CHAPTER 57: [57] DIVIDED ATTENTION

Calypso stood near the back of the observation deck, maintaining what she hoped was a casual distance from Xavier. She smiled and nodded as Ashley described some extravagant shopping trip, but her thoughts drifted elsewhere. Last night kept replaying in her mind—the weight of Xavier’s body pressing her into the carpet, his lips on her neck, his hands sliding under her shirt...

She bit her lower lip. Eight hundred and forty-seven years of processing souls, and she’d never experienced desire like this. Female divine beings weren’t supposed to yearn for mortals this way. It was undignified. Inappropriate. Very Dangerous.

Yet she’d barely slept after retreating to their bed alone. The sheets had smelled like him. She’d tossed and turned, imagining what might have happened if she hadn’t stopped him. His hands exploring every inch of her, his mouth trailing down her stomach, his—

"Don’t you think, Calypso?" Margaret asked.

"Hmm? Oh, absolutely," Calypso replied, having no idea what she’d just agreed to.

Selena’s lips curved into a knowing smile. "You weren’t listening at all, were you?"

"Sorry," Calypso said, tucking a strand of silver hair behind her ear. "I’m just... distracted by all this." She gestured toward the massive simulation chamber below.

"I was saying we should all go to a different mall instead," Margaret repeated. "The Meridian Mall has this amazing crystal boutique."

"That sounds good," Calypso said, her gaze drifting across the room to where Xavier stood talking with Luka and Sayuri.

He looked fine. Completely unaffected. While she’d spent the night aching for him, he’d apparently slept like a baby. Sayuri leaned toward him, her green curls bouncing as she showed him something in her sketchbook. The girl’s cheeks flushed pink when Xavier smiled at whatever she’d drawn.

Look at her, all sweet and innocent with those big doe eyes. I bet she’s never processed a single soul.

And then there was Eliza with her tattoos and sexy body, offering Xavier energy drinks and standing too close. Who did she think she was, with those intricate black patterns creeping up her arms? Calypso had created more impressive designs while doodling during boring divine council meetings.

"You’re staring at your cousin again," Naomi observed. "Trouble in the family?"

"No," Calypso said too quickly. "Everything’s fine."

Ashley crossed her arms, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. "You know you can talk to us if something’s wrong, right? If he’s controlling or—"

"He’s not," Calypso interrupted. "Xavier’s just... protective. It’s complicated."

More complicated than you could possibly imagine.

She couldn’t ask these girls for advice. They thought she and Xavier were cousins, for Hades’ sake. Thanks to that bathroom conversation, they already suspected Xavier of being controlling. If they knew the truth—that she was a goddess bound to a reincarnated assassin by divine magic—they’d think she was insane.

Who could she ask? If only she could reach Olympus...

What would Aphrodite do?

Calypso closed her eyes briefly, imagining the Goddess of Love’s response.

"Darling," imaginary Aphrodite purred in her mind, draped across a chaise lounge in something scandalously sheer, "you’re overthinking this. With a body as sexy as yours you can get that man to jump like a good obedient puppy. Just wait until he’s asleep, then tie him to the bed with silk scarves. Use that pretty mouth of yours to wake him up. When he wakes up, ride him until he forgets his own name and thoroughly fills you up. Works every time. Trust me, when Ares was—"

That was... not helpful.

What about Athena? She’s the wise one.

The stern face of the Goddess of Wisdom materialized in her thoughts, wearing her usual expression of mild disappointment.

"A mortal man? Really, Calypso? You’ve existed for nearly a millennium, and this is what occupies your divine intellect? Focus on your mission. Close the gates. Anything else is a distraction beneath your consideration."

Calypso shook her head, earning curious looks from her companions.

"Are you okay?" Margaret asked, touching her arm gently.

"I’m fine," Calypso said.

Both imaginary goddesses gave terrible advice. Aphrodite’s approach was too aggressive, and Athena’s too dismissive. Neither understood her situation. She needed to find a middle path—acknowledge her feelings for Xavier without letting them interfere with their mission.

But how? She’d pushed him away, and now he was acting like nothing had happened. Maybe that was for the best. Divine-mortal relationships never ended well. Zeus’s lovers got turned into animals, Psyche had to complete impossible tasks to be with Eros, and Tithonus received immortality without eternal youth, eventually shriveling into a grasshopper.

She didn’t want Xavier to become a grasshopper.

"I think they’re about to start," Naomi said, nodding toward the command console where Dr. Simmons was typing rapidly.

"Pay close attention, students. What you’re about to witness is a Tier-2 Medium dungeon gate simulation based on the Osaka Incident of 2040. The original gate claimed an entire C-rank team."

Screens flickered to life around the observation deck, showing different angles of the simulation chamber. The terrain was shifting, crystalline structures growing from the ground like accelerated plants. The air inside the chamber took on a purplish hue.

"The team entering the simulation will be led by a third-year student many of you may have heard of," Phantom said. "She’ll be accompanied by four of her classmates."

A door at the far end of the chamber slid open. Five figures in specialized hunter gear entered.

"Wait a minute," Beppo exclaimed, pressing his face against the glass. "You didn’t tell us SHE would be the one leading!"

The lead figure wore a form-fitting black combat suit with golden accents. Her purplish hair flowed down all the way to her lower back. Even from this distance, her presence commanded attention.

Phantom chuckled. "Did I forget to mention The Last Echo herself would be leading this exercise?"

A collective gasp rippled through the students. Even Kyrie looked impressed.

"The Last Echo?" Calypso murmured, scanning her memories for information. Nothing came up. "Who the Hades is that?"