[FADE IN: A LUSH, SUN-DRENCHED HILLSIDE]
The screen blooms into color. A soft breeze rolls over emerald grass that dances like silk under the golden morning sun. The wind whistles through tall vender flowers and crystal-leafed trees, scattering glowing pollen into the air like tiny fairies.
In the shade of a mighty tree with twisting roots and silver bark, a young elf girl lies sprawled in the grass.
She hums softly, matching the birdsong above โ a melody almost as old as the forest itself.
[CAMERA ZOOMS IN]
We finally see her face. Lyria. Maybe 8 or 9 years old, with short white hair that flickers in the sunlight like moonlight through snow. Her bright emerald eyes shimmer with wonder, and her tiny pointed ears twitch at every sound.
โLyyyyriaaaaโฆโA voice, far off. Gentle. Familiar.
She blinks, her ear giving a soft flick.
โLyyyriaaa~!โ
She sits up slowly, rubbing one eye.
โHuhโฆ?โ
And then โ
โLYRIA!!โThe voice now loud and ughing.
โYES, YES, Mama! Iโm coming!โ
She scrambles up, brushing grass off her dress made of stitched flower petals and soft vines.
[SCENE TRANSITION: COZY FOREST HOUSE]
We pan to a beautiful wooden home, nestled into the side of a hill, like it was grown rather than built. Ivy coils around its curved edges, and tiny spirit lights drift zily near the door.
Inside, we see Lyriaโs mother โ an elf woman with long brown hair, tied back, and sharp bck eyes full of love and exhaustion. She stirs a pot over a gentle fire, wooden dles floating around her with small glowing runes. She turns, holding a wooden bowl full of colorful fruit sad.
โEat up, sweetheart. Mamaโs got a full day ahead.โ
Lyria nods and takes her spot at the low table.
[SLOW ZOOM ON Lyriaโs FACE]
She lifts a spoon of glowing fruit, bites it, andโHer eyes flutter shut like sheโs tasting heaven.
Munch... munch...
Soft chewing sounds. Timeโฆ slowsโฆ
[2 minutes pass...]...munch...munch...Her head tilts.
[5 minutes pass...]Sheโs still eating. Like a sleepy squirrel....munch...muuunch...
The screen slowly zooms closer to her tiny mouth.
Munch......Munch...
Her eyes droop. Her ears droop. Thenโฆ
YAWN. A huge, zy, happy yawn.
Suddenly โDING-DING! The front bell jingles.
โIโm back~!โ
A deep male voice calls out from outside.Lyriaโs ears perk up. Eyes light up. She bolts to the door.
โPAPA!!โ
She throws it open, and we see a tall elf man standing in the sun, wiping sweat from his brow, carrying a satchel full of herbs and scrolls. His smile is warm and soft โ the kind of smile that feels like home.
She leaps into his arms, and he lifts her up effortlessly.
โLook whoโs still sleepy, huh?โ
โPapaโs home! Papaโs home!!โ
[CAMERA PANS UP โ BRIGHT BLUE SKY]
Birds fly overhead. The wind carries ughter across the trees. For a moment, the world is perfect.
But somewhere, faintโฆ barely audible...
A single tick... tick... tick... echoes again.Just for a second.