Scene 1

(( Black screen accompanied by the lull of a gentle stream. It fades into a new picture.)) 

(( A hazy dream in a constant cycle of 19 years from the first person perspective. It switches from gallavants in the forest, to trading with kind merchants, to a powerful duel, to a daunting looming figure, to the image of two familiar faces presenting a cake to the viewer. ))

???

(muffled) -ikiel

???

(clearer) -azikiel!

(( Light floods the screen. ))

???

(clear as day)Razikiel!

(( The camera cuts to a close up shot of our titular character. A blue light overlays their face and he is breathing heavily. ))

(( Their eyes dart around as the camera pans out to show their body positioned lying flat with their hands folded over their stomach. They slowly undo their interlaced fingers, their head lifting to observe their surroundings. ))

((Razikiel moves to sit up, but hits their head against something. They look up to find that they can’t see anything, but when they reach out their hand stops several inches above their face. They gently nudges their foot out to find a similar outcome. ))

Razikiel

Is this...glass?

(( As they look to the side, a fish floats by. They look up again and realize there’s a current running above them. Razikiel is in a glass box at the bottom of a river. ))

(( Their vision shifts. An icy blue rune is inscribed on top of the glass box. ))

Razikiel

A seal of protection...?

(( Razikiel’s fingers gently hover under the runes before their pointer finger grazes the glass. The rune glows as it shifts its shape into a long cylinder with a crescent moon at the top. A bright star is formed between the tips of the crescent before it shoots out into the night sky. ))

(( Camera cuts to the sky as the star arcs. It then stops to float in the air for a few moments before it flies off with intent. ))

(( Razikiel hums with curiosity before the box jerks. Dread dawns on their face as they realize the glass is now melting and water is rushing in. They closes their eyes and takes a deep breath as the box dissolves completely and they are taken in with the current. ))

(( The water tosses them for a few moments before it spits them out onto the dark bank. Razikiel coughs their lungs out before he slumps against the rocks. They take in deep breaths as they look down at the object in their hand. It is their staff, their most prized possession. ))

Razikiel

*sigh*

Razikiel

At least I have this

((We cut to a barren landscape. It’s full of dust and rocks. ))

((A figure climbs over a hill. They wear a tattered cloak over thin clothes. We close in to reveal Razikiel. They pant as they reach the top and lean on their staff for support. ))

Razikiel

*Huff* How long was I even out--

((Shock slaps them in the face when he finally looks up onto the scene above them))

Razikiel

--for...

((The camera pans behind them and we see the landscape that shocks them.))

((The Dimension-Port City of Egrino. The city’s buildings are tall and span out beyond the edge of the camera’s edge. Spotlights dance from within the city’s center a la Las Vegas style. The most distinct detail are the huge glowing golden squares in the sky. Rails lead from different points in the city into these squares. Sleek train cars slide upon these rails and disappear into a golden void while others re-materialize out of them.))

((The camera cuts back to Razikiel’s shocked face. ))

Razikiel

Holy shit

Scene 2

(( Scene cuts to a grand theater, the stage and the red velvet seats are brightened by a massive crystal chandelier that fills the room with a soft yellow light. ))

((The camera pans to a woman pulling ropes, grunting with each motion. Off screen we hear the clicking of heels. ))

((Cut to a different woman approaching the first. ))

Ji-Q

How’re the backdrops, Marz? The transitions don’t look choppy do they? 

Marz

Yeah, everything’s moving as it should be

Ji-Q

Thank god. The director was on my case about those

((Ji-Q leans against the wall and sighs. ))

Ji-Q

If this show succeeds, then he’ll put in a good word for us

Marz

More sponsors?

Ji-Q

Yeah. I did the math, if we can get a steady stream of 28 sponsors a month we can stop our…

((Ji-Q waves her hand nonchalantly))

Ji-Q

Side business

((Marz ties the ends of the ropes to a large hook. She sighs and wipes sweat off her brow))

Marz

Not that I hate that idea, but we make enough to compensate for the rest of the funds with our side business. Why can’t we keep doing it for extra coin on the side?

Ji-Q

You didn’t hear it from me, but the Mayor’s working on a contract with the DHC to crack down on gang violence here

Marz

Ha! That’d take years before it goes into effect

Ji-Q

You never know! Besides, I’d rather be safe than--

((Ji-Q stops, eyes wide. Marz waves a hand in front of her eyes.))

