Shadow Skill TV Anime Series Episode 22 – Synopsis Cast of Characters Elle Ragu - 59th sevalle of Kuruda Gau Ban – valle Black Howling, her adoptive brother Kyo Ruu – Septia Folli Brazmetizer – Sui Reme Iba Stola – Hawk-eye, 55th sevalle, King of Kuruda Kai Sink – Crimson, 56th sevalle of Kuruda aka Raze Reme Silver Sword Vy Low – Scarface, 57th sevalle of Kuruda Darkness The High Regent of Juliannes – Folstis’ father Holy Knight – (name unknown) Holy Knight – Faulstis Low, Scarface’s wife Lilivelt l’Bijuu – Holy Princess of Juliannes, capital of Ashlianna Kaira Lu Luka – Lekhitor Fighter Gian Tees – Felisha Fighter Teaser Repeat of closing scene from previous episode. Elle saying farewell to her brother. Gau in tears. The sunlight sparkling on the black wing stuck into a small mound of earth. (Opening Credits) Act 1 Juliannes. The balance of Souma tilts, making Lilivelt’s eyes open. Part of the city breaks off and drops to the ground below. A soldier reports the incident to Faulstis and her father, adding that there must be a change that none of them know about. Faulstis worries, “Then the Souma must be drained to its very limit…” and we see one of the anchor chains of Juliannes breaking its links, causing the city to strain against the remaining chains. At the Green Octopus, it is a very sober group at the common room of the inn. Kyo is busy mopping up the floor; Elle is lost in thought, nursing a cup of wine; Gau is slumped against the entrance doorway, his eyes staring unseeingly into the distance, his throat swathed in bandages. Faury is silently wiping down the kitchen counter while Feorina herself is busy in the kitchen. The camera closes in on Elle’s face, her eyes lost in the memory of her brother’s last moments, angel feathers floating around his lifeless standing form in the meadow. As well, Gau recalls the sunlight filtering through the leaves of the trees as Dias stood guard over his inert and useless body – just like the sunlight sparkling over the garden of the inn. Kyo is about to approach Gau when Elle silently gets up and moves out of the common room. Kyo and Faury track the young sevalle with worried eyes, then glance at Gau sitting motionless against the door. In Kuruda proper, the city continues to rebuild. “So you’re heading to Juliannes now,” says the King, and Crimson replies, “Yes, the Holy City is a mess because of the drainange of the Souma and its unbalanced energy.” “Do we have any choices, besides asking Lunalis Umbra?” The camera pulls back to show that Scarface is standing with Crimson before the King. “Lunalis Umbra is the only one that keeps the Souma and its energy source inside her body,” says Crimson. “If Lunalis returns, the balance of nature will be level, and it will repair everything that needs to be fixed.” “However,” adds Scarface, “We have just received an unfortunate report from Raze Reme. They have been unable to catch Lunalis’ voice.” The King takes this news grimly. “It seems like we don’t have much time left to stop them.” Twilight finds Elle walking along Kuruda’s main street, oblivious to the voice of a little child wanting his lunch, and his mother’s cheerful reply. Outside Kuruda, the Suluothan army listens to General Glock. He tells them that he will be leading them into battle in place of Lean. “This battle will be our chance to make up for the one in Prorathan…and at the same time, this battle is very important in order to exterminate the Holy City. Our aim is to take Kuruda Palace! We’ll defeat all the cities and soldiers in Kuruda!” The moonlit night finds Elle in Dias’ apartment, looking over her brother’s clothes, and the black wing that was his favored weapon. In the Juliannes summoning room for Souma/Lunalis Umbra, the Raze Reme Eskinidia (sp?) is being questioned as to the whereabouts of Lunalis Umbra by Faulstis’ father. “I cannot capture the voice right now,” she says, “Lunalis Umbra…” “Please excuse me,” says one of the servants, “But we all need to gather and have an emergency meeting immediately in front of Lilivelt L’Bijuu of Juliannes! There seems to be an urgent motion towards the country Kuruda from the countries Lekhitor, Felisha and Kisholana!” “What’s that?” exclaims Faulstis, as her father makes a sound of alarm in his throat. In Kuruda, Gau is wandering the city, thinking, “No…” He is