Lumière, City of Light and Shadows The sun dipped low, setting the sky aflame with reds and golds. Crowds gathered silently around the towering monolith. Gustave held a single crimson rose, trembling.
Gustave: “Sophie.”
She turned slowly, eyes brightening.
Sophie: “Gustave. I was hoping you’d come.”
He offered the rose, voice catching.
Gustave: “For you.”
She accepted it, tucking it into her bouquet.
Sophie: “Thank you. It’s beautiful.”
They stood together, heavy silence wrapping them.
Gustave: “I wish things were different.”
Sophie (softly): “So do I. But this is our reality.”
The crowd fell quiet as the Paintress appeared, her brush poised. In one fluid stroke, she painted the number 33 on the monolith. A gasp rippled as those touched by the curse—aged thirty-three—began dissolving into white and red petals, drifting away like forgotten dreams. Sophie smiled through tears, voice barely a whisper.
Sophie: “Goodbye, Gustave.”
She vanished, leaving only the rose behind—still vivid, still real.
Night settled over the harbor. The expedition gathered, faces etched with loss but burning with resolve.
Gustave: “We sail at dawn. No more will suffer.”
Lune: “We’re ready.”
Sciel: “For them.” Maelle, quiet but fierce: “For hope.”
Landing on foreign shores, the silence shattered. A cane struck the ground—once, twice—echoing as if the earth itself spoke. An old man with a scarred eye emerged.
Expeditioner (uneasy): “How did you survive the Gromage? Are there others who surviv-?
No reply. A swift cane strike—head fell. Panic erupted. The man killed again, cold and silent. Only Gustave, Lune, Sciel, and Maelle escaped, hearts pounding, questions burning.
Maelle (voice shaking): “Who was he? Why?”
Deep in the woods, a new friend awaited. They met Esquie—a towering teddy bear with a glowing sun face.
Esquie (cheerful): “Mon ami! Help me find my rocks—they help me fly, swim, dive, and break stones. I could do it alone, but where’s the fun?”
Laughter lightened the mood. Together, they found the first magical stone, Florie, sparkling like sunlight on water. Esquie splashed joyfully, swimming beside them.
At the cliffs, a moment of levity turned to terror.
Maelle, inspired, said, “Why don’t we throw rocks at the Paintress? I know you love it.”
Gustave grinned, searching for the perfect stone—then suddenly, a slash tore through the air, striking him down.
Maelle: “Gustave!”
The white-haired stranger, Renoir, blocked her path with an invisible wall.
Gustave, gasping: “For those who come after.”
Maelle screamed at Renoir, who finally spoke—cold, but with something deeper beneath.
Renoir: “it was Necessary, Alicia. You wouldn’t understand.”
From above, a figure dropped—silent and fierce.
Verso: “You won’t touch her, Renoir.”
Renoir (softly, almost pained): “Verso…”
Verso: hmph…
Verso lifted Maelle onto Esquie’s back. They fled, hearts pounding, swimming into the dark.
Safe aboard Esquie, silence settled.
Maelle: “Who are you? Who is that man? Why did he do it?"
Verso (quiet): “I’m sorry I couldn’t save him.My name is Verso. I am immortal—part of Expedition 0. His name is Renoir, part of expedition 0 as well...
At Monoco’s station, a familiar face awaited. Monoco, stubborn and fierce, afraid of giant ice Nevrons—Stalacts—but too proud to admit it.
Verso: “Monoco, old friend.”
Monoco (gruff): “Verso. What do you want?”
Verso: “Will you join us?”
Monoco: “Never again after last time.”
Verso: “This expedition is different. There will be many Nevrons ahead.”
Monoco (grudging): “Hmph. True.”
Verso: “And much fighting.”
Monoco: “I’m in.”
Together, they set their sights on the Ruins of Elyra, where the Paintress’s secrets await.
Maelle (steady): “This is only the beginning.”
The wind carried their promise onward, into the uncertain dawn. A new day breaks, sunlight glimmering through the trees.
Esquie bounds ahead, a furry beacon of joy. They enter a clearing, and there, they find the Ruins of Elyra. Stone pillars stand like silent sentinels, their tops lost in mist.
Sciel: wow…