Scene: Skyen's Room - Early Morning
The room is dark, with only the faintest light filtering in through the curtains. Skyen Novac lies sprawled across his bed, his breath coming in shallow gasps. Sweat beads on his forehead as he finishes the morning's indulgence (Masturbation)—a means of distracting himself from the growing pressure of the Gunxam Exam and the chaos within his mind. He turns on his side, staring blankly at the wall, his emotions as tangled as the sheets beneath him.
SFX: Faint rustling of sheets, the soft creak of the bed as he moves.
Skyen sits up, running a hand through his messy hair, his breathing slowing to normal. He takes a deep breath and wipes his hand on the sheets before swinging his legs off the bed and standing. The morning air feels thick, almost stifling, as he stretches lazily, rubbing his neck.
SFX: Soft crack of joints as he stretches, the sound of his feet padding softly on the wooden floor.
He doesn't linger. Without so much as a glance at his surroundings, Skyen heads out of his room, making his way downstairs to the dining area.
Scene: Dining Room - Breakfast Time
The smell of breakfast wafts through the house, but Skyen barely registers it. He sits down at the table where his stepfather is already seated, picking at his meal. Skyen doesn't greet him, nor does he acknowledge his presence. His thoughts are elsewhere, lingering on the weight of his past and the expectations of his present.
His father, a tall, broad man with a hardened face, watches Skyen for a moment before breaking the silence.
father: (gruffly, trying to sound casual) "How's the Gunxam preparation going?"
Skyen doesn't answer immediately. He takes a few bites of his food—barely tasting it—and then pushes the plate away, still silent.
father: (trying again, voice firmer this time) "You're not eating much. You need your strength if you want to win. The competition's tough this year, especially with James in the running."
Skyen's gaze flickers toward his stepfather for just a moment before dropping back to his barely touched plate. Without a word, he stands, leaving most of his breakfast untouched. The clink of his chair against the floor echoes as he pushes it back, the sound sharp in the quiet room.
Mother: "If you don't wanna eat then don't just smash the fucking plate, it is very expensive."
SFX: Chair scraping the floor, the soft clink of cutlery as Skyen leaves the table.
His stepfather watches him go, his expression a mix of frustration and indifference. He's long since given up trying to understand Skyen, and Skyen has never made any effort to bridge the gap between them.
Skyen moves silently back to his room, his mind distant. As he re-enters his room, his eyes fall on the sword mounted on the wall—a relic from a time before his life had been consumed by bitterness. It gleams in the morning light, the craftsmanship immaculate, but Skyen's face hardens as he stares at it. His breath catches for a moment as memories, long buried, begin to resurface.
SFX: The soft sound of footsteps, a pause as the door closes quietly behind him.
Scene: Flashback to the Past - The Sea Shore
The world shifts.
Skyen is no longer in his room. He's back at the shore, the salty breeze from the sea tickling his skin, the crash of waves echoing in the background. He's a child again, no older than eight, standing at the edge of the water. His father's voice booms from behind him, a warm, encouraging tone as he teaches his son how to swim.
Father: (cheerful and full of love) "Come on, Skyen! You can do it! The sea can't beat you, son. Just kick harder! Show me your style."
The young Skyen, eager to impress his father, dives into the waves. But the ocean is unforgiving, and soon, the currents drag him under. The salty water fills his lungs, and panic sets in. He thrashes desperately, but the water overwhelms him. He's sinking, the world above becoming a blur of light and darkness.
SFX: The muffled roar of waves, the desperate splash of water as young Skyen struggles.
As his vision fades, the last thing he remembers is his father's strong arms pulling him out of the water. Everything goes black.
Scene: Flashback - The Shoreline, Later
When Skyen wakes up, the world is calm again. He's lying on the shore, the warmth of a campfire flickering nearby. His father sits beside him, smiling gently as he roasts a fish over the flames.
Father: (smiling) " You woke up, Son."
Skyen sits up, his body still weak from the near-drowning, but his father's smile gives him strength. Without a word, his father hands him a piece of cooked fish, his large hands comforting in their familiarity. Young Skyen takes it, and as soon as he tastes the fish, tears begin to roll down his cheeks.
SFX: The gentle crackle of the fire, the soft splash of distant waves.
Father: (kindly, though with a teasing tone) "Warriors don't cry, Skyen. You'll be a strong man one day, stronger than me. So don't cry—especially when people are watching."
Skyen wipes his tears, trying to hold them back, but the emotion is too much. His father simply ruffles his hair, laughing softly, never once scolding him for showing his emotions. They sit in silence after that, the only sound of the crackling fire and the distant roar of the ocean.
Scene: Flashback - The War
The memory shifts again.
A few months later, Skyen stands in a crowd of mourners. The air is thick with grief. His father's sword is thrust into the ground beside him, a symbol of the man who had fallen in battle against demons. Skyen stands still, numb, as tears stream down the faces of those around him.
But he doesn't cry.
Even as an eight-year-old boy, he remains stoic, just as his father had told him. He doesn't shed a tear and doesn't let out a sob. He simply stands there, emotionless, as his father's coffin is carried away.
SFX: The low murmur of mourners, the soft rustle of wind against the grass.
When the sword—his father's sword—is handed to him, he feels its weight like a burden he's not yet ready to bear. But it's his now. A reminder of what he's lost, and what he must become.
Scene: Flashback - Back in His Room, Present Day
The flashback ends as Skyen's eyes refocus on the sword hanging on his wall. His chest tightens, his breath shallow. The sword is still there, the same one his father had wielded, but the man who once held it is long gone. He stares at it, his vision blurring slightly as the weight of the memories presses down on him.
His hand trembles as he reaches up, brushing his fingers over the hilt. His heart races as he's hit with a wave of emotions he's fought so hard to suppress. But no matter how much he tries, the pain comes rushing back. He's no longer the stoic boy at his father's funeral. He's a man now, but the loss still cuts just as deeply.
SFX: The soft scrape of metal as his fingers touch the sword's hilt.
Skyen clenches his jaw, his eyes burning as he fights back the tears threatening to spill over. He hasn't cried since that day—not really. But the memories are too much.
Scene: The Beginning of Hatred
As he stares at the sword, the memory shifts again to the days after his father's death. His mother had remarried, and soon enough, she was pregnant with Skyen's half-sister. But that wasn't what hurt the most. He also hates Aiden Novac because if he is that worried about his sister, then why did he send his father there instead of going himself."
It was the way his mother had stopped paying attention to him, as though he were no longer her priority. She doted on her new husband, and when their child was born, Skyen was pushed further into the shadows of their lives.
Then there were the nights. The sounds of pleasure, muffled by the walls of the house, would drift into Skyen's room late at night, reminding him of how alone he truly was. It was unbearable.
Scene: Flashback - Nighttime in the House
One night, as Skyen went to fetch water from the kitchen, he heard his stepfather's voice. The words that followed burned into his memory.
Father: (smirking, voice low and smug) "So... am I better than your ex-husband?"
Skyen froze, his body tensing as he waited for his mother's response.
Mother: (giggling, voice soft and affectionate) "Yes... you are."
Skyen's heart clenched, anger and grief twisting inside him. He rushed upstairs, slamming his bedroom door shut, the sound echoing in the quiet night.
SFX: The heavy thud of a door slamming, the muffled sounds of laughter from downstairs.
He collapsed onto his bed, his fists clenched as tears finally broke free. His breath came in sharp, painful gasps as he sobbed into his pillow, again remembering his father.