[scene : Back to Zeno, the twins, Cale and Calia in the room, the scene unfolds right after Colt left]
Cale [sitting back down, mumbling loudly] : "Insolent human…"
Levi : "I'm surprised you can say these things with him around."
Liam [with a sigh] : "I'm even more surprised he didn't kill him."
Zeno : "Now, now, that's enough. I apologize for this, lady Calia."
Calia [in a slightly shaken, slightly horrified voice] : "Why? Why are you even speaking so respectfully? We don't dare do anything. We can't do anything."
Zeno : "Because we are not here to harm you."
Cale : "Even though he keeps spouting threats?"
Zeno : "All I could say is that we are not able to control what he does or says; he's been through a lot and he doesn't like it."
Cale : "Doesn't really matter at this point…"
Liam : "If you just let us explain-"
Calia : "Cale! That's enough. No point in a pointless death here. *takes a deep breath*Please explain what you want to negotiate, that's why you're here correct?"
Levi : "Well, we do have to explain other things first before we get to that."
Calia : "We'll hear you out. Not like we can choose not to."
Zeno : "Have you ever heard of the wasteland continent?"
Cale : "Not even a little."
Zeno : "Understandable. It's a...…"
*A while later*
Cale : "And why bring up such a horrific place?"
Liam : "Because we're establishing a nation there. The elven nation of… ehm… Lunaria."
Calia : "You named the nation after lady Luna?"
Levi [looking aside, awkward smile] : "Wasn't my idea."
Liam [sigh] : "Leave it beeh, he does whatever he wants anyway."
Cale : "Aside from the awkward naming, how do you plan on surviving? Let alone living."
Zeno : "Right as we speak, a few of my knights and villagers are building a few basic houses and planning the town, completely safe from harm."
Calia [exchanging a glance with Cale] : "How did you achieve that?"
Zeno : "Allow me to explain…"
*Another while later*
Calia : "I have to admit, that is impressive. But what do you stand to gain from us? What does he stand to gain from all of this?"
Liam : "As far as we know, nothing."
Levi : "It was all his plan, how we achieved this, but he keeps saying- and I'm quoting him here- *makes a bored expression, speaks in a bored, annoyed tone* "This has become such a pain in the ass"."
Liam [who couldn't help but laugh] : "Good impression. Just don't let him see it."
Levi : "He'd probably laugh."
Cale [suddenly interfering in their banter, with a dark, serious tone] : "Appreciate the concern, gentlemen. But it's all pointless now."
Zeno : "Why do you say that?"
*Cale opens his mouth to answer, but Colt's voice answers instead*
Colt [as he and Luna step into the room] : "Because this village has no future."
Zeno [remaining calm, placing his hands underneath his chin] : "Why do you say that?"
Colt : "It all started with me using magic to check on the people here. I noticed something strange…"
Luna : "…We couldn't sense any children."
Colt : "It certainly wasn't natural, even for a race such as elves, even for as low a head count as this place has, there had to be at least one kid. So I checked the food situation since water can be magically created. And-"
*Cale slams the table, stands up in anger, the chair behind him falls to the ground as he turns towards Colt*
Cale [in fury] : "WHO GAVE YOU PERMISSION TO SNOOP AROUND?!!!"
Colt : "CAN IT!"
*Colt uses "static" to freeze everyone in the room except Luna, Colt moves closer to Cale until he's right in front of him, grabs him by the neck*
Colt [glaring into his eyes menacingly, as if burning his mark on his very soul] : "I've been tolerating your nonsense because I'm trying to act nice, but you really gotta know your place. I don't need your permission, or anyone else's for that matter. You know why? Because you can do nothing about it. I wanted to gather all the elves I could find in one place. But I seriously am considering burning this place to the ground and forcibly taking the rest of them."
Luna [Moves closer, puts her hand on his shoulder] : "You made your point."
Colt [looks at her] : "Not yet."
*Looks at Cale again*
Colt : "If you don't wanna die you're going to sit down, and speak respectfully. If you want to insult me. Fine. If you wish to call me a creature, go ahead. But don't ever, EVER, think you can tell me what to do."
