West of Gíria – Black Elven Castle
Deep within the dungeon halls, only the flames flickering from twisted branches light the oppressive darkness. In front of a cell, whose iron door is nearly broken down, silence reigns. Dusky black elves, acting as guards, remain utterly still—motionless like statues.
Inside the cell, Kareos appears completely transformed. His eyes are black as night, his lips cracked and darkened. The scar — a black mark — on his arm now slowly spreads across his entire body. Yet, he feels no pain. Sunlight pierces through small holes in the stone wall, casting narrow beams of light into the cell.
Kareos raises his arms, brings his hands together tightly, and clenches them. A massive shockwave explodes outward, sending the cell door flying across the corridor, slamming into the opposite wall—and crushing one of the guards in its path.
Immediately, the other black elves draw their swords and spears, moving forward with short, cautious steps. But a thick cloud of dust fills the corridor, obscuring their vision. They stop, waiting for Kareos to emerge.
As the dust settles, Kareos appears, his black eyes and shadowed lips emanating silent menace. He walks forward, step by step, out of the cell.
One elf charges him with a sword, but before he can get close, Kareos raises his arms again and clenches them. Another shockwave erupts, hurling the elves against the walls, some flying backward violently.
Kareos continues upward through the dungeon stairs, his movements calm and cold. The black mark continues spreading across his body, now reaching up to his neck.
Upon arriving at the throne room door, guards raise their bows and nock arrows. Others draw their swords, ready to attack. But Kareos walks on with an icy calm. Every footstep echoes through the corridor.
— "Don't take another step. Stay right there!" — one of the guards commands.
Kareos doesn't stop. He says nothing. Just walks.
Before the guards can fire, Nelan steps forward and shouts:
— "Stop. Let him through."
The doors to the throne room open. Kareos enters and approaches the throne without kneeling. Valtherk, seated on his dark throne, watches him with dominance in his eyes.
— "At last, you've awakened, my child," he says in a grave and commanding tone. "Now you know what it feels like to be perfect—worthy of existing in this world."
Kareos meets his gaze coldly.
— "Yes. Now I know what it is to feel superior. Above all."
— "Excellent," Valtherk replies. "I need you to bring Karips to me. Then we shall live in perfection, free from impurity."
— "I'll bring her," Kareos says, "but I have one condition."
— "And what would that be, child?"
— "I must remain by her side. No one else can have her. Only I."
Valtherk gives a thin smile.
— "Don't worry. Once she fulfills her purpose, she will be yours entirely. Now go. Bring her to me."
— "Very well."
Without waiting for permission, Kareos turns and leaves the throne room. Outside the castle, he finds strange winged creatures. He grabs one and takes flight, heading northward—toward Northern Gíria.
---
Cut to... Northern Gíria – Forest
Aaron stumbles through the woods, completely drained after maintaining a protective barrier for twenty minutes. He trips over a root and crashes to the ground, scraping his knee and letting out a suppressed cry of pain. Belguiner rushes to him:
— "Are you alright, Aaron?"
— "Just tired... I just need to rest a bit," Aaron pants.
Belguiner turns to the group:
— "We'll rest here. We continue once Aaron has recovered."
— "Ah, thank God," Peter sighs in relief.
A little further off, Sasha trains alone with her bow. Every arrow hits exactly where she aims. Alex walks up, impressed:
— "You're really good at that."
Sasha doesn't turn to him:
— "Let me guess... You liked the kiss so much, now you want a rematch?"
— "Wrong," Alex smiles. "I just wanted to say—I admire your strength. You fight well. You've got real potential."
Surprised, Sasha hits a tree with another arrow, then sets her bow down.
— "Finally, a compliment... from someone obsessed with finding his lost 'friend.' But thanks, pretty boy."
Alex steps closer, firm but calm.
— "Victor's not my boyfriend. He's... like a brother to me."
— "He must be amazing."
— "He is. But tell me—who taught you to fight like that?"
— "Just practice."
Sasha sits beneath a tree.
---
Cut to... Northern Gíria – Shapeshifter Village (18 years ago)
Children shift between human and animal forms, laughing and playing in harmony. A caravan of shapeshifter sorcerers rides through the village, heading toward the cave where Kareos and Max will seal Karips.
