“Choir”:
Two groups of equal power co-exist in the same Universe and in the same world;
because of an unknown reason between them, the hands of ones are stained with
the blood of the others. A song of peace can be heard; the leader of one side
wants to stop the other, but something chases the leaders, and only their
sacrifices can destroy and bury the hatred of their races. Watch the result, the
ghost of death and pain brought by their fights! Stare at the hatred of this two
gangs, that seems to be never-ending, even if their leaders die!
(Choir leaves)
Act
1
Scene
1
A
field inside Agoe
Layan
1, Layan 2, Orakian 1, Orakian 2, Rulakir, Lune, Tutor, Alair, Orakian Officer,
King of Agoe and his guards.
Layan1:
I won’t tolerate any other offense, by our mighty leader!
Layan2:
What do you mean by that?
Layan1:
I mean that if I come across an Orakian, oh Light, have mercy of him! We should
teach him who’s the boss...
Layan2:
Can’t you think in another thing than in them?
Layan1:
They just annoy me. Their existence is a nuisance to me. They just go there, so
cocky, thinking they are right...
Layan2:
And if they don’t walk cockily, you think they are, so you can start a fight,
uh?
Layan1:
Someone must tell them who’s right and who’s not (grins).
Layan2:
You’ll never learn, will you?
Layan1:
Oh, friend, how can I explain this to you? My blood boils when one of them meets
my gaze... Someday, I’ll be known as “the nightmare of the Orakians”....
Layan2:
If that’s so, then get ready and prepare your staff, that there are two
Orakians coming...
(Orakian
1 and 2 appear)
Layan1:
You had so many doubts, but don’t worry, the moment has come... and you
won’t doubt about me from now on.
Layan2:
I’ll start laughing at them. Do the same. If they don’t react, they are mere
chickens.
Orakian1:
(quite upset by the Layans attitude) Are you laughing because of us?
Layan1:
Hey, pal, what should I answer?
Layan2:
That you aren’t.
Layan1:
(now facing the Orakians) No, sir. I have just remembered a great joke, that’s
all... I’m a very happy guy, as you can see...
Orakian1:
Do you both want to fight, don’t you?
Layan2:
Fight? Oh, no... we aren’t barbarians, like you.
Orakian2:
(who has been watching the argument silently, until he fed up) So we are the
barbarians? I thought that you were, using monsters in your battles and
attacking from far away...
Layan1:
Well, well, it’s enough. If you want a fight, you have just asked for one, as
I’m the best guy for that kind of things. Take your filthy sword out, our
leader is as great as yours...
Orakian1:
(interrupting) But not more!
(A
“dual duel” takes place. Layans and Orakians are fighting the best they can.
A group of people has gathered around them, watching and encouraging both sides.
From afar, Rulakir can be seen rushing to the place)
Rulakir:
What are you doing?!? Stop fighting! You don’t know what you are doing! (gets
in the middle of the group and tries to stop the fighting)
(Lune
appears)
Lune:
Oh, look who’s here, among these villains! Turn back and defend yourself,
Rulakir of Landen, your death may be at my hands! (he picks his slicer)
Rulakir:
I have just arrived and I’m trying to stop this stupid fighting. Can’t you
do the same to end up this matter peacefully? Put your slicer back and help me,
for your leader’s sakes! I think she wouldn’t approve of this... Don’t
think this is an act of coward, but a smart move.
Lune:
You think that speaking about peace is a smart move? Don’t make me laugh!
Talking about peace, being one of the heads of a robot army! That’s coward!
(stands in battle pose) We’ll finish what they begin, in the way we all like!
Rulakir:
Can’t stop your instincts, can you?
(More
people arrive, and the crowd gets bigger and bigger)
Townsman
1: Get ready! Bring your weapons! We’ll show them that we don’t want any
more fight here!
Townsman
2: You may not want any more fight! Let them finish them off each other, and the
problem will end up as soon as it began!
(Tutor
and Alair arrive)
Tutor:
What’s the matter here? What’s this mess? Anyway, bring me my slicer,
quickly!
Alair:
Don’t bring anything! Call the King, instead! He’ll end up this conflict
easily! Stop fighting you two!
