Scene 1: Chikata Village
A group of kids is tasked with collecting apples. A woman is seen harvesting crops nearby. Clowdy, a shy girl, works quietly as other kids chatter and joke.
Kid 1: (playfully tossing an apple) Hey, let's see who can fill their bag the fastest!
Kid 2: (laughing) Yeah, but no cheating this time, okay?
Clowdy tries to join the laughter, but the kids glance at her and smirk.
Kid 3: (mocking) Hey, Clowdy, why don't you go ask your parents for help? Oh wait...you don't have any!
Kid 2: (laughing) Yeah, crybaby! Why don't you run to the cave? You know, the one with the witch who eats kids like you!
The kids laugh. Clowdy clenches her fists, trying to hold back tears.
Clowdy: (determined) I'm not a crybaby. I'll show you.
She storms off toward the cave as the kids watch in surprise.
Scene 2: Outside the Cave
Clowdy stands at the mouth of the cave, hesitating. She mutters to herself for courage.
Clowdy: (nervous) Hm... witch way to go?
After a moment of thought, she chooses the left path and steps inside.
Scene 3: Inside the Cave
The cave is dark and eerie. Clowdy's footsteps echo. Suddenly, a flurry of bats screeches and rushes past her, startled by her presence.
Clowdy: (panicked) Aaaaah!
She stumbles, runs to the right, and hides behind a rock until the bats settle. Breathing heavily, she notices a faint glow deeper in the cave.
Scene 4: The Hidden Chamber
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: (curious) Who... who are you?
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: (confused) So... you're not a witch?
Wizard: (offended) A witch? Of course not! Do I look like I eat children?
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. The two start their journey together, leaving the cave.
Fade Out.
As they emerge from the cave, the chaos in the village becomes evident. 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: [in shock] 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. Politics.
Clowdy: [urgently] Is there anything we can do? Can we save my village?
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.
They reach the edge of the village, where a serene lake 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.
Scene continues:
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.)
Scene transition: A darkened chamber
(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.)