And then, in that moment...

His mother hesitated.

Her eyes narrowed.

The aura around her flickered slightly.

She took a few steps back.

Her gaze turned sharp as ice.

And then she screamed—furious, unhinged:

> “You…

You’re resisting me!”

“You… you refuse to obey my will!”

Realizing she couldn’t hypnotize Eren,

she began to see him as a threat.

She pointed at Eren’s father.

Her voice rang out like a command:

> “That demon!

That’s not Eren!

Kill him!

NOW!”

The father...

With empty eyes, as if pulled forward by strings, took a step ahead.

His hand reached for the old sword at his waist.

Eren froze inside.

> “Dad…?”

His father didn’t respond.

He drew the sword.

And began walking toward Eren—slowly, heavily, but with deadly purpose.

The crowd was silent.

Only the wind howled across the stone courtyard.

Eren stepped back.

None of it made sense.

> “Dad… it’s me—Eren!”

His father raised the blade.

And struck.

---

But at that very moment...

His grandfather burst through the crowd.

Despite the weight of his years, his body leapt forward.

He threw himself between Eren and the blade.

CRACK!

Steel sank into flesh and bone.

The old man staggered in front of Eren.

His cane fell, clattering across the stone floor.

Eren caught him in his arms.

A faint light flickered in the old man’s eyes.

With trembling hands, he touched Eren’s cheek.

And whispered his final words:

> “This town...

is finished, my boy...”

“You... must live.”

“Go to the capital… to your uncle…”

“Find your own… path…”

His eyes slowly closed.

His body grew heavy in Eren’s arms.

Eren stood frozen.

His heart twisted in his chest.

Pain, fear, and rage all tangled into one.