(low distant howling)
(eerie echoing music)
- [Regent Voiceover] Too
long has the curse of magic
corrupted our people.
After tonight, it shall be no more!
(cheering)
- [Tasken Voiceover] Here they come!
(swords clanging)
(grunting)
(screeching)
- [Erden Voiceover] Arcker!
[Arcker Voiceover] Erden!
(painful yelling)
No!
- [Regent Voiceover]
Your flawed leadership
has cost my son his life, general.
- [Arcker Voiceover] That mountain festers
with unnatural powers.
All who set foot on its
slopes are dead men.
(bold pleasant music)
- [Irana] Magic,
a word I learned to shudder
at like all good children.
The Ancients' used its power
to sustain their lands against decay.
But my people have rejected the old ways.
Little did my father suspect that one of
his very own servants was
one of these Ancients.
How he discovered the truth I do not know,
but my heart tells me
that if my tutor dies,
all hope may die with him.
(grunting)
Balrien!
(angry yelling)
- Bury it.
Maybe that will stop this pestilence.
- Father?
- Stay there.
- Arcker!
- Irana?
- Papa!
- Adara, wait!
- Go!
- Oh, 'Dara, you've gotten so big.
- I haven't been up Oriud since.
- My brother died.
- There's a reason that
mountain's forbidden, Irana.
What is he, and what do you
seek on the cursed mountain?
- He's my tutor.
- And a Minnorin?
In my home!
- He's dying, Arcker!
- At your father's hand, no doubt!
One of the few things
I don't blame him for!
Magic is a cursed thing Irana.
- Arcker, we came to you
because you're the only
person that I trust.
We came to you for help.
- Look around, Irana.
How could I possibly help you?
- There is a fountain that is hidden
at the top of Oriud.
The water from the pool will mend
the damage your people have done.
- My people?
And where is this fountain, Minnorin?
I know that mountain
better than any living man!
- The location of this fountain is,
Here!
- You're not thinking of
helping them, are you?
You know what Minnorin are capable of.
- But I can't let Irana go without me.
If something were to happen to her.
- Arcker,
you can't change what
happened to her brother.
- But I can't let her befall
the same fate on the slopes
of that bloody mountain.
- Think of your family, Arcker.
We can scarcely feed
ourselves with you here.
- If it's your family
you're worried about,
I can see to it that
they're well taken care of.
Take it.
You can use it for food,
or sell it for land.
What ever you need it's yours.
Arcker,
please.
- My daughter's been taken by a Minnorin.
You will be granted sanctuary
from our purging if you find
them and bring her back.
Alive.
- Do you think he'll actually come?
- Don't fret, young one.
Let's practice your lessons while we wait.
A moment spent well is a moment.
- [Irana And Balrien] Worth spending.
- We can't just wait like this.
You're still wounded.
- The forest heals me.
- Only to make you die more slowly.
- If you'd prefer to dwell upon that.
Now, close your eyes,
hmm?
Hold out your hand.
What do you feel?
- A log?
- Good, young one!
What is the log meant for?
- We could use it for firewood,
or to build a house,
or furniture?
- Your thoughts are far
too small, young one.
You tell me the uses of the log.
What is the log meant for?
Think, now.
- (deep sigh) It, it was
placed here by the Brethren
for rodents to store food,
shelter.
(wood snapping)
- Calm yourself, it is
only your friend and,
two companions.
- Oooh, a lucky guess.
- My luck is good, that it is,
but there are far more powerful
things that I am privy to.
- Well, we best be moving.
We'll want to be well into
the forest by nightfall.
- Dear friends, if we could
just pause for a moment,
this old body of mine needs a rest.
- We should keep moving.
- We have been moving for hours,
perhaps a short rest is not a poor idea.
- And what if something is following us?
- He's wounded, Arcker.
- The faster we get to the top the better.
- We are safe for now.
I can sense every living thing around us.
- Well, aren't you just
full of surprises, Balrien.
Come here, Irana,
He seems very calm, Irana.
Even if he's healed, your father
still going to be after us.
- I know, you've said as much before.
- Irana, I have said as much before,
but you have not listened before.
Now listen to me.
It seems to me that he has
something else in his head.
That there's something else he wants to do
up there that he's not telling you.
