Early morning light.

Sadiq pushes open the wooden door quietly, trying not to be noticed.

Zainab is already awake.

Arms folded. Eyes tired.

She has not slept.

“Where were you?”

Sadiq avoids her eyes.

Her voice begins to shake.

“You were almost taken yesterday.”

A breath.

“Do you want to die?”

Another.

“Do you want them to sell you like cattle?”

Close on her face — anger breaking into grief.

“Do you think I can lose you, too?”

Sadiq snaps back, hurt and defiant.

“Mama and Baba are gone.”

A beat.

“Aren’t we slaves already?”

Silence.

Zainab slaps him.

Sharp. Sudden.

Her hand trembles after.

She didn’t mean to hit him that hard.

“Don’t ever say that again,” she whispers.

Sadiq stares at her — shocked, eyes wet.

He turns and runs outside.

“Sadiq! Come back here!”

Duniya sits quietly in the corner.

He says nothing.

Outside.

Sadiq runs blindly around the corner—

—slams into a massive figure.

He falls backward.

Slowly looks up.

Bature.

Towering. Scarred. Expression unreadable.

Zainab rushes outside.

“Sadiq!”

She freezes.

One of the guards recognizes her.

“That’s the girl!”

Zainab’s face drains of color.

She knows.

Bature grabs her arm roughly.

“Come here.”

“No! Let me go!”

Inside the house, Duniya hears the scream.

Sadiq, coughing on the ground, shouts:

“Yaya! Taimaka min!”-

Duniya grabs his takoba and sheath.

He notices — one blade is missing.

He ignores it.

He rushes outside.

“Who is there?!”

Bature kicks Sadiq violently toward Duniya.

The boy skids across dirt.

Duniya kneels quickly.

“Are you hurt?”

Sadiq gasps.

“They’re taking my sister—”

Duniya rises.

“Stop there!”

Steel leaves sheath.

Bature is unimpressed.

“Handle him.”

Two guards rush from Duniya’s right.

“Right! They’re coming from your right!” Sadiq shouts at Duniya

Duniya thrusts the takoba sheath forward like a spear using his right hand

It slams into a guard’s throat.

Instant follow-through — sword into gut.

Clean. Efficient.

Another guard swings from the right

Duniya barely tilts away.

And responds with a reverse upward slash.

Blade bends in arc.

Blood across face.

A third guard appears behind—

“Behind you!” Sadiq gave another assist but-

Too late.

A heavy blow to Duniya’s back.

He crashes down.

Bature watches.

Interested now.

He knocks Zainab unconscious with controlled force.

She goes limp.

He steps forward.

The remaining guards hesitate.

“Cowards. Move aside.”

Bature stands tall.

Duniya on one knee.

Dust between them.

Silence.

Bature studies him.

“What is your name?”

Duniya senses the weight of him.

“…Duniya.”

Bature removes a long cloth.

He wraps it over his own eyes.

“Alright, since you are blind…”

“I will be blind too.”

He drops any weapon.

“I will not use steel.”

Bature lowers into a dembe stance. a firece squat.

“If you cannot strike me even once—”

“I take the girl.”

Duniya rises slowly; he could feel that he had no choice but to accept this .

He adjusts his grip.

Sheath in right hand like shield.

Sword in left, drawn back.

 Both in  close range.

Dembe vs Takouba.

Fist vs steel.

Wind moves dust between them.

The rest of the guards step back.

Even Sadiq is silent.

 Yard floor.

Dust lingers.

Duniya is  sword drawn.

Bature stands opposite, blindfolded, calm.

The air stands still.

 Bature’s feet — balanced, planted like a tree.

SFX: SHHH…

Duniya’s hands tightening on the sword and sheath.

Duniya shifts stance — ready.

Bature moves first — no swing, no shout — just a step forward

SFX: THUD

Duniya reacts with his ear, vigilantly listening; 

It almost seemed like hours had pssed but it was mere second until finally,

Duniya lunges , blade forward. straight attack with his left hand

SFX: SHLIK!

Bature doesn’t flinch.

He move swiftly, dangerous but but inside range and catches Duniya’s wrist.

Close grip — Duniya tries to twist free.

SFX: GRK!

Bature pushes Duniya off balance.

Duniya stumbles backward.

He tries a second strike — slower — confused.

SFX: THAK!

Bature blocks it with his forearm.

A guard holding Zainab watches wide-eyed.

 Duniya — breathing hard — boots sliding slightly.

Duniya tries a spinning strike, 

SFX: WHOOM!

Bature absorbs it with a low stance, arms wide.

SFX: THUK!

Bature jabs Duniya in the chest with an open palm.

Duniya goes down to one knee.

Another palm strike.

SFX: THUD!

Duniya collapses fully.

Bature turns toward the guards.

He steps over the fallen Duniya.

No mercy.

