Luna's heart raced as she and her companions sprinted toward the glowing stone archway that marked the entrance to what she knew would be the Heart of the Hunt. Each step felt like a victory, but the strange, oppressive sensation in the air grew stronger with every passing second. The fog that clung to the ground began to thicken again, swirling in unnatural patterns around their feet.
"We're almost there," Luna whispered, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
Talia, though panting, gave Luna a determined nod. "Let's just hope whatever's waiting for us there isn't worse than Phobos."
"Not possible," Alma muttered. "I'll take Phobos over... whatever's next." Her usual fiery edge was gone, replaced by a quiet wariness.
But before Luna could reply, a sudden gust of wind slammed into them, knocking her off balance. The fog parted briefly, revealing something entirely unexpected—a group of figures, standing in the shadows.
"Who are they?" Finn asked, his eyes narrowing.
Luna instinctively reached for her bow, her fingers brushing the smooth silver wood. She could sense magic—powerful, unfamiliar magic—rippling through the air, and the hairs on her neck stood on end.
The figures stepped forward, and Luna could see they weren't quite like any monsters or gods she had encountered. They were human—at least, they looked human—but they radiated an eerie, unnatural presence. Their clothes were dark, and their eyes gleamed with the ancient power of a different kind of magic. They wore dark robes adorned with symbols Luna didn't recognize—strange hieroglyphs and sigils that pulsed faintly with golden light.
"They're magicians," Luna said, her voice tense.
Alma looked at her with confusion. "Magicians? Like... the stuff from like ancient Egypt?Are we talking about actual magic here?"
"Yes," Luna replied, her gaze fixed on the group. "They're magicians from the Egyptian traditions. They specialize in elemental magic, summoning gods, and controlling forces of nature."
Talia tensed, gripping her sword tighter. "They don't look friendly."
The leader of the group—a tall, dark-skinned man with sharp features and eyes that glowed with golden light—stepped forward, his hands raised in a gesture of command. "You should not have come here, demigods."
Luna squared her shoulders, her bow ready. "We're not leaving. We're here to find something, and we're not going anywhere until we do."
The man's gaze hardened. "You do not understand what you are dealing with. This place is cursed—sacred, ancient. The gods have not called for you."
"We don't need the gods' permission," Luna said defiantly. "We're here for the missing bows. Artemis sent us."
The magician's eyes flickered at the mention of Artemis, but his expression didn't soften. "Artemis? Then you are truly lost. These are dangerous lands for those who are unprepared. The missing bows you seek are not mere weapons—they are symbols of power, dangerous in the wrong hands. We will not let you take them."
Luna's hand tightened on the bowstring, but before she could say anything more, the magician raised a hand. "I am Meren, and these are my companions. We are students of the ancient ways, heirs to the knowledge of the gods. And we will not let you pass without a challenge."
At his command, the ground beneath them trembled, and a forceful gust of wind slammed into their faces. The fog parted to reveal two more figures, stepping forward with a purpose. One was a woman with long black hair, dark eyes glowing with an amber light, and the other, a man with a weathered face, his hands crackling with blue energy.
