The series begins with an unseen female narrator speaking through an empty black background.
Narrator: Magic. Magic is… complicated. Mystifying. Puzzling, but at the same time, absolutely wonderful. It emerged from all around the cosmos: from the moon and stars, to the Heart and the void. It took the world by storm–for better or for worse. It ushered in a new era. Now, you all know the story of Cadmon, the First Heart–how he discovered the light within himself, banished the evil Shadow King Nocturne, and led humanity into this age of enchantment. But greatness inevitably comes at a price. As magic awakened, so did oppression and tyranny. Between those who seek to eradicate magic, those who seek to control it, and those who seek to use it for their own selfish ends, you could argue its arrival set the world back a century or so. That said, change and adaption are part of our nature, and I know we’ll prevail like we always do. I know because I was an important player in this game of light and dark.
As the narrator speaks, the black background gradually fades away to reveal the aerial view of a small alpine town next to a volcano.
Narrator: First things first, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Griffin Bell, and I’m from the quaint little town of Spiceton, named after our neighboring volcano Mount Spice.
A broken sign reading “Welcome to Spiceton” is shown. Soldiers in dark blue uniforms are stationed in every corner of the town.
Griffin: Cozy as it may seem, living in Spiceton is anything but, as you’ll soon see.
A man is shown being dragged out of his house by a group of soldiers.
Griffin: My story begins on a cold September day, not long after my 19th birthday. Up until then, I’d never left the confines of my hometown. I was spending my days wondering, surviving, struggling to make the best of my life. I thought I was headed for a dead end. But there are always forks in the long, winding road of life–new paths that open up when you least expect them. And from there, it’s entirely up to you whether you choose the road less traveled–or the road to nowhere. I never thought the road would take me to where I am now, away from the grey sameness of those days and into a colorful, never-ending adventure, but here I am. And this is how my journey began.
Part 1 begins inside a small, warmly-lit supermarket. Griffin is waiting at the conveyer belt while the cashier finishes scanning the items of the customer in front of her.
Cashier: That’ll be $110 dollars, please.
Customer: What?! That’s insane! All I bought was a loaf of bread, a carton of milk, and a stick of butter!
Cashier: [shrugs] Well, you know the rules. Sorry.
The customer reluctantly gives $110 dollars to the cashier, muttering under his breath.
Cashier: Alright, next.
Griffin pours the items from her grocery bag onto the conveyer belt. The items include three trout fillets, a red pepper, a yellow pepper, fresh basil, a small bag of rice, a garlic head, three shallots, a red onion, and a small bottle of olive oil.
Cashier: Making arroz con pescado today, I see?
Griffin: Oh, well this is actually for my mother. It’s one of her favorite recipes to make.
Cashier: Yeah, I’ve always loved this recipe. It reminds me of home.
The cashier scans Griffin’s ingredients.
Cashier: That’ll be $603 dollars and 27 cents.
Griffin: Wait, what did you say?
Cashier: $603 dollars and 27 cents, please. Cash only.
Griffin, trying to look casual, searches in her pockets.
Griffin: [looking meaningfully at the cashier] Sorry, I seem to be short today…
Cashier: Hmm…
The cashier looks around to make sure no one’s listening.
Cashier: [whispering] Take it, but be very, very careful. The Organizers are tightening their grip. They’re checking receipts in front of every store to stop the so-called “epidemic of theft,” aka to make sure people are bankrupting themselves paying the outrageous prices they’ve set at all the stores.
Griffin: Yeah, I know. Thanks so much for the gift. And don’t worry, I’ll be alright.
Cashier: Well, good luck out there. And remember not to use too much garlic! It can quickly get overpowering…
Griffin: [smiles] I’ll remember…
The cashier smiles back. Griffin leaves the supermarket only for her path to be blocked by three Organizer soldiers.
Soldier 1: Your receipt, please.
Griffin: Hmm, receipt, receipt, receipt…
Griffin puts down her grocery bag and pretends to search inside.
Griffin: I think I left it somewhere at the bottom of my bag. I bought a lot of stuff, though, so just give me a second…
Griffin rifles through her bag. The second soldier sighs in exasperation.
Soldier 2: So? Where’s your receipt, girl?
Griffin secretly scoops up a small pile of dirt.
Griffin: Aha! Here it is!
Griffin throws the dirt in the soldiers’ faces and runs away.
Soldier 3: Hey!
