Scene 1: The Call for Help

(Morning – Orphanage Courtyard in Old Brass)

The sun climbed slowly over Old Brass, painting the dusty courtyard in soft gold. Kente, Zuri, and Aanya stood ready, their bags slung over their shoulders, eyes fixed on the road ahead. Miss Wolo leaned on her staff, watching them with a mix of pride and worry.

Before they could step out, a small boy darted into the courtyard, his breath coming in quick gasps. "Miss Wolo! It's Prophet Mirror and Chioma Canine—they're not coming!"

Miss Wolo's brow furrowed. "What do you mean, child?"

The boy wiped sweat from his face. "They sent me to tell you. Prophet Mirror saw something in his visions—Harvesters gathering near the outer gates. He said he had to stay and watch the shadows. And Chioma Canine went with him. She said her nose caught a bad scent, something big moving in the dust. They're guarding the city, keeping the orphanage safe."

Kente's stomach tightened. Prophet Mirror, with his gift to pierce illusions, and Chioma Canine, with her keen senses, were like anchors in a storm. Without them, the journey to the Spire of Echoes felt like walking a rope over a pit.

Zuri kicked at the dirt, frowning. "Great. Just us against the world again."

Aanya's silver eyes flickered with calm. "They're doing what they must. We can do this."

Miss Wolo nodded, her voice firm. "The Heart of Old Brass won't wait. You three are enough. Go."

Kente touched the pendant at his chest, its warmth steadying his nerves. "We'll make it back. With the Heart."

Scene 2: The Path to the Spire

(Midday – Streets of Old Brass)

The trio wound through Old Brass's narrow streets, the map crinkling in Kente's grip. The city was hushed, the usual hum of life dulled by a thick, uneasy quiet. Dust spun in lazy circles around their boots, and the spires towered above, their tips lost in the haze.

Zuri's voice broke the silence, soft and heavy. "Prophet and Canine should be here. I'd feel better with them watching our backs."

Aanya glanced at him, her tone gentle. "They're protecting Old Brass. If the Harvesters break through, there won't be a home to return to."

Kente's third eye twitched, a faint glow sparking in his forehead. "She's right. But something's off. I can feel it."

A whisper floated through the air, thin and sharp, like a blade on stone. Kente froze, his pulse quickening. "You hear that?"

Zuri and Aanya shook their heads, their faces puzzled.

The whisper grew clearer, brushing against Kente's mind: "The Heart calls… but the shadows grow."

He blinked hard, shaking it off. "Let's move. The spire's close."

Scene 3: The Watchmen's Plan

(Hidden Chamber Beneath Old Brass)

Deep below the city, the Watchmen huddled in their lair, torchlight flickering over their grim faces. WanLaden Watchman stood at the head, his metal arm whirring faintly. Adam Watchman fiddled with a glowing gadget, sparks jumping from its wires. Falther Watchman sat still, his cold eyes plotting. Dethugo Watchman ran a cloth over his knives, silent and steady, while Layefa Watchman smirked, tracing the tribal marks on her arm.

A tense silence settled as WanLaden's expression darkened, his thoughts momentarily drifting elsewhere. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, measured—like a blade held just above a throat.

WanLaden Watchman: (low, almost to himself)

"That boy…The one known as Kente. I've seen him before. It's been years, but there's no mistaking it."

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Adam's eyes narrowed, sensing something deeper.

Adam Watchman: (sharply)

"Who?"

Falther's expression darkened.

Falther Watchman:

"Explain yourself, WanLaden. You recognized him back then, didn't you? And yet, you hesitated."

WanLaden exhaled through his nose, eyes momentarily clouded with memory.

WanLaden Watchman:

"7 years ago, an orphanage in Old Brass burned to the ground. Some called it an accident. Others whispered of witches. But the truth?" (His fists clenched, knuckles whitening.) "They were experimenting on children. And when investigators from the capital got too close, we were hired to erase the evidence. Burn it all. Kill them all. No survivors."

Adam's expression darkened. Falther remained motionless, listening.

WanLaden Watchman: (eyes narrowing)

"Kente is the same boy from seven years ago—the one who managed to escape the disaster."

Adam's head tilted slightly, processing the information.

Adam Watchman: (coldly)

"If that was your mission, then why is he still alive?"

Falther Watchman: (arms folded, voice edged with suspicion)

"You saw him. You knew him. Yet, you let him go."

