Chapter 18: Athena "...Things are different this time."
"What makes you say that?"
The voice drifted in like a breeze—soft, smooth, but laced with weight.
Lucian turned.
She walked into the hall with calm steps. Long dark hair tied back, sharp violet eyes that held no warmth, just clarity. Her coat fluttered behind her as if the air itself knew better than to touch her. She didn’t look rushed. Didn’t look tense. She was exactly how he remembered her.
Instructor Athena.
Lucian’s smirk pulled at the corner of his mouth.
He remembered that walk. That gaze. The way she held herself like a storm waiting for permission to break loose. In his past life, she was a monster in the field. The kind of instructor no one wanted to spar with. The kind no one wanted as an enemy.
Her ability could’ve rivaled mine... back when it was still mine.
Now, that absurdly broken power belonged to someone else.
His eyes flicked to Evelyn, who was stretching her fingers absently beside him.
Still unaware of what exactly lived inside her now.
Lucian exhaled.
"Nothing," he said, eyes back on Athena. "Just talking to myself."
Athena stopped in front of the five of them.
Her gaze passed over each one—slowly, deliberately.
She said nothing for a few seconds.
Then—"You’re the ones they pulled out of the standard route. The ones who broke the scale."
Silas scratched his cheek and grinned. "Guess we’re special."
Athena blinked once. "If by ’special’ you mean dangerous, then yes."
Silas blinked. Reia smirked. Evelyn tried not to laugh. Vyn didn’t move.
Lucian stood straight. Hands in pockets. He didn’t interrupt.
Athena’s voice remained calm, but it echoed across the wide training hall like a whip slicing the air.
"My name is Athena. I’m your handler, instructor, and problem-solver for the foreseeable future. I’m not your friend. I’m not your enemy. I don’t care where you’re from or what trauma made you strong."
She looked at Lucian briefly. Just a second too long to be casual.
"I only care about two things. One—can you survive what’s coming. And two—if you can’t, will your body be useful to teach the next person?"
That shut everyone up.
Lucian’s smirk deepened slightly.
Same old Athena.
She paced once in front of them.
"You’ll train apart from the others. Your curriculum will be personalized. You’ll be sent on live missions far sooner than your peers. And the people above don’t expect all of you to last."
She stopped again.
"So prove them wrong."
Silas nodded, cracking his knuckles.
Reia crossed her arms, focused.
Evelyn straightened her shoulders.
Vyn just... stared at the floor.
Lucian tilted his head, watching Athena closely.
Athena took a breath and finished.
"Class Zero begins tomorrow. Five a.m. sharp. Gear up, get rest, and don’t be late."
She turned to walk away—then added over her shoulder:
"Oh, and one more thing."
They all looked up.
"If any of you hold back..."
She paused by the door, her tone colder now.
"I’ll break that habit. Personally."
Athena took two more steps toward the door—then paused.
"Ah. Right."
She turned back around, hands sliding into her coat pockets. Her eyes swept over them again—this time less sharp, more... assessing.
"Follow me."