[Scene: Guild Infirmary – Next Morning]
Kai groans awake in a soft, high-class bed. Silk sheets. Crystal lamps. Toma snores on a pillow next to him wearing a sleeping mask.
KAI(blinking)"Okay. Either I died and went to rich-people heaven… or I finally broke into the Duke's guest house."
The door bursts open. Lyra enters, still elegant, still judging.
LYRA"You slept for sixteen hours."
KAI"Thanks for the update, Nurse Personality."
LYRA(hands on hips)"You unleashed celestial-level magic, nearly died, and possibly attracted an ancient threat back to our world.You're not funny."
KAI(grinning)"That's weird. I think I'm hilarious."
[Scene: Info Dump (with Comedy)]
Lyra conjures a magic hologram. A rotating map of the universe appears with glowing threads connecting planes.
LYRA"There are twelve primary realms. Myria is the lowest. Solmara is the divine core—long sealed off.""Only one soul has ever returned from Solmara... the Ember Soul."
The image shifts to a glowing silhouette of Zarion.
KAI(blinks)"Okay, but… are we sure it's me? What if I just got hit by magic lightning and now hallucinate flaming ancestors?"
LYRA"Then we'll test you. If you pass, we figure out how to contain your power. If you fail…"(she shrugs)"...the guild has a very clean incineration room."
[Scene: Training Yard – Later That Day]
Kai stands in a battle circle. Lyra watches from the sidelines with crossed arms. A gruff dwarf instructor is yelling.
INSTRUCTOR"Channel your core, boy! Don't just flail like a drunk gremlin!"
Kai holds his hands out. Focuses. A flame flickers… then explodes—launching him 20 feet into a hay cart.
KAI(from the hay)"NAILED IT. Hay-tastrophe averted."
Toma slow claps while sipping juice.
[Scene: Nightfall – Guild Balcony]
Kai sits on the railing, looking out over the glowing city. Lyra joins him, silent at first.
KAI"You ever feel like the world's spinning and you forgot how to stand?"
LYRA"Every day." (smirks slightly)"But I stand anyway."
A quiet moment. Stars above. The wind stirs Kai's hair.
KAI"If I really am that guy… this Zarion… what if I lose who I am now?"
LYRA"Then don't." (beat)"You're insufferable. But you're still you. Even if you glow."
They share a rare, quiet smile.
[Scene: Meanwhile – Distant Fortress]
A sleek, deadly woman stands in a chamber of crystal blades. Her eyes glow violet.
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN"Target confirmed. Ember Soul fragment active."
DARK VOICE (Offscreen)"Then we strike."
Her sword ignites. She steps through a shadow portal.