The Lantern of Souls

Opening Scene: This episode starts with a scene of Lina walking wearily through the woods while the rain pours down. The rain is heavy, soaking her thin and worn out coat while the sound of thunder can be heard in the distance. She is at the edge of a worn-out backpack which barely conceals its contents when she notices the form of an old, flooded temple in the distance shrouded in rain. With no roof above her, Lina turned to the inner space of the temple almost instinctively. The insides of the temple are grand yet dreary, with only some worn-out images of people bowing towards a glowing circle which is the insignia representing the Eternal Cycle. The area is covered in dust and interlaced with vines, save for the appearance of an odd heat in the core of the structure. Lina moves ahead into the debris-covered ruins towards the source of the light. The Unveiling of the Lantern Within: At the heart of the shrine is a pedestal on which is placed the Lantern of Souls, which has swirling patterns etched on it with an eerie silence surrounding it as soft noises seem to intermingle. Overcome by her wonder, Lina drew closer. When her fingers make contact with the hand of the sculpture, ethereal rays blaze forth and a tantalizing cacophonic voice fills in her head. "You can hear us… Free us…” Taken by surprise, Lina steps back but remains transfixed by the light emanating from the lantern. The whispers heighten, and make half coherent phrases and snippets of tales. There was one voice that stood out, a child who cried out ‘I only wanted to go home.’ Despite her inner voice protesting, Lina drew the lantern closer to her. No sooner had she raised the object above her head, than the The luminescence flares up and out, and she is treated to a brief and vividly colored picture that lasts for barely a moment: a small boy with a plaything runs around in the forest and then simply dissolves in the darkness. Choking, Lina lets the lantern out of her hands, but it does not break. On the contrary, it gives a slight glow as if ready for action at the slightest touch. Conflict – The Thieves’ Ambush: As Lina made her way out of the temple carrying a lantern, she can already notice that the tempest had calmed. She takes a moment to assess the artifact based on its peculiarish weight. However, before she goes any deeper into its secrets, a harsh voice cuts across her. “What do we have here?” Three shabby-looking brigands step into view wielding their weapons; the leader, a scar-faced man with a smirk, strides to the front. “Why don’t you pass that pretty little piece to us, and we will let you go.” Lina held onto the lantern desperately, her heart racing. She understands she is in no position to defend herself, but at the last moment, the leader makes a grab for her, and the lantern comes to life. A beam of sheer radiance shoots out of it, accompanied by an ear-splitting shriek. The thieves were stunned, staring in horrid astonishment, as translucent specters encircled Lina, their images distorted like those of heat-vision. The leader flinches backward. “W-what the hell…?” The ghostly figures charge forward and the thieves turn and run into the forest. In a daze but feeling intact, Lina turns her head down to the lantern which has flickered back to life, dull in its illumination. Closing Scene: As the storm subsides and the sky begins to clear, Lina prepares her camp near the temple placing the lantern beside her. She gazes into the lantern's light, the sounds still around her but barely. “Who Are You? And Why Am I Involved With You?” She Murmurs To Herself. The shot slowly zooms out to show the whole temple, its outer walls carved with patterns that radiate a dim light, watching over Lina. In the shadows, somewhere outside the rain, a cloaked, faceless figure known only as The Hunter of Souls watches her. To be continued...