"Mmh? Where am I?" Eren slowly opened his eyes, greeted by a calm breeze and the warmth of sunlight falling directly on his face. He lay sprawled across an open field, the grass beneath him soft and cool.
"You're near a lake," came a voice from his side.
"Lake?"Eren turned sharply toward the presence. In an instant, the memories came rushing back—chaos, the Hornbeasts... and Velira.
"What about the Hornbeasts and... Velira?"His voice trembled, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Don't worry. I'm right here."She shifted into view, her face becoming clear as she sat beside him, casually weaving vines—binding one into another, her hands steady and unbothered.
Eren let his head fall back with a quiet sigh, pressing his left hand to his forehead."Haa... So, did I kill the Hornbeasts?"His tone was weary, as if expecting a firm no.
But the answer stunned him.
"Yup. You sure did," Velira replied with a light smile."I was almost shocked myself when I saw what you did to them."
She replied in a rather willful and light-hearted tone.
"But..."As Velira continued, that cheerful warmth in her voice began to fade. Her gaze slowly shifted—drawn toward something beside him.
Eren followed her eyes—His right hand.
It had already taken a brutal beating from the Lionbeast, but now it looked far worse. Swollen grotesquely, bloated like a balloon. Blackened veins pulsed just beneath the skin, snaking outwards in dead, branching patterns.
"My hand...?" Eren asked, his voice low, uncertain.
Velira nodded. "Yes."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, as if to escape the heaviness in the air, Velira quietly returned to her task—binding vines together in practiced rhythm.
Eren watched her for a moment."What are you doing?" he asked.
"Vine binding."
"I can see that... but why?"
She didn't look up."You'll know."
Then, as Eren tried to stand, a sharp ache surged through his body, forcing him to collapse back onto the grass with a grunt.
"Don't try to stand up… not yet," Velira said gently.
"Then how am I supposed to go back?"His voice held a mixture of frustration and helplessness.
Velira didn't answer. She simply tightened the last of her vine bindings, then turned and walked toward the deeper part of the forest—the same place she had carried him from.
Eren watched her go, confused and uneasy."Never know what she's planning…" he muttered under his breath.
His eyes drifted back to his right hand—grotesque, swollen, pulsing with darkened veins. Pain throbbed through it, and with it came spiraling thoughts.
Minutes passed.
Then—a soft sliding sound.
Eren turned his head. Velira was back.
This time, she had something slung across her back, the vines trailing from her shoulders down behind her like taut cords—binding something large and heavy.
Eren narrowed his eyes, trying to make sense of the shape.
"Wait—"Eren's thoughts clicked into place as he turned his head."Don't tell me..."
Velira was dragging the bodies of the Hornbeasts—dozens of them—each one bound by vines wrapped tightly around their severed necks.
"You're going to carry that?"Eren asked, wincing as she approached.
Velira gave him a confused look."You're not seriously thinking of leaving them behind after all you went through, are you?"
"No, I mean... I get it. But how are you planning to carry them—and me?"
She tilted her head."Who said I was carrying you ?"
Eren's eyes widened."Don't tell me..."He nearly shouted.
* * *
Meanwhile, as the sun passed its peak and stood high above the sky, Mira couldn't hide the unease growing in her chest.
"Where is he...?" she muttered, wiping her hands on her apron. Her concern only deepened with each passing hour, even as the tavern's hearth crackled and the scent of simmering spices filled the air.
Schrrk—Scrrk—
A scraping sound echoed from outside—something heavy dragging across the dirt.
Startled, Mira rushed out the door.
There, at the edge of the road, was a tall woman—wearing nothing but an oversized shirt, the fabric clinging to her toned frame. Her muscles flexed with each step, balanced by the soft curves that swayed with her. Vines stretched taut over her shoulders, pulling something massive across the ground with a steady, scraping sound.
Mira blinked, staring at the stranger for a few seconds, unsure. Then, just as she turned to head back inside, she heard a voice—a man's—weak.
She turned again, stepping outside fully this time.
The woman was hauling a dozen or more dead Hornbeasts—massive creatures known both for their prized meat and deadly strength, said to rival the swordmasters of the kingdom in raw power.
But that wasn't all.
Among the haul, draped across the back of one of the Hornbeasts, was a figure—groaning softly, bound in place with vines.
"Eren!"
Mira rushed forward, untying the bindings with quick hands. Eren grunted, still half-conscious, as the woman stepped back.
Velira raised both hands in mock surrender.
"Whoa—hey, don't look at me like that." Her tone was casual, but tired. "I'm already exhausted. And for the record, I helped him. If I hadn't been there, he'd be dead by now."
Mira's eyes narrowed.
She glanced from the woman to Eren, silently asking for confirmation.
Eren gave a weak nod.
"It's true, Au—Mira. She helped me. She's... also someone I saved, kind of." He caught himself before finishing the word Aunt, sneaking a glance toward the woman.
"Hey!" Velira interjected, flustered. "Cut that last part out. That's embarrassing, alright?"
Mira didn't respond right away. Her mind lingered on that brief hesitation—the way Eren had almost called her Aunt, but chose not to. A faint warmth bloomed in her chest, a faint blush colored her cheeks as she quickly shoved the thoughts aside.
Without another word, she guided Eren inside, supporting his weight through the hallway and into the bedroom. She laid him down carefully onto the futon.
Eren stared up at the ceiling, silent. The pain in his hand throbbed, but his thoughts were elsewhere—on choices made, and what lay ahead as he looked towards the two women.
At the bedside, Mira stood with arms crossed.
"So... is anyone going to tell me what exactly happened?"
She turned to Velira, her expression calm but laced with something else—something Eren couldn't quite name. A trace of annoyance... and just maybe, possessiveness ?