Old Scars, Chapter 4: Part 1.1

Page 74 Panel 1: In a long hallway with stone walls, a tall woman dressed in a modest light brown top with a matching skirt appears from a portal. You can see the mystery woman's hands marked with what looks like dust, illuminated by a seemingly unearthly glow as she walks.

Panel 2: Cut to a shot of a subordinate a handful of steps away who notices their boss coming by; their body language tensing up at attention as they speak.

MEENA

(apologetic, translated from Finnish) Goddess Louhi. I--I know you don't like to be interrupted while in quiet contemplation. But there's been a development: an organic lifeform has tried to cross.

Panel 3: We move to an action shot of LOUHI taking off her hood, revealing a woman of middle age with fiery red hair that matches her equally red eyes.

MEENA

(Cont., Off-Panel) A mortal human, to be precise- native to the time

LOUHI

(intrigued, to Meena) Did you find out what to do with the fleshy remains, Meena?

Panel 4: Meena nods enthusiastically, moving forward a few steps ahead of her boss; the sense of joy leaping out of her voice as she speaks.

MEENA

It took a while to figure out, compared to extracting his life force. Not to mention factoring in the climate where we landed.

Panel 5: Cut to the two of them a short time later, looking at the man in question (his back to the reader) standing a few feet from them.

Caption

(Cont., Meena)

"But I think I found a relatively inconspicuous placement for it!"

LOUHI

What about the Empty Slate?

MEENA

It's ready for whatever use you see fit, anything from drone work to providing suitable feed for the familiar.

Panel 6: We move to a close-up of Louhi looking the formerly living person up and down, pondering each option in real time.

LOUHI

Good to know...

Page 75

Panel 1: Cut to a shot back in Oulu of Grem and T finding a parking spot just in front of the market later that night. You can see a few buildings in the background illuminated by rudimentary street lights

Caption

(Cont., Louhi)

"...especially if we encounter any stragglers before the master plan is initiated."

Panel 2: Close-up on the immortal Irishman a few moments later, taking a deep smell of the air as he closes the door without looking.

GREM

(over the moon) Ahhh...nothing like the aroma of gears and fermented grain to excite the spirits!

Panel 3: We move to a shot of T on the driver's side, chuckling and flashing an agreeing grin to the sentiment.

T

If you say so...! I still have to secure lodging for us for the next few days. So, I'll be out for roughly an hour.

Panel 4: At the front of the car, they stop at the hood of the car; their left hand tapping a section on the hood, activating an armored shell that covers the Timmi.

T

(Cont.) Promise not to get into too much trouble before I return.

T

(Bubble 2; reacting to Panel 5, Bubble 1) Fair point. Now...

Panel 5: Mr. Allen nods respectfully at the question a beat later, flashing a look of respect back mixed with a sense of charming playfulness as well.

GREM

You have my word. Unless I encounter a loud idiot, then...can't really guarantee as much.