Chapter 14: Unseen Forces

The academy wasn't as safe as it seemed. Strange occurrences began to plague the students—disappearances, mysterious injuries, and whispers of shadowy figures lurking in the halls. The atmosphere grew tense, and even the instructors seemed on edge.

Eren and Kaelena watched from the sidelines, their suspicion growing. "Someone's looking for the Shards," Kaelena said one evening as they trained in the Sparring Atrium. "And they're not being subtle about it."

"Then we need to find the rest before they do," Eren replied. "But how? We don't even know where to start."

Kaelena hesitated. "There's someone who might know. But you're not going to like it."

Their meeting with the informant was tense. The man, a former student turned rogue, agreed to share what he knew—for a price. "The Shards are scattered," he said, his voice raspy. "But one lies in the ruins beneath this academy."

Eren's stomach sank. Another shard, so close yet hidden. "Why hasn't anyone found it?"

The informant smirked. "Because they don't know where to look. But I do."