Marz

Ji-Q? Hello?

((Marz opens her mouth to say something before she spots a bright blue star in her vision. It floats in front of her face like a speck of dust before it starts bouncing. ))

((She swats at it, but her hand simply goes through it. ))

Marz

Alright, is this some manipulation trick of yours?

((Ji-Q shakes her head. Marz scowls before taking a few steps back. It follows her. She continues to walk back, but the star approaches her with more haste))

Marz

What is going on!?

Ji-Q

Why are you asking me!? Why don’t you watch out for the edge!!

((Marz catches herself before she tumbles into the orchestra pit 10 feet below. She sighs a breath of relief. Unfortunately, that relief is short-lived as the star merges with her forehead. She falls to her knees, clutching her head in pain. ))

Marz

Gah! What is it--

???

Razikiel! Find Razikiel!

((Realization dawns on Marz’s face. The rushed clicking of Ji-Q’s shoes grow louder as she runs to Marz. ))

Ji-Q

Oh my god, Marz are you alright?

((She reaches down to help Marz, but Marz waves her off. ))

Marz

I’m fine, don’t worry...You have my family archives in the library right?

Ji-Q

Uh, I think so. Space in the archives was one of the things we gave you access to in your contract. 

Marz

Why don’t we take a visit to the professor then?

Scene 3

((The market district, shops line the streets all trying to sell wares from different worlds. Razikiel hides in the shadows of an alley, taking in the scene. They looks down at their own wardrobe.))

Razikiel

Well, I need new threads

((Razikiel slips out of the alleyway and sticks close to the wall. They watches an exchange as he walks by. ))

Merchant

Will that be all?

Shopper

Yep! 

Merchant

Alright, go ahead and scan!

((The woman pulls out a blue translucent rectangle and taps on it before she turns it towards a small cylindrical white block which beeps after a few seconds. ))

((Razikiel tightens their grip around their cloak. ))

Razikiel

(in their head) Is that money? How does that even work? How would I even get it?

((Camera cut to an alley as Razikiel walks past. Pause. They walks back to inspect what’s in the alley. ))

((Lo and behold, laundry hangs on several balconies. Razikiel wtheirtles and grins. ))

Razikiel

Well, I definitely know how to steal clothes

((Camera cuts to their back. They run forward, cape flying behind. The cape covers the camera lens and then flicks away to reveal Razikiel in a new outfit and yes it is the one on the poster. ))

Razikiel

Well!

((Razikiel spins their staff before stopping it to tap it on the ground. They grins. ))

Razikiel

The pants are a little tight, but they really accentuate my legs. And my cloak...

((They takes their cloak off staring at the tattered ends and the hood. ))

Razikiel

A little tailoring and you should be fine!

((They wave their staff. An ice blue line draws itself across the cloak and the cloth below falls off. The same thing happens to the hood. ))

Razikiel

There!

((They wraps the ex-cloak turned cape around their shoulders.))

Razikiel

Now...where to? 

Scene 4

((Camera sweeps over a set of glass double doors as they open to allow Marz and Ji-Q in. Bookshelves line themselves shoulder to shoulder, practically allowing no white space between any of the shelves. Marz and Ji-Q stride into the lobby where a spherical fountain lies in the middle of the room. A continuous desk encircles the fountain. Ji-Q leans on the desk while Marz looks around in awe. ))

Marz

I still can’t believe there’s a library attached to the theater. This place never fails to amaze me!

Ji-Q

Well, that makes one of us. *deep breath* 

MARRRRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!

((A clatter, a bang, and a curse word. Faint stomping is heard and gradually gets louder. A mustachio-ed man appears on the second floor, he leans over the cherry railing with a scowl. ))

Lilac

I’m pretty sure I told you not to call me that

Ji-Q

C’mon how long have we known each other?

Lilac

Too long.

Marz

Hey Professor Lilac!

Lilac

(under their breath) Finally, someone who respects me

(normal voice)Hey Marz! What can I do you for?

Marz

You guys were able to transfer my family archives to the library, right?

Lilac

Uh, I’m pretty sure we did. Let me see.

