The crystalline hum of Atlantis seeped into the walls of the guest chamber, casting a soft aquamarine glow over the trio as they stood in the threshold. The door slid shut behind them with a muted thrum, sealing them inside. The air smelled faintly of salt and something sharp—like static clinging to their skin from the Heart of Atlantis far above.
Kurai was the first to move. Her boots tapped against the stone floor, each step precise and sharp as she walked to one corner of the room. Without so much as glancing at Helios or Skuld, she folded her arms and leaned against the wall.
Skuld remained near the center of the room, arms crossed, and her expression caught between frustration and exhaustion. She shot Kurai a sidelong glance but said nothing. The tension between them hung like storm clouds waiting for a spark.
Helios, ever the mediator, exhaled and stretched his arms above his head.
"Well," he said lightly, breaking the silence, "that was… smoother than I expected. No one tried to stab us, so I'd say we're off to a good start."
Skuld muttered something under her breath and moved toward one of the low ]couches lining the wall. She sank into it with a sigh, pulling her knees to her chest. "I don't know how you call that smooth. Her father looked like he wanted to incinerate us with his eyes."
"You're not wrong," Helios admitted, chuckling as he lowered himself onto the edge of another couch. "But he didn't. That's progress."
Kurai turned toward him, her face unreadable. "Progress or delusion?"
Helios smiled lazily, unbothered by her tone. "Depends on how optimistic you're feeling. I on the other like to look on the bright side."
Kurai's gaze sharpened. Slowly, she extended a hand, shadows curling around her fingers like tendrils preparing to engulf the room. The temperature seemed to dip as her power gathered.
Helios' smile didn't fade, but his eyes narrowed as he moved. In one smooth motion, he crossed the room and caught her wrist. The shadows dissipated instantly under his firm grip.
"Don't," he said quietly. "If you throw up a barrier in a place like this, it'll just make them more suspicious of us."
Kurai didn't flinch, though her eyes narrowed dangerously. "You think I don't know how to mask my energy? Their technology is unique but still primitive compared to what we faced in Radiant Garden."
"Primitive or not, this is their home," Helios countered, his tone calm but firm. "Their eyes are on us already. No need to give them another reason to doubt our intentions."
A long moment passed between them. Kurai's cold stare seemed to weigh him, testing his resolve. Finally, she pulled her hand back with a sharp motion, breaking his hold.
"Fine," she murmured, her voice low and cutting. "But your trust in their ignorance is dangerous."
"Not trust," Helios replied smoothly. "Just caution. Let's play this one smart, okay?"
Skuld watched them from her seat, her brow furrowed. "What are you two whispering about now?"
"Nothing important," Helios said, flashing her a disarming grin. "Just thinking about what they have as a midnight snack here. We haven't eaten in a while, and I feel a little hungry."
Skuld groaned and flopped back on the couch, draping an arm over her eyes. "You're impossible."
Helios chuckled but felt Kurai's piercing gaze still on him. He turned back to her, lowering his voice again. "What's really on your mind? You've been restless for a while now. It's not like you. Tell me what's wrong."
Kurai's eyes softened, if only slightly. "You must have also figured it out that the way we came here… it doesn't feel right. The moment we even stepped foot here I felt the crystal above pulsing like a heart, and in a second after we arrived, the energy became tangled. Whatever happened before with Ursula, I'm afraid, will most likely occur again here. Something… vast seems to be watching us."
Helios' expression grew thoughtful. "Do you think it's the eye?"
She nodded once, slow and deliberate. "Perhaps. If I'm right it saw both our memories, so it should be able to figure out what you want here and why you want it."
He leaned against the wall beside her, resting his head back and staring up at the faintly glowing glyphs carved into the stone ceiling. "Then all the more reason that we should tread carefully. Whatever came here with us might reveal its presence soon."
"But I am curious as to why you brought us here, Helios?" Kurai asked suddenly, her voice soft but laced with an edge. "What drew you to this place?"
He considered her question, letting the silence stretch. Finally, he exhaled and gave her a faint, weary smile. "I'm not sure. Maybe it was instinct. Maybe… something about this place called to me."
"Lie," she muttered.
"Better not overthink it for now," Helios said lightly. "For now, let's focus on what's right in front of us."
"And what's that?"
"Resting," he said, closing his eyes with a faint grin. "We've traveled a long way. If nothing else, we've earned a few hours of peace before whatever comes next."
Kurai studied him for a moment, then exhaled softly and turned her gaze away. "Fine. But you will tell me the reason later. Be sure of that."
"Of course. Although I can't say it now, you know that I keep no secrets from you," Helios murmured.
Skuld peeked out from under her arm, her expression softening slightly. "What are you two whispering about. Share with the rest of the class."
Kurai said nothing but moved toward the far corner of the room, curling her legs beneath her as she settled into a sitting position. Since no one said anything, Skuld shifted to make herself more comfortable on her couch, and within minutes her breathing began to slow.
Helios, however, remained awake for a time, staring at the ceiling and letting his thoughts drift. The glow of Atlantis cast strange shadows over the room. He smiled as he watched the energy radiating from the Heart of Atlantis.
Eventually, his eyes grew heavy. With a final glance at Kurai, her silhouette outlined in blue in the dim light, he allowed himself to sink into the fragile peace of sleep.