Chapter 2 – The Dragon's Echo
BELGUINER'S FARM – ARCONES – LATE AFTERNOON
A breeze drifts through the windows of the old stone house. The sky glows golden. Outside, horses neigh, workers set down their tools. Inside, the tension rises.
Nicia (eyes fixed on the young man):
You... you are the Dragon.
Young Man (confused):
What did you say, ma'am?
Nicia (trembling and solemn):
You are the Sacred Dragon.
Young Man (scared):
You must be mistaken...
Belguiner (angry, laughing scornfully):
Nicia… after so many years, have you gone mad? What are you saying?
Nicia (calm but cold):
No, Belguiner. I saw… I saw the dragon inside him.
Belguiner (shouting):
Are you kidding me? How could a simple slave be the great Sacred Dragon? He's my slave! Don't come here with crap just to steal him from me!
Nicia (coldly):
I have no interest in your slaves...
Boy, tell me — what's your name?
Young Man:
My name is… Lion.
---
SCENE – NORTHERN GÍRIA – WARRIORS' MARCH
A battalion of warriors rides through the mist. Their armor gleams, banners flutter in the cold wind. A man dismounts with authority.
Morfios:
My name is Morfios. I was sent by His Majesty, Kravons Riguer.
We are here to join forces with you, people of the North, for the coming battle.
Seinal (strong, imposing):
I am Seinal, a shapeshifter and leader of this army. It is an honor to receive aid.
Morfios (serious):
What is the current state of the battle?
Seinal (dark eyes):
We are near the end. The Black Elves grow in number every day...
If we're not strong enough, we will all die.
Morfios:
We must hold out until the Elves and Dwarves arrive.
Seinal:
Something's wrong… They don't just want to destroy the North.
They want something here, within these lands.
Morfios (clenching fists):
Then we won't let them.
Knights! To battle!
Soldiers (raising swords):
YEAHH! To victory!
---
SCENE – BELGUINER'S FARM – MOMENTS LATER
Lion (awkwardly):
Ma'am, I'm sorry for spilling the tea... if I may, I'd like to return to work.
Belguiner (gruffly):
Best thing to do. Get out of here!
Lion (bowing):
Yes, sir. Excuse me...
Nicia (firmly):
Wait. I want you to stay, please.
Belguiner (angrily):
You're kidding? He's mine! He doesn't take orders from a 700-year-old Elf who's now delusional saying my slave is the Sacred Dragon!
Nicia (calmly):
You don't believe me… Then I'll show you.
Belguiner:
Show me? Prove it how? Spare me the nonsense!
Nicia (trembling but resolute):
Belguiner… I trust you the most. Will you really say I'm crazy?
Lion (calmly):
Ma'am, I'm going back to work.
Nicia (firmer):
No. Stay here.
Belguiner (raising voice):
So now you met the Dragon? He was HUGE, had wings and white scales! Breathed fire and ice!
And now you say this—this skinny boy—is him?
Nicia:
My visions never fail.
Tell me... how old are you?
Lion:
Seventeen.
Nicia (eyes filling with tears):
No... it can't be...
It's you… it really is you… the Dragon.
Belguiner (furious):
Now anyone who's 17 is the Dragon? Stop this, Nicia! Go get some rest!
Nicia:
Seventeen years ago… the Black Elves stopped their attacks.
Even here, on your farm. Since then, no more raids.
And when I touched him... I saw it. I saw the Sacred Dragon.
Belguiner:
Maybe the Elves just got tired of killing us... or maybe they want Karips first, to finish us all!
Nicia (wide-eyed):
...You said something that makes sense.
Belguiner (confused):
Glad you think so. The boy's just a slave, Nicia.
Nicia:
No! What made sense… was Karips. That's why they attack the North.
It's because of her. They're protecting her.
Belguiner:
Alright. Then take the boy… and give the king your big revelation.
Nicia (to Lion):
Give me your hand.
