MAGICAL TOTEMS
1st Episode of the 1st Season
FADE IN:
EXT. CHIKATA – DAY
The village bustles with activity. A GROUP OF CHILDREN is tasked with collecting apples, while nearby, a GROUP OF WOMEN is seen harvesting crops. CLOWDY, a shy but curious girl, is among the children. She's picking apples as punishment for accidentally ruining two bags of apples during play. She works quietly as other kids chatter and joke.
1ST CHILD
(playfully tossing an apple)
Hey, let's see who can fill their bag the fastest!
2ND CHILD
(laughing)
Yeah, but no cheating this time, okay?
Clowdy tries to join the laughter, but the kids glance at her and smirk.
Suddenly, the laughter stops as the other children turn toward her, smirking.
1ST CHILD
(taunting)
Hey, Clowdy, I bet you won't last a second in the cave over there without bawling your eyes out.
CLOWDY
(defensive)
I'm not a crybaby!
2ND CHILD
(mocking)
Yeah, right. Even your family doesn't want you around!
3RD CHILD
(grinning)
Yeah, crybaby! Why don't you run to the cave? You know, the one with the witch who eats kids like you!
The children laugh cruelly. CLOWDY clenches her fists, trying to hold back tears.
CLOWDY
(firmly)
I'll prove you wrong. I'll go into the cave, and you'll see who's really scared.
She storms off toward the CAVE at the edge of the village, as the kids watch in surprise.
EXT. CAVE ENTRANCE – DAY
CLOWDY stands at the mouth of the cave, hesitating. The entrance is foreboding, marked by signs reading "KEEP OUT!" and "YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE."
CLOWDY
(muttering to herself)
Magic isn't real. This is just an old cave.
Determined, she steps inside.
INT. CAVE – DAY
The cave is dark and eerie. The darkness swallows her as she ventures further in. The cave divides into two AISLES.
CLOWDY
(hesitant)
Left or right?
She closes her eyes, spins around, and points.
CLOWDY
Left it is.
As she moves down the left aisle, the walls tremble. A flurry of bats screeches and swarms toward her.
CLOWDY
(screaming)
Aaahhh!
She runs back and dives into the RIGHT AISLE, panting as she hides behind a rock until the bats settle.
CLOWDY
(breathless)
Okay... right it is.
Breathing heavily, she notices a faint glow deeper in the cave.
INT. THE HIDDEN CHAMBER - DAY
CLOWDY discovers a room filled with dusty shelves. Strange jars of various colors line the shelves, some glowing faintly. One jar in particular glows brightly, drawing her closer.
CLOWDY
(whispering)
What's this?
She picks up the jar and examines it. Inside, a swirling, ghostly figure seems alive. The jar begins to shake, and before she can react, the lid pops off.
A swirling mist escapes, forming into a small glowing spirit. It zips around before entering the body of a grasshopper on the ground.
WIZARD
(stretching dramatically)
Finally! Freedom!
The grasshopper hops excitedly before bowing to the earth and kissing it.
WIZARD
Oh, sweet ground! I've missed you!
CLOWDY steps back, frightened. Her lip quivers as tears well up in her eyes.
CLOWDY
(crying)
W-what are you?
WIZARD
(annoyed)
Shhh! Don't cry! Please? Ugh... Here, let me fix this.
With a wave of his tiny antenna, a magical book appears in front of Clowdy. It's ornate, glowing, and locked with a golden clasp.
WIZARD
(smirking)
There. A gift. Stop crying now, will you?
CLOWDY
(sniffling)
A... magical book? Magic exists?
WIZARD
(proudly)
Of course it does! And you're holding it.
CLOWDY
(stammering)
Aren't you a... witch?
WIZARD
(offended)
A witch? Of course not! Do I look like a witch to you?
CLOWDY
(confused)
So... you're not a witch?
WIZARD
I'm a wizard. A powerful one at that. And now, if you'll excuse me, I've got places to be... in this grasshopper body.
CLOWDY
(hopeful)
Then can I come with you?
WIZARD
(stammering)
Wait... no! I'm not a babysitter.
CLOWDY
(pleading)
But what am I supposed to do with this book?
WIZARD
(shrugging)
You'll figure it out.
CLOWDY
(determined)
Please! I need your help. And besides, you'll need help too. I want to learn magic!
