Sanctuary
Athens, Greece
11:27 AM

The walk to the village was long – it was all done by foot, at the agents' pace. Milo led the group, choosing a scenic trail with easy footing. And Shura, naturally, made a point of narrating every historical site and monument along the way.

"Right here…" Shura pointed to a beautiful lake on the right side of the path. It stretched wide, with a massive tree at its edge, its branches nearly dipping into the water. The canopy was lush, full of tiny green leaves. "This was our favorite spot to escape from theoretical training…"

"I miss those times…" Milo murmured, eyes lost in the lake.

"So this is where you all used to disappear to, huh?" Saga said, pretending to be stern.

"Yeah, ditching psychic training and not even inviting us…" Deathmask shook his head, mock-disappointed.

"Maybe that's why you all ended up with way better psychic attacks," Saga replied, smiling. "You got ahead in some things thanks to all those absences…"

"I still feel left out…" Deathmask grumbled. "Eh, Milo, who else did you not invite?"

"Let me think…" Milo scratched his chin. "Shaka – because we knew he'd never go. Saga and Aiolos, for obvious reasons. Camus, because he'd rat us out. You – because I couldn't stand you back then. And Aphrodite – we did invite him once, but he said he wouldn't break the rules just to slack off."

Mulder and Scully couldn't stop laughing as the knights shared those stories. In moments like that, they just seemed like ordinary guys reminiscing about teen mischief.

"When I was sixteen, I used to skip math class and hide out at the pool. I hated math…" Mulder said, smiling at the memory.

"Math… ugh!" Shaka grimaced.

"What about you, Agent Scully? Ever skip a class?" Shura asked, giving her a playful wink.

"Hmm… actually, yes." Scully laughed at the surprised look Mulder gave her. "I'm with Shaka – I hated math too."

"And where did you hide out?" Mulder's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Scully blushed a little, and Camus noticed her discomfort right away.

"Shall we keep walking? We still have quite a bit ahead," he said gently, offering his hand to Scully, who took it with a grateful look.

They walked for another hour until they reached the entrance of the small town. The place was bustling – a huge open-air market was in full swing, offering vegetables, fruits, clothes, and all sorts of goods. Scully noticed how the villagers looked at the knights with admiration. Some even bowed. The knights returned the gestures with polite smiles, not wanting to disturb the peaceful Sunday routine.

The market was lively. Aphrodite stopped at one of the stalls, and the agents looked at him curiously – until he turned around holding a stunning garment in his hands, his eyes shining as he looked at Scully. He called her over with a smile, and she walked up to him.

"Dine, look at that skin!" one of the older women at the stall whispered in Greek to the other. "It will look stunning on her, Sir!"

It was a unique piece, made of a flowing, delicate fabric. Scully wasn't exactly sure what it was – some kind of traditional Greek dress, perhaps – and she wasn't sure she could wear something like that. She gave Aphrodite an awkward smile as he gently held the dress up to her, as if measuring how it would fit her shape. She instinctively shrank back a little.

"This ivory shade is gorgeous with your skin tone and hair," Aphrodite praised her. "You'll look even more radiant."

"Um… Aphrodite, I don't think I should…" Scully hesitated.

"May I tell you a secret?" Aphrodite widened his ocean-blue eyes – knowing full well how that it would hold her attention. "We're two days away from the summer solstice festival. It's tradition to attend the opening night… and if you'll allow me the liberty – you'll break hearts in this dress."

Scully was speechless. She had no idea what to say to the young man who was smiling at her so sweetly, with a face that made it impossible to say no to anything.

"Come on, accept it. I insist."

He winked. She had no escape.

"All right." Scully smiled, flustered, noticing the others watching them with amused looks.

Aphrodite quickly paid the vendors, chatting animatedly with the two women. Then he returned to the group.

"Ma che bel vestito, Afrodite! For the festival?" Deathmask said with a grin, then turned to Scully. "Agent Scully, you're going to look stunning!"

Scully chuckled – she hadn't expected him to be the first to compliment the outfit.

"What festival?" Mulder asked, clearly not loving all the attention focused on his partner.

"Summer solstice. It starts Tuesday, a three-day celebration. We usually attend the first night," Milo explained, excited.

"Oh right, I've read about it. A pagan festival, isn't it?" Mulder looked at Scully, fishing for a reaction.

"I know it is, Mulder…" Scully replied. "I'm Christian, but I see no harm in celebrating good things. It's about fertility, protection, cleansing, and blessings. I think it's wonderful to experience something like this once in a lifetime."

Mulder was more and more shocked by his partner. Scully was acting so differently. She seemed increasingly at ease here, even if she still found herself amazed by each new revelation from these unusual young men.

"Don't worry, Agent Mulder," Milo said, nudging him with a grin. "We'll get you something appropriate to wear too."

"Milo…" Camus said softly, in warning.

"Here we are!" Shura announced, stepping ahead to greet a man at the restaurant door. "Good morning, Gus. What's on the menu today?"

"The classic, Sir, the classic… marinated lamb with mint sauce!" the man replied cheerfully.

"Hmm… my Greek is pretty rusty, but did he say lamb?" Scully's eyes lit up.

"Marinated lamb with mint sauce, that's right," Camus confirmed, as if talking about the weather. "It's the Sunday special around here. Interesting – you speak Greek?"

He switched to Greek mid-sentence.

"Oh, sorry – I don't really understand it well," Scully apologized, and the knight smiled.

"No worries. Even I struggle with it sometimes – and I've lived here all my life. Shall we go in?"

Mulder was finding it harder by the minute to stay cool as his partner received all this attention – even knowing it wasn't romantic. Scully must be feeling like a princess, being treated with such courtesy by everyone. He hadn't had a chance to do the same – and truth be told, how could he possibly compete?

Aphrodite noticed Mulder's pensive expression. He could tell that all the attention Scully was getting was starting to affect the agent's confidence. Mulder had probably never stopped to consider that his partner was an exceptionally beautiful woman who appreciated being treated with care. And now, surrounded by ten young men who were all gentleness and charm, he probably felt like he didn't stand a chance.

"Pisces?" Shaka approached, his gaze following Mulder.

"Virgo?" Aphrodite replied without looking away.

"We need to help him," Shaka said, low enough that only Aphrodite could hear.

Aphrodite's eyes sparkled. As far as he was concerned, those two weren't making it past the first night of the festival without something happening. A few steps away, Milo noticed the little conspiracy forming.

"This is going to be... interesting," he said, chuckling – earning a curious look from Camus.

TO BE CONTINUED...