Night fell heavy over Accra, and the city pulsed with a life of its own — neon lights flickering, distant music floating through the humid air, tro tros still rumbling deep into the evening.
Chris and Nina moved quickly through the shadows, keeping to the backstreets of Osu.
They finally stopped in front of a rundown chop bar squeezed between two mechanic shops.
"This the place?" Nina asked, eyebrows raised.
Chris nodded once. "Yeah. He doesn't like visitors."
Without knocking, Chris pushed the rickety door open, the wooden frame groaning loudly.
Inside, a single bulb dangled from the ceiling, casting long shadows over the cracked floors.
An old man sat behind the counter, wearing a faded Manchester United jersey, skin wrinkled like ancient parchment.
His eyes — sharp, clear, and unsettling — fixed immediately on Nina.
"So, dis be the girl, eh?" the old man said, voice rough like gravel. His English was good, but with a thick old-school accent.
Chris gave a short nod. "She's the one."
The old man stood slowly, his bones popping.
"My name be Uncle Joe," he said, stretching out a hand.
Nina hesitated, then shook it. His grip was strong — too strong for a man his age.
"You dey carry heavy burden wey you no understand yet," Uncle Joe said, moving past her. He picked up a rusted kettle from a corner stove and poured some dark liquid into two chipped mugs.
"Sit," he said simply.
They obeyed.
Chris stayed silent, letting Uncle Joe do the talking.
The old man pulled out a battered map from beneath the counter. The paper was so old, it looked ready to crumble.
He pointed to a symbol drawn in the center — a five-pointed star surrounded by strange symbols.
"This be Heart of the Stars," Uncle Joe said, tapping the center with a gnarled finger. "Centuries ago, dem ancient ones dey create am. E fit open gates to other worlds, store pure energy, and give visions of future."
Nina leaned closer. Her head spun. "But… why me?"
Uncle Joe chuckled dryly. "Destiny no dey ask permission, my girl. Your bloodline connect straight to de first Guardians. Your spirit dey call out to de Heart."
Chris finally spoke, voice low. "And the Black Crescent?
Uncle Joe's face darkened immediately.
"Dem dey hunt de Heart for greed. For power. If dem catch you," — he turned his piercing eyes on Nina — "dis whole world go tear apart like rag cloth."
Nina swallowed hard.
"Wait," she said, brain scrambling to keep up. "You mean this isn't just about me or some dusty artifact? This… this is bigger?"
Chris nodded grimly. "Much bigger."
The old man moved to a dusty cabinet and pulled out a small, cloth-wrapped bundle. He unwrapped it carefully — inside was a glowing stone, pulsing with a soft, golden light.
"This," Uncle Joe said, voice almost reverent, "be de Guide stone. Only dey react to de true Key bearer."
He held it toward Nina.
Without thinking, she reached out.
The moment her fingers brushed the stone, the room blazed with light — images flashing behind her eyes:
Stars falling from the sky… A great war tearing across lands and oceans… A dark figure standing atop a burning city…
She yanked her hand back, gasping for breath.
Chris was instantly by her side. "You saw something, didn't you?"
Nina nodded shakily. "I saw… the end of everything."
Uncle Joe nodded solemnly.
"Now you understand," he said. "No turning back. Dem dey come for you. Every second you waste, danger dey grow."
Chris straightened, tension sharpening his features.
"We leave tonight," he said.
Nina gripped the key inside her jacket tighter than ever before.
The city outside still buzzed, still laughed, still danced —
but Nina knew…
The real battle had just begun.