Old Scars, Chapter 3: Part 1.3

Page 52 Panel 1: Meanwhile, at the area between the precinct and the cells, Sym falls to their knees after attempting another magical intervention to break the deadlock. You can see an assortment of other magical papers on the ground in the background.

SYM

(frustrated sigh) Feels like I've been caught in a never ending loop!

Panel 2: Action shot of the faeman a few moments later back in a standing position, pacing in a line in front of the papers examining the previous spells in a moment of contemplation.

SYM

(Cont., to themself) Maybe something more straightforward is the best path forward. I've never tried 'porting via a loop, but what else can...

Panel 3: They stop pacing a beat later, entranced by the sound of singing drifting in from the off-panel right direction.

SYM

(immensely hopeful, carefully listening) Praise Gaia. I know that voice like I know the beats of my hearts...!

Panel 4: Same setting/layout as the previous panel. Sym goes back to the small notebook they pulled out earlier, flipping through the pages in a fit of inspiration that began in Panel 3.

SYM

(Cont.) Dimitri, you beautiful jewel of a man! You just gave me the perfect idea to break this impasse.

Panel 5: They find the page a few moments later; a grin coming across their face as they speak, with the focus out to the reader and over on the page.

SYM

(determined, gently tossing the book in front of them) Goddess guide my hands...

Panel 6: With the book floating in front of them, in the bottom half of the panel view, the faeman moves on to the recitation of the spell.

SYM

(translated from Romani) Energies of the world, sharpened. Focus on the sound, my Earthly Heaven Dmitri Muhkin...

Page 53

Panel 1: A three-part set of panels that focuses on the POV of a metallic base in the lower half of the panel, quickly moving somewhere. In the first part, the bulk of the landscape is a highly colorful kaleidoscope; the musical notes of Dimitri's singing drifting in the top half of the panel.

Caption

(Cont., Sym)

"Cut through the defenses, complex and tough..."

Panel 2: In the second part, the kaleidoscope shifts toward a slightly darker color scheme with a more grounded look than the previous panel.

Caption

(Cont., Sym)

"Built by the minds of men, brutish and worshipping death..."

Panel 3: In the third and final part, the kaleidoscope fades and you can see faintly in the distance one of the rows of cells holding prisoners in the precinct. You can also see the musical notes drifting from the panel left direction.

Caption

(Cont., Sym)

"For nothing in existence will ever defeat..."

Panel 4: Action shot of the metal bar crossing past a few moments later to the panel left direction. You can see some of the other prisoners looking off, not noticing the (invisible to them) lifeline.

Caption

(Cont., Sym)

"Three hearts synced eternally to a single beat!"

Panel 5: Cut to a shot of Dimitri a beat afterward. He's stopped singing, noticing the lifeline appearing in front of his cell door.

DIMITRI

(taken aback, translated from Russian) It worked. My sweet angel...praise God!

Panel 6: We widen the setting out slightly to show their daughter Eva in the corner of the cell, standing up and walking toward the front door.

DIMITRI

(Cont. excitedly, to Eva) Eva, come on! We're breaking out.

EVA

(slowly, to Dimitri; translated from Russian) One second, Father...