Helga sat stiffly at the edge of her bed, fully dressed, staring at her reflection in a shard of polished stone. Her hands flexed restlessly in her lap, as if unsure whether to reach for her pistol or simply fold them like nothing had happened.
Nothing.
That's what she would tell Rourke. That's what she would tell herself.
But even now, she could feel it—the faint echo of Helios's voice in her mind. That smooth, calm tone that wrapped around her thoughts like a vice. His presence last night had been impossible to ignore.
"We're not enemies, Helga. Unless you want us to be."
She clenched her jaw, fingers curling tight around her knee.
"Damn it," she muttered under her breath.
"You say something?" came Rourke's voice from the other side of the room.
Helga straightened, turning just enough to catch his gaze. He was already fully awake, boots laced and coat pulled on, his piercing eyes studying her like a hawk sizing up prey.
"Nothing," she replied evenly. "Just thinking about today's itinerary."
"Mm-hm." Rourke stepped closer, his boots clicking against the smooth stone floor. "You're distracted, Helga. That's not like you."
"I'm fine."
"Uh-huh." He leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice. "Fine enough to tell me what's really going on with those three outsiders?"
Helga's breath caught. She masked it with a scoff, standing and tugging her gloves tighter. "You want my professional opinion? They're more trouble than they're worth."
"That young man… Helios. He's too calm. Too clever." Rourke's eyes narrowed. "Men like that either know something or want something."
Helga hesitated. You have no idea, she thought grimly.
"Keep your distance," Rourke ordered. "But watch them. Closely. I want to know why they're here, who they're working for, and if they're a threat. Understand?"
Helga nodded, her face an icy mask. "Understood."
By the time Helios appeared later in the grand hall, his demeanor was unchanged from the day before—pleasant, relaxed, smiling like he hadn't a care in the world.
"Morning, old man," he said lightly to Rourke as they crossed paths.
Rourke's jaw tightened. "Morning."
Helga felt his suspicious gaze boring into Helios, but the younger man didn't falter. Instead, he gave her a polite nod as he passed.
"Sleep well?" Helios asked her, his tone warm enough to sound genuine—but his eyes glimmered with quiet amusement.
Helga's fingers twitched near her holster before she forced herself to relax. "Well enough," she said curtly.
"Glad to hear it." Helios's smile didn't fade as he turned and walked away to join Kurai and Skuld near Kida's group.
Helga trailed them throughout the morning as Rourke ordered, careful to stay just far enough to avoid notice. But something about the way Helios carried himself made her skin crawl. Every move seemed deliberate. Every glance felt like it could pierce through her like a blade.
She couldn't stop replaying his words from the night before.
"If I wanted to, I could make sure Rourke never wakes up. Or I could walk into Kida's chambers and tell her everything I know. But I don't want to do either of those things, because they're messy—and I dislike messy solutions."
Her grip tightened on her gloves.
The path leading to the sacred temple was unlike anything Helios had seen in his countless journeys across worlds.
They walked through narrow corridors carved from luminous stone, faint glyphs glowing in soft cerulean hues beneath their feet. The air vibrated with energy, a faint hum that thrummed deep in their chests as if Atlantis itself was alive, watching every step.
"This place…" Skuld whispered, her wide eyes darting over the delicate Atlantean runes etched into the walls. "It feels… peaceful."
Kida glanced back at her, smiling faintly. "These halls lead to the heart of our people's memory. The crystal's energy preserves them—its light sustains everything."
Helios walked beside Kida, hands clasped loosely behind his back, his relaxed demeanor concealing the sharpness in his eyes as they drank in every detail. He wondered how the crystals resonated with the Heart of Atlantis…
Behind them, Milo kept pace with an awkward shuffle, clutching his journal tightly, eyes darting between the glowing symbols. He muttered translations under his breath, lips barely keeping up with the stream of ancient knowledge unfolding around him.
"You're doing well," Helios said lightly, breaking the silence.
Milo glanced up, surprised. "Uh—thank you. It's… overwhelming. Like stepping into a living book."
"That's one way to put it. I see it more as stepping into your favorite game."
Helga followed a few steps behind, silent but watchful. Her fingers brushed the edge of her holster out of habit, though she didn't draw. Not with Kurai glancing over her shoulder from time to time, her eyes gleaming like a predator's.
Even Rourke's confident swagger seemed dulled in these hallowed halls. His gaze swept the surroundings with a calculating edge, but there was tension in his jaw.
As they entered a vast chamber, the air grew warmer.
A grand mural dominated the walls, stretching from floor to ceiling in spiraling patterns. It depicted Atlantis's history—glorious conquests, great floods, and finally, the rise of the crystal that now sustained the city.
At the center of it all, an intricate carving of the Heart of Atlantis pulsed faintly with light, as though acknowledging their presence.
Kida stopped before the mural, her expression solemn.
"This is where it all began," she said softly. "Our rise… and our fall. Few among my people still remember the truth."
Milo approached the mural, his fingers tracing the glyphs with reverence. "It's incredible. The artistry alone… and these inscriptions—they tell the entire history!"
"Be careful," Kurai murmured coldly from where she stood near the entrance, her arms crossed. "Curiosity has a price in places like this."
Helios glanced at her and smirked faintly. "You sound almost worried about him."
"I'm not."
As Milo and Kida exchanged excited theories about the glyphs, Helga and Rourke hung back near Helios and Kurai.
This time, Rourke's tone lacked its usual condescension. "You two are an interesting pair," he said evenly. "Silent. Observant. Makes a man wonder… what are you here for?"
Helios didn't even turn, his oceanic eyes fixed on the mural. "Like I said, we're here to learn. Just like Milo over there."
"Learn, huh?" Rourke's voice was low and smooth, but Helga caught the way his fingers flexed near his belt.
Helios's lips curved in a calm, knowing smile. "Relax, old man. You and I aren't enemies… unless you want us to be. Although if I were you, I'd avoid that at all costs."
The tension was palpable.
Helga spoke up, her tone more cautious than before. "If we're all here chasing something… maybe we don't need to get in each other's way."
Kurai's eyes flicked to her, a faint sneer tugging at her lips. "Wise words. Let's hope they stick."
The air shifted as Kida stepped back from the mural, her fingers brushing the crystal carving.
"It's getting late," she said. "We should return. Tomorrow is the last day, I'll bring you to the inner sanctum… perhaps you'll understand more."
Helios nodded. "That would be appreciated."