Echoes of Olympus; The Return of the Forgotten Gods

Chapter 13

Avaia's POV

The morning light filtered through the threadbare curtains in my living room, casting a dim glow over the cluttered space. Seraphina and I sat in tense silence, the anticipation thick in the air as we waited for Dorian and Zephyr. My mind raced with doubts about our plan, the weight of our mission pressing down on me.

A sharp knock at the door broke the silence. I glanced at Seraphina, who gave me a reassuring nod and stood up to answer it. As soon as I opened the door, Zephyr strode in, a smirk on his face.

"Look who's blessed you all with my presence," he announced, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest. "Oh, please, Zephyr. As if we were waiting with bated breath."

He chuckled, brushing off my remark with a wave of his hand. "Someone's got to keep things interesting around here."

Dorian followed behind, offering me a grateful smile. "Thanks for letting us meet here, Avaia. It means a lot."

"Of course, Dorian. We're all in this together," I replied, feeling a pang of empathy for his sincerity.

We settled down in the living room, the worn-out couch creaking under our weight. Seraphina was already there, her confident demeanor contrasting sharply with the anxiety gnawing at my insides. Zephyr plopped down next to her, his leg bouncing up and down, a telltale sign of his restlessness.

"So, what's the plan?" Zephyr asked, leaning back with a casualness that belied the gravity of our situation.

"We're thinking of storming the border between Desolara and the rich district," Seraphina began, her eyes bright with excitement. "We've proven we can handle ourselves, like with the train."

I bit my lip, a knot of anxiety tightening in my chest. "Are we sure about this? That train incident was different. They weren't expecting us, and we had Lucian. Now, we're down our best fighter."

Dorian shifted uncomfortably beside me. "Avaia has a point. We need to be realistic about our capabilities."

Zephyr scoffed, leaning forward. "Realistic? We've taken down their prized money-making machine. We're more than capable. And Dorian, it's you we need to worry about the least. You're the strongest among us."

Dorian shook his head, doubt clouding his emerald eyes. "I don't know, Zephyr. Sometimes I wonder if I'm strong enough to protect everyone."

I glanced at Dorian, feeling a pang of empathy. "It's not just about strength. We need a solid plan, something more than just rushing in."

Seraphina nodded, but her confidence didn't waver. "We've got skills, Avaia. We can do this."

"Skills aren't everything," I countered, frustration creeping into my voice. "We need a strategy. The Operators will be ready this time."

Zephyr's leg bounced more rapidly, and he clenched his fists. "Well, Avaia, if you weren't so busy counting your pennies, maybe you'd have some bright ideas since you're such a know-it-all."

His words cut deep, stinging like a slap across the face. "You think I like being realistic?" I snapped back, my voice rising. "Someone has to be, or we'll get ourselves killed."

Seraphina raised her hands, trying to calm us. "Guys, we need to focus. Fighting won't get us anywhere."

But Zephyr and I were beyond reasoning. "You think you're better than us because you're always so damn cautious?" he spat, his eyes flashing with anger.