The moon hangs high and full, casting an eerie glow over the peaceful village.

KALEN walks through the quiet streets, the weight of ELARA's loss still heavy

on his shoulders. Shadows loom ominously as the wind howls through the

trees.

Kalen stops outside his home, the familiar warmth now a distant memory. He

reaches for the door when a low growl echoes from the darkness nearby.

DARK ALLEY - MOMENTS LATER

The shadows ripple unnaturally, and suddenly, a monstrous SHAPE bursts

forth—a SHADOW BEAST, snarling hungrily. Kalen steps back, his heart

racing as memories of Elara flood his mind.

KALEN

(whispering)

Not again...

Before the beast can attack, Kalen conjures icy tendrils, attempting to freeze

the creature in place. It howls, thrashing against the ice, sending shards flying.

VILLAGE SQUARE - CONTINUOUS

Villagers awaken to the chaos as STRANGE SOUNDS fill the air—screams

and growls resonate. They pour into the square, panicked faces illuminated by

flickering torches.

VILLAGER 1

What’s happening?!

More SHADOW CREATURES appear, attacking with ferocity, tearing through

anything that comes close. Kalen's eyes widen in horror as he sees them

brandishing weapons and dark magic.

KALEN’S HOME - NIGHT

Inside Kalen’s house, his MOTHER, still unaware of the chaos outside,

prepares dinner, humming softly to herself. The door suddenly bursts open,

revealing a SHADOW WRAITH, its eyes glowing with malice.

MOTHER

(gasping)

What—!

Without warning, the Wraith lunges, enveloping her in darkness. Kalen,

hearing the commotion, races toward the house, calling out.

KALEN

(screaming)

Mom!

VILLAGE SQUARE - CHAOS ENSUES

Villagers fight back against the monstrous invasion, but they are quickly

overwhelmed. Kalen arrives at his home just in time to see the Wraith gripping

his mother with a tendril, draining her life force.

Kalen’s heart drops as he witnesses the scene unfold, rage and despair

clawing at his insides.

KALEN

(yelling)

Let her go!

He channels his ice magic, summoning a blizzard, but the Wraith’s grip

tightens, and his mother falls to the ground, lifeless.

MOTHER

(barely a whisper)

Kalen… save… yourself…

Time freezes as Kalen's world shatters. He drops to his knees, the magic

dissipating, the cold air around him fading to silence.

VILLAGE SQUARE - CONTINUOUS

Kalen’s scream echoes through the night, a sound that pierces the chaos.

Even the attacking monsters momentarily recoil, sensing the raw pain

radiating from him.

AERON stands at the outskirts, watching the devastation with a twisted smile,

satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.

AERON

(mockingly)

Look how easily everything falls into despair, Kalen. You’re not a warrior—just

a frightened boy now.

Kalen struggles to his feet, tears streaming down his face, but something

ignites within him—fury born from loss. He glares at Aeron, the chilling aura

surrounding him mingling with a growing storm of ice magic.

VILLAGE SQUARE - FINAL STAND

With a roar, Kalen unleashes a blizzard, freezing everything in its path,

shattering the Wraiths and beasts around him. But it’s not enough; his heart is

heavy, burdened by grief.

The villagers rally around him, attempting to stand against the shadows. The

remnants of courage flicker dimly in the eyes of those still standing.

KALEN

(voice hoarse)

We can’t let them win! We fight for the fallen!

As Kalen channels his magic, the ground trembles, the shadows faltering

under his ice.

AERON

(growling)

You think you can turn the tide? This is only the beginning!

With a wave of his hand, Aeron summons larger SHADOWS—foul beasts with

gnarled limbs and soulless faces that loom over the villagers.

KALEN’S HOME - MOMENTS LATER

Kalen stands firm, but fear runs rampant through the remaining villagers as

shadows spring forth from the depths, claiming innocent lives. He watches as

friends and neighbors are taken, suffering and terror etched on their faces.

The chaos envelops him, the cries of the dying mingling with the stillness of

his loss. He spots a young CHILD cowering behind a barrel, wide-eyed with

fear.

KALEN

(running towards the child)

Stay close! I won’t let them hurt you!

As Kalen wards off a shadow attacking the child, he turns to see one more

sneaking towards the child—a monstrous SHADOW HOUND.

KALEN

(shouting)

No!

Before he can react, the beast lunges, and Kalen throws himself in front of it.

The beast sinks its teeth into him, and he gasps in agony.

VILLAGE SQUARE - MOMENTS LATER

Kalen collapses to the ground, pain coursing through him but he fights back,

his magic surging in desperation. The villagers witness his sacrifice, their

terror igniting a flicker of hope.

With his last ounce of strength, Kalen unleashes a final wave of ice, catching

the Shadow Hound and freezing it to the core. But it isn’t enough to appease

the darkness that surrounds them.

Aeron laughs, his voice echoing through the chaos as he raises his hand,

calling forth more shadows. The atmosphere thickens with despair, as Kalen

realizes this nightmare is far from over.

VILLAGE SQUARE - TRAGEDY STRIKES AGAIN

Kalen watches in horror as another SHADOW CREATURE grips a villager,

their screams echoing in his mind. The child he had saved stands frozen in

fear, tears streaming down their face.

Kalen, feeling his life force drain, pushes himself up again, determined to

protect the innocent, even at the cost of his own life.

KALEN

(shouting)

Everyone, we must form a line! Fight together!

But just as he gathers his strength, Aeron whispers an incantation,

summoning shadows that wrap around Kalen, pulling him into darkness.

Kalen struggles, but the shadows entwine him, dragging him back into the

maw of despair.

ELMSHIRE VILLAGE - FINAL FATE

With Kalen fading, the villagers rally behind him, launching a counter-attack

against the shadow horde. The air buzzes with the clash of magic and malice,

the atmosphere thick with grief and determination.

Kalen’s vision blurs, and he hears the sounds of battle as he begins to slip

from consciousness.

In one final moment of clarity, he sees the child raising a small semblance of

ice magic, channeling what Kalen once taught them. The spirit of hope flickers

even in the darkness.

KALEN

(barely whispering)

Fight… for them…

As darkness pulls him under, the village fights on, desperate and united, with

Kalen’s voice echoing in their hearts even as he fades away.

FADE OUT:

END OF EPISODE 5

By - FireRodan