Merlin appeared near his home House of Mystery with a soft crack, the air still rippling faintly from the force of his apparition. The faint outlines of Fallia Village shimmered in the distance, its peaceful silence contrasting sharply with the turmoil that lingered in his mind.
Ahead of him, Isis and Hathor had already there. They hovered near two beds, where Horus lay unconscious on one, his face pale, while Osiris, his breathing shallow, rested on the other, his chest rising and falling weakly.
Merlin carried Zaya carefully, her breathing faint but steady. He placed her gently on an empty cot nearby, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face before focusing on the arrow protruding from her chest. He muttered softly, "Numbescere," casting a numbing charm that spread a faint golden glow over her chest. He grasped the arrow firmly and drew it out in one fluid motion, ensuring minimal pain. Blood welled for only a second before he reached into his pouch and retrieved the Horse Talisman.
The octagonal artifact was cool to the touch, carved from grey stone, with an intricate engraving of a horse etched into its surface. As Merlin activated it, the engraving lit up with a radiant glow, pulsing in waves of soft, warm light. The energy surged into Zaya's body, her wound closing swiftly, the torn flesh knitting together until only unmarred skin remained. Her breathing steadied, and she drifted into a peaceful sleep. Merlin exhaled, his shoulders slumping as relief washed over him.
He turned to Isis and Hathor, his gaze falling on the battered forms of Osiris and Horus. "How are they?" he asked softly, his voice tinged with concern.
Isis looked up, her face streaked with tears, her hands trembling slightly as she clutched Osiris's hand. "I used the elixir," she began, her voice thick with emotion. "It's keeping him alive—for now. But it's temporary. We need to retrieve his heart…" Her voice broke as she glanced at Horus, her expression filled with anguish. "And my son… he's lost his eyes. I don't know if he'll fall into a coma too."
Merlin reached into his pouch again, his fingers brushing against a small, glowing object. He pulled out a piercing blue bead—the radiant eye of Horus. Its ethereal glow bathed his hand in a soft light as he held it out to Isis.
Her breath hitched, and a faint glimmer of hope returned to her tear-streaked face. She quickly took the eye from him, cradling it delicately as though it were the most precious thing in the world. "Thank you, Merlin," she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you…"
Merlin nodded solemnly, his gaze flickering between the unconscious forms of Horus and Osiris. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, and a resolute determination burned in his eyes. "We'll get his heart back," he said firmly. "No matter what it takes."
As the days passed, Merlin's home became a hub of activity and tension. The Egyptian gods, still recovering from their losses, stayed within the sanctuary's protective wards. It was during this time that Atlanta, after hearing about the unfolding chaos, arrived unexpectedly. Her sharp gaze swept across the household, quickly noticing the unfamiliar presence of Isis, Hathor, and the unconscious Horus and Osiris.
Merlin greeted her with a mix of relief and guilt, sensing the questions brewing in her mind. "Atlanta," he began cautiously, "these are... guests in need of sanctuary."
Atlanta arched an eyebrow, glancing at Hathor, who seemed to hover near Merlin more than necessary. "Guests, huh?" she said, crossing her arms. Her tone was light, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of something else.
Hathor, ever the goddess of love and beauty, didn't miss the subtle challenge. She stepped forward with a radiant smile that could charm even the coldest heart. "You must be Atlanta," she said, her voice smooth and melodic. "Merlin has spoken of you."
"Has he?" Atlanta replied, her smile equally sharp. "And you are?"
"Hathor," the goddess replied, her gaze unwavering. "Goddess of music, joy, and—"
"Love?" Atlanta finished, her tone now edged with a hint of rivalry. "Of course. How fitting."
Merlin sighed deeply, sensing the growing tension between the two women. "Enough," he said, stepping between them. "We have far more pressing matters to deal with than... this."
Atlanta glanced at Horus and Osiris, her expression softening. "What happened to them?" she asked, her voice now filled with genuine concern.
Merlin quickly explained the events, from Set's betrayal and civil war between Egyptian gods. Atlanta, always one to step up in a crisis, rolled up her sleeves. "Tell me how I can help," she said firmly.
