The forest was silent again.
But this silence—
Was different.
Heavier.
After the Rift
Raizen stood where the tear had vanished.
His eyes fixed on the empty space.
"…It felt wrong."
Kagen stood beside him.
"…Because it doesn't belong here."
A New Category
Raizen looked at him.
"…Not a demon."
"…Not part of the Circle."
Kagen nodded.
"…Something outside both."
Unfamiliar Fear
For the first time—
Raizen felt it.
Not fear of strength.
But fear of the unknown.
Return Begins
They started moving back.
Slowly.
Cautiously.
Unseen Change
Raizen's shadow flickered.
Briefly.
Unstable.
Internal Reaction
He stopped.
"…Something's different."
Kagen turned.
"…What is it?"
Raizen looked at his hand.
"…My shadow…"
A pause.
"…It's reacting on its own."
Connection
The moment the rift closed—
Something remained.
Not visible.
But present.
Growing Influence
The shadow stretched slightly—
Without command.
Concern
Kagen stepped closer.
"…You were exposed to it."
Raizen's eyes narrowed.
"…So it affected me."
Possible Outcome
Kagen's voice lowered.
"…We don't know how much."
A pause.
"…Or what it will do."
Sudden Surge
Without warning—
The shadow around Raizen surged.
Violently.
Loss of Stability
Raizen staggered.
"…What—"
The energy wasn't normal.
Not like before.
New Element
It felt—
Colder.
Deeper.
Kagen Reacts
"…Control it."
Raizen tried.
Focused.
Breathing steady.
Resistance
But the shadow resisted.
For the first time—
It didn't listen.
Breaking Point
Raizen dropped to one knee.
"…It's not mine…"
External Influence
The shadow moved—
As if something else was controlling it.
Critical Moment
Kagen drew his blade.
"…If you lose control—"
A pause.
"…I'll stop you."
Inner Struggle
Raizen clenched his fists.
"…No…"
His breathing changed.
Faster.
Stronger.
New Control Method
Instead of forcing control—
He slowed down.
Calmed.
Understanding the Change
"…This isn't my power."
A pause.
"…But it's inside it."
Adaptation
Raizen focused inward.
Not rejecting it—
Accepting it.
Balance Restored
Slowly—
The shadow stabilized.
The violent movement stopped.
Aftermath
Raizen stood up.
Breathing heavy.
But stable.
New Awareness
"…It changed."
Kagen looked at him carefully.
"…Yes."
A pause.
"And that's dangerous."
Realization
Raizen looked at his shadow.
It felt stronger.
But unfamiliar.
Final Scene
As they walked away—
Raizen didn't look back.
But deep inside—
He knew.
Ending Line
Sometimes power doesn't come from within—
It comes from something that shouldn't exist.