EXT. NEW VILLAGE — COURTYARD – MORNING
The newly rebuilt village of Hinokure glows under a bright sun. Survivors and swordbearers gather near the center where a tall stone archway has been carved with their new village name.
Villager 1:
They carved it by hand overnight?
Villager 2:
With a sword, actually. Everything's rebuilt with blades now.
A horn blows. A ceremonial official in black robes steps up to a makeshift podium surrounded by council members and high-ranked warriors.
HEAD OF THE EVENT:
Swordsboys… Warriors… Survivors…
The crowd goes silent. Even the wind seems to pause.
HEAD OF THE EVENT (cont'd):
When the world fell, you rose.
When shadows screamed, you did not run.
You did what no rank, no class, no ceremony could ever demand of you.
He raises a scroll, unrolls it before the village.
HEAD OF THE EVENT:
By decree of the Grand Commission…
All surviving Swordsboys are now promoted to 1st Class Swordbearers.
A gasp, then wild cheering erupts. Villagers clap. Others raise their swords in the air in triumph.
AMONG THE CROWD
MAEN (blinking fast):
Wait. First Class? Just like that?
SHIN-RI (softly):
I didn't even think I'd live to hold the scroll.
RANDOM SWORD USER (shouting):
All hail the survivors!
VILLAGER GIRL:
Shin-Ri! You're the quiet guy, right? You saved the south wall!
MAEN (grinning):
You've got fans now. Careful, they'll start asking you to name sword moves.
SYLDEN WALKS OVER
Sylden approaches from behind, arms crossed, battle-worn but proud.
SYLDEN:
First Class? Hm.
MAEN:
Are you proud or annoyed?
SYLDEN:
...Proud. Don't make me say it again.
SHIN-RI (softly):
Thank you… for guiding us.
SYLDEN:
Don't thank me. Just don't die.
EXT. VILLAGE PATH – AFTERNOON
After the ceremony, Shin-Ri and Maen walk home, scrolls in hand, both still stunned.
MAEN:
So, what now? We wear new sashes? Learn cooler moves?
SHIN-RI (half-smiling):
Sleep first. Then maybe eat.
They laugh, lightly.
MAEN (teasing):
You've smiled more today than in the last ten episodes.
SHIN-RI:
It's quiet. That scares me more than battle.
A GLOWING FIGURE BLOCKS THE PATH
A soft light glows ahead. A girl steps from the mist between buildings — white robe, eyes covered in black cloth, hood draped low. She's barefoot. She glows faintly like moonlight.
MYSTERIOUS GIRL:
Are you the one who carries memory?
MAEN (stepping forward):
Who are you? Why are you glowing?
MYSTERIOUS GIRL:
My name is Yurei.
I come from the distant town of Kaigai.
They said I once held the Tonal Sword.
MAEN AND SHIN-RI – STUNNED
MAEN:
The Tonal Sword?
That's a legend. A blade that sings?
YUREI:
It sings when destiny shifts.
And something near you…
is beginning to hum.
SHIN-RI (tense):
What do you want from me?
YUREI (tilting head):
To listen.
To guide.
Or to stop it, if needed.
SUDDENLY — DEMONS STRIKE
A tear rips in the air behind them. From it, three black demons emerge—sharp-limbed, screeching, steaming. They land hard on the ground, snarling.
DEMON #1:
Seeker of the Tonal Light… must perish.
DEMON #2:
The cursed boy… bleeds power.
MAEN (drawing daggers):
I was hoping we'd go a day without screaming beasts.
SHIN-RI (raising blade):
Yurei—get behind us!
YUREI (calmly):
No need.
THE BATTLE BEGINS
Shin-Ri and Maen spring into motion. Shin-Ri slices low while Maen dashes left and disables one demon with a precise slash across the knee.
MAEN:
Still got it!
SHIN-RI (blocking claws):
They're after her. The blade inside her words.
Yurei walks calmly forward, lifts a hand — and a pulse of invisible force blasts one demon into a wall.
YUREI (chanting):
Tone of silence. Cut the echo.
She "strikes" the air with her palm—sound becomes weapon. The demon writhes, clutches its ears, then explodes into dust.
DEMON #3 (lunging at Maen):
You don't belong here!
SHIN-RI (intercepting):
She does now!
He swings cleanly — a high metallic tone follows the blade, slicing the demon in two. Its scream echoes as it vanishes.
AFTERMATH – SMOKE AND STILLNESS
The three stand in the quiet street. Shin-Ri lowers his sword. Maen pants, shaking off blood. Yurei remains serene, untouched.
MAEN (catching breath):
Okay. You're creepy, but I like you.
YUREI (smiling faintly):
Thank you.
SHIN-RI:
Why are demons after you?
YUREI:
They're not after me.
They're after the echo I left behind.
MAEN:
What does that mean?
YUREI:
It means… the Tonal Sword is waking.
EXT. VILLAGE — NIGHTFALL
The three sit atop the hill near the training grounds, watching the stars come out. A soft wind carries embers from distant fire pits.
MAEN (quietly):
You think we'll ever be able to rest?
SHIN-RI:
Maybe not. But if we can make it quiet… for others...
That's enough.
YUREI:
Rest comes when the last note fades.
But your song is only beginning.
They sit in silence. The blade on Shin-Ri's back hums faintly… like a string plucked in the dark.
TO BE CONTINUED...