In the suffocating darkness of a forest path, a young boy named Kaito, barely ten years old, fled with the desperation of a child who knows something is terribly wrong. His breaths came in ragged gasps, the dense forest around him seemingly closing in. Behind him, his mother, Ayumi, clutched a baby to her chest, her determination masking her exhaustion.
“Keep running, Kaito! Don’t look back! I’m right behind you!” Ayumi’s voice was strained but resolute.
Kaito’s heart pounded as he glanced over his shoulder, seeing his mother’s struggle. Her eyes were fierce with resolve, though her face was pale with fear.
“Everything will be okay. We just need to hide,” she continued, her voice trembling slightly. “Just keep running. No matter what, do not look back!”
Tears streamed down Kaito’s face as he sprinted through the forest. The trees seemed to blur as he stumbled across a large ledge, the roar of a waterfall cascading down its side.
“Hold onto your brother,” Ayumi said urgently, pressing the baby into Kaito’s trembling arms. “Stay here. I’ll protect you.”
With a final glance back, Ayumi turned and faced the direction from which they had fled. Her hands rose, a shimmering barrier of ice forming in front of her. But the ice wall was no match for the dark, shadowy figure that emerged—a Soul Shade of immense power. The wall shattered under its force.
“No!” Ayumi’s cry was cut short as the Soul Shade struck her down. Blood sprayed into the air, painting the forest in a horrifying shade of red. Kaito, paralyzed by terror, clutched his baby brother tightly.
In a frantic attempt to escape, Kaito leaped off the ledge into the deafening roar of the waterfall. The world spun around him as he fell, the icy water rushing up to meet him. Just before he plunged into the depths, everything went black.
INT. Volt's Home - Morning
Kaito awoke with a start, gasping for air. Sweat coated his skin, and a single tear trailed down his cheek. He lay in his bed, disoriented, the morning light filtering through a small window.“
Why do I always keep having these dreams about that day? It’s been four years, and I still can’t escape it,” he thought, his mind replaying the traumatic events.
Sitting up, Kaito wiped away his tear, his eyes falling on the simple, sunlit room. He sighed deeply.
“Mom, why did you have to leave us? I promised I’d protect my brother, but I couldn’t protect you.”
He rose from the bed and opened his door, only to find the familiar sight of wolves lounging in the hallway. As he stepped outside, they rose and followed him.
“I’m truly sorry… I’m truly sorry…” he murmured over and over, his voice cracking with each repetition. Tears streamed down his face as he ran out the front door, the wolves in pursuit. He ran up the mountain with a desperate fervor, pushing himself to the brink of exhaustion.
EXT. Volt's Home - DAY
Volt, a rugged man in his late 40s, stood watching as Kaito staggered back to the house, breathless and spent.
I’m done, master. I’m done running,” Kaito declared, his voice filled with resolve.
Volt, using the nickname “Kai” as a sign of their close bond, nodded approvingly. “Oh, you didn’t even need the wolves to wake you up this time. That’s great, Kai. That’s the commitment I want.”
“Now, let’s go for our morning hunt,” Volt continued.
Kaito nodded. “Okay, sir.”
He went back inside, changing into his usual casual clothes. Standing before the mirror, he took a moment to steady himself.
“I need to be strong. For Mom. For my brother. For myself. And from Dad—these are the reasons I’m still here.”
With renewed determination, Kaito returned to Volt. “I’m ready, sir.”
They ventured into the nearby forest, accompanied by their loyal wolves. Moving silently among the trees, they soon spotted a massive wild buffalo.
EXT. FOREST - DAY
The wolves charged, barking and snarling. Volt raised his hand, summoning a bolt of lightning that struck the buffalo. The beast staggered, and Kaito took his chance, leaping onto its back and stabbing it repeatedly until it collapsed.
With the buffalo subdued, they hauled it back to the house and began the process of butchering it into manageable pieces.
INT. Volt's Home - DAY
Volt turned to Kaito with another task. “Go buy some bread. We can’t live on meat alone. Head to Lara’s and get some.”
He handed Kaito some money, and Kaito took it with a nod before heading out.KAITO (IN HIS HEAD)
“Every day is a struggle, but I have to keep moving forward. I have to become stronger. I can’t let anyone else experience the pain I went through.”
EXT. VILLAGE - DAY
Kaito walked through the village, his presence marked by wary glances from the villagers. He ignored them, his focus set on reaching Lara’s shop.
