Chapter 54: The Veilwalker’s Trial: Earth and Illusion
The arena fell silent as Eren and Commander Maria faced each other across the sand. The twin blades in Eren’s hands hummed with a subtle resonance that traveled up his arms and settled in his chest—a connection deeper than metal against flesh.
Maria’s single blade gleamed with an iridescent sheen that shifted colors with each movement, like oil on water. Her stance was casual, almost lazy, but Eren recognized the coiled tension beneath—a predator ready to pounce.
In the royal box, Naia leaned forward, knuckles white against the railing. "He’s still learning earth," she whispered to no one in particular. "Maria has decades of experience with illusion."
Lyra’s face remained impassive, but her eyes narrowed slightly. "This will be... educational."
Queen Elena merely observed, her expression serene despite the tension building below.
The herald’s hand dropped.
WHOOSH
Maria shot forward, her blade whistling through the air in a horizontal arc aimed directly at Eren’s midsection. Eren bent backward, the edge of her sword passing mere inches from his armor with a metallic whisper. As her momentum carried her past, he pivoted on his heel, bringing his silver blade down in a diagonal strike toward her exposed shoulder.
Maria didn’t even look back. She twisted her wrist, bringing her blade behind her back to block his attack with a resounding CLANG that sent vibrations through the arena floor.
"Too predictable," she taunted, spinning to face him with her blade already moving in a vicious upward slash.
Eren sidestepped, feeling the air displacement against his cheek as her sword carved empty space where his face had been. He countered with a quick thrust of his black blade toward her exposed ribs.