Chapter 75: A storm within or without
The air was heavy with the scent of blood and ash. The sky above the ravaged village crackled with thunder, a storm mirroring the chaos brewing within the hearts of the three brothers. Cain stood still in the middle of the scorched earth, his eyes flickering crimson, glowing faintly in the dimming twilight. His breathing was shallow, controlled, but the storm behind his gaze was ready to unleash.
Leo paced back and forth, his boots leaving scuffed prints in the dirt. His usually calm demeanor had given way to frustration. The brothers had been tracking the remnants of their father's forces for days, and now they were closer than ever. But something didn't sit right.
Eren sat quietly on a fallen log, his fingers twiddling with a glowing shard of an ancient rune they had found earlier. He had barely spoken since the last encounter—a memory none of them could shake. Eira's sacrifice was still raw, a wound that didn't bleed but gnawed at their souls.
Selene stood a few feet away, her arms folded across her chest, her long white coat billowing gently in the wind. Her powers were slowly returning, but she hadn't said much. Not since the last battle. Her energy had changed, intensified. The air around her buzzed when she was near, like the crackle of a lightning bolt before it struck.
"We're not ready," Eren finally said, breaking the silence.
Cain looked up, his voice firm. "We don't have time to wait. He's calling them back. We need to end this—before he does."
Leo sighed. "But look at us, Cain. We're scattered. Wounded. Eira's gone. Selene's still recovering, and whatever's happening to her—it's not normal."
Selene's eyes narrowed, and she stepped forward. "Don't speak about me like I'm broken."
Leo held up a hand, conceding. "That's not what I meant."