01x05 - Little Spark

[bunniefuu]

Previously on The Mighty Nein...

Have-have you heard of
the Soltryce Academy?

It is an excellent school.

The teachers are another story.

You ever been to a Cobalt Soul Library?

Nein.

[meows]

Hello, old friend.

[Nott] How did you lose your magic?

Someone took it from me.

Did you k*ll them?

Not yet.

[gasps]

[Dairon] Volstruckers...
all we know is they're trained

by someone in the Cerberus Assembly.

I seek one of your prisoners.

Nein, not the necklace.

I-I need it.

We are all in great danger.

[both] She found me.

[birds singing]

[Caleb] Let me tell you a story.

[quiet guitar music playing]

[purrs]

[meows]

[meows]

[speaking Zemnian]
Bren! Breakfast!

Good morning, Mother.

Where is Father?

Boars ruined the fence again.

I will go and fetch him.

Before your delicious porridge gets cold.

[laughs]

Oh, come on!

Thank you, little spark.

♪♪

[both straining]

Left, left!

Here, let me help.

No offense, kid, but I don't think
you can do any better.

Son? You have something up your sleeve?

Pockets, actually.

Now keep it steady.

Amenth-Spaodas.

[gasps]

Well done, boy.

Sorcery!

No... well, yes. Sort of.

Your father said you could do magic...
but I figured he meant card tricks...

-[chuckling]
-A common misunderstanding.

Magic is nothing more than a tool.

Like a hoe or a hammer.

[laughs]

Amazing what this one can do with
talent and some old books.

[cart approaching]

[driver] h*.

[farmhand speaking]
Wow, that's a fancy ride.

What is the Empire doing way out here?

[dramatic music playing]

[Leofric, farmhand and Bren] Hail
King Dwendal.

[in English]
I presume this is your work?

Pardon me, is there some

kind of problem?

How rude of me.

Trent Ikithon.
I am a Professor at the Sol...

The Soltryce Academy.

[in Zemnian]
Shake his hand.

[in English]
Apologies, my lord.

We don't often
get visitors of your standing.

Oh, I am no lord.

Merely a practitioner of the arcane arts.

[speaking Zemnian] I heard there was
a farmer's son in the Zemni Fields

who had a gift for magic.

This transmutation spell... it shows a
high level of refinement.

He's not in trouble then?

No, no. Quite the opposite.

[family laughing]

It's been quite a while since I've had a
home-cooked meal.

Ah.

Your doing, I presume?

[Bren speaking]
It was an accident.

[Trent speaking]
Arcane Fire.

Sadly, your brick never stood a chance.

Arcane Fire burns hotter
than natural flames.

To summon such a spell
with no instruction...

that's exemplary, Bren.

It was just in a book, sir.

Anyone can read the words.

But to understand it...

I believe you would thrive
at the Soltryce Academy.

I appreciate that, sir.

But my hands are needed here.

We've discussed it.

The tuition is...

We could take some livestock to market.

Darling.

We'd never want to hold Bren back
from serving the Empire.

I see.

I'm certain Bren's talent will
secure him a scholarship.

And if he graduates, he'll earn more than
enough to hire help for the farm.

[yowls]

-[hisses]
-Ow! You stupid...

-[Bren speaking] Frumpkin! No!
-[hissing]

I am sorry, sir.
He's never done that before.

It's quite alright.

See?

-[both gasp]
-All better.

In my hand is an acceptance
letter to the Academy.

The parchment is enchanted

so that when it burns, the letter
will appear in the Admissions Office.

Consider this your entrance exam.

Bren means 'fire' in the old tongue, yes?

Let's see if you can live up to the name.

Voos-caulda.

You can do this, lad.

[inhales]

Voos...

...caulda!

[upbeat dramatic music playing]

Bren Aldric Ermendrud.

Welcome to the Soltryce Academy.

And to the rest of your life.

-[laughs] My boy!
-Bren, how wonderful.

[quiet, emotional music playing]

[in English]
Oh. Hello.

