SEASON 2, EPISODE 2

Opens at Ataraxia. It is morning.

Senn climbs up onto the Shrine island finally and looks around. No one is there.

SENN

Hello? I’m uh… here for my training.

Senn walks to the middle of the shine and waits for a second when suddenly something flies over his head and causes him to duck.

An Ardoni is flying with wings of light and circling the shrine. The character banks hard and lands softly in front of Senn.

The character’s wings fade away as she looks up revealing Val, a female Ardoni roughly the same age as Senn.

VAL

Good morning Senn! Nice to meet you; I’m Val Mendoris, your new instructor.

Senn is both surprised at having just seen an Ardoni fly as well as surprised that his mentor is a young female.

SENN

Hi… err- good morning, Ky’Val.

Senn does a slight bow awkwardly.

VAL

There’s no need for the formalities, just call me Val.

Val walks towards Senn and begins circling him slowly, inspecting him.

VAL

Not what you expected? Thought you’d be bossed around by another old man? Trust me, things are going to be much more fun now.

Val continues walking around Senn.

VAL

I can see Galleous has been training you well. The first thing to know about Songs is that you must be fit both physically as well as mentally, as they will draw from all forms of your strength.

Val finishes circling and motions to the Song shrine.

VAL

Step on up into the Shrine.

Senn walks into the shrine and draws his Song.

VAL

Do you know why there are four pillars?

SENN

One for each order of Songs: Protisium, Aggressium, Mobilium, and Supporium.

As he says this, the camera shows the runic symbols on each pillar for each order of Song.

VAL

Good, you’ve done your reading! That means we’ll be able to skip the boring stuff. Go ahead and put your Song in the Protisium pillar.

Senn does so as Val continues talking.

VAL

Each Ardoni can only wield a total of four songs, one of each order, so you must choose your set wisely.

SENN

Unless you have a Prime Song.

VAL

Exactly. A Prime Song contains all the Songs within that order. Wield all four Primes, and you will have every Song in existence.

There is a brief pause to let this sink in, as this is the first time the power of the Prime Songs is really put into perspective.

VAL

Stand in the middle of the Shrine.

Senn does so and waits.

SENN

Now what?

VAL

Listen.

Senn waits as the music fades away. Suddenly a faint noise can be heard. Senn closes his eyes and focuses in on his Song. The Song starts getting louder. His arm raises towards it slowly.

Then the Song turns to energy and surrounds him and fuses with his body. His Ardoni markings shine brightly, and he opens his eyes back up as things begin ringing, and he collapses as everything blurs out.

Senn gets up and sees he’s back in the Blacksmith. He goes out to find Galleous working.

SENN

What happened?

GALLEOUS

You passed out. Fear not, it happens to all of us the first time. If you think that was bad, just wait until you summon your Song for the first time. *single chuckle*

Senn sits down.

SENN

Where’s Val?

GALLEOUS

She is fine,she went back to her quarters. You two will resume training tomorrow- if you have properly recovered of course.

Senn waits and thinks about the Songs some more.

SENN

Was the Deathsinger the best with the Songs?

Galleous stops and looks up.

GALLEOUS

Ingressus Voltaris was one of the best, yes. When the Ardoni were asked to use the Prime Songs during the last Nether Invasion, they held a tournament to determine a champion. They tested for strength, endurance, and ingenuity. But do you know what they should have been looking for?

SENN

What?

GALLEOUS

Someone who should use them.

Senn looks confused, not entirely sure what Galleous meant by that.

Suddenly something large flies into the room and lands around the corner out of sight. Some objects fall to the floor with a clang. There is silence as they both stare, wondering what happened.

Suddenly Luna walks into the room into view. Senn looks a bit scared, yet Galleous is more curious.

GALLEOUS

So the rumors are true…

Galleous goes over to the dragon. A voice calls out from the doorway.

ABBIGAIL

Be careful… she bites.

Galleous looks up and sees Abbigail.

