[Panel 1]
Morning mist lingers over the ravaged village. Smoldering ruins and broken homes frame the scene. But birds fly overhead — the island is still alive.
Narration: "After the storm… came the silence. And from silence, breath returned."
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[Panel 2]
Inside a small hut. Kael sits on the edge of a cot, bandaged, shoulders hunched. He stares at his claw-scarred hands.
Kael (whispering): "…I remember it all."
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[Panel 3]
Maelis leans against the doorframe, trident resting on his shoulder. The second head of the trident glimmers — crafted from sea prism stone, sharp like crystal.
Maelis: "Then don't waste it. You're still breathing."
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[Panel 4]
Kael looks up. A faint shadow flickers in his eye — Kuro's silhouette looms behind him in the reflection.
Kuro (whisper): "You think you've won, little whelp? I'm just sleeping…"
SFX: shhhh…
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[Panel 5]
Kael blinks hard — the image is gone. Maelis watches him, not commenting.
Kael (softly): "He's not gone."
Maelis: "Neither are you."
---
[Panel 6]
Outside the hut. The villagers gather. The boy from before holds something behind his back. The old man stands at the front.
Old Man: "Come. There's something you both should see."
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[Panel 7]
Wide panel. A small but well-crafted sailing boat sits on the shore, freshly painted. A figurehead shaped like a weeping wave is carved into the front.
Villager: "She's not much… but she'll take you away from this place."
Villager 2: "You earned her."
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[Panel 8]
Maelis eyes the boat, then the villagers. His mouth twitches like he might tear up — but he just nods.
Maelis: "Thank you. I'll make sure he doesn't crash it."
Kael: "Hey!"
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[Panel 9]
The boy walks up to Kael, holding out the wooden toy compass again.
Boy: "Hey mister I made this for you this will show you the way so that you won't get lost again"
Kael (smiling faintly): "…You did better than I would've."
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[Panel 10]
The boy hugs Kael tightly — Kael freezes in surprise, then slowly hugs back.
Boy (muffled): "I knew you were good."
Kael (internal): "No… just trying to be."
---
[Panel 11]
Maelis kneels in front of the boy now, letting him touch the sea prism trident head.
Boy: "That looks strong!"
Maelis: "Stronger than before. It's not just for hurting… it's to protect him."
---
[Panel 12]
As they board the boat, villagers load supplies: dried fish, rope, water barrels.
Old Man: "You've both got demons. But they scream louder alone."
Kael: "…Thank you. For giving us a chance."
---
[Panel 13]
Close-up. Kael grips the boat's railing. His claws twitch involuntarily — a faint black mist seeps from one fingertip.
Kuro (whispers again): "The sea can't drown me… I am you."
Kael (internal): "Then I'll learn to live with the ghost."
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[Panel 14]
Maelis looks at the sea prism trident again. The new head glints — it's shaped like a shark fang, elegant and brutal.
Maelis (internal): "Even demons fear the sea…"
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[Panel 15]
As the sails catch wind, the boy waves wildly from shore, holding up a crude flag he drew — two crossed shadows and a wave.
Boy: "You need a name! Be the Revenant Pirates!"
Maelis (laughs): "Sounds cursed. I like it."
---
[Panel 16]
The boat sails into open water. Kael leans on the edge, staring at the horizon. Maelis stands behind him, cloak whipping in the wind.
Kael: "So… where to?"
Maelis: "Anywhere they don't expect us."
Kael (smiling): "And everywhere they fear us."
---
[Final Panel — Panel 17]
Far shot. The small boat cuts across a silver sea, two figures alone beneath a massive sky.
Narration: "A monster and a soldier. A ghost and a friend. The Revenant Pirates set sail — not to conquer… but to end what once began."
TO BE CONTINUED.
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