CHAPTER 7: "HEADQUARTERS"
FADE IN:
EXT. MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN - DAY
After two days of travel, they were exhausted. News of Thorsglan was spreading everywhere. The burning city, the dead, Smonir… Everyone was whispering.
ERETT (leading, pointing ahead) Yes… the headquarters is right there. See it? Let's hurry.
Keise and Setsuko nod silently. They have no energy left to talk.
EXT. NIGHT RAVENS HEADQUARTERS - NIGHT
The headquarters was huge. In fact, massive. Countless tents surrounded the area. In the center, enormous black tents… impossible to see at night because of their color.
ERETT (smiling faintly) Yes… there they are.
KEISE (stunned, looking around) Where? I don't see anything. Are you messing with us?
ERETT (laughing) No, no… look carefully.
He approaches Keise, places his hand over Keise's eyes, and whispers something.
ERETT (whispering) Now look.
Keise opens his eyes.
KEISE (eyes widening) Whoa! I see them! Yes… there they are!
SETSUKO (smiling) Well, come on! What are we waiting for?
They urge their horses forward.
EXT. HEADQUARTERS ENTRANCE - NIGHT
As they approach the entrance— A group of SLANTED-EYED, FUR-CLAD, LARGE-BUILT WARRIORS stand guard. Bows of the steppe on their backs, standing in perfect formation.
Erett dismounts quietly and ties the horses while speaking softly.
ERETT (whispering) Follow me. Don't make too much eye contact. These are ELSÜRKO. A warrior people. If they like you… they'll be very hospitable.
KEISE (whispering) And if they don't?
Erett doesn't answer. He just keeps walking.
One of the warriors at the gate turns his head. His eyes lock on Erett. A long moment.
Then he smiles faintly.
ELSÜRKO WARRIOR (recognizing him) Erett… son of Berrett. You've returned.
ERETT (bowing respectfully) I have. And I brought two new SVs with me.
The warrior looks at Keise and Setsuko. His eyes sharp, face stern. But he nods.
ELSÜRKO WARRIOR (serious) Welcome. Enter.
EXT. HEADQUARTERS INTERIOR - NIGHT
The gate opens. Inside: fires, tents, people… but there is order. Everyone is doing something; no one is idle.
KEISE (to himself, whispering) This place… is another world.
SETSUKO (excited) But it feels like a good world.
ERETT (coming up behind them, lightly touching their shoulders) You haven't seen it yet. Come on.
The three walk through the fires.
EXT. MAIN TENT FRONT - NIGHT
They walk through the center of the tents. Torches pass quickly. Every warrior eyes them.
At the end of the path… A MASSIVE COURTYARD. Surrounded by torches.
In front of them, a huge tent. Laughter echoes from inside.
ELSÜRKO WARRIOR (stopping) Wait here.
He opens the tent and enters.
INT. METE KAĞAN'S TENT - NIGHT
The tent door suddenly opens.
Inside stands a GIANT MAN. Long hair, slanted eyes. A hawk on his arm, sword at his waist. On his chest: METE KAĞAN. SV: ??? (unknown)
Erett immediately bows. He signals Keise and Setsuko to do the same. They bow.
METE KAĞAN (deep voice) No need to bow. Only bow before Tengri.
Erett raises his head respectfully.
ERETT You… must be Mete Kağan.
METE KAĞAN (looking at Keise and Setsuko) And you… must be Erett, son of Berrett, as my soldier said.
Erett bows his head.
METE KAĞAN (continuing, eyes on Keise and Setsuko) These two SVs… your friends?
ERETT (firm) Yes, my Kağan. They… are under my protection.
Mete Kağan is silent for a moment. He studies Keise. Then Setsuko.
METE KAĞAN (serious) Protection? In this land, protection is heavy, Erett. Do you speak knowing this?
ERETT (without looking away) I speak knowing.
Long silence. Mete Kağan strokes the hawk on his arm. The hawk flaps its wings.
METE KAĞAN (smiling faintly) Then… welcome. You are safe under the roof of the Night Ravens.
Keise and Setsuko breathe a sigh of relief.
METE KAĞAN (continuing, turning to Erett) But first… tell me what happened in Thorsglan. Everything.
Erett nods.