GALLEOUS

I am glad you received my message, Abbigail. Welcome. My name is Galleous Sendaris.

ABBIGAIL

How do you know my name…?

Galleous turns towards Senn.

GALLEOUS

Senn, finish your work in the forge. Abbigail and I have much to discuss.

Abbigail turns towards Senn and their eyes meet. She smiles first recognizing Senn, and he smiles and nods back.

Cut to the lower level. Galleous and Abbigail are leaning on a railing overlooking Ataraxia. Luna is flying around the open air of Ataraxia playfully.

GALLEOUS

It was no real challengelocating you− collecting information and knowledge is a specialty of mine after all.First a dragon egg went missing, then reports indicating one hatched, and then I simply followed the trail of things being set on fire.

Galleous someone annunciates these last few words as if it’s somewhat funny. Scene shows hints of things like the Etherea horse rider, the bird watching the dragon egg hatch, and the aftermath of the barn on fire to prove how he found her.

Abbigail looks at Luna who’s standing on a nearby floating rock.

ABBIGAIL

Yeah she has a bad habit of that. I don’t even want to know what it’ll be like when she learns to breathe fire of her own.

GALLEOUS

So you have spent the last half-year hunting down the Unyielding Legion. Noble I suppose, but not driven by a desire to save the innocent or help the poor, I imagine. You have a personal vengeance against them.

Abbigail looks away, somewhat shamefully as she considers that he may be correct.

GALLEOUS

You are destined for so much more, Abbigail. You have known it from the moment you found Luna’s egg. How would you like to fight your real enemy?

Luna flies down and lands in the opening. She nods her head in excitement.

ABBIGAIL

I mean… we have unfinished business with the Legion…

Luna nudges Abbigail.

ABBIGAIL

But… you’re right. I have been wondering about my place in all this… I just don’t know where to start.

GALLEOUS

How much do you know about the Enderknights?

ABBIGAIL

Very little I’m afraid. I know they used to rule Ardonia… but there haven’t been any in over a hundred years.

GALLEOUS

Nobody is born an Enderknight. Every so often a human is… ­chosen.

Galleous looks towards Luna. Abbigail looks a bit confused. Luna hops back off and glides away.

ABBIGAIL

What does this mean?

GALLEOUS

I am not sure,but one thing intrigues me most… never in history has a female Enderknight been chosen.

Abbigail looks out over Ataraxia, a bit surprised. She asks Galleous for advice.

ABBIGAIL

All of this has been very… surprising to me. One day I’m working on the farm… now I’m part of an ancient order of dragon knights. *hesitant* What happens next?

GALLEOUS

Every time the Enderknights-

A crashing is heard, they turn and see Senn dropped some tools because he was trying to carry too many. Galleous continues.

GALLEOUS

Every time the Enderknights return, they have done so in numbers, and therefore one must be the Enderking. But now we have the opportunity for something new: an Enderqueen.

Abbigail frowns slightly as she takes in the seriousness of the situation.

ABBIGAIL

If there are other Enderknights, how can I find them?

GALLEOUS

I assume you recovered an Eye of the End from the recent Unyielding Legion smugglers.

Abbigail draws the End of the Eye.

GALLEOUS

It will guide you. I will also give you a weapon from my armory to replace that stone sword of yours.

ABBIGAIL

Thank you Galleous… I don’t know how I can repay you for such gifts.

Galleous pauses for a moment.

GALLEOUS

Whenever the Enderknights rise… the Nether always follows. If that happens, you can repay me by fighting with us against the Nether. As for your armor: there is only one blacksmith in all of Ardonia who can create obsidian armor. You must venture to the End realm, Abbigail, and reclaim the armor of the Enderknights.There you will become the Enderqueen.

Cuts to Fort Zuka. Kiyoshi, Lucan, and other Felden troops break through the front gate.

KIYOSHI

Fan out, look for tunnel breaches. 

They spread out through the city. Lucan is looking around for Niika. Lucan walks into a space between buildings and circles around, the camera tilts up revealing Niika on the ledge she drops down.

