The Last Ascent

Photo: pexels / Canva

Prelude (Poem)

The mirror-clear surface reflects the sky’s mosaic of colors. The brightness softens, warmth dissolves into the chill. The air is filled with the scent of pine, blending into the mist. Your mind is entirely still, just as the lake rests.

Step by step, you approach the heights. Soon you will witness the autumn sunset in all its glory. You are by no means alone; you share this reflection. The air may be cold, but you feel no shivers. Your heart beats—you can almost hear it. Your companion’s hand keeps pulling you forward.

Now you are at the top of the whole world. At least, that is how you feel. Deep within you, a possible future is born. A smile here, a touch there—courage has brought you this far. Despite the distances, you do not let go. The mist drifts toward you; to its mercy, you intend to surrender. Tomorrow is not tomorrow, unless you belong to each other.

SCENE 1: Dragons

(Sariel and Vael are hiking in a damp forest. The trees are painted in various shades of orange and red.)

SARIEL: Let's speed it up, or we won't make it to the top in time.

VAEL: Easy for you to say. My legs are already completely jelly.

(Sariel glances at Vael and raises an eyebrow. Vael mimics her expression, and a moment later, both burst into laughter.)

VAEL: Alright, alright, I'm coming. Don't worry, we'll make it.

(Vael trudges up next to Sariel, and they continue their hike together.)

SARIEL: Look! (Sariel blows air out of her mouth, her breath turning into steam.) I’m a dragon.

(Vael chuckles and blows out steam as well.)

VAEL: Won't be long until we can't even walk here because of the snow.

(For a moment, Vael looks around, imagining the forest in the dead of winter.)

SARIEL: Mhm, but right now we can. Come on!

(Wet leaves squelch under their boots. Sariel suddenly freezes and glances up at the sky.)

SARIEL: Shh – listen.

(Vael looks up. Nothing is visible in the sky yet, but soon the sound reaches Vael’s ears too. The distant honking of hundreds of birds grows louder with every wingbeat. Soon, a massive flock of geese flies over the forest, heading south. Sariel watches them in awe.)

SARIEL: I think there’s something really moving about migratory birds.

VAEL: Well, you’ve always been a bit weird.

SARIEL: No, seriously, it looks so majestic, but at the same time, so incredibly melancholy.

(Vael keeps walking, while Sariel stays behind, staring after the birds.)

VAEL: They're already gone. Are you just gonna stand there daydreaming?

(Sariel gives Vael a playful glare, takes one last look at the sky, and catches up.)

SCENE 2: The Burning Forest

VAEL (declares proudly): Once again, we made it!

SARIEL (out of breath): How do I always forget how brutal this climb is? Next year we’re definitely leaving earlier so we don't have to rush. Look, I'm drenched!

VAEL: I feel like we say that every single time.

SARIEL: Yeah, I guess we just like to imagine we're in better shape than we actually are.

(Sariel and Vael walk to the tree line. They stand on a rocky ledge, looking out at the autumn lake landscape stretching before them.)

SARIEL (whispering): This is honestly worth all the trouble.

VAEL: Mhm.

(The sun has begun its descent. The colors of the sunset bleed into the horizon. The mirror-clear surface of the lake reflects the image of a forest burning in orange. A damp mist frames the painting. Sariel and Vael cannot tear their eyes away. A calming blanket settles over them.)

SARIEL (whispering): Unbelievably beautiful.

VAEL (whispering): Is it always this peaceful up here?

SARIEL: I could stand here for an eternity, and it would still feel like a blink of an eye.

(Vael turns to look at Sariel and takes a step closer.)

VAEL: Me too.

(Vael and Sariel wrap their arms around each other, watching the mist expand.)

SCENE 3: Goodbye

(The horizon darkens; all that remains of the sun is a glowing ember behind the silhouette of the forest.)

VAEL: …Sariel.

SARIEL: Shh—not yet.

VAEL: It’s time.

SARIEL: Not yet.

VAEL: Sariel.

SARIEL: I said, not yet.

(Vael hugs Sariel tighter for a moment, then pulls away completely.)

SARIEL (sighs sadly): This shouldn't be this hard.

VAEL: It's not wrong that it is.

SARIEL: You can just never be sure when it’s the last time.

(Sariel looks longingly at the darkening landscape.)

VAEL: Sar—

SARIEL: I know, I know. We're in a hurry now.

(Sariel sighs.)

SARIEL: Well, come on then. Together, like always?

VAEL (looks deep into Sariel’s eyes): Always.

(Vael takes hold of Sariel's hand, and they turn toward the lake one last time.)

SARIEL (whispering): Goodbye again.

(They stand right at the edge of the cliff and look at each other, and by a silent agreement, they close their eyes and fall forward. They feel the cold autumn wind rushing against their skin.)

SCENE 4: Worlds Beyond the Stars

(Vael and Sariel open their eyes just before the surface of the lake hits their faces. They release their grip on each other and begin to glide right against the water's surface. Sariel sees her own reflection in the lake. Her coral-colored skin shimmers beautifully. Sariel looks at Vael, who is smiling beside her. Vael laughs out loud and soars higher, spinning a few times in the air.)

VAEL (shouts happily): WOOO-HOOO!

SARIEL (laughs)

(Together, they perform acrobatics in the air, catching glimpses of themselves in the misty lake. The sun has completely set, and an audience of millions of stars has gathered in the sky to watch the dance of the dragons. Vael approaches Sariel and wraps his turquoise tail around hers.)

VAEL: Always together.

SARIEL (nods, then whispers): Always.

VAEL: Ready for a new adventure?

SARIEL: Otherwise, tomorrow isn't tomorrow.

VAEL (chuckles): Exactly.

(Sariel and Vael separate once more. They leave the lake and this Earth behind. The dragons look at the stars and see the worlds beyond them. Together, they vanish into the darkness of the night sky, searching for a new future.)

THE END

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About this piece: This text was created for a dramaturgy assignment focusing on structural adaptation and narrative pacing. The prelude poem, originally written for a visual prompt of an autumn forest lake, serves as the structural and thematic blueprint for the multi-scene dialogue that follows, tracking a tonal shift from realistic drama to high-stakes fantasy.