# Chapter 109: The Third Encounter
The brief reunion with his family had been painfully short. Kiada hadn't allowed it to last long, and despite her warm words and gentle demeanor, Eren could see the truth written clearly on his loved ones' faces. His mother's smile had been strained, her eyes holding a sadness she couldn't quite hide. Lyra's usual confidence seemed dimmed, and even Naia, despite her reassuring words, had looked tired and worn down in a way that spoke of hidden struggles.
'They're putting on an act,' Eren had realized as he was led away from the main hall. 'They're trying to protect me from the truth of their situation, just as I'm trying to protect them from mine.'
Now he stood alone in a dimly lit corridor, facing another ornate door. The guards who had escorted him here - the same ones who had treated him with such reverence earlier - were preparing to leave.
