the sounds were like a dim hum. Eren took a tray and filled it with food.
Raphael: "Man, a whole tray? Are you that hungry?"
Eren: "I feel like a stone is sitting in my stomach. I have to eat."
When they sat down at a table, Leila was at the next table. Bandaged arm, hair tied up... the color had returned to her face.
Before Eren could even look at her, Leila turned. "Are you okay?"
Eren's throat tightened for a moment, but his face was cold. "How are you?"
Leila smiled. "I'm better. I hope you didn't drop me when you were carrying me?"
Eren: "I didn't drop you."
Leila: "My arm is bruised, so I must have hit something then."
Leila leaned over and checked the bandage on Eren's arm. "This wound will open. I'll stitch it later."
Eren: "No need—"
Leila: "When I say something will happen, it will happen. Don't make me struggle."
Raphael immediately winked at Kayra. He spoke in a whisper. "Is our guy flirting, or is it just me?"
Kayra: "He really is, man... the kid has some emotion in him after all. He's been a little weird since his father died."
Leila sat down at their table. Close to Eren, not to them. "No missions for a few weeks. Azel said so."
Eren: "Good."
Leila: "Good for you. There are people here who annoy me... but I don't get a chance to fight."
Kayra: "Which lunatic are you fighting with?"
Leila chuckled slightly. This sound felt like something lightly piercing Eren's chest.
Leila: "No one in the Lantern team likes the Shadow team. I fought with one of the 2nd-years in the Lanterns."
Eren: "Okay, can you tell me their names?"
Leila laughed.
Dean was leaning against the cold wall of the library. The black mark on his neck was still burning slightly.
His captain, Burhein, pulled a book from the shelves. "If a demon marked you, there's a reason. And that reason is never good. We're not even sure that thing is a demon, most demons are stupid and can't talk, but the ones who can are very powerful. At best, I'd win with difficulty."
Dean: "What could he want?"
Burhein closed the book. "Guilliman blood... a very powerful lineage. Such beings want to benefit from it."
Dean clenched his fists. "Can I find him?"
Burhein: "He'll find you when he wants you. This is not just a summoning bond. If this seal matures, he can even cast spells on your body from a distance and will start messing with you."
Dean's eyes darkened. "Well, you said you could handle this seal thing. The real problem is Eren... why is he getting stronger so fast, and how?"
Burhein: "Is that jealousy?"
Dean didn't answer.
Burhein: "His path is dark. Yours is light. You won't progress at the same speed. I've never seen anyone who was truly normal after being chosen for the Shadow path."
Dean closed his eyes. He remembered the monster's words: "Not yet."
Dean (whispering): "Next time... I won't allow it."
There was an argument at the other end of the corridor.
Rowan: "Man, you're doing it wrong, magic isn't like that!"
Mira: "Shut up! You're afraid the Captain will hear, aren't you?"
Rowan: "Why should I be afraid of the Captain?!"
Mira: "The man melted an 8-meter rock in front of our eyes, and he did it just by raising his left hand."
Rowan fell silent.
Mira giggled. "Anyway. We have a joint class with the Shadow team this week."
Rowan: "We'll get to see Eren. And I think the founders of Spiced Reaper and Witch's Maw are siblings, that's why almost all our classes are joint."
This sentence... was the harbinger of the tempo that would drop in the future.
As Eren left the cafeteria, Leila called out. "Eren."
Eren stopped, turned. Leila approached him. She stood on her tiptoes and brushed the dust from his hair.
Leila: "Are you okay?"
Eren: "I'm fine."
Leila: "You're lying, but... okay. No problem."
Just as Eren turned his back and started to walk, Leila grabbed his arm. A second of silence.
Leila's voice was deeper, flatter, clearer this time: "I have something I need to talk to you about tonight. Can you come to my room?"
Eren's breath stopped for a moment. Leila noticed this and smiled slightly. She touched Eren with her shoulder as she passed.
Leila (whispering): "I'd feel really bad if you didn't come."
Eren said nothing, he just walked. But his heart was racing.
The ceiling lamp in the middle of the corridor flickered. His shadow stretched and distorted for a moment.
Lunar's voice pierced his head: "You woke up, huh... good. But the thing in that cage... is still not awake."
Eren shivered inside.
Eren (whispering): "When will it wake up?"
Lunar laughed. "When the ritual matures. When that day comes... even i won't be ready."