> “Blood pounds, wounds afresh—pain’s embrace tightens. My breath tastes of iron, smoke cloaks the sky.
In dreams, Batal Stone whispers—its ancient wisdom flickers. A child’s awe in shadows cast long.
Come dawn, I rise anew—unyielding, unbroken, a promise to the wind. ✴”
— Scene 2, *The Hero’s Stone* ⟁
_Batal Vol.1 · Ep.1 · Scene 2 – Tribal Deputy · Tribal territory_
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📖 **Excerpt from the book:**
> Deputy: Excuse me, chieftain. That child over there is the stranger. Haven’t you seen them?
> Barun: What? That runt? Are you joking? Why did you leave this pest alone?!
> Deputy: Ah, that’s right! We decided to kill outsiders… It slipped my mind!
> Barun: Get rid of that brat immediately!
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