The Lantern of Souls

Episode 7: The Hunter Strikes

Opening Scene:

In the opening of the episode, Lina and Kiran are shown climbing a difficult mountain pass. The surface in the region is covered with snow and the wind is howling through the cliffs. The lantern at the waist level of Lina glows dimly though the sounds it emits are quiet, yet are more effective.

“This path has to lead us somewhere,” Kiran says and exhales in the fog. “If the texts are to be believed, the remains of the tower structure in the mountains are said to contain the first soul of the lantern.”

Lina gripping the lantern tightly, lets out, “I only wish that nobody else is going there.”

The Hunter’s Presence:

The higher they ascend, the more strange and uneasy things become for Lina and Kiran. Dark shapes move where there ought to be none, and soft echoing taps seem to trail behind them. Kiran looks around intently, his hand hovering near a hidden blade.

“ He is close,” says Kiran.

Lina frowns, “The Hunter?”

Kiran nods, “And he’s got company.”

The Ruins of the Monastery:

High above, they discover the traces of an old monastery that has been gouged out of the mountainside. Time has eroded the faces of hooded figures, which spell out the threshold. The structure is dominantly quiet – impregnated with silence for many centuries.

She writes as the lantern is lit in the hall, showing the drawing that has visibly worn out portraying the cycle of existence: creation, destruction, and creation again. In the middle of the dais stands a ruined pedestal carved with similar strange letters, covered by some strange letters.

Kiran states solemnly, “This is the place. This is where it commenced.”

As Lina walks toward the altar, the lantern’s light flickers as if acknowledging her presence. She sets it down on the altar where the letters begin to shine once more. The murmuring grew overstated and began to merge into one another, forming an incoherent sound.

The Hunter’s Arrival:

Lina was still hesitating when a frostbitten voice rang from within the chaos.

“How fitting. The so-called liberator back to the place she tried to forget.”

Without being aware of their surroundings, Lina and Kiran turned sharply towards the door. All the enemies were standing in the entrance on the other side. One of them was the Hunter of Souls, with his black cloak fluttering. There were dark figures on both sides of them, known as the Hunter’s agents, their eyes glowing bright.

The Hunter advances, tone rife with mockery. “Well done, Lina. So, the lamp has managed to reach this point. But let’s not act as though you can operate it.”

Lina stands firm, the lantern in her hands slightly shaking due to a grip that had become too firm. “Don’t come any closer. I don’t care who you are—I will not allow you to take it.”

A humored laugh escaped Hunter’s lips. “Oh, Lina. You still believe that you are the one in charge. Let me prove to you how mistaken you are.”

The Battle is on:

The Hunter stretches out his arms in the direction of Lina and Kiran and dark orbs with strands of energy shoot out toward them. Kiran springs into action and, using the weapon in his hand, fights off the attacks while Lina runs to cover the lantern.

The agents move in, forcing Lina and Kiran to fight together. Kiran’s deftness and precision restrain the attackers, but there is always the Hunter, skillfully dodging all attacks.

As all of this is going on, the warmth within the lantern starts to radiate heat and the sounds from within become too much to handle. Lina took her hands to her ears in a desperate attempt to quiet them.

The Lantern’s Warning:

As the Hunter continues to attack, Lina hears a single voice, loud and clear, above the noise:

“He cannot be allowed to take it. Use me.”

The lantern glows with the intensity of a thousand suns and up rises a ghostly figure, a strong force bound to the lantern, emanating auric waves. The figure addresses Lina:

“Have faith in me. I can halt him, though I cannot promise that it will be free.”

Lina is torn, trapped in between the thoughts of liberating the soul that was held captive and defending herself from the continuous aggression of the Hunter.

Lina’s Choice:

With no course of action available, Lina screams, “Do it!”

The spectral figure advances and meets the hunter amidst swirling light and darkness. The ground shakes as the two forces meet, in a collision sending tremors across the monastery.

The Hunter hesitates for the first in his life, his tattered cloak providing a comical appearance to a face filled with fury. He turns around and warns, “This is not finished yet, Lina. I will have the lantern.”

Aftermath:

The spectral figure glows as it sinks back into the lantern, only bringing silence in Lina and Kiran’s surroundings. The temple has been demolished and the altar’s illumination appears to be lacking. Lina went down on her knees as she looked worn out.

Kiran rises to assist her, but his voice has a gentler yet determined attitude. “You bought us time. But the hunter will not give up until he gets what he so desires.”

Lina glances at the lantern, the light inside it weak yet constant. “Then it is we who will have to stop him first. No matter what it takes.”

Closing Scene:

As they step away from the wreckage, the camera stays on the altar for a moment. The runes shine weakly, suggesting there are yet more things hidden in the field.

The Hunter, meanwhile, is shown down below on a ledge staring at the monastery. He pulls back the hood of his chain and reveals a weathered face.

“You think she’s brave,” the Hunter said softly, “but she’s already defeated. Deep down, she knows it’s a matter of time.”

To be continued...