Scene: War Tent – Hours After the Battle
Kaien sat in silence.
His shoulder was bandaged. His ribs cracked.
But none of it hurt as much as the girl lying in front of him.
Lyra.
Eyes open. Crest glowing faintly.
Her voice was calm—but hollow.
> "I didn't know what I was… until the brand activated."
Kaien: "You could've told me."
Lyra: "I was afraid you'd see me as your end."
Kaien: "Then you should've trusted me to choose anyway."
---
⚠️ Squad Reaction – Shock, Division, Pain
Seris: "She lied to all of us. What if it activates again?"
Reinhard: "She saved lives during the march. That counts for something."
Donovan: "What if it doesn't next time?"
Marcus: "You want to hate her? Fine. But don't forget—Irelia built her for this. Not Lyra herself."
Kaien: silent the whole time.
---
🥀 Flashback – Lyra's Divine Implant
We see a flash of Lyra's childhood:
Torn from her mother. Branded with a divine glyph that grew as she did.
Priests called her "the key."
Her body was shaped to withstand Kaien's flame.
Her mana aligned to his crest frequency.
She was, by design, the perfect executioner for the one who would defy fate.
---
🔥 Kaien Speaks to Her Alone
Kaien sits beside Lyra that night.
> "I've lost people before. To lies. To betrayal."
> "But I won't lose you… to fear."
Lyra turns away.
> "I was made to kill you."
Kaien leans closer.
> "Then make a choice.
Kill me.
Or stand beside me… and kill the gods who made you."
A pause.
Then—
Lyra reaches out.
Grabs his hand.
> "I'm done running."
---
⚡ Meanwhile – The Gods Respond
In Irelia's palace, the high priests report:
> "The implant has failed.
Lyra has broken protocol."
Irelia's voice booms:
> "Then activate the next vessel."
In the shadows…
A figure steps forward.
Eyes empty. Skin pale.
A face… that looks exactly like Kaien.
> "I will end him."
> The Replica has awakened.
---
🔥 Final Scene – Kaien's Resolve
Kaien stands at the edge of the Flamebearer camp.
The wind whips around him. His sword is strapped tight. His crest hums with rage.
> "They made Lyra to kill me."
> "Now I'll show them what happens…
when you forge a weapon and let it fall in love with its target."
Behind him?
Seris. Lyra. Marcus. Donovan. Reinhard. Aziel. Monku. Nikolai.
> "Let's go remind the gods who really gets to choose fate."