Mod Superhero

Chapter 5.18 - Lore

Emmett found Athena the next morning, hunched over the magic staff. She gave him a quick nod while staying focused on her work. Emmett didn't want to bother her, so he started his morning routine of grabbing a cup of instant coffee, checking servers with TINA, and practicing controlling his nanites. Clara spent most of the morning meditating and doing yoga.

Occasionally, Athena muttered what Emmett assumed were magic words, but otherwise, she didn't talk to him.

She didn't talk to him or Clara at all that day.

Athena took a break around lunch. Emmett had run out of raw materials, and Athena said she would hunt for more appliances for him. He'd been tempted to tag along with her before, especially now that his nanite disguise was functional, but Athena's mood dissuaded him today.

As soon as Athena slipped out the window, Clara jumped up from the floor, came over, and sat down next to Emmett at the worktable.

"I'm worried about Athena."

Emmett leaned back in his chair, feeling the tightness in his shoulders. "I'm worried about her, too."

Athena had always been secretive, but Emmett had always chalked it up to her being a super. She dodged questions or flat out refused to answer. That was normal for a super. It was only because of how much they'd been through already that Emmett even bothered to ask Athena any personal questions at all.

But things had changed. Emmett and Clara were helping Athena with a personal mission, and something about the stolen necklace and the Felwardens had clearly gotten under Athena's skin. It was like a switch had flipped. One minute, Athena's using her powers to make barriers and block attacks, and the next, she's using it to cut through solid stone.

Whatever was going on, Athena needed to level with them.

~

Athena didn't come back until late that Thursday night, hauling two mini fridges with her. She dropped them off and went straight to her room and shut the door.

The next morning, Emmett and Clara woke to the smell of pancakes. Athena set up an electric griddle on the counter and looked like she was already halfway done making breakfast. Two huge stacks of pancakes sat beside the griddle. When Athena saw them, she pushed a set of paper plates their way.

Emmett offered to make everyone coffee, which he did while keeping one eye on the strange scene in front of him. Athena watched the griddle with the same intensity she did while fighting supers.

Athena glanced at the bowl full of batter and sighed. "I never know how much to make. Hope you guys are okay with leftovers."

Clara sat down at the end of the counter, and she and Emmett shared a glance while coffee brewed.

Athena pushed a bottle of maple syrup over to them. "Did you know that the first recorded mention of pancakes was around 500 BCE? They were called flat cakes or griddle cakes. Of course, ancient people made them before then, but that's the earliest written record."

Emmett didn't know how to respond to that. Clara, on the other hand, replied, "That's an interesting fact to start a conversation with."

Athena ignored the comment. Silence stretched on, punctuated by sizzling batter and a boiling kettle.

A few minutes later, the bowl of batter was empty and there was a third stack of pancakes on the counter. Emmett finished making coffee and took a seat beside Clara. Both of them tentatively started on their pancakes.

Athena leaned on the counter. "This isn't easy for me."

Clara replied, "It's easier to talk than it is to keep secrets."