."Five hundred and three," Eren counted through gritted teeth, his arms trembling slightly as he lowered his body toward the floor once more. Sweat dripped from his brow, creating small dark patches on the stone beneath him. The morning light streamed through the narrow window of his chamber, casting long shadows across the sparse furnishings.
His muscles burned with the familiar pain of exertion, but it was a sensation he had come to welcome. Each repetition brought him closer to reclaiming what had once been his—strength, power, purpose.
A sharp knock at his door interrupted his count.
"Five hundred and four," he muttered, completing the repetition before rolling to his feet in one fluid motion. His body glistened with sweat as he crossed the room, conscious of how differently he moved now compared to just days ago. Where once there had been hesitation, now there was only certainty.
