Summon Night: EXTRA

2

Scene: A Clearing in the Forest

(Maruo and Kelly walk together through the forest, with Kelly leading the way, confidently swinging a stick she picked up. Maruo glances over at her, still curious about her introduction.)

Maruo: "Um, Kelly… you said you’re from Acro Land, right? What… what’s that?"

Kelly: (smirks, giving him a side glance) "Figures you’d ask. Acro Land’s only the strongest kingdom in all of Lyndbaum." (she says this with a hint of pride, puffing her chest out) "It’s where the real warriors live, you know?"

Maruo: (eyes widen) "Oh… wow. So you’re… a real princess from a kingdom of warriors?"

Kelly: "That’s right! But don’t think being a princess means I just sit around all day. I can swing a sword and fight just as well as anyone else. Well, maybe better than you, anyway."

(Maruo’s face flushes slightly, feeling a mix of admiration and embarrassment at her confidence. Just then, they hear a loud voice from behind them.)

Ronald: (gruff and booming) "Well, well, what do we have here? A couple o’ kids lost in the woods?"

(They turn around to see a large, muscular man with rough, weathered skin and a thick beard. He’s wearing simple, rugged clothing and has an easygoing grin that makes him look a bit less intimidating, despite his towering frame.)

Kelly: (unfazed, with a smirk) "And who’re you supposed to be? Trying to scare us with all that muscle?"

Ronald: (laughs heartily) "Nah, not my style, little lady. Name’s Ronald. I’m just passin’ through, but I got an eye for trouble, and you two looked like you could use some help." (he looks down at Maruo) "Especially you, kid. You look like you’ve seen a ghost."

Maruo: (fidgets nervously) "I… um… well… there is trouble. Big trouble." (he lowers his voice, looking away) "People in my village think I did something terrible… because of an accident with my Summoning. Now, everyone’s… scared of me."

Ronald: (frowns, scratching his chin) "Wait a minute, you’re sayin’ they’re treating a little guy like you like some sorta criminal? Over one mistake?"

Maruo: (nods, barely holding back tears) "They’re… they’re even talking about having me… executed." (his voice quivers as he struggles to get the words out)

(Ronald’s face darkens, and he clenches a fist, clearly upset at hearing this.)

Ronald: "Now, that’s just wrong. Little squirt like you, shouldn’t be treated like that no matter what you did. You’re still a kid!" (crosses his arms and nods) "If ya ask me, people back there oughta have some sense knocked into ’em."

Kelly: (nods in agreement, glancing at Maruo) "He’s right. If you ask me, it sounds like they’re blaming you because they’re too scared to face the real problem."

Maruo: (looks up, surprised) "You… you both really think so? That it’s… not all my fault?"

Ronald: (claps Maruo on the back, almost sending him off balance) "Of course! No way a kid should be holdin’ the weight of a whole disaster. That’s just folks bein’ unfair." (grins) "So tell ya what, I’m taggin’ along. Might be fun to knock a few heads if anyone tries to mess with ya."

Kelly: (smirks at Maruo) "See? Now we’ve got some muscle on our side. And don’t worry, Maruo. We’ll figure out a way to clear your name."

Maruo: (smiles shyly, feeling a little more hopeful) "Thank you… both of you. I… I feel a little braver already."

(With Ronald now joining their group, they set off together, ready to face whatever lies ahead in hopes of redeeming Maruo and uncovering the truth behind the evil force he accidentally summoned.)

[Scene Ends]