Hello yourself. I'm Astrid.

The love you is Eadwulf.

Come on in.

[sighs]

[Astrid] So... what's your name?

-[ominous dramatic music playing]
-[panting]

Bren.

You're a long way from home.

[pulsing, intense music playing]

♪♪

[Fjord] Who the hell is she?

[grunts]

Why do people keep trying to k*ll us

in this g*dd*mn town?

This is not a fight we can win.
We need to run.

No chance. This f*ck's
been following me for weeks.

If we're gonna do this, we need a plan.

Molly, you and I... [grunting]

Oh, my Traveler! Fjord!

[Owelia] You want a fight,

I'm happy to oblige.

[Jester gasps]

Lebash Nivek!

[gasps]

Wow, that is actually really cool.

As I was saying...

Get sailor boy on his feet.
We'll buy you time.

[exciting, dramatic music playing]

[Fjord groans]

[Jester grunts] The poison's
not reacting to my magic.

[groans]

Is it bad? [groans]

Bad is so negative.

How about we just say
"impressively gruesome"?

Could you pick a word and get on with it?

Come on, Fjord.

[grunts]

[Nott] Caleb!

[Caleb] My guardian goblin.

[strains]

[Beau] This b*tch.

Yah!

[shouts]

Sorry, I don't do magic.

-[straining]
-[Beau breathes deeply]

Payback's a b*tch, ain't it?

[whimpers]

A-Are the bugs gone?

[groaning]

Wow. [laughs] We won.

[groans]

Hooray.

[indistinct chatter]

Normally, I love drawing a crowd,

but perhaps we should
get the f*ck out of town.

What about Goth girl?

I've got more than
a few questions for her.

More Townsguard will be here any minute.

[Nott] Oh,

Caleb and I saw an abandoned
farmhouse on the way here.

[groans] Fine. Load up.

[dramatic music playing]

The f*ck, man? We need her alive.

My amulet.

Give it to me.

[speaking Zemnian]
Now you can no longer hide.

-[bell tolling]
-[panting]

[whistles]

[speaking Zemnian]
You've got big ba*ls showing up late.

[in English]
More like his chicken legs were too slow.

Library?

Lost track of time.

[Trent] Let us begin.

Combat magic can be
entirely unpredictable.

In battle, you may find yourself
distracted, confounded.

But, above all else,
you must protect yourself.

Line up, please.

Now, your task is a simple one.

Come, join me here.

The first three students who do, pass.

The rest fail.

[tense music playing]

[gasps]

[Trent] Come.

Surely one of you can reach me.

[quiet, dramatic music playing]

[grunts]

[shouts]

[shouts]

[Trent] Ah. Unlucky.

What the hell?

Traps. He is testing us.

You see that route?

Ja. Use the others.

All right. [chuckles]

Race you, chicken legs.

♪♪

Nice.

Whoo! That's how you do it.

[grunts, groans]

Owelia?

Doff-keen-brada.

[straining]

[grunts]

Well done.

Thank you, Master.

Bren figured it out.

Distract, confound, protect yourself.

You gave us the solution
right at the start.

These students have

displayed a wisdom
I have been trying to impart all semester.

In the service of our Empire,
you will be faced

with choices that seem questionable.

But as you saw today, you must do

whatever it takes to succeed.

[straining]

Class dismissed.

A moment.

I have a special task for you three.

[flies buzzing]

Should we at least wrap her wounds?

-Nein.
-No.

Are you okay?
Maybe we should find you a doctor.

[panting]

I'll be fine after a good night's sleep.

Was, uh, was that everything you needed?

You did very well, ja.

And what does it mean
that she broke your amulet?

[Beau] Yeah, Caleb.

What does it mean?

That we are not safe. Any of us.

I also find it quite interesting that
this woman has been tracking you, ja?

Not that it's your business,

but I think she's tangled up
in an expl*si*n at the border.

The Kryn and Empire are
always trying to k*ll each other.

Not like this.

[Molly] Monk's right.

Last couple towns we played,
folks were on edge.

