Old Scars, Chapter 5: Part 4.2

Page 119

Panel 1: ...and tumbles back out to Terra Firma in the blink of an eye onto a field a few miles outside of the Sampo.

Panel 2: The young person comes back to their feet a few seconds later, letting out an annoyed sigh after the action.

T

(with a yell)

NAIDA!

Caption

(Louhi)

"My apologies...they were going to be a distraction."

Panel 3: Back to Louhi a beat later with a stern, stoic look on her face, standing a handful of steps away from Grem.

LOUHI

(Cont.) Your compatriot was correct in one regard, though. The time for chatter has very much reached its end.

Panel 4: A two-part set of panels that focuses on Mr. Allen's face, showing for the first time the sense of pain and unease plastered over his face connected to the answer.

LOUHI

(Cont., Off-Panel) Is it a yes, or a no?

GREM

(thought bubble) Every part of my heart wants to say yes, stretching back to the 1st anniversary of their passing. But what joy could I possibly get, knowing it came to be on the backs of millions and millions of people? I...

Panel 5: In the second part, he looks up at the sorceress with as much certainty as the immortal Irishman can muster and with the same level of sadness as before.

GREM

(Cont., speaking) ...I gotta decline your offer, Louhi.

LOUHI

(Off-Panel) What a shame...!

Page 120

Panel 1: Cut to a shot of Louhi a beat later, giving a "c'est la vie" shrug connected to the end of the previous page.

LOUHI

(Cont.) I'd hoped you would say yes- would've made for some heartwarming entertainment, personally. But you are merely human. Bad decisions are ingrained in so much of your stories...along with the requisite consequences.

Panel 2: Action shot of the sorceress' hand as it snaps in a casual manner; a flicker of light just above and to the right.

Panel 3: We move to space where, from a massive moon of assembled ghost rockets, we see one dislodge and make its way toward Earth.

Panel 4: A set of four screens appears behind her over the course of moments, highlighting every corner of the planet touched by the Sampo.

Panel 5: Grem looks on with befuddlement at the whole display, trying his very best to uncover what's happening. You can see Louhi watching on to the right confidently.

GREM

By the Gods...!

LOUHI

Welcome to "The beginning of the end," to use slightly tweaked Shakespearean vernacular.