The Wizard pauses, considering her words. He sighs dramatically.
WIZARD
(grumbling)
Fine. But only because you saved me. And if you cry again, I'm leaving.
Clowdy smiles through her tears, clutching the magical book tightly. Before Clowdy can respond, the cave shakes.
CLOWDY
(shocked)
What's happening?!
SORCERER
(calmly)
Your village's protection spell is gone.
The cave rumbles again, dust falling from the ceiling.
CLOWDY
(panicked, voice trembling)
We need to get out of here before this place collapses!
They rush out of the cave just in time to avoid being buried. Clowdy looks at the chaos, horrified. ORCS are ransacking the place, stealing everything in sight — even apples. Villagers try to resist, with some women clinging desperately to their belongings, refusing to let the orcs take them. Clowdy stares in horror, but the Sorcerer begins walking as if undisturbed.
CLOWDY
What… what's happening here?
WIZARD
(calmly, almost indifferent)
Nothing out of the ordinary. Just a classic orc ambush.
CLOWDY
But why? Why would they attack us?
WIZARD
Because your village has been shielded from the outside world for centuries. Protected by the higher-ups. They've kept you in the dark — kept magic a secret from you.
In the background, villagers scream and fight, objects flying through the air as the orcs continue their raid. Clowdy looks around, horrified.
CLOWDY
Magic? But… why hide it?
WIZARD
Because if you don't know it exists, you can't use it. And if you can't use it, you're easier to control.
CLOWDY
(urgently)
Can't we stop them? Isn't there something we can do?
Wizard looks at Clowdy for a moment, then glances back at the burning chaos behind them. Without answering, he turns and begins walking. Clowdy hesitates before reluctantly following.
EXT. THE RIVER - DAY
They reach the edge of the village, where a serene river stretches before them. Vizard raises his hand, murmuring an incantation. With a burst of glowing energy, a magical boat materializes on the water.
WIZARD
(motioning to the boat)
Come. The journey ahead is more important than what lies behind.
CLOWDY
(looking back at the village)
So that's it? Just let them forget everything? Pretend like nothing happened? That doesn't seem fair.
WIZARD
(climbing into the boat)
Fairness is a luxury in this world, Clowdy. People prefer ignorance. It's safer.
CLOWDY
(hesitant)
Safer for who? The ones in charge?
WIZARD
(pausing to look at her)
For everyone. Ignorance keeps things simple. Imagine if they remembered. Fear, anger, rebellion—it would tear your peaceful little village apart.
(Clowdy stares at him, fists clenched, but says nothing. After a moment, she steps into the boat.)
CLOWDY
Maybe. But I don't think it's right. Someone should stand up to this.
WIZARD
(chuckling dryly as he takes a seat and taps the side of the boat to set it in motion)
You're bold, I'll give you that. But boldness without understanding is a good way to get yourself killed.
CLOWDY
(gripping the side of the boat)
Then teach me. Show me how to understand it. If what you're saying is true—about magic, control, everything—then I want to know.
(Wizard's eyes narrow as he studies her, his expression unreadable. The boat glides silently across the lake, the water rippling with soft, glowing patterns beneath them.)
WIZARD
You're asking for a lot, Clowdy. Knowledge has a cost. Power has a cost. Are you sure you're ready to pay it?
CLOWDY
(without hesitation)
Yes.
(Wizard leans back, letting the silence settle between them. For the first time, a faint smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth.)
WIZARD
We'll see.
(The camera pans out as the boat glides further into the misty expanse of the lake, disappearing into the fog. The faint sound of waves fades, leaving an eerie quiet as the scene shifts.)
INT. A DARKENED CHAMBER - DAY
(Somewhere far away, cloaked figures sit in a circle around a glowing, pulsating orb. One of them speaks in a low, distorted voice.)
CLOAKED FIGURE 1
The girl is leaving the village.
CLOAKED FIGURE 2
With wizard.
CLOAKED FIGURE 3
This was not part of the plan.
CLOAKED FIGURE 1
It doesn't matter. She'll come back… or she'll be dealt with.
(The book that Clowdy is holding appears on the orb.)
CLOAKED FIGURE 1
And that book - we'll get it back.
(The orb flares brightly as the figures vanish into the shadows. The screen fades to black.)