Alia's harsh words hit Victor hard. He collects himself, the sobs subsiding. Alia's resolve seems to patch up his broken spirit. A hard commitment to the 'Destiny of Shadows' is now reflected in both their eyes.
Alia's tough words work like a spell on Victor. He stops crying and stands up. Alia's firmness injects new strength into him.
Suddenly, without a word, Victor displays a new expression of emotion. He gently but firmly lifts Alia up in his arms.
Alia is surprised but offers no resistance. Victor carries her slowly toward the massive glass doors that open onto the apartment's balcony. He opens the balcony door and steps outside with Alia.
The scene outside is the Moscow night. The air is intensely cold, but the sky is clear. From the balcony, they can see the frozen ground (ice) below and the glittering city lights.
Victor gently sets Alia down on the balcony. His eyes are fixed on Alia, now devoid of sadness, holding only love and a deep, cherished memory.
VICTOR
(Holding Alia by the waist, softly)
You know, Alia... when you had your first baby... you wore a very specific dress. It was a white dress on the outside, and a thin shawl like a coat draped behind you. It was so big it seemed to fly in the wind...
(Victor reminisces and laughs, his face softening.)
VICTOR
...You looked unbelievably beautiful that day. You weren't just a part of my empire then; you were the purest and most beautiful sight in my life. Standing here in the snow today, you remind me of that very day.
(Alia is also lost in the memory from Victor's words. In this moment, their relationship is a strange blend of complexity, power, and love. Alia holds Victor's hand, feeling the warmth between them despite the Russian winter's chill outside.)
Flashback: The Destiny of Shadows Begins
INT. ALEXA'S ROOM – MANY YEARS AGO, UKRAINE/RUSSIA
The scene suddenly shifts. We see ALEXA (20s, the Ancestor of Alia). Her age and facial features—the same determined expression and suppressed sorrow—are exactly like Alia's.
Alexa sits on a broken wooden chair. Around her are packed boxes and organized belongings, indicating she is about to leave.
A tragic event has just occurred in Alexa's life. Her beloved, JUN, has died. The grief of Jun's death has broken Alexa, but a new resolve is visible in her eyes.
(Alexa picks up a small, old photograph—a picture of Jun. She gently touches the photo.)
ALEXA
(To herself, in suppressed pain)
Goodbye, Jun. I must protect what you gave me. This city, this land... it is no longer safe for me.
(She slowly puts the photograph into her bag. Her decision is final.)
INT. RAILWAY STATION – NIGHT
A small, snow-covered railway station. Alexa stands, wearing a long overcoat, holding a small bag. She looks back for a moment, towards her old life.
She knows it is impossible for her to stay here any longer. After losing Jun, she realizes that the future of herself, and perhaps her family, depends on this decision.
ALEXA
(In her mind)
I am leaving, Jun. I am going to Russia. Not to build a new life, but to protect myself and the truth within me. Perhaps this is our fate—The Destiny of Shadows.
(Alexa boards the train. The train starts moving. Through the window pane, the snow-covered landscape rushes by. Alexa's eyes hold the resolve to traverse the difficult path ahead. This is the past that is deeply connected to Alia's present.)
Time Warp: A Thousand and Six Hundred Years Later
INT. ALEXA'S NEW RESIDENCE – 1600 YEARS LATER
Sixteen hundred long years have passed since Alexa came to Russia by train (This duration is likely mentioned for some mysterious or fictional reason, indicating the destiny of their lineage).
Alexa is no longer that fearful, grieving girl. Over time, she has established herself. Her appearance is still like Alia's, but her eyes now possess the coldness of determination and power.
Alexa is sitting in the library of a luxurious, ancient palace. Standing before her is a handsome, powerful young man. His personality clearly shows toughness and authority. He seems to be the reflection of the present-day Victor.
This young man is ALEXANDER.Remorse, Memory, and The Empress
(Alia's harsh words strike Victor. He collects himself, the urge to cry subsiding. Alia's firmness helps mend his broken spirit. A hard commitment to the 'Destiny of Shadows' is visible in both their eyes.)
Alia's tough words act like a charm on Victor. He stops crying and stands up. Alia's resolve seems to infuse him with new strength.
Suddenly, without a word, Victor performs a new expression of emotion. He gently, yet firmly, sweeps Alia up into his arms.
Alia is surprised but does not protest. Victor carries her slowly toward the massive glass window that opens onto the apartment's balcony. He slides the balcony door open and steps out with Alia.
Outside is the night view of Moscow, Russia. It is intensely cold, but the sky is clear. From the balcony, they can see the frozen ice below and the shimmering city lights.
Victor gently sets Alia down on the balcony. His gaze is steady on Alia, now containing no sorrow, but love and a deep, cherished memory.
VICTOR
(Holding Alia by the waist, in a low voice)
You know, Alia... when you had your first child... you wore a special dress. It was a white dress on the outside, and a thin shawl, like a coat, was draped behind it. It was so large it was flying in the wind...
