**ECHOCRISIS — EPISODE 3**
## *"The Sound of Silence and the Order to Attack"*
**FADE IN:**
**EXT. DOWNTOWN - 'THE RUSTY NAIL' TAVERN - NIGHT**
The Owl drops them off at a tavern in an industrial wasteland. "The Rusty Nail."
They enter. It's not crowded: tired workers, merchants. No one looks at anyone else.
Kai walks to the bar. MIRA (copper-haired, tattooed, beautiful) stands in the back.
KAI
Four light drinks. And... do you have beds as beautiful as you? We're coming off a long night.
MIRA
Drinks, sure. Beds... we have them. Clean. Quiet. And the night is gold. Cash up front.
Kai leaves a large sum of money. Mira doesn't take it, nor does she push it back.
MIRA (OFF-SCREEN)
The rules are simple. No fighting. No questions. I don't want to know who you are. But if they're looking for them here... let me know.
They move to a table for four. As they drink, Mira joins them.
MIRA
You can use Echo, right?
The tension rises.
KAI
Is that a question?
MIRA
A fact. And facts are negotiable. For those with power like yours, hiding here is a waste of time. Twenty kilometers away, there's "The Scar." The guilds' base. They need Echo users.
She unfolds a map on the table.
KAI
So how are we supposed to trust you?
MIRA (SMILING)
If I wanted to kill you... I would've POISONED you by now.
Kai nods.
KAI
You're as smart as you are beautiful. Thank you.
**INT. INN ROOM - NIGHT**
A small room. Four people. Shizuren lies on the bed. Seiryū stands guard at the door. Ryon studies the map.
KAI
Listen. Tomorrow... we're going to the guilds.
SHIZUREN
Why? Can't we do this on our own?
KAI
On our own, we got arrested in Vireholm. We need power. Resources. Information. And a NAME.
RYON
Joining a guild... is a social contract. It puts our secrecy at risk.
KAI
Not joining. USING. Until we find the stone.
Silence. Kai continues.
KAI
And for that, we need a name. One that represents us. One that terrifies them.
SHIZUREN
Death Storm!
SEIRYŪ
...Too obvious.
RYON
We are their opposite. They are ivory... we are ASH.
Kai's eyes gleam.
KAI
Ash... Its heat has faded, but it holds potential. And a COVENANT... a vow to act together.
They all think in silence.
KAI (FINAL DECISION)
Then so be it. Tomorrow, we're going to "The Scar." And there, to those who ask us, we'll say...
(PAUSE, VOICE ECHOES)
**"We are the ASHEN COVENANT."**
The name hangs in the room like an oath. **The Ash Covenant.**
**FADE OUT.**
**END OF CHAPTER 3.**