Don't you feel it?

w*r's brewing.

[inhales] You can feel that?

I can feel when my purse is empty,

and we haven't had
a sold-out show in months.

Not till the one you f*cked up,
thank you very much.

That tent exploding was cool, though.

Point is,

with w*r comes assassins, spies.

Secret Empire agents, like this b*tch.

You are correct.

She is too dangerous to let live.

Are you suggesting we execute her?

Or maybe we'll talk to her
and she'll see how cool we are

and become our bestie, you don't know.

[Molly] Well,

ladies and gents, misfits and malcontents,

our traveling troupe has reached

its destination.

[Beau groans] You could've
just said, "We're here."

[grunts]

Let's get
little miss c*ck in a chair.

Oh, can I come? I've always
wanted to see fingernails pulled.

I go where Caleb goes.

[groans] This isn't a damn social club.

She's right.

But I should at least be there
in case you need backup with...

Whoa, there.

-[groans]
-You're looking much greener than usual.

Come on, Fjord,
let's find you a bed. No arguing.

[stomach rumbles]

[groans]

[Fjord groaning]

Um, Caleb,

you sure you're all right?

You seem tense.

More than usual.

Go help Jester.

You have a gift for toxins and the like.

You can help.

Okay.

Use your reed if you need me.

I'm watching you, undercut.

Danke.

Go.

So, what is our plan?

She is a wizard like me.

Perhaps I can assist
with the interrogation.

Fine. Look,

maybe we try the old
"good monk, bad monk."

I'm bad monk. Obviously.

-[pained groaning]
-Oh, Molly, he's burning up.

I can heal cuts and bruises,
but not poison.

Traveler, please,
I don't want Fjord to D-I-E.

[frustrated moan] Get out of the way.

Okay. Let's see here.

[sighs] The poison may be magic, but...

[sniffs]
...it resembles adder venom.

You can make a home remedy
with Basilisk Tongue.

Okay. Where do we find a basilisk?

And I call dibs on cutting out its tongue.

It's a plant.

That is disappointing.

[exhales] Look, i-it must grow nearby.

These little yellow flowers
have antiseptic properties.

We need enough to brew a tea
or the corruption will spread and he'll...

uh, D-I-E?

[groans] You guys know I can spell, right?

I didn't, actually.

Do we really trust the goblin?

Hey, he's got a point.

No, Nott wouldn't lie.

We will go find the Basilisk Tongue thing.

Fjord, hang on.

You better listen to her.

I'm pretty sure she'd k*ll you if you die.

[sighs]

Sorry about that. I...

I didn't mean...

[retching]

[groans in disgust]

I don't know what she sees in you.

[grunts]

[Beau] Whisper the first syllable
of a spell,

and I crush your larynx.

Then my friend here lights your a*s up.

Do the, do the fire fingers thing.

I thought I was "good monk."

You and your Volstrucker buddies
stole something from the Kryn.

And it sure as f*ck
wrecked Rockguard Garrison,

-so what was it?
-[groans in pain]

[eerie music playing]

[exhales] Okay.

I know you have snitches
in the Cobalt Soul.

Give me names
and maybe we'll leave you in one piece.

[laughs softly]

What you did is starting a w*r,

and thousands of innocent people
are gonna pay the price.

-Now talk.
-[gasps]

Three days.

Three days till what?

Leave the prisoner in isolation

for three days before questioning.

To imagine the t*rture they will receive.

To break them without lifting a finger.

[laughs softly]

You are an amateur.

And it shows.

-[groans in frustration]
-Enflotho hashet.

[panicked gasping]

[shouting in pain]

You will answer her questions

or you will regret what comes next.

Think this is another test?

Mm. Everything is a test with him.

Guys, relax.

I bet we're gonna get promoted.

[chuckles] You think?

Look at us.

Master Ikithon's not an idiot.

[doors open]

You first, little spark.

[atmospheric music playing]

'Tis only a chair.

Do you know why I plucked you
out of the Zemni Fields, Bren?

