CHAPTER 4: "THORSGLAN"
FADE IN:
EXT. VILLAGE ROAD - DAY Keise and Setsuko have moved away from the walls, walking across an open steppe. Keise's steps are reluctant, his face sullen.
KEISE (bored tone) So… where are we going now? What are we gonna do? We've got nothing.
SETSUKO (looking around) I don't know… But come on, there seem to be people over there. Let's go that way.
Keise looks into the distance. A small village appears—smoke rising from chimneys, wooden houses.
KEISE (holding his stomach) Ahh… I'm starving. Will they give us food?
SETSUKO (smiling faintly) Let's find out.
They start walking toward the village.
EXT. VILLAGE ROAD - A LITTLE LATER As they approach the village—
A CLOUD OF DUST.
A GROUP OF RIDERS comes galloping. They stop in front of them. Armored, dangerous.
CAVALRY LEADER (shouting) Strangers! Stop right there! You entered these lands without permission!
Keise immediately raises his hands. He looks scared. Setsuko is surprised, looks at Keise, then at the soldiers.
KEISE (panicked) S-sir, we…
He can't finish the sentence.
The cavalry leader draws his sword and approaches—
His eyes catch the SV1 label on their clothes.
He stops. Lowers his sword.
CAVALRY LEADER (laughing) SV1? You… you're new arrivals to this world, aren't you?
Keise and Setsuko exchange glances.
KEISE (confused) What? What's SV1?
The cavalry leader keeps laughing. The soldiers behind him join in.
CAVALRY LEADER (still laughing) Newcomers always react like this. They get scared, raise their hands, then see the SV1 on their clothes…
He turns to one of his soldiers.
CAVALRY LEADER (cont'd) Remember? We were the same.
The soldiers laugh.
The fear on Keise's face turns to confusion.
KEISE (to himself) SV1… what the hell does that mean?
The cavalry leader dismounts and approaches them.
CAVALRY LEADER (friendly tone) Don't be afraid. SV1 stands for "System Citizen Level 1." It means you just arrived in this world. We all went through the same thing.
SETSUKO (shocked) So… you're not going to do anything to us?
CAVALRY LEADER (smiling) There's nothing to do. You're already children of the system. Welcome.
Keise takes a deep breath. Lowers his hands.
KEISE (annoyed) Okay, fine… but how do we know you're good people? What's SV1, what's the system? I don't understand anything!
CAVALRY LEADER (calm) You'll understand. But first… are you hungry?
Keise's stomach growls.
KEISE (embarrassed) Uh… yeah.
CAVALRY LEADER (laughing) Come on. There's food in the village. I'll explain on the way.
EXT. ROAD - CONTINUOUS They mount the horses. They ride toward the walls.
CAVALRY LEADER (turning slightly) Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is ERETT. Son of Berrett.
KEISE (nodding) Nice to meet you. Keise.
SETSUKO (smiling) And I'm Setsuko.
ERETT (smiling back) Welcome, Keise, Setsuko. Now I'm taking you to Thorsglan.
As they ride, the massive stone walls and iron gates come closer.
ERETT (raising his voice) Requesting entry!
The soldiers on the wall examine them carefully. Their eyes stop on the SV1 labels. They smile slightly.
SOLDIER (turning back and shouting) Open the gates!
The gates slowly open.
They enter.
SOLDIER (warning tone) This is THORSGLAN. Stay close to us. It's not a very nice place… keep those swords with you too.
EXT. THORSGLAN STREETS - NIGHT Inside the city. Busy streets. Taverns, armed men, shadows.
KEISE (stunned) This… doesn't look like a village at all.
ERETT (smiling) It's bigger than a village. This is a trade hub. But like I said, dangerous.
INT. YONCALAR INN - NIGHT They stop in front of an inn. A huge sign: YONCALAR INN.
They enter.
The noise stops instantly. Everyone's face shows mischievous grins.
Keise quietly approaches Erett.
KEISE (whispering) Why are they smiling?
ERETT (quietly) Because you're SV1.
KEISE (confused) What does that have to do with anything?
ERETT (smiling lightly) Everyone looks at newcomers like this. Don't worry, you'll get used to it.
They slowly approach a table. Erett signals the waiter. Then spreads a MAP in front of them.
ERETT (serious tone) There's only one rule here: The strong eat the weak. Inns, guilds, bounty hunters… a lot of threats. This is a big world.
He pauses.
ERETT (cont'd) You either fell here… or were born here.
SETSUKO (shocked) What do you mean? Weren't we the first ones to arrive suddenly?
ERETT (slowly shaking his head) No. There were others before you. But very few. You must not draw attention to yourselves. Be careful.
His eyes become serious.
ERETT (whispering) If someone else had come instead of us… trust me, they would have stolen your echo.
Keise and Setsuko look at each other. This world is much more dangerous than they thought.
KEISE (curious) Echo? What does that mean?
ERETT (serious) Everyone has an echo. Their power, talent, potential. Some people… can steal it. Yours is still new, fresh. Very valuable.
SETSUKO (scared) So… they could kill us?
ERETT (looking away) Worse than killing. They would turn you into empty shells.
Silence.
KEISE (firm) Then… what should we do?
ERETT (smiling) First, eat. Then we'll think.
The waiter brings food. Keise's eyes light up. He starts eating immediately.
SETSUKO (smiling lightly) You were starving, weren't you?
KEISE (mouth full) What did you think? The money stayed back there.
For the first time, Keise mentions his old life. But there's no pain in his voice. Just acceptance.
ERETT (watching) Good. Hunger is a great teacher.
FADE TO BLACK.
[CHAPTER 4 END]