Glass Heart Syndrome

Chapter 44

Word spread quickly. Eren's name passed from shadowed alleys to hidden taverns, whispered like a curse. The Crossroads safe house ambush had sent Azrael's agents into disarray, creating ripples through Ezura's underbelly. Eren's rebellion, once little more than a murmur, was becoming a storm.

Inside their true safe house, the air buzzed with cautious optimism. Eren's allies were invigorated, their trust in him solidified by his calculated success. But as they celebrated, Eren remained silent, his mind already steps ahead.

Alaric noticed. "Not one to enjoy the taste of victory?" he asked, a wry smile on his face.

Eren's gaze shifted to the map spread across the table. "Azrael won't underestimate us twice. He'll be looking for another move."

Alaric's smile faded, replaced by a grim nod. "So, what's the plan, then? Do we strike again?"

"Not directly," Eren replied. "We have to think bigger. This isn't about small wins. It's about breaking his foundation piece by piece."

---

Eren turned his attention to Renna and Jarek, who were seated across from him. "Our next target isn't a person," he said. "It's Azrael's trust in his own network."

Renna's brow furrowed, her fingers tracing the edges of the map. "You're talking about... instigating betrayal?"

Eren nodded. "We plant doubt within Azrael's ranks, making him question those closest to him. Paranoia is a weapon. If he can't trust his own people, he'll be vulnerable."

Jarek, who had seen his share of betrayals in the past, crossed his arms thoughtfully. "And how do we plant these seeds?"

Eren leaned in, a glint of anticipation in his eyes. "Azrael has a network of lieutenants, each controlling sections of his power. If we turn just one of them, he'll be forced to look over his shoulder. He'll suspect everyone."

The plan was simple yet dangerous. They would identify a high-ranking lieutenant with something to lose, someone with reason to doubt Azrael's leadership. They would exploit every crack in their target's loyalty until it shattered.

---

Days of careful scouting and whispered inquiries led them to Zera, a lieutenant rumored to be resentful of Azrael's growing ruthlessness. Zera was ambitious but practical, a woman who valued her own position and power above all else. She had been loyal to Azrael, but recent rumors suggested she had become wary of his tightening grip.

Eren studied Zera's profile, every detail meticulously recorded in Renna's intel. "She's powerful, respected, and she has followers of her own. If we can sway her, it'll force Azrael to re-evaluate his loyalty hierarchy."

Renna raised an eyebrow. "And if she doesn't take the bait?"

"Then she becomes the bait," Eren replied, his tone unwavering. "Either way, Azrael will be forced to act."

The group's eyes met, a collective understanding solidifying among them. The line between ally and enemy was already thin in Ezura. Eren's plan would stretch it to its breaking point.

---

Renna, ever the diplomat, was chosen to make contact with Zera. She slipped into one of Zera's strongholds disguised as a mercenary, delivering a message that painted Eren as a kindred spirit to Zera—a man who shared her concerns over Azrael's ruthless ascent. The message was designed to appeal to Zera's ego, suggesting that Eren saw her as a potential equal rather than just another pawn in Azrael's schemes.

The response was swift. Renna returned with a cryptic note: Zera was interested, but wary. She would meet Eren only under specific conditions—far from her stronghold, and with minimal guards.

Eren agreed, setting the meeting in an abandoned, partially ruined estate at the city's outskirts. The building's darkened, moss-covered walls loomed ominously as Eren waited, his senses heightened for any sign of betrayal. Shadows flickered, moving in the breeze, but nothing stirred beyond them.

Finally, Zera arrived, her face partially obscured by the hood of her cloak. She assessed him with cold, calculating eyes.

"So," she began, her voice echoing softly. "You're the infamous Eren Valen, the one Azrael's people can't stop talking about."

Eren didn't flinch. "And you're Zera, the lieutenant who's not as loyal as she seems."

Her eyes narrowed, a flicker of defiance flashing across her face. "Careful with your words. I could still choose to hand you over."

Eren's gaze was steady. "You could, but you won't. Because you know Azrael's grip on power is slipping. His paranoia will only grow. I'm offering you a chance to protect yourself from the fallout."

Zera laughed, a short, humorless sound. "You think you can stand against him?"

"No," Eren replied. "I don't need to. I only need to weaken him until he crumbles under his own weight. And I believe you have a vested interest in seeing him weakened."

---

Their exchange was tense, each word carefully measured, but eventually, a tentative agreement was reached. Zera would feed Azrael information designed to sow mistrust within his ranks, and in exchange, Eren would protect her position, ensuring she wouldn't be sacrificed when Azrael's empire began to splinter.

They shook hands, a silent pact between two would-be enemies turned uneasy allies.

But as Zera departed, Alaric emerged from the shadows, his expression wary. "Do you really think she'll stick to the plan?"

Eren's lips tightened into a faint smile. "For now. But trust is a fleeting thing in Ezura. We'll have to keep a close eye on her."

---

Over the following days, whispers of dissent spread through Azrael's ranks. Small lies seeded through Zera's network led to key lieutenants questioning each other's motives, and even Azrael himself became withdrawn, his once unshakeable confidence showing cracks.

But with the cracks came fury. Azrael responded by doubling his efforts to root out traitors, growing harsher, less predictable. Eren's gambit had worked, but it had also made Azrael more dangerous.

As the sun set one evening, Renna returned with troubling news. "Azrael's men are mobilizing again. He's consolidating forces, preparing for something big."

Eren's jaw clenched. "Then we don't have much time. We keep pressing until he breaks. We've started a war in the shadows, Renna, and we'll see it through."

---

The game of deception and survival had begun in earnest, and as Eren's allies prepared for what lay ahead, he knew there would be no turning back. The path to dominance was set, and the only choice now was to walk it, no matter the cost.