Vareth had always been a city of shadows and flickering lights, but tonight, it seemed like it was made entirely of them. Neon signs reflected off puddles in the street, and every step felt like the ground itself was trembling, alive beneath his feet. Eren couldn't shake the feeling that someone was always watching, even when the streets appeared empty.
Lyra led them deeper into the heart of the city, where the fog hung low like a blanket of whispers. Her silver hair shimmered faintly in the dark, eyes sharp and focused, as though she were always one step ahead, always anticipating.
Eren's amber-hazel eyes flickered, a mix of curiosity and wariness. He could feel the city's pulse humming in his chest, vibrating in the spaces between his ribs. The shard beneath his skin seemed to react to Lyra, the way she moved — like the city had been waiting for her all along.
"Not far now," Lyra said, her voice cutting through the silence. It was soft, yet firm. "But you should understand that things have already changed. Your presence here has consequences, Eren. People are starting to notice."
Eren swallowed, glancing at Kael. He was always close, his presence a steady reminder that no matter how much he feared the Pulse, Kael was there — an anchor, silent but always watching.
"What happens if they notice?" Eren asked, his voice low, almost lost beneath the hum of the city.
Lyra gave him a sidelong glance. "It's not about what they notice. It's what they choose to do with it. And what you decide to do when they act."
Eren could feel the weight of those words, the meaning twisting beneath his ribs. This was bigger than just him. Bigger than just the Pulse. The city was alive, and he was at its heart, its pulse. Every decision, every movement sent ripples through the streets, through the people. The thought made his stomach turn.
They reached a small alcove tucked between two towering buildings. A dim light flickered above them, casting long shadows across the ground. The scent of rain and rust filled the air.
Inside, several figures were waiting. All of them were still, watching, observing. Eren felt their gaze settle on him like a weight he couldn't shake. His shard pulsed, faintly at first, but then louder, like a heartbeat that echoed in his chest.
Kael stood at his side, but he didn't speak. His silence was loud, a quiet assurance that Eren wasn't alone in this. Not now. Not ever again.
Lyra stepped forward. "These are the Ones Who Remember, Eren. The ones who've watched the city for as long as it's been alive. Some are allies. Some are… not."
Eren's pulse quickened, and a chill ran down his spine as the figures stepped closer. There were five in total, but one stood out — a tall man with dark eyes and an air of danger. His face was calm, composed, yet Eren could sense the violence underneath. He was the type who carried weight with his gaze alone.
"Are you the one they call the Silence?" Eren asked, unable to hold the question in any longer.
The man's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "I am. And you're the one who's going to change everything." His voice was a soft rasp, like it was too tired to raise above a whisper, yet there was an undeniable edge to it.
Eren took a step back, instinctively drawing closer to Kael. He didn't know why, but something about the man unsettled him. It wasn't just the air of danger that hung around him like a fog. It was the way the city seemed to hold its breath whenever he moved.
The man—The Silence—tilted his head, as if reading Eren's every thought. "You're feeling it, aren't you? The city watches, and it waits. It wants you to fail, but it needs you to succeed."
Kael stepped forward, placing a hand on Eren's shoulder, a grounding touch. His gray eyes locked with The Silence's, and for a moment, Eren saw a flicker of something — an unspoken challenge, a past that neither man was willing to voice.
The Silence narrowed his eyes but said nothing. Lyra spoke up. "What you're about to see is the first step in your awakening, Eren. The city's memories are fragmented, but with time, you'll piece them together. Some memories are yours. Some aren't. But they'll all pull you into something bigger than you can understand."
Eren nodded slowly, trying to make sense of it all. The more he learned, the less he felt like he was in control. The Pulse was a force he barely understood, and every person he met seemed to have their own agenda for it.
"Where do we start?" Eren asked.
Lyra glanced at Kael, then back at him. "We begin by showing you the true nature of the Pulse. Its strength. Its fragility. Its hunger."
One of the other figures — a young woman with dark, glowing eyes — stepped forward.
"The Pulse feeds on emotion, Eren. The stronger the feeling, the deeper the mark. It feeds on love, hatred, fear, desire. The city itself is a living, breathing entity, and it has the power to create. And destroy."
Eren felt the shard beneath his skin flare violently in response, as if the Pulse itself was waking, stretching its limbs in his veins. He closed his eyes, letting the energy pulse through him, allowing himself to become one with the city's hum.
For a moment, he saw something — a glimpse of the city's past, blurred but undeniable. A tower, standing tall against the dark sky, its windows glowing with a golden light. A woman standing at the edge, her hand outstretched, reaching for something. Someone.
The vision was fleeting, but it was enough to leave Eren breathless. He felt as though something important had slipped through his fingers, something he wasn't yet ready to grasp.
Kael's voice broke through the moment. "You felt that, didn't you?"
Eren nodded, heart racing. "What was that? Who was she?"
Lyra stepped forward. "That was the Observer. The one who created the first mirror — the first connection between the city and the Pulse. She built it, and it's tied to you, whether you like it or not."
Eren's mind raced. "I have to remember. I need to understand."
The Silence, who had been silent until now, stepped forward once more. "You don't need to understand it all at once. The Pulse reveals itself when you're ready. And when it does, you'll see the city for what it truly is."
Eren looked at Kael, his heart pounding in his chest. "And what is that?"
Kael's expression softened, almost imperceptibly. "It's everything. And nothing."
The city, the Pulse, the memories. It was all one tangled mess of life, of light, and of darkness. And somewhere in that chaos, Eren knew the answers were waiting. But he had no idea if he was ready for them.