Page 1:

Full-page panel.

A misty forest surrounds the ruins of an ancient castle. Vines hang from the walls. The setting sun glows behind it.

Narration (Lira):

“They say time forgot this place.

But it’s the only world I’ve ever known.”

Page 2:

Panel 1: Inside the castle, dimly lit by flickering candlelight.

Lira (15–16) is sitting by a window, sketching a bird in her old journal. Her red gem glows faintly on her chest.

Panel 2: A ceiling tile cracks above her.

Panel 3: A figure crashes down from above—Kael—hooded, cloaked, covered in dirt.

SFX: THUD!

Panel 4: Lira jumps up, shocked, holding a fireplace poker like a sword.

Lira:

“Who—?! Thief?! Ghost?! …Wait, you're bleeding!”

Page 3:

Panel 1: Kael slowly rises, groaning.

Kael (thinking):

“Damn... Thought this place was abandoned...”

Kael:

“...Don’t scream. I won’t hurt you.”

Panel 2: Lira pokes him in the chest with the poker.

Lira:

“That’s exactly what someone who wants to hurt me would say.”

Panel 3: Close-up of Kael noticing the gem on her neck. His eyes widen.

Kael (thinking):

“That gem—impossible...”

Page 4:

Panel 1: Lira ties Kael up with rope, clearly proud of herself.

Lira:

“You broke into my castle. You owe me answers.”

Kael:

“This place is abandoned.”

Lira:

“Then what am I? A ghost in a dress?”

Panel 2: They stare at each other—silent, tense.

Kael (thinking):

“Why... does she look so familiar?”

Page 5:

Panel 1: Lira sits across from him at the table. Night has fallen. A candle flickers between them.

Lira:

“You know the world outside. Take me there. Let me live.”

Panel 2: She touches the red gem on her neck.

Lira:

“This gem... it’s yours, if you take me with you.”

Panel 3: Kael hesitates, eyes flickering with memory.

Kael (thinking):

“That gem belonged to the queen of Elryon... Why does she have it?”

Page 6:

Panel 1: He nods, quietly.

Kael:

“Fine. But you follow my rules.”

Panel 2: Lira unties him, smiling for the first time.

Lira:

“Deal. What’s your name?”

Panel 3: Kael looks out the window at the moonlight.

Kael:

“...Kael. Yours?”

Lira:

“Lira. I think.”

“But maybe out there... I’ll remember who I really am.”

Page 7:

Panel 1: Morning light spills into the castle. Birds chirp softly. Lira is packing a worn satchel with food, a sketchbook, and an old dagger.

Narration (Lira):

“He said yes. Just like that.

I don’t know why I trust him.

But something about him… feels like a dream I forgot.”

Page 8:

Panel 1: Kael tightens his cloak, adjusting a hidden blade under his sleeve. He glances at Lira, unimpressed by her luggage.

Kael:

“You packed half the forest. We’ll be dead before sundown.”

Lira (grinning):

“I packed dried mangoes and moonbread. I’d rather die full.”

Panel 2: Kael sighs and turns toward the woods outside the broken gate.

Kael:

“We move at dawn. Stick close. No questions if I say run.”

Page 9:

Panel 1: The forest is deep and alive. Sunlight streams through the canopy.

Panel 2: Lira marvels at everything: flowers, squirrels, moss on bark.

Lira:

“It smells like stories out here…”

Panel 3: Kael walks ahead, silent. Lira notices the faded scars on his hands.

Lira (softly):

“Do you miss where you're from?”

Kael (after a pause):

“I don’t remember it. Only shadows.”

Page 10:

Panel 1: A rustling sound—Kael freezes, raises a hand.

Kael:

“Hide. Now.”

Panel 2: Lira dives into a bush. Kael draws a knife from his boot and disappears into the trees.

*Panel 3: Two masked men in black cloaks appear on the path, searching.

Hunter 1:

“He was seen near the ruins. The Red Gem’s scent lingers.”

Hunter 2:

“If the princess is alive, the Syndicate wants her.”

Page 11:

Panel 1: Kael drops from a tree, swift and silent, knocking one man out with the hilt of his blade.

Panel 2: The second swings his blade, but Kael parries, countering with brutal precision.

SFX: CLANG—SHINK—THUD!

