The Watcher moved with silent, deadly grace.
Raya felt its power like pressure on her bones.
Eren pulled his blade—a blue-white flame erupting along the metal.
"Raya," he whispered urgently,
"When I tell you to run… run."
"No! I'm not leaving you!"
"You have to."
The Watcher raised a hand.
Shadows wrinkled and peeled away from the ground like fabric.
"You cannot escape," it said softly.
"The Council has seen the Sovereign's descent. They know he visited you."
Raya stepped forward despite Eren's grip.
"So what? I'm some… prize?!"
"You are a violation," the Watcher corrected calmly.
"A living crime. And the Council demands judgment."
Eren snarled.
"You won't touch her."
The Watcher shifted its gaze.
"I see you, traitor."
Raya stiffened.
"Traitor? Eren isn't—"
"Oh, he is," the Watcher said.
"He is the one who stole you from the Sovereign centuries ago."
Raya froze.
Her heartbeat stopped.
"Stole me… what?"
Eren went rigid.
He didn't deny it.
"Eren?" she whispered.
"What is it talking about?"
He backed up, shaking his head—not at her, but at the Watcher.
"Do not twist history."
"You hid her," the Watcher said.
"You hid the Sovereign's heir. You lied. You ran. You betrayed your kingdom."
Raya's world spun.
"Eren…" her voice cracked,
"what is it saying?"
He closed his eyes.
"I was trying to save you."
The Watcher lifted its hand.
Black chains rose from the earth.
"Time is over."
"No!" Raya screamed.
Her mark exploded in light.
White—
pure, blinding, impossible white.
The Watcher staggered back.
Eren shielded his eyes.
Raya felt energy searing through her veins, a power she never knew existed.
The ground trembled.
Her voice wasn't her own when she spoke.
"I am not yours to summon."
The Watcher froze—genuinely shocked.
Eren stared at her like he was seeing her reborn.
The chains shattered.
The trees bowed.
And the Watcher dropped to one knee.
"Forgive me, progeny. I did not know you had awakened."
Raya breathed hard, the light falling away.
"What… what did I just do?"
Eren stepped forward cautiously.
"You used… his power."
Raya swallowed.
"Did I just… command a Watcher?"
"Yes."
Raya stared at her hands.
"I—I didn't mean to."
Eren touched her shoulder gently.
"You're changing."
She whispered the truth she feared:
"And I don't know into what."