Griffin: [looking behind her shoulder as she runs away] Take it or leave it, suckers!
Soldier 1: Grr, after her!
The soldiers run after Griffin as the song “Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett starts playing. As the intro finishes, Griffin jumps across a crevice.
Griffin: Woo-hoo!
I don’t give a damn ’bout my reputation
Living in the past, it’s a new generation
A girl can do what she wants to do and that’s what I’m gonna do
An’ I don’t give a damn ’bout my bad reputation
Oh no, not me
Griffin runs past houses and shops without looking back. The soldiers keep chasing her, but one of them doesn’t see the crevice and trips. The other two brusquely pick him up and they all get back to the chase. Griffin eyes a wheelbarrow full of mud and dirt in the distance.
An’ I don’t give a damn ’bout my reputation
Never said I wanted to improve my station
An’ I’m only doin’ good when I’m havin’ fun
An’ I don’t have to please no one
An’ I don’t give a damn ’bout my bad reputation
Oh no, no, no, no not me, oh no, no, no, no not me
Griffin is running down a hill towards the wheelbarrow when she finally looks back and sees the soldiers catching up to her. She runs even faster than before. The townspeople are watching the scene with interest, secretly cheering for Griffin. The soldiers are about to catch her when she empties the wheelbarrow on them and keeps running.
I don’t give a damn ’bout my reputation
I’ve never been afraid of any deviation
An’ I don’t really care if you think I’m strange
I ain’t gonna change
An’ I’m never gonna care ’bout my bad reputation
Oh no, not me, oh no, not me
After a moment of spluttering and dusting themselves off, the soldiers keep chasing Griffin, angrier than ever. Griffin eyes a stable in the distance, finger whistles, and runs towards it as fast as possible.
In the stable sits a majestic but miserable-looking gryphon (body of a lion, head and wings of an eagle), alone with only a haystack for company. Hearing the whistle, the gryphon immediately perks up, breaks free from her restraints and flies towards Griffin. Just as the soldiers catch up to Griffin again, the gryphon swoops down, allowing Griffin to jump on, and they fly back in the opposite direction.
Pedal, boys!
As the instrumental part plays, two of the soldiers look around in confusion. Soldier 1 roughly grabs his companions to get their attention.
Soldier 1: [points in Griffin’s direction] That way, idiots!
Griffin looks down at the soldiers.
Griffin: How about we teach these jerks a lesson, huh Peaches?
Peaches squawks in delight.
An’ I don’t give a damn ’bout my reputation
The world’s in trouble, there’s no communication
An’ everyone can say what they wanna say
It never gets better, anyway
So why should I care about a bad reputation, anyway?
Oh no, not me, oh no, not me
Peaches swoops down, grabs soldier 1 with her talons, and flies away with him.
Soldier 1: [yelling at the other two soldiers] What are you waiting for, get me down from here!
While soldiers 2 and 3 fumble with their equipment, Peaches flies as fast as possible with the terrified soldier still in her talons.
Griffin: Whoo!
Griffin’s laughter is cut short when she sees soldiers 2 and 3 aiming net guns in her direction.
Griffin: Peaches, look out!
I don’t give a damn ’bout my bad reputation
You’re living in the past, it’s a new generation
An’ I only feel good when I got no pain
An’ that’s how I’m gonna stay
An’ I don’t give a damn ’bout my bad reputation
Oh no, not me, oh no, not me
Not me, not me
Before they have time to blink, giant nets are shot at Griffin and Peaches, but the gryphon catches them in her beak and continues flying, lifting the soldiers off the ground.
Griffin: Well done!
Peaches squawks and flies in circles around the entirety of Spiceton, even faster than before. The soldiers scream in terror while Griffin screams with joy. Peaches spots a pile of manure in a farm and drops soldier 1 in it, then she drops soldier 2 in the haystack of her stable, and finally, she drops soldier 3 in a bush before swooping back down and landing right next to Griffin’s house. The song ends.
Griffin: And that’s how you save dinner!
Peaches squawks happily. Griffin pets her and prepares to go into her house when a pair of handcuffs materializes around her wrists.
Griffin: Huh?
A tall, dark-haired man with pale skin and dark circles under his eyes materializes in front of Griffin. He’s dressed in an indigo trench coat with a golden general’s star and holding an ebony cane with a gold handle.
General: Hello, Griffin. [smiles]
Griffin: [frowns] Hello, Valerian.
Valerian: It’s General Valerian now, remember?
