The Warden base was quieter than usual, but the tension inside felt suffocating. Elijah, Maya, and Obinna had just returned from a mission to contain a small Demos outbreak in a residential area. While the civilians were safe, minor damage had been done—walls cracked, debris scattered—and the team's nerves were frayed.
Obinna paced, fists clenched. "I don't get it, Elijah. You're fast, you're strong… but you don't listen! You just… act. Do whatever you feel like. Reckless!"
Elijah rubbed his temple. "I did what needed to be done. No one got seriously hurt."
"Seriously hurt?" Obinna scoffed. "Half the street's in ruins! You might as well have been the Demos yourself!"
Maya stepped between them, her voice calm but sharp. "Enough. Both of you. Elijah, control is more than raw power. Obinna, patience isn't just about holding back—it's about trusting your teammate."
Elijah's chest tightened. He hated arguing with Obinna, but he couldn't shake the feeling that his methods—though chaotic—were necessary. Still, he felt the sting of doubt. Was he really doing the right thing? Or was his desire to save his sister clouding his judgment?
Maya's gaze softened slightly. "Loyalty isn't blind obedience. It's about knowing the person next to you has your back, and that you have theirs. You're a team. Use that. Trust that. It will save lives—maybe even your sister's."
Obinna grumbled but nodded. Elijah exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing just a little.
Later, alone in the training chamber, Elijah stared at his hands. The golden glow of his Resonance reflected off the walls, steady but reminding him of what was at stake.
I can't afford mistakes. Not now. Not ever.
He knew the team's loyalty—and his own—would be tested many more times. But every test, every argument, every clash would prepare him for what was coming.
Outside, Lagos throbbed with life and unseen danger. And Elijah realized: power without control, without trust, without alignment, could destroy more than just Demos.
I have to be ready. For her. For everyone.