DISCLAIMER: I don't own Camp Half-Blood, Camp Jupiter, or the House of Life. Those belong to Rick Riordan.

"People take prophecies too seriously. They let words dictate what they do, then try to avoid what they don't want. The cause and effect are illusions, just as how the past and the present are the same. Why both gods and mortals can't see that will always be a mystery. No one can ever dictate the flow. Or maybe I'm just bitter at being strapped to a rock by a snake."

- Loki to Palva

: IV :

: 2012 NICO :

Prophecy and Mythomagic

This was definitely bad. What do I expect from Cupid's half sister? The ancient worlds were not meant to meet each other.

The air between us was cold and tense, but then I realized that it was not the air. It was the mist, but it was a cold mist.

Sadie readied to draw her weapon, when her brother Carter stopped her. "What is this smoke!" she demanded, looking at us venomously.

"This isn't normal mist," Drew looked at me threateningly. Lacy hid behind Drew.

Waltnubis then stepped between us, holding his hands against both parties.

"Don't draw your weapons," a voice said.

Exactly after, a giant appeared in front of us. It was tall, as all giants were, but it wasn't the same as those who fought alongside Gaea. It was white, and everywhere it stepped, ice formed.

The school kids ran away and scattered, but there were some who came to join us. Great, more magicians coming. They all drew their weapons from somewhere. Carter, who now had some sort of Egyptian sword, looked at me and the two demigods, "Sorry to drag you guys into this. You see, monster always come for us. Please stay out of the way."

Drew looked offended. "Hey, I'm quite capable! Who do you people think you are? You think that came for you? Me and Lacy here have survived a lot of monster attacks ourselves," she said pointedly. "Won't you apologize?" she added sweetly. That's smart of her to not question their identities.

Behind him, his fellow magicians were starting to fight, though, there seemed to be a little kid enjoying the snow with his penguins. Carter sighed and said, "Look, I believe that you are quite capable. I know so. I've met one of you before. But my comrades would be shocked, so please. There might be some force driving us against each other."

Carter and I locked eyes for a while, but he couldn't hold it. To save him from awkwardness, I pointed at the giant and said, "Fine, but we'll talk about this later."

I sat on a shady corner. Drew and Lacy followed me. "I'm not stupid, so I guess they are a bit like us."

They sat beside me and we watched the battle. The mortals around were panicking. What they could see, I can only guess. The magicians were losing as their magic doesn't affect the monster that much. The monster couldn't possibly be Egyptian. As if there were ice giants in Egypt.

"Not surprised?"

"After the Romans, the only possible conclusion there was was that there were still other gods and traditions out there." Drew scoffed. "Egyptians?"

I nodded. Then Lacy recited something.

In a time of peace, the gears of balance will work,

as ancient history might be given rebirth.

Barriers are undone as the snake bites its tail,

and heroes from beyond must cross paths once more.

All the gods of that age shall arise and meet,

and all mortals shall see the truth of the peak.

Where there is a beginning was once an end,

continue to see what lies ahead.

"Rachel said it was the third Great Prophecy," she said timidly.

What a weird prophecy. It didn't even refer anything or anyone. Then someone blew my ear.

I drew my sword. Drew and Lacy also drew their daggers.

"Hey." A good-looking dark haired young adult was grinning at us. "I thought I told you lot to not draw your weapons."

I eyed him. He was wearing a dress robe, and on his left hand a walking cane. Must be where he hid his weapon. "Hey, don't look at me creepily! Oh, oh, wait! I know you." What was this guy blabbering about? I don't know him.

"Mister, who are you?" Drew cooed. Best to leave the talking to a charm speaker. The guy laughed and said, "Admiring, that tongue of Aphrodite. Though, I only heard stories of it."

We didn't lower our blades. This guy knew something.

"Look, I only came to pick up the big guy. See, those Egyptian magicians couldn't hurt Thrymr."

I heard that name before, from my long lost childhood. "Who are you working for?"

He rummaged and took out an ID. "I'm Loki from Mythomagic."

I laughed a hollow laugh. Bianca used to buy me those. Mythomagic, that game of cards which features gods from different mythology? And this guy claimed to be an agent of that company, sent to capture that giant?

"Nice try," I smirked.

"Your eyes glint so much like that of a madman's that they remind me of someone," the stranger commented, "But you really need to lower your weapons so that I can help those poor Egyptian magicians battle a Norse Frost Giant." Then he added, "I did tell you to not draw your weapons. That guy once stole Thor's Miolnir."

I nodded at Drew and Lacy, and we lowered our weapons.

"Oh, and please tell them to fall back."

From where the stranger stood, a glowing rune circle appeared. It was divided into nine parts. I noticed that a part was written in ancient Greek, another in Latin, another in Egyptian, I think, and five in gods know what language. A portion was left blank.

"Walt! Tell your friends to retreat!" I shouted. Waltnubis looked surprised, but then when he saw the stranger, he nodded in agreement.

With the Egyptian magicians out of range, the stranger took out a card. I would recognized it anywhere. It was a blank Mythomagic card.

"Seriously?" I said mockingly.

The stranger grinned at me playfully. "Seriously."

The same circle appeared at the foot of the giant, which multiplied and floated, vertically equidistant with one another, binding the giant. Mr. Mythomagic started a chant. From somewhere, I heard Sadie exclaim, "That's a variation of the binding spell!"

A blinding light flashed and the giant was gone. But so was the stranger named Loki, agent of Mythomagic.

A/N: Dig. Seems like Mythomagic is more that your mythology card game. Who are they, and whoa, see the Norse reference there? Don't be surprised. It's as Drew said! Since Romans were real, then there must be more. The question now is how many more, and what are the rules made regarding this matter. But what of this great prophecy? Will it bring the end or the new beginning? And the third of the great,when three is a very strong number.

Up next: Bianca's rise from the dead.