"But that's all in the past now," Athena added, her smile returning, though it was tinged with sadness. "I left that life behind when I escaped the ravine. I've tried to make a new path for myself, but… the bloodshed is something that never quite leaves you."
Cyrus remained quiet for a moment, processing the depth of what Athena had shared. He could feel the rawness of her story, the harshness of the world she had come from. But there was a strength in her as well—a resilience that had carried her through it all.
"I didn't expect that," Cyrus admitted softly, "but I'm glad you told me."
Their coffee and breakfast arrived, but the atmosphere between them had shifted. The awkwardness had dissolved, replaced by a quiet understanding. It wasn't just about small talk anymore; it was about two people who had shared their pain, and their pasts, and found a strange, unspoken bond in the process.
"Now, what about you?" Athena grinned, leaning forward intently.
