(Kael leans against the castle walls, staring at the darkening sky. His mind is restless. The warlord's words keep repeating in his head—You might be the one. The conversation with Alden didn't give him the answers he needed, only more questions.)
Kael (muttering): "Damn old man… always so cryptic."
(He exhales sharply, pushing himself off the wall. There's something else weighing on his mind—Liza. He hasn't seen her since the battle. He needs to make sure she's alright, even if she doesn't even know him yet.)
---
Scene: A Secret Visit
(Kael moves through the dimly lit corridors of the castle, keeping to the shadows. He knows where Liza stays—a small private chamber near the royal quarters. He doesn't intend to approach her, just… confirm she's safe.)
(As he nears the area, he sees her through a window, sitting by a candlelit table, writing something. She looks calm, composed. He lets out a quiet breath of relief.)
Kael (thinking): "She's fine… That's enough for now."
(Just as he's about to turn away, he senses something—a presence behind him. He quickly steps back, hand reaching for his sword, only to see a familiar face smirking at him.)
Elyse (leaning against the wall): "You're terrible at sneaking around, you know?"
Kael (groaning): "Tch. Do you just follow me for fun?"
Elyse: "Nah, you're just predictable." (She crosses her arms, glancing towards Liza's room.) "She doesn't even know you exist, and yet here you are, like some tragic hero in a bad romance story."
Kael (rolling his eyes): "It's none of your business."
Elyse: "Oh, but it is. If you get caught sneaking around here, people will start asking questions. And trust me, you don't want rumors spreading about you and the princess."
Kael (scoffing): "She's not a princess."
Elyse: "Might as well be, with her status." (She sighs.) "Look, whatever your reason is, be careful. The last thing you need is more eyes on you."
Kael (quietly): "Yeah… I know."
---
Scene: Returning to the Battlefield
(The next morning, Kael and Hong Sun stand at the castle gates. The battlefield is eerily silent now—just burned grass, broken weapons, and the lingering stench of blood.)
Hong Sun (stretching): "So, remind me why we're coming back here?"
Kael (serious): "I need to know what really happened. Something's not right."
Hong Sun: "Well, yeah. We got our asses kicked. What else is there to know?"
Kael: "The warlord left without finishing us off. That doesn't sit right with me."
(They step onto the battlefield, scanning the wreckage. The once-chaotic war zone now feels like a graveyard.)
Hong Sun (grimacing): "Damn… It's like they just vanished after we fell."
Kael (kneeling, touching the ground): "No bodies. No traces of the enemy forces either. Just… gone."
(Suddenly, they hear a rustling noise. They both turn, hands on their weapons. From the mist rising off the battlefield, a figure emerges.)
Kael (narrowing his eyes): "Who's there?"
(As the figure steps closer, the fog clears slightly—revealing a monstrous knight, clad in tattered armor, his glowing red eyes locked onto them. His presence is suffocating, almost as if he's not human.)
Hong Sun (cursing): "Oh, hell no. That thing doesn't look friendly."