In a small wooden house near a river, a shapeshifter woman gives birth. When the baby is born, the father holds her gently:
— "She's beautiful. Hello, my little princess."
— "Do you want to hold her?"
— "Of course. How could I say no?"
Hours later, the air thickens. Birds fall dead from the sky. Children mid-transformation collapse lifeless. Adults and elders begin suffocating. The energy released from Karips being sealed is catastrophic.
The baby's father is already dead. Gasping for breath, the mother crawls to the river, places her baby in a small wooden basket, and sets it adrift. Tearfully, she watches as the current takes it away—then collapses and dies near the shore.
Farther downriver, a rugged elven man training with a sword notices the basket and hears a baby's cry. He rushes forward.
— "Hey there, little one... You must be terrified. But where are your parents?"
The baby cries harder.
---
Cut to... 10 years later
In the elven forest, the man trains with his sword. Sasha, now 10 years old, approaches.
— "I thought you'd never wake up," he teases.
— "Your jokes are terrible," Sasha replies seriously.
— "One day, I'll make you laugh..."
— "Why do you train so much?"
— "So I can always be ready. To protect myself—and those I care about."
— "Then teach me. I want to protect myself too."
— "Now that's what I like to hear! We'll start today."
---
Cut to... 1 year later
At 11, Sasha sits by the river, thinking back to a memory:
— "Dad, can I ask you something?"
— "Of course, anything."
— "Where's my mother?"
He takes a deep breath.
— "You're not my biological daughter. I found you in a basket in the river. Since that day, I've raised you as my own. I gave you the name Sasha."
She hugs him.
— "I always knew... But you're the only father I'll ever recognize."
---
Cut to... later that day
Sasha walks through the forest. A battalion of black elves passes nearby; she hides behind a tree. On her way back, she sees massacred bodies of elves.
— "No... not my father."
She runs to her home—only to find her father dead, swords pierced through his neck and abdomen, blood spreading across the ground.
She collapses beside him, speechless. Her eyes widen. Her tears flow. She screams—a raw, agonizing cry of grief and rage.
---
Cut to... Present
— "I lost the only person I ever truly loved when I was eleven," Sasha tells Alex. "He taught me how to fight. How to survive."
— "What about your mother?" Alex asks.
— "I don't know if I have one. Anyone who puts a baby in a basket and sends it downriver... didn't want me."
— "Have you ever thought about searching for her?"
— "No. She clearly didn't love me."
— "You're strong," Alex says gently.
— "And you're beautiful. Who do you take after?"
— "I never met my parents. Victor's family raised me. My mother died giving birth to me seventeen years ago."
— "I'm sorry. A beautiful elf like you growing up without his mom or dad..."
— "It's okay. No need to feel sorry."
— "Well, if I'm not allowed to feel anything..." she leans closer, "then I can't do this."
She kisses him.
---
Cut to... Northern Gíria – Mountain
Max stands atop a high peak, looking out across the land. Jack joins him.
— "The world looks so vast and beautiful from here, doesn't it?"
— "Yes... Too beautiful for weak creatures like you. Humans. Elves who refuse to evolve. Dwarves. Shapeshifters. You're all pathetic. You're the ones unbalancing this world."
Jack stiffens.
— "What are you talking about?"
— "Forget it. Doesn't matter."
---
Cut to... Northern Gíria – Forest
Victor, Seinal, and Morfios ride on horseback.
— "How far do we go?" Victor asks.
— "Until peace is restored," Morfios replies.
A lone figure stands ahead.
— "Do you see that?" Seinal says.
— "What?" Victor asks.
— "That man... It's Kareos."
They dismount. Seinal approaches, smiling:
— "Lord Kareos... It's an honor to meet you."
He extends a hand. Kareos takes it—but in an instant, pulls Seinal close and slashes his throat with a hidden blade.
Victor and Morfios shout:
— "No! Seinal!"
As they charge, Seinal stumbles toward them, holding his bleeding neck, trying to speak—but only blood pours from his mouth. He collapses. Dead.
To be continued...