Shadow Skill TV Anime Series Episode 15 – Synopsis Cast of Characters: Elle Ragu - 59th sevalle of Kuruda Gau Ban – valle Black Howling, her adoptive brother Faury Brazmetizer – Sui Reme Kyo Ruu – Septia Feorina – Owner of the Green Octopus Inn King Iba Stola – Hawkeye, 55th sevalle of Kuruda Kai Sink – Crimson, 56th sevalle of Kuruda aka Raze Reme Silver Sword Scarface Vy Low – 57th sevalle of Kuruda Kain Phalanx – G, 58th sevalle of Kuruda Dias Ragu – Black Wing, valle of Kuruda Teaser: Scarface Vy Low is shown peering into a box. A priest is explaining that when the man inside was found at the edge of the forest, he was already dead. They had been planning to bury him in the village cemetery, since no one had come forward to claim him. Scarface turns to a grim-faced Crimson standing beside him, looking at the slash wound on the dead man’s arm. As they leave the little village, Crimson says he recognizes the man as one of his workers, and a great fighter in the use of the Kuruda Annhilation Technique. Scarface wants to know what Crimson means, and the 56th sevalle says it would take someone with the highest level of sevalle fighting skills to defeat the man. Scarface enumerates the known sevalles in Kuruda: Hawkeye, Shadow Skill, Scarface himself, and Crimson. Crimson stops at the village gate and says there is still one more sevalle…or rather, there was. Scarface stops and turns back to look at Crimson. “What are you saying? We all know that he died…that was almost three years ago.” (Opening Credits) Act 1 We hear Kyo’s voice-over narration, as if she is reading from her diary, over a scene of Kyo helping out at Dias’ house. “October third…nice weather. I went over to the house that Dias is currently renting. I went over to do his laundry and make him dinner. Dias thanked me a lot for what I’d done for him, but I’m just here to help him out since Elle and Gau are too busy to come and visit. I was on my way back to the Octopus restaurant when…” Kyo sees Gau at the sevalle practice ground, asking for permission to practice. The older men think he should just go home, and lecture him that he’s too young and they don’t know when Suluothan will attack again. Kyo calls out to Gau, and as Gau asks after Dias, one of the older men ribs him about coming to practice with his girlfriend. Kyo indignantly demands that the men stop laughing at Gau: “Don’t you know he is one of the sevalles!?” So the men decide to let him practice, curious to see him in action – and make a fool of himself. Gau and Kyo exchange a smiling glance with each other, and Gau sets himself up against the dummies on the practice area. The men are chuckling as Gau gathers himself together, and then…in one whirlwind burst too quick for the eye to follow, all the suits of armor are demolished. This astounds the men, as Gau nonchalantly walks away with the words, “I’m through with my practicing, you can use it now…let’s go, Kyo.” Kyo walks alongside Gau, saying, “Good work, Gau…” and the men, hearing the name, realize that they have been ribbing Gau Ban, the Black Howling. As they walk down the street, Kyo’s narration tells us that since the Prorathan battle, Gau has become known to many. It’s something she’s happy about: “I guess.” In the palace, King Iba Stola is shocked to receive the written report that G is alive. In the forest outside Kuruda, two men working under Crimson have an encounter with G. As one flees towards Kuruda, the other tries to face off the young man, but both of them are killed, and G makes his way to the little jetty where a boat is heading out for Kuruda. Act 2 In the city, Kyo is asking Gau if he thinks it is really necessary to come all the way to the city to practice. Gau replies that it’s all right to practice with Elle one-on-one, but he needs to go up against real people too. Kyo hesistantly says that Gau might also be showing off his moves to the people in the city, and Gau asks if that’s what she thinks is his motivation – to show off. The pair suddenly encounter Elle seated on a crate, seemingly looking thoughtful. Gau is surprised to find her there, and Elle’s green eyes are laughing a little as she mimics his nonchalant words as he departed the practice ground: “I’m done with my practicing…you can use it now…” “You were watching!” Suddenly Elle has her little brother in a playful choke-hold: “You were acting so cool, weren’t you!” Gau is slowly choking