[Scene: Exterior — Gateway to the Nexus (GTN)]
LUNA (bounding excitedly ahead):
"Field trip! FIELD TRIP! I packed nothing but still ready!"
RAIN (yawning):
"It's not that kind of field trip, Luna."
DAWN:
"She doesn't even have a bag."
LUNA (tail flicking):
"Stars say snacks will be provided. Luna trusts the stars."
A glowing fracture in the night sky pulses at the edge of the city, hidden behind an abandoned train yard. RAIN, DAWN, and LUNA approach cautiously. The closer they get, the more the stars above seem to vibrate with tension.
LUNA (tail swishing):
"This... place smell like burnt lightbulb and weird soup."
DAWN (blinking):
"Wait—did… did you just—?"
RAIN:
"Yeah. You can hear her now too?"
DAWN:
"Kinda. It's like… broken English and meows mixed with sarcasm."
LUNA:
"DAWN brain finally upgrade. Took long time."
[Scene: GTN Interior — Arrival Platform]
As they step through the portal, the trio arrives on a floating island in a pocket dimension. Dozens of glowing pathways spiral into endless voids. Crystal towers hum with energy. Other Star Bearers move through the area, each with their own aura.
KAI appears beside them, lounging on the edge of a levitating platform like he's waiting for takeout.
KAI:
"Took you long enough. Welcome to the Gateway to the Nexus—GTN for short. Think of it as… Hogwarts for Star Bearers, but with way more existential dread."
RAIN:
"This place is insane."
DAWN:
"I feel like I'm dreaming and tripping at the same time."
LUNA (sniffing a floating orb):
"Dream trip got snacks?"
KAI:
"You'll get used to it. This place is gonna be your second home. Training, archives, secrets—all of it's here. And the GTN's always watching. Always changing."
[Scene: Orientation Hall — A massive dome filled with shifting constellations on the ceiling. Other Star Bearers look up in silence.]
KAI (walking ahead):
"There's gonna be trials. Combat. Choices. Consequences. But more than that—this place will teach you how to not die horribly in the coming storm."
RAIN:
"Great. More riddles."
DAWN:
"I don't like how he keeps saying storm like it's a casual thing."
KAI (smiling):
"You'll thank me later. Maybe."
[Final Panel: The trio stands at the threshold of a vast hall carved from black starstone. The floor beneath them ripples like the surface of a lake made of memory.]
NARRATION:
"Every legend begins somewhere. For RAIN and DAWN… it starts here."
[Scene: Interior — GTN Marketplace]
The sprawling Nexus marketplace hums with alien chatter and the shimmer of star magic. Stalls float on light beams, selling everything from cosmic scrolls to starforged weapons. RAIN, DAWN, and LUNA weave through the bustling crowd.
LUNA (staring wide-eyed, tail flicking slowly):
[Visual: A Familiar shapeshifts in front of Luna, transforming from a sleek fox-like creature to a lithe human with glowing eyes.]
LUNA (silent, lost in a daze, eyes fixed on the transformation):
[Thought bubble]
"That… that's what I want."
[Scene: Luna starts inching closer, entranced, almost forgetting her surroundings.]
DAWN (noticing):
"Luna! Hey, come on, you're gonna get left behind if you keep zoning out like that."
[Scene: Dawn scoops Luna up, holding her firmly but gently.]
LUNA (mumbling softly):
"Sorry… just… didn't expect that."
[Scene: KAI floats down beside them, hands tucked into his long sleeves.]
KAI (calm, amused):
"GTN's seen things long before any god ever took breath. This place... it's the cradle of cosmic power and the graveyard of forgotten legends."
RAIN (eyebrows raised):
"So, you're saying this place predates everything? Even the gods?"
KAI (nodding slowly):
"Yeah. Some say the GTN was built by entities who shaped the cosmos itself. It holds secrets even the stars fear to whisper."
DAWN (eyes scanning the horizon):
"No wonder it feels... alive. Like it's watching us."
KAI (smirking):
"Because it is. The Nexus watches all. Every Star Bearer's trial, every step you take here—it's recorded in the cosmic ledger."
