Episode 24
Scene 1 – Evening | Playground
(The evening sky glows in shades of soft orange and pink. Trees sway in the breeze. Distant laughter from kids playing echoes around the open playground. Ren and Zeno stand at the edge, gazing at the setting sun.)
Ren (quietly, serious):
"Zeno... what happened with Emi… it just wasn't right."
Zeno (nodding slowly):
"Yeah… she didn't deserve any of that."
(Suddenly, a ball comes flying and hits Zeno in the back. He stumbles slightly.)
Zeno (surprised):
"Whoa—!"
(A voice calls out from behind.)
Boy (offscreen):
"Ah—sorry! That was my bad!"
(Ren and Zeno turn around. A cheerful 14-year-old boy with messy hair jogs toward them. A slightly shy girl follows a few steps behind.)
Girl (genuinely apologetic):
"We're really sorry about that!"
Zeno (smiling gently):
"It's okay. No harm done."
Boy (recognizing them):
"Wait… you're Ren and Zeno, right? You guys tried to stop Grake last night outside the guild library?"
Ren:
"Yeah. We gave it everything we had… but he still got away."
Boy (grinning):
"I'm Fynn, by the way. And this is Lyra."
Ren & Zeno (in unison):
"Nice to meet you."
(Just then, Emi approaches from across the park, a little out of breath.)
Emi (calling out):
"Lyra! I've been looking all over for you—"
(She notices Ren and Zeno and walks up to them.)
Emi (softly, smiling):
"Ren, Zeno… your junior selection test is tomorrow, right? Best of luck."
Fynn (enthusiastically):
"We're rooting for you! Hope you both crush it!"
Lyra (warmly):
"I'll be praying you both do amazing."
(Fynn chuckles and flashes a grin.)
Fynn (joking):
"And hey—if things go south, just remember... it's not our fault. We did wish you luck!"
(Everyone laughs together, the tension lightened.)
Scene 2 – Night | Kaen Voss's Office
(A calm, dim room lit by glowing orbs. Kaen Voss sits behind a large desk. Vanya and Malric stand in front of him, focused.)
Kaen Voss:
"Vanya. Malric. Once tomorrow's junior selection test is over, the two of you will head to Luxaven City—same as every year."
Malric:
"To open the Aether Crucible Arena?"
Kaen Voss:
"That's right. You'll oversee the arena's activation. Senior trainees and a few master-levels will join you."
Vanya (calmly):
"Understood."
Malric (smirking):
"We'll handle it without a hitch."
Scene 3 – Night | Ren and Zeno's Room
(The room is quiet. A soft light glows from a lamp on the side. Ren and Zeno are sitting on their beds, both looking thoughtful.)
Zeno (thoughtfully):
"So… Fynn and Lyra… they're junior trainees?"
Ren:
"Yeah. Both of them."
Zeno:
"Tomorrow's going to be big. We've gotta give it everything, like always."
Ren (firmly):
"No doubt about it."
(A gentle knock on the door. Fynn and Lyra peek in, smiling.)
Lyra (smiling):
"We just wanted to say good luck… before you call it a night."
Fynn (with a playful salute):
"Wishing you both the best, seniors!"
Ren & Zeno (grinning):
"Thanks."
Ren (teasing):
"Just don't trip during your own test tomorrow. If you do, we'll laugh so hard we might fail ours too."
(They all laugh quietly, the room feeling lighter.)
Fynn (chuckling):
"Alright, we'll head out… before someone catches us."
(Fynn and Lyra quietly head down the corridor. Ren and Zeno share a calm look as the scene fades to black.)
Scene fades to black.
To be continued...