and protesting as Elle continues: “I was wondering why you didn’t want to fight me one on one, you were acting so cool in the city!” “Gau is going to pass out!” cries Kyo, and the young man promptly does so, right on cue. “Oh, he’s gone!” says a startled Elle. Back at the Green Octopus. Gau is stretched out in bed, with a wet cloth over his head and eyes. Kyo is hovering by the bedside, and at the headboard, Feorina is lecturing Elle: “You just don’t know when to stop, do you? Gau is a very important worker of mine, you know…” Elle, lounging in the doorway, tells Feorina not to worry, since the people are too worried about the coming battle to want to come to the inn anyway. Feorina sighs, and asks Kyo to take care of Gau while she goes to run some errands; Elle is put in charge of the restaurant. Elle’s eyes fall on Gau for a long moment, considering her younger brother. As Kyo refreshes the damp cloth on Gau’s forehead, she asks Elle if she has noticed that Gau has grown stronger recently. That he defeated Low, and even helped Dias. Elle protests: “But he’s still a little wimp! Look at him…I was just play-fighting, and look what happened to him!” “But everyone in the city is talking about him…Gau Ban, the Black Howling…he’s not like the Gau he used to be!” “What’s the matter?” asks Elle. “You sound like you’re saying it’s not good to become better. Everyone’s training to be stronger…!” Kyo says it’s not a bad thing, that she’s happy that Gau is stronger now. “Well then, what’s the matter? You’re acting strange…” Kyo takes a long look at Gau and then suddenly: “Elle, I think that you should go visit your brother Dias more often…” “I just don’t know what to say when I go to see him, that’s all.” “You shouldn’t say things like that!” cries Kyo, startling the other girl. “It’s a wonderful thing to have a family of your own…I think that you should be nicer to him!” With this vehement pronouncement, Kyo stalks out of the room and past a startled Faury: “What is wrong with that girl? She looked really mad.” Looking after Kyo, Elle murmurs thoughtfully: “To have a family of…your own…” In Juliannes, Princess Lilivelt is staring out of a window in her chambers. Suddenly, Darkness manifests in her room, but Lilivelt does not seem startled by his appearance. Apologizing for his abrupt entrance, Darkness asks after Lilivelt’s condition. Lilivelt says that Souma continues to decrease steadily with each day. She is not sure if it someone’s doing, or perhaps a trial sent from the sky above; the decrease of the Souma, which is the energy of all creatures, is upsetting the natural balance and is causing chaos. Darkness says that they must wait for Lunalis Umbra’s impending return. Lilivelt says it would be nice if Darkness could lend them his assistance as well, but he says he cannot do that. Lilivelt sighs: “I assume that means that the humans have to deal with things in the human world…” After a quiet pause as the camera focuses on the balance of Souma in Lilivelt’s room, Darkness announces that he is planning to go away for a while. When asked where his destination is, Darkness tells Lilivelt that he is going to Kuruda. This catches her off-guard, and he adds: “I feel a spirit that bothers me a little in the wind…” The sun is setting as the ferry boat containing G/Kain makes its way to Kuruda. Under cover of night we see Kyo on the septia practice grounds. Her voice-over narration for this scene tells us that she sneaks out from the Octopus Restaurant at night to visit this place at the edge of the city. She practices the technique of Tomoe, which is the practice of Obaku, here. It involves throwing the chalings around three posts placed in a triangle, creating a perfect snare trap in one single move. We learn that Tomoe is the move perfected by Kyo’s grandfather, and she is determined to master it someday. “I’m going to be strong. I’m going to be stronger for sure…or else it seems like Gau is going to leave me behind.” The practice session is not going well. Watching from behind a ruined section of the wall, Faury’s eyes are filled with concern, as the little septia sinks to her knees in tears. Act 3 Under the moonlight, King Iba Stola is contemplating the ruined statue of G, as Scarface’s voice-over says: “Did you know that in the language of the ancient…G is the seventh letter of the alphabet? At the same time, the number seven, which is the G, means the