THE CURSED BLOODLINE

EXT. FOREST CLEARING – NIGHT

Akin's breaths are still uneven. His arm stings from the bandit's slash, his fingers tremble from exhaustion.

Iwa kneels beside him and examines his wound.

IWA

"It's shallow. You'll live."

Her touch is quick and efficient. She tears a strip of cloth from her cloak and binds his wound.

Akin winces.

AKIN

"Who are you?"

Iwa doesn't answer immediately.

She glances at the dagger in his hand. The glow has faded, leaving it looking ordinary.

IWA

"That power of yours… where did you get it?"

Akin swallows. He doesn't know how to answer.

He doesn't know the answer himself.

Oladele, still tense from the fight, folds his arms.

OLADELE

"That's what we'd like to know too. Who are you? And why did the bandits run from you?"

Iwa finally looks up, her dark eyes sharp.

IWA

"They ran because they know me."

She stands, shoulders squared.

IWA

"And because I've killed many of their kind before."

Silence.

Akin and Oladele exchange glances.

Oladele raises an eyebrow.

OLADELE

"That's… comforting."

Akin, still struggling to push past his exhaustion, frowns.

AKIN

"Why were you following us?"

Iwa looks at him. Then, instead of answering, she simply says:

IWA

"Come with me."

She turns and begins walking into the darkness.

Akin and Oladele hesitate.

OLADELE

"Yeah, no. I don't think we're following the scary lady into the woods."

Iwa stops and looks over her shoulder.

IWA

"Then stay here and wait for them to come back."

A beat.

Oladele curses under his breath.

OLADELE

"Fine. But if you try anything—"

IWA

"You'll do what?"

Oladele scowls but doesn't answer.

Akin, still uncertain, grips his dagger and follows.

EXT. HIDDEN CAVE – NIGHT

They arrive at a hidden cave, partially concealed by thick vines and stone formations.

A small fire burns inside.

Iwa gestures for them to sit.

She crouches near the fire, her expression unreadable.

IWA

"You're being hunted."

Akin and Oladele stiffen.

AKIN

"By who?"

Iwa throws a twig into the flames.

IWA

"By those who fear what you're becoming."

Akin's heart races.

OLADELE

"That's vague and creepy. Care to be more specific?"

Iwa studies them.

Then, she finally says:

IWA

"You don't know what you are, do you?"

Akin's hands tighten around his knees.

AKIN

"I'm just a boy who failed his blessing."

Iwa shakes her head.

IWA

"No. You're something else entirely."

The firelight casts shadows across her face.

IWA

"Tell me, Akin… have you heard of the Cursed Bloodline?"

Akin's stomach drops.

Everyone has heard the legends.

A bloodline so powerful, so feared, that the gods themselves tried to erase them.

But that was just a myth… wasn't it?

AKIN

"You think I'm—?"

Iwa's eyes darken.

IWA

"I don't think. I know."

Akin's throat goes dry.

What does this mean? What is he?

And why does he suddenly feel like his life will never be the same again?

INT. HIDDEN CAVE – NIGHT

The fire crackles, casting dancing shadows on the cave walls.

Akin's mind races with Iwa's words.

The Cursed Bloodline.

A myth. A story meant to scare children. But she's saying it as if it's real.

Akin clenches his fists.

AKIN

"That's impossible. The Cursed Bloodline was wiped out long ago."

Iwa holds his gaze.

IWA

"That's what the world was made to believe."

Silence.

Oladele shifts uncomfortably.

OLADELE

"So… what exactly is this Cursed Bloodline?"

Iwa throws another twig into the fire.

IWA

"They were warriors unlike any before them. Blessed—and cursed—by a god whose name has been erased from history."

Her voice is low, steady.

IWA

"They could summon power beyond imagination. But the gods feared them. The kings feared them. So they were hunted… and destroyed."

Akin's breath catches.

AKIN

"If they were wiped out, then how—?"

Iwa watches him closely.

IWA

"Because one survived."

Akin freezes.

The fire crackles louder.

His heart pounds.

AKIN

"You're saying that I…"

Iwa nods.

IWA

"You carry the blood of the lost warrior."

Oladele laughs nervously.

OLADELE

"Okay. Hold on. This is ridiculous. Akin is just… Akin. He failed his blessing. The gods rejected him."

Iwa smirks.

IWA

"Did they?"

Akin swallows. He remembers the ceremony.

The way the priest's staff trembled. The way the fire flickered.

The gods didn't reject him.

They feared him.

Akin's pulse quickens.

AKIN

"But why me? Why now?"

Iwa exhales.

IWA

"Because something is waking up. The world is shifting. And the enemies of your ancestors… will not let you rise."

Akin feels a chill crawl up his spine.

IWA

"They will come for you. They will try to end your bloodline once and for all."

Akin's hands tremble.

For years, he thought he was nothing. A failure. A boy unworthy of power.

But now—

Now, he knows the truth.

He was never meant to be ordinary.

He was meant to be erased.

