KEISE - EPISODE 18: "NO TURNING BACK"
FADE IN:
EXT. ADVENTURER'S GUILD – NIGHT
The wind howled violently.
It whipped Keise's hair mercilessly, flapping his coat wildly. The air was ice-cold and heavy, as if the entire building itself was watching them.
URUSE slowly turned around. His face was tense, eyes gleaming in the darkness.
URUSE (deep and serious) Alright… this is it. But listen carefully. Once we step inside… there's no turning back. Everything will change.
The team nodded silently. No one spoke. Only the roar of the wind filled the air.
The guild hall was massive and intimidating. Every inch was covered in glowing green vines and emerald stones. Wooden doors fused with marble created a breathtaking yet eerie aesthetic. But that door wasn't ordinary wood. It was harder, older — as if it carried the scars of thousands of failed adventures.
Uruse stepped right in front of the door. He raised his hand to knock —
SPEAKERS (mechanical, cold) Attention! New member Uruse… Entry denied. Attention! New member Uruse… Entry denied.
The robotic voice cut off abruptly.
Then, a very real, furious, and mocking woman's voice blasted through the speakers:
WOMAN'S VOICE (angry, loud) Heyyy! Uruse! Didn't we tell you last time?! If you lose, don't come back! How do you still have the face to show up here?!
Sweat poured down Uruse's forehead. His eyes narrowed. His face flushed red, hands starting to tremble. He began to stutter.
URUSE (stuttering) I-I… this time… I brought new members with me… they—
The whole team froze.
Keise's heart pounded violently in his chest. He was seeing his leader — Uruse — completely helpless and humiliated for the first time.
Suddenly, the wind stopped dead. A deathly silence fell over everything.
The woman's voice returned, now lower and far more dangerous:
WOMAN'S VOICE Wasn't last time's humiliation enough? You embarrassed the entire guild. And now you show up with new members? Get lost. Or we won't just close the door… We'll crush you.
Sweat dripped from Uruse's chin. His eyes were filled with shame, rage, and deep helplessness.
The team watched in silence. Something inside Keise was breaking.
KEISE (inner voice) Our leader… how can he be broken like this?
Uruse slowly turned to the team. His face was deathly pale.
URUSE (hoarse, trembling) …Should we go back?
The question hung heavy in the air.
At that exact moment, Keise's eyes changed. All his emotions — anger, shame, determination — burned across his face.
He suddenly raised his right arm and pointed straight at the speakers.
KEISE (voice echoing across the entire area, loud and fierce) Heyyy! You have no right to crush us like this!
His voice reverberated off the guild walls. Every light in the building suddenly turned on. Heads popped out from windows and balconies, full of shock and curiosity.
Keise's voice no longer trembled.
KEISE (even louder, more determined) We challenge you to a duel! If we win… you will accept us into the guild! If you refuse… let every guild know you're cowards!
A moment of deadly silence.
Then the wind began to blow again — colder and sharper than before.
The guild door was still closed. But now the entire building was awake.
And in Keise's eyes, a real fire burned for the first time.
FADE OUT.