The Elven Council

   Mia (frowning, thoughtful): – This poses a danger to both our soldiers and the common folk. If food runs scarce, our army will weaken. [At that moment, the door creaks open. Lukas enters. His chest is held high, face filled with both joy and urgency.] Lukas: – Queen Mia, honored elders! I bring you great news. Mia (raising her hand): – Speak, Lukas. [Lukas unties the pouch from his belt and carefully places a weapon on the table. When light falls on it, the metal gleams – it is a SIG MCX rifle.] Elder 2 (snickering): – What is this? Just a small piece of iron, like a glove… Lukas (eyes burning with fire): – This is a new weapon created by Teacher Moris. It shoots from afar like a bow, but a hundred times more powerful. With just one pull – thirty shots are fired, and an enemy squad can be wiped out in an instant. Mia (skeptical): – You claim it surpasses the bow? But by its appearance… it seems too small.

  Elder 3 (waving his hand): – A trick of the eye, no doubt. What could possibly come of this? Lukas (standing firm, voice steady): – Then see for yourselves. Let us go to the training ground. --- Scene: Training ground [Outside the palace, a wide field. Targets are set: thick wooden planks, stone statues. Mia, the elders, and several soldiers gather. Lukas takes the rifle in hand, loading it.] Lukas: – Watch closely! [He takes aim and pulls the trigger – flames burst forth, the weapon roars, and bullets fly faster than the eye can follow. 

  The targets shatter instantly, splinters and stone fragments exploding into dust. Everyone stands stunned.] Elder 1 (rubbing his eyes): – This… how is this possible?! Mia (stepping forward, unable to hide her astonishment): – Such a weapon… no one has ever held before. Lukas (inspired): – Now imagine! If a single soldier bore such a weapon, he would equal ten. And if we had a hundred – they could stand against thousands! Elder 2 (still doubtful): – But how is it made? What material is required? Lukas: – Only Teacher Moris knows. But he told me that such weapons require a great deal of metal. Therefore… (kneeling) my Queen, grant us permission to leave the forest and seek this metal. Mia (face hardening): – Truly remarkable. Teacher Moris always brings forth what lies beyond thought. But this is a great decision. We must consult with the elders. Wait until evening, Lukas. Lukas (bowing): – As you command, my Queen. --- Scene: Moris’s workshop [Evening. The workshop is filled with the smell of iron and the sound of clinking tools. Moris works on refining metal. Lukas rushes in.] Lukas: – Teacher! I told them everything. The Queen and the elders were astonished. But the final decision will be made tonight. 

 Moris (smiling): – This is only the beginning, Lukas. There won’t be just one type of weapon. The bow itself has countless variations. Lukas (curious): – So this is only one kind? There are others? Moris (chuckling): – Of course. Come, I’ll show you. [He waves his hand slightly. A magical storage opens, glowing with light. One by one, various weapons appear neatly arranged on the table: pistol, revolver, machine gun, sniper rifle, bazooka, submachine gun, shotgun.] Lukas (jaw dropping): – All of these… different weapons? Each seems like an invention on its own. Moris: – Precisely. For example, this is a revolver. Small, convenient. You can carry it in one hand with ease. [Lukas picks up the revolver, turning it around.] Lukas: – It truly is light. Nothing like a bow. Moris (showing an M60 machine gun): – And this is a machine gun. It can fire hundreds of rounds. But it is heavy. Without strength, carrying it is difficult. Lukas (lifting it): – No, Teacher. It is not heavy for me. [His eyes fall upon a long weapon with a scope – the sniper rifle.] Lukas: – And this one? Moris: – That is a sniper. It shoots with precision at great distances. 

 Targets out of reach of others can be struck with it. [Lukas looks through the scope, aiming at a distant bird in flight. The bird flinches mid-air.] Lukas: – Amazing! [He cannot hide his wonder.] Lukas: – Teacher… did you invent all of these? Moris (smiling, thinking inwardly): – Not invent, perhaps… but I found a way to make them. Lukas (earnestly): – Then you are truly a genius. Moris: – Choose one, and I shall gift it to you. Lukas (hesitant): – No, I cannot accept such a precious thing. Moris: – Don’t be shy. [Lukas thinks, then chooses the revolver.] Lukas: – Then I’ll take this. Because it is fast. Moris: – Good. Add your magic to the weapon, and its power will grow. [Lukas closes his eyes, letting a faint flame spell flow from his palm into the revolver. When he fires, the bullet bursts aflame, setting the target ablaze.] Lukas (delighted): – Incredible! Now I am no less than the fire mages. [He pauses, regret appearing on his face.] Lukas: – Teacher… when you first came to the village, I was one of those who opposed letting you in.