Oladele rubs his face.

OLADELE

"So what do we do now? Run? Hide?"

Iwa shakes her head.

IWA

"No. If Akin is to survive… he must learn to fight."

She stands.

IWA

"And I will train him"

Akin stares at her.

A new path is opening before him.

The question is—

Is he ready to walk it?

EXT. HIDDEN CLEARING – DAWN

The sun rises slowly, painting the sky in shades of orange and gold.

Akin stands barefoot in the clearing, surrounded by towering trees. His breath is steady, his mind racing.

Iwa stands before him, arms crossed.

IWA

"If you want to survive, you must unlearn everything you think you know about fighting."

She picks up a wooden staff and tosses it to him.

Akin catches it, confused.

AKIN

"But I don't even know how to fight."

Iwa smirks.

IWA

"Exactly."

She moves fast—too fast.

Before Akin can react, WHAM! She sweeps his legs out from under him.

Akin hits the ground hard.

Iwa circles him like a predator.

IWA

"Your enemies won't wait for you to figure things out. Get up."

Akin grits his teeth and pushes himself up.

Again.

And again.

For hours, Iwa pushes him to his limits.

She teaches him:

Balance.

Speed.

Anticipation.

Akin's body aches, but he refuses to stop.

Then—

Iwa suddenly disappears.

Akin blinks.

IWA (O.S.)

"If you cannot see your enemy… you are already dead."

Akin spins around, heart pounding.

A gust of wind whispers past him.

Then—BAM!

Iwa strikes from nowhere, knocking him flat.

He gasps, rolling onto his side.

Akin grits his teeth. He won't let this defeat him.

Slowly, he gets up.

His mind sharpens.

This isn't just about strength. It's about sensing.

Akin closes his eyes. He listens.

The rustling of leaves.

The shift in the air.

Then—

A movement to his left.

Akin ducks just as Iwa's attack whistles past his head!

For the first time, her expression changes.

Impressed.

IWA

"Good. You're learning."

Akin breathes heavily, sweat dripping down his face.

He isn't just training.

He is awakening.

LATER – NIGHT

Akin lies on his back, staring at the stars. His body is bruised and aching.

Oladele sits beside him, chewing on a piece of roasted yam.

OLADELE

"Well… at least she didn't kill you."

Akin groans.

AKIN

"Not yet."

They both chuckle.

Then, Oladele's tone shifts.

OLADELE

"But Akin… do you really believe all this? That you have some cursed bloodline?"

Akin hesitates.

He wants to say no.

But deep inside, he knows the truth.

He was never normal.

Something inside him is waiting to wake up.

AKIN

"I don't know, Dele." (beat) "But I'm going to find out."

EXT. HIDDEN CLEARING – NIGHT

The moon casts silver light over the clearing. The night is eerily silent.

Akin and Oladele sit near a small fire, their bodies exhausted from the day's training.

Iwa stands at the edge of the clearing, watching them.

IWA

"Get some rest. Tomorrow will be worse."

Akin scoffs.

AKIN

"How encouraging."

Iwa smirks before disappearing into the shadows.

Oladele grins and pats Akin's back.

OLADELE

"She likes you, you know."

Akin rolls his eyes.

AKIN

"If that's how she shows affection, I fear for my life."

They both laugh softly.

Then—

A rustling sound.

Akin stiffens.

Oladele goes silent.

The air grows thick, like the forest itself is holding its breath.

Then—

A deep, guttural growl.

Something moves in the darkness beyond the firelight.

Akin grabs his staff.

AKIN

"Did you hear that?"

Oladele nods slowly.

OLADELE

"And I wish I didn't."

The fire flickers.

Then—A pair of glowing red eyes emerge from the darkness.

Akin's blood runs cold.

A massive creature steps into the light—a beast twice the size of a lion, covered in black fur, its teeth like daggers.

Akin and Oladele freeze.

OLADELE

"Tell me that's not real."

The creature growls, muscles tensing.

Then—it lunges.

Akin reacts on instinct. He shoves Oladele aside and swings his staff.

The creature catches the staff in its jaws and SNAPS it in half.

Akin's breath catches.

He's weaponless.

The beast lashes out, claws slashing toward his chest.

Akin raises his arms—bracing for impact.

Then—

Something inside him explodes.

The air shakes.

Akin's vision blurs as an unseen force erupts from within him.

The creature flies backward, crashing into a tree with a thunderous boom!

Akin stares at his hands.

They're glowing faintly.

The creature rises, shaking off the impact.

But this time—it hesitates.

It senses something.

Something different about Akin.

A deep rumbling voice echoes inside Akin's mind.

???:

"You are awakening."

Akin gasps, clutching his head.

The beast growls—then suddenly retreats, disappearing into the forest.

Oladele scrambles to his feet, staring at Akin wide-eyed.

OLADELE

"What… what just happened?"

Akin's hands still glow faintly—before the light fades.

He breathes heavily.

AKIN

"I… don't know."

But deep down—

He does.