IDC HEADQUARTERS – SECTOR 349 – CHAMBER OF ORIGIN
Lifia clasps her hands, galaxies swirling in her eyes.
"You are dismissed. Master your elements to their fullest. Unlock every tattoo and eventually defeat kahos. The tournament waits for no one."
David flashes a confident grin.
"Yeah. Alright."
Lifia nods warmly.
"My guards will escort you."
The blue-skinned, red-eyed alien guards step forward in perfect sync.
The seven warriors turn toward the elevator.
David glances back one last time.
Lifia is still facing them…
then her human form flickers.
Pure white energy surges — blinding.
Her mouth opens in a silent gasp.
"It's… starting."
David freezes for half a second.
The hell was that…?
Favour tugs his sleeve.
"Come on."
He steps into the elevator with the others.
Doors slide shut.
Elevator descends.
David (in his mind, uneasy):
"What was that…??"
CUT TO – IDC ABUJA – CAFETERIA → TRAINING CHAMBER – 10:15 A.M.
Aliyah walks in, tray empty, belly happy.
Two identical boys lean against the wall — Paul & Peter, Gemini twins.
One has a cocky smirk (Peter).
The other has a know-it-all glint (Paul).
Aliyah stops.
"Woooow… actual twins."
Both in unison:
"Yeaah."
Paul (polite):
"I'm Paul."
Peter (sassy):
"And I'm Peter. The better-looking one."
Aliyah laughs.
"Got it."
Paul pushes off the wall, grinning like he already won.
"Come to the raining chamber. Let's test how well Libra really controls the air."
(Inside his head: "I've been mastering wind since I was twelve. This go sweet.")
Aliyah shrugs, confidence quiet.
"Alright. Let's go."
The three head down the corridor — Paul & Peter bouncing with excitement, Aliyah calm, already feeling the breeze answer her heartbeat.
IDC ABUJA – TRAINING CHAMBER – 10:22 A.M.
Paul and Aliyah face off, Peter watching from the observation window, arms folded, smirk ready.
Paul spins his wrists once.
WHOOOOOSHHH!
A horizontal cyclone erupts, strong enough to lift training dummies off the floor.
The blast slams into Aliyah, trying to send her flying.
Aliyah plants her feet.
Palms slam downward — air pressure detonates beneath her.
The cyclone bounces back like it hit a wall.
Paul skids**, sneakers screeching, but holds.
Paul grins, circling faster.
Hands whirl — air compressing into a glowing sphere the size of a car.
"Try this!"
He hurls it.
MASSIVE SHOCKWAVE — glass panels shatter, training rocks pulverise.
Aliyah doesn't flinch.
Both palms forward, fingers straight like blades.
"Balance."
SPLIT.
The sphere parts perfectly down the middle — two harmless streams of wind roaring past her on either side.
The chamber turns into a wind tunnel for three seconds, then calms.
Paul stares, mouth open.
"…Hmmmmph. You good, Aliyah responds: before nko."
Peter outside the window: "Ouch. My brother just got cooked!"
Aliyah smiles sweetly.
"Next?"
SECTOR 349 – XL-25 – 11:05 A.M. (Earth-relative)
XL-25 rockets out of the hangar lock.
Thrusters flare — wormhole mouth opens — light-speed jump.
Inside the cabin, everyone strapped in.
Favour sits directly across from David.
She can't stop stealing glances.
Every time David moves, her eyes flick to him, cheeks pink, fingers nervously twisting a braid.
David stretches, yawns — catches her staring.
Favour instantly snaps her head to the window, face bright red.
David (small, shy smile):
"She's been doing that the whole trip…"
Prince beside David, whispers:
"Bro… she dey toast you with eye."
David blushes harder.
"Shut up, abeg."
Favour pretends to be fascinated by empty space, heart racing.
XL-25 Computer:
"Entering Earth atmosphere in T-15 minutes."
Favour risks one more glance.
David looks back this time — holds it for two full seconds.
Both look away at the exact same moment.
Ojo from the back:
"Make una kiss make we rest."
Everyone bursts out laughing — even Gabriel.
Favour hides her face in her hoodie.
David stares at the floor, smiling like an idiot.
EARTH ORBIT → ABUJA – 17:42 Local Time
XL-25 tears out of the wormhole.
Earth — blue, white, perfect — fills the cockpit window.
David presses his forehead to the glass.
"Wooah earth…"
The ship dives.
Front edge glows cherry-red, plasma sheath blazing.
Inside, everyone grips seats — heat shields sizzle.
Then cool-down thrusters fire.
XL-25 glides like a falcon, lands feather-soft on the IDC Abuja rooftop helipad.
Ramp lowers.
David slides the door open first.
Hot Nigerian air and diesel smell rush in.
Agent Vision waits with six guards, optic calm.
"You're back. Welcome."
David hops down, grinning.
"Yeah. Good to be back."
The seven warriors file out — scrolls clutched tight.
They head for the rooftop elevator.
Elevator ride down
Agent Vision scans the rolls in their hands.
"Hmmm. Scrolls?"
Favour lifts hers proudly.
"From Lifia herself. To master our elements completely."
Vision nods, impressed.
"Then you begin practice tomorrow. No excuses."
David takes a long breath, exhales.
"Tomorrow it is."
DING.
Elevator doors slide open — Warrior Dorm Level.
Aliyah stands in the corridor, arms crossed, laughing with Paul and Peter.
She turns — sees the returning squad.
Aliyah's eyes widen — then she smiles, small and grateful.
"You guys actually came back."
Paul (grinning):
"Told you they would."
Peter (to the group):
"i knew they would come back."
David meets Aliyah's gaze.
"How far Paul and peter....so this girl you even awake gon sef."
Aliyah shrugs, smirking.
"Somebody had to humble the twins."
Laughter ripples down the hall.
The elevator doors close behind them.
IDC Abuja – Warrior Dorm Wing – 19:12
David flops onto his bed, arms spread, staring at the ceiling.
"Finally… sleep."
The door slides open again.
Favour stands there, small duffel bag over her shoulder, cheeks already pink.
David bolts upright.
"Hey—Favour? Wetin you dey do here?"
Favour avoids eye contact, pretending to study the floor.
"Oh… I asked Agent Vision if I could switch with Prince.
Emmanuella snores like a generator with asthma. I just… can't."
David (trying to play it cool, but heart racing):
"Okay… no wahala."
Favour (still not looking at him in the eye):
"You sure it's okay?"
David grins, soft.
"Yeah. Really."
Favour turns her back to him, pretending to unpack.
Her ears are bright red.
She bites her lip to stop the smile.
David lies back down, staring at the ceiling again, smiling like an idiot.
CUT TO – Prince & Ojo's Room – Same Time
Prince and Ojo sit cross-legged on the floor, Fire Scroll spread between them.
Hands moving in perfect sync — palm circles, finger snaps, flame sigils glowing in the air.
Ojo (smirking):
"See? Forearm tattoos by next week."
Prince laughs.
"Keep dreaming, ram boy."
Door slides open.
Agent Vision steps in, arms folded.
"Lights out in thirty. Tomorrow, 0500: full element drills. No excuses."
Ojo groans:"wait lights out uggh, I thought we were in the morning.
Prince salutes lazily.
"Yes, sir."
Vision pauses, optic scanning the room.
"And keep the snoring down. Some people switched rooms to escape it."
Ojo blinks.
Prince bursts out laughing.**