Episode 21
Scene 1 – Guildmaster's Office | Night
(A heavy silence cloaks the room. Pale moonlight streams through the tall arched windows, casting long shadows across the floor. Kaen Voss stands still, his gaze fixed outside—face unreadable. Behind him, Mr. Rael and Vanya wait, tension etched on their faces.)
Vanya (measured, urgent):
"Sir… we've told you everything. Grake has been in contact with someone. The Guild Hunters were deliberately misled. And the name Renji came up."
Kaen Voss (without turning, tone cold):
"Seal off the Guild Library. Effective immediately."
(Mr. Rael offers a firm nod.)
Kaen Voss (continuing):
"From this moment forward, Mr. Rael… you'll personally monitor Grake. I want every move accounted for. But under no circumstance should he realize he's being watched."
Mr. Rael (grave, composed):
"Understood."
(Kaen Voss slowly turns, his eyes sharp.)
Kaen Voss:
"No one else must know of this—not even Mr. Kael or Malric. This stays strictly between us."
Vanya & Mr. Rael (in unison):
"Yes, Guildmaster."
(The two exit without another word. Kaen Voss remains by the window, his silhouette fading into the gloom—lost in thought.)
Scene 2 – Ren & Zeno's Room | Night
(The room is dimly lit. Ren sits at the edge of his bed, leaning forward. Zeno lounges nearby, arms crossed, relaxed.)
Ren (hesitant):
"Zeno… there's something I've been meaning to ask."
Zeno (curious):
"Shoot."
Ren:
"That day… when we got punished for trying to enter the Guild Library. Why was it such a big deal? It was empty."
Zeno (nods slowly):
"Empty or not, it's a classified zone. We weren't authorized to be there."
(Suddenly, a sharp sound—the rhythm of synchronized footsteps echoes from the hallway. Ren instinctively rushes to the door. A small squad of guards marches past swiftly, headed down the corridor.)
Zeno (raising an eyebrow):
"Looks like the security detail has shifted…"
(He steps beside Ren, peers down the corridor—and freezes.)
Zeno (tense whisper):
"Ren. Look… it's Grake."
(Grake moves with practiced silence, cloaked in shadow, slipping toward the Guild Library wing. Ren and Zeno exchange a knowing glance and begin trailing him—quiet and focused.)
Scene 3 – Guild Corridor | Shadows Deepen
(The corridor is dim and quiet. Grake's pace is steady, deliberate. His thoughts echo faintly.)
Grake (internal):
"Tonight… I retrieve the documents. And that book. No more delays."
(He stops briefly. With a subtle gesture, every light in the corridor dies at once—plunging the hall into darkness.)
Ren and Zeno duck behind a pillar, hearts racing but silent.)
(Grake resumes moving—faster now. He stops before an enormous sealed door. He tries it. It doesn't move.)
Grake (thinking):
"Tch… not by conventional means."
(He places both palms against the door. A crimson glow blooms beneath his hands, like blood-red fire. Slowly, the mechanism yields. The door creaks open, revealing something hidden behind. His face remains unreadable—but his aura screams danger.)
Ren and Zeno stare in stunned silence, breath caught in their throats.)
Scene 4 – Guild Library | Hidden Communications
(Inside, shadows stretch across shelves. Grake walks in without hesitation and pulls out a sleek communication device. He dials.)
Grake (low, direct):
"Renji… I need backup. Now."
Renji (voice only, calm and composed):
"I won't come myself. But I've already sent my soldiers. They're inside the Guild as we speak."
Grake:
"Perfect."
(He ends the call. The darkness around him seems to grow heavier—as if anticipating what's to come.)
Scene 5 – Outer Corridor | Silent Invasion
(Renji's operatives—disguised flawlessly as Guild guards—slip down the corridor in perfect silence. Their movements are fluid, tactical.)
Vanya and Mr. Rael observe them from afar.)
Vanya (suspicious):
"Wait… those aren't our men."
Mr. Rael (grim):
"They've mimicked our guard patterns… but we've issued no such orders. They're imposters."
(Both realize the gravity in an instant. Without delay, they turn and break into a run—racing back to Kaen Voss's office.)
(Scene fades to black.)
To be continued…