(In the ice palace, Ronald stands sternly in the private meeting hall. They are preparing to bid farewell to Agnes, Diana, and Tarkan.)
Ronald (in a stern, solemn voice): Before you leave, there will be a change in arrangements. Selena, you will accompany them.
Selena (frowns slightly, but remains standing straight as she bows her head respectfully): Your Majesty, I cannot. I have duties here in the Empire, and the knights' training is not yet complete.
Ronald (with inflexible sternness): Your second-in-command, Captain Valer, will take your place. I will not allow you to stay here while this mission is far more important.
(Selena's eyes widen slightly, but she quickly composes her features, trying to respond calmly.)
Selena (dryly): As you command, Your Majesty.
Misha (speaking with hidden malice): What a surprise, my dear sister finally leaving her palace. It seems this will be interesting.
(Selena turns to Misha with a sharp look but does not respond. Ronald casts a quick glance at Misha, making her retreat and smile falsely.)
Ronald (looks at everyone sharply): You must be cautious on your journey. The Fire Empire is not a place for negligence. The demons there are more cunning, and they will not hesitate to exploit any weakness. Selena, I will rely on you to protect this group.
Selena (bows her head slightly, but her eyes show no emotion): Understood, Your Majesty.
(She turns towards Agnes, Tarkan, and Diana, looking at them with a mix of responsibility and dryness.)
Selena: Be ready to depart tomorrow morning. I want no delays.
(Diana looks at Tarkan and whispers quietly with a smile.)
Diana (sarcastically): Looks like our journey just got more serious.
Tarkan (whispers playfully): Definitely, with Selena, we'll have our own private army commander.
(Everyone leaves to prepare for the journey, while Ronald stands in place, watching them with a cold gaze that holds many hidden thoughts.)
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•
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[The Next Day]
(In the courtyard of the Ice Palace, where everyone is preparing to depart. Carriages await, and the cold wind blows lightly. Nain stands at the gate to bid farewell to Agnes and her companions.)
Nain (with a calm smile as he looks at Agnes): You were wonderful during the training, Agnes. I hope you continue to improve. I have a feeling you will become much stronger than you expect.
(Agnes looks at Nain with slight surprise, smiles shyly, but a faint blush appears on her cheeks.)
Agnes (hesitantly, but tries to sound normal): Thank you... Nain. I will do my best.
(Diana, standing beside her, notices the slight tension between them and smiles slyly but says nothing.)
Nain (looks at the whole group): Take care of yourselves, and be careful. The Fire Empire is not a safe place.
Tarkan (shakes Nain's hand with a broad smile): Don't worry, we'll be fine. Thank you for everything.
(After everyone says their goodbyes, Agnes and her companions board the carriage, while Nain remains standing at the gate, watching them leave.)
(Nain lowers his gaze for a moment, clutching his heart as if he felt something strange. Then he looks at his hand, remembering the moment Agnes fell on him and held his hand.)
Nain (in a low voice to himself, contemplative): This feeling...
(He tries to forget thinking about it and slowly returns his hand to his side. He turns to walk back into the palace with quiet steps, but his features seem slightly troubled.)
(Nain disappears behind the palace doors, as the carriage speeds away across the icy roads towards a new adventure.)
<-----------❀------------>
•
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•
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(The carriage jolts lightly on the icy road. Everyone sits in silence, and Selena watches the road through the window with her sharp eyes. Diana, feeling bored, leans towards her slyly.)
Diana (in a playful voice): Selena, I have a question that has puzzled me since I met you.
Selena (slowly turns towards her, her face cold as usual): What is it?
Diana (with a wide smile): Why don't you call Emperor Ronald "Daddy"? I mean, don't you think that would add a little sweetness to your relationship?
(Tarkan, sitting next to them, tries to stifle his laugh, while Agnes looks at Diana with slight astonishment, not believing her boldness.)
Selena (raises an eyebrow coolly): Because I am not a child, and because... "Daddy"? It sounds ridiculous.
Diana (laughs and pretends to joke): But imagine the scene, you say to him "Dear Daddy, may I go with my friends?" Maybe he'd seem less stern.
Selena (in a sharp but composed voice): If you say that again, I will ask the Emperor to send a message to your father to ban you from traveling.