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Scene 2: The Village
Arriving at Lara’s shop, Kaito saw the window open. He rang the bell, and Emily, a girl of his age, appeared, her face lighting up with a warm smile.
“Oh, it’s you, Kaito! What can I get you today? The usual, right?”
“Yeah, the usual,” Kaito replied.
Emily swiftly retrieved the bread, placing it in a bag. “Before you go, can I come and watch you spar with Max today? There’s something I want to improve in my training, and I’ve been learning a lot from watching you.”
Kaito smiled faintly. “Sure, you can come anytime you want. I thought it was clear by now that you don’t need to ask every time.”
“Oh, okay,” Emily said, her tone brightening. “Can I make you lunch? And some for Max, too. He thinks we’re dating, but we’re just friends.”
“If you want to, that’d be great. See you around, Emily. Have a great day.”
Kaito took the bread and headed back home, his mind already shifting to the tasks ahead.
INT. Volt's Home - DAY
Kaito returned home, carrying the bread with a mixture of relief and weariness. He handed it to Volt, who had already started preparing breakfast. They worked side by side, the silence between them filled with the simple routine of making morning meals. After they ate, Volt clapped Kaito on the back.
“See you, Kaito. I’ll be back later.”
With Volt gone, Kaito set about his morning chores. He cleaned the house meticulously, fed the wolves, and then changed into his training clothes.
EXT. Volt's Home - DAY
Outside, Kaito began his push-ups, the steady rhythm a form of punishment and perseverance. As he exercised, a harsh voice echoed in his mind.
“Just quit. You’ll never be strong enough. Your elemental powers haven’t even manifested yet, and you think you’ll protect everyone? You’re so weak.”
Kaito gritted his teeth, sweat mixing with the dirt on his face as he pushed himself harder.
“I vowed that day I wouldn’t lose anyone I love again. I’ll protect them, no matter what. This voice has to leave me alone! I will be strong enough to protect everyone close to my heart, even if it kills me. I will be the strongest person in the world. I will eradicate all Soul Shades and anyone who stands in the way of my dreams!”
Kaito continued his push-ups, then moved to his sword training. He swung the blade with fierce determination, each movement a testament to his resolve. As the afternoon approached, Volt returned.
“Hey, Kaito, I’m back! Where’s Max?”
“He hasn’t arrived yet. I’m still waiting on him,” Kaito replied.
“That boy never listens to me,” Volt muttered with a hint of annoyance.
Max, a boy with green hair of Kaito’s age, arrived, panting slightly.
“Morning, sir. Sorry I’m late. The cows have been acting up. One’s sick. Sorry, sir.”
Max turned to Kaito, grinning. “Hey, Kaito, ready to lose?”
“You wish,” Kaito replied, a competitive spark in his eyes.
They prepared for their sparring session. Max cracked his knuckles and neck, while Kaito brushed his hair back and tied a headband on his forehead.
---
EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS - AFTERNOON
Emily arrived, her breath coming in quick bursts.
“Sorry I’m late, guys.”
She greeted Volt formally before sitting down beside him. “Good morning, Master Volt.”
Volt nodded in acknowledgment as Kaito and Max squared off. Tension crackled in the air. Max smiled confidently.
“You sure you want to do this, Kaito? You don’t stand a chance.”
“We’ll see about that,” Kaito shot back.
Kaito charged forward, fists clenched. Max sidestepped effortlessly.
“Too slow.”
Max conjured a water whip from thin air and lashed it at Kaito’s legs. Kaito fell but rolled with the impact, quickly getting back to his feet.
“You’re not the only one with tricks,” Kaito said, launching a series of punches and kicks. Max formed a water shield, blocking the attacks and countering with water arrows. Some of the arrows grazed Kaito, drawing blood.
“Is that all you can block?” Max taunted, laughing.
Max conjured a water blade, advancing with slashes and thrusts. Kaito narrowly avoided each attack, focusing on evading the deadly strikes.
“Not even close,” Kaito responded, determined.
Kaito closed the distance and unleashed a flurry of punches. Max was forced to retreat under the relentless assault. Regaining his composure, Max blasted Kaito with a powerful water jet, sending him crashing into a pile of debris.
“Stay down, Kaito. You can’t win,” Max mocked.
Max formed a massive water spear, preparing for the final blow. Kaito, struggling to his feet, subtly scooped up soil from the ground.
“Think again,” Kaito said with a smirk.
As Max lunged with the water spear, Kaito flung the soil into Max’s eyes. Max staggered back, blinded, and the spear dissolved.
“What did you do?” Max shouted, desperate.
