STORMERE
Season 1, Episode 10: "Reckoning" (Midseason Finale)
FADE IN
EXT. COASTAL PATH – EARLY MORNING
Winds whip through the jagged cliffs. The ocean roars below, distant and endless. The group walks along a narrow dirt trail, their silhouettes outlined by the rising sun.
HUNTER (smirking): You sure this is the fastest way?
SOREN (dry): Unless you wanna swim, yes.
LYRA: You’d complain about anything that isn’t an inn with free beer.
SOREN: I have standards. So, yes!
They all laugh lightly, even Ariadne, still quiet but calmer after Dawnhollow. Kael lingers behind, eyes distant, watching them.
EXT. COASTAL CLEARING – DAY
The group sets camp for a rest. Ariadne sketches the coastline on a piece of parchment; Aleric sharpens his blade.
Hunter and Lyra sit a little away from the group, side by side, overlooking the water.
LYRA: So... you said the other day that the plan for after this was you building your own blacksmith like your father, right?
HUNTER (snorts): Yes. Glad you didn't forget that.
LYRA: Yeah. I'm not an idiot like Soren.
SOREN (from a bit far away): I heard that!
Hunter laughs, then quiets. He looks out at the ocean, expression softening.
HUNTER: Maybe…I'll find a place that doesn’t need saving. Somewhere I can stop and just live a little.
LYRA (grinning): Sounds lonely.
HUNTER: Not if you’re there.
She stares at him, caught off guard. A beat of silence. The tension is thick but warm.
LYRA (teasing): That was almost smooth.
HUNTER: Almost?
LYRA: You’ll get there, eventually (laughs)
They share a smile that lingers longer than it should. From a distance, Soren groans.
SOREN: Oh great, they're flirting again. Can I jump off the cliff now or later?
LYRA (calling back): Go ahead, I’ll push you if you want!
Everyone chuckles. The mood feels almost… normal.
EXT. BURNT COASTAL OUTPOST – LATER
They arrive at an abandoned fort along the cliffs, charred walls, shattered glass, and banners bearing Nox’s black sigil, torn and faded.
ALERIC: This was a guard post. Nox’s forces raided it months ago.
ARIADNE (uneasy): Then why does it still smell like smoke?
The group exchanges tense looks. Kael kneels beside a scorch mark, touching the ash. His fingers tremble slightly.
KAEL (quietly): Cause they used Everflame. That leaves a smell that takes decades to vanish. But something else has just happened here...
Before they can respond, they hear a groan nearby: a survivor, crawling from the rubble. His body is burned, his eyes wide with fear.
SURVIVOR (gasping): He… he was watching you… the whole time…
He collapses, dead. Silence. Hunter glances around, every instinct screaming.
HUNTER: We move. Now.
EXT. COASTAL CLIFFS – NIGHT
The storm has started to build: faint thunder, restless waves. The group camps on a small plateau. Everyone’s quieter now. Lyra tends the fire; Ariadne stares into the flames. Kael watches them all with something unreadable in his eyes.
ARIADNE: Do you think we’ll make it to Krystal Sands in time?
KAEL: We’ll make it. We have to.
A strange flicker passes over his face.
ALERIC (stretching): Let’s just survive this storm first.
They all lay down to rest.
EXT. CLIFFSIDE – LATER
The others are asleep. Hunter wakes and notices Kael walking off into the storm light. He follows him through the wind.
HUNTER: You alright, mate? You’ve been quiet since what happened in Veritas.
Kael stops, doesn’t turn.
KAEL (softly): I’ve been trying to forget it...
HUNTER: You’re part of this team, you can talk to us...
Kael finally turns, eyes darkened by shadows and lightning.
KAEL: You don’t understand, Hunter. I was never apart of this team.
The sky cracks with thunder. The ground trembles: veins of dark light crawl beneath his feet. Hunter steps back, hand to his blade.
HUNTER (shocked): Kael… what did you do?
KAEL: I tried to fight it. I really did. I thought maybe being near you all would make this "quest" way easier... but I can't stand any of you. You're bunch of worthless people who are just delaying my inevitable win.
His voice deepens, echoing. Lightning flares, the mark of Nox burns across his chest, glowing. The others wake, rushing to the cliff side. Lyra stops near Hunter. Ariadne gasps, eyes wide.
ARIADNE: Kael…?
SOREN (shocked): Kael... is Nox!
He looks at them one last time... a hint of sadness flickering beneath the rage.
KAEL/NOX: I warned you. The end was coming. You just didn’t realize I am the one that's going to make it happen.
The air erupts into darkness and light. A shockwave sends them all flying back. When the smoke clears, Nox is gone. Only the earth remains scorched with his sigil.
EXT. CLIFFSIDE – MOMENTS LATER
The group stands in stunned silence. The sea crashes below, and the sky begins to calm.
LYRA (quietly): He was using us this whole time.
HUNTER (broken whisper): And we trusted him and leaded him right to where he wanted. He's going after Stormfall... if he reaches it first...
Ariadne looks toward the horizon, the same dark storm Kael vanished into. It's near the border of the Krystal Sands region...
ARIADNE: We better run, then. Because I think he's there already.
The groups watches the storm. They know nothing will be the same after tonight!
END OF ACT ONE - "THE JOURNEY"
END OF EPISODE