Because you, my boy, are special.

Even at your age, I believe you are ready
to apply your education to the field.

You mean join the Cerberus Assembly?

Uh, not quite.

[Bren gasps softly]

As of tonight,

you will join an elite group.

A secret force trained
in incredible magic,

who exists only to serve the Empire.

Just as you've always wanted, yes?

Of course, Master.

What of Astrid and Eadwulf?

Oh, they will be given
the same opportunity.

But make no mistake,

you are the rising star, Bren.

The little spark who became a firestorm.

Shratten thoo.

[Bren screaming in pain]

Accept the pain.

Endure it.

A sign of your dedication.

[speaking Zemnian]
You can do this.

[crying out in pain]

[in English]
Your father needs you to be strong.

[screaming]

[Owelia screaming]

What did your Master steal from the Kryn?

[screaming]

Okay. I think she gets it.

[exhales]

You should not have stopped me.

These people only tell the truth
when their body has no other choice.

You certainly know
a lot about "these people."

[Owelia] Yes, he does.

[speaking Zemnian] You know how easy it
would be for us to k*ll her, together.

[in English]
What did she just say?

Nothing important.

So it's just a f*cking coincidence
this chick speaks Zemnian, too?

Or is there something more to it?

This is her plan.

To sow doubt between us then escape
when we are focused on each other.

That's funny. You didn't say I was wrong.

[chittering]

Fjord won't die, will he?

Don't even answer that. He can't die.

The Traveler would never let that happen.
Right, Traveler?

"Right, Jester."

[groans] You know, y-you...
whenever you want to say hi,

I'm just freaking out here,
trying to save a life.

That's the trouble with gods, isn't it?

You never know if they'll be there
when you need them.

Oh, the Traveler is always there.

He's just not always here.

Hmm.

You know who is always here,

at least, in the scant few days
I've known you?

[gasps] You are so right.

The Traveler must have sent Fjord
so I could have a friend when he's busy.

Huh.

Who knows the whims of the gods?

Well, this doesn't seem like enough.

Can you use your special vision
to find more,

like with that ugly ghost frog?

Or do you need blood?

[Molly] Want to know a secret?

[sighs]

That's never happened before.

So mysterious.

I mean, you can smell blood,
and your blood turns into ice?

h*.

[gasps] What happens if you drink blood?

You know, I'm not too keen to find out.

Those answers lay in the past,

and I find the past dreadfully boring.

Oh, yeah, is that why you carry
those fancy cards?

To peer into your future?

[laughs] Not quite, lass.

Take this group, for instance.

We've got a homeless wizard,
an inebriated goblin,

a half-orc midshipman...

-Captain.
-[chuckles] Right.

...who doesn't understand his power

and a temperamental monk
in way over her head.

I don't need the cards
to tell me that adventure lays before us.

You people are damned interesting.

I know, right?

And the most intriguing of all
is this wide-eyed talented woman

who'd do best to leave a one-sided
relationship with an invisible god.

Yeah.

Wait, are you talking about me?

[Fjord groaning in pain]

[coughing]

Get off of me.

Ugh, stop.

Oh, what, you think I want
to touch your sweat-a*s body?

What are you doing?

I'm trying to keep you cool
so the fever doesn't cook your brain.

[exhales] You're a wizard's sidekick.

What do you know about poison?

[sighs] I knew an alchemist once.

He taught me a few things.

And I helped him stay alive.

Or at least, I tried to.

[scoffs]

Wow, an alchemist goblin.

Well, you know, that's, uh,

-that's pretty impressive...
-[stomach grumbles]

[moans in frustration]

God, you son of a b*tch.

[spits, sighs]

[groans]

[Fjord] Captain! [whimpering]

I-I tried to stop him.

But I... but I was weak.

I failed.

I'm not the man you thought I was.

I'm sorry.

No, no, no. No, you're... [shushing]

It's okay. No, you didn't fail.

There, there, honey. It's okay. [shushes]

[humming lullaby]

[shushes]

[humming lullaby]

[speaking Zemnian] You have lost her
trust Bren. The others will soon follow.