unaware that he is being followed by someone in the darkness of the night. The mysterious person who commands Ren Fuuma listens to the latter announce his intention of leaving. “Yes,” he replies, “Ren…” “Where is it?” “Kuruda is the only sword that is left in the Holy City…listen to me. You need to defeat all the sevalles in Kuruda and destroy that land.” At Kuruda pier, Elle whispers, “Brother…” as she packs Dias’ belongings into a small boat. After she finishes arranging everything, we hear her strike a flint to start a fire, and then she pushes the boat out towards the middle of the lake. As the blaze consumes the boat and its contents, we see tears fill and overflow from her green eyes; and then the young sevalle allows grief to overtake her at last, and from her proud stance she drops to her knees as the blazing boat drifts off into the darkness. Act 2 In Juliannes, Lilivelt is robed and seated in state as the Princess Royal, her blue eyes snapping indignantly before the fully assembled Court. An image projection appears before them, showing Kaira Lu Luka of Lekhitor and Gian Tees of Felisha, both limping and beaten, crossing the borders of their respective countries into Kuruda. “They crossed the borders without permission!” “Yes, they’ve already broken the rules, crossing the border like that…they’re sneaking across like soldiers!” “But I do agree that they need to find the truth about Kuruda! They won’t be able to calm down until they do.” “In any case, we need to leave this place. That is the most important thing, now.” “We can’t leave this place!” protests someone, “it’s almost as if we’re giving up on Ashlianna!” “That’s right! There’s no way for us! We *must* stay here, no matter what the consequences!” Lilivelt’s sceptre slams down on the floor in an expression of royal authority. “I think what we need to do first is solve the problems the Four Countries have at this moment in time,” she says, surveying the Court with flashing eyes. Baron Ashta asks, “I do agree with you, but what can we do?” “We’ll give it to them,” says Lilivelt, her blue eyes determined. “We are going to give the Sword of Ashlianna to the country of Kuruda – it’s the only solution!” Faulstis’ father wheels about in startled shock, his expression mirrored in the faces of his daughter and the rest of the Court. “If we give the highest symbol of the glory and honor in Ashlianna to the country of Kuruda, the other countries won’t be able to slander Kuruda. They won’t do it without reason!” “I don’t mean to disagree with you,” protests Baron Ashta, “But don’t you think the other three countries will be upset with this idea?” “Yes, but we need to give them a title. I know this is a quick solution, but I think this is the best thing we can do right now!” “All right, but whom are you going to give this to?” “I’ve already decided on the person who deserves this title…” At the Green Octopus, Elle and Gau are at the stone circle that serves as their practice ground. Elle has just slammed Gau into one of the stone pillars, and he is hearing once again the voice of Darkness in his mind: “Do you understand the fear of death…that it can rot and destroy your own soul…like that!” Elle approaches her adopted brother: “Gau, your body has healed, and you should have recovered. Let’s go…” and she pulls him up from the ground, leaning him against the pillar. He squares himself and gets ready to fight, and a small smile of satisfaction crosses Elle’s face. “Come on…” she encourages, and he takes a step forward, but suddenly freezes, allowing Elle’s punch to catch him full on. “Hey, Gau,” she wonders, surprised at this new development. “Why did you…” “I’ve had enough…” he says, sitting up, “I’ve had enough, Elle.” “What are you talking about?” “I can’t do this anymore…I don’t care about anything…I don’t care about training, either.” Elle’s eyes are a mixture of understanding and hurt. “Gau…” “I realized something when I fought with the darkness…” continues Gau, not looking at his adopted sister, “I got so scared fighting with him, and almost dying…I ended up killing Dias because of it!” he cries out, pouring out his grief and guilt into the words. Elle watches him with solemn eyes as the floodgates open for her younger brother. “I defeated G and I became conceited, without even noticing it myself! My