(Victor smiles as he reminisces, his face becoming tender.)
VICTOR
...You looked unbelievably beautiful that day. You weren't just a part of my empire then; you were the most sacred and beautiful sight in my life. Standing here now, amidst this ice, I am reminded of that day.
(Alia is also lost in the memory from Victor's words. In this moment, their relationship is a strange mix of complexity, power, and love. Alia holds Victor's hand, feeling a warmth between them despite the chill of the Russian winter.)
Flashback: A Covenant of Power
(This scene marks a critical turning point in Alexa's life. Now alone after Jun's death, Alexa connects with power to ensure the future of her lineage.)
Alexa leaves all the pain and grief of her former life behind and marries Alexander. Alexander is a man as powerful and resolute as Victor, and likely the heir to an influential dynasty. This marriage was the first step in that 'Destiny of Shadows'—the very destiny that would be reflected in Alia and Victor 1600 years later.
(Alexa and Alexander look at each other. Their union is not just love; it is a hard pact for power and dynastic security.)
ALEXANDER
(Holding Alexa's hand)
From now on, you are mine. And the heir to this empire. There is no place for weakness here, Alexa.
ALEXA
(With cold resolve in her eyes)
I am ready, Alexander. We will play the game of destiny now.
(The scene slowly fades, signaling a return to the present. The truth is established: the complexity of Alia and Victor's relationship is not just of today, but a reflection of a 1600-year-old destiny.)
INT. ALIA'S APARTMENT – SECRET ROOM – YEAR 2025
Victor has either put Alia to sleep or Alia has left the room on some pretext. The secret device is still in her hand. Remembering Victor's Father's warning and the 1600-year-old destiny, Alia decides—she must now go deeper.
Alia walks down an unused hallway of the apartment and reaches a hidden door. The door silently slides open at the signal from the device in her hand.
The room inside is not an ordinary room—it is an archive of Alia and her lineage's history. The walls are lined with countless framed pictures.
Alia enters the room.
(1) The Present: First, her eyes fall on recent photos of themselves—pictures of herself, her wedding picture with Victor (where she wore the white dress Victor just mentioned), and various moments of their shared life.
(2) The Matriarchs: Next, her gaze shifts to another row. Here are photos of two women from different eras, placed side-by-side:
A smiling photo of her own mother.
And next to it, an old, extremely hard-featured photo of Victor's mother.
Alia realizes that their relationship is not just theirs, but the culmination of their mothers' and ancestors' fates.
(3) Alia and Alexa's Connection: Her eyes then fixate on a large picture. This is a family picture from her adolescence or youth. This picture closely resembles the photo of Alexa (the Ancestor). Seeing these images makes the memory of Alexa from 1600 years ago vivid in her mind.
(4) The Alaskan Clue: Finally, Alia's eyes stop at several pictures hung in a corner of the wall. These pictures are not of people or family moments—they are scenes of silent, snow-covered mountains, frozen ice, and pristine beauty. These are pictures of Alaska.
Alia stands before the pictures of Alaska. An old memory flashes through her eyes, a memory she had long forgotten. Why are there pictures of this harsh, cold land here?
(Alia tightly grips the device in her hand. She realizes this room is a message from Victor to her—'Who you are and what your destiny is.' The frozen landscape of Alaska seems to reflect the cold environment of Alexa and Jun's old Ukraine or Russia. Alia is now certain that every event in her life was predetermined—every step of the 'Destiny of Shadows'.)
INT. ALIA'S APARTMENT – SECRET ROOM – YEAR 2025 (CONTINUOUS)
Alia stands in the secret room, which feels like a time capsule. Her eyes scan the pictures covering the walls.
These are not just photos—they are documents of every major and minor moment of Victor's empire, Alia's personal life, and their lineage's destiny. Alia doesn't try to count quickly, but estimates—
There are well over a hundred pictures. Everything from the moment they first met, to secret initial contracts of Victor's empire, some unseen pictures of Alia's mother's private life, and even some ancient sketches or paintings of Alexa (the ancestor) and Victor's ancestor, Alexander, are tucked away in the corners.
These photos seem to scream: where you have arrived was predetermined.
Alia is stunned. Every picture, every frame in this room—her wedding, her smile, her rage, her mother's life, Victor's mother's toughness, and finally, the rugged nature of Alaska—everything is meticulously displayed here. These photos are not a symbol of Victor's love, but a silent message to her from him:
"I know everything about you, Alia. Your past, your destiny—all of it is at my fingertips. You were never outside of this 'Destiny of Shadows.'"
Alia grips the secret device tightly. There must be a profound link between the photos in this room and the device. The 'Godmother' within Alia awakens. She is ready now—she is no longer afraid to play this game of destiny.
(Alia stares at the pictures with a cold gaze. The scene holds, building tension for the next confrontation.)
Scene Cut: The Alaskan Tundra
EXT. FROZEN TUNDRA – MORNING
The place is Alaska—the frozen landscape Alia saw in the secret room. This is the ultimate stage of Alia's destiny.