Griffin: I’d rather forget.
Peaches tries to attack Valerian, but he casually raises his hand and magically blocks her as he picks up Griffin’s grocery bag.
Valerian: Well well, what do we have here…
Griffin: Hey! I bought these ingredients so my mother could make one of her favorite recipes!
Valerian: Yes, but you didn’t buy them, did you?
Griffin: Look, I don’t like stealing, but is it really a crime to want a good dinner? And besides, how am I supposed to buy anything with those crazy prices you set?
Valerian: I can see that your intentions were good, but you stole nonetheless, so I’m afraid I’ll have to interrogate you. Sorry, the epidemic of theft won’t solve itself.
The three soldiers who were chasing Griffin arrive, out of breath.
Soldier 1: [panting] Halt… in the name of the Organizers…
Valerian: Ah, you arrived just in time. [to soldier 1] Escort the girl to the interrogation room. [to soldiers 2 and 3] You two, bring the beast back to its stable. And I expect you all to be cleaned up within the next hour.
Soldiers: Yes sir!
Peaches squawks in indignation about being called a beast. Soldiers 2 and 3 try to take her away, but she keeps hitting them with her wings and pecking them.
Griffin: If you harm a single feather on Peaches, I swear…
Valerian: Please, don’t make this more difficult than it has to be.
Griffin mutters under her breath as the manure-covered soldier takes her away.
The scene cuts to Griffin and Valerian sitting in the interrogation room. Valerian empties Griffin’s grocery bag onto the table.
Valerian: Let’s see…
Griffin grunts in anger as Valerian rifles through her groceries.
Valerian: …rice, basil, peppers, trout… looks like it was going to be a good meal.
Griffin doesn’t respond. Valerian finishes and tosses the ingredients back in the bag.
Valerian: Mnhmm. I’ll need $603 dollars and 27 cents plus an additional thousand dollar fine.
Griffin stares at him defiantly and remains silent.
Valerian: [extends his hand] Go on. I’d suggest you pay up if you don’t want me to expedite the eviction process.
Griffin: You know, you’re not giving me much of a choice. I don’t have the money on me and we’re going to be evicted either way, so…
Valerian: So now you know that stealing always has consequences, no matter what the reason. Think about it–what would your father have said? Surely he raised you better than this.
Griffin: [indignantly] He would have understood! And he would have said that you’re a crook who doesn’t deserve to have taken his place.
Valerian: [tut-tuts] Well, he was a lot like you–brave, defiant, fair-minded…which is exactly why he failed as a general.
Valerian looks away, seemingly lost in his thoughts, before abruptly changing the subject.
Valerian: [sighs] As difficult as it may be, I wish you would understand that this entire eviction process is a sign of mercy from the High Council. They chose this land to be their base–the Organizers’ base–and they’ll stop at nothing until Spiceton is out of the way. They could have easily crushed these people like the flies they are, but they chose to evacuate them safely before the demolition begins. For ten years we’ve been working to give these people a chance at life, yet they keep squandering it in favor of a temporary freedom! You should be grateful that the Chairman still has some mercy left in his heart, because with each theft, or protest, or tax refusal, it runs out by the second.
Griffin: Mercy? Yeah, forcing people out of their homes for a dictator base is so merciful. Keeping Peaches imprisoned in that dirty stable is so merciful. Letting people starve for your stupid base is so…
Valerian holds up his hand to silence Griffin.
Valerian: Enough. I’m feeling generous today, so I’ll leave you and your family a maximum of 48 hours to settle your debts. [takes Griffin’s grocery bag] As for this, I’ll send it back to the supermarket where it belongs. I’m sorry you can’t have your special dinner, but rules are rules. [shrugs]
Valerian snaps his fingers and Griffin’s handcuffs break free.
Valerian: You are dismissed.
Griffin: Wow, for the general of an organization that wants to destroy magic, you sure love using it.
Valerian: Leave before I raise your fine.
Griffin makes a rude hand gesture as she leaves. Valerian rolls his eyes.
The scene cuts to Griffin’s house, later in the evening. Her mother is pacing around when Griffin arrives.
Griffin: [dejectedly] Hi, mom.
Mrs. Bell: Griffin, where have you been?! I thought I told you, with the Organizers stationed at every door, you have to be back home no later than 6!
