Scene 1: Echoes of Intruders
Salvini’s body slumped to the cold stone floor, unconscious, with the sword lying beside him. Scorch marks and water stains marred the walls, remnants of a fierce battle. Above him, a chilling message glistened faintly on the wall: “No need to find me now, Solomon; I already escaped like before, 17 years had passed.”
(Queen Marissa rushed forward, her face pale with worry.)
Queen Marissa (desperate, voice trembling): “My son… my precious boy, what happened to you?”
(King Solomon knelt beside his son, his hand resting on Salvini’s shoulder.)
King Solomon (steady but filled with concern): “We’re here, son. Don’t worry; we’re here.”
(Kaedan stood just behind them, watching his fallen pupil with deep sadness and concern.)
Kaedan (softly, almost to himself): “To see you like this, my brightest student… what could have brought such darkness to our halls?”
(Meanwhile, General Solmar examined the ominous message on the wall, his hand on his chin, lost in thought.)
General Solmar (murmuring, fingers tracing the letters): “What could this mean… seventeen years…?”
Two soldiers surveyed the scattered remnants of magic lingering in the air.
Soldier 1 (inspecting the markings, tense): “This… this feels like water magic.”
Soldier 2 (nodding grimly): “That would mean Aquagelida infiltrated us.”
Soldier 1 (whispering with dread): “If that’s true, we’re in real danger.”
Soldier 2 (voice almost a prayer): “Let’s hope King Solomon finds a way to save us…”
(Meanwhile, King Solomon and Queen Marissa knelt beside Salvini, shaking him gently.)
Queen Marissa (frantically): “Please, wake up… Salvini…”
Just as King Solomon prepared to lift Salvini to carry him to the healer’s chamber, Salvini's eyelids fluttered briefly before his eyes shot open, his breath uneven as if grasping for air. For a moment, the room fell silent, the tension almost palpable as everyone waited, bracing for his first words. He bolted upright, looking around in a daze. When he saw his parents, relief flooded his face.
Salvini (exhaling, voice shaky): “Father… Mother… you are here. But…but where is she?”
King Solomon (relieved): “Yes, son, we’re here. Don’t worry. Did you see the intruder?”
(King Solomon glanced at him, concern filling his eyes.)
King Solomon (gently): “What happened, son? Can you remember?”
(Queen Marissa placed a hand on Solomon’s arm, interrupting.)
Queen Marissa (softly): “Let him rest, Solomon. He’s just regained consciousness.”
Salvini (determined): “No, It’s okay Mother, I’m fine. I’ll tell you Father… I was… I was walking in the hallway. I couldn’t sleep.”
His voice wavered; though he kept his gaze steady, hiding the truth.
Salvini (continuing): “I thought I’d go to the library to find a book to read… but then I felt like someone was behind me. When I turned, there was no one. And then, when I looked again, she was there in front of me.”
Everyone leaned closer, listening intently as he described the figure.
Salvini (voice trembling): “A woman… wearing a black shawl that covered her entirely—even her hands had gloves. Only her eyes… those piercing blue eyes with long eyelashes were visible. And she… she used water magic.”
King Solomon, Queen Marissa, and Kaedan exchanged knowing glances, their suspicions confirmed. Solmar, however, looked bewildered.
General Solmar (confused): “What is all this? Chief Kaedan, do you have any idea what’s going on?”
Kaedan (firmly, gesturing to the prince): “Hold on, Solmar. Let the prince finish.”
(Salvini took a steadying breath, continuing his story.)
Salvini: “We fought… a little. I managed to burn her glove, and beneath it, she wore a silver ring with a blue stone shaped like a flower. A lily… or maybe jasmine.”
King Solomon’s face darkened. He rise slowly, moving toward the wall where the message was scrawled, his gaze distant and haunted.
King Solomon (softly, almost to himself): “So… you’ve returned. But why?”
A somber silence filled the air as he stood, deep in thought, the weight of memories visible on his face. Kaedan placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, his voice warm and reassuring.
Kaedan (reassuring): “We’ll face this together, Solomon. Like we always have.”
(Queen Marissa returned her attention to Salvini, her face etched with concern.)
Queen Marissa: “Are you injured, my boy?”
Salvini (smiling faintly, trying to ease her worry): “No, Mother. I’m fine… it’s just a scratch.”
He stood slowly, dusting himself off as Queen Marissa’s worry softened, though she still watched him closely. King Solomon turned back to the group, his voice strong and commanding.
