Athena and Xavier moved swiftly, their bodies acting on instinct as they advanced toward the source of the disturbance. The ruins around them were eerily silent, but that silence never meant safety. Athena's grip on her sword tightened, her muscles coiled like a predator waiting to strike. She didn't know why her instincts felt so sharp, but she was beginning to accept that she had been a warrior long before she had lost her memories.
Xavier took the lead, stepping over the remnants of fallen creatures, his movements careful but confident. His demeanor had changed again—no longer the smirking, enigmatic man teasing her about forgotten memories. Now, he was a soldier, a leader, someone who had seen enough battles to recognize when something wasn't right. Athena kept close behind him, listening for any shift in the environment.