strongest…” “Is it really true that he’s still alive…?” wonders the King, as the wind ruffles his cloak. After a few more moments, he turns and walks away, remembering… Flashback. The King is demanding, “You are the strongest of all sevalles…you achieved recognition as the strongest fighter. Why do you continue this useless fight? Why do you continue this insanity? Answer me, G…answer, Kain Phalanx!” “No! I’m not becoming insane at all,” says Kain, “My only hope is to use this power that was given to me to fight those who claim to be strong. That is why I named myself after G…which represents the strongest fighter, as you know. In order to keep that respect, I only wish to fight with strong fighters in order to keep my recognition as G!” In the present, we see the King’s walk has taken him to an underground chamber guarded by huge doors. Then we return to the flashback as Kain’s voice continues: “I will even go insane if I have to, so that I can achieve what I wish for…” Cut to the present as the King orders, “Open the door of Hades.” The huge crossbar holding the doors shut, begins to slide open... Flashback. Kain challenges: “King Iba Stola! Also known as the 55th sevalle, Hawkeye! I’m going to kill you now!” Present time. The doors to Hades open, revealing a grim-faced King. Flashback to Kain, who has launched himself against the King, who manages to dodge the attack. As Kain is about to deliver a powerful blow, his punch is intercepted by Scarface’s arm as the 57th sevalle sets himself between his one-time best friend and the King. Present time – the King watches as the doors to the Hall of Hades open completely, by dint of some heavy machinery. At the septia practice ground, Kyo is still wearing herself out in an effort to perfect the Tomoe throw. As she pauses breathless after yet another failed attempt, Faury reveals herself, to the younger girl’s chagrin. The Sui Reme says, “Kyo, you can’t be eager…” “What do mean? I’m not being eager!” “Worried about Gau, aren’t you, Kyo?” No reply as Kyo walks away, and then sinks to her knees with a little sob. Faury moves forward: “Kyo, it’s impossible to control people’s feelings…it just can’t be done! Are you worried that Gau is going to be stronger?” Silence. “Or are you worried that Gau is going to become stronger and become closer to Elle because of it?” “I don’t want you to mention Elle’s name.” “Listen, Kyo…do you think that you are alone in this world? That nobody cares about you? You can like someone, but it’s a different story when you try to fill in the emptiness that you’re feeling by liking a person! I’m sure you’re not alone as you think you are in this world.” “Well, I’m not thinking that at all!” protests Kyo as she faces Faury angrily. Then she turns and runs off, leaving Faury to stare at her departing back with worried eyes. In the Hall of Hades, the King is contemplating the most fortified chamber in Kuruda. If G is still alive, thinks the King, there will come a time when they will meet here. “It might be a good time to share everything now.” In her room at the Green Octopus, Kyo tells her diary, “Lately, I have been rather confused about how I really feel…I need to practice that move again tomorrow…” Act 4 Crimson and Scarface are on a hill overlooking a jetty on Kuruda lake. Scarface is reliving the memories of his fight with G – blocking the arm punch, the leg kick, the sweeping leg kick that killed his best friend and left him a corpse in the throne room…Scarface’s expression trembles slightly. Crimson’s voice is hard as he declares, “It was the same scar I saw on him. And now I’ve lost three of my fighters to that maniac.” “I killed him. Even if he used to be a good friend of ours. With my own hands. We went to his funeral as well. I can’t *believe* he’s back now!” declares Scarface. Crimson answers: “I understand. However, one thing I can say, is the fact that someone is getting close to Kuruda.” “Could it be an attack from the past?” The ferry man calls out the departure of the boat to Kuruda, and Crimson tells Scarface: “Let’s go…” Kyo’s voice narrates another journal entry. “October 7. Nice day out. It seems like Gau hasn’t noticed anything. I’m acting normal and Faury hasn’t bothered me about anything so far…” This is the voice-over to a scene at the Green Octopus stone circle practice area. It is night, and Gau is exercising, driving himself. Elle appears at the crest of