SC. 3 ) ARUNA Saves HARU With A Deadly Bargain

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INT. SOLAR LAND - IMPERIAL PALACE'S INFIRMARY

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Within the depths of the Imperial Palace, cloaked in secrecy and whispered tales, lies the main branch of the Infirmary, a sanctuary of healing arts and secrets passed down through the ages. Its air is heavy with the fragrance of herbs and incense, both soothing and unsettling.

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HARU, the once-invulnerable Solar System's Guardian, lies lifeless upon the Infirmary's bed. His once vibrant aura has been replaced by an ominous pallor.

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ARUNA, the former Earth's Lunar Guardian, stands beside one of the columns placed in the room where HARU has been put in for an emergency health checkup.

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Waiting for the doctors to step aside, ARUNA places her moon dagger on a table at the entrance and hears them talking. "We can only expect the worst-case scenario... Prepare the documents for His Highness' death confirmation." The oldest doctor explains professionally to the younger apprentice.

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ARUNA's eyes keep observing the circumstances, calculating and elaborating on the next move. She approaches His Highness's passive form. Her low voice carries a hint of both malice and intention.

"I have come to save you, Your Highness," ARUNA declares, her eyes gleaming with a predatory intensity.

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One of the two emergency doctors, hearing her statement, inquires her, "How can you say such a thing? What method will you use to revive him?" Their expressions are etched with concern. "No officially approved medical cure has been sufficient to rekindle His Highness's life force..." The oldest doctor continues further explaining.

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ARUNA's gaze shifts from the doctors to the motionless HARU. Her eyes seem immersed in thoughts with a tint of logical concern on how to operate. She observes the remedies the two doctors accurately prescribed. Her lips curl into a sly smirk, revealing she's ready to take action

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"I am sure of my skills," she proclaims, her voice resonating with authority, "But I have a condition," she says, switching the attention from HARU's laid figure to herself.

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A hush falls over the room as the guardians' faces, a mix of suppressed worry and despair, gather slowly around.

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"From this moment forward, I shall be addressed and regarded as Her Highness,'" ARUNA demands, her voice unwavering, her piercing eyes locked onto MUOH, the Mercury's Guardian, who has just entered the room. Her obnoxious attitude gets on my nerves...

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A collective gasp fills the air. MUOH, his face contorted in disapproval, stares at ARUNA, his eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and disbelief. I dare you to make me call you that way...

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"Aruna..." MUOH utters, his voice laced with disdain. This blatant disregard for protocol and tradition is unacceptable...

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"I will save him," ARUNA states, her voice firm, her gaze unwavering, "but all of you must obey my decree. No exception made." Just those words are enough to make everybody rigid. She...

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MUOH's eyes narrow, his anger rising. " Your idiocies have gone too far!" he declares, his voice echos through the room. If there will be an opportunity,...

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YUMI, the Earth's Guardian, enters the scene. Her eyes are filled with worry and concern. She approaches MUOH, her voice pleading, "Please, Muoh..." she implores, "It's about His Highness' life, the thing we are talking about. We need her.".

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The other guardians exchange hesitant glances, torn between their loyalty to HARU and their fear of ARUNA's power, fearing the consequences of granting her such absolute authority the most. Though...

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MUOH wavers, granting ARUNA's demand could be dangerous. She's a risk for all living beings. It already seems like she has ambiguous intentions, but the thought of HARU being declared officially dead is unbearable. YUMI is right...

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"I..." MUOH reluctantly acquiesces, his voice heavy with resignation is perceivable by all the present ones. "...Agree," he concedes, his eyes meeting YUMI's with a mix of trust and resignation. Aruna, you're going to pay for it...

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"I also agree!" YUMI confirms certain, feeling proud of MUOH's difficult decision.

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The other guardians, surprised by MUOH's surrender and YUMI's fearlessness, reluctantly follow suit. Doing whatever it takes to save HARU is of greater importance right now. Even if it means bowing to ARUNA's orders...

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"MUOH is at your service, Your Highness." he bows to ARUNA's decree. ARUNA's sly smirk widens as she accepts and welcomes greatly MUOH's submission. With an air of calculated triumph, she rolls up the sleeves of her dress, revealing her bare forearms.

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"Moon dagger." She commands him, showing her hand's palm. He picks it up from the entrance table. He's visibly confused but obeys. How can a weapon save a dead body...

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As she gets the moon dagger, she frees it from the slipcase, revealing a faint glow emanating from within the case. That is...!

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With a swift motion, she plunges the dagger into her chest, piercing the main artery that flows to her heart. That's the life energy of...

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A collective gasp escapes the room as the guardians watch her in horror. What just happened did surprise even MUOH, who hurriedly tried to stop her. She has gone nuts!

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"Arun-Your Highness!" he urgently corrects himself, trying to take her moon dagger away, but even if ARUNA's face contorts in pain, her eyes remain fixed on her goal. With a trembling firm hand, she puts aside MUOH and collects her life force, now mixed with HARU's, from the dagger's blade being combined with its slipcase. She is...

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"The bowl on the table." She commands again, pointing the first between the two. "The insulated one." she firmly gives another order to MUOH. He reluctantly obeys again. If she continues...

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Carefully, she transfers HARU's life essence mingling his with hers into the insulated bowl, knowing that she has only a few minutes before her life force diminishes. With a determined expression, ARUNA begins to drink the mixture, her eyes fixed on HARU's lifeless form. She is going to...

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After she's done, she deposits all the mingled essences in her mouth and places the bowl on the empty bedside table. She leans over HARU's face, her lips touch kindly his, and she slowly pours the content into his mouth. She kissed him...

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The silence is almost deafening as everyone waits anxiously. The air is thick with palpable tension, and the scent of doom hangs heavy in the air. She's running out of time...

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As the last drop of the mixture disappears into HARU's mouth, ARUNA's eyes slowly close, her breathing becomes shallower, and her heart pulses become weaker every second that passes. Her figure, before sitting on the bed, is now lying strained over HARU's body. Aruna...

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A triumphant yet exhausted smile graces ARUNA's lips as she whispers, "This is just the beginning, Your Highness." She...

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[SCENE END]

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What does ARUNA mean by her last line?

Will HARU wake up?

What will happen to ARUNA?

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---   Ahn Je   ---

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