Kaito rushed at Max, delivering a powerful uppercut to his jaw. Max stumbled, disoriented and still partially blinded. Kaito followed up with rapid punches and a spinning kick, knocking Max to the ground.
Just as Kaito was about to declare victory, Max rolled to the side and conjured a small water whip, tripping Kaito. Max struggled to his feet, his vision clearing.
“Nice try, Kaito,” Max said, grinning weakly.
Kaito, caught off guard, tried to recover, but Max charged, delivering a powerful punch that sent Kaito sprawling. Kaito struggled to stand, but his energy was spent. Max stood over him, panting heavily.
“You almost had me,” Max said, victorious but barely. “You messed up when you got overly confident.”
Kaito, visibly frustrated, lay on the ground catching his breath.
“You got me this time, Max,” he admitted.
Max offered his hand to Kaito, showing respect despite the fierce battle. Kaito took it, pulling himself up.
“Let’s call it a day. That was a close one,” Max said, wincing.
“Yeah, next time, it won’t be,” Kaito replied, smiling despite his frustration.
Volt clapped his hands, drawing their attention.
“Max is right, Kaito. Your confidence is a double-edged sword. It drives you forward but can also blind you to your limits. That’s when you make mistakes. Fix that, and you’ll find a steadier path.”
He paused, letting his words sink in. “Well done, my boys. But Kaito, you’ve got a habit of winning the fight in your head before it’s truly over. That’s dangerous. Now, reflect on that. I’ll see you tonight for our hunt.”
Volt turned, his footsteps fading as he left the training grounds. Kaito and Max watched him go, the weight of his words lingering.
“Well, that was... intense,” Kaito said.
“Yeah, he sure knows how to get under your skin,” Max agreed.
Emily stepped forward, her warm smile easing the tension. She set down a large basket on the grass.
“Alright, enough with the heavy stuff. Let’s take a break. I brought us some food!”
Kaito and Max exchanged a glance, their expressions softening as they helped Emily set up a simple picnic. The blanket spread out with sandwiches, fruits, and snacks. They sat down, enjoying the lighter atmosphere and casual banter.
Max looked thoughtful as he chewed on his food. “Bro, I’m starting to wonder, when’s your elemental affinity gonna show up? You’re 14 already. Even late bloomers have theirs by now.”
Kaito froze for a moment, caught off guard. Emily glanced at him with curiosity.
“It’s been bothering me too,” Kaito said with a sigh. “I did some research. My arcane gift might be suppressing my elemental affinity. I need to master it first.”
Max’s eyes widened. “So you can’t use elemental affinity because your special gift is holding it down?”
Kaito nodded. “That’s one theory. Or maybe I have two elemental affinities to master.”
Emily’s curiosity was piqued. “Are those the only possibilities?”
Kaito shrugged. “From what I’ve read, there’s no record of anyone never manifesting their elemental affinity. At least, not that I’ve found.”
Max looked concerned. “Man, I was worried about you. I thought I’d be beating you forever!”
Emily interjected, “What’s an arcane gift, though?”
Max explained excitedly. “It’s like a special ability you get after mastering your elemental power. Some people get super strength, flight, invisibility, even mind reading.”
Emily’s eyes widened. “Wow, that’s amazing! But I don’t understand—what’s wrong with Kaito?”
Max, more serious now, added, “When a child is born, they inherit their father’s elemental affinity. To unlock your arcane gift, you first need to master that elemental power. But Kaito’s arcane gift is actually suppressing his elemental affinity. He needs to figure it out first.”
Emily nodded, understanding. “So he has to deal with his arcane gift first... That sounds tough.”
Kaito smiled at his friends’ support. “I guess I’ll just have to keep training and see what happens. I won’t give up until I find my true potential.”
Max smiled. “That’s the spirit, Kaito. We’re all here to support you.”
Emily added supportively, “Yeah, no matter what happens, we’re here for you.”
Kaito’s expression grew serious. “I will eradicate all those Soul Shades. They’ve taken everything from me, causing pain and suffering. I will wipe them out and unite the nine continents, ending endless wars. I’ll become the greatest warrior ever. My father will be proud. My mother and little brother will know I’ve made a difference. Once I’ve accomplished these tasks, I’ll build a peaceful family. I can’t wait for that day.”
Max chuckled. “That’s corny, bro.”
Kaito playfully challenged him. “You want to fight me? Let’s go rig
ht now—put those hands up!”
They burst into laughter, the moment of levity easing any lingering tension as they continued to enjoy their time together.