Won woke up in the evening. He went to bed very late and didn't sleep well. Every time he closed his eyes, he heard the voices of those guards.He sat on the edge of his bed and looked at the makeshift calendar he had scratched into the wall. His eyes drifted to the table. Hozhi was fast asleep, sprawled out on his back. Beside the hamster, the alcohol flask was lying on its side, the cap off. A small puddle of alcohol had spilled onto the table.“As long as you enjoy it, buddy,” Won muttered quietly. Just as Won turned to grab a water bottle, Wynn appeared out of the air, leaning against the dresser as if he had been standing there for hours.Won jumped, his heart hammering against his ribs. He clutched his chest, gasping for air. “Holy… m

Won had been walking for four hours. Won looked toward the horizon. The sun would rise in an hour. In the distance, he could see a few weak, scavenger-class beasts fighting over the remains of a carcass. He didn't bother with them. He planned to walk for a few more hours, mark a few new locations, and then retreat to the safety of the Hollow Chamber.As he walked, his thoughts drifted back to Noah.But he didn't want to think about Noah for now or the possibility of a family he never knew. He had convinced himself that the answers were locked away behind the test he was currently living through. If he survived the Veyne, he might find the truth. If not, the truth didn't matter.There was a certain peace in being alone here. No one to give him orders, no one to rely on, and no one to disappoint. He had always been a

As they stepped onto the polished marble porch, the pale grey light of the approaching dawn washed over them.“You can get me down here,” Mikasa spoke softly. She tapped Won’s shoulder with fingers.Won leaned forward, letting her slide off his back. As soon as her boots touched the stone, a soft, radiant glow began to seep out from her skin. The cuts on her face closed, leaving nothing but faint pink lines that soon faded away.Won turned to look at her, his eyes tracing the way the light danced in her hair. He exhaled a deep breath he felt like he had been holding for five months. When he spoke, his voice was rougher and more jagged than he intended.“Now tell me,” he growled, his hands trembling slightly at his sides. “What the hell are you doing in a place like this? Exploring the ruins? Is that what you call it? I might have only known you for a days weeks before I left, and I know you’re interested in risky stuff. But this? Coming here without any backup? What were you thinking,

The drumming vibrated inside Won’s teeth. It was a rhythmic, soul-crushing sound that seemed to command the very shadows of the Dark City to rise. And rise they did. From every shattered window and every gaping crack in the pavement, the Inda poured out like a tide of black ink."They aren't stopping!" Mikasa shouted over the roar of the wind.She stood beside Won, her hand reaching into the air. A flash of golden light erupted, and a slender, radiant longsword materialized in her grip. Won gripped his Sensari Sword in his right hand and his Fangs Wrath dagger in his left. He felt the cold, heavy weight of his Graveborn essence swirling around his feet like a dark mist."Grif! Hold the perimeter! Don't let a single one of those scavengers touch her!" Won roared. He was still worried that the torture Mikasa went through might weakened her core. He felt less essence and energy from her as seconds passed by.The giant knight slammed his fist into his chest plate, the metal echoing like a

“How have you been?” Leo asked.His voice was casual, almost too casual. He didn't look angry, and he didn't look sad. He kept his face like a mask of stone, as if Won had only been gone for a few days to run an errand, rather than vanishing into the mouth of a nightmare for five months.Won’t eyes shook. He wasn't just looking at Leo; he was sensing him. He could feel the heavy, erratic thrum of Leo's heart. It was beating fast—way too fast for someone who was supposedly "fine." Leo was acting tough, playing the role of the fearless leader, but Won knew better. He knew exactly how much his disappearance must have hurt the guy.Won gulped, the lump in his throat feeling like a jagged rock. “Good. I have been—”“Happy?” Leo interrupted.The word hit Won like a physical blow. He didn't even think about it. He just instinctively shook his head.“Good,” Leo said, his voice dropping an octave. “I wouldn't like it if you said you were happy. Not while we were back here wondering if you were