SC. 4 ) ARUNA Persists Despite REON's Harassments

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INT. LUNA'S ROYAL MANOR'S COURTYARD - DAY

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Carbon tiles carved into constellations whisper under Earth's distant glow. Lunar orchids bloom in an impossible garden, willows sway in the constant breeze in the Lunar Royal Mansion's Courtyard.

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Incense smoke surrounds ARUNA, a young girl fated to become the Lunar Guardian. She kneels on the courtyard's ground, meticulously tracing characters in the lunar dust. Memories flicker at the edges of her mind, fueling the storm brewing within.

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RION and REON, a pair of mirror twins, saunter out of the mansion's walls, their laughter echoing in the silence. They see ARUNA giving them her back. The scent of defiance clings to her like a second skin.

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"Look who finally graces us with her presence," RION drawls, her voice dripping with mockery. "Where have you been, Aruna? Exploring again the forbidden streets?" The twins burst out laughing. This girl...

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"This was a good one..." REON sweeps his tears, from the enjoyment of teasing the young lone girl. ...never gets me bored.

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ARUNA, unbothered, continues focusing on what the intricate dance of her index finger needs to achieve. How dare she...

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"Playing deaf, are we?" The female of the set of twins sneers, her smile twists, revealing a flash of malice. She kicks dust at ARUNA's back. "I'm talking to you, little bastard!" RION screeches scornfully, pulling the young girl's hair towards herself. I...

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"You..." ARUNA tries to speak back, but REON kicks her back's side. RION observes her brother and releases her grip. ...do not accept...

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ARUNA inevitably falls over completely to the floor. REON brings his face a few inches closer to hers and waits for her eyes to look at him. ...this behavior...

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"Good morning, RION. Good morning, REON," he says, stopping for a moment to stare at her and observe her reaction. She stares back at him with her eyes becoming tenser and tenser, "I apologize for my rude behavior to both of you, I will keep it only for the clients in the brothel..." he continues, making her the gesture of saying it all out loud.

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"Get lost..." she replies, imposing with confidence and mockery. Her face gets closer to his, almost lips to lips. She's going to...

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"I said get lost, loser..." she whispers in his left ear. He pushes her down, realizing what her charm did to him. She just...

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Angry for being mocked, he raises his hand, and a stinging slap connects with ARUNA's cheek. Her whole face turns to the right side. The whole face area has become of a slight tint of red. This is...

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Rage flares in her eyes, but she quells it, trying to control her reactions. She takes a deep breath and rises avoiding going into REON's direction, only to meet RION's smirk and a blocked path. The twins exchange a silent glance, their movements synchronized like clockwork. ...what she deserves.

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"REON, come on! I'm blocking her!" RION presses all her energy to block ARUNA's shoulders. What a good sister I have...

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"Here we go!" he exclaims. A flurry of fists rain down on her, each blow more painful than the previous, a reminder of her negligence. She stumbles, pain blossoming across her body, but refuses to fall. Oh, sweetheart...

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This is a ritual, a twisted mere attempt to break her spirit. A right hook to her left cheek. A left jab to the stomach. She should...

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ARUNA, unable to endure either her legs or any further pain, almost falls to the ground, RION loosens the grip and REON takes advantage of it, releasing a powerful standing sidekick. ...have just listened.

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ARUNA gasps out of breath, she lets herself drained of her energy onto the ground, and she crumples with open wounds all over her body. What a scheming girl...

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"Better watch on what to say next time..." REON says with a mischievous smile and RION reiterates "Better watch on what to say next time!" The twins erupt in laughter, echoing hollowly, I bet...

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"Let's go Reon, Master Xue may start the lecture at any given moment..." RION remembers, deciding to move and go back inside the mansion. ...she later will go...

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"Next time sweetheart, it'll be only the two of us..." REON exclaims with a winking note in his tone. He follows his sister's steps and saunters in too. ...to one of the same spots as always...

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ARUNA is down, in complete contact with her motherland. She turns on her back, trying to collect herself. Thoughts seem to overwhelm her. She puts her right arm over her tired eyes.

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"That's too bad,..." she whispers exhausted but resolute. A tear appears, and another, and another. The Moon remembers, and it does not forgive. "...There won't be any next time."

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As the last rays of dusk paint the courtyard in absolute darkness, ARUNA falls asleep. Devastation is inevitable, but a lost defiance isn't.

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[SCENE END]

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Why didn't ARUNA intervene when REON and RION were harassing her?

Who is REON to have those thoughts about ARUNA?

What was ARUNA writing on the ground?

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