Griffin: Well I didn’t know I was going to be home so late. I wanted to get a surprise for you at the supermarket, but I couldn’t pay for it, so I was chased by some soldiers and then captured and interrogated by that jerk Valerian. Now we’ll have to pay a thousand dollar fine and the $603 and 27 cents I was supposed to give to the supermarket.
Mrs. Bell: [groans] Oh, Griffin. I know you just wanted to make me happy, but you can’t evade the Organizers’ laws forever! Not only is this the third time you stole from the supermarket, but it’s also the first time you were caught by the general himself! If you try something like this again, you could end up in jail, or we could all be evicted prematurely, or…!
Griffin: I’m sorry, okay? The last thing I wanted to do was make trouble for you! But how am I supposed to respect the Organizers’ laws when their only purpose is to have everyone evicted so they can destroy Spiceton?! I mean, come on, we need over $100 dollars just to buy bread, milk, and butter! How am I supposed to respect that?!
Moment of silence. Mrs. Bell’s expression softens.
Griffin: [sighs] Sorry I got mad. I just wanted a real dinner for once.
Mrs. Bell puts her hand on Griffin’s shoulder.
Mrs. Bell: I understand. Honestly, I hate these laws too. Everyone in Spiceton does. But there’s really nothing we can do about them. If we refuse to pay their ridiculous prices, we’ll just get evicted sooner. If we don’t let go of our homes when the time comes, they could easily start the demolition while we’re still here. And yes, we could always protest, but remember those people who protested last year? No one has heard a peep from them since! It’s never right to put up with injustice, but now our main priority is staying safe. We already lost your father to this madness, and we’re not losing another family member. If we have to live off of oatmeal to stay safe during the small remainder of our time here, then so be it.
Griffin sighs sadly.
Griffin: Alright. From now, I’ll do my best not to get in trouble.
Griffin and her mother hug each other tightly.
Mrs. Bell: [smiles] Thank you. You must be starving after a day like this–I’ll prepare some warm oatmeal. It’s no special dinner, but we can still enjoy the evening.
Griffin nods in agreement.
Mrs. Bell: Tell your sister it’ll be ready in about ten minutes.
Griffin: On it!
Griffin starts going upstairs.
Mrs. Bell: Oh, and one more thing! Whatever you do, stay away from that snake Valerian. He’s bad news.
Griffin: Yeah, I know.
The scene cuts to Griffin’s one-year-younger sister listening to depressing music with headphones. Although her hair is naturally blonde like Griffin’s, she always dyes it dark purple with streaks of black.
Griffin: [looking in on her sister] Hi Aderyn. I’m so sorry, the mission failed. I almost got away, but then…
Griffin realizes that Aderyn can’t hear her.
Griffin: Aderyn?
Aderyn still doesn’t hear.
Griffin: [sighs] Will you stop listening to that depressing music?!
Aderyn looks up and lowers her headphones.
Aderyn: Oh, hi Griffin. So did you get the stuff?
Griffin: No, sorry. I tried my absolute best, though. I really made fools of those soldiers, but then I got captured, and now mom has to pay a fine.
Aderyn’s expression darkens.
Aderyn: Ah. I guess I didn’t miss much, then?
Griffin: Oh, just Peaches dropping a soldier in a pile of manure.
A faint smile forms on Aderyn’s face, then quickly vanishes.
Griffin: I’m really, really sorry. I know you were looking forward to this.
Aderyn: [holding back tears] It’s fine. Everything’s fine.
Griffin: Well, mom is making oatmeal for dinner. It’ll be ready in about ten minutes.
Aderyn sighs sadly.
The scene cuts to Griffin, Aderyn, and Mrs. Bell sitting silently at the table. Aderyn is sulking and hasn’t even touched her bowl of oatmeal.
Mrs. Bell: Aderyn, you really should eat.
Aderyn grumbles.
Mrs. Bell: Please eat. I know it’s not much, but it’s all we can afford right now.
Aderyn continues sulking. More awkward silence until Mrs. Bell slams her spoon on the table.
Mrs. Bell: Alright, so you’d rather starve?!
Aderyn: No, I just don’t want to eat your stupid oatmeal.
Mrs. Bell: You should be grateful we still a roof over our heads and warm meals to eat, because in a matter of weeks we won’t even have that! When we’ll be on the streets with nothing to eat at all, you’ll miss my “stupid oatmeal”, so stop acting like a spoiled child and eat!