Panel 3: Lira peeks from the bushes, eyes wide.

Lira (thinking):

“He moves like a shadow… like he’s done this a thousand times.”

Page 12:

Panel 1: After the fight, Kael grabs a pendant off one of the hunters. It bears a silver mark—half-burned crown and bleeding rose.

Kael (thinking):

Syndicate. Why would they be after her?”

Panel 2: Lira steps out quietly.

Lira:

“...You said you were a thief.”

Kael:

“I am. Sometimes.”

Lira (serious):

“You’re lying. But I’m still going with you.”

Page 13:

Panel 1: They rest at a cliffside camp that night. A small fire burns. Lira sketches Kael in her book while he sharpens a blade.

Lira:

“Have you ever… loved someone?”

Kael (quiet):

“Once. I think. I was very small.

She sang to me under the stars.”

Panel 2: Lira clutches her gem.

Lira:

“My dreams are full of fire…

And someone crying my name.”

Page 14:

Panel 1: Close-up of Lira's gem. It glows faintly as moonlight hits it.

Panel 2: Kael looks at it, lost in thought.

Kael (thinking):

“That gem belonged to the Queen of Elryon…

But it was lost in the siege.

So how does she have it?”

Panel 3: Lira looks at him gently.

Lira:

“You look like someone meant to protect people.

Not kill them.”

Panel 4: Kael turns away.

Kael:

“Then maybe you’re dreaming too.”

[End of Chapter 1]

Page 1:

Panel 1: A torch-lit cavern far from the forest. Hooded figures kneel before a throne made of twisted bones and black stone.

Narration:

“In the dark corners of the world, secrets whisper in blood.”

*Panel 2: A cruel-looking man with white eyes stands. This is Commander Vark, leader of The Thorn Chain—the syndicate that raised Kael.

Vark:

“The Blade Child has resurfaced.

And he travels with the girl bearing the Crimson Veil.”

Panel 3:

A masked figure beside him speaks, voice sharp as glass.

Masked Agent:

“If the Veil awakens, Elryon’s bloodline could rise again.

We must end them both.”

---

Page 2:

Panel 1: In another shadowy tower surrounded by fog, a woman in silver armor sharpens her claws—Lady Seraphine, leader of The Hollow Crown, the force that locked Lira away.

Seraphine:

“So... the lost lamb wanders again.

Let her wander straight into the wolves.”

Panel 2: She steps to a mirror made of cracked crystal.

Seraphine:

“She holds the memory of the throne.

But she is not ready to remember.”

“Make sure she never does.”

---

Page 3:

Panel 1: Back in the forest, Lira and Kael are walking along a river path. Mist rises from the water.

Lira:

“Where are we going?”

Kael:

“There’s a village near the cliffs.

If we’re lucky, they won’t recognize me.”

Panel 2: Lira looks down, clutching her gem.

Lira:

“Do you ever feel like you’re walking toward something…

but you don’t know what?”

---

Page 4:

Panel 1: In the village of Redbrush, Kael and Lira enter a small tavern. People glance at them suspiciously.

Panel 2: An old barkeep stares at Kael, startled.

Barkeep (whispering):

“...Blade-Eye. He’s alive.”

Panel 3:

Kael grabs Lira’s hand.

Kael (low voice):

“We’re leaving. Now.”

---

Page 5:

Panel 1: Outside, they run into a gang of thugs in black armbands with thorn tattoos—the Thorn Chain’s scouts.

Scout 1:

“Well, well. The prodigal dagger returns.”

Scout 2:

“And brings a princess gift-wrapped in crimson.”

Panel 2: Kael draws his blade, eyes narrowed.

Kael:

“You’re three steps too close.”

*Panel 3: Fight scene! Kael defends Lira while fending off three men. Lira tries to help, throwing dirt in one attacker’s eyes.

Lira:

“I’m not that helpless!”

---

Page 6:

Panel 1: They escape through a hidden passage beneath the inn. Kael limps slightly, blood on his side.

Lira (worried):

“You’re hurt.”

Kael:

“I’ve had worse.”

Panel 2: They collapse by a fire inside a cave. Lira patches him up using herbs from her satchel.

Lira (quiet):

“Why are they after you?”

Panel 3: Kael stares into the flames.

Kael:

“They raised me. Broke me.