Lion (scared):
Okay...
Nicia (to Belguiner):
And you... give me your arm.
Belguiner:
Is this a joke?
Nicia:
Trust me. Give it to me.
Belguiner:
Alright... here.
Nicia grabs them both. A blue flash fills the room. A vision overtakes them: a deafening roar, a sky on fire, the Sacred Dragon — colossal, magnificent — erupts from memory. Belguiner and Nicia fall back, gasping.
Belguiner (shocked):
What... the hell was that...
Lion:
What... happened?
Nicia:
I showed you your inner self.
Lion:
My inner self? What do you mean?
Nicia (to Belguiner):
Still have doubts?
Belguiner (voice trembling):
...Take him.
Nicia (decisive):
Good.
You're coming with me, Lion.
Lion:
You want me to go with you?
Nicia:
Yes. We must leave… now.
Lion:
Okay... but only if Jack comes with us.
Nicia:
Jack?
Lion:
He's... my only friend.
Nicia:
We don't have time...
Lion:
You need me, right?
Nicia:
Yes. The kingdom needs you.
Lion:
Then without Jack, I won't go.
Nicia:
Alright... tell your friend. We leave in 10 minutes.
---
CUT TO – SOUTHERN GÍRIA – FOREST
Victor shoots an arrow, hitting a tree. He hears footsteps behind him. It's Alex, an elf.
Victor:
Hey, Alex… you look shaken. Something happen?
Alex:
Your sister told me… you're joining the battle.
Is it true?
Victor (quiet):
Yeah. I leave tomorrow morning.
Alex (tense):
Dude… think again. If you die, what about Sara? She'll be alone again!
Victor:
That's why… I want you to take care of her while I'm gone.
Alex:
Don't do this. Stay with us. You think you're going to save the world?
Victor:
No… but I can help.
If I stay hiding, what's the point? The Black Elves will come south eventually.
I've already lost my parents… I won't lose anyone else.
Alex (quiet):
...Does Amélia know?
Victor:
No. And she won't.
---
CUT TO – SOUTHERN GÍRIA – CASTLE
Clara walks to a room with two guards at the door.
Clara:
Is Zury in?
Guard:
Yes, ma'am. He's waiting.
Clara enters. Zury is staring out the window.
Zury:
Welcome, Clara.
Clara:
Why did you summon me?
Zury (turning):
I need to ask a favor...
---
CUT TO – NORTHERN GÍRIA – BATTLEFIELD
Swords clash, blood spills. The battlefield is in flames.
Morfios (shouting):
We need to fall back!
Seinal:
Impossible! They're everywhere!
Morfios:
Then send someone. Someone must escape… and reach the South.
---
CUT TO – BELGUINER'S FARM
Jack:
So… this Nicia lady says you're the Sacred Dragon?
Lion:
Yeah… that's what she said.
Nicia appears, in a hurry.
Nicia:
Are you ready? We must go.
---
CUT TO – SOUTHERN GÍRIA – THRONE HALL
Clara and Zury walk into the throne room.
Clara (urgent):
Your Majesty! We've received word… the North is being massacred!
If we don't send reinforcements, the Black Elves will take Karips!
Before the king can respond, Nicia enters with Lion at her side.
Nicia:
My king...
Kravons:
Welcome back.
Nicia:
Before it's too late… we must send someone to retrieve Karips.
We have little time.
Clara:
Are you mad? You want to bring Karips here?
Zury:
You just said the attacks are because of Karips… and now you want to bring her South?
Nicia:
It's alright... as long as we have the boy near, we'll be safe.
Kravons:
Who is this boy?
Nicia (with pride):
He… is the Sacred Dragon.
Silence. Clara, Zury, and Kravons are stunned.
Everyone:
What?!
Clara:
Explain, Nicia. How can this boy be the Dragon?
Nicia:
I don't know how… or why.
But he is.
---
To be continued…