EXT. FOREST TRAIL — AFTERNOON

WEATHER: Overcast. Wind rolling through the trees.

SOUND: Leaves crunching. Distant crows.

WIDE SHOT — Luke and Tyler walk side by side, backpacks slung over their shoulders.

TYLER

So where’s Liam?

LUKE

Probably training again.

Tyler scoffs.

TYLER

Again? We trained all night.

Luke stops walking.

The wind shifts.

CLOSE ON — LUKE’S EYES

Something moves in the distance.

Too fast to see clearly.

EXT. CLEARING — CONTINUOUS

CAMERA: LOW ANGLE

Liam stands alone.

Calm. Still.

No glowing aura. No flash.

Just quiet.

A leaf falls toward him—

Liam steps once.

The leaf splits cleanly in two mid-air, drifting past him.

NO FLASH. NO SOUND.

Tyler’s jaw drops.

TYLER

…Did he just—

LUKE

Yeah.

MEDIUM SHOT — LIAM

He turns.

Smiles slightly.

Not cocky. Not tired.

Centered.

LIAM

You guys are late.

EXT. CLEARING — MOMENTS LATER

The three stand facing each other.

SOUND: Wind fades. Everything feels tense.

Tyler draws a step back, instinctively.

TYLER

When did you get… like that?

Liam shrugs.

LIAM

I stopped rushing.

Luke studies him closely.

CLOSE-UP — LUKE

LUKE

Your heartbeat’s steady.

Liam blinks, surprised.

LIAM

You can hear that?

LUKE

I can feel it.

SUDDEN TEST

Tyler grins.

TYLER

Prove it.

Without warning, Tyler lunges.

GREEN ENERGY ERUPTS.

The ground cracks as he swings—

CAMERA: SLOW MOTION

Liam steps aside.

Not fast.

Perfect.

Tyler stumbles past, off balance.

Liam taps Tyler’s shoulder.

That’s it.

Tyler freezes.

TYLER

…You could’ve dropped me.

LIAM

Didn’t need to.

SILENCE

Luke exhales slowly.

LUKE

You’re not burning it anymore.

Liam looks down at his hands.

Faint white lines pulse—contained.

LIAM

Charlie said power listens when you stop yelling at it.

Tyler laughs softly, shaking his head.

TYLER

Man… you’re scary now.

Liam smiles.

LIAM

No.

He looks toward the forest.