heart wasn’t strong enough, that’s why I lost my confidence as a sevalle and a person that I cared about at the same time!” “Stop it, Gau…” Elle’s eyes fill with grief and threaten tears, “It is a fact that my brother is gone…” She comes to kneel before him, so that he won’t have the sun in his eyes as she speaks to him. “I can understand what you’re feeling now…I know how it feels to lose your family and live all by yourself in this world…but you still must listen to me.” Elle’s voice becomes earnest as her green eyes, still aching with pain, go full-bore into Gau’s, whose blue gaze shows his guilt at what has happened. “*We* haven’t died…we’re still alive, so let’s make the best of it!” “What?!” “You and I are still living, so we must go on!” Elle stands to hide the threatening tears, “And I need to live…if only for my brother who fought for me…forever…and ever…” The tears spill at last, sparkling in the light of the setting sun, bringing strong emotion into Gau’s face. Elle walks away… Act 3 Kuruda Colosseum. We discover Gau sitting disconsolately at the foot of Scarface’s sevalle statue. In his mind, he hears the echo of Dias’ voice, that long-ago night in Prorathan when Gau had been given the Black Wing to use: “Scarface will probably tell you, you should take this and die…However, I won’t say this to you. This is a weapon. A weapon you can protect yourself with…” Footsteps approach and stop in front of Gau, stirring him out of his reverie. In the light of the setting sun, Gau looks up and discovers a familiar figure staring down at him: “It’s you, Low…” On a rocky outcropping outside Kuruda, as the city of Juliannes hovers behind a mountain range, we see Scarface and Crimson with their cloaks whipped by the wind. The pair is surrounded by crystal light, and disappear from the mountain, to reappear on a grassy knoll where the palace royal can be seen in the distance. The two men take their bearings, and then Scarface’s attention is drawn by the sight of Lilivelt and Faulstis on the steps before the palace. Lilivelt raises her scepter, and the two women shimmer out of view. “I hear that Princess Lilivelt has not been feeling very well lately,” says Crimson, following the line of Scarface’s gaze. “I wonder where she is heading off to.” At the Kuruda Colosseum arena, Gau is seated in depression on the stone bleachers. Low is looking thoughtfully into the distance, at the setting sun. “It seems like something disheartening has happened,” he says quietly, as the sun makes its downward journey. “You seem like a stranger to me, not like Black Howling.” “Someone that I cared about, passed away…because of me. It was all my fault.” We see scenes of the black wing boomerang in flight, Elle tracking its movement with brimming eyes, and Elle’s last night with her brother to thank him for all he had done. Gau’s voice over these images says, “Dias asked me to take care of Elle…that’s what he said…” The boomerang returns to Elle’s hand as if it always belonged there. Low’s voice is compassionate as he says, “I know that the scars that are left in your heart after a battle are very difficult to get over…” Gau’s face lifts to Low, eyes wistful. We see Elle’s own green eyes and their determination beneath the heartache as well. “Yet I also know that a sevalle of Kuruda will always continue to fight. That’s what he said to me.” “You mean Scarface, don’t you?” “Yes. It’s a terrible way to live. The fighters only develop their body and their muscles; they’ll use their bodies as a weapon for fighting, and they’ll continue fight as long as they are alive.” “I’ve been feeling scared, and I’ve had enough of that awful feeling,” says Gau, as Low turns toward him. “The fear…of death…” Gau’s hands are clenched into fists, “I was rendered powerless by my fear of death. That’s the reason I couldn’t fight anymore, and let Dias die in front of me. It was all my fault.” Gau looks up to see Low smiling at him. “Nobody blames you for what happened during that battle…everyone here fears death…it’s a very natural thing.” Low turns away and misses Gau’s surprised expression. “But, really, I don’t think it’s possible to overcome that fear. I have finally come to realize this in the past few months.” A soft chuckle, then, “That’s not to say I was able to overcome it…everyone goes through a time