[EXT. FOREST NEAR THE SCHOOL OF LIGHT – NOON]
The Goblin Commander crouched in the trees above the cliff,
his crimson eyes scanning the courtyard far below.
His claws tapped slowly against his gauntlet.
He wasn't stupid —
he had observed the eight children for days now.
Each was powerful.
But one…
Veloria.
Her beauty shimmered like starlight in the sun.
Her laughter was soft, her aura delicate — but ancient.
And the Goblin Commander, savage as he was,
found himself... mesmerized.
---
> Goblin Commander (hissing to himself):
"So perfect… so untouchable."
That made him want her blood even more.
---
[EXT. GARDENS BEHIND THE SCHOOL – MOMENTS LATER]
Veloria wandered alone among the flowerbeds —
sunlight catching her silver-violet hair, eyes soft with thought.
The others were in class.
She had slipped away, seeking a moment of quiet.
The breeze carried a strange chill.
She turned.
Too late.
---
The Goblin Commander lunged from the shadows —
blade raised, eyes wild.
Veloria froze.
Her heart slammed into her ribs.
Terror seized her like never before.
And then—
> Veloria (screaming):
"STOP—!"
---
Everything froze.
The wind stilled.
The leaves halted mid-fall.
The Goblin Commander's body froze mid-leap, blade inches from her face.
The world stopped moving.
---
Veloria stood there, chest heaving —
staring into the unmoving face of her would-be killer.
She didn't understand.
She didn't know how.
She didn't even realize it had happened.
Her instincts screamed: run.
She turned and fled.
The frozen world flickered.
Time resumed.
The Goblin Commander hit the ground with a snarl —
his prey gone.
---
[EXT. LIGHT SCHOOL – TRAINING HALL – MINUTES LATER]
Lyrion spun his blade through the air with elegant grace.
The instructors watched him with quiet awe —
no one in Class 6 could match his skill.
But when Veloria burst into the hall, her face pale and eyes wide,
everything stopped.
She rushed to him and clutched his arm.
---
> Veloria (panicked, whispering):
"Lyrion… s-someone attacked me… he was… he wasn't human—"
> Lyrion (gently):
"Veloria… you're shaking."
He knelt, cupping her face with both hands.
> Lyrion (softly):
"It's okay. I'm here now. Nothing's going to happen to you."
She trembled, nodding, though her heart was still thundering.
---
[EXT. SCHOOL GROUNDS – SECONDS LATER]
The Goblin Commander burst from the treeline,
snarling with rage.
He spotted them both —
and with a roar of humiliation and bloodlust, charged straight at them.
---
> Goblin Commander (roaring):
"You dare run from ME!?"
Lyrion stood instantly in front of Veloria, sword drawn.
---
> Lyrion (eyes narrowing):
"Get behind me."
Veloria took a step back —
but her hand clenched.
She didn't want to be protected again.
---
The battle began.
The Goblin Commander was fast —
his claws slicing through wind, striking like fangs of a beast.
Lyrion countered fiercely,
his normal skills now awakened — dodging, blocking, parrying.
But the Goblin Commander was unlike any foe before.
---
Veloria's heart pounded as she saw Lyrion pushed back —
not overwhelmed, but pressed hard.
Her fear returned.
And then… she felt it.
Something deep inside her.
Time pulsed around her.
Reality warped like ripples in water.
She didn't scream this time.
She willed it.
---
> Veloria (softly, fiercely):
"Pause…"
The world slowed—
then stopped.
Everything frozen again.
The wind. The sound. The Goblin Commander — frozen mid-attack.
But this time…
she was aware.
She had stopped time.
---
> Veloria (gritting her teeth):
"Ten seconds, Lyrion. That's all I can hold."
Lyrion's eyes flashed.
He nodded once.
---
He dashed forward,
his blade glowing with pure golden light.
In the silent world, he leapt, twisted, and drove the blade into the Goblin Commander's chest —
all within the stillness of time.
The moment the tenth second passed—
Time resumed.
The Goblin Commander staggered.
Then fell.
---
Dead.
---
[EXT. IMMORTAL REALM – TIME & LIGHT]
In the Realms above,
two divine pairs watched the scene unfold.
Alarion and Lyria stood hand in hand, eyes shining.
Time God and Time Maiden were silent —
but their pride glowed brighter than stars.
---
> Time God (softly):
"She's begun."
> Time Maiden (smiling faintly):
"Ten seconds… will become eternity one day."
---
[INT. STUDENT HALL – THAT NIGHT]
The storm had passed.
Peace returned.
All eight divine children now slept together
in the shared dorm hall of the School of Light —
soft blankets, warm lamps, quiet breathing.
Lyrion slept beside Veloria,
her head resting lightly on his shoulder.
Kairo and Syleria had fallen asleep arguing over who won their last duel.
Sylion and Aria slept near the windows, peaceful as always.
Auron and Cyra shared a soft pile of pillows near the door.
---
For now…
they were just kids again.
---
[FLASHBACK – FEW WEEKS EARLIER]
> Veloria (grinning):
"Why don't we all just stay in the school hostel?"
> Syleria:
"We're in Class 5 now. We can."
> Kairo:
"Less travel. More time to beat you all in training."
> Lyrion:
"And more time together."
They all smiled.
It was decided.
---
[BACK TO PRESENT – NIGHT]
The moonlight filtered softly through the windows.
The Goblin Commander was gone.
The bonds were stronger than ever.
And for tonight,
the world was quiet.
---
TO BE CONTINUED...