Flashback: Eworks Estate, Port Harcourt
The Eworks compound loomed like a fortress, its walls lined with portraits of ancestors whose eyes glowed faintly in the dim light. Joshua, age 12, paused beneath a painting of his great-grandmother—her irises a blazing gold, just like his Phoenix Eye.
"Joshua!" His father's voice echoed down the hallway. "Stop dawdling. Training."
In the courtyard, his brothers were already sparring. Samuel(2nd born), fiery and restless, hurled a whirlwind of flames at Emmanue(1st born)l, who deflected it with a flick of his wrist. Joseph(3rd born), ever the observer, leaned against an iroko tree, his form shimmering with illusions.
Elijah Eworks tossed Joshua a wooden katana. "Again. And this time, focus*.
Joshua's blade trembled. His left eye flickered—a wisp of flame dancing at the edge of his vision—before sputtering out.
Samuel smirked. "Still can't control it, smallie?"
"Leave him alone," Aurora chided, appearing with a tray of chilled zobo. Her bracelets clinked softly. "The Eyes abilities reveals itself in time, Elijah. Not by force."
●Present Day: Family Dinner ●
The dining hall buzzed with the clatter of cutlery and the rich scent of ofe nsala. Elijah sat at the head of the table, his presence heavy as a stormcloud.
"Lagos grows unstable," he said. "Voidspawn near the Third Mainland Bridge. Joshua—you'll patrol with Emmanuel tonight."
Joshua stabbed at his food. "Why not Samuel? He's been itching to burn something."
Samuel grinned. "Because you're the special one. Daddy's little project."
Samuel, Aurora warned, her voice calm but firm. A fork levitated from the table, twisting into a knot with a flick of her metal-manipulating abilities. "be very careful with what you say."
Joseph, silent as ever, cast an illusion of a cockroach skittering into Samuel's bowl.
"Enough!" Elijah's fist slammed the table. "Joseph, no games. Joshua, you'll patrol. End of discussion."
Joshua's Frostfire Eye flared blue, frosting the rim of his glass. "Alright sir"
●●●
Later, Aurora found Joshua on the rooftop, his gaze fixed on Lagos's glittering skyline. The Eye's dual hues—gold and blue—pulsed faintly.
"Your father pushes you because he fears losing control," she said, joining him. "wielding the Eye to it's fullest is no easy task"
Joshua scowled. "I know that is why i train i besides *eye* helps me alot"
Aurora cupped his face, her hands cool and steady. "i know but just don't get lackluster keep training and be prepared... besides you need a team."
"i am working on it mom," Joshua muttered.
Aurora's grip tightened. "good things will get tougher from here on ."
●●●
"School?" Joshua stared at Elijah. "I'm not a child. I've fought Voidspawn. I've patrolled Badagry!"
Elijah didn't look up from his desk. "And yet you still falter. "Yet youare stillso Immature"."
"To who? *You*?"
"To everyone." Elijah finally met his gaze. "Trinity High has resources. Use them. Learn control who knows you might gain your team there."
Joshua clenched his fists. "Fine. ."
●●●
Four months later Joshua stood alone in the Quantum Layer, its vastness stretching impossibly beyond the school's walls. His fingers brushed the hilt of his katana, the Eye's glow reflecting in the polished steel.
*Soon*, he thought. *But not yet