Tutor:
Alair, shut up and go away! You only bring problems to the battlefield. You
don’t know how to handle this and you are easily driven by your feelings. Let
me handle this situation.
Alair:
You won’t handle anything. The King is coming.
(King
of Agoe and guards appear)
King:
Stop it all of you! How do you dare to bring hatred and fight to this neutral
land of Agoe? What has happened here? Rulakir, you begin.
Rulakir:
When I came here, I found two groups, one Orakian, the other Layan, fighting. I
tried to stop the fight, but then Lune came and started a duel with me. Then,
more people came, and then you, Your Majesty, appeared and stopped everything.
King:
Is that so, Lune?
Lune:
When I came, he was in between those men who were fighting... so I thought he
had encouraged the struggle... I’ve tried to stop them... in my own way.
King:
Nice way you have to end things up. (Turning to the crowd) Women and Men of
Agoe: if you see any of those gangs struggling in our city, you will not take
part on any side. Instead, you will let the Guards know, and they will seize
them. (Turning to Rulakir, Lune, Alair and Tutor) In what your problem respects,
if you cause any trouble here, in the city, you will be expulsed from Aquatica,
receiving no help from us or from our allies. Now you may all leave.
(King
and Guards leave)
Tutor:
(ironically) Great job, Lune... You couldn’t have done it better. Let’s go
back to our Headquarters!
Lune:
Don’t think it’s over, you filthy Orakians!
(The
Layan Clan leaves)
Rulakir:
Great! We are in a delicate situation. (Facing the Orakian crowd) If any of you
start a fight with a Layan, or gets involved in something similar, you’ll be
expulsed from our army! So, don’t even think in talking with a Layan, not even
fight one, unless you do it in self-defense, but please, don’t take the term
so lightly. I mean, don’t start a fight for nothing. Now, you may leave... but
remember: don’t start a fight for no big reason!
(everyone,
except an Orakian Officer, go away)
Orakian
Officer: I think that they understood... I apologize for their misbehavior
today, that ended up in this menace from the King.
Rulakir:
Don’t worry... They couldn’t keep calm in a moment like that. I understand
them. Anyway, what is done, is done. We must be extra-cautious from now on. The
Layans won’t miss any chance to make us mad...
Officer:
I wonder how will Orakio react when he hears about all this...
Rulakir:
He’ll take it calmly... He always reacts like that.
Officer:
Talking about him... I haven’t seen him for a while... Where could he be?
Rulakir:
He’s been quite thoughtful lately. He must be in the outskirts, or even at the
Headquarters... It’s difficult to know. He must be planning a new tactic to
make the Witch’s army surrender.
Officer:
I think he’s thinking too much about that. (sigh) Both of you shouldn’t be
here. You are wasting time here. It’s our –the army’s- duty to protect
Landen...
Rulakir:
We can’t stay at Palace as if nothing is happening. Don’t worry so much, we
are old enough to face this kind of things, and we can’t take care of
ourselves without any help... Oh, look! Here comes Orakio.
Officer:
Anyway, you should live your life as it had to be. The boy has heart, but he
should do other things more than saving the world.
(A
young, dark green-haired man, Orakio appears)
Rulakir:
Orakio! Where have you been?
Orakio:
I’ve been at the Fortresses. I have just arrived, but I have heard
everything... We are in a nice situation, aren’t we?
Officer:
Please, just take it easily. I’ll be at the Fortresses, if you ever need me
(Orakian
Officer leaves)
Orakio:
He sure is in a hurry...
Rulakir:
Orakio, don’t you think that you spending too much time thinking about the
War? I know that it’s our duty to protect our people from Laya’s evil
schemes, but you’ll get crazy if you go on with this rhythm.
Orakio:
Maybe you are right... It’s just that I want to find a way to stop the Layans
for once and for all... They are turning our world into an immense battlefield,
and someone must stop them.
Rulakir:
But you are only thinking in battle strategies, not in peaceful manners.
Orakio:
I know. The diplomatic part wasn’t successful, so we had no other choice to
start the armed War if we wanted to go on living and to protect our people. But
I think that I have something within me that it’s pushing me to go on with the
fighting, not with the diplomacy. I would like to know what kind of thing is
pulling me to go on with this.
