Ten and the Merchant were still staring at each other.
The camera cuts back to a past scene...
In a small wooden house deep in a remote forest, heavy rain poured down that night.
Inside, on a white bed by the west side of the house, a little girl was breathing rapidly, her eyes closed.
A wet cloth was placed on her forehead.
Her face was pale, drained of color, as if all her blood had been sucked out.
Ten's mother, in her mid-thirties, wearing simple home clothes, sat worried beside her daughter.
Outside, in Thunder Village, the rain continued to fall softly like fine threads from the sky.
Ten, aged eight at the time, was running fast carrying a small bag with money.
He ran with all his strength, his clothes soaked from head to toe.
His older brother, 27 years old then, sat in front of the house waiting.
Ten and his brother entered the house.
The mother brightened when she saw her little son.
Ten was completely wet, water droplets dripping from his hair.
Ten (panting):
"I worked hard today..."
The brother gently placed his hand on Ten's head.
Brother (cheerfully):
"Well done, little brother, well done."
Ten (innocently, to his mother):
"How is she now?"
Mother:
"She's stable."
Ten (eyes shining):
"Now, my uncle is waiting for me to continue my training!"
Ten ran to his room at the end of a narrow hallway.
Brother (smiling, eyes closed):
"Isn't my little brother amazing?"
Mother:
"I'm proud of him."
Ten closed the door and rushed out.
He ran through the dense forest,
The rain still pouring heavily from the sky.
---
At the uncle's house — the same house where Kazuma, Rin, and Ten would later live.
The uncle was a man with a short brown beard, wearing glasses, long gray pants, a black jacket over a white shirt, and a black hat.
He was sitting, reading a book and drinking coffee.
Next to him was a fully packed black bag.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
He stood up and opened it.
Ten was standing at the threshold, laughing excitedly and gritting his teeth.
Uncle (with a mysterious smile):
"So, you came."
Ten:
"Of course! I want to become strong!"
Uncle (motioning inside):
"Come in."
Ten:
"Thank you."
Ten noticed the bag and stared at it curiously.
Ten:
"Are you going to travel?"
Uncle (raising his head, laughing):
"Hahaha, I promised you training, but an urgent mission came up."
Ten (sadly):
"What about the training?"
Uncle (confidently, smiling):
"You are strong enough to show the world what we don't know."
Ten (eyes wide, staring at his uncle):
"Uncle, what do you mean?"
Uncle (turning to him):
"Don't worry about it."
He took from his right pocket a round serrated blade.
Ten (eyes burning with excitement):
"What is this, uncle?"
Uncle:
"This thing... is the key to understanding many secrets."
Uncle (laughing):
"Haha...
My boy, I'm the only one who knows the source of the Shin,
but if I disappear, you will find this blade one day,
and uncover secrets no one knows."
The uncle bent down and grabbed his bag.
Uncle:
"Give my regards to your mother,
and I hope your sister recovers."
The uncle left the house, but his face suddenly changed.
His eyes widened a bit, his mouth opened silently, and he stood staring ahead...
But there was nothing—just quiet houses.
Then he turned his head to the left and stared intensely.
Ten:
"Huh?"
Ten ran toward his uncle, then looked left—but saw no one.
Uncle (in a low, terrifying voice):
"I didn't know... he did all this..."
Uncle (whispering):
"That boy... must not be born."
Ten (calling out):
"Uncle?!"
The uncle snapped out of his trance.
He smiled, placed his left hand on Ten's head, and laughed.
Uncle:
"Take care of yourself... I'm leaving now."
He turned right and walked slowly, his mind confused, worry clear in his steps.
---
At Ten's house
The mother had fallen asleep.
The older brother grabbed the money bag and ran out, tears streaming down his face, soaking h
im.
He ran through the forest with all his might.
Brother (running):
"I'm sorry, little brother...
But this is for your own good."
The scene ends.
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