The enclave was deathly silent in the wake of the failed rebellion. The streets, once filled with the noise of battle and conflict, now lay still, covered in the remnants of the skirmish. The blood of rebels and soldiers alike soaked the ground, mingling with the rubble of the once-great city. The Arachnid Titans had returned to their posts, their monstrous forms lurking in the shadows, always watching.
Eren stood at the edge of the battlefield, his Titan form flickering as he reverted back to his human shape. His body ached, his muscles trembling from the fight, but the pain was nothing compared to the storm raging in his mind. Titus's arrival had turned the tide of the battle in an instant, wiping out the remaining rebels and leaving Eren and Futoria at the mercy of his judgment.
Titus had spared them—for now. But Eren could feel the noose tightening around their necks, especially around Futoria's. Titus had seen the hesitation in her eyes, the doubt in her actions, and Eren knew that their leader would not let it slide. As much as Eren hated to admit it, Futoria's days as one of Titus's generals were numbered.
He turned to look at her, standing a few feet away, her face pale and drawn. The weight of everything they had done—everything they had become—was written in the lines of her expression. Futoria's once-steely resolve had crumbled, leaving behind a woman who was no longer certain of her path. Eren could see it in her eyes—the guilt, the fear, the overwhelming sense of loss.
But now was not the time for pity. Titus had given them another mission, and they would have to carry it out if they hoped to survive.
"Futoria," Eren called, his voice low but firm.
She looked up, her eyes meeting his, and for a moment, Eren saw the old Futoria—the fierce, determined warrior he had fought alongside for so long. But that moment passed quickly, and the uncertainty returned.
"We need to move," he said, gesturing toward the citadel where Titus awaited them. "He's expecting us."
Futoria nodded slowly, her gaze lingering on the battlefield for a second longer before she turned to follow him. They walked in silence, the tension between them palpable. Eren knew that whatever happened next would change everything.
The citadel loomed above them, its dark stone walls casting long shadows over the city. Inside, Titus sat in his grand chamber, his gaze fixed on the massive map that dominated the far wall. The map showed the regions Titus had already conquered, as well as the lands still waiting to be subjugated. His empire was expanding rapidly, and soon, the entire world would be under his control.
When Eren and Futoria entered, Titus barely glanced up. He stood before the map, his fingers tracing the borders of the next territories he intended to crush under his rule.
"You've done well," Titus said, his voice carrying an undertone of menace. "The rebellion is over, and the enclave remains secure."
Eren swallowed hard, his heart racing in his chest. He knew better than to let his guard down around Titus. "Thank you, my lord. We did what was necessary."
Titus's eyes flicked toward him, a cold smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Yes. You did." His gaze shifted to Futoria, who stood a step behind Eren, her expression carefully blank. "Though some of us showed… hesitation."
Futoria's body stiffened, but she didn't speak. Eren could feel the tension radiating off her, could see the way her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Titus's words hung in the air like a threat, but Eren knew better than to intervene. Futoria would have to defend herself.
"I completed my mission," Futoria said, her voice quiet but steady. "The rebels were defeated."
Titus's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. "But not without a moment's pause, I hear."
Futoria's jaw tightened, but she didn't respond. There was no point in denying it—Titus had seen everything. He knew her hesitation, her doubts. And now, he was waiting for her to make a mistake.
Eren could feel the blood pounding in his ears, his heart hammering against his ribs. He had betrayed Futoria by reporting her doubts to Titus, and now, she was paying the price. But even so, Eren couldn't help but feel a flicker of anger at the way Titus was toying with her. It was a game to him, a test of loyalty, and it made Eren sick to his core.
Titus stepped closer to Futoria, his voice dropping to a low whisper. "You are valuable to me, Futoria. But I will not tolerate weakness. Not now, when we are so close to achieving greatness. Do you understand?"
Futoria's eyes burned with fury, but she nodded. "Yes, my lord."
"Good," Titus said, stepping back with a satisfied smirk. "Because I have no room for weakness in my army."
He turned away from her, his attention returning to the map on the wall. "Which brings me to your next task."
Eren and Futoria both stood at attention, waiting for Titus's orders. Eren could feel the tension between them, the unspoken conflict that hung heavy in the air. But now was not the time to address it. Titus was still testing them, still waiting for one of them to break.
Titus gestured to a new region on the map, one that lay just beyond the borders of the territories they had already conquered. "This is where you will strike next," he said. "A heavily fortified region, controlled by a group of powerful warlords. They will not submit easily, but they will submit."
Eren studied the map, noting the strategic importance of the region. It lay on a key trade route, one that would give Titus control over the flow of resources into the heart of the continent. But the warlords who controlled it were fierce, and their armies were well-trained. It would not be an easy battle.
"I want you to lead the attack, Eren," Titus said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "And Futoria will command the second wave. You will work together—unless, of course, one of you fails."
The implication was clear. Titus was pitting them against each other, testing their loyalty and their strength. Eren's stomach churned with the realization, but he kept his expression neutral. He couldn't afford to show weakness.
"We will not fail," Eren said, his voice firm.
Titus smiled. "I expect nothing less."
As they turned to leave the chamber, Eren felt Futoria's gaze on him, sharp and accusing. He didn't meet her eyes—he couldn't. The betrayal was too fresh, the guilt too raw. But he knew that things between them had changed, perhaps irrevocably.
Later that night, Eren stood alone in the barracks, staring out at the moonlit enclave. The silence was deafening, the weight of everything pressing down on him. He had always trusted Futoria, always believed that they were in this together. But now, that trust had been shattered, and in its place was something far darker.
Titus had planted the seeds of doubt between them, and now those seeds were beginning to grow. Eren didn't know if they would ever be able to repair the bond they once had—or if they would even survive long enough to try.
As he stood there, lost in thought, the door to the barracks creaked open. Eren turned to see Futoria standing in the doorway, her expression hard.
"We need to talk," she said, her voice low and tense.
Eren's heart sank, but he nodded. "Yeah. We do."
Futoria stepped inside, closing the door behind her. "I know what you did, Eren. I know you reported me to Titus."
Eren's breath caught in his throat, his chest tightening with guilt. "Futoria, I—"
"Save it," she interrupted, her voice cold. "I understand why you did it. You're scared. Just like I am."
Eren looked at her, his heart breaking at the sight of the woman he had once trusted so completely. "I didn't want to betray you. But Titus… he gave me no choice."
Futoria's eyes softened, but only slightly. "We all have choices, Eren. But if we keep following Titus, we'll lose everything. Including each other."
The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken words. Eren knew she was right. But what choice did they have? Titus was too powerful, his control too absolute.
"I don't know what to do," Eren admitted, his voice barely a whisper.
Futoria stepped closer, her eyes searching his. "Then maybe it's time we stop doing what Titus wants. Maybe it's time we do what's right."
Eren's heart raced, the weight of her words crashing over him like a wave. Could they really defy Titus? Could they survive if they did?
He didn't have the answer. But as he looked into Futoria's eyes, he knew one thing for certain—they couldn't keep going down this path. Not if they wanted to survive.