Athena's mind raced as they moved, dodging between crumbling buildings and debris-strewn streets.
Her body reacted on instinct, parrying, striking, dodging, as if it remembered movements she could not consciously recall.
Every time Xavier swung his blade, she was already adjusting to cover his blind spots. Every time she feinted, he followed through with precision.
Their rhythm in battle was seamless, like a well-practiced dance, as if they had fought together countless times before. But that was impossible.
She was certain there were no records of her past life. She had checked every database, every government archive, and even underground networks with information no ordinary person could access.
There was nothing. No mention of an Athena who had ever been in the military, let alone someone skilled enough to fight like this. And yet, every fiber of her being told her otherwise.