Lucan turns and sees her, but immediately realizes something is wrong. Her eyes are dilated and there is a Wither effect emanating from her.

LUCAN

*worried* Niika?

She tilts her head sideways, in a creepy manner the same way the Necrolord does. She abruptly pulls out her sword and charges towards Lucan.

Lucan quickly puts up his sword in defense and blocks Niika’s attacks. Not wanting to hurt her, he gets beaten and thrown back.

LUCAN

*thrown to the ground* Ah!

Niika turns her sword downward and jumps towards Lucan preparing to stab it down into him.

In mid-air a figure intercepts Niika and knocks her away.

Lucan rolls to the side to see who it was.

Kiyoshi quickly gets up and draws his halberd against Niika, standing between Lucan and Niika defensively. They fight briefly but Kiyoshi clearly outmatches her, and she retreats away. Kiyoshi stands his ground, then turns towards Lucan.

KIYOSHI

Is she always like that?

Kiyoshi reaches down to help Lucan. Lucan pushes Kiyoshi’s hand away and gets up on his own.

LUCAN

Never! Well- sometimes… but this was different.

Lucan stares down the tunnel she had disappeared down. Cuts to an overview of Fort Zuka showing off the resulting condition it’s in. A few tents are set up inside.

Cut to inside the tent, Kiyoshi is debriefing the battle. He carries an air of frustration but remains calm.

KIYOSHI

*solemn* Another defeat. First Riverstead, now Fort Zuka.

Kiyoshi points to the map on the table.

KIYOSHI

They’re advancing north towards the capital, Felora. The next attack will be on Ferndale. Fortunately their movements are slower underground, which gives us time to prepare.

LUCAN

Wait- we’re not going down after them?

KIYOSHI

The tunnels are their territory. Down there we’re outnumbered and would be blind in the dark.

LUCAN

But they have Niika down there. We have to-

KIYOSHI

And Ferndale is full of civilians. Our priority is to get there first and evacuate them as quickly as possible.

Lucan backs down.

KIYOSHI

I have also received a message from Northwind. They’re sending a Chronicler down to join us.

Everyone looks around, a bit surprised at the gravity of the situation, as chroniclers usually signify something very significant is happening. Some murmurs and whispering fills the room.

ALEC

If Northwind is sending a Chronicler, then the situation is as serious as it gets. Our war with the Necromancers may well be written on the next Wall of Time.

Kiyoshi turns to Lucan.

KIYOSHI

Lucan. Since you have no real military training, I’m assigning you to watch after the Chronicler. She’s a Felina female… just the sort of tail you like to chase.

Lucan jumps across the table at this insult and grabs Kiyoshi. They both tumble to the ground.

The guards pull Lucan off Kiyoshi.

KIYOSHI

Let him go!

The guards release Lucan, he still looks furious. Kiyoshi motions to the guards to stand back.

KIYOSHI

If you want to fight me… it should at least be fair.

Lucan throws the first punch. Kiyoshi blocks, but Lucan quickly follows with an undercut and hits Kiyoshi in the chest.

KIYOSHI

*punched in the chest* Umph! Same street rat as always.

Kiyoshi attacks back. Lucan blocks but Kiyoshi jumps up and gets his leg over Lucan’s shoulder and pulls him down to the ground, pinning him.

LUCAN

*thrown to the ground* Ah!

KIYOSHI

Don’t forget your place, Lucan.

Kiyoshi gets off Lucan. Lucan remains down, breathing heavily. Not super heavily, just enough after a quick fight.

LUCAN

*breathing heavily*

Kiyoshi walks towards his soldiers.

KIYOSHI

I’m traveling to the other Kingdoms and requesting reinforcements. I’ll return as soon as I’m able.

He stops and looks back down at Lucan, then to Alec.

KIYOSHI

And take him to a doctor. See to it that he’s cared for and in better shape to receive the Chronicler when she arrives.

ALEC

Yes sir.

