Eren woke early the next morning, the weight of his decision still hanging heavily over him. His resolve had hardened overnight. He couldn't be the passive observer any longer, watching from the sidelines as the world around him crumbled. Today, he would take action, even if it meant risking everything he had worked for, even the friendships he cherished.
---
He gathered his belongings swiftly, each step feeling more deliberate than the last. Before leaving, he stared at the holographic map on his desk. It displayed the locations of both the Temple of the Founders and the Aurora research facility. He had to act fast, or both plans would come to fruition and tear the city apart.
As he made his way through the streets, the usual hustle of the city felt suffocating. People were caught in their own worlds, unaware of the catastrophe waiting to unfold. He couldn't afford to let the divide between the two factions continue to tear through the fabric of their society.
---
Eren reached the Obsidian Circle's headquarters first. He was met by a stern-faced guard, who immediately recognized him.
"Mr. Vale," the guard greeted. "What brings you here?"
"I need to speak with Darius," Eren replied urgently.
The guard hesitated but then gestured for him to follow. They walked through a labyrinth of narrow, stone corridors, their footsteps echoing in the silence.
When they arrived at Darius's office, the elderly man looked up from his desk, his sharp eyes assessing Eren with immediate concern.
"I trust you've come to your senses?" Darius asked, his voice calm but firm.
Eren's heart raced. "Darius, the sabotage - both of them - must be stopped. I know what you're planning, and I know what the Auroras are preparing. If either happens, it will lead to all-out war. I can't stand by and let that happen."
Darius's face darkened. "You don't understand, Eren. What's at stake here is more than just the fate of one building. It's the soul of this city."
"I know. But destroying these symbols of the other side only deepens the divide. It won't bring unity, Darius. It will only fuel the fire."
Darius stood slowly, his face softening slightly. "You're young, Eren. You think you have the answers, but this isn't something that can be solved by idealism. You cannot simply wish for peace in a world divided by centuries of mistrust."
Eren clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the older man's words. "I don't have all the answers. But I know this: the longer we fight, the more we lose. We have to stop this before it's too late."
Darius studied him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "Very well. I'll delay the operation. But don't think this means I'm agreeing with your perspective, Eren. There are consequences to opposing the will of the Circle."
"I'm not trying to oppose you, Darius," Eren replied, his voice quiet but resolute. "I'm trying to save us all."
---
Eren left the Obsidian district and headed straight for the Aurora sector, his mind racing. He needed to act fast. If the Obsidian Circle's plans were paused, he had only hours to stop the Auroras from moving forward with theirs.
He entered the Aurora building with a sense of purpose, the bright, pristine hallways seeming to hum with the promise of progress. His steps echoed as he moved toward the main lab, where Lyra would likely be coordinating the operation.
When he arrived, he found her surrounded by a team of engineers and strategists. She looked up, her expression unreadable.
"You shouldn't be here, Eren," Lyra said coldly, her voice tinged with a mixture of disappointment and resolve.
"I'm here to stop this," he said, his voice firm. "The sabotage against the Obsidian Circle. It's not the way forward, Lyra. It'll only make things worse."
She stepped toward him, her eyes fierce. "You think you can stop progress? You think you can stop us from securing our future? The Temple of the Founders is an obstacle - a relic of the past holding us back. We need to move forward, Eren."
"I get it," he said, his voice tight with frustration. "But that's exactly the problem. You think progress means tearing down everything that doesn't fit your vision. But that's not how you build a future. You build it by uniting, not by destroying what's already here."
Lyra's gaze softened for a moment, but the fire in her eyes never fully dimmed. "I know you're conflicted, Eren. But you're too idealistic. The world doesn't work like that. Not anymore."
"You're wrong," Eren shot back. "If we destroy everything we disagree with, we'll be left with nothing but ashes. We can't keep building walls. We have to tear them down."
There was a long pause, during which the tension between them was palpable. Lyra sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I didn't want this to come to this. But you've made your choice. I can't stop you, Eren. But know this: if you stop us now, you'll be making an enemy of everything we've worked for."
"I don't want to be anyone's enemy," Eren replied quietly. "I just want to stop the cycle."
Lyra met his gaze one last time, her face a mixture of anger and sorrow. "Then you're too late. The countdown has already begun."
---
As Eren turned to leave the lab, his mind was a whirlwind. He'd managed to stall the Obsidian Circle's plans - but not for long. And Lyra's words echoed in his mind. The countdown had already begun.
He rushed back to his apartment, hoping that he still had time to stop the destruction. But when he arrived, he found the front door wide open. His heart sank as he entered. Papers were scattered across the floor, and his personal items were missing.
A single note remained on his desk. It was written in the same scrawled handwriting as before.
*You had your chance, Eren. Now it's too late. The city will burn, and there will be no one left to save.*
Eren collapsed into the chair, his head spinning. He had tried. He had given everything to stop the war, to prevent the destruction - but it wasn't enough.
As he looked at the note, a chilling thought crossed his mind: this was no longer just a political struggle. It was a battle for the future of Teyvara - and it was spiraling out of control.
---
End of Chapter 4