Rulakir:
Come on, bro! Are you chickening out? Now that we are so close? We must stop
them here if you don’t want them to reach Landen.
Orakio:
I just want to know what drove me to this... what’s more, I want to know if
Laya has the same feeling that I have.
Rulakir:
You want to talk to her? After she refused thousands of times? She’ll just
kill you if she catches you off-guard.
Orakio:
Maybe... but I still want to try...
Rulakir:
So, all our armed victories are senseless...
Orakio:
They aren’t , but... better forget it. Let’s go for a walk and I’ll tell
you my last tactics.
(Orakio
and Rulakir go away)
Scene
2
A
street in Agoe
Tutor,
Lune and guard from Agoe; then Orakio and Rulakir.
Tutor:
It won’t do! We should be more cautious now! We can’t let this plan to
collapse so easily in less than half an hour!
Lune:
You are right, Sir. I’ll give orders to the soldiers to behave properly and
I’ll punish the ones that don’t want to obey our new orders.
Tutor:
Do whatever you want with your subordinates. That’s your problem. Now,
Alair... (stays thoughtfully, waiting for Lune’s answer)
Lune:
(annoyed) What’s the matter with her?
Tutor:
You should make her quit from this. Those pacifist actions aren’t suitable for
our plans. They should be banned. You’ll have to think about something, ass
she’s your sister. Unless you want me to take care of that topic.
Lune:
I’ll talk to her, but she won’t change her mind...
Tutor:
(interrupting him) It’s been ages since I have been listening that
old-fool’s tale. Nothing has changed. You should try another tactic to shut
her up.
Lune:
What do you want me to do? To send her back to Sushoran until the War ends?
Tutor:
It wouldn’t be a bad idea, but it’s your choice. She’s your sister, not
mine. I would have done something like that a long time ago if I were you.
(calming down) Ok, talk to her. But if you can’t convince her, or at least you
can’t prevent her from acting like today, I’ll talk to her... and she
won’t like that. Now, let’s organize everything for tonight. Hey, you!
(calls the guard). Deliver these invitations (hands him in a huge amount of
letters). We would be delighted if anyone who isn’t Orakian comes to the
meeting we will held tonight. Hurry up! Everybody must be aware of the meeting!
(Tutor and Lune walk away; a strong breeze knocks down all the letters from the
gard’s hands; Orakio and Rulakir appear).
Rulakir:
(continuating their chat) It’s a risky, daring plan... but wonderful, anyway.
However, rest a while, enjoy your life, find a gal... (the invitations strike
their faces) Oh, what’s this?!? (both of them start picking up the “flying
papers” and then they order them).
Orakio:
(handing in the letters he caught) Here you have. You should be more careful
next time. (changing his tone of voice from a “paternal style” to something
friendlier) It’s going to be a huge party, isn’t it?
Guard:
Thanks (he picks the papers). Don’t say it twice! One of those gangs is giving
one tonight for all the well-known people of the city in that big house across
the fountain located in the park. If you aren’t Orakians you may go. You look
so fine that nobody would notice if you aren’t rich. Thanks for everything,
young men. I have to go. (goes away)
Rulakir:
Well, well, well... luck’s by our side, bro. We should go and maybe you’ll
meet that witch. Isn’t it your desire? I suppose it will be easy to find her:
old, ugly, her face full of wrinkles, evil “shinning” through her whole
being...
Orakio:
Are you so sure?
Rulakir:
about what?
Orakio:
First about Laya’s appearance. Many Layans have the same image we have about
her, but with us. I don’t think it’ll be so easy.
Rulakir:
I know. I said that to cheer you up, bro! C’mon, you are being much to trusty
lately.
Orakio.
Maybe you are right... But do you think we should go to that party?
Rulakir:
Of course! Nobody will recognize us if we go woth other clothes and without our
family’s symbol. What’s more, they could recognize me but not you, as they
hadn’t seen you anywhere but in the battlefield. And you can’t see quite
well there...
Orakio:
I hope you are right. If things don’t go as expected, everything will be
spoiled.
Rulakir:
Oh, you are thinking too much about this...