Griffin: I hate to say it, but you should really listen to…
Aderyn: [ignoring Griffin] Pfft, yeah right. You don’t let me go outside, you fuss over me for the smallest of things, you don’t take me seriously enough to have debates with me, and now you’re mad at me because I’m “acting like a child!” You’re the one treating me like a child, like a fragile little flower that’ll fall apart in the slightest breeze!
Mrs. Bell: That’s not true! If you don’t want to eat, fine, I won’t force you. But remember to brush your teeth anyway.
Aderyn: Ugh! See, you just proved my point!
Aderyn storms off.
Griffin: Aderyn, wait!
Aderyn goes into the garden.
Mrs. Bell: If you’re going to go outside, at least put on a jacket!
Aderyn slams the door. Griffin goes after her.
The scene cuts to Aderyn kneeling on the grass, sobbing. Griffin kneels down next to her and puts her arm around her.
Griffin: What’s wrong?
Aderyn: Everything! All we eat is oatmeal, we’re almost out of money, and there’s nothing we can do about it! Mom keeps telling us to appreciate what we have, but I don’t see anything worth appreciating any more. At this point, we might as well be homeless.
Griffin: Aderyn…
Aderyn: Or maybe it’s just me. Maybe mom was right, and I am too weak to handle this!
Griffin: Aderyn, just because she’s overprotective doesn’t mean she thinks you’re weak. And anyway, if you’re weak, then I am too. These last few years, there hasn’t been a single day I didn’t feel like falling apart. I wish things could go back to normal, back to how they used to be before dad died and the Organizers ruined everything. Appreciating what we have without thinking about all we’ve lost is really hard for me too, but we still have each other, and we’ll get through this together. I promise. [smiles]
Aderyn sighs.
Griffin: I know what’ll cheer you up! How about tomorrow we camp out on Mount Spice like we used to with dad?
Aderyn: [shrugs] Yeah, I guess…but mom won’t even let me go into town any more, much less up to Mount Spice!
Griffin: Well, it’s worth a try. The Organizers mostly stay away from Mount Spice, so mom will probably agree to let us go. Especially since I’ll be with you.
Aderyn: If you say so…
Griffin and Aderyn lay down on the grass and watch the stars.
Griffin: I don’t know about you, but I can always count on the stars to cheer me up. Looking at them just makes me feel safe, and loved. And that’s something the Organizers can never change.
Aderyn notices a band of the Milky Way shining brightly in the sky.
Aderyn: Look! It seems like the Milky Way is pointing west!
Griffin: Huh. I guess it is.
Aderyn: Do you know what this means? It’s carving a path in the stars! Not everyone can see it, but if you can, then it means you’re about to embark on a journey!
Griffin: How do you know that?
Aderyn: I spend a lot of time watching the stars…
The ground shakes briefly. Griffin and Aderyn scramble to their feet.
Aderyn: Whoa! What was that?
Griffin: It felt like an earthquake. But I didn’t think we could even have earthquakes here…
Aderyn: [shrugs] I’m sure we’ll find out tomorrow. Right now, I want to go inside. I’m cold.
Griffin: Yeah, me too.
Aderyn goes back inside. Griffin shivers, looks up with a sense of foreboding, and follows.
The scene cuts to Valerian pacing around in the blue-lit control room, struggling to stay awake. A short soldier holding a coffee cup enters the room.
Soldier: Your coffee, sir. With one sugar, just how you like it.
Valerian sighs in exasperation.
Valerian: No, Otto, that was yesterday. Today I wanted it without sugar!
Otto: Oh. Sorry sir, I’ll get you another cup…
Valerian: No need. I have other ways to stay awake.
A purple magical aura briefly appears around Valerian, instantly perking him up.
Valerian: Ah, much better.
Otto: Sir, you really shouldn’t be doing that. If the High Council finds out that you’re using magic, they’ll send you straight to Wizard Island!
Valerian: The High Council doesn’t see the bigger picture. They don’t realize that it takes magic to destroy magic. Really, if it wasn’t for me, those buffoons wouldn’t have even gotten this far in their plan–or should I say, in my plan.
Otto: Yes, it’s very much your plan, sir…
Valerian holds up his hand to silence Otto.
Valerian: But remember, this is our little secret. I suggest you be careful if you’re as garrulous with others as you are with me. If you let anything slip, well…
Valerian’s attention is drawn to the screen.
Valerian: What? It’s supposed to be extinct, how is that possible?!
Otto: What is it, sir?
Valerian: Mount Spice is erupting!
End of part 1.