King Solomon: “Everyone, back to your chambers.”
(Queen Marissa, however, lingered, her hand still resting on her son’s shoulder.)
Queen Marissa (insisting gently): “I’ll stay with him in his chamber tonight. I don’t want to leave him alone after… after all this.”
Salvini (shaking his head, gently resisting): “Mother, I’ll be fine. Please, don’t worry.”
After a soft exchange, Queen Marissa reluctantly agreed to return to her own chamber. They walked Salvini back to his room, and before leaving, she gently held his face, stretching up to bring his forehead closer. Her expression softened with motherly love as she pressed a warm kiss to his brow.
Queen Marissa: “Take care, my boy… you’re stronger than you know.”
King Solomon and Queen Marissa left, both looking back as they stepped out of his chamber, worry still lingering in their expressions. King Solomon glanced at the first rays of dawn creeping through the palace windows, the weight of the night settling on him.
King Solomon (murmuring to himself): “Only a few minutes until daybreak…and so much yet unknown. It sure felt like a long night.”
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Scene 2: Shadows in the Hallway
General Solmar and Chief Kaedan strode side by side through the dimly lit hallway, their footsteps echoing softly against the stone walls. The flickering light of the torches lining the corridor cast long, dancing shadows, lending a sense of heaviness to the silence between them. Kaedan’s face was tense, his gaze set, lost in deep thought, while Solmar walked beside him, fidgeting slightly, torn between his curiosity and the apprehension gnawing at him.
Finally, Solmar cleared his throat, breaking the quiet.
Solmar (hesitantly): “Chief, can you… can you tell me what that was all about? The incident tonight—it shook me to my core. Who was she? You, the King, and the Queen… you all seemed to know her.”
Kaedan cast him a sidelong glance, letting out a long, measured sigh before responding.
Kaedan (curtly): “It’s nothing you need to know, Solmar.”
Silence hung heavy between them once more, broken only by the crackling of the torches and the soft thud of their boots against the floor. Solmar, unsatisfied with the answer, pressed on, his voice low but insistent.
Solmar: “But that encounter… it was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Surely, I deserve to know, Chief. You all looked like you were staring into the abyss. What did you see?”
Kaedan closed his eyes, his jaw clenched, as he considered his words. After a moment, he lowered his head slightly, then lifted his gaze back to Solmar, speaking in a voice edged with resignation.
Kaedan: “She was an assassin from Aquagelida—the water nation. She possesses extraordinary skills. That’s all you need to know for now.”
(Solmar’s expression hardened, the weight of the revelation sinking in.)
Solmar (firmly): “An assassin from Aquagelida, huh? I see.”
Kaedan stopped, glancing at Solmar, who met his gaze with a look of unrelenting curiosity. Sighing again, Kaedan added a warning.
Kaedan (firmly): “But I’m warning you, Solmar—do not involve yourself in this matter. It’s a secret… a secret forbidden to be spoken of. I’ll take care of this myself.”
Solmar (frustrated, pressing): “I can't just stand by while there's a threat looming over us! This is too important to ignore.”
(Kaedan’s expression hardened, but there was a flicker of understanding in his eyes.)
Kaedan: “I understand your concern, but some battles must be fought in the shadows. Trust me on this.”
Solmar nodded slowly, his curiosity now mingled with a trace of caution. Without another word, the two men continued down the hallway, their steps blending into the flickering silence, each lost in their own guarded thoughts.
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SCENE 3: ECHOES IN THE CHAMBER
Salvini leaned heavily against the closed door of his chamber, his head bowed, and his gaze distant. The room felt unusually dark and still, matching the somber thoughts that clouded his mind. Outside, the sky held a faint hue of blue, that fleeting, eerie calm before daybreak. His mind raced, the memory of his encounter with the strange woman playing in flashes behind his closed eyes.
Internal Monologue
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Salvini: “Who wass she?”
The memory sharpened, drawing him back to that moment. The woman’s voice, cold yet oddly familiar, filled his mind. He recalled her holding him in place with her magic, her gaze piercing.
Salvini: “Who are you? What is your purpose here?”
(The woman had only smiled a flicker of amusement in her eyes.)
Lady: “Oh, don’t worry, dear. Take me as your… well-wisher.”
(Salvini had stared, taken aback, confusion mingling with suspicion.)
Salvini: “My well-wisher?” (Raising his voice) “What do you mean by that?” His voice had betrayed both curiosity and a hint of indignation.
