Unexpected Difficulties

  At that moment, the door creaks open. A tall elf in a green robe steps inside. Elf: — Good morning, honorable Moris. Moris: — Welcome. Please, have a seat. Who might you be? Elf: — My name is Logan. I raise cattle here in the forest. Mostly I keep bulls. But in recent months, we’ve run into a problem: our bulls have shown no activity at all… the herd isn’t growing. What could this mean? Moris smiles thoughtfully and replies. Moris: — I see the issue. 

 Your bulls’ natural hormones seem to have weakened. That’s not hard to fix, there’s a solution. Logan (hopeful): — So, it can be treated? Moris: — Of course. I’ll prepare a special stimulant for you. Just mix it into their water before they drink. Then your bulls will regain their energy. Logan: — And what do you ask in return? Moris (waving his hand casually): — Just a little beef will be enough. Logan (delighted): — Certainly! Thank you, Moris! Logan rises, expressing his gratitude, and leaves. Next scene. Moris returns to his desk, mixing various compounds, experimenting under a burning lamp. In his hands are different colored liquids. After several trials, at last, a thick red fluid emerges. Moris (pouring it into a vial): — Done. Now I’ll call for Logan. 

 He places the vial on the table and steps outside. The camera shifts. The laboratory door opens again, and Darion enters. As always, he wears his loosely tilted cloak. Darion (looking around): — Where is Master? His eyes fall on the vial on the table. Inside, the bright red liquid glistens in the sunlight. Darion (curious): — Hm… what’s this? Red-colored… must be a new elixir. Master never creates anything harmful. On the contrary, it must be good for health. He picks up the vial. Darion (joking): — Maybe it’s a strength elixir. If that’s true, then I’ll be the first to test it. Ha-ha! Without further thought, he gulps it down in one go. At first, he feels nothing. Darion: — Doesn’t seem to do anything… After a few seconds, suddenly his vision darkens. His body trembles, and he collapses toward the floor.

  The camera slows. The vial falls and cracks on impact. Darion’s hand fails to catch the edge of the table, and everything clatters to the ground. Darion (weakly): — Master… I only wanted… to test it… After these words, he faints onto the floor. Silence fills the laboratory. Darion lies unconscious on the ground. The glow of the burning lamp falls across his face. Moris enters through the door and immediately notices him. Moris (alarmed): — Darion! What have you done?! He rushes over and lays Darion on his back, checking his pulse and breathing. Moris (gritting his teeth): — He has a pulse… his heart is racing. But his body is burning hot. He sees the empty vial on the floor. His eyes widen. 

 Moris (to himself): — Fool… he drank the dose meant for ten bulls all at once. His body couldn’t handle it, so he passed out… Moris shakes his head and sighs heavily. Moris (muttering): — I don’t even have a counter-agent ready… we’ll just have to wait… Just then the door creaks open, and Logan, Lucas, and Kail step inside. Logan (startled): — Moris, what happened? Darion… he’s collapsed?! Lucas (worried): — How is he? Moris (calmly): — Don’t worry. He’s fine. Right now… he’s absorbed the strength of ten bulls. Logan (bewildered): — What did you say?.. He drank the medicine for bulls? Moris (nodding): — Exactly. The three glance at each other, barely able to hold back laughter. The camera zooms in. Darion’s brow twitches as he slowly regains consciousness. Kail (joking, patting his shoulder): — Hey, Darion! Get up! Something else woke up before you did. Everyone bursts into laughter. 

 Lucas (joining in): — Ha-ha-ha! Well said! Darion squints his eyes open, confused at what’s happening. Then he suddenly notices the uncomfortable changes in his body. Darion (shocked): — Wha… what’s happening?! My heart won’t stop racing… I’m sweating… what is this?! Lucas (teasing): — Congratulations, Darion. The “secondary awakening” process has begun! Kail (snapping fingers): — Ha-ha, that’s a great name! Darion (upset): — Don’t mock me! Master… I’m not dying, am I? Kail (grinning): — Not “Am I dying?” Say, “Are we dying?” You’re not alone anymore… there are two of you now! Everyone erupts in laughter again. 

 Darion, flustered, shifts angrily. Moris (stern but with a hint of humor): — You’re not dying. But the medicine you drank was meant to stimulate bulls. I don’t have a cure right now. My only advice—endure it for eight hours. And don’t look at any girls. Otherwise… things will get complicated. Darion (panicked): — Master, how can I walk around the village like this?! That’s impossible! Lucas (mocking): — Then tonight you’ll be the night guard. After all… your “club” is already prepared. Darion (furious): — Lucas! Stop right now… or I’ll beat you up! Lucas (smirking): — With your club? The rest burst into roaring laughter. Kail (adding): — Master, don’t say “don’t look at girls”… say “don’t let them look at girls.” He’s not alone anymore… now there are two! Logan (shaking his head): — You people are unbelievable… Moris (serious): — Enough. Stay with Darion. 

