Chapter 11: Ripples of the Unknown

The shard's faint crimson glow illuminated the room as Eren and Kaelena exited the labyrinth, its aura lingering like a ghostly presence. Despite the labyrinth's heavy, shifting doors now sealed behind them, Eren could still feel the weight of the obelisk's whispers pressing against his thoughts.

The moment they stepped back into the Sparring Atrium, it was as though the world took a sharp breath. Every head turned, and the buzz of conversation died instantly.

"What just happened?" one student muttered, wide-eyed.

"Look at them—something's wrong," another whispered, inching away.

Kaelena's jaw tightened as she grabbed Eren's arm, pulling him through the crowd. "Don't say a word," she hissed.

Eren clutched the shard tighter in his pocket, its surface cold against his skin. "What do they know?" he asked, keeping his voice low.

"Enough to be dangerous. We shouldn't have found that room. Whatever you just took—whatever that thing is—will draw attention you don't want."

They pushed past the Atrium and into the academy's open courtyards. The sky above was darker than usual, heavy clouds swirling like the aftermath of a storm.

[System Alert: Warning – Detected High-Level Surveillance.]

Eren's heart skipped a beat. "Surveillance?" he muttered.

Kaelena stopped in her tracks. "What did you just say?"

Before he could respond, a sharp, metallic clang echoed from the surrounding towers. Massive searchlights swept across the courtyard, their beams focused on Eren and Kaelena. A voice boomed from unseen speakers, cold and authoritative:

"Eren Veyne, step forward. Surrender the artifact immediately."

Kaelena cursed under her breath, spinning to face him. "You triggered the Vault's defenses! They know!"

Eren felt a surge of panic. "What do I do?!"

"Run," Kaelena snapped. "Now!"

She yanked him into a side corridor as a squad of enforcers descended from the towers above. Clad in sleek, black armor and armed with glowing weapons, they moved with precision, their boots striking the ground in unison.

Eren and Kaelena bolted through the maze of hallways, the sound of pursuit growing louder with every passing second. The academy, which once felt sprawling and limitless, now felt like a trap.

"Give me the shard!" Kaelena demanded as they rounded a corner.

"What?" Eren asked, barely keeping up.

"You're too slow. If they catch us, they'll take it—and us. Let me handle it!"

He hesitated, then handed it over, the shard's unnatural coldness lingering on his fingertips. Kaelena slipped it into her pouch, her expression unreadable.

"They're gaining," she said, glancing back. "Time to split up. Meet me in the Undercroft."

Before he could argue, she shoved him toward another corridor and sprinted in the opposite direction.

[System Alert: High-Risk Decision Detected. Advising Against Separation.]

"Too late," Eren muttered, veering down the new path.

The sound of his breathing filled his ears as he ran, his legs burning with every step. The enforcers' shouts echoed in the distance, but for now, they seemed to have lost his trail.

The corridor opened into a secluded chamber, dimly lit by flickering sconces. A single figure stood in the center of the room, cloaked in shadow.

"Eren Veyne," the figure said, their voice smooth and calm. "You've caused quite a stir."

Eren froze. The figure stepped forward, revealing a tall man with sharp features and piercing, golden eyes. His presence was overwhelming, like a storm barely contained.

"Who are you?" Eren asked, his voice unsteady.

The man smiled faintly. "Call me Ardyn. I'm… an observer of sorts. And I'm very interested in what you've found."

Eren instinctively stepped back, his hand crackling with energy. "I'm not giving you anything."

Ardyn chuckled, the sound devoid of humor. "Oh, I don't want the shard—not yet, at least. I want to help you understand it."

"What's the catch?"

"Smart boy," Ardyn said. "The catch is that knowledge comes with a price. The shard you hold is no ordinary artifact. It's a fragment of something ancient, something that predates even this academy."

Eren's mind raced. "What is it?"

Ardyn's golden eyes glimmered. "A key. To what, I can't say. That's for you to discover. But know this: its power will draw enemies you can't imagine, and allies who may be just as dangerous."

Before Eren could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps shattered the tense silence. Ardyn stepped back, his form dissolving into shadow.

"Until next time," he said, his voice fading.

The enforcers burst into the chamber a moment later, their weapons raised. Eren raised his hands, forcing himself to stay calm.

"I don't have it," he said.

The squad leader's visor glowed as they scanned him. "Clear," the leader said after a tense pause. "Secure him for questioning."

They grabbed his arms and marched him out of the chamber, their grip unyielding. As they led him through the academy, Eren's thoughts churned. What had he unleashed? Who could he trust? And what was the true purpose of the shard now hidden with Kaelena?

One thing was certain: his time at Vanguard Academy had just taken a darker, more dangerous turn.