Chapter 78: The First Film Critic
After resolving the casting issues for "Fate Zero," Durin returned to the Alchemy Tower.
Using the teleportation circle at the tower's base, Durin swiftly ascended to the top and opened the door to Scar's office.
Compared to the chaos of his last visit, Scar's laboratory was now clean, thanks to the substantial sum of money Durin had provided. Various alchemical equipment and tools were neatly arranged, and Scar, the tall, dark-skinned man, was busy working with runic arrays and intricate apparatus.
"..."
Sensing Durin's presence, Scar slowly turned around and responded, "You're here sooner than I expected. I thought you'd take longer."
"No rush on my end, but aren't your problems bigger? I haven't even spoken, and yet you knew it was me. How long has it been since anyone else visited?"
Ignoring Durin's sarcasm, Scar absentmindedly scratched his head and asked, "So, does your presence mean the new script is ready?"
"Yeah, along with the cast selection. Now, we just need to figure out how to shoot it."
"And the script..."
Seeing Scar's eager yet embarrassed expression, Durin simply smiled and handed over the printed copy of the first chapter of "Fate Zero," which he had prepared earlier.
Receiving the eagerly anticipated script, Scar immediately began flipping through it with keen interest. After about half an hour, he realized he wouldn't be getting much sleep in the coming days!
"Is that all?"
"For now."
"What about the rest?"
"It's still in my head."
"Can you share?"
"Nope!"
"..."
"..."
After an awkward silence and a knowing look from Scar, who understood Durin's personality well, he reluctantly closed the script titled "Fate Zero."
On the other hand, while Durin could understand Scar's desire to tear him apart for being a cliffhanger master, he had no intention of writing out the entire "Fate Zero" script. After all, he believed it was better to avoid the risk of leaks before shooting began.
Of course, it was also partly due to Durin's mischievous nature. Having experienced the fear of being at the mercy of cliffhanger authors in the past, he unexpectedly found himself enjoying the feeling of being the one in control now.
As for Scar, who was just an amateur reader, he had no idea how to urge Durin to finish the story sooner. Thus, after silently collecting the copy of the script, he commented, "This story is quite intriguing."
"Yeah, I know. And?"
Indeed, Durin had shown Scar the script not just for his own twisted pleasure but also in the hope that the alchemy tower master, whose alchemical expertise surpassed his own, could offer some useful advice.
Aware of this, Scar took a moment to recall the plot he had just read and then said, "The magical circles used to summon Heroic Spirits in your story—are they based on alchemy or traditional magic?"
"They incorporate elements of both. Which do you think works better?"
"Both have their merits, I suppose. Aside from that, the protagonist's use of a projectile-firing alchemical device called a 'gun' is quite fascinating. I've had similar ideas before; perhaps it could be made a reality in the future."
"That sounds interesting, but I'm hoping for more substantial feedback from you, Scar. Do you think this story holds appeal for us magicians?"
Seeing Durin's serious expression, Scar responded in kind, "Honestly, although I'm not a conventional magician, I believe no one would refuse such an engaging story. While the portrayal of magicians in 'Fate Zero' differs greatly from real-life magicians, it's precisely this contrast that enhances the conflict in the plot. And I think the story's greatest strength lies in its unabashed depiction of magical combat!"
"What do you mean?"
In response to Durin's question, Scar didn't hesitate to answer, "You've probably read those novels about adventurers that emerged in the capital some time ago, right? While they also depict magicians, their imagination is quite limited. The magicians in those stories simply stand still and cast spells during fights, without any distinguishing features of combat professions. Of course, real-life magicians are indeed like that, but isn't the purpose of storytelling to surpass reality and achieve what cannot be done in real life?"
"Durin, the 'Fate Zero' script you provided, although it completely diverges from the image of magicians in reality, precisely because of this deviation, it creates a unique portrayal of magical battles among magicians. It evokes a sense of excitement akin to watching combat professions in action. And this thrill is undeniably appealing to newcomers at the Mage Tower who are aspiring magicians themselves!"
"Because magicians themselves are often criticized for their lack of combat prowess, but after reading your 'Fate Zero,' every magician will think, 'Ah, I didn't expect magicians could engage in such battles.' I'm sure after that, this film will spread among the Empire's magicians at lightning speed."
Scar's analysis was lengthy but insightful. While Durin was initially confident that "Fate Zero" would be a hit at the Mage Tower, it was based solely on the intriguing story itself. Now, after Scar's thorough analysis, Durin truly realized the advantage of "Fate Zero" story among the magician audience.
After Durin's contemplation, it seemed that Scar's analysis was not yet complete. He continued, "Besides the thrilling battles among magicians themselves, I believe the most remarkable aspect of your story is the summoning of Heroic Spirits by magicians. During past wars, it was customary for magicians to have a guardian knight by their side for protection. This was not only to prevent vulnerable magicians from being ambushed but also to allow them to assist their guardian knights in battle. This tradition gradually faded with the onset of peaceful times, but I believe the older generation of magicians at the Mage Tower still remembers their former comrades."
"So, I believe that 'Fate Zero,' besides garnering praise among young magicians, will also hold some allure for those elderly magicians who are no longer seeking excitement. Because it can easily evoke memories of their former comrades and recall the wars that took place during the Empire's troubled times."
As Scar concluded his lengthy discourse, Durin, who had listened attentively from start to finish, was almost speechless with amazement. He exclaimed, "I didn't expect this, Scar! You have quite the talent in this regard. If there's ever a film review mechanism in the future, I'll come to you every time I release a new movie for promotion!"
"Film review? What do you mean?" Clearly bewildered, Scar had yet to realize that in just a short time, Durin had appointed him as the first reviewer for future films.
--------------
If you want to read 10 advance chapters ahead.
Visit my patreon: patreon.com/EggZy