of trouble and need. But when it’s raining out, you know we will see the sun shine, someday. I think of it positively, and train myself to be stronger…” Low pushes back his cloak, and sits down beside Gau, putting his arm around the younger boy, rubbing his hand over Black Howling’s upper arm. The camera freeze-frames the friends as Low’s voice continues: “Black Howling, I do believe in you. You will overcome this, and then you’ll let me hear the good news…that we’ve won.” Out of the blackness of the night, we see Dias’ body, angel wings outstretched, floating into the depths of the sky. The camera pulls back to show us the pupil in Darkness’ lavander-blue eye, and Darkness himself floating in mid-air, long black hair streaming in the wind. Crimson floats down to his level, from somewhere out of the night. “Darkness,” he says, “You’ve done great work.” “You are the Kai Sink, Raza Reme Crimson, the one who balances the power of Souma; you do this in the natural world to produce many miracles – it is you who has restored the body of Dias…” “I have seen many of your wonderful inhuman moves, that cheat the forces of light.” “I have sealed off his body and soul for good. He is lost in the infinity of my Black Eye. I will be with him until you appoint me. I am waiting patiently for the time of your duty.” As they float above the earth, Crimson says, “In order to finish our job, we need to stop everyone around him, as well.” “There is only person I know of who can do that,” says Darkness, as the full moon emerges from behind a shadow. “The Moon Shadow,” agrees Crimson, “We need Lunalis Umbra.” The moon hides itself once again, as a voice declares, “I do have Dias Ragu’s time in my hands now,” and Crimson’s eyes widen in shock upon hearing it. “Lunalis Umbra!” “I am afraid I can’t go back there. My friend, that’s why…when the new moon appears, I’ll be home…for sure…” Act 4 At the Green Octopus, Gau and Elle are at the training ground, looking up at the moon. Elle muses, “When I look at the moon, I remember my brother, but it’s no good…” “What?” “It’s because the moon is getting smaller and smaller. My brother’s life has disappeared, just like the moon seems to be.” The young sevalle and her adopted brother contemplate the beauty of the night when a halting voice interrupts their thoughts. “Shadow Skill…” it declares, making Elle turn around in startled surprise. She moves forward and discovers Gian Tees and Kaira Lu Luka coming up the hill to the training ground. Her voice is happy to greet them at first, then doubtful, as she sees their condition. “Hey, there! Long time no see! What happened to you!” “This is not the time to be greeting us happily,” says Kaira, who is bandaged up her left leg and most of her left side. Elle frowns. “Yeah, it seems like that.” “There’s something I want to ask you…sevalle of Kuruda…” Gian Tees’ voice is labored, one eye wearing a patch as a result of her encounter with Ren. In the forest outside Kuruda, the Suluothan army is on the move, General Glock at their head. “Things are going well,” says one of the commanders, “The team has now...” “…arrived at the upper stream of Akai River…” We see men with torches, in boats, floating along the river in question. “The master of Kuruda Style Annihilation Technique!” cries Gau, and Kaira affirms, “That’s right, so tell me now, who the heck are they?” Elle says thoughtfully, “There aren’t many fighters around here that I can think of who could defeat you two…” Gian Tees’ voice is low and urgent: “Many are suspicious of you, and the country of Kuruda. There isn’t any explanation as to why our people have been attacked. Our Four Countries cannot be united at a time like this…” “You guys aren’t thinking of…!” “Even if they decide to destroy Kuruda,” says Kaira, “we’re never going to let that happen.” “In the worst case scenario,” sighs Gian Tees, “we might have to start another battle.” “What did you say?” cries Elle, eyes widening in shock, “Wait a minute!” A brilliant flash of light draws their attention, and the interdimensional portal heralding the presence of the Princess Lilivelt appears above the training ground. Gau is the first to recognize it. “Hey, that’s the…” The doors open to reveal Lilivelt’s solemn figure, and Elle’s gasps in awe, “That’s…the Queen…wow…” “This is Lilivelt L’Bijuu, the