(On a bright morning, the sun shines gently over the gardens of the Plant Palace. Sylvie takes Agnes by the hand and leads her forward, her tone calm yet firm.)
Sylvie (walking beside Agnes):
Before we continue the training, there is someone I want you to meet.
Agnes (curiously):
Who?
Sylvie (with deep respect):
My mother.
(Agnes follows Sylvie through long corridors covered with red flowers until they reach a wide hall flooded with sunlight. In the center of the hall sits a woman with calm, dignified features. Her emerald-green hair frames her face, and her eyes reflect years of wisdom and hidden power. She wears an elegant red dress adorned with golden leaves.)
Sylvie (bowing lightly before her mother):
Mother, allow me to introduce Princess Agnes, heir of the Wind Empire.
Aria (lifting her head calmly, her gaze piercing Agnes as if reading her soul):
Welcome, Princess of the Wind. I have heard much about you.
Agnes (bowing respectfully, though feeling the weight of Aria's gaze):
Thank you for hosting me in your empire, Your Grace.
Aria (smiling softly, yet her voice carries strength):
Courage is clear in your eyes… but I also see a burden you are trying to hide.
(Agnes feels slightly unsettled, as if the concubine has seen straight into her heart. Sylvie notices and steps in.)
Sylvie (gently):
Mother always sees what others cannot.
Agnes (looking between Sylvie and Aria, trying to understand):
Do you possess a power similar to Sylvie's?
Aria (smiling mysteriously):
Everyone in this palace possesses their own power. But mine is not meant to be displayed. It remains in the shadows of the Emperor… until he commands it to emerge.
(A faint chill runs through Agnes, yet she maintains her composure. Aria turns to Sylvie with a warm smile.)
Aria (placing a hand gently on her daughter's cheek):
Sylvie, I see that you have begun to accept our guest.
Sylvie (with a small smile):
She learns quickly. Stronger than I expected.
Aria (turning back to Agnes):
You will need that strength soon. The world is filled with challenges that cannot be solved by wind alone.
Agnes (steadily):
I am ready to learn whatever I must.
(Aria studies Agnes for a long moment, then offers a faint smile and rises gracefully. She walks toward a nearby fountain.)
Aria (as if thinking aloud):
The power you carry is not merely a blessing, but a responsibility. We in the Plant Empire understand that well. I will leave you with Sylvie to continue your training. But always remember—true control begins from within.
(Agnes watches Aria leave, sensing something mysterious and awe-inspiring about her presence. Aria departs, leaving behind an aura of quiet strength and dignity.)
Sylvie (smiling slightly at Agnes):
Did I ever tell you that my mother can make anyone feel like they're being tested?
Agnes (with a faint smile):
She has a powerful presence. I feel like I haven't seen everything she's hiding.
Sylvie (cryptically):
Perhaps one day, you will.
(Sylvie leads Agnes back to training, while Agnes can't stop wondering—how could a woman like Aria be merely a concubine?)
<----------❀---------->
(Under the midday sun, Agnes and Sylvie gather in the training courtyard. The air is filled with the scent of flowers, yet a subtle tension lingers, as if something different is about to happen.)
Sylvie (seriously, holding a small branch):
Agnes, you have proven that you can use your power. But something is missing. You must realize that wind is not merely a weapon. It is also a means of perception, awareness, and control.
Agnes (taking a deep breath):
How can I use the wind this way?
Sylvie (smiling lightly, gesturing toward the surrounding trees):
I will teach you a new method. Sit down and close your eyes.
(Agnes sits on the ground and slowly closes her eyes. Sylvie stands before her, watching carefully.)
Sylvie (in a calm yet powerful voice):
Listen… not to the noise, but to the silence. Sense every subtle movement around you. Wind is not just what we feel on our faces—it is the pulse of nature.
(Agnes takes a deep breath, calming herself. Suddenly, she begins to hear faint sounds—the whispers of wind through leaves, the soft movement of branches. Something shifts inside her.)
Agnes (softly):
I can feel it… but I don't fully understand it.
Sylvie (kneeling to her level):
Don't try to control it. Let it guide you.
(As Agnes focuses, the air around her begins to move slowly. She feels as though she can "see" through the wind. Suddenly, she opens her eyes.)
