Chapter 3: The Legacy Unveiled

The final bell of the day echoed through Trinity High's halls, its shrill ring drowned out by the chatter of students rushing toward freedom. Joshua lingered at his desk, watching his friends pack up. Faruq fiddled with a circuit board, Chisom organized her notes with military precision, and Teniola drummed her fingers impatiently.

"Hey," Joshua called, his voice steady but his knuckles white on his desk. "Stay back. There's something I need to show you."

Barakat paused mid-eyeroll. "Better not be another boring anime marathon, *joor*."

"It's not." Joshua stood, his Phoenix Eye flickering faintly. "anime is never boring..... just Follow me."

Joshua led them to a dimly lit janitor's closet near the football field, its door creaking open to reveal mops and rusting buckets.

"Abeg, Joshua," Teniola snapped. "If this is a prank—"

He silenced her with a raised hand and tapped his watch—a sleek silver band engraved with *nsibidi* symbols. The back wall shimmered, dissolving into a sleek elevator door.

"*Omo, see juju!*" Michael gasped, nearly dropping his half-eaten *chin chin*.

Faruq pushed his glasses up, eyes wide. "How… how does this even work?"

"Family secret," Joshua said, stepping inside. The elevator walls glowed with holographic constellations.

"Your family's into Star Trek?" Favor joked, bouncing on her toes.

"Worse," Joshua muttered. "Heroes."

●●●

The doors opened to a cavernous room that stretched far beyond the school's boundaries. Holographic maps of Nigeria hovered above a central console, dotted with glowing markers. Weapon racks lined the walls—katanas with crackling energy blades, *àdìrẹ*-patterned shields, and gauntlets pulsing with light.

"Welcome to the Quantum Layer," Joshua said.

Wisdom stepped forward, her usual calm replaced by awe. "This… this isn't possible."

"It defies physics," Faruq whispered, trailing his fingers over a hologram. "Like TARDIS logic. Bigger inside than out."

Chisom crossed her arms. "Explain now"

●●●

Joshua motioned them to a circular table. "My family's guarded Nigeria for generations. Not just from criminals—from things you wouldn't believe. Voidspawn. Dimensional rifts"

"*Dimensional what?*"Barakat scoffed.

He tapped the table. A hologram flared to life—a shimmering diamond fracturing into seven shards. "Cosmic Diamonds. Ancient artifacts that amplify abilities. My family used them to form the Secret Seven—teams that protected the country. Now… it's our turn."

Teniola leaned in. "Our turn? You think *we're* these… superheroes?"

"Not think. Know." Joshua's eyes glowed fully now—gold and blue. "The Diamonds resonate with people they choose. And they've chosen you."

Michael swallowed hard. "Why us?"

"Because you're stubborn," Joshua said, glancing at Teniola. "Resourceful." He nodded at Faruq. "And… annoyingly good at asking questions."

In this world superheroes and such aren't new

She studied the holographic maps, her mind already strategizing. "If we're doing this, we need rules. Training schedules. Contingency plans." >

"Already drafted," Joshua said, pulling up a holographic checklist.

She snatched an energy blade from the wall, twirling it effortlessly. "When do we start sparring? Can I try this?">

"Put that down before you lose a finger," Teniola growled.

"Charms and combat? I'm in," Barakat said, examining a holographic dress that shifted colors. "But I'm not wearing yellow spandex." >

"What if we mess up?" Michael asked, eyeing a shield nervously. "People could get hurt." >

Joshua placed a hand on his shoulder. "That's why we train. Together."

"This power… it's a gift," Wisdom said, cupping a holographic seedling that bloomed in her palm. "We have to use it right.... and also do cool stuff " >

"Fine," Teniola grumbled, crossing her arms. "But *I'm* leading the first mission." >

Joshua glanced "pele nonsense"

Faruq hadn't moved from the central console, his fingers flying over holographic keys. "This tech—it's like nothing I've ever… Who *built* this?"

"My great-grandmother," Joshua said. "She engineered it to adapt. But it needs someone smarter now."

Faruq froze. "Me?"

"You," Joshua said, tossing him a wristband that sprouted holographic schematics. "Upgrade the suits. Build drones. Keep us alive."

Faruq's grin was blinding. "I'll make Iron Man look like a *danfo* driver."

"Oh I forgot to introduce you to eye" Joshua said as a blueish one eyed astrophysical entity with a goofy face came out of Joshua's Eye to the shocked faces of the seven in the room, "wetin be this?" Chisom the first one to react asked "calm down " Joshua replied "EYE is a friend of my family..." "shut up before you bore them with your family history let me introduce myself" EYE interrupted "hey guys i am EYE a somewhat cosmic entity, i have been in the ework family from the first secret seven i help them fight evil. My abilities are that every version of my eye contains a special ability like the one that josh uses a lot the phoenix Eye that controls fire and many more eye abilities like that". "exactly" Joshua said "he his a dear friend of mine, though he can be annoying sometimes"

"Wow so his that how you get your abilities?" Faruq asked "no i have my regenerative ability which helps me regenerate whatever ability i learn and understand, EYE is more like additional power"

●●●

They spent hours explaining and exploring—Favor testing combat drones, Wisdom nurturing holographic plants, Teniola arguing with Chisom over mission protocols. Barakat discovered a wardrobe chamber and emerged in a nanosuit tailored to her style—black and gold with a flowing cape.

"Yellow's not my color," she said, striking a pose.

As the others laughed, Joshua slipped away to a corner. Aurora's voice echoed in his mind: *"be prepared and train"*

"They're ready," he whispered.

The Eye pulsed warmly in agreement.

By midnight, the group slumped onto couches, exhausted but buzzing. Faruq snored over a holographic blueprint, while Teniola and Favor debated the best afro pop sensation which was surprisingly a heated conversation, Favor countered "rema is bringing in the numbers he his everywhere" Teniola replied "shut up jor you wan compare small boy rema to burna boy you no get sense at all " and Joshua listening from far shouted "Nigeria music is nonsense joo" which led to Favor throwing a cushion at him in anger as Teniola shouted "shut up".

Chisom approached Joshua, her tone softer than usual. "You trust us this much? Really?"

Joshua glanced at his friends—*his team*—and smiled. "I do."

Outside, Lagos hummed with secrets. But for the first time, Joshua didn't feel alone.