the hill, and comments on the young man’s initiative. She then challenges him to a fight. Gau, thinking that she means a sparring session, declines, wanting to review his moves; but then Elle tells him that she want a “real” fight, not just a practice session. This startles Gau, and without further ado, Elle says, “Let’s go.” The initial feinting session ends up with Gau catching a leg kick from Elle on the first move, and a solid punch to his ribs after two more moves. Elle begins to scold him, and Gau insists that he is not the fighter she used to know…”I’m different now!” And so the fight becomes more earnest, the blows and the blocks more fierce. Gau gets himself badly beaten, and from the top of a stone lintel, Elle cries out, “Stand up, Gau, you can’t be so easily defeated! What do you mean you’re different! You’re being conceited!” Gau picks himself up and faces Elle with anger in his eyes as she continues: “You still have some doubts about fighting, don’t you?” “That’s not true!” “Your eyes tell me everything!” “I want to be strong! I want to be strong, and that’s why I fight!” “Don’t lie to me!” “I’m not lying to you!” “You *are* lying to me, Gau! You didn’t even kill one single person from Suluothan at the Prorathan battle, did you? You didn’t kill them, you just defeated them! That proves it…that you still have some doubts within yourself during the fighting! Do I need to say anything more?” “Are you saying I should *kill* people?” “That’s not what I’m saying…however, you need to bet your own life in the heat of a battle! You may become strong, but you will never be able to become a sevalle unless you get rid of all your doubt!” As Elle jumps down to the ground from the lintel, Gau furiously answers: “I don’t doubt anything when I fight…I just fight the way I want to, in my own style, just as Dias told me to!” He gasps a little as Elle comes toe-to-toe with him and says, “Gau, you don’t fight because somebody tells you to fight…come on, fight me!” Elle slaps Gau hard on both cheeks and issues a challenge: “Why don’t you defeat the sevalle…if you are able to.” The pent-up conflict in Gau begins to erupt, and the young man throws a Harken punch straight into Elle. It drives her hard into a column, but she recovers quickly, and tells him: “Nice try, but your Harken doesn’t work on sevalles! Too bad for you! I will tell you one thing…in order to become a sevalle, you need to train your soul. This here…” indicating her heart, “means everything!” “My…my soul?” “You’re doubting the fact that you’re fighting, and your moves don’t have any soul! You can’t defeat anybody with that kind of a move, do you understand! Throw away everything! Concentrate!” Elle turns and walks down the hill, thinking, “I need to do…what I have to do…” At the septia practice ground, Kyo throws her chalings yet again around the practice posts – and this time, the snare lines wind perfectly around them, one ring nesting perfectly on top of the third post. Joy lights up the little septia’s face as she cries out, “I did it! Were you watching me, grandpa?” “I’m sure he was watching you very closely…” says a voice from the shadows. In the city, Dias’ head turns as the door to his apartment opens, and Elle says softly, “Are you there? It’s me…Elle…” At the practice ground, the King reveals himself to Kyo. “Grandfather?” she asks uncertainly, and he replies: “My apologies, but I am not Jin Stola. I am his twin brother, Iba Stola.” “Iba Stola?…Kuruda’s *king*?” “I wanted to go see you, when I heard the news that he had passed away….unfortunately, it is difficult for a King to visit places. Have you heard anything from my brother about me?” In Dias’ apartment, he is asking Elle, “Thank?” “I just thought I need to do what I need to do…thank you for all you’ve done…” “Elle!” is his soft exclamation, “ and he comes to put a gentle hand on her shoulder. The moonlight sparkling on the sudden tears that flow down Elle’s cheeks is mirrored by the same sparkling tears in Kyo’s eyes as the King declares, “Kyo, until the day you find a man who loves and protects you, I will be the shield to defend you from harm…” “Until the day I find a man who loves and protects me…” The King nods, and Kyo runs sobbing into his arms. Morning glows bright over Kuruda as the figure of Kain is seen on the ridge overlooking the lake and the city. “Three years,” he thinks. “I need to hurry…” (Closing Credits)