Chapter 38: The Veilwalker’s Revelation and TUNA Meaning
Sleep claimed Eren despite his resistance. The strange energy of Thornvale Palace had seeped into his bones, lulling him into a deep slumber filled with fragmented visions—faces he didn’t recognize, battles he’d never fought, and powers he’d never wielded.
A soft knock jolted him awake. Before he could respond, the stone door swung inward. Queen Elena herself stood in the doorway, her silver-laced gown catching the amber light. Commander Maria loomed behind her, ever vigilant.
"I trust you rested well?" Elena asked, her voice carrying that same strange duality—warmth atop steel.
Eren rose quickly, suddenly aware of how disheveled he must appear. "Well enough," he replied, brushing back his hair.
Elena’s gaze traveled around the chamber, noting the untouched food tray. "You haven’t eaten."
"I wasn’t hungry."
A small smile played at the corner of her lips. "I suppose answers are more nourishing than bread." She extended her hand toward the door. "Come. I believe you’re ready, Veilwalker."
"Yes," Eren replied simply, the title still foreign on his ears.
They traversed corridors he hadn’t seen before. These passages seemed older, the stone worn smooth by countless hands over centuries. Commander Maria trailed behind them, her footsteps barely audible despite her heavy armor.
Eventually, they reached a massive door unlike any in the palace. Ancient symbols were etched into its surface—swirling patterns that seemed to shift when he tried to focus on them. The language was unfamiliar, yet something deep within him stirred in recognition.
"What does it say?" Eren asked, his fingers hovering over the markings.