Lucan is still on the ground, he closes his eyes.

Cut to Ataraxia.

Senn and Val are standing in the training grounds. Senn is attempting to activate his Song, Val is watching.

VAL

Keep going Senn, you’ve almost got it.

An energy shield begins forming around Senn before vanishing.

SENN

*excited and proud* Ha! Did you see that?

VAL

It looked like some sort of energy shield.

Senn relaxes and turns to Val.

SENN

Do you have any other Songs besides your wings?

VAL

I have an Aggressium Song but… Galleous doesn’t want us using them during training.

Val turns towards the blacksmith.

VAL

However… Galleous isn’t watching. Come here.

Val walks a bit further off and Senn follows.

VAL

You can wield most Songs with your body alone, but with Aggressium songs you’re able to channel their energy through a staff or other weapon. I don’t have one on me, so…

Val fires her Aggressium Song which flies around lazily and curves downwards and hits the side of the Blacksmith.

Val and Senn’s eyes are wide.

VAL

Now… would be a good time to go. Come on!

Val and Senn start running and leap off their island down to a nearby one and land hard with a tumble.

SENN

*grunt as you land roughly*

VAL

*grunt as you land roughly*

SENN

*smiling* Well, that went well.

VAL

*laughing* Hey it could have gone a lot worse. Galleous hates Songs… especially Aggressium.

They get more comfortable and sit side by side on the edge, looking over Ataraxia.

SENN

He told me he no longer uses Songs… but he hasn’t told me why.

VAL

Much about Galleous remains a mystery. All I know is that at one time… he used to train Ardoni to wield Songs.

As Val is talking it fades to shots of Galleous looking out over Ataraxia and walking around the blacksmith solemnly.

VAL

Around the time of the Great War I believe many of his students, some his brothers, were killed. He blames the Songs for their deaths- he blames the Prime Songs for the war. 

SENN

What do you think?

VAL

I think there’s more to the story. After training me,I was sent back to Mendoria to learn the Songs. I think he knew the war was coming.

Val waits a moment before continuing.

VAL

But now the Voltaris have already returned… and the war has begun. The time for training is over.

SENN

You’re right. My family was killed by the Voltaris… and I’ve done nothing to avenge them.

VAL

That’s not entirely true. You’ve learned much that will help you in a fight. Perhaps it’s time to go join the real battle.

Senn thinks about this as they continue looking over Ataraxia as the sun sets between the floating mountains.

Cuts back to the desert, Igneous and Aren are standing on a sand dune overlooking the K’arthen wall.

AREN

That there’s the K’arthen wall.If you want to go in there you must be dumber than a chef who sells mushroom soup…only it ain’t mushroom soup cuz they didn’t put shroom in the soup, and then they sell it to ya’ hoping you won’t notice.

Igneous raises an eyebrow, confused at the oddly specific example.

AREN

So why do you want to go in there?

IGNEOUS

*regains focus* My reasons are my own. How do we pass through?

AREN

We don’t. The wall was made as a message telling people like yourself to stay out.What K’arthen doesn’twant you to know is that they don’t have the defenses to watch the entire border. Head west along the mountains- you’ll find the pass.

IGNEOUS

Thank you Aren.

AREN

Good luck Igneous! You’re the bravest Magnorite fool I’ve ever met! May we meet again.

Aren walks off into the desert winds alone.

Cuts to Igneous passing over the K’arthen mountains. He makes it into K’arthen; the place is bare stone as far as the eye can see. A nearby Magnorite guard walks out of Mt. Kaelos, the nearest city.

The guard looks towards where Igneous was, and begins moving towards him suspensefully. When the guard looks behind the rock, Igneous is gone.

Cut to Igneous traveling the bare flats of K’arthen. Cut to a stone ravine, Igneous is walking along the bottom. There are a few more Magnorites around.

He walks towards a large doorway in the cliff, and passes through.

He stops inside to reveal the Great Hall of Tartarus, capital of K’arthen.

To be continued.