INT. METE KAĞAN'S TENT - LATE NIGHT
The tent is much larger inside than it appears from outside. Women, children, men… everyone laughing, singing, having fun.
When Erett, Keise, and Setsuko enter, everyone falls silent. All eyes on them.
Mete Kağan opens his arms, his voice echoing through the tent:
METE KAĞAN Let the fun continue! We have new guests!
The silence breaks. Laughter and songs resume. Everyone returns to their business.
Mete Kağan points to the table.
METE KAĞAN Guests… sit.
A massive table on the floor. In the center: meat, milk, fresh bread… plenty of food.
Keise's eyes light up. Setsuko too.
They sit. Erett is about to speak when—
METE KAĞAN (raising his hand) You'll tell me. No rush. Eat first.
Erett bows his head and stays silent.
Mete Kağan turns to Keise. His eyes sharp but a faint smile on his face.
METE KAĞAN Come on. Keise… kumis for you. It's the sacred drink of the steppe.
He pauses. His eyes stop on the SV1+ on Keise's chest.
METE KAĞAN (cont'd) And eat horse meat. These are your reward.
KEISE (surprised) Horse meat?
METE KAĞAN (laughing) In this land, horses are sacred. But a warrior's horse… when it dies, its meat gives strength to the warrior. Today a horse died. For you.
Mete Kağan offers the meat.
Keise tears off a piece and puts it in his mouth. His face twists. First time eating it. But somehow… he likes it.
For the first time in a long while, he's eating properly.
Setsuko eats quietly beside him.
ERETT (whispering) Good thing we came here.
KEISE (mouth full, smiling) Damn right.
Mete Kağan watches them. The hawk on his arm turns its head toward Keise.
METE KAĞAN (inner voice) This boy… is different.
INT. METE KAĞAN'S TENT - LATE NIGHT
The tent has emptied. Women and children have left. Only a few warriors remain.
Keise and Setsuko have fallen asleep at their seats. Their heads leaning against each other, exhausted, drained.
Erett looks at them. Then turns to Mete Kağan.
ERETT (heavy voice) My Kağan… I must tell you what happened in Thorsglan.
METE KAĞAN (nodding) Tell me.
Erett takes a deep breath. Looks into the fire.
ERETT Smonir… came. With his chain. With his men. He stormed the inn. Killed the inn owner. Then burned the city.
His voice trembles.
ERETT (cont'd) Keise… killed a soldier. For the first time. The system rewarded him. He became 1SV+.
Mete Kağan's eyes shift to Keise. He's sleeping, unaware.
METE KAĞAN (curious) 1SV+? That's rare in this land.
ERETT (nodding) I know. That's why I brought them here. Smonir is after them. We must protect them.
METE KAĞAN (quietly) Smonir… his debt is ours too.
Erett raises his head.
METE KAĞAN (cont'd) But first… they need to grow stronger. Training begins tomorrow.
ERETT (respectfully) As you command, my Kağan.
Mete Kağan takes a cup of kumis, raises it.
METE KAĞAN Thanks be to Tengri. We have new warriors.
He downs the cup in one gulp.
EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS - MORNING
Early morning. The sun is just rising, mist still lingers.
Keise and Setsuko stand ready. Keise with a sword in hand, Setsuko with a bow and arrows. Eyes sleepy, bodies tired.
KEISE (muttering) Did we have to start this early?
ERETT enters the training grounds. Sword on his back, serious expression.
ERETT (raising his voice) Come on! New soldiers! Your first day of training!
Keise sighs. Setsuko looks scared.
EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS - CONTINUOUS
Erett stands before them, arms crossed.
ERETT (serious) First, let me explain the power system of this world so your heads don't get too confused.
Keise and Setsuko focus.
ERETT (continuing) As you understand, everyone has an SV. These SVs are rewarded based on what you do in this world. Mine is 30.
KEISE (shocked) 30? So you…
ERETT (raising his hand) Listen.
ERETT (cont'd) These SVs create an ECHO inside you every time you grow stronger. And this echo begins to corrupt you.
SETSUKO (scared) Corrupt?
ERETT (narrowing his eyes) Yes. But you can manipulate this echo through your SV. Shape your traumas…
Keise's mind flashes to his father. Valdemar. Legacy. The car. The fight.
