As the echo of the Harbinger’s retreat faded into the twilight, Aiden stood breathing heavily, the adrenaline still coursing through him. Selene glanced at him, her usually composed face now tense with concern.

"That was too close," she murmured.

Aiden nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. “They’re testing us.”

“They’re more organized than we thought,” Selene added, her eyes narrowing as she surveyed the darkening woods.

“Let’s head back. We need to let the others know what happened.”

They made their way back to the training grounds where the others were gathered, unaware of the danger that had just lurked so close. The group had been in the midst of sparring exercises when Aiden and Selene returned, their faces grim.

“Everyone, listen up!” Aiden’s voice cut through the chatter, immediately capturing their attention.

Elias, who had been guiding a small group through their drills, stepped forward. “What happened?”

“A Harbinger was just outside the woods,” Aiden explained. “They’re watching us. Probably planning something.”

The news sent ripples of unease through the crowd. Some exchanged worried glances, while others tightened their grips on their weapons. The weight of their situation was pressing down harder than ever.

“They know where we are?” Lila asked, her voice quivering.

“Maybe they’ve always known,” Selene said, her tone guarded. “We can’t assume we’ve ever been completely hidden. But now, they’re getting bolder.”

Elias, ever the voice of calm, stepped in. “We’ve been preparing for this. Aiden’s right, this is a test. They’re trying to see how we’ll react.”

Aiden folded his arms. “We need to change tactics. They expect us to wait here, training until we’re strong enough. But if we’re going to stand a chance, we need to act before they do.”

The group was silent for a moment, absorbing his words. It was Lila who broke the silence.

“Are you suggesting we take the fight to them?”

Aiden nodded. “We can’t just sit and wait to be picked off. We know they’re after me, but I’m not the only target. They want all of us—our power, our connection to the gods. The longer we wait, the more dangerous it gets.”

Selene met his eyes, her expression unreadable. “It’s risky.”

“Everything’s risky,” Aiden replied, his voice firm. “But we can’t let them control the situation.”

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A heated discussion broke out among the group. Some, like Elias and Lila, were more cautious, while others were clearly eager to strike first. The tension between their growing powers and their fear of the unknown was beginning to strain their alliances.

“Listen,” Aiden said, raising his voice above the noise. “I’m not saying we rush in blindly. We need a plan, something they won’t expect.”

Selene looked at him thoughtfully. “There are places we could go. Sites that are sacred to the gods. If we gain access to those, we could find more allies—gods or their descendants—willing to help us.”

Elias’s brow furrowed. “Are you talking about temples? Hidden sanctuaries?”

“Exactly,” Selene confirmed. “Places that are still charged with divine power. The Harbingers can’t touch us there. It could give us the edge we need.”

The group was beginning to sway, but not everyone was convinced. “And what if it’s a trap?” one of the trainees, Marcus, asked. “We don’t know what kind of dangers we’ll face in those places. Or if they’ll even help us.”

“That’s true,” Aiden admitted. “But doing nothing is the bigger risk. We can’t just wait here, hoping we get stronger in time. We need to be proactive.”

The discussion continued late into the night, with strategies debated and potential dangers weighed. Finally, a tentative plan emerged: they would seek out one of the ancient sanctuaries Selene knew of, hoping to tap into its power and find others like them who could help.

The next morning, they packed their belongings and prepared to leave the safety of their camp. As the group gathered at the edge of the forest, Aiden felt the weight of their decision settle heavily on his shoulders.

“Are you sure about this?” Elias asked quietly, walking alongside Aiden.

“No,” Aiden said, staring ahead into the dark woods. “But I don’t think we have another choice.”

As they set off on the path toward the unknown, Aiden couldn’t shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching them. He glanced at Selene, who seemed unusually quiet, her face hard to read.

Hours passed as they traveled deeper into the wilderness, their path winding through dense trees and rocky terrain. The deeper they went, the more Aiden felt the presence of something ancient, lingering in the air. It was as though the forest itself held its breath, watching them with unseen eyes.

Suddenly, Selene stopped. “We’re close.”

Aiden and the others looked around, but there was no sign of any temple or sanctuary—just a wall of thick trees.

“Are you sure?” Lila asked, glancing nervously at the surrounding woods.

Selene nodded and approached a large boulder, tracing her fingers along its rough surface. With a murmured incantation, the stone began to glow faintly. Then, with a low rumble, the ground beneath them shifted, revealing a hidden staircase descending into the earth.

“Welcome to the first sanctuary,” Selene said, stepping aside to let the others see. “Let’s hope the gods still favor us.”

As they descended into the dimly lit passageway, Aiden’s pulse quickened. The air was thick with the scent of earth and age, and every step felt like they were walking deeper into the past.

At the bottom of the stairs, the narrow passage opened into a vast underground chamber. At its center stood an altar, surrounded by ancient symbols etched into the stone floor. The air hummed with a faint energy, though it was weaker than Aiden had expected.

“This place hasn’t been touched in centuries,” Selene whispered. “But the power is still here. We can use it.”

Aiden stepped forward, feeling the energy in the room react to him, as though recognizing his presence. The others watched in awe as the air around the altar began to shimmer.

But before they could begin to harness the sanctuary’s power, the shadows at the edges of the room stirred. A chill crept up Aiden’s spine as he realized they weren’t alone.

“They’ve found us,” Selene said, her voice barely above a whisper.

From the darkness, figures began to emerge—Harbingers, their eyes gleaming with malevolent intent.