(they
go away)
Scene
3
A
room at the “Layan hideout”
Alair,
Layalin and Laya, then Guard.
Alair:
Hey, Layalin, where’s your sister? She should be ready by now...
Layalin:
I don’t know. I’ve already called her, but I’ll do it again. (starts
calling her sister) Laya! Come on, lazy gal! When do you intend to appear?!?
Alair:
You are shouting too much.
Layalin:
But it’s the only way to make her come. See?
(Laya
appears, visually pissed off by her sister’s screams)
Laya:
I’ve already heard you, sis. Do you need to shout so much? (noticing Alair)
Oh, hi Alair.
Alair:
Finally! You won’t arrive on time if you go on like this.
Layalin:
Don’t bother with that. She was always like that. She takes so much time to
get ready. Once, when we were at our home in...
Laya
(interrupting her) Just shut up, pipsqueak. I wasn’t feeling well.
Alair:
You should better listen to your sister, little Laya.
Layalin:
Don’t call me like that! How many time had I told you that? It’s awful. Just
add the “lin” suffix to my name, will you?
Alair:
(a bit tired) If there’s no other way... Now, Laya, I want to talk to you.
Layalin:
Should I leave?
Laya:
If you want to... You’ll end up listening, either here, or peeping throught
the keyhole.
Layalin:
Well, I’ll stay.
Alair:
Now, answer me sincerely. Why had you organized this sort of party for the
richest people in Agoe? Are you going to say “Hello people. My name’s Laya
and you are all conquered by me now”?
Laya:
Ho, nice situation, but it’s not like that. You know me, Alair.
Alair:
I should say that you surprise me every day.
Laya:
Why’s that? However, I’ll just persuade them to join us peacefully. We have
already Cille and Shushoran in our hands. If we get Agoe, we get Rysel as well,
as that tiny spot depends completely on Agoe, and the whole world of Aquatica
will be in ours. And this would be done in a peacefully way, as you want.
Alair:
When I talk about peace, I mean to talk with the Orakians to stop this war, not
persuading rulers with social events...
Laya:
You must be kidding.
Alair:
Why are you so stubborn? Why do you want to go on fighting? Don’t you know
that there have been lots of lives lost?
Laya:
It’s not your business. Follow me or stay behind; it’s just as simple.
Alair:
You should...
(Guard
appears)
Guard:
Lady Laya, everything is ready. They are waiting for you.
Laya:
Tell them I’m going. (turning to Alair) We’ll go on talking later.
(They
all go away)
Scene
4
A
street
Night.
Orakio, Rulakir and Mark Wrenn.
Orakio:
Ok, geniuses, how are we going to get into that Mansion?
Mark:
By the principal door, pal. We aren’t thieves, so we can go through it as
normal people. If they recognize us (thing that I doubt), bad luck. Anyway,
we’ll stay a bit, just to see the sort of parties those Layans give.
Orakio:
I’ll stay near the door. I’m too tired to enjoy...
Mark:
Oh, come on! Enjoy once in a while. You are a Palman being, after all. You need
to rest and enjoy the little pleasures life has in stock for us. Get rid of your
position, at least for tonight. You’ll have time to think in new strategies,
as I’ll have to upgrade the Mieu types. Oh, goodness! I’m talking about
work! Rulakir, please say something to shut me up!
Rulakir: Oh, stop, crazy guy. Come on, Orakio, everything will be
alright.
Mark:
What’s the matter?
Rulakir:
He wants to talk with the Witch to stop the War, but he’s afraid someone will
recognize him before even approaching her.
Mark:
So that’s why you are unhappy. Forget about your duty for a little while.
We’ll get into that party, and, who knows? Maybe there are some cute Agoians
or peaceful Layan girls waiting for us. Let’s forget our duties for some
hours.
Orakio:
I’ll be near the door and tell you to escape if something is suspicious.
Mark:
Poor Orakio! So young, just three years younger than me, and he has to cope with
one of the biggest and most difficult situations I’ve ever seen, not having
time for his personal life or to enjoy like a normal guy! All the things that
normal people consider ”ordinary” are like a luxurious pleasure for him!.
