Emergence

06/24/2016
Blackthorne Valley

Zeke is sitting against a huge tree, his head tilted up. In front of him, the remains of several snowmen are scattered across the small forest clearing.

ZEKE (Narration)
I can feel you here again. Good...I was starting to worry you wouldn’t show.
Then again...there’s not much purpose to this without you, is there?
It’s all in your shadow from now on...just the way it was meant to be.
The truth is…I don’t know if I’m sorry or not. Because…
Even nightmares like this have to happen for a reason.
And if it isn’t to shape me into the person I was always meant to be…
Then why ?
This wasn’t how it was supposed to be.
I just wanted to leave everything behind...

ASTRAL KNIGHT
Alright. Now that you’ve put people in danger, this isn’t a discussion anymore.
Get on your feet, kid. You’re coming with us.

ZEKE
Have fun carrying a corpse, that's the only way you're gonna-

The knight grabs Zeke by his collar and starts dragging him away.

ASTRAL KNIGHT
Let’s go. I’ve lost all my patience for this.

ZEKE
Get the fuck off me!

Zeke tries to stab the knight’s armor with a butter knife.

ASTRAL KNIGHT
Ain’t gonna work, kid. That’s a butter knife. You wanna kill me, you’re gonna need a much bigger--

The knight turns around at the sound of branches snapping. Abel, now in plain sight, smiles at the knight - feigning innocence as if he was no enemy at all.

ASTRAL KNIGHT
You...must be one of Blackthorne’s scoundrels.

ABEL
Indeed I am! And you, I believe...are outside your jurisdiction.

The knight drops Zeke to the ground.

ASTRAL KNIGHT
The boy wandered beyond the wall. My business stops and starts at escorting him home.

ABEL
Then I’m quite sure any further violence will be unnecessary. It is still my responsibility to see that you turn around. Comprende?

ASTRAL KNIGHT
We’ll see about tha--

Zeke tackles the knight, nearly knocking him to the ground. The knight grabs his wrists, preventing Zeke from continuing his assault.

ZEKE
You fed my parents to the snowmen and thought I’d just lay down and die with them?!

ASTRAL KNIGHT
What? Have you lost your mind?! I’ve done no such thing!

ZEKE
LIAR!

The astral knight kicks Zeke square in the chest, sending him back against a tree unable to catch his breath.

ASTRAL KNIGHT
...huff...the boy’s gone mad. I shoulda known, it’s the only time anyone ‘wanders’ past the walls...

ABEL
That is enough. The boy is under my protection now, and this is the last time you will be asked to leave.

ASTRAL KNIGHT
Make me.

ABEL
You will not like my methods, but if you insist...

With Abel’s war talon impaling him, the astral knight spits his last words with blood.

ASTRAL KNIGHT
When the republic of Astra Dominus wills the end of Blackthorne, they’ll send a lot more than me to make it happen.

ABEL
Then I’d suggest Astra Dominus find new Archsages that learn from their mistakes. We have run you off before, and we will do it again with no problem.

ASTRAL KNIGHT
So speak the stars, the lot of you will shatter.

ABEL
You mean nothing to the stars.

Abel shoves the knight off his talon and he falls to the ground.

ABEL
You’re not special.

Abel swipes the blood off of his talon, some blood splatters against Zeke’s face. Abel approaches Zeke.

ABEL
You.

The two lock eyes as Abel kneels down and extends a hand.

ABEL
It’s okay. I can see the pain in your eyes. My name is Abel Albedo. I’m Blackthorne’s sworn guardian.

Zeke gets up without Abel’s help. Abel walks away as the boy trails behind him.

ABEL
If you’ve come this far to run away from your pain, you may find a lot of power in learning to wield it. Come along, now. Come out from underneath who you were…

Zeke looks up at the mountain plateau. He squints, very carefully making out a flamingo standing at the top and returning his watchful eye.

END

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