DARK ELVEN CASTLE – DUNGEONS
Nelan grabs the chained man's jaw firmly. His face is covered in burns, his eyes swollen, but still burning with life.
NELAN (cold):
— You don't have to resist so much… You're just prolonging your pain.
MAN (hoarse, fading voice):
— No matter how much you torture me… Do whatever you want. I will never tell you where it is.
NELAN:
— Don't worry. I've got time. You're a half-elf—you'll live for centuries.
MAN:
— Then why don't you just kill me?
NELAN:
— Because that would make all my effort worthless. Let's try again.
She places two fingers on his forehead. Her eyes glow as she dives into the prisoner's mind.
Inside, she sees a memory: the man surrounded by transmorphs, standing in an ancient sanctuary. In the center, he seals Karips with a ritual. Runes shine. A protective barrier wraps around the dark artifact.
The man screams in pain and forces Nelan out of his mind.
MAN (gasping):
— You'll never find it...
NELAN (whispering):
— Each time I enter your soul… you'll leave a trail for me.
MAN (with hatred):
— You're monsters. Demons. You never deserved this world.
Nelan stands, slams the cell shut, and walks to Valtherk's throne. She kneels respectfully.
NELAN:
— Father… we're getting closer to Karips. Tell me, what do you wish next?
VALTHERK (deep, cold voice):
— I still feel his presence… The Dragon's Heart is among the humans. Find it. And destroy that wretched being.
NELAN:
— We'll do what must be done to please you, Father.
VALTHERK:
— As long as races exist that are not born of Karips, I will find no rest. My father entrusted me with this mission. And as your new father… I promise you this world shall be pure. Free of creatures unworthy of life.
---
CUT TO – NORTHERN GÍRIA – FOREST
Lion remains unconscious. Time passes. In his mind, the nightmare begins.
He sees Gíria covered in shadows. Cities swallowed by abysses. Men, women, children — fall, scream, die without being touched. Their life force is drained. Animals go mad, throwing themselves off cliffs.
He sees someone in front of a dark artifact. A black sword is embedded in it. Energy spreads like a curse.
Jack appears, falling to his knees, being drained slowly.
JACK (looking at Lion):
— Why…? Why did you leave me...?
Jack collapses, lifeless. Lion screams:
LION:
— NO! JACK, NO!!
A dark figure steps forward from the shadows.
MYSTERIOUS VOICE:
— You are not worthy. Leave.
Lion jolts awake, breathing hard.
LION:
— Jack! JACK!
NICIA (rushing in):
— Lion! Hey, it's okay! It was just a nightmare… you're safe now.
LION (trying to breathe):
— Okay... okay...
NICIA:
— Want to tell me what you saw?
LION:
— I… I saw the entire kingdom swallowed by darkness. People taking their own lives, drained... Everything was dead. Someone activated an artifact… and Jack... he was right there. He died in front of me.
NICIA (serious, turning to Zury):
— That wasn't just a dream. It was a vision.
ZURY:
— Are you sure?
NICIA:
— Absolutely.
LION:
— So you're saying… this could actually happen?
NICIA:
— If the Dragon's power isn't awakened… yes. It will be the end of light. And the beginning of shadow.
---
CUT TO – MILLENNIA AGO – THE DARK FORGE
Guenorl, a dark elf, hammers molten metal. His hands are soaked in blood. In front of him, a ritual table. He cuts his own arm and pours blood over the artifact: thus the Dark Karips is born.
GUENORL (murmuring):
— This world is unbalanced. Unworthy creatures walk freely…
— I will fix this mistake. I will be the liberator.
He thrusts the black sword into the artifact. Karips activates, draining life force from the realm. Animals die. The sky turns black.
A massive, winged creature emerges — pitch-black: Draquia.
GUENORL (to the beast):
— You are my creation. You shall be my daughter… Draquia.
---
CUT TO – 2000 YEARS AGO – ELVEN VILLAGE
Sany, a young elf, walks beside his sister Larack near the river.
SANY:
— Do you think Mom will get better? I want to travel the world… but I don't want to leave you.
LARACK (smiling):
— She will. And you'll become the greatest adventurer this world's ever seen.
She hands him a letter.
LARACK:
— Kolan gave me this. Said it's for you.
SANY:
— Kolan...? She wrote me a letter?
He opens it — it's a love confession. Smiling, he runs to find her.
Suddenly, the sky darkens. Draquia flies over the village. The villagers stare in fear.
VILLAGER:
— What is that…?
VILLAGE LEADER:
— Probably just a dragon. Go back to your homes…
Before he finishes, Draquia breathes fire. Flames engulf the houses. Larack runs to protect Sany — but Draquia lands on her.
SANY (screaming):
— SISTER! NO!!
Crying, he falls to his knees. A hooded figure approaches: Guenorl.
GUENORL:
— You're in pain, boy. I can make it stop. Be my son. Become something greater.
SANY (broken):
— If it ends this pain… then yes.
Guenorl leads him to Karips, cuts his skin, and transforms Sany into a dark elf.
GUENORL:
— From now on, your name will be Valtherk.
VALTHERK (with glowing eyes):
— I am your son… father.
---
CUT TO – 50 YEARS LATER
Guenorl performs the ritual again. Karips awakens, and an army of dark elves rises.
GUENORL:
— My children… you are perfection.
Valtherk enters the chamber.
VALTHERK:
— Father… you called?
GUENORL:
— Yes. Karips is strong. But I must create a second. And for that… all must die.
VALTHERK:
— Even us?
GUENORL:
— Yes. It is a necessary sacrifice.
---
CUT TO – THREE DAYS LATER
Valtherk brings a cup of water to Guenorl. He drinks. Seconds later, his body convulses. He falls, foaming at the mouth.
GUENORL (fading):
— You…
VALTHERK (calmly):
— Forgive me. But I will not let you destroy my brothers.
Guenorl dies.
Valtherk sits on the throne.
VALTHERK:
— Our father now rests. From this day forward… I am your new father.
---
CUT TO – PRESENT – SOUTHERN GÍRIA FOREST
JACK (to Clara):
— Do you think that Guenorl guy is still alive?
CLARA:
— No one knows… He might just be a legend. Not even Nicia met him. It all happened before the Sacred Dragon came to save Gíria.
SOLEYA:
— Sounds like an old bedtime story…
KRAVONS:
— With the darkness rising again… we cannot ignore any possibility.
---
DARK CASTLE – DUNGEON
The chained man spits blood, staring into the darkness.
MAN:
— I will never give in… you cursed demons.
---
TO BE CONTINUED...