Chapter 45: Last training
."Five hundred and three," Eren counted through gritted teeth, his arms trembling slightly as he lowered his body toward the floor once more. Sweat dripped from his brow, creating small dark patches on the stone beneath him. The morning light streamed through the narrow window of his chamber, casting long shadows across the sparse furnishings.
His muscles burned with the familiar pain of exertion, but it was a sensation he had come to welcome. Each repetition brought him closer to reclaiming what had once been his—strength, power, purpose.
A sharp knock at his door interrupted his count.
"Five hundred and four," he muttered, completing the repetition before rolling to his feet in one fluid motion. His body glistened with sweat as he crossed the room, conscious of how differently he moved now compared to just days ago. Where once there had been hesitation, now there was only certainty.
He pulled the door open to find Viva standing in the corridor, her silver-blonde hair caught in a practical braid that highlighted the delicate points of her ears. Her emerald eyes assessed him with their usual perceptive intensity.
"I guess you’re ready for your final training," she said, a hint of approval in her voice as she noted his improved physique and the way he carried himself.
Eren wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. "I’ve been ready since the day I arrived. I just needed to remember it."
A ghost of a smile touched Viva’s lips. "We’ll see. Meet me at the training grounds in twenty minutes." She turned to leave, then paused, glancing back over her shoulder. "Bring nothing but yourself."
As Eren approached the training grounds, he immediately sensed something different in the air—an expectation, a tension that hadn’t been present before. Commander Maria stood at attention, her posture rigid even by her austere standards. Queen Elena was beside her, resplendent in a flowing gown of deep emerald that caught the morning light. Mika lingered nearby, her face still showing faint discoloration from their battle, though she’d recovered remarkably quickly.