A muscle in WanLaden's jaw twitched. He exhaled slowly before responding.

WanLaden Watchman:

"Hmph. Killing him would've been easy. But when I saw the way he ran… the fire in his eyes… it reminded me of myself as a child."

A silence settled over the room, thick with unspoken history. Then, WanLaden continued, voice lower, laced with something almost resembling amusement.

WanLaden Watchman:

"Most children accept their fate. He didn't. He clawed his way out of the inferno."

A slow smirk curled across one of the Watchmen's lips.

Adam Watchman: (grinning cruelly)

"Survivors tend to become problems."

WanLaden's gaze flickered to the speaker, but he didn't comment. Instead, he turned to The watchmen.

WanLaden's voice cut through the dark. "The trio's on the move. They'll hit the spire soon."

Adam's eyes lit up. "I can rig a trap—send my clones to slow them down."

Falther waved a hand. "Too risky. The spire's got its own defenses. Let those wear them out first."

Dethugo nodded, his blade catching the light.

Layefa's laugh was sharp and cold. "I hope they scream. It'll be fun to hear."

WanLaden silenced them with a look. "Patience. They'll get the Heart. Then it's ours."

(Afternoon – Entrance to the Spire)

The Spire of Echoes loomed before them, its ancient stone smoothed by centuries, runes etched deep and glowing faintly. The air buzzed with old juju, stirring the dust into strange, swirling shapes. Kente, Zuri, and Aanya stood at the threshold, a heavy wooden door ajar, spilling a thin beam of light into the gloom.

Kente's third eye pulsed, alive with the spire's power. "It's in there," he murmured. "But it's guarded."

Zuri cracked his knuckles, orange flames licking his fists. "Good. I need a fight."

Aanya brushed her fingers over the door, her runes shimmering. "Careful. This place has teeth."

They stepped inside, the hall swallowing them in cool shadows. Their footsteps echoed, doubling and tripling into a chorus of soft taps. Whispers rose from the walls: "Turn back… the Heart isn't yours…"

Kente's third eye flared, cutting through the lies. "Don't listen. It's a trick."

Zuri gritted his teeth, his fists tightening. Aanya's hands trembled as she traced a rune to steady herself.

Kente clutched his pendant, its heat a lifeline. "We're stronger than this. Keep walking."

Scene 5: The First Trap

(Inside the Spire – Rune-Lit Corridor)

The corridor shrank, its walls pulsing with glowing runes like a living thing. Aanya squinted at them, her voice hushed. "These are old—tied to the spire's soul."

The floor clicked, tiles locking into place. The runes blazed, and a crackle split the air.

"Trap!" Kente yelled, his third eye burning bright.

Blue fire roared from the walls, racing toward them. Zuri leapt forward, his fists ablaze. "On it!"

He slammed a punch into the air, orange flames crashing against the blue. Steam hissed as the fires fought, then faded.

But the floor shuddered, tiles dropping into a black void below. Aanya chanted fast, her runes flaring as a bridge of light stretched beneath them.

Kente yanked Zuri onto the glowing path. "Close one."

Aanya's face was pale, but she managed a smile. "More's coming. Stay sharp."

Scene 6: The Watchmen's Move

(Hidden Chamber Beneath Old Brass)

In their lair, the Watchmen peered into a crystal, its surface showing the trio's struggle. Adam's gadget hummed, tracking the spire's traps.

"They're tough," Adam said, grinning. "But they're wearing down."

Falther's eyes gleamed. "Good. We hit them when they're broken."

WanLaden flexed his metal arm. "Ready yourselves. We move soon."

Scene 7: The Heart's Chamber

(Deep Inside the Spire)

After more traps—spinning blades, falling stones—the trio stumbled into a vast chamber, its roof lost in darkness. A pedestal glowed at the center, cradling a small orb: the Heart of Old Brass. Its golden light pulsed, warm and alive, washing the room in peace.

Kente stepped closer, his third eye softening in its glow. "This is it," he breathed, reverence in his voice.

Zuri and Aanya flanked him, the light painting their faces in gold.

But as Kente's hand hovered over the Heart, the floor quaked. A voice thundered: "Only the worthy may claim the Heart."

A guardian emerged from the shadows—stone and runes fused into a towering form, its eyes blazing blue fire.

Kente's third eye flared, his pendant hot against his chest. "One last fight."

The guardian's fist rose, and the trio braced for battle.