  I apologize for that. Moris (smiling warmly): – There is nothing to apologize for. What matters is that we learn to find a way together, rather than clash. Lukas (bowing his head): – You are truly a wise man… [At that moment, a crow caws outside. The camera rises, showing a dark crow perched on a branch, one eye glowing violet, watching Moris and Lukas.] The crow’s violet glow flares, and suddenly the scene shifts into a cave. A dark cavern, unlit by torches, only a strange violet flame flickers in one corner. Before it sits a woman cloaked in black, hooded, with a bone staff etched with silver talons. Around her perch dozens of silent crows. Their eyes glow blood-red, save for the largest one – whose violet gaze is fixed on Moris. The woman slowly raises her head, staring into the flame where Moris’s image flickers. A mysterious smile curves her lips. — “Lira en’amin, shael tiris elan thirrin…” — she whispers in a melodic, magical tongue. (Curious… I never thought I’d hear such words from a human.) With her hand, she draws across the flame, and the image sharpens, showing Moris and Lukas. At that very moment, Moris was saying to Lukas: “Instead of clashing with one another, we must learn to build good relations.” The woman’s face remains in shadow, but her smile shows wonder more than hatred. — “A human… yet different from the others. He speaks not of war, but of harmony. This is… not what I expected…” — she murmurs. The crows stir with faint caws. The woman taps her staff gently against the ground, lowering her head.

  — “Let us see… whether you truly mean your words, or if it is but fleeting…” The flame extinguishes, the cave returning to darkness. Now we see the Queen and the Council of Elders. The camera glides through towering forest trees, revealing a great council hall built within their trunks. A magical chandelier shines from above, light spilling across a marble table where white-bearded sages gather. Their faces reflect heavy thought, caution, and doubt. Queen Mia wears her golden crown, seated at the center. Her gaze is steady, though a storm brews in her heart. --- First Elder (leaning forward, tapping the table with his finger): – This weapon… truly a marvelous creation. A strong armament would serve us well against the kingdom. Even brute force could be stopped. Second Elder (frowning, waving his hand): – But did they not say it requires vast amounts of metal? We have none. All the mines are in the kingdom’s hands! How could we possibly proceed? Eldran (weak but firm voice): – No… not all mines. One remains unused. The elders exchange glances, murmuring. Third Elder (astonished): – Why unused? Did no one ever go there? Eldran (closing his eyes, breathing heavily): – Because it is occupied by the great mithril lizard. Its hide resists magic. It is perhaps the only creature that nullifies our spells. Its skin is so tough, ordinary weapons cannot pierce it. Without magic, it is nearly impossible to face. Fourth Elder (raising his hand, voice sharp): – Exactly! No matter how much metal we need, we cannot throw our soldiers to their deaths. To fight the mithril lizard is to seek death! Another elder (thoughtful): – Yet we cannot leave our land defenseless… 

  A land without soldiers is a weak land. And a weak land will be devoured by the kingdom. Queen, the decision lies with you. The camera closes in on Mia’s face. Her eyes move across the elders, listening to each word. Silence fills the hall – all await her voice. Mia (calm, but firm): – I cannot deny either side. Yes, we need weapons for defense. But the lives of our soldiers are just as precious. To sacrifice them would be a grave sin for both me and you. She rises slowly, leaning on the table as she speaks. – I believe this task should be entrusted to Moris. For we have seen time and again: he has found paths where none seemed to exist. He discovered solutions we could not. Thus, the wisest choice is to trust him. Elder Dari (straightening, mocking): – But he… is a human. 

  A stranger to us. Shall we entrust our fate to him? A heavy silence grips the hall. Some elders nod, agreeing with Dari. The camera swings sharply to Mia – her face flush with anger, eyes blazing. Mia (with a voice thundering across the hall): – Enough! The hall falls dead silent. Crows outside take flight in fright. Mia (enunciating every syllable): – Do you still bind him by the word “human”? Does it mean nothing to you that Moris is the hero who saved our forest? Where you trembled, he stood firm. Where you doubted, he found answers. He is our ally! She slams her palm on the table, voice rising. – From now on, any who dare belittle Moris as “human” shall answer directly to me! Silence hangs heavy. The elders avert their gazes. Eldran smiles faintly, nodding. 

  Dari clenches his teeth, saying nothing, lowering his eyes. The camera slowly pulls away, rising above the tall forest trees, into the azure sky. The council’s decision – the task is entrusted to Moris.