Agnes (in astonishment):
Someone is approaching the garden… from the northern side.
Sylvie (smiling proudly):
That is awareness. The wind can be your eyes and ears.
(Sylvie challenges Agnes to use this new ability.)
Sylvie (pointing toward a cluster of trees):
If you can use the wind to sense hidden things, tell me what lies behind those trees.
Agnes (with growing confidence):
I'll try.
(Agnes gently extends her hands, feeling the wind flow around her. She clearly senses small birds hidden among the branches—and a tree with a hollow concealing something inside. She tells Sylvie what she perceives.)
Sylvie (nodding in admiration):
Very good. But this is only the beginning.
(The training intensifies. Sylvie asks Agnes to use the wind to interact with other elements of nature—plants and nearby water.)
Sylvie (firmly):
The wind can carry messages and transfer power, if you understand how to use it.
(Agnes accepts the challenge. She reaches toward a nearby fountain, guiding the wind to lift droplets of water. At first, she struggles, but eventually forms a small vortex of water and wind spinning around her.)
Agnes (smiling triumphantly):
I did it!
Sylvie (smiling with pride, hiding her usual strictness):
Excellent. But remember—true control lies in blending your abilities with the environment around you.
(Sylvie gives Agnes a final challenge: extinguish a single flame without putting out nearby candles. Agnes focuses deeply, carefully guiding the wind until she achieves perfect balance.)
Sylvie (clapping softly):
You've become more skilled than I expected.
Agnes (breathing deeply, filled with new confidence):
Thank you, Sylvie.
(At that moment, Tarkan and Diana appear in the distance.)
Tarkan (smiling warmly):
It seems you're finally gaining control of your power, Agnes.
Diana (laughing lightly):
But you still have a lot to learn.
Agnes (smiling confidently):
If you're ready, Diana, I can challenge you now.
(Everyone laughs, though beneath the joy lies a sense that the real battles have yet to begin.)
---
[In Raymond's chamber]
(Undertaker sits on a wooden chair beside a small table, frowning in clear annoyance. Across from him, Herin calmly pours tea, a faint smile on his face.)
Undertaker (sighing deeply, resting his head on his hand):
Training, training, training! Nothing fun ever happens here. I expected Princess Agnes to be more… interesting.
Herin (softly, offering him a cup of tea):
Perhaps if you stopped tormenting her a little, her true potential would emerge.
Undertaker (taking the cup with a sideways glance):
I'm giving her chances. She just prefers playing the innocent heroine.
(Suddenly, the door swings open dramatically. Raymond enters wearing loose white silk robes, barefoot, his long hair falling over his shoulders. He looks like he just woke from a long nap. He strolls lazily toward the large bed.)
Raymond (collapsing onto the bed):
Well then, my loyal followers—what's new? Is the world still turning?
Undertaker (sarcastically):
Yes, Your Great Imperial Majesty. Though it seems Princess Agnes is spinning faster than the rest.
Raymond (laughing softly):
Interesting. So, has the wind stirred a storm in my palace?
Herin (calmly, setting another cup down):
If "wind" means failed training sessions with Undertaker, then probably not.
Undertaker (tapping the table irritably):
I do not fail. She's just slow.
Raymond (sitting up, eyes gleaming mischievously):
Undertaker… perhaps the problem isn't the wind, but the rock you're trying to move.
(Herin chuckles quietly.)
Undertaker (ignoring the mockery, standing with hands on his hips):
At least I'm trying. What about you, Your Majesty? All you do is lie around and speak in riddles.
Raymond (raising an eyebrow, smiling confidently):
My loyal servant, I rule an entire world hidden behind darkness and plants. Lying down is part of my strategy.
Herin (murmuring teasingly):
A very comfortable strategy.
Raymond (shooting him an amused, arrogant glance):
Herin, you're far too gentle to criticize your master.
(Raymond lies back, his tone growing serious.)
Raymond (low and ominous):
The wind brings change… and I do not trust it. Princess Agnes carries an ancient legacy—and I will be the first to claim it.
(Undertaker and Herin exchange uneasy glances. They know Raymond never reveals his plans easily.)
Undertaker (heading toward the door):
I'll go see if the little princess has discovered more of her "wind."
