Sons of a devil-Chapter 78: Storm on horizon

"For you," Eren confirmed.

Cain stepped beside Selene, shielding her with his presence. "Then we fight."

"No," their mother said. "Not yet. You're not ready."

Cain's eyes narrowed. "We don't have time to wait."

"You do," she said firmly. "Because I will buy you that time."

"Mother—" Leo started, but she held up her hand.

"My power is older than theirs. I can hold them off. But you must run. Hide in the ruins of Aethermoor. There, your powers will not be sensed. And Selene can rest."

Eren nodded slowly. "The ruins... they're cloaked. We can make it by nightfall if we move now."

Selene stood on shaky legs. Cain immediately supported her, his arm wrapping around her waist with instinctual care.

"I'm not leaving you to fight alone," Cain told his mother.

"You are my sons," she said softly, with love that made even Eren pause. "You've carried enough of my burdens. Let me protect you for once."

Leo blinked hard. "Don't die. That's all I ask."

Their mother smiled gently. "I've lived lifetimes. Dying is just another beginning."

With no more words, she stepped into the forest's heart, her cloak rippling behind her like shadowy wings.

The siblings turned toward Aethermoor, urgency propelling them.

Cain kept Selene close, his jaw tight with unspoken worry.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly.

She nodded, but didn't speak. Instead, she took his hand and squeezed.

They reached the edge of the ruins by dusk—tall, crumbled structures twisted in ivy and fog. The air shimmered oddly, like a mirage.

"We're safe here?" Selene asked.

"For now," Eren replied. "These walls remember our ancestors. They'll shield us."

Inside the stone relics, they found a hollowed-out chamber and made camp. A faint warmth seemed to pulse from the stones themselves.

Leo lit a fire with a flick of his hand. Eren summoned protective wards around the perimeter. Cain sat beside Selene, pulling her into his arms without a word.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"For what?" he asked, brushing his thumb across her cheek.

"For being weak."

"Selene," he said firmly. "You're the strongest person I know. You burned for all of us."

"I'm afraid of what I'll become."

Cain rested his forehead against hers. "Then let's find out together."

Eren leaned against the far wall, arms crossed. Leo lay flat on the ground, staring at the ceiling.

"Do you think she'll survive?" Leo asked quietly.

"She has to," Eren replied.

Silence fell like a blanket, but it wasn't heavy. It was full of memory and hope and exhaustion. The kind of silence that comes after storms... and before new ones.

Above, the stars blinked.

And far in the distance, their father stirred.

The hunt was far from over.