When they reached the lodge, Eren let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. The relative quiet of the building was a welcome reprieve from the sensory onslaught outside.
As the others began settling in, he found a corner near a window in the reception area and leaned against it, his gaze distant.
For all the rigorous training they'd undergone, nothing had prepared him for this. The human realm was chaotic and unpredictable in a way that no battlefield or sparring session could replicate. And while his teammates seemed to adapt with ease, Eren couldn't shake the unease that coiled in his chest.
He looked out the window, watching the city lights twinkle against the darkening sky. Somewhere out there, monsters lurked, their energy faint but present. He would need to pull himself together, to find a way to use his senses as an advantage rather than a hindrance.
