CHAPTER 7: "Before the Storm"
COLISEUM EXIT | (EVENING)
The golden glow of the arena still lingers in the sky as Reydan walks out, battle-worn but calm. Cheers roar behind him.
MONSTER SLAYERS (fans):
"RAYDEN! RAYDEN! THE LIGHTNING BLADE!!"
Reydan gives a tired smile and a small wave, but his eyes stay low. He's not basking in the glory.
LITTLE BROTHER (Kai) (running up with a goofy grin):
"Brooooooo! You didn't tell me you were THIS strong! You've been hiding it from me all along!"
Reydan (half-laughs, brushing it off):
"Haha... Guess I got caught. But right now… I'm just hungry."
Kael tries to continue, but Reydan gently pulls him along, changing the topic.
[ GUEST HOUSE | NIGHT]
The guest house is warm and lively. Locals crowd around, congratulating Reydan with food, ale, and laughter. A bard plays a tune about the day's battle.
GUEST HOUSE LADY:
"You should've seen the prince of Elvenwood, boy! He fainted when your blade touched his hair!"
Reydan (laughing):
"I just wanted to shave a little off the top."
Kael and Reydan share funny banter, with Kael acting like Reydan's hype-man. But then…
[GUEST HOUSE HALLWAY | LATE NIGHT]
Kael overhears two old soldiers whispering by the fireplace.
OLD SOLDIER 1:
"No one's ever defeated the Princess… And those who came close… they vanished."
OLD SOLDIER 2:
"She holds the 'Eyes of Truth.' One glance—and your next move is hers."
Kael's face drops.
[ REYDAN'S ROOM | NIGHT CONTINUES]
Kael bursts into Reydan's room, breathless.
KAEI:
"Rey! They're saying the Princess has some kinda… god-level power!? What's going on?!"
Reydan looks at him… then sits up slowly.
REYDAN (serious):
"…Yeah. I've seen it before."
Kael gulps. Reydan starts explaining softly.
> "Her strongest magic is called the Eyes of Truth. It lets her see through illusions… masks… and even the thoughts and intentions of her opponent. She can see not just your move, but the reason behind it."
KAEI (shaken):
"W-Wait… then how can anyone fight her!?"
Reydan looks out the window at the moonlit sky.
> "Because… there's one weakness. That magic—though divine—is limited. If your heart, your mana, and your purpose are completely pure... the eyes can't read you."
Kael's face lights up slightly with hope.
KAEI:
"So that means… if we stay pure-hearted—"
REYDAN (cuts in, softly):
"She has more than just that…"
He explains in hushed tones.
> "She's a fire elemental. Her mana purity is off the charts. They say she mastered Fire Magic Level 14... at this age."
Kael gulps. Reydan continues, his tone darker.
> "To give you an idea… a Fire Dragon—considered a Tier-12 mythical beast—can only use Level 12 Fireballs. She's already beyond them… and people believe she'll be the first in 400 years to unlock Level 15."
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[MAGICAL SYSTEM EXPLANATION | FLASH VISUALS]
Beautiful, animated-like sequences show the core idea of magic in this world:
> Mana is the spiritual essence of all beings. The more refined it is, the higher the level of elemental transformation.
> Element Types: Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Lightning, Light, Shadow.
> Each has 15 levels. Few cross Level 10.
Level 15 is considered "Myth-Class."
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[BACK TO ROOM | NIGHT DEEPENS]
Kael is stunned silent.
KAEI:
"Then… why'd you even enter this contest…?"
Reydan doesn't respond immediately. He closes his eyes… his body relaxes.
Kael watches quietly, then hears him whisper—
REYDAN (soft voice, monologue):
> "I didn't come here to defeat the Princess...
I came to win… to earn the prize… for that."
He drifts to sleep before finishing the sentence.
Kael (thinking):
"…What's 'that'?"
The candle flickers and dies.
[TO BE CONTINUED…]
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