  Don’t leave him alone. And keep him away from girls. Lucas (mocking): — So now we’re his “guards.” Kail (teasing): — Exactly. He needs special protection. Darion (angry and embarrassed): — Enough already! You’ve gone too far! Scene shifts. Moris turns to Logan and bows slightly. Moris: — Forgive me, Logan. Tomorrow I’ll prepare another one for you. Logan (raising his hand): — Don’t worry. It turned out to be quite the comedy anyway. The camera slowly pans out. Inside the laboratory, laughter and awkwardness fill the air. Darion sits blushing, deeply troubled by his condition. The camera then shifts to the village street. The sun is setting, the sky glowing crimson. Moris walks with the group, carrying a bag. Ahead, Lucas and Kail laugh together. Darion walks behind, frowning, struggling to control himself. Lucas (still full of energy): — Master, where are we going? Or are we just out for a stroll? Moris (calmly, with measured tone): — Not a stroll. I’m observing the experiment. I want to see… who has ever witnessed what happens when a man drinks the dose meant for ten bulls? Hearing this, Lucas almost bursts into laughter. Kail, walking beside Darion, smirks and teases him. 

  Kail (gesturing mockingly): — Hey, Darion, can I hang my clothes on you tonight? I don’t have a hanger… Darion nearly explodes, turning red. Darion (angrily): — I’ll kill you right here and now, hang your head upside down! Kail (mocking): — Ha-ha-ha! With what will you kill me? With your club? Or… some other “tool”? Lucas joins the laughter. Darion is about to lose his temper completely when suddenly Lira appears ahead. The camera shows her carrying a basket, smiling warmly at the group. Lira (cheerfully): — Good evening, everyone! As the group greets her, Darion quickly turns away. The camera zooms on his nose—blood immediately starts pouring out. Lira (surprised, approaching): — Darion… are you upset with me? Why won’t you look at me? Darion tries to say something, but only groans, clutching his nose. His condition worsens every minute. Lucas jumps in. Lucas (teasingly): — No, no, Lira! He just can’t look at you. Your beauty overwhelmed him. Lira (confused): — What are you talking about? What beauty? Kail bursts out laughing. Kail (joking): — Darion’s not alone right now. His “companion” has joined him. Darion tries to shout, but his voice won’t come, and blood gushes again from his nose. Moris steps in to settle the situation. 

  Moris (calmly): — Lira, don’t worry. Darion’s just feeling a bit unwell. Nothing serious. You should go on. Lira (nodding slightly): — All right… then take care. She leaves. The camera shows Darion holding his head, nearly collapsing to the ground. Lucas and Kail are in hysterics. Each time a girl greets them, Darion’s nose bleeds again and again. The camera repeats this as a running gag. Scene shifts to Darion’s house. Night has fallen. A large wooden house glows with lantern light inside. When the group enters, Lucas and Kail look at Moris. Lucas (sighing): — Master… are we guarding him again tonight? Kail (shaking his head): — Look at him… you don’t even want to stand next to him tonight. 

  Darion slams the table in frustration. Darion (shouting): — I’ll put an end to your laughter… right now! Moris calmly opens his bag, pulling out an ampoule. Moris (quietly): — Darion. Tonight you won’t fall asleep on your own. Your hormones are far too active. That’s why I’ll give you a sedative now. Darion, startled, raises his voice. Darion (upset): — Master! Why didn’t you do this earlier? Why make me suffer along the way? You could’ve just put me to sleep immediately! Moris (narrowing his eyes with a faint smile): — No, I had to observe the experiment. If you collapsed, I would’ve had to carry you.

  And that would’ve been unnecessary work. Kail bursts out laughing. Kail (teasing): — Master’s right. Besides, we got a whole show out of it. Lucas (nodding): — Yeah, it kept us entertained on the road. Moris approaches calmly, placing a hand on Darion’s shoulder. Moris (seriously): — Enough now. Time for rest. He injects the sedative. The camera zooms on Darion’s eyes: he tries to speak angrily, but within seconds his eyelids close, his body relaxes. He falls onto his bed, sinking into sleep. In the final shot, Lucas and Kail glance at each other, chuckling quietly. Moris exhales deeply, staring out the window.

  Moris (inner monologue): — Sometimes science leads to ridiculous situations. But still, observation is necessary…