*Colt disables "static" and throws Cale to the ground, Cale stares back defiantly. But then, Calia speaks*
Calia [in a shaken voice, as if she's about to cry, looking down so no one can see her face] : "Cale, please, that's enough. Don't make him angrier than he is; I. I… don't want to die a pointless death."
*Colt simply turns his back, places his hand on Luna's shoulder and takes her to the table*
*Colt opens his item box, takes a few cushions out and 2 chairs, places one next to Levi and one at the head of the table, throws the cushions at Levi, Liam and Zeno*
*Meanwhile, Cale's fallen chair floats, straightens up, and lands to the spot where it was*
Colt : "Seriously, these chairs are so uncomfortable."
Liam [as they place the cushions behind their backs] : "I know you got mad, but did you have to use it on us as well?"
Colt [as he takes Luna's hand to sit her down next to Levi] : "You would've tried to help."
*Cale stands up, not lifting his eyes from Colt and sits down quietly*
Levi : "So did Luna."
Colt [as he sits on his chair] : "She's the only one allowed to approach me when I get like that."
Zeno : "So this is the rumored "static" I heard so much about. Quite a terrifying spell indeed."
Colt [smile] : "Thanks, I made it myself."
Luna [giggling] : "I don't think that was meant as a compliment."
Colt : "Gramps here is a village chief, a war veteran, and reigned for a long time as the strongest. If he acknowledges it, I say that's a win."
Zeno [with a smile] : "Suit yourself."
Colt : "Where did I stop?"
Luna : "The food."
Colt : "Ah, yes, the fooood. We took a leisurely stroll around, and we found the food storage. They had more than enough food from farming to last them a good while but then we noticed, that storage was burnt before. Which begs the question: What is the sad saad history of this place *looks at Calia* hmmm?"
Calia [still looking down] : "It- it's a long story."
Why does everybody assume I have a dentist appointment? THERE ARE NO DENTISTS IN THIS WORLD YET, DAMN IT!
Colt : "I'm listening."
[scene: Flash back with Calia narrating, on the outside of the walls, five people were present, leading them was a handsome man with short blonde hair and blue eyes]
Calia : "They came a few years back, it was the lord of this region, which includes this forest."
[scene : Calia and Cale sitting in this very room with the man and one of his guards, the man speaking]
Calia : "He said he wanted to offer peace. He said he'd protect us from the bandits that were attacking us, in exchange, we'd have to swear loyalty to him, and serve as his own personal guards and the rest of us will work in his town. Farmers, blacksmiths, anything would do. He said we'd be the best at anything because of our long lives."
[scene : it's night. Calia and Cale are heading to the building]
Calia : "I was suspicious, so I told them to stay in this place until I discussed it with the rest. I placed guards but…"
*Calia and Cale reach the entrance to find two elves on the ground in a puddle of blood*
Calia : "They were not enough."
[scene: three men in cloaks climbing sneakily atop the wall ]
Calia : "And before I knew it-"
[scene : Elves are being murdered and the giant gates opening]
Calia : "There were more than 200 of us, but they attacked without warning."
[scene : Calia in the middle of town, creating a huge fire pillar while Cale aims a similar one at the intruders coming through the gates]
*Here, Cale takes narration*
[scene : The town turning into a battleground, earth bullets flying, wind blades swooshing, swords cutting flesh, fire rages on everywhere]
Cale : "They came in large numbers, people came out of their houses to fight. It was hell. But that wasn't enough."
[scene : The survivors kneeling down, hands tied, suffering clearly drawn on their ash stained faces, men searching the houses and children are being forced out.]
Cale : "The villagers you see are those who survived that day, all the others were murdered."
*The lord of the land walks in front of the lined up survivors*
The man [arrogantly] : "To believe I'd extend my hand to such filthy creatures, you're only fit to be our slaves from the moment you're born."