(Tarkan bursts out laughing loudly this time, and Diana puts her hand on her heart as if struck.)
Diana (playfully, but in a low voice): Cruel as always, but I love it.
(After a brief moment of silence, Diana seems to change a bit, placing her hands on her lap.)
Diana (in a lighter voice, with a semi-serious tone): But... on a serious note, Selena. Is your relationship with him always like this? I mean, he is your father.
(Selena looks at her for a moment, then turns her eyes back to the road.)
Selena (in a low voice, as if hiding her feelings): He is not just a father... he is the Emperor. There's a big difference.
(Agnes feels some heaviness in Selena's words, and Diana seems to think for a moment.)
Diana (with a gentle smile, trying to lighten the mood): Well, if you don't want to call him "Daddy," maybe we should find another nickname... How about "The Big Ice Cube"?
(Tarkan bursts out laughing again, and Selena merely lets out a quiet sigh, but she can't help smiling slightly as she looks away.)
(The carriage returns to its quietness, but it seems that moment lightened the tension between them. Agnes smiles quietly, thinking about the bonds gradually forming among everyone.)
(Inside the carriage, which had settled a little on the winding road towards the Fire territories. Everyone is occupied with their conversations or lost in silent contemplation. Agnes, sitting by the window, looks at the frozen road fading away before her. Cold air seeps through the cracks, but it doesn't bother her. Her eyes focus on the horizon while her thoughts wander.)
Agnes (to herself, with a resolute inner voice):
"A long time has passed since I left my land, my family. I've endured much, fought battles, learned lessons, but this is not enough yet. My power... is still unstable, and I still stumble sometimes. But this won't last long."
(Agnes clenches her hand slightly, feeling determination rising within her.)
Agnes (continues thinking):
"I will reach my goal. I will master my power, control it, and become a stronger person. And when the time comes... I will return to my family. I will return to my brothers, to my land, to the place I belong. I won't be a burden to anyone anymore. I will become who I want to be."
(She sighs quietly and leans her head against the window frame, looking at the long road ahead. It seemed as if every jolt of the carriage reminded her of the challenges awaiting her, but she wasn't afraid. On the contrary, she felt a hidden energy pushing her forward.)
(Tarkan, sitting across from her, notices her distraction but doesn't comment. He just smiles lightly, assuming she's thinking about the upcoming journey. Diana, of course, is busy annoying Selena as usual.)
(Agnes remains silent, but inside her, a storm of determination burns, promising herself that the future will be hers, and that she will face everything in her path with steadfastness.)
•
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•
(The carriage stops at the border of one of the Fire villages, where everyone decided to get off to continue on foot. The sky is somewhat gloomy, and the air is filled with the smell of ash, but it's not as hot as Diana expected.)
Diana (looking around with a puzzled expression):
Oh, I expected to find the ground burning beneath our feet and the sky raining fire shards! Where's the heat? Where are the volcanoes?
Selena (with a cold expression as she walks beside her):
Oh, of course, we're in a science fiction novel, and now dragons will appear dancing over our heads.
Diana (puts a hand on her chest and pretends to be offended):
Selena, I wasn't talking about dragons! I just thought... I mean, it's called the Fire territories! Is it possible the weather here is mild?
Selena (stops and looks at Diana seriously):
Diana, do you think the Fire territories are a giant sauna? Or perhaps a place to bake bread?
Diana (folds her arms and winks lightly):
Well, I'm not saying it should be like that, but... a few fires wouldn't hurt the scenery!
(At that moment, Tarkan, walking behind them, intervenes, trying to hold back his laughter.)
Tarkan:
Oh, Diana, do you want me to light a small fire under your feet? Just to make you feel satisfied?
Diana (pushes him lightly and laughs):
At least I'd feel like I'm in the real Fire territories!
(Agnes, who was silently observing the discussion, smiles lightly. She looks at Selena, who shakes her head with feigned disappointment.)
Selena (with a long sigh):
Perhaps I should explain. The Fire territories are not just flaming volcanoes. They have normal cities, normal life. The fire here is symbolic, expressing their strength and will.
Diana (closes her eyes and smiles smugly):
So, the fire is symbolic? Well, okay, but if I don't find any sparks in this place, I'll demand a name refund!