Some reason he doesn't have
to worry about your father,
Why are you not listening to this, Irana!?
- I've been listening to you!
I'm not a child, Arcker.
Arcker.
- I'm not going to stand by while you
follow him with such blind loyalty, Irana!
- You're here for your
protection, not your leadership!
We both know where that got my brother!
Arcker.
- I won't have your death
on my conscious, Irana.
Take care of her.
- Arcker, wait!
- We must keep moving, child.
He'll make his own decisions.
(growling)
- Balrien, what is to
happen once you are healed?
- When the Brethren created this world,
they imbued everything with a purpose,
locked deep within their very core.
Every stick, every animal,
every person has a purpose.
- You're no answering my--
- Only by knowing the meaning the Brethren
breathed into its creation
can we unlock its abilities.
Do you understand what I'm saying?
- Only Minnorin can summon,
magic.
- [Tasken] Look out!
- I thought you said you could sense them!
- As did I, but something's amiss.
(shrill screeching)
(screaming)
(shrieks)
- I'm the Regent's daughter, let me go!
(screaming)
(laughing)
So, this is the bounty hunter
my father sent to pursue us.
Balrien will destroy you.
- Yes, the Minnorin.
He's been close to you
for a very long time.
- Who are you?
- I am the ambassador of a dying world.
I am one who will resurrect himself
from the ashes of your country.
- Is that so?
Let me go, and I'll teach
you what death really is.
(cackling)
I don't know what bargain
you have with my father,
but I know you have to take me back.
You can't hurt me.
- Foolish girl.
I only have to bring you back alive.
(screaming)
- I could hear her screams
echoing through the valley.
Shaone take you, forest spirit!
You left her behind!
- As did you!
- I was trying to help her!
You've brought her nothing but harm.
- Stop.
- No, you will stop, sorcerer!
- If you knew and saw what she will soon,
you'd know this is greater than any of us.
- What are you about now?
- That creature that attacked us,
is merely a shadow of things to come.
- Truly?
- Your world is dying, Arcker.
You know this, your people have rejected
the gifts of the Brethren
for far too long.
Without their presence,
all life will fail.
- You blame us?
Your kind controls nature, Balrien!
You let this world decay.
Tell me, forest spirit, can
you fix every around us?
- No,
I,
I cannot.
- I thought not.
- Not alone.
- (chuckling) Hunt me now!
But try not to stray too far,
princess,
we'll be back for you after
we feed on the Minnorin.
- Balrien!?
Arcker!
Balrien?
(weeping)
Help me.
- [Balrien] When we first saw Irana,
we knew she could hold the secret
to bringing life back to Ephrim.
So I disguised myself as an old man
and began to teach her
the ways of the Brethren.
- (crying) What is the purpose in this?
- [Arker] That's too heavy
of a burden for one girl.
Does she know of your designs?
- I never told her,
but rest assured my discovered
identity was no mistake.
The Brethren are working tirelessly
to bring life back to this world.
Irana is going to have
to accept the strength
that the Brethren have placed in her.
- Magic?
In the rocks, even?
What were you made for?
Strength,
support.
- That is why I must survive,
I cannot leave until her
training is complete.
We are all meant for something,
as she will soon know.
- And if she does not?
- No!
- Then I believe all truly may be lost,
for our time.
- I can almost
taste him.
You are alone, Balrien.
And the forest cannot
sustain you against me.
Now come and feast with
me in everlasting death!
(groaning)
(screaming)
- [Irana] Arcker!
The life of the forest is
meant to illuminate my way.
- You may have seen your way here,
but I give off no life that you can see!
- Exactly.
(gasping)
(exploding)
Balrien?
His light is fading.
- Let's go!
- Balrien?
- (chuckling) Dear child,
you are a fast learner.
You are indeed the one that
will restore life to your world.
- No, I can't
- Now bite your tongue for once.
Arcker is on the right path.
Show him what you have learned.
Together, you will be the first seeds
to raise a forest from this charred land.
Now that you have learned to
truly see,
regain your sight once again.
Now you are ready.
And as for you..
You've more than repaid
your debt to her brother.
I have it on quite a reliable authority.
Now,
goodbye,
to you both.
- Balrien?
- Keep it.
I think I know what happens
now when we get him to the top.
(pleasant music)