Trained me to kill for them.

I was supposed to be their perfect weapon.”

Kael (softly):

“But I ran. And now they want me back... or dead.”

---

Page 7:

Panel 1: Lira leans back, eyes dark.

Lira:

“They left me in a castle. No memories.

Just books, shadows, and a gem that glows when I cry.”

Kael:

“Someone wanted you hidden.”

Lira:

“Or forgotten.”

Panel 2: Their hands rest beside each other on the ground. Slowly, their fingers touch.

---

Page 8:

Panel 1: Wide shot of the cave from outside. Two shadowy figures stand on a cliff above—one with thorn tattoos, the other wearing silver.

Narration:

“Two hunted souls.

Two cursed fates.”

Narration:

“And the world begins to remember them.”

Page 1:

Panel 1: Early morning mist clings to the edge of a ravine. Kael and Lira trek along a rocky trail, both looking weary but alert.

Lira:

“We should rest.”

Kael:

“No. We stop when we reach the Hollow Path.”

Lira (muttering):

“Do all assassins speak in riddles?”

Kael:

“Only the tired ones.”

---

Page 2:

Panel 1: Flashback panel — a small child (Kael) crying behind iron bars, a cold hand pulling him from a cage. A voice echoes:

Voice (Vark):

“Forget your name. You are the blade now.”

Panel 2: Kael snaps out of it, blinking. Lira watches him, concerned.

Lira:

“Do they still haunt you?”

Kael (quietly):

“They built me. I killed for them. I didn’t know anything else.”

Lira:

“You’re not him anymore.”

---

Page 3:

Panel 1: They stop at a stream. Lira kneels and lets her fingers touch the water.

Lira:

“When I was little, I used to dream of a woman with silver eyes.

She would whisper a lullaby... then disappear in flames.”

Kael (startled):

“Silver eyes?”

Panel 2: He recalls something—A woman in armor, watching a burning castle. A baby wrapped in red cloth.

Kael (thinking):

Lady Seraphine. The Hollow Crown. She was there the night the royal palace burned...

...the night the prince vanished.

---

Page 4:

Panel 1: Lira looks up. Her gem begins to glow faintly again.

Lira:

“This gem... sometimes I feel like it’s remembering something for me.”

Kael:

“Maybe it is.”

Panel 2: They sit together on a rock beneath the trees.

Lira (softly):

“Kael... do you think we were meant to meet?”

Kael (avoiding her gaze):

“I don’t believe in fate.”

Lira (smiling):

“Then believe in chance.

Because I think I’m falling for you.”

---

Page 5:

Panel 1: Kael is silent. His eyes flicker with pain, longing, fear.

Kael:

“You shouldn’t. I’m cursed.”

Lira:

“We both are. That’s what makes us the same.”

Panel 2: Lira leans forward and gently presses her forehead to his.

Lira:

“Run with me. Not from them. Not from yourself.”

Panel 3: Kael finally lets his eyes close. Just for a moment.

---

Page 6:

Panel 1: Back in the Hollow Crown’s stronghold, Lady Seraphine watches a magical projection of Lira and Kael in the forest.

Seraphine (coldly):

“She still wears the Veil. That gem is the key to the royal memory.”

*Panel 2: A spy kneels before her.

Spy:

“The Thorn Chain is closing in too, my lady.”

Seraphine:

“Then let them fight.

We will take what remains.”

---

Page 7:

Panel 1: Meanwhile, in the Thorn Chain’s fortress, Commander Vark slams a dagger into a map.

Vark:

“He’s heading toward the Sunken Archives.

He wants the truth.”

Panel 2: A soldier looks confused.

Soldier:

“Why go there?”

Vark:

“Because that boy’s blood isn’t street-borne.

It’s royal.”

Panel 3: The soldier is stunned.

Soldier:

“Prince Kael…?”

---

Page 8:

Panel 1: Kael and Lira look up from a cliff’s edge, seeing the ruins of a once-grand tower shrouded in fog.

Lira:

“What is this place?”

Kael:

“The Archives. The last place my real life ended.”

*Panel 2: From the trees behind them, glowing eyes stare. Figures begin to emerge — a mix of Hollow Crown knights and Thorn Chain assassins.

Narration:

“The past is waking.

And it’s coming for them both.”