Despite their unspoken rivalry, Hathor and Atlanta set it aside for now.
Two months passed, and the tension in Egypt escalated into chaos. News of a civil war raged, the land split between the followers of Nephthys and the tyrannical forces of Set.
Merlin sat at a long wooden table, a map of Egypt spread before him. The markers scattered across it showed the fractured state of the land. He glanced at Isis, who sat beside him, her eyes filled with grief and resolve.
"From what I've gathered," Merlin began, his voice measured but heavy, "Nephthys is no longer willing to stand by her husband. She's taken her army against him. But it's a mess—a full-blown war between the gods. And still, many of them remain neutral, unwilling to take a side."
Isis's gaze flickered to the nearby bed where Horus and Osiris lay. Her husband's once-mighty form remained still, locked in a deep, unyielding coma. Horus, though healing, was a shadow of himself, one eye lost to Set's treachery. She muttered under her breath, "Once Horus wakes, we'll join the fight. We'll end this madness."
Merlin nodded grimly, but his expression darkened. "Set isn't the same as before," he warned. "He's growing stronger by the day. His power now rivals the greatest among the gods. He has your husband's heart, Horus's eye, and—if the rumors are true—Thoth's brain. He's absorbing their power, Isis. He's becoming something far more dangerous."
Hathor spoke up."It is best you help Nephthys as much as possible."
Merlin agreed with Hathor.
The days turned into weeks, and Merlin lent his magic to Nephthys's forces. His spells tore through Set's armies, disrupting their formations and causing chaos in their ranks. But despite his efforts, the conflict remained at a stalemate. Set's strength was unparalleled, his forces bolstered by his stolen godly powers.
Then, one fateful night, a scream echoed through Merlin's sanctuary.
Horus bolted upright in his bed, his chest heaving, his remaining eye wild with fear and fury. Isis rushed to his side, her trembling hands cupping his face. "Horus," she whispered, her voice breaking, "you're awake."
He stared at her, his memories rushing back like a storm. "Mother… Father… Is he…?"
Isis's face fell, and she glanced at Osiris's unmoving form. "He's alive," she said softly, "but just barely. We need his heart, Horus. Without it…"
Merlin approached, his face grave but hopeful. From his pouch, he withdrew the glowing blue orb: Horus's stolen eye. Its faint light bathed the room in an ethereal glow. "This belongs to you," Merlin said, placing it in Horus's hand.
Horus looked at the eye, his fingers trembling as he pressed it to the one of his empty sockets. Light flared as the divine energy fused with him, and his vision returned. Atleast partially.
But the weight of his father's condition hung heavy on him.
Merlin spoke quietly, but with urgency. "Horus, you need to know something. Set's power has grown. He's taken your eye, your father's heart, and Thoth's brain. He's unstoppable unless we act."
Merlin then added, his tone grim. "Also, I've heard whispers that he seeks to unseal Ammit, the Devourer of the Dead."
Isis froze, her expression clouded with horror. She muttered, "No… we cannot let him unseal her. That monster will destroy everything."
Horus turned to his mother, his brow furrowed. "Who is she, Mother?"
The room grew tense as Isis began to explain. "Ammit… she is known as the 'Devourer of the Dead' or the 'Eater of Hearts.' Her power is unmatched. Unlike other judges of mortals, she doesn't wait for sins to be committed—she sees the past, present, and future of a soul and punishes them preemptively for any potential evil. Osiris, Set, and the other gods banded together to imprison her. Her power was too dangerous, her judgments too absolute."
She looked around at the assembled group—Horus, Merlin, Hathor, Zaya, and Atlanta. "If Set succeeds in freeing her, she will tip the scales in his favor. Reclaiming your father's heart will become nearly impossible."
Horus's fists tightened, his body trembling with barely contained fury. His gaze swept over his father's still form before locking with Merlin's. "Then we must go to my grandfather," he said, his voice heavy with determination. "Ra will help us. He has to."
Isis thought about it and agreed.