((Lilac heads down the nearest spiral staircase down to the lobby. He walks to the desk and pushes the flap door to enter. Centering themself, Lilac swipes their fingers on the desk which turn into a translucent blue color. The screen wakes up and presents the three of them with the library homescreen. ))

Ji-Q

I’m so glad we upgraded to the Elementian tech. 

Lilac

You and me both. Ah, we put your files under here. Could you give us your password?

Marz

Uhh it should be 24DuckSauce with a capital D and S

((Lilac begins to type. ))

Ji-Q

Love that password

Marz

Ha, thanks!

Lilac

Aaaannndd there we go! Let me flip the screen so you can control it.

((Lilac places the tips of their fingers on the screen and quickly twists them. The screen flips to face Marz and Ji-Q. ))

Lilac

So why are you guys up here?

Ji-Q

Oh my god, so the craziest thing happened. Marz and I were chatting and then some weird light came out of nowhere and then it like SUCKED itself into her brain and then she collapsed and I was like OHH MYY GOOOODD and then--

Marz

Here it is!

Ji-Q

And then she wanted to come here so yeah. What were you looking for?

Marz

This!

((The screen is filled with scanned pages. They look worn and yellow, but the words are surprisingly still legible. ))

Lilac

You were looking for old diary entries?

Marz

No! These pages were scanned from a family heirloom. It was a journal that passed from generation to generation before they digitized it. It’s a sort of storybook, something we read at night. 

Ji-Q

What does that have to do with that blue light?

Marz

When the blue light merged with my brain or something, it told me to find Razikiel

((She points to the screen. ))

Marz

Razikiel was the main character in the story. And in the story he had two siblings.

((Marz zooms into a particular page. It has a drawing of three figures all huddled together with the two outside figures raising their fists.))

Marz

Apparently, Razikiel’s brother was my grandfather. Well, great-great-great-great-great-great--

Lilac

Ok so it was a long time ago

Marz

Right. And at the end of the story, Razikiel is put into an eternal sleep. their siblings can’t wake them up, so they hide them away and wait for the day their families can greet them from their slumber.

Ji-Q

Talk about a nap... 

Marz

I always thought that the brother was some cheesy self-insert character...but what if it’s not?

Ji-Q

So your ridiculously old Grand Uncle is alive?

Marz

According to the story. But that’d be impossible. If the story was remotely true that would’ve been THOUSANDS of years ago. I mean, how would I even find them?

Lilac

Uh...Marz?

((Lilac points at her face with an odd look on their face. Ji-Q turns to look and jumps. ))

Ji-Q

Yikes!

Marz

What? What is it?

((Marz looks at her reflection in the fountain and yelps. A bright blue dot on her forehead flashes periodically. She backs away towards the door. ))

Marz

What is that!?

Ji-Q

Oh my god, I think it’s getting faster

Lilac

Is it a bomb?

((Marz shrieks and begins to pace around the library. ))

Ji-Q

Why did you say that

Lilac

We were both thinking it!

Ji-Q

Wait, wait, wait. Marz, stop for a second!

Marz

What if I blow up?

Ji-Q

I don’t think you will! The flashing slowed down

Marz

Oh thank god

Ji-Q

Move back over here for a second

((Marz hesitantly walks back to them. Ji-Q stares at her forehead in calculation. ))

Ji-Q

Ok, now walk towards the door.

((Marz walks to the door and turns to face them as Ji-Q snaps.))

Ji-Q

You’re gonna be fine

Lilac

She is?

Marz

I am?

Ji-Q

I don’t think it’s a bomb

((Ji-Q grabs Marz’s arm and pulls her out the door and down the steps, Lilac tailing close behind. They walk all the way out to the front steps of the theater. ))

Lilac

What are we doing? What’s with the flashing?

Ji-Q

I think it’s some sort of tracker or radar

Marz

Tracker or radar for what?

Ji-Q

Dunno

((Ji-Q flicks her hand up, several cards fly out of her inner coat pocket. The cards surround her, circling her head. Theyr eye catches a certain card and she snaps it up between two fingers, winding up before she darts it out towards the entrance doors.))

((The card lands in the crack between the front doors. The card sparks. A moment passes before the lock turns and clicks. ))

Ji-Q

But wouldn’t it be fun to find out?