great Queen of the Holy City of Ashlianna,” declares the Holy Knight Faulstis Low, “Kneel down and greet her properly.” Gau, Kaira and Gian drop to one knee, leaving Elle standing frozen at the sight, and Faulstis addresses her, “I see you have unexpected guests in Kuruda,” making Kaira turn her face away with a full awareness that she has broken the first rule of the Four Fighters. She meets Gian Tees’ equally guilty look. “Listen to me,” says Lilivelt, her voice commanding, as only a Queen can command in time of danger. “I am giving the title Sword of Ashlianna to the highest level of fighter who will serve as the shield of the Holy City. Do you understand?” The faces of the three Fighters present reflect various expressions of shock and surprise at this declaration. “The person who should receive the honor of this title is the fighter from Kuruda, Black Wing, Dias Ragu!” “Dias Ragu!” exclaims Gau. “I can’t believe it!” cries Kaira. “How can that be!” adds Gian Tees. Kaira protests, “At this moment there is an urgent motion against the country of Kuruda…how can you give the title to a fighter of Kuruda?” Elle merely stands in stunned shock as Gian Tees calls out, “That’s right, I don’t quite agree with it either…to me, you might be creating a reason for battle!” “Be quiet!” demands Faulstis, in her role as bearer of Ordo Codex. “The country of Kuruda has been awarded with the title of Sword of Ashlianna. If you doubt Kuruda, it is the same thing as you attacking the Holy City! In any case, you both know that it is a sin for you to be in the country of Kuruda right now.” “Today is a special day since the title Sword of Ashlianna has been awarded,” says Lilivelt firmly. “I will agree to disregard the fact that you have broken your Rule. I hope that the Four Fighters will unite their ties according to all the rules and continue to protect their own land…” Kaira and Gian Tees bow their heads in submission to the command of their Queen. “Elle Ragu.” “Huh?” Lilivelt’s voice gentles somewhat. “I do think that your brother Dias Ragu was the one whom I should have awarded the Sword of Ashlianna to. I would like you to grow and continue train yourself, just like your brother did.” A watchtower overlooking Kuruda. Elle hands over Dias’ prized Black Wing to Gau, who can only stare, stunned at the gesture. “I want you have this weapon. It was important. It was my brother’s life.” “You’re giving me…Dias’ life?” Elle lowers her head in a solemn nod, her eyes full. “But still,” sighs Gau, his stance showing how far he has come in the time we have known him, “You know that Dias died because of me! Although he was awarded this honorable title, and this black wing was left behind, Dias will never come back to life!” Elle shuts her eyes against that knowledge, squeezing tears from beneath her lashes, and Gau starts back, eyes widening. Elle turns and throws the black wing out over the lake, drawing Gau’s eyes towards its flight. As it returns, Elle’s face is turned away from it, leaving Gau to catch it, as neatly as if he has spent a lifetime doing so. He holds the weapon in his hand as Elle begins to speak. “My brother is no longer with us, but I do have you…” she slants a glance at him, “That’s all right…with you?” Gau returns her look with eyes that show how full his heart is… In Kuruda’s main street, Kaira asks Gian Tees, “So what now?” “I don’t intend to go home.” “Yes, it doesn’t really make sense.” “I’m staying here until I find out the truth.” Elle turns to Gau, who watches her with stunned blue eyes, “I don’t mind it, risking my own life for you, because I would do whatever it took, any day…if you are going to become the shield to protect someone who’s important to you, then I’m going to become the sword that gives power to the shield…I’ll become the sword that breaks the fear…I’ll become *your* sword and be with you all the time.” Elle leans in towards Gau, whose eyes widen as their lips meet for the first time. “The name of this great and honorable sword…is Courage.” Their joined hands lift up the black wing in a salute to the end of an old chapter in their lives, and the start of a new one… (Closing Credits – we see arrows striking at the gates of the Kuruda causeway, the Sulouthan army massed and waiting, the main force beginning to cross with spears at the ready…)