Silence.

[in English]
She's really getting under your skin.

Tell me what the f*ck she's saying.

You may not trust me, Beauregard,

-but we cannot do this here.
-Cool.

We're doing it here.

[speaking Zemnian] The monk will snap your
neck when she finds out the truth.

-Shut your mouth!
-[in English] Oh, yeah.

You two are total strangers, huh?

Spill it. You working with her?

Nein.

[speaking Zemnian]
k*ll her, while you still can.

-Nein.
-[in English] Then who the f*ck are you?

[speaking Zemnian]
Just tell her.

You are still Volstrucker.

-[tense music playing]
-[gasps]

[in English]
Now, that I understood.

[Bren breathes shallowly in pain]

It hurts so much.

Yeah, but that's okay.

You will not have to endure it alone.

[eerie music playing]

Master Ikithon called us "Volstrucker"?

[scoffs]

I was supposed to be a farmer.

You have a purpose now.

These arms make us something new.

Something powerful.

It's frightening, but it's beautiful.

Bren.

You are beautiful.

Whatever we are, we will be together.

[dance music playing]

[lively chatter]

Do you see the monk?

Not yet. Foxstep.

Remember our first dance lesson?

I remember thinking
it was a waste of time.

Who knew it was the easiest way
to infiltrate a party?

You were a menace.

Almost broke my foot.

-[laughs]
-And now?

Now you are merely clumsy.
[exhales sharply]

[laughs]

Ooh.

Thank you, Herr Bren.

[Bren] See?

I am not a complete amateur.

[Eadwulf] Maybe save the flirting
for after the mission?

Where's the target?

No need to be jealous, Wulf.

I will let you dip me later.

Psst. There he is.

♪♪

Brada-unneen.

[both gasp]

We secured the key.

Bring the thunder, big guy.

Music to my arms.

-[screaming]
-What's happening?

[male patron] It's a Crick attack.

-Where should we go?
-Try to stay calm.

[exciting music playing]

[Monk-Guard] Halt!
Only Cobalt Soul allowed.

Yah!

[Monk-Guard] Not another step.

I'll take them. Go.

[suspenseful music playing]

[door creaks]

Visda-Revelo.

That was a warning.

You must be brave or stupid
to break into the Soul.

There is no place on this continent
you can hide from us,

so I suggest you spill your guts
and give up your patron.

Maybe you should spill yours.

Lebmac Nitsirk.

[gasps]

[groaning in pain]

[Beau] Tired of this sh*t.

Who are you?

Do not do this now, Beauregard.

[speaking Zemnian] You are a k*ller.
Follow your instincts.

k*ll her, then come home.

Father still loves you.

[grunting]

[in English] Oh, you son of a b*tch.
You're a Volstrucker.

Give me one good reason
not to snap your neck right now.

Nein. Nein...

W-We are... [moans]

-[coughing]
-Well? What do you have to say?

We took our eyes off her.

[suspenseful music playing]

Ah, sh*t.

[Caleb] Get back!

[Beau and Caleb coughing]

Oh, the prisoner's free.

I'm sure that's totally on purpose.

She did become our bestie.

Nope. Not a bestie.

[coughs] Get her a*s. [coughing]

[Caleb] Neirbo Mael.

[all groaning]

You wanted to know me?

This is who I am.

[laughter]

Ah, my prized pupils.

Congratulations.

Your success will help
keep the Empire safe.

You have earned this feast.

[chuckles] Don't mind if I do.

[groans] You have the manners of this pig.

-You think this body fuels itself?
-[soft laughter]

[laughs]

This reminds me of the day we met, Bren,
don't you think?

Much less humble, sir.

It's a shame about your village.

The Zemni Fields are now
being used as a rebel base

to spread lies against the king.

Ungrateful traitors.

We should drag them out of their hovels
in the dead of night.

Mm. No, it should be public.

A flogging.

Something to send a message.

Hmm.

Bren?

