Episode 7 – "When Gods Burn"
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[Scene 1 – Central Capital, Celestis Spire]
The rulers of the Five Great Nations gather at Celestis Spire, a floating city above the clouds, tethered to Earth by Spiracode roots.
The Archsage of Balance, an immortal being who's kept peace for 200 years, speaks:
> Archsage:
"Flame Spiral energy has reawakened. The Watcher sleeps no longer. We must act... or vanish with the rest."
The Iron Chancellor of the North refuses diplomacy.
> Chancellor:
"We don't need peace. We need control. Capture the boy. Burn the rest."
The decision is made:
Rei is now an international target.
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[Scene 2 – Rei's Recovery and Questions]
Back in the hidden village, Rei rests, recovering from the battle. Tami stays by his side.
> Tami (half-joking):
"You've got half the world chasing you now. At least try to look cool."
Kael shows Rei ancient spirals carved into the temple walls—the Spiral Flame Lineage, something believed extinct.
> Kael:
"You're not a child of chance. You're a descendant of the Flame Spirals—those who rewrote the rules of fate."
> Rei (quiet):
"But I don't remember any of this. I'm just… me."
Kael says nothing, but Tami sees the concern in his eyes.
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[Scene 3 – Enter the Wandering Hero: Zaru the Blade Fool]
While traveling toward Celestis Spire to investigate the council's decision, we meet Zaru—an eccentric former war hero who now performs sword tricks in street shows.
He's funny, unpredictable, but his power is off the charts. He was once part of the Hollowed Thirteen… but walked away.
A mysterious masked messenger approaches him:
> Messenger:
"The Watcher has awakened. He's spiraling."
Zaru smiles, spinning his blade on one finger.
> Zaru:
"So the game restarts. Hope they're ready to lose again."
He laughs, vanishes in a blur of wind.
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[Scene 4 – Attack from the Shadows]
At night, a Flame Assassin sent by the Hollowed Thirteen sneaks into the village, targeting Rei. But this one isn't like the others—his flame is black with red static.
Kael battles him while Rei and Tami escape through the underground tunnel.
The assassin's final words before Kael ends him:
> Assassin:
"The One Below… is waiting. You cannot seal him again."
Kael's eyes widen.
> Kael (whispers):
"No… it can't be him..."
(We don't know who "him" is yet. But Kael clearly does.)
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[Scene 5 – Rei's Power Evolves Again]
In the tunnel, Rei's spiral eye begins to glow stronger as they escape.
He touches a stone relic embedded in the wall—and flames suddenly form into ancient glyphs in front of him.
> Tami:
"Are you… reading that?"
Rei nods, confused but focused.
> Rei:
"It says… 'The Echo Spiral accepts you. You are now one with the Flame Memory.'"
Suddenly, he remembers a glimpse of a life not his own—a battle in the skies, a woman of light screaming his name, and… a man with no face standing on burning clouds.
Rei collapses.
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[Scene 6 – The Hollowed Thirteen's Chamber]
The Hollowed Thirteen gather again.
This time, the mist over the 13th seat slightly flickers. Not revealing the figure… just a silhouette moving slowly, as if waking up.
> Zenith Vale (smiling nervously):
"The Spiral Child is aligning with the Flame Memory. Our time shrinks."
> Lady Miren:
"If he awakens fully… we'll lose control again."
> Unknown Voice (deep, distorted):
"Then burn the board before he learns to play."
Everyone freezes.
That voice didn't belong to any of the twelve.
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[Final Scene – The Sky Cracks]
Far above the world, a fracture appears in the sky like lightning in slow motion—crimson cracks spiraling outward.
It is not seen by normal people… only by those sensitive to Spiracode.
Zaru, Kael, Tami, the Hollowed Thirteen… and Rei all feel it at the same time.
> Rei (muttering in sleep):
"He's... watching."
CUT TO BLACK
Next Episode: "Ghosts of the Spiral Flame"