His stride is slow and certain.

Bature walks away with Zainab, carried firmly.

Duniya lies unconscious behind him.

*Flashback*

Early morning dust.

A Dogari training yard — open sand courtyard surrounded by mud walls. Weapon racks made of wood. Hanging leather shields. Training posts wrapped with rope. Spears, takoba swords, and heavy sticks lean against the wall.

Older warriors train silently.

Bare feet scrape sand.

SFX: SHFF… SHFF…

Young Duniya, still sighted then, sweats, holding a wooden practice sword.

Across from him stands his master — older, hardened, wrapped in indigo cloth.

The master circles him slowly.

“Again.”

Duniya attacks — fast but reckless.

The master steps aside effortlessly.

SFX: SWOOSH

The master strikes Duniya’s leg with a training staff.

SFX: THWACK!

Duniya collapses into the sand.

Sand hits his face.

He struggles to breathe.

“You fight with anger.”

A pause.

“Anger blinds faster than darkness.”

Duniya forces himself up again.

The master suddenly strikes his head.

SFX: KRAK!

Everything blurs.

Duniya falls backward in slow motion.

Voices begin echoing.

“Duniya…”

“Duniya…”

“Duniya…”

The training yard dissolves into white.

Reality snaps back.

Duniya lies on sand outside Sadiq’s home.

Bandaged slightly. Breathing heavy.

SFX: HHH… HHH…

 His blind eyes open.

A blurred silhouette leans over him.

“Duniya! Duniya!”

Tears drop onto Duniya’s face.

Sadiq cries badly, nose running.

Duniya turns his head slightly.

“…Kid? Is that you?”

Sadiq nods rapidly, wiping his face but failing.

“Yes! Yes! After you fell… the big man… they took her…”

 Duniya’s hand presses into the sand.

His fingers dig deep.

Sand tight inside his fist.

His jaw clenches violently.

SFX: KSHIK

His expression is controlled fury.

“We will get her back.”

Sadiq sniffles loudly.

“How…?”

Duniya slowly sits upright.

Dust falls from his shoulders.

“…I don’t know yet.”

A pause.

“But we will.”

A lively evening joint.

Clay lamps. Laughter. Smoke. Low tables.

The Rogue Swordsman sits lazily, eating, half-listening.

Two well-dressed men walk past behind him.

“The young master is hosting a party tonight.”

“Ah… I can only dream of entering that place.”

They laugh.

“Shi yasa nake kula da masu gadi.”- "Thats why I always take care of the servants there, no worries."

The other slaps his shoulder.

“Kai aboki na kwarai!”- "You are a good friend"

They walk off.

The Rogue Swordsman lifts his head slightly.

Interested.

He turns to the woman serving drinks.

“What party?”

The woman looks around carefully.

“The young master… coming of age.”

“A feast at his compound.”

She clicks her tongue angrily.

“Allah ya kiyaye…”- "May God preserve it"

“But bad time for young girls.”

The Rogue Swordsman freezes slightly.

A crooked grin slowly spreads.

“…Eh?”

That’s interesting.

He smiles like a fool.

Eyes shining with mischief.

Lamp light flickers across his face.

SFX: FWSSHH…

Later that day,

A view of Shehu’s compound at evening.

Mud walls rise like a fortress.

Lantern light flickers along the top walls.

Above the Kofar Gida, warm golden light spills outward.

Music and distant laughter leak into the night air.

Silhouettes move behind the walls.

SFX: DUM… DUM…

SFX: HA HA HA…

From inside tall dry bushes—

Duniya and Sadiq crouch low.

Only partial silhouettes.

Two armed guards stand at the main gate.

Spears resting casually but alert.

Torchlight cuts through darkness.

Duniya’s head tilts slightly.

His hand rests on the takoba sheath.

“You said there are guards there… do you see the big man?”

Only the two gate guards.

“No… I don’t see him.”

Duniya shifts forward.

“I’ll handle them.”

Sadiq grabs his shoulder.

“Eh?! Are you crazy?”

Sadiq points toward the compound’s side wall.

“We’re using the back path! Servants pass there!”

His voice lowers.

“You want everyone to know we’re here?”

He leans closer.

“And what if that man comes out…?”

A breath.

“He might kill you this time.”

Silence hangs.

Duniya says nothing.

Stillness.

His jaw tightens.

SFX: …

 Sadiq’s POV—

Servants and maids move through a smaller rear passage.

Carrying trays, baskets, jars, fabrics.

Lantern light opens and closes as the door swings.

Sadiq’s eyes widen.

He grabs Duniya’s wrist suddenly.

“There!”

A group exits, laughing softly.

Distracted.

No one looking outward.

Sadiq pulls Duniya upward from the bushes.

Both figures rise into silhouette against torchlight.

“Let’s go!”

They are about to enter the Lions den.