Joy and Sorrow

  A dim moonlight pours through the dark clouds. In the night sky, a heavy iron bird — the AC-130 Gunship — glides silently. The interior of the plane is lit only by the faint glow of red lights. The heat of the metal can be felt with every vibration. 

  The scene begins from one corner: Elf warriors sit in silence. One loosens his belt, tending to a scratched wound. Another, eyes downcast, touches the white cloth stained with blood on his knees. Beneath the cloth lie the bodies of five fallen young warriors. — Elf Soldier (whispering): — Beneath this white cloth rest the five… our comrades who were laughing just yesterday… The soldier sitting next to him nods, swallowing hard to keep his tears from falling. The silence inside the plane is broken only by the roar of the engines. One soldier rises and heads toward the control room. 

  Moris sits in the front seat — eyes fixed on the monitoring screen in the sky. His hands tremble, but his expression remains calm. The soldier knocks lightly on the door and enters. — Elf Soldier (softly): — Master… five soldiers… they are dead. They were all young warriors recently joined from the forest. Moris remains silent. The sound designer lowers the engine roar, leaving only the hiss of the wind. The camera slowly moves closer to Moris — his eyes deep in thought. Moris (slowly): — …it’s my fault. (a pause) I shouldn’t have sent the young warriors into battle. This — this is my mistake. As a scientist, I couldn’t calculate everything. (his eyes drop) When we reached the forest… you may punish me. The soldier startles, quickly responding. — Elf Soldier (more firmly): — No, Master! Without you, we would have been wiped out in that market. You are the one who freed our people from slavery. Those soldiers died heroically. We owe them everything. 

  Moris clenches his fists and takes a deep breath. Moris: — Courage sometimes arises from foolishness… But I promise — this mistake will not happen again. He stands up and looks back. The camera follows him, showing the bodies wrapped in white cloth. The red light falls on the cloth, making it appear as if it were tinged with blood. Moris (thinking): — “Science should have been a tool to preserve life… and I turned it into death.” — Elf Soldier: — Master… according to the general count — thirty-one elf girls have been freed. Moris slightly lifts his head. Moris: — Good… then let us show them the sky of their homeland. 

  Tonight — let it be the night of freedom. At that moment, the camera moves outside — the plane cuts through the night sky, leaving mist and smoke trailing behind. Next scene. A palace frozen in ice. Moonlight reflects off the ice, carried by the night wind. Darrion stands on the ice. In his hands is an icy gun. He sees the yellowed sky, the distant twinkling light in the night. — Elf Girl (excitedly): — Look! Something huge is coming toward us! The camera rises — the AC-130 descends from the dark clouds, its lights illuminating the ice below. Darrion raises his head, lifts his gun to the sky, signaling. Moris, observing from the cockpit, lowers the plane. Strong wind and snow blow, ice cracks as the plane lands, steam rising. Elf soldiers jump from the aircraft, securing the perimeter. Moris steps out onto the ice. Moris: — Darrion, how did the operation go? Darrion (smiling): — Master, the mission was fully successful. All elf girls have been safely rescued from the palace.

   Moris: — Did the ice gun perform as you expected in the battle? Darrion (proudly): — An excellent weapon. The force of the ice shatters the enemy defenses in one strike. Thank you a thousand times, Master. Moris: — Good. Then put everyone on the plane. Darrion: — Are you all right? Moris: — Don’t worry. All elf slaves have been freed. Darrion: — That is wonderful news. Then let’s return. Darrion escorts the freed elf girls onto the plane. They look back at the ice-covered palace — a cold memory of the past. Next scene. The wind blows. Under the moonlight stands Kail, an axe on his shoulder, eyes filled with weariness and contentment. Beside him are seven freed elf girls. They look to the sky — the distant sound of the plane’s engines reaches them. After a few seconds, the lights appear. The plane lands. The door opens, and Darrion jumps out. Darrion (laughing): 

   — Savior hero, you’re alive?! I thought you were dead! Kail sighs heavily, lifting his axe. Kail (calmly): — Don’t worry, Darrion. I’ll die after you. Darrion smiles slightly, placing his hand on Kail’s shoulder. Darrion: — Don’t say that. We are now warriors of a free land. The elf girls board the plane, taking their seats. Engines roar to life, and the plane lifts off again. Below — the palace covered in ice and blood, above — the light of new hope. (Moris thinking): “Today we freed 43 lives. But for that, we lost 5. Science and war can never truly be balanced… Yet, perhaps, on the path of freedom, everything is in its place.” The plane shrinks under the moonlight, disappearing into the horizon. Dawn breaks. Golden rays touch the forest canopy, glinting through thousands of leaves. At that moment, a heavy sound echoes — the AC-130 Gunship circles the sky, slowly descending. The camera moves from above — the heart of the elf forest. Thousands of elves gather, looking to the sky. Hope and joy are on every face. 