ERETT (continuing) There are 6 types of echoes.
ELEMENT ERETT (a small fireball forms at his fingertips) Air, fire, water, earth… you can create basic things with your hands.
The fireball spins in the air, then disappears.
SHAPING ERETT (picks up a stone from the ground, holds it in his palm) You can use any object. Turn a stone into a weapon, shape it however you want.
The stone melts in his palm, reshapes into a small knife.
ERETT (cont'd) Example: turn a sword into an animal, or another weapon.
BERSERK ERETT (serious) Usually appears in large-built people. Boosts strength and speed stats. Improves with close-combat weapons like swords and axes.
He pauses.
ERETT (cont'd, heavy voice) But remember… the stronger you get with these, the more the echo corrupts you, decays you.
KEISE (whispering) So getting stronger… is killing us?
ERETT (determined) Getting stronger changes you. For better or worse… that's your choice.
EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS - LATER
Keise raises his sword, strikes a stone. The stone cracks.
Setsuko draws her bow, shoots an arrow. Misses the target.
KEISE (frustrated) This isn't working!
ERETT (coming from behind) Patience. It doesn't happen in one day.
KEISE (angry) But Smonir didn't become strong in one day? That bastard powered up instantly!
ERETT (calm) Smonir… gave years. Fought every day. Lost every day. Fed his echo every day.
He pauses.
ERETT (cont'd) You haven't even started yet.
Keise falls silent. Raises his sword again. Strikes the stone. The crack grows.
EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS - SUNSET
The sun sets. Keise exhausted, hands calloused.
Setsuko tired, arrows finished.
SETSUKO (panting) Keise… enough for today.
KEISE (looking at the stone) One more time.
He raises his sword. Strikes with all his strength.
CRACK!
The stone splits in two.
Keise breathes heavily, hand trembling. The SV1+ on his chest glows faintly.
ERETT (from behind, proudly) There it is.
Keise turns.
ERETT (cont'd) The first spark of your echo.
Keise looks at his hand. Nothing visible. But inside… something has changed.
EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS - NIGHT
Stars are out. Erett, Keise, and Setsuko sit around the fire.
ERETT (quietly) Now… which echo is closest to you?
SETSUKO (excited) I… want to be a Mage.
ERETT (smiling) Good choice. Your heart is pure, your will strong.
KEISE (after a long silence) I… don't know.
ERETT (surprised) You don't know?
KEISE (determined) I want Special Echo.
Erett freezes. Setsuko looks stunned.
ERETT (heavy voice) Keise… Special Echo is the most dangerous. It takes years to become like Mete Kağan. Maybe a lifetime.
KEISE (without looking away) If a lifetime isn't enough? Then my echo wasn't strong enough. But if I don't try… I'll never know.
Erett is silent for a long time.
ERETT (finally, smiling) You really are different, Keise.
The SV1+ on Keise's chest glows faintly again.
SETSUKO (curious) So… how do we start?
ERETT (standing up) Tomorrow. First lesson: Feel your own echo.
Three shadows in the firelight.
HAHAHA!
A LOUD VOICE echoes from behind.
They all turn.
METE KAĞAN appears in the firelight. Hawk on his arm, huge smile on his face.
METE KAĞAN (laughing) So… Keise wants Special Echo, huh?
Erett jumps to his feet, bows respectfully.
ERETT My Kağan…
METE KAĞAN (stopping him with his hand) Keise's training will be with me from now on.
Erett's eyes widen. Keise is stunned.
METE KAĞAN (continuing, smile growing) And tomorrow… we begin the real training. We're going down to the dungeons.
SETSUKO (scared) D-dungeons?
METE KAĞAN (laughing) Yes. Erett, Keise, Setsuko… you're all coming.
KEISE (determined) What's down there?
Mete Kağan narrows his eyes. His smile doesn't fade, but his eyes glint dangerously.
METE KAĞAN (slowly) A great battle awaits.
Erett's face tenses. Setsuko looks scared. Keise clenches his fists.
METE KAĞAN (final smile) Tomorrow… will be a big day.
He turns and disappears into the darkness.
Only the crackling fire and the breathing of three young people remain.
FADE TO BLACK.
[CHAPTER 7 END