(Everyone laughs, even Selena who tried to hide her smile. They continue walking, and Diana still watches the ground as if searching for any small spark to confirm her idea.)
(After a long day of walking, night falls, and the group enters the small town. The atmosphere was strangely quiet, the streets completely empty except for faint lights coming from an old building on the corner.)
Diana (reading the sign aloud):
The Blazing Sun Inn... That sounds like a great place, doesn't it?
Tarkan (sarcastically):
Great? It looks like it's been abandoned for years.
Selena (looks at the sky as she walks):
We don't have other options. Let's go in, and hope we come out without losing our lives.
(They enter the inn, which seems crowded with strange men with stern features and eyes full of suspicion. Everyone was watching them with a strange silence, as the innkeeper approaches, a short man with a curled mustache and a sinister smile.)
Innkeeper (with suspicious flattery):
Welcome, beautiful ladies! Ah, what a lucky night! What brings you to our humble inn? I must tell you, we love new guests.
(He steps a little closer to Diana, lowering his voice as if whispering a secret.)
"And you... my lady, you look like a star that has risen in the gloomy sky of our lands."
(Diana, who can't stand this kind of behavior, grabs the man's shirt collar and lifts him slightly off the ground.)
Diana (in a threatening tone mixed with sarcasm):
"Listen to me carefully, you 'sun' of the inn! We're here to spend the night only. One more word, and you'll find yourself in the sky with your stars."
(The innkeeper trembles and tries to wriggle free, smiling awkwardly.)
"Of course! Of course! I'll arrange a room for you right away!"
(Tarkan looks at Diana with a mischievous smile.)
Tarkan:
"You remind me of my mom when she gets angry at the cook."
Diana (lets the man go and shakes her head):
"No one messes with Diana, remember that."
(Shortly after, the man leads them to a room on the upper floor. The room is small and cramped, barely fitting everyone.)
Selena (with a sigh):
"One room? That's all you have?"
Innkeeper (in a shaky voice):
"Unfortunately, yes. The inn is crowded... with business."
(Agnes scans the strange crowd on the lower floor with her eyes.)
Agnes:
"Business? Or are these men here for another reason?"
Diana (winks):
"Maybe they're here to write a collective novel."
(Selena heads to the window and watches the street.)
Selena:
"Stay alert. Something about this place makes me uneasy."
(At that moment, they hear the sound of heavy footsteps approaching the room door. Everyone tenses up, and Diana grips her axe while Tarkan places his hand on his sword.)
(The door slowly opens to reveal a group of men carrying clubs and small swords, smiling a suspicious smile.)
One of the men:
"We heard we have special visitors tonight... Can we join your party?"
Diana (steps forward holding her axe):
"Absolutely. But the party might be the last thing you attend tonight."
(A fight quickly breaks out as the group defends themselves. Selena uses her skills effectively to take down two men with quick strikes, while Tarkan uses his cunning moves to confuse the opponents. As for Agnes, she uses her power to smash the table and push a group of them out—all without using their elemental powers.)
Diana (chasing the man who annoyed her):
"You want to look at me? Well, look at this strike!"
(The man falls unconscious, while the rest flee outside the inn.)
Tarkan (wipes his forehead):
"Is this the welcome here? Because I really liked it."
(Diana looks at the innkeeper, who was hiding behind the counter trembling.)
Diana:
"Alright, we'll stay the night, but I expect a royal breakfast in the morning."
(Everyone laughs as they prepare for a long night in the strange inn.)
(As the group was preparing to sleep, a huge explosion shook the town. Flames surged through the streets, and people's screams filled the air. Everyone rushed outside to find a massive fire monster, several stories tall, roaring with anger and destroying everything in its path.)
Agnes (in a shocked voice):
"What is that thing?!"
Selena (observes the monster with a sharp eye, drawing her sword):
"It's a fire monster. But this isn't normal... it's a summoned creature."
(The monster heads towards them as everyone prepares to fight. Diana attacks with her axe, Selena tries to strike it with her sword, and Tarkan uses his sword. But whenever they cut off parts of its fiery body, it regenerates as if nothing happened.)
Tarkan (in a sarcastic tone as he retreats):
"Is it made of infinity?! I cut its arm off a moment ago!"
