The street is still humming from Tunde's burst of power. It feels like the air itself is vibrating. Sade touches her chest—her heart is pounding like it wants to escape.
Tunde leans against a wall, weak, sweat beading on his forehead.
Sade (worried):
Tunde… are you okay?
He forces a smile.
Tunde:
I'll be fine. I just haven't used that level of power since…
He stops.
Sade steps closer.
Sade:
Since when?
Tunde hesitates. His eyes shift away.
And suddenly—she knows:
He's hiding something HUGE.
A Vision Hits Sade Suddenly
As she looks at Tunde, a flash of light blinds her.
Suddenly she sees:
A massive glowing gate
Spirits bowing to someone
Tunde standing before a council of beings wearing light-masks
A voice saying: "Protect the Soul-Bearer at all costs"
Sade stumbles back.
Sade:
Tunde—what is a Soul-Bearer?
Tunde's expression freezes solid.
Tunde's Truth Begins to Unfold
Tunde sighs softly.
He looks at her with eyes full of pain and destiny.
Tunde:
Sade… every hundred years, a human is born with a soul strong enough to exist in both realms. Someone who can see through life and death. Someone who can hold enough energy to either fix the balance… or completely destroy it.
He swallows hard.
Tunde:
You are that person.
Sade's breath catches.
Sade:
Me? But I'm just—
Tunde:
No. You're not "just" anything. Your soul almost leaving your body woke up ancient forces. That's why the Watchers want you. And why others… darker ones… will come.
Sade shakes her head, overwhelmed.
But Tunde Reveals Even More
He steps closer, lowering his voice.
Tunde:
There's something else. Something personal.
The air tenses.
Tunde:
I wasn't assigned to you… by accident.
Sade's pulse races.
Sade:
What do you mean?
Tunde looks directly into her eyes—
the kind of look that holds years of emotion.
Tunde:
I knew your soul… before you were born.
Sade freezes.
Sade:
What?
Tunde's aura flickers like candlelight.
Tunde:
Sade… you and I were linked long before your accident. Long before the spirit realm. Our souls crossed in a former cycle. You saved me once—long ago. And when you fell that night, something in me recognized you instantly.
Sade feels a shiver go down her spine—
not fear… but something deep, ancient… intimate.
A Dangerous Interruption
Suddenly—
KRRRRR-RAAACK!!!
The ground splits open.
Blue flames burst out of the cracks.
Sade screams and grabs Tunde.
Sade:
Tunde—what's happening now??
Tunde turns pale.
Tunde:
No… no, not them. Not now.
From the flames, hands begin to crawl out.
Blackened, charred, glowing with red cracks.
A voice rises from below—
deep, echoing, cruelly delighted:
Voice:
"Sade… we've been waiting for you."
Tunde pulls her behind him, powering up again.
Tunde:
The Watchers were just the beginning. This… this is the Legion Below.
Sade trembles.
Sade:
Tunde… am I in danger because I came back to life?
He grips her hand tight.
Tunde:
No. You're in danger because you were never meant to die in the first place…
And someone arranged the accident to get to your soul.
Sade's eyes widen.
Someone… tried to kill her on purpose.
Someone alive.
And the Legion knows who.
Tunde looks at her.
Tunde:
Get ready, Sade. Because the truth is coming… and it will change everything.