The night passed in restless silence. Eren barely slept. His body ached in strange places, warmth pulsed under his skin like molten metal, and his dreams were filled with whispers of wings and ancient fire.
At dawn, he and Lyra met with Mira, Kade, and Sol at the old church ruins — the only safe place they could think of.
"You okay?" Kade asked, his face still bruised from the blast.
"I don't know," Eren admitted.
Mira narrowed her eyes. "You felt something, didn't you?"
He nodded. "Colon. He spoke to me."
Everyone fell silent.
"And?" Sol asked carefully.
"He said… he's here to train me. And to tell me the truth when the time comes."
Sol let out a low whistle. "Bro… I think you're in something bigger than we ever imagined."
Suddenly, a sharp pain surged through Eren's chest. He doubled over, gasping.
"Eren!" Lyra caught him.
His skin shimmered again. For a brief moment, scales flickered along his arms — shimmering bronze and gold. His eyes glowed faintly amber. His breathing was ragged.
The others froze, eyes wide.
"You're… changing," Mira whispered.
"I can't stop it," Eren groaned.
Then, as if on instinct, he exhaled — and a thin stream of heat, like steam, escaped his mouth.
"Whoa…" Sol stepped back. "That's… not normal."
Colon's voice echoed in Eren's mind again:
"The inheritance has begun."
Later that day, Eren sat alone by the riverbank. Lyra sat beside him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"You're scared," she said quietly.
He nodded. "I'm losing control."
She took his hand. "You won't lose yourself. I won't let you."
Just then, the water at his feet rippled, though there was no wind. A shimmering form appeared on the water's surface — Colon's face.
"It begins now, Eren," Colon said.
Eren stiffened.
"You will feel power you cannot yet control. But do not fight it — learn from it. Soon, I will come to you in full form. Until then… trust yourself."
The image faded.
Lyra looked at him. "Was that him?"
"Yeah," Eren whispered.
She squeezed his hand tighter. "Whatever's coming… I'm staying."
Eren looked at her, heart heavy but grateful.
The fire inside was growing stronger.
And soon, it would burn everything in its path.