Diana (panting):
"This isn't working. We need to find a way to extinguish its flames."
(Agnes focuses her energy and uses her skill to shatter one of the monster's legs, but it reappears again, stronger than before. The town descends into chaos.)
Diana (with defiance as she raises her axe):
"I don't think we'll be defeated by a piece of burning charcoal!"
(But suddenly, a mysterious figure appears. A tall man with black hair and sharp red eyes that glow under the firelight. His face carries a mix of mockery and confidence. He walks with calm steps towards the monster, indifferent to the chaos around him. It is the Fire Prince and heir, "Lakis".)
Lakis (with a mocking smile):
"Is this what you're afraid of? Just a small piece of fire?"
(Everyone turns to him in astonishment. Even the monster seems to watch him cautiously.)
Selena (in a cold voice):
"Who are you?"
Lakis (winks sarcastically):
"I'm the one who will save your miserable lives tonight. Don't worry, I'm good at dealing with disasters... even if they're the size of this monster."
(Lakis approaches the monster with confident steps. He raises his hand, and in one moment, a mysterious, glowing red energy appears. He waves it towards the monster, and it swallows the flames and begins destroying it from the inside.)
Diana (in an amazed voice):
"What is he doing?!!"
Agnes (whispers to herself):
"That's not just fire... it's a strange energy."
(Within moments, the monster turns to ash, and the flames disappear from the town. Lakis stands amidst the scattered ash, putting his hands in his pockets as if nothing happened.)
Lakis (with a cunning smile):
"Were you planning to play with it all night? Because I have more exciting things to do."
(Everyone approaches him cautiously, but Lakis just looks at them with arrogance.)
Selena (cautiously):
"Who are you? And why did you help us?"
Lakis (in a sarcastic tone):
"It doesn't matter who I am. But let me tell you something... if you couldn't handle this monster, I don't think you're ready to face what awaits you in the Fire territories."
(He turns his back to them and starts to walk away, but Agnes rushes towards him.)
Agnes (sternly):
"Wait! You didn't answer her question. Who are you?"
(Lakis stops, turns gently, and looks directly at her with his sharp eyes.)
Lakis (with a mysterious smile):
"I am Lakis... Prince of the Fire territories. And you'll hear about me soon."
(He disappears into the shadows, leaving the group bewildered by what just happened.)
(The group returns to the inn after the stormy events, and the town gradually begins to regain its calm. The inn was still full of men with suspicious looks, but after their battle with the monster, no one dared approach them.)
Diana (with a weary smile as she collapses on the bed):
"Well... this is the worst inn I've ever slept in, but I'm ready to sleep like a rock now."
Selena (carefully cleaning her sword):
"I won't blame you. But we need to stay alert. This place is not safe."
Tarkan (leaning against the wall, arms crossed):
"We'd better lock the door well. I don't want to wake up and find one of these men sneaking into our room."
(While the others were busy getting ready for sleep, Agnes sat by the window, contemplating the dark, star-filled sky. She couldn't stop thinking about Lakis. This man's power was mysterious and astounding, and the way he effortlessly defeated the monster made her feel somewhat uneasy.)
Agnes (to herself):
"Lakis... who are you really?"
(She tried to calm her thoughts, but they kept spinning in her head. She remembered his mocking smile and the way he spoke as if he knew everything. She felt a strange anxiety... and perhaps a curiosity she hadn't yet admitted to herself.)
(Diana, who was watching Agnes from her bed, raised her head and spoke in a sleepy voice.)
Diana (with a mischievous smile):
"Agnes, are you thinking about that arrogant prince?"
Agnes (startled and straightens her posture):
"No... nothing like that. I'm just... wondering about his power."
Diana (winks with her eye):
"Oh, of course. I also wonder if he can cook or sing. Maybe he's perfect at everything."
(Tarkan laughs softly, while Selena raises an eyebrow with a skeptical look.)
Selena (seriously):
"That man is not ordinary. We must be wary of him. His power is not natural."
Agnes (in a low voice):
"I know... and that's what worries me."
(The conversation gradually fades, and everyone falls asleep except Agnes. She stayed awake most of the night, feeling that something big was hidden in the future... and that Lakis would be part of it, one way or another.)