Oh, Light! How could you let this happen? Now that I think of it, why had you
let this War to start? And why
can’t it be finished? We would all lead normal lives. Orakio and Rulakir would
be normal people, while I’d be working in a weapon store, with my pretty lady
by my side. Oh, Lise! Why had you been there at that moment? Why...?
Orakio:
Mark, please stop. Crying and cursing won’t bring Lise back again.
Mark:
I know. I shouldn’t have talked. Oh, wind! Oh, night! Please bury my previous
speech in your darkness...
Rulakir:
And now he starts to digress... Come on! That wind and that night that you
summon are telling us to hurry if we don’t want to arrive in the morning.
Orakio:
I don’t know... I think that something strange is going to happen... No,
it’s just me. Come on, guys, we don’t want the party to finish without us.
Rulakir:
Let’s go!
Mark:
Layans, there we go!
(They
go away)
Scene
5
A
room in the Mayor’s house
Lots
of people dancing and chatting, then Tutor, Orakio, Rulakir, Mark, Lune, Laya,
Alair, little Laya.
Everybody
is dancing. Orakio is next to a column staring at Laya.
Orakio:
(stopping a servant) Excuse me. Who’s that lady over there, next to the
picture of the King of Agoe?
Servant:
I am afraid I do not know. It is the first time I have ever seen her. Excuse me
(he goes away in haste)
Orakio:
(thinking) She seems someone important. Could she be the Witch? No, she’s too
young, too... innocent looking to be her. I’ll talk to her. Maybe she can help
me.
Lune
(after staring at Orakio for some time): Those features... they aren’t Layan.
It makes me remind that Rulakir. Could that be Orakio? (he picks his slicer)
I’ll never know if I don’t do anything about it.
Tutor:
(smiling) Lune! Come here right now! (now, next to him, the smile fades) What
are you doing with that? Would you like to spoil everything?!?
Lune: That man over there (points Orakio with his finger), I’m sure he’s an
Orakian.
Tutor:
he looks like Rulakir. Could that be Orakio?
Lune:
It must be him! That filthy rat...
Tutor:
Shut up and come with m! You’ll ruin everything if I leave you alone.
Lune:
But...
Tutor:
But nothing! Come here, I tell you! At least, we now have an idea about how does
he look like.
(They
go away)
Orakio:
(next to Laya): It’s a lovely night, isn’t it?
Laya:
(surprised, and back from her thoughts) Yes... indeed. But I would like to be in
any other place than this...
Orakio:
You are fed up of the War, isn’t it?
Laya:
I would rather not touch that topic... As you said before, it’s a lovely
noght, so why should we spoil it? I just want to relax.
Orakio:
You are right, let0s froget about the War. (staring at the window, which is
above them) Do you dance?
(Laya’s
eyes are wide opened, “Layalin” appears)
Layalin:
(to Laya) Sis, Tutor’s asking for you...
Laya:
(to Layalin) Alright, I’m going. (to Orakio) Excuse me, I have to go. (goes
away)
Orakio:
(to Layalin) Who’s that lady?
Layalin:
You don’t know? She’s the head of our group, Laya. She’s quite cute and
powerful, but don’t stand in her way when she’s angry... I wish she wasn’t
so moody...
Orakio:
Aha... thanks (goes away)
Orakio:
(mumbling) Oh, Goodness....
(Rulakir
comes to where Orakio is, along with Mark, who seems a bit too ‘happy’)
Rulakir:
The party is almost finished. We should go now...
Mark:
Hey, who was that chick you were with? She seemed fine for you...
Orakio:
Yes, it’s time. Let’s rush to the exit
Rulakir:
Hey, it’s not so late!
Mark:
What? The girl didn’t like you, so you want to escape?
(They
go away)
Laya:
(to Alair) Alair, do you know who’s that guy who’s leaving now, alongside
with that long, blonde-haired guy and that short, curly brown-haired one?
Alair:
Oh, my...! I don’t know, but that blonde-haired one is Rulakir from Landen, if
I’m not wrong... I saw him this morning.
Laya:
(a bit pale) Oh, I see... But, why? What would he want here?
Alair:
Let’s go inside... now you’ll tell me all about it!
(They
go away)
End Act 1