INT. ACADEMY BRIEFING ROOM — MORNING

The room hums with low energy. Holographic maps rotate slowly in the air.

Italy.

A red pulse marks a volcanic region.

Charlie stands at the front, arms crossed. His expression is serious—but proud.

CHARLIE

This isn’t a vacation.

This is a mission trip.

Tyler perks up immediately.

TYLER

Mission trip… as in food, culture, danger?

Luke elbows him.

LUKE

Focus.

Charlie taps the map. Two figures appear beside the volcano marker.

CHARLIE

You’re being sent to train under two specialists.

Women who don’t just use elements—

they live them.

Liam watches closely.

LIAM

Who are they?

Charlie pauses—just long enough to matter.

CHARLIE

Pele.

And Kate.

The lights dim.

EXT. ITALY — VOLCANIC HIGHLANDS — DAY

Heat ripples through the air.

Black stone. Cracked earth. Rivers of glowing magma far below.

The boys stand at the edge of a volcanic plateau.

Tyler wipes sweat from his forehead.

TYLER

Okay yeah—this place wants to kill us.

A calm, powerful voice answers from behind them.

PELE

Only if you disrespect it.

They turn.

PELE stands barefoot on the obsidian ground.

Athletic. Commanding.

The ground subtly responds to her presence.

PELE (CONT’D)

Fire is not rage.

It is balance.

Liam feels it immediately.

Not heat.

Pressure.

EXT. COASTAL CLIFFS — SAME TIME

Wind crashes against stone cliffs overlooking the sea.

Waves slam below.

Standing near the edge is KATE.

She doesn’t turn when she speaks.

KATE

Elements aren’t powers.

They’re languages.

Luke steps forward instinctively.

LUKE

And you teach…?

Kate finally turns.

Her eyes are clear, unreadable.

KATE

Control.

Adaptation.

And what happens when nature decides you’re in the way.

The wind shifts direction instantly.

TRAINING BEGINS — MONTAGE

— Pele guides Tyler through controlled flame bursts, stopping him every time emotion spikes

— Kate forces Luke to move against changing wind currents, never letting him rely on strength alone

— Liam stands between fire and storm, northern lights flickering uncertainly

Pele studies Liam closely.

PELE

Your power moves like fire…

but thinks like ice.

Kate nods once.

KATE

That makes him dangerous.

To himself.

Liam clenches his fists.

LIAM

Then teach me.

Pele smiles—sharp, approving.

PELE

We will.

Kate steps closer.

KATE

But first—

The sky darkens.

The wind rises.

The volcano rumbles.

KATE (CONT’D)

You learn what happens when the elements don’t listen.

FAR ABOVE — UNKNOWN LOCATION

A distorted satellite feed shows Italy.

The volcanic region pulses faintly.

Three silhouettes watch.

Wilson grins.

WILSON

Sending them to elemental masters already?

Ash’s flames flicker.

ASH

They’re accelerating.

The Phantom Man’s voice drifts through the dark.

PHANTOM MAN

Good.

The screen focuses on Liam.

PHANTOM MAN (CONT’D)

Let the world teach him what we will later take.

EXT. VOLCANIC PLATEAU — NIGHT

Liam stands alone, sweat-soaked, exhausted.

Fire glows in the distance.

Wind howls overhead.

The northern lights begin to change color—subtle hints of ember-orange woven into the blue.

Liam breathes.

Doesn’t force it.

Doesn’t chase it.

For the first time—

The elements respond.