(The woman’s expression turned disapproving, her tone dripping with sarcasm.)
Lady: “How rude. Didn’t your parents teach you how to speak to your elders?”
(Salvini had bristled at her remark, his anger flaring.)
Salvini: “Do not beat around the bush. Just come to the point, you… sneakyy thieff.”
The woman’s eyes flashed with irritation, her smile vanishing as her voice lowered dangerously.
Lady: “Did I hear wrong, or did you just call me a thief?”
Salvini (challengingly): “Well, you behave like one.”
Lady (mockingly): “You…puny…little…brat! Huh, but I forgive you… for your ignorance.”
(Salvini’s eyes narrowed, defiant.)
Salvini: “I didn’t apologizeee to you.”
She continued as though she hadn’t heard him, her voice taking on a distant, almost wistful quality.
Lady: “Now, where… wass… I? Ah, yesss! Tell me, do you feel something… stran-nge inside you? A kind of power awakening, perhaps?”
(Salvini’s irritation faded, replaced by a spark of curiosity and unease.)
Salvini: “How… how do you know… about that?”
(Her response had been unsettling, her tone filled with a knowing confidence.)
Lady: “I know more about you than you know about yourself.”
Salvini floating in air captured in the spell of Lady, his face tense, eyes wide with disbelief as he tried to make sense of the woman’s words.
Salvini: “And… how do you know so much about me?”
Lady (smiling slyly): “I already told you, dear—I’m your well-wisher.”
(A flicker of fear passed over Salvini’s face, and the woman noticed, her smirk widening. She leaned in, her voice low and taunting.)
Lady: “Oh, I know more than you think. I even know that… someone else is inside you. His name is Hamza.”
Salvini’s face twisted in frustration and shock.
Salvini: “You… witch! How do you know that? Are you…behind all of this?”
Lady (mocking, calm): “Tch Tch Tch…There you go again, forgetting your manners. Is this the way a ‘prince’ speaks? You’re really just a little brat, aren’t you?”
(Her tone shifted, a mysterious edge creeping into her voice.)
Lady: “And use that small brain of yours for once. If I were behind all of this, would I come here to help you?”
Salvini (stunned, wary): “Help me? Why would you want to help me? I don’t even know you.”
Lady: “Think of it as… a connection between us. Something you wouldn’t understand yet.”
(Salvini’s expression was a mix of confusion and suspicion.)
Salvini: “Connected? I don’t understand.”
Lady (growing frustrated): “Forget it!”
She began to mutter an incantation in an ancient, unrecognizable language.
“Aetheris luminae, et spiritus ex tenebris”
Blue mana started swirling around her and then spread to surround Salvini. He panicked, instinctively trying to pull away.
Salvini: “What… what are you doing?”
Lady (continuing incantation):
“Reveal the truth, awaken the light within.
By the bonds unseen, I call forth the power;
Guide this soul to destiny’s hour.
From shadow to flame, from silence to sound.
Let the hidden path in you be found.”
The mana encircled them both, its energy crackling in the air. With one hand, she kept him immobilized, while with the other, she drew a small, hidden book from within her cloak, levitating it with her magic, and slipped it silently into his pocket.
(As the incantation ended, her grip tightened, her voice intense.)
Lady: “Read that book. It’ll guide you.”
With a fierce gesture, she released the blue mana in a burst, forcing it into Salvini’s chest. He gasped, the energy hitting him with overwhelming force, causing him to cry out as it sapped his strength, making him collapse to the floor, barely able to move.
Salvini (weakly): “It… feels like… something… broken… inside me…”
He watched her through half-closed eyes, vision fading, while she gazed down at him with an unreadable expression. She bent down, picked up the stone that had fallen from his pocket, and slipped it into the side pocket of his trousers.
Lady (standing up): “Come find me if you want your answers.”
With that, she turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving Salvini to slip into unconsciousness as darkness swallowed him whole.
The flashback faded, and Salvini, now standing, leaned heavily against the closed door of his chamber, breathing heavily as reality settled back in. The dim light filtering through the window seemed to mock him, a reminder of the surreal encounter he had just endured. Suddenly, he straightened and started walking toward his bed.
He sat at the corner, his mind racing. Reaching for the jug on the side table, he poured some water into a mud glass, the coolness of the liquid contrasting with the heat of his thoughts. Lifting the glass to his lips, he drank deeply, trying to wash away the confusion swirling in his mind.