Herin (finishing his tea):
Try to be gentle this time.
Undertaker (dryly, as he leaves):
I'll try.
(Raymond chuckles softly, staring at the ceiling as his thoughts swirl like a quiet storm.)
Raymond (to himself):
Soon enough… we'll see whether the wind will bow to the plants.
<----------❀---------->
[A New Day]
(Agnes gathers with Diana and Sylvie in the training courtyard.)
Sylvie (calm, sharp-eyed smile):
Today, we will focus on coordinating your wind with the surrounding environment.
Agnes (taking a deep breath):
What should I do?
Sylvie (gesturing toward a massive tree, its roots twisting across the ground):
I will make this tree move using its roots. You must stop it from reaching me—using only the wind.
(The massive roots begin to move like living serpents toward Sylvie. Agnes raises her hands, wind surrounding the roots as she tries to slow them.)
Diana (watching with a teasing smile):
I know she can do it… though she might need a bit of luck.
Agnes (shouting while struggling):
Luck is not part of my plan!
(The roots grow faster and more aggressive. Agnes feels intense pressure. She realizes suddenly that wind alone is not enough.)
Sylvie (encouraging calmly):
Think smarter. Not just force—strategy.
(Agnes pauses, closes her eyes, and recalls her lessons. She senses the roots' movement and uses the wind to push sand into their path, slowing them.)
Diana (clapping excitedly):
That's progress!
(Suddenly, more roots emerge, trying to encircle Agnes. In a burst of instinct, she unleashes a sharp gust of wind that slices them apart.)
Sylvie (smiling in admiration):
Not bad.
Agnes (breathing heavily, proud):
I did it!
(From afar, Tarkan and Lloyd observe.)
Tarkan (confidently):
She's improving quickly.
Lloyd (coolly):
Perhaps. But rapid progress isn't always good.
Tarkan (laughing):
You just don't want to admit she's impressive.
(Lloyd remains silent, eyes fixed on Agnes.)
Lloyd:
We'll see… in time.
(Sylvie places a hand on Agnes's shoulder.)
Sylvie (gently):
You succeeded today. But the path ahead is long. The wind is a powerful ally—but it demands patience and control.
Agnes (smiling with growing confidence):
I'm ready for whatever comes next.
(The girls smile at one another.)
<----------❀---------->
(Late in the afternoon, Lloyd, Agnes, Diana, and Tarkan decide to explore an abandoned palace rumored to be filled with legends. The palace is ancient, its cracked walls covered in moss, silence pressing heavily in the air. They stand before its massive gate.)
Tarkan (seriously):
This place looks like it came straight out of a nightmare legend.
Diana (winking playfully):
Or maybe we'll be the brave legend entering it.
Lloyd (arrogantly, hands in pockets):
Legends? Let's be realistic—we're just bored.
Agnes (challengingly):
Are you afraid of scuffing your shoes?
(Lloyd raises an eyebrow, smirking.)
Lloyd:
Me? Afraid? Don't worry—I'll protect you all.
Diana (grabbing Agnes's hand and pulling her toward the door):
Let's open it and see if Lloyd really is our "hero."
(The heavy door creaks loudly as it opens.)
Tarkan (whispering):
That sound could be heard miles away.
Lloyd (sarcastically):
Perfect. Maybe the demons here enjoy classical music.
(They step inside. Dust and shadows fill the halls. Faint light filters through broken windows. Suddenly, footsteps echo from a distant corridor.)
Agnes (whispering):
Did you hear that?
Diana (bravely, though tense):
Probably just the wind.
(A small demon with blue skin and torn wings suddenly appears, clinging to the wall and laughing.)
First Demon:
Ohhh, guests! Guests in my palace!
Lloyd (laughing):
This? This is the terrifying demon? Looks like he got lost on his way to a children's theater.
(The demon screeches and lunges at Lloyd, who dodges effortlessly.)
Second Demon (emerging from the ceiling, larger with sharp teeth):
Shall we begin the celebration?
Agnes (taking a battle stance):
Looks like they want to fight.
Tarkan (grinning as he draws his sword):
And you know—I love celebrations.
(They all charge into battle. Lloyd faces the first demon with ease and mockery, dodging its attacks while laughing.)