The holographic cosmos collapses into sparks that drift like fireflies. The mansion's star-painted ceiling returns to normal. David stands frozen, scorpion pendant still glowing faintly.
Chika taps his staff. "Training starts tomorrow."
David blinks. "Training keh? Me I no get time for training ooo."
Chika smirks. "Oh, I won't be training you."
David: "Then…?"
Chika spins his staff; a glowing portal opens, revealing a sleek silver logo—IDC in swirling star-script.
"You'll attend the Inter-Galactic Division Corp. They handle Zodiac Warrior training. I'm just a trainee and mentor there."
David's eyes widen. "Where e dey?"
"Branches in Lagos, Abuja, Tokyo, New York… and one floating in low orbit. You're going to the Lagos campus."
David: "So which one I go enter?"
Chika: "Lagos. But first—can you control water?"
David laughs. "Water? I fit drink am, not control am."
Chika's face turns serious. "Water is Scorpio's element. If you can't bend even a drop, IDC won't accept you."
David steps back. "Wait—why I no fit just live normal life? Orphanage, hustle, finish!"
Chika: "Nope. Destiny don catch you. Now come."
He flicks his wrist; a crystal bowl of water floats from a side table and hovers between them.
"Lesson one: feel the tide inside you
David stares at the bowl. "How I go—"
Chika: "Close eyes. Remember the pendant. Scorpio rules still waters and hidden depths. Find the pull."
David shuts his eyes. The pendant pulses. A single droplet lifts from the bowl, trembling in mid-air.
David gasps. "E dey move!"
The droplet falls back into the bowl. David surprised. "Ah-ah! Wetin happen?"
Chika chuckles. "Control, not panic. Again."
David's eyes narrow, breath steady. The single droplet trembles above the bowl, catches the chandelier light, then plop—falls back with a soft splash.
Chika folds his arms. "You tried. But I need mastery by tomorrow, or IDC slams the gate."
David groans, palms to his temples. "Ughhh—why I no fit just live normal life, abeg?"
"Destiny no dey take excuse," Chika answers, producing a rolled parchment that unfurls on its own. SCORPIO WATER-BENDING: HAND SIGNS & FLOW glows in indigo script. "Study. Practice. I'll check at 8:35 p.m. sharp. It's 4:03 now—outside the mansion, plenty space. No break anything expensive."
David takes the scroll, eyes wide. "I go… control water? For real?"
"You're Scorpio. Water bends to you." Chika taps his staff; a circle of starlight spins open. "I'm off to IDC Abuja. Teleport beats Lagos traffic."
David blinks. "So fast?"
"See you later, son." Snap—Chika vanishes in a swirl of violet sparks.
David exhales, scroll heavy in his hand. "Later, Oga Wizard." He steps into the corridor, mansion humming like a living thing. Marble floors ripple underfoot; portraits of past warriors track his movement. Curiosity wins—he wanders deeper, past floating orbs and whispering tapestries, until a golden chest no bigger than a lunchbox sits half-hidden behind a suit of star-forged armor. Blue aura pulses from the seams like liquid moonlight.
David crouches. "Wet'n be this?" He flips the latch.
BOOM.
The chest explodes open. A massive wolf-beast—midnight fur, eyes like twin eclipses—erupts, jaws wide, and pounces. David crashes backward, heart slamming against ribs.
"Which kind creature fit inside that small box?!" his mind screams as the beast's growl rattles the walls.