PART 1 — SHADOWS OVER ITALY (FIRST)

FADE IN:

EXT. ITALIAN COASTLINE — MORNING

Waves crash against jagged cliffs. The sky is clear, almost peaceful—too peaceful.

A small transport aircraft disappears into the clouds far above.

CUT TO:

EXT. ANCIENT CLIFFSIDE TEMPLE — CONTINUOUS

The structure is old—Roman stone mixed with something older, carved with elemental symbols worn by time.

LIAM, TYLER, and LUKE stand at the entrance.

They feel it.

Pressure.

Like the air itself is watching them.

Liam’s Northern Lights flicker faintly around his shoulders—unstable but sharper than before.

Tyler cracks his knuckles, stone veins briefly glowing under his skin.

Luke squints toward the horizon, his light reacting to something unseen.

LUKE

…We’re not alone.

Pele steps forward, fire rolling calmly along her arms.

PELE

No.

You’re being measured.

Kate moves beside her, wind pulling at her coat.

KATE

Since yesterday, multiple signatures have appeared across Italy.

Old powers.

Dangerous ones.

Liam looks at her.

Kate’s eyes narrow.

KATE

Worse.

Hunters.

The ground TREMBLES—just slightly.

Tyler immediately drops into a stance.

TYLER

You mean… coming here?

Pele smiles, sharp and fearless.

PELE

Already here.

CUT TO:

EXT. DISTANT HILLTOP — SAME TIME

A silhouette stands among broken columns.

Tall.

Still.

A long coat moves in the wind.

His eyes glow faintly beneath shadow.

A COMM DEVICE crackles at his ear.

UNKNOWN VOICE (COMMS)

Confirm target.

The figure watches the temple.

Watches Liam.

MYSTERIOUS FIGURE

Confirmed.

Charlie’s students.

A low, distorted chuckle.

MYSTERIOUS FIGURE (CONT’D)

They’ve grown.

He turns—and vanishes like smoke.

CUT BACK TO:

EXT. CLIFFSIDE TEMPLE

A sudden gust slams into the entrance.

Dust flies.

Symbols on the walls GLOW faintly.

Kate raises her hand.

KATE

Inside.

Now.

They move in—but Liam pauses.

His instincts scream.

He looks back at the horizon.

For a split second—

A pair of glowing eyes stare back.

Then gone.

Liam clenches his fists.

LIAM (quiet)

Someone’s coming.

Pele places a hand on his shoulder, fire warm but steady.

PELE

Good.

She grins.

PELE (CONT’D)

Then we’ll see what you’re really made of.