28. Athena
By the time I finished training, every muscle in my body was screaming in protest. My legs felt like lead, each step heavier than the last, and the burn in my arms made me feel as though I had been hauling bricks for hours. Sweat clung to my skin like a second layer, and I could barely catch my breath. It was as if I had been running for days without a moment’s rest.
“You should get ready for lunch, Luna,” Claudia’s voice broke through the fog of exhaustion, her friendly tone once again slipping into place as we trudged back from the gym.
I glanced at her from the corner of my eye, too drained to argue. Normally, I would snap back, tease her for reverting to titles, but right now, I couldn’t muster the energy. She could call me whatever she wanted.
I was beyond weak, compl