RAIN (dryly):
"Great. So even if I mess up, someone's gonna know about it forever."
KAI (laughs softly):
"True. But it's also a place of growth. You'll find answers here—if you're willing to seek them."
LUNA (still in Dawn's arms, eyes dreamy):
"Maybe… with training… I could be like that."
KAI (teasing):
"With a little training, kid. You might surprise us all."
[Final Panel: The trio moves deeper into the Nexus, shadows and stars swirling around them like living things.]
NARRATION:
"In a place older than gods, beneath the endless stars, RAIN, DAWN, and LUNA step into their fate—one lesson, one secret, one trial at a time."
Scene: The bustling market area inside the Gateway to the Nexus. Strange stalls shimmer with artifacts from countless universes. Star Bearers and familiars mingle amid glowing neon signs and floating trinkets.
LUNA (tail flicking excitedly as she wanders near a stall):
"This... place smell like burnt lightbulb and weird soup."
She freezes, eyes wide as she watches a familiar at a nearby stall shift fluidly from a small creature into a humanoid form. The transformation fascinates her, and she falls into a daze, utterly mesmerized.
DAWN (noticing Luna zoning out, quickly scoops her up):
"Hey! Don't get lost, Luna. We gotta stick together."
KAI (appearing beside them with a knowing smile):
"That's a familiar taking on human form. Most don't realize with some training, familiars like Luna can do the same."
Luna perks up slightly but remains thoughtful.
KAI (gesturing broadly to the sprawling market):
"The GTN has been around longer than most can imagine. It existed before gods were born, before stars were named. A hub for those chosen by the cosmos — Star Bearers, familiars, and all who walk between worlds."
DAWN (eyes scanning the stalls, already spotting a quantum computer glowing softly on a table):
"This place... it's like a hacker's dream. That's a literal quantum computer—like, quantum computing but real."
Kai chuckles at Dawn's enthusiasm.
KAI:
"Everything here blends magic, tech, and raw cosmic energy. The lines blur."
Rain grins and looks over at Kai.
RAIN:
"So, what's the currency here? Some kind of cosmic coin with star power or something?"
KAI (deadpan, smirking):
"Yeah, it's called 'Hope.' You don't spend it, you trade it… and if you run out, well… good luck bargaining with a black hole."
DAWN:
"Hope? That's… actually kinda poetic."
KAI:
"The GTN isn't your typical marketplace. It runs on a balance of belief, ambition, and willpower. Everything here is priced in potential, and transactions aren't always about money. Sometimes it's favors, secrets, or a promise to face your fears."
RAIN (mocking):
"So, basically, you gotta keep your soul in check just to buy a sandwich?"
KAI:
"Exactly. Welcome to cosmic capitalism."
KAI (then smirks):
"Alright, I'm just kidding. The currency's like any other place — we just call it G Coins. The G stands for Galaxy."
RAIN (grinning):
"Ohhh, Mr. Smart Ass has jokes."
Luna bursts into uncontrollable laughter, pointing at Rain.
LUNA:
"Ha! You actually believed that? Silly human!"
Dawn laughs softly, shaking her head as she gently sets Luna down.
KAI:
"Now that we've had our fun, there's something you should know about the Observatory where you fought Mourn, Rain."
Rain raises an eyebrow, intrigued.
KAI:
"That place isn't just some abandoned ruin — it's connected to the GTN in ways most don't understand. And you, Rain, are now its rightful owner."
Dawn's ears perk up.
DAWN (thinking to herself):
Free rent?
KAI:
"Consider it your base of operations. A place to train, reflect, and prepare for what's coming."
RAIN:
"Great. Free rent and more headaches."
DAWN (smirking):
"You kinda asked for this, Rain. You always wanted to protect something, but you barely could protect yourself."
Rain sighs, running a hand through his hair.
KAI (grinning):
"Well, buckle up. This market trip's just the beginning."
Narration:
"The GTN is more than a marketplace. It's a crossroads of destiny, where bonds will be forged, secrets unraveled, and the path of the stars rewritten."