As he set the glass back down, he lifted his legs onto the bed, sinking into the corner as a wave of exhaustion washed over him. “It’s strange how I got unconscious and woke up as myself, not Hamza. Is this because of her magic?” he pondered, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on his chest.
With a sudden impulse, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the small book the mysterious woman had slipped to him. Its leather cover was cool against his fingers, and he held it up to the light, curiosity battling against caution. “What secrets do you hold?” he whispered, feeling the gravity of the moment.
(The scene ended, leaving him with more questions than answers, his thoughts racing like the dim sky outside as dawn approached.)
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Scene 4: Shadows of Concern
In the dim light of early morning, the royal chamber lay in a gentle, serene quiet. A soft blue hue spilled through the window, casting a cool glow across the room. King Solomon and Queen Marissa lay together on the large bed, her head resting on his arm, one hand lightly placed over his chest. They lay in silence, minds both weighed with the events of the night.
Queen Marissa (softly, a hint of worry in her voice): “Why did she come back after all these years?”
King Solomon (quiet, contemplative): “I don’t have an answer, Marissa.”
Queen Marissa (pausing, then voicing her suspicion): “Could it be… that she sent her?”
King Solomon (firmly): “No, it can’t be. If she intended to send her here, she would have done it seventeen years ago. No… this has to be something else.”
Marissa was silent, her gaze shifting as she thought deeply. Then she turned back to him, the lines of worry still etched across her face.
Queen Marissa: “Then perhaps… it’s the King of Aquagelida. Maybe he sent her to spy on us.”
King Solomon (sighing slightly, with a reassuring tone): “It’s possible, but try not to dwell on it now. We’ve been awake the entire night. Just rest, Marissa. We’ll bring this to the council soon and find our answers.”
Queen Marissa (still uneasy, her voice dropping to a whisper): “But… if they’re after Salvini… if they mean to harm him…”
The worry on her face grew, her eyes clouding with fear. King Solomon noticed and turned his gaze from the ceiling to look at her. A gentle smile crossed his face as he placed his hand over hers.
King Solomon: “Don’t worry, Marissa. Salvini is strong. Don’t underestimate him.”
Queen Marissa met his gaze, and slowly, her expression softened, some calm replacing the anxiety in her eyes. Solomon reached over, pulling her into a reassuring embrace. They stayed that way, wrapped in each other’s arms, the quiet of dawn settling around them.
As they lay together, a faint light crept over the horizon, signalling the arrival of a new day. The three suns of Marth began to rise, their edges just peeking into the sky, bathing the land in soft, glowing light. Birds outside chirped their morning song, filling the air with a sense of renewal and calm, even as the weight of uncertainty loomed over them.
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SCENE 4: THE DEVIL’S GATE
Salvini sat on his bed, bathed in the soft light of Marth’s rising suns. He held the small leather-bound book in his hands, its rough cover and thin pages inviting yet daunting. With a whisper, he murmured to himself.
Salvini (whispering): "What secrets do you hold?"
His fingers glided over the worn leather, tracing the edges as though expecting it to reveal its secrets by touch alone. The book was modest in size, light enough to fit into anyone’s pocket, yet it carried a strange weight in his hands, an unsettling presence that mirrored his own hesitation.
As he hovered, about to open it, a stream of thoughts flooded his mind.
Salvini (thinking): “That mysterious lady… she knew so much about me. Who was she, really?”
His hands tensed around the book, struggling between an urge to uncover its secrets and an instinct to keep it closed. Gathering courage, he took a breath, his voice barely above a whisper.
Salvini: "She says she wants to help me… But if that’s true, then why was she so cryptic? And… Hamza… she knows about him too."
His brow furrowed as he pondered, memories of the encounter rushing back. What happened to Hamza? He didn’t wake up this time… What did she do to him?
Resolving to push through his doubts, he opened the book’s first page, his pulse quickening. His eyes widened as he saw a drawing—a familiar, haunting image. The same stone he’d stolen from Kopaik’s chamber was sketched on the page, capturing every jagged detail.
Salvini (staring at the image): "It is the same stone… But where is it now?"
A memory flickered before him—the sensation of the stone slipping from his pocket during the encounter with the lady. He recalled her bending down, picking it up, and tucking it back into his pocket. Instinctively, he reached into his pocket and felt the cold, familiar weight of the stone. Slowly, he took it out, placing it on the open page.
