Night had settled over Drakenridge like a heavy cloak, wrapping the city in a quiet that felt strangely tense. The torches along the stone streets burned low as a cold wind drifted through the alleys, carrying the distant sounds of taverns and late travelers heading home. Inside the Adventurer Guild, the great hall that was usually filled with laughter and clashing mugs had grown calm. Only a few adventurers remained, quietly discussing quests or sharpening their weapons before tomorrow's expedition north. At one of the wooden tables near the far wall sat Eren Thorne, leaning forward with his elbows resting on the surface as he stared at the demon horn lying in front of him. The curved bone looked almost black under the dim light of the fireplace, its surface etched with faint lines that reminded him of the battle in the mountains. That fight had been brutal, but it was not the physical wounds that troubled him now.
It was the memory of the demon's words.
"Something is watching you."
Eren exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples as the familiar ache began to stir again behind his eyes. The pain was subtle at first, like a dull pressure in the back of his skull, but he had begun to recognize it. It always came after he pushed the curse too far.
After dying too many times.
He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes for a moment.
A flash of memory struck him instantly.
The demon commander's blade slicing through his chest.
Claws ripping across his back.
The crushing impact of the monster's fist breaking his ribs.
The cold darkness that followed every death.
Eren opened his eyes again and clenched his jaw.
Even though the curse reset time, it never erased the pain.
And the memories never faded.
"You're doing that thing again."
The voice came from across the table.
Eren looked up to see Cassian Voss setting two mugs of ale down between them. The swordsman pulled out a chair and sat across from him, his calm grey eyes watching Eren carefully.
"What thing?" Eren asked.
"The staring into nothing thing," Cassian replied. "You look like a man remembering a nightmare."
Eren picked up the mug but didn't drink immediately.
"Maybe I am."
Cassian leaned back in his chair.
"You've been quiet since we returned from the mountains."
Eren took a slow drink before answering.
"Thinking."
Cassian snorted softly.
"That's dangerous."
Eren allowed a small smile.
"Probably."
For a moment they both sat in silence while the fire crackled behind them. The warmth of the flames made the hall feel comfortable, but Eren couldn't shake the strange unease lingering in the back of his mind.
Finally Cassian spoke again.
"You're thinking about what the demon said."
Eren nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
Cassian tapped a finger against the wooden table.
"That creature knew about your… condition."
"Curse," Eren corrected quietly.
Cassian sighed.
"Fine. Curse."
Eren glanced at the horn on the table again.
"It knew how many times I'd died."
Cassian frowned.
"That shouldn't be possible."
"Exactly."
Eren leaned forward slightly.
"Which means something else told it."
Cassian crossed his arms.
"Or something else is watching you."
Eren didn't answer.
Because that possibility had already been haunting his thoughts.
Cassian studied him carefully.
"You said earlier that the curse might have a cost."
Eren nodded.
"I'm starting to feel it."
Cassian raised an eyebrow.
"The headaches?"
"More than that."
Eren tapped his temple lightly.
"Every time I die, I remember everything."
Cassian shrugged.
"That sounds useful."
Eren laughed quietly.
"At first."
He paused.
"But after a hundred deaths… it starts to pile up."
Cassian's expression slowly grew serious.
"How many times have you died?"
Eren looked down at his mug.
"I stopped counting after the demon fight."
Cassian stared at him.
"You're serious?"
Eren nodded.
"The commander on the mountain killed me over a hundred times."
Cassian leaned back slowly.
"And you just… kept going back?"
"That's how the curse works."
Cassian ran a hand through his hair.
"I thought you were exaggerating before."
Eren chuckled.
"I wish I was."
The hall had grown even quieter now. Only the faint sound of the wind outside and the crackling fireplace filled the space between them.
Cassian leaned forward again.
"And every death feels real?"
Eren nodded.
"Every single one."
Cassian looked toward the demon horn.
"Then that curse isn't a gift."
Eren smiled faintly.
"No."
He took another drink.
"It's a weapon."
Cassian tilted his head.
"A weapon?"
Eren set the mug down.
"Think about it."
He gestured toward the horn.
"That demon commander was stronger than anything I'd ever fought."
Cassian nodded.
"And yet you beat it."
"Eventually."
Cassian understood immediately.
"You learned its moves."
Eren smiled.
"Exactly."
Cassian shook his head slowly.
"That's insane."
"Maybe."
Eren leaned back again.
"But it works."
Cassian sighed.
"Until it doesn't."
Eren looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
Cassian's voice lowered slightly.
"Every weapon has limits."
Eren didn't answer.
Because deep down he knew Cassian was right.
The headaches were proof of that.
And the strange visions he had begun seeing were even worse.
The first one had appeared earlier that evening.
Just for a second.
A dark shape floating in endless black space.
Watching.
Waiting.
Eren rubbed his eyes.
Cassian noticed immediately.
"Still hurting?"
"Yeah."
Cassian frowned.
"You should talk to Serena."
Eren raised an eyebrow.
"The mage?"
Cassian nodded.
"She studies curses and ancient magic."
Eren considered the suggestion.
"Maybe."
Cassian leaned back again.
"But first we deal with the bigger problem."
Eren looked up.
"The demons."
Cassian nodded.
"The guild master is organizing an expedition tomorrow."
Eren smiled slightly.
"I heard."
Cassian crossed his arms.
"And you're going."
"Of course."
Cassian sighed.
"I already knew that."
Eren stood up from the table and grabbed the demon horn.
Cassian looked at him.
"Where are you going?"
Eren slung the horn over his shoulder.
"Training."
Cassian blinked.
"You just fought a demon army."
Eren shrugged.
"Not enough."
Cassian laughed quietly.
"You're impossible."
Eren paused near the guild door and looked back.
"Coming?"
Cassian sighed again but stood up anyway.
"I knew this would happen."
They stepped outside into the cold night air.
The city streets were nearly empty now, and the moon hung low over the rooftops.
Eren took a deep breath.
But as he looked up at the sky…
The pain behind his eyes struck again.
Stronger than before.
His vision blurred.
For a brief moment, the stars above seemed to twist and distort.
And far beyond them…
Something moved.
A massive shadow drifting through endless darkness.
Watching him.
Waiting.
Eren blinked and the vision disappeared instantly.
Cassian noticed him stagger slightly.
"You okay?"
Eren forced himself to stand straight.
"Yeah."
Cassian didn't look convinced.
"You sure?"
Eren nodded slowly.
But inside his mind, the demon's words echoed again.
Something is watching you.
And for the first time since gaining the curse…
Eren began to wonder if death was not the only thing waiting for him on the other side of the reset.