   The wind blows their pale hair, and soft music begins to play. — Elf Girl (smiling, tears in her eyes): — He… He’s back! The plane! Suddenly, the roar of the plane’s engines grows louder, landing in the forest clearing. Strong wind stirs dust, leaves flying around. Elves surround the plane, cheering loudly. The plane door opens. Light spills out, and through the white smoke, the freed elf girls begin stepping out one by one. Their faces streaked with tears, they run to their families. The camera slowly circles — one hugs her mother, another her sibling, another kneels, pressing to the ground, giving thanks to God, a mix of sorrow and joy. In the center of the scene: Elder Eldran hears the voice of a girl among the crowd. — Elf Girl (running): — Father!.. Eldran turns — his lost daughter runs toward him. The camera shows their run slowly — time seems to pause. 

  She reaches him, embraces him. Eldran, tears flowing, presses his head to hers, voice trembling: Eldran: — My daughter… you are alive… you are alive… I thought you were dead… The elves nearby also wipe their eyes. The camera shifts. Kail and Darrion descend from the plane. Both are tired but composed. They approach Eldran, bow slightly. Eldran: — A thousand thanks to you, my heroes. My people are free because of you. Kail (shaking his head): — Elder, the honor is not ours. All thanks go to Master Moris. Without him, we could not have achieved such victory. Eldran pauses, glancing behind him. Moris steps down from the plane. His attire is covered in dust and blood, but his eyes are deep and calm. Eldran slowly approaches Moris. All elves fall silent. Music slows. Eldran (softly, with emotion): — I am sorry… for not valuing a person like you and trying to drive you from the village… And yet you risked your life for us… I sincerely apologize, Moris. 

   Moris (softly smiling): — It’s nothing, Elder. Every living being makes mistakes. Mistakes are not sins; failing to admit them is. If you understand this… how could I not forgive? Tears come to Eldran’s eyes. He approaches Moris and embraces him. The camera spins, showing the faces of the elves around them — all applauding. But suddenly, Moris lowers his voice: Moris: — Today’s joy… is mixed with regret. We lost five heroic soldiers. (Music slows abruptly, wind howls.) Elves fall silent. The bodies wrapped in white cloth slowly come out of the plane. Sunlight filters through the forest, turning the cloth golden. The relatives of the elves rush, crying. Mothers, siblings, friends… but others hold them back, calling for calm. Eldran (raising his voice): — These warriors died for freedom! Their names will live forever in our history! From today, their names will be engraved on the stone walls of the forest! All elves kneel. Silence descends. Only the wind and distant bird calls are heard.

    But at that moment — the sky darkens. A flock of crows flies out from the clouds, filling the area. Elves tense, taking up their bows. — Elf Warrior: — They’ve come for the bodies! Defend! Elves line up before the corpses. But suddenly — the crows stop circling, and one large black crow lands in the center. The camera slowly zooms in. On its back stands a mysterious woman in a black hood and cloak. She places her hand on the hood, removing it to reveal animal ears. This is Gurgaria. All elves take a step back. — Queen Mia (sternly): — What are you doing here? Gurgaria (with a cold smile): — Queen, I did not come for you. My business is with Moris. If anyone blocks me… I warn you, I will destroy them. Elf soldiers aim their weapons. Mia steps forward, raising her hand to stop them. Moris (stepping forward): — Another test? Do you want to show your power like before? Gurgaria: — No. Our king… wishes to speak with you. He sent me to bring you. Mia (suspiciously): — I know what your King Ragnar might be thinking. If you intend harm against Moris, we elves will declare war on you! 

   Gurgaria (calmly): — Queen… King Ragnar respects Moris, not threatens him. We cannot fight and reduce our people. Our numbers are already few… Silence falls. Everyone waits for Moris’ decision. The camera slowly moves to his face. Moris (softly): — Queen, do not worry. I will go. He drops his weapon. Approaching Gurgaria, he mounts her large crow. 

   Mia (voice trembling): — Moris!.. Moris glances back with a smile: — Don’t worry. This is only the beginning. The crow spreads its wings, soaring into the sky. Leaves are carried by the wind, casting night shadows over the forest. The camera pulls back. Elves below watch Moris flying through the sky.