What would you do to traitors?

The greatest fear of the Zemni people
is losing their livelihood.

I would raze their farms to the ground,

then hang their ashen corpses
along the King's Way as a warning to all:

this is what the Empire does
with traitors.

-Hear, hear.
-Hear, hear.

Hmm.

I am happy to hear you say that.

Because you have a new mission:

to put down the Zemni rebellion.

These missives contain a list of traitors,

as named by the King's spymasters.

However, it, uh...

it comes with difficult news, Bren.

You may recognize some names on the list.

[atmospheric music playing]

[Owelia groaning]

[gasping]

[dark music playing]

I heard you'd wasted away
in a sanatorium.

Forgot even how to speak.

But you're less rusty than I expected.

All those lessons never really leave you.

Weshun, Felinth-ono-Bladros.

[groans]

-[low rumble]
-[gasps]

[whimpers softly]

[groaning in pain]

I... Everyone all right out there?

Stay alive. Please.

[panting]

-Where's Caleb?
-[muffled shouting]

He's dead?

[muffled chatter]

Trapped in a well?

[muffled] Rune trap.

Buried alive? What are you saying?

[groans] Rune trap.

What's a "poon clap"?

Oh, he used a rune trap to stop you

so he could follow the poison lady alone.

[grumbling]

Wait, you left him alone?

[muffled chatter]

Okay, okay. Relax.

He's used this trick before.
It only lasts a minute.

Okay, Jessie, when you're free,
brew the flowers into a tea

and give it to Fjord before he croaks.

You probably have... eh, ten minutes.

I don't know. Uh, I'll go get Caleb.

-You can thank me later.
-[muffled shouting]

[tense music playing]

I never understood
why you were his favorite.

I never betrayed him.

I never ran away.

Yet, all he wants is to find you.

[wheels rattling]

[bird squawking]

There's the Bren I knew.

Master Ikithon will never stop
sending us until you come home.

[humming]

[Owelia] Everyone you love will die.

[dramatic music playing]

At least it will not be by your hand.

[shouts]

[screams]

[distant crying]

[cackling]

-[Una] Bren!
-[Frumpkin meowing]

[screams]

♪♪

[Trent] The little spark who became

a firestorm.

You, my boy, are special.

-[screaming]
-[yowling]

[Trent] Accept the pain.

Endure it.

[shouts]

[screams]

[screams]

[somber music playing]

Caleb!

[groans softly]

[panting]

[exhales]

It's okay. It'll be okay.

I'm here.

[atmospheric music playing]

[birds chirping]

[sighs]

The mad fire wizard,
rising like a phoenix.

How you feeling?

[Caleb groans softly]

Eh, sounds about right.

I'll say this: we've got questions.

But, hey, well done.

You made it to a new day,

and each new day
is a new opportunity to be someone...

well, new.

So, who would you like to be today?

[gentle music playing]

Ugh. Bleh.

This sh*t tastes like sh*t.

[laughs softly] How do you know
what sh*t tastes like, hmm?

-Drink up.
-Hmm?

[gulping]

Ugh.

Your friend's got problems, kid.

Yeah, like you're a peach.

I'm just saying,
he's gonna get you into trouble,

if he keeps making you clean up
his messes.

Caleb doesn't make me do anything.

Really? 'Cause you guys
have very parent-child vibes.

Maybe.

But I am the parent.

You do understand that, correct?

I keep him safe
so he can get better and stronger

and achieve great things.

When I found him, he was nothing.

Just a scared little boy
in the corner of an alley.

It's my job to protect him.

I protect him.

He's my boy.

And he'll be a great man someday.

Does he know all that?

-I don't know what he knows.
-[door opens]

I weirdly want to beat his a*s but also...

-hug him right now.
-I wouldn't.

The smell won't come off
your clothes for days.

I think you owe us some words,
trash-wizard.

You are right. I do.

[atmospheric music playing]

I have not been entirely honest with you.

But that ends today.

Let me tell you a story.

[exciting music playing]

♪♪

Chirp.