The forest felt different.
Not dangerous.
Not hostile.
Observed.
Raizen walked back toward the village.
Slow.
Silent.
"…I'm being watched."
The feeling didn't leave.
Not even for a second.
Return
By morning—
He returned to the village.
Everything was normal again.
People moved freely.
Children laughed.
As if nothing had happened.
But Raizen knew—
Something had changed.
Kagen's Observation
At the edge of the village—
Kagen stood waiting.
"…You took longer."
Raizen stopped in front of him.
"…It wasn't over."
Kagen's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Explain."
The Hidden Enemy
Raizen spoke calmly.
"The shadow wasn't the real enemy."
A pause.
"It was being controlled."
Kagen remained silent.
Listening.
"…And the one controlling it?"
Raizen looked into the distance.
"…Stronger than expected."
Concern
Kagen turned fully toward him.
"…Did you fight?"
"Yes."
"…And?"
A pause.
"…He let me win."
Silence.
That answer changed everything.
Understanding the Threat
Kagen's expression hardened.
"…Then he wasn't testing your strength."
Raizen nodded.
"…He was measuring it."
A New Problem
They began walking.
"…This is bad," Kagen said.
Raizen didn't ask why.
He already understood.
"…If someone is watching my power…"
"…Then they're preparing for it."
The Feeling Returns
As they moved through the forest—
Raizen felt it again.
That presence.
Faint.
But constant.
Stopping Point
He stopped.
"…There."
Kagen looked around.
"…I don't see anything."
"…You won't."
Raizen's eyes focused on the shadows between the trees.
"…But it's there."
The Silent Watcher
A small movement.
Barely visible.
A shift in the darkness.
Then—
Nothing.
Gone.
Message Without Words
Raizen exhaled slowly.
"…It's not attacking."
Kagen understood.
"…It doesn't need to."
A pause.
"…It wants you to know."
Growing Pressure
They continued walking.
But the silence—
Was heavier now.
Raizen's grip tightened on his blade.
"…This is getting worse."
Arrival Back at Base
By evening—
They returned.
The Hunter Grounds were calmer now.
But not relaxed.
Something was still off.
New Information
Inside the hall—
A report was being discussed.
"…Multiple regions."
"…Same pattern."
"…Shadows being controlled."
Raizen stopped.
"…So it's not just one."
Realization
Kagen spoke quietly.
"…This is organized."
Raizen's eyes sharpened.
"…Someone is building something."
Final Scene
That night—
Raizen stood alone again.
Looking into the darkness.
Waiting.
But this time—
He wasn't the only one.
Ending Line
When shadows begin to move together—
It means someone is pulling the strings.