*Stops in front of Calia, squats down and holds her face*
The man : "Though it's a shame this pretty face won't be mine *thinks for a second* As you've seen, I could kill you all easily but I'm willing to spare this village. *pauses for a second* I'll come back in ten years, so bear as many children as you can, if you do that, I'll only take the children without causing harm."
An elf right next to Calia : "YOU BASTARD! I'll never-"
*Before he could continue, the man draws his sword and stabs him through the neck.*
*A child being forcibly dragged breaks free and runs to the elf*
The kid : "FATHER!!"
*In an instant, the man takes the blade out and stabs the child in the heart*
*The kid falls next to his lifeless father as he bleeds out*
The man : "Such lowly creatures."
*He stands up*
The man : "Think about my offer. I'll be back in ten years. LET'S MOVE, MEN!"
[end of flash back, back to the original scene]
Cale : "So we're really not welcoming these kinds of offers. We would never accept it. We all decided to die together, when he comes back, we'll kill as many of them as possible *In pure hatred* and I'll rip his heart out myself. Then I'll die, knowing I did all I could, and that I avenged our fallen brothers. If you want to kill me, go ahead. It doesn't really matter."
*Everyone just stays silent for a while, processing the information*
*Colt looks at ceiling, leaning back in his chair, with his thumb and index, holds right between his eyes, eyes closed*
*After a while, he finally speaks*
Colt [still in the same position, lets out a breath as he speaks] : "Son of a bitch… *straightens in his pose, puts his hand down, opens his eyes and looks at cale* huuuuhhhh."
Colt : "Living with maddening amounts of hatred, a life where the powers that be don't consider you worth living. Yeah, death sounds like a reeeaally good way out, doesn't it?"
*No one responds*
Colt : "I really admire your will… even when you decided to die, you'll take as many as you can with you because you can fight, even if it's a losing battle."
Cale [with a hint of hostility] : "And what of it?"
Colt : "Death. Is a good way out ONLY. If there is no other way, if no matter what you do or where you go, nothing changes. Only if there's no hope of survival at all. Then you can welcome death with open arms. And that was the case until we came here."
*Luna holds his hand at this point, no one else speaks knowing full well that Colt knows better*
Colt : "Haaah, guess I'll have to execute "the plan" after all."
Levi : "What plan?"
Colt : "A scheme I've been contemplating, originated from one of my intrusive thoughts. Never mind it for now. Cale."
Cale : "What?"
Colt : "You can choose to die here as planned. You can choose to kill that guy when he comes back. You and everyone here will die but you'll have your revenge. *pauses* Or, you can choose to come with me, you and the rest of the villagers and live a very safe, very comfortable life and be under my protection. And I promise you. I promise you. In due time, I'll bring his head on a golden spear. And I always. ALWAYS. Keep my promises. You do that. Your sister will live, you will live, everybody lives."
Calia [lifts her head to look at Colt for the first time] : "Is that… really true?"
Cale : "Sister, NO! We can't trust them, not again."
Colt [very calm] : "Cale, do you know, what's the difference between my offer and that bastard's is?"
Liam [mumbling] : "There he goes."
Cale [with hostility] : "Enlighten me."
Colt : "He needed to disarm you, he needed an army to kill and capture the people here. Listen, I know your mistrust is deeply rooted. I know the hatred burning in you. But for once, try thinking with no emotions. If I wanted to kill you or enslave you I would've done so from outside the village. And I certainly wouldn't do it in front of my dear wife who's an elf herself. Am I wrong?"
Calia : "Cale, he's right. We should… trust him; we've got nothing to lose."
*Cale bites his lip, his conflict apparent on his face, he starts rubbing his hands together, upon seeing this, Colt speaks again*
Colt : "You might easily embrace death. But let me ask you, do you want your sister to die as well?"
*Silence reins on the room for a few seconds, Cale finally speaks*
Cale : "Can you do it? Can you keep your promise and bring his head?"
Colt : "I'm an engineer. And an engineer never says something he's not certain of. In due time, I'll bring you his head."
Cale : "The hell's an engineer? Never mind *smiles* I leave our lives, our vengeance, and our fallen brethren in your hands."