His gaze fell to the words inscribed beneath the drawing: Devil’s Gate.
Salvini (reading aloud): "The Devil’s Gate, huh… So that’s what this stone is called."
The name echoed in his mind, filling him with both wonder and apprehension.
Salvini (thinking): “But… what’s its link with me? Why did she give it back?”
(He turned the page slowly, each word and image unravelling mysteries he wasn’t sure he was ready to face.)
(Salvini’s eyes scanned the page, his heart pounding as he took in the eerie words before him. He murmured to himself, half in wonder, half in fear.)
Salvini (whispering): "What’s written here?"
(Clearing his throat, he read aloud from the second page.)
Salvini (reading): "Devil’s Gate… the stone extracted from Develious, now called dead Develious. It holds the ability to transfer a soul by sealing the user’s body deep in the lands of dead Develious… when it is exposed to portal diamond crystals. However, the creatures of Develious… or devils… cannot use it themselves. Marth’s energy prohibits it."
(He paused, a chill running down his spine as he continued, barely breathing.)
Salvini (continuing): "They… they require a medium—a person to use the stone for them. It’s a form of dark, forbidden magic. Using it can disturb the user… and their surroundings… as if forming a contract with devils. Your body becomes sealed in Develious… while the devils use this stone to possess the bodies of humans."
His hand tightened around the book as he processed the implications, his mind swirling with questions. Was this how Hamza ended up here? And if so… who was the true target of this dark magic—himself or someone else?
(Setting the book down, he glanced at the stone in his hand, its dark surface gleaming ominously.)
Salvini’s fingers hovered over the next page, his pulse quickening as he saw another drawing—a red crystal, its jagged edges etched in fine detail against the worn parchment. His eyes widened, recognition flashing across his face.
Salvini (whispering to himself): "That crystal..."
He reached down, pulling his necklace from under his shirt, holding it up beside the image in the book. His eyes flicked back and forth between the two, unable to deny the resemblance. The crystal on his necklace was identical to the one in the book.
Salvini: "It’s... the same."
He flipped back to the previous page, quickly rereading the ominous description of the Devil’s Gate stone, then glanced at the page with the crystal, feeling the weight of the words settle heavily on him.
Salvini (muttering): "Portal Diamond Crystal… so that’s its name."
A chill crept up his spine. The crystal he’d worn all his life wasn’t just a keepsake; it was part of the same forbidden magic tied to the Devil’s Gate. His hand tightened around the necklace, and a thought struck him—Hamza. Hamza had written that he wore the same necklace in his world.
Salvini (thinking aloud): "That means... it’s all connected. The necklaces, the stone, Hamza, and me... but why?"
His mind raced, each revelation deepening the puzzle instead of solving it. He clutched the necklace, as if it could offer him answers, his eyes scanning the page for more clues. The connection was clear, but something was still missing—something essential that bound all these pieces together.
Salvini: "There has to be a reason. Some hidden link... but what are we missing?"
He leaned back, his gaze locked on the pages of the book as dawn's first light crept through his window. The room filled with the soft glow of morning, but his heart remained in shadows, tied to secrets that refused to surface.
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Scene 5: The Missing Stone
Kopaik paced around his dimly lit chamber, eyes darting frantically from shelf to shelf, drawer to drawer, as he muttered under his breath.
Kopaik (frustrated): “Where… where is it? I know I left it right here…”
He overturned a stack of ancient books, letting scrolls tumble to the floor, but the stone was nowhere to be found. A cold sweat began to form on his brow as his fingers sifted through every crevice and drawer. Breathing heavily, he backed away from his workspace, fear and frustration clear in his eyes.
Kopaik (alarmed): “It can’t just vanish… someone’s taken it!”
(In a panic, he raced from his chamber and hurried down the dimly lit corridors until he reached Chief Lorvan’s quarters. He pounded on the door, his voice urgent.)
Kopaik: “Chief Lorvan! Chief, it’s gone! The stone—it’s been stolen!”
The door opened slowly, and Lorvan’s solemn face appeared, his eyes narrowing as he took in Kopaik’s dishevelled state.
Chief Lorvan (gravely): “What do you mean, ‘stolen’?”
Kopaik’s voice was barely a whisper, his face pale.
Kopaik: “The Devil’s Gate… it’s gone.”
(The two men exchanged a glance, and a heavy silence filled the air as Lorvan’s expression shifted from confusion to dread.)
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Until next time: