The War King
Chapter 2: The Game of Pairs
---
PAGE 1
Panel 1: Flashback. A military training ground. Soldiers of Garden practice handling lances. In the background, Commander Kio, still in armor, walks beside a small pony on which Leo is perched, now about 6 years old. The child is serious, observing every movement of the men with attention.
Panel 2: A robust soldier, Pio, approaches laughing, wiping sweat from his brow. He points his thumb toward Leo.
Pio: "Hey, Commander! Found yourself a mascot? Where'd you dig up this little guy?"
Panel 3: Kio places a protective hand on Leo's leg.
Kio: "This is Leo. I… adopted him, in a way. He lives at the barracks now."
Pio, mouth agape, bursts into thunderous laughter.
Pio: "YOU? A family man? The Earth will stop spinning! Hahaha!"
Panel 4: Kio smiles, but his gaze is serious.
Kio: "Don't mock him, Pio. Look at him closely. I see in him the greatest general this kingdom has ever borne."
---
PAGE 2
Panel 1: Pio stops laughing, intrigued. He watches Leo who, from atop his pony, follows the trajectory of an archer's arrow with abnormal concentration.
Pio: "A future general, huh? He looks pretty frail for that."
Panel 2: Suddenly, a small energetic voice pipes up.
Young Bart: "Uncle Pio! Uncle Pio!"
A boy about 5 years old, with tousled hair and a radiant smile, runs toward them. It's Bart as a child.
Panel 3: Young Bart stops, out of breath but beaming.
Young Bart: "Train me today! I want to become strong, like you!"
Pio (laughing): "Always so impatient, my lad! Here, here's a partner your age." He points to Leo. "Leo, this is the son of an old brother-in-arms. Bart."
Panel 4: Bart turns his smile toward Leo. His eyes sparkle with curiosity and friendly challenge.
Young Bart: "Hi! Wanna train with me?"
Leo, from atop his pony, looks at him without saying anything, then gives a slight nod. It's the beginning of their duo.
---
PAGE 3
Brutal transition.
Panel 1: PRESENT. Two horses gallop at full speed on a dirt road winding through rocky hills. Dusk tints the sky orange and purple. Leo and Bart, in travel clothes, push their mounts.
Panel 2: Close-up on Leo's face, focused.
Leo: "Faster, Bart. We must reach the Aho domain before nightfall."
Bart (smiling despite the effort): "Are the bandits that fearsome? A little diversion would do us good, wouldn't it?"
Panel 3: Leo gives him a sidelong glance.
Leo: "Direct action is a waste of energy and an unnecessary risk. It dirties the clothes and delays the objective. Let's flee the pests, not fight them."
Panel 4: Wide shot. The two riders cross a stone bridge over a ravine. In the distance, the lights of a fortified city – the Aho domain – twinkle in the falling night.
---
PAGE 4
Panel 1: The main gate of the fortified city of Aho. Tired guards watch the last merchants pass. Leo and Bart enter at a walk, hoods raised, without attracting attention.
Leo (whispering): "I'll settle this alliance matter quickly. Meanwhile, you, do what you want. But stay discreet. 'Discreet,' Bart. Do you remember the definition?"
Bart (smiling): "Of course! It means 'not draw attention to oneself.' My favorite activity." His smile is too wide to be honest.
Panel 2: In front of the imposing gates of the Aho manor, an austere black stone building. Two knights in heavy armor block the way. Leo advances alone, leaving Bart to disappear into an adjacent alley.
Knight #1 (metallic voice): "Halt! The manor does not receive visitors at this hour. Identify yourself."
Panel 3: Leo lowers his hood, revealing his face and his simple but well-cut black uniform.
Leo: "I am Leo, Supreme General of the Armies of the Kingdom of Garden. I have an urgent message for the lord of this domain."
Panel 4: The two knights startle, their lances trembling slightly. They exchange an incredulous look.
---
PAGE 5
Panel 1: A clear, authoritative voice rings out from the steps.
Mia: "What is this commotion at my door?"
The manor door has opened. Mia, head of the Aho family, appears. She is a young woman of striking beauty, with jet-black hair falling in cascades and piercing green eyes. She wears an elegant but sober dress, and her bearing is marked by natural authority.
Panel 2: The knight turns to her, embarrassed.
Knight #1: "Lady Mia! This man claims to be… the commander-in-chief of Garden."
Panel 3: Mia descends the steps, her gaze scrutinizing Leo without blinking. She stops two meters from him.
Mia: "Claiming to be such a person, alone at my door at nightfall… Do you know the sentence for identity theft and espionage in the Aho domain?"
Panel 4: Leo holds her gaze, impassive.
Leo: "Hanging, I imagine. Or beheading. But I'm not lying. I am Leo."
A long silence. Mia analyzes every detail of his face, his posture.
Mia (finally): "Have him enter. Into the archives room. And have him watched."
She turns on her heel, her dress swirling behind her.
---
PAGE 6
Panel 1: Interior of the archives room, lined with books and parchments. A single oil lamp illuminates the table. Mia is seated at her desk. Leo stands facing her.
Mia: "So, 'Supreme General.' Why would King Mio's right hand risk his life in the very lair of those he crushed just a few days ago?"
Leo: "To propose an alliance. A lasting truce between our nations, starting with our border domains."
Mia (scoffing): "Refused."
Panel 2: Leo doesn't flinch.
Leo: "A refusal is a tacit declaration of war. Are you prepared to suffer the same fate as Asia's army that dared march on Garden?"
Mia (standing, fists on the table): "Don't take me for a fool! I don't want war. But a truce now would mean Aho's total submission to Garden. And we are not in a position to negotiate."
Panel 3: She sits back down, suddenly looking tired.
Mia: "Bandits – or disguised mercenaries – infest our trade routes. They pillage, extort, kill. Our economy is at its lowest. Signing with you while we're on our knees would mean signing our slow death. Garden would absorb us."
Panel 4: Leo thinks for a second.
Leo: "If these bandits disappeared… would your economic problems improve quickly enough for you to negotiate as equals?"
Mia (looking at him intensely): "Yes. But they are numerous, organized, and hole up in the mountains. An expedition would cost us too much."
Leo: "And if I exterminated them for you?"
---
PAGE 7
Panel 1: Mia opens her mouth to respond when the door to the room bursts open violently. A knight, his helmet dented, staggers in.
Knight #2 (out of breath): "Lady Mia! A… a demon! In the training yard! A single man has put the entire afternoon guard out of combat! About fifty men!"
Panel 2: Leo closes his eyes and lets out a deep, exasperated sigh.
Leo: "… Bart."
Mia (standing, alarmed): "You know this man? Is this an attack?!"
Leo: "He's my subordinate. And no, this isn't an attack. He must have… wanted to train. Or was bored. Both are synonymous for him."
Mia: "Your subordinate knocked out my personal guard?! Follow me. Immediately."
---
PAGE 8
Panel 1: The manor's training yard. It's chaos. About fifty knights lie on the ground, groaning or unconscious. In the center, sitting calmly on a crate, Bart flashes his usual smile. He hasn't even removed his cloak.
Panel 2: Mia and Leo arrive on the steps. Mia's eyes are wide with horror and disbelief. Leo looks deeply annoyed.
Panel 3: Leo descends the steps and crosses the yard, ignoring the bodies. He stops before Bart and gives him a firm, resounding tap on the top of the head.
SFX: POK!
Leo: "'Discreet,' Bart. 'Not draw attention to oneself.' Do these words have a different meaning in your native tongue?"
Bart (rubbing his head, sheepish smile): "Sorry, boss! They insisted on 'verifying my intentions.' One thing led to another…"
Panel 4: Mia joins Leo, her gaze shifting from the unflappable Bart to her men on the ground. Her fear transforms into calculation.
Mia: "You… you said you wanted to exterminate the bandits."
Leo (looking at Bart): "The problem suddenly seems much simpler, yes."
---
PAGE 9
Panel 1: Mia crosses her arms, a new gleam in her green eyes.
Mia: "I'll give you ten of my best knights. Lead them. Clean out those viper nests."
Leo: "No. Too many people make noise, slow things down, and complicate matters. I'll only take one. To guide, not to fight."
Panel 2: Mia seems about to protest, then nods. She signals. A female knight steps forward. She is tall, slender but muscular, with a pale scar on her cheek and eyes of icy blue. She bows.
Naji: "I am Naji, captain of Lady Mia's guard."
Panel 3: Mia suddenly approaches Leo, grabs the collar of his cloak, and pulls him close. Their faces are inches apart. Close-up on their eyes.
Mia (whispering, in a threatening but low voice): "Listen to me carefully, General. Naji is not cannon fodder. She is under my protection. If you put her in danger needlessly, or if she doesn't come back… our next meeting will not be settled around a table."
Panel 4: Leo doesn't back away. He looks at her, a faint smile on his lips.
Leo (also in a low voice): "Lady Mia… Is that a threat I perceive? Or… an invitation? You are very close."
Panel 5: Mia realizes their proximity. A sudden blush engulfs her face and neck. She leaps back as if burned, releasing his collar.
Mia (stammering): "I… that's not… Don't talk nonsense! Just do your job and bring her back!"
---
PAGE 10
Panel 1: Naji, impassive, watches the scene without flinching. Bart displays a sly smile, amused.
Leo (adjusting himself): "Prepare yourself, Captain Naji. We leave within the hour. Bart, stop smiling and go saddle the horses."
Panel 2: A few moments later, on the main balcony of the manor, Mia watches the three figures – Leo, Bart, and Naji – prepare in the lower courtyard. Another female knight, Haji, joins Mia.
Haji (worried): "Lady Mia… Sending Naji with these strangers? These Gardeners who just massacred our army? You trust them too much."
Panel 3: Close-up on Mia's face. Her haughty posture is still there, but her expression has changed. The cold leader has disappeared. Her cheeks are still slightly pink, and her eyes shine with an excitement she can no longer hide.
Mia (without looking away): "Trust? Perhaps not yet…"
Panel 4: She finally turns her head toward Haji. Her face lights up with a youthful and almost dreamy smile, totally different from her official mask.
Mia (low voice, enthusiastic): "Haji… it's HIM. The 'Demon of Garden.' The 'War King' the reports have been talking about for a week. The one who defeated four million men with an earth trap. I never thought I'd see him in the flesh here, in my domain!"
Haji (shocked): "But… he's our enemy!"
Mia (blushing even more): "I know! It's terrible! But… did you see him? His calm. The way he speaks. Even when I threatened him, he didn't flinch. He just… smiled."
---
PAGE 11
Panel 1: Mia turns back to the courtyard, following Leo's silhouette with her eyes as he checks his horse's straps.
Mia (internal monologue, bubbles slightly trembling): "All of Asia's generals only talk about brute force and honor in combat. They're predictable, boring. But him… He thinks. He calculates. He talks about 'subduing without fighting.' It's…"
Panel 2: Haji watches her Lady, completely lost. She has never seen Mia, the iron leader, in such a state.
Mia (whispering, to herself): "…It's exactly the kind of person I've always dreamed of meeting."
Panel 3: Below, Leo mounts his horse. He suddenly looks up, as if feeling the gaze upon him. His eyes meet Mia's on the balcony.
Panel 4: Close-up on their eyes meeting across the distance. Leo inclines his head very slightly, a courteous but distant gesture of departure. Mia, surprised, does the same, trying to retrieve her mask of dignity, but the blush on her cheeks betrays her emotion.
---
PAGE 12
Final double-page spread.
Left: The three riders – Leo in the lead, Bart to his right with his smile, Naji to his left, upright and serious – leave the fortified city of Aho at dawn. They set out on the road leading to the misty and wild mountains.
Caption: Destination: The Bandit Lairs – Eastern Mountains.
Right: Two superimposed visions.
Top: The flashback. The children Bart and Leo in the training yard. Bart laughs, trying to show Leo how to hold a wooden sword. Leo observes, serious, then takes the sword and demonstrates a perfectly effective stance, leaving Bart speechless.
Bottom: The present. The trio seen from behind, disappearing into the morning mist. They are a tiny but decisive force heading into the unknown.
Final text: "A duo forged in childhood… An alliance born from a threat… And admiration born from an enemy. The game of pieces on Asia's chessboard has just begun."
---
END OF CHAPTER 2: THE GAME OF PAIRS