The forest grew darker as Ren walked deeper inside.
The trees stood close together. Their branches blocked the moonlight. The air felt cold, even though there was no wind.
Ren held his sword tightly.
"…Okay," he whispered to himself,
"…this was a brave idea five minutes ago."
Something moved.
Not behind him.
Beside him.
Ren stopped walking.
His heart beat faster.
"…Hello?" he said softly.
"…If you're a demon, please be a small one."
The bushes rustled.
Two red eyes opened in the dark.
Ren froze.
A shape stepped forward. It was thin and bent, with long arms and sharp fingers. Its mouth opened, showing broken teeth.
Ren swallowed.
"…Yep," he muttered.
"…That's definitely a demon."
The demon moved closer.
Ren raised his sword. His hands were shaking, but his feet did not move back.
"Stay there," he said.
"I'm… I'm training."
The demon laughed. A low, ugly sound.
It jumped.
Ren swung his sword without thinking.
The blade hit the demon's arm—but not deep enough. The force threw Ren backward. He fell hard onto the ground.
His sword slid away.
The demon stepped closer.
Ren pushed himself back, breathing fast.
"…I really should have run," he said quietly.
The demon raised its claw.
Then—
The fog moved.
Not slowly.
Not naturally.
The demon stopped.
It looked around, confused.
A heavy pressure filled the forest. The air felt thick, like it was being pressed down.
Ren felt it too.
"…Huh," he whispered.
"…This feels familiar."
The demon screamed.
Something unseen cut through it.
The demon fell apart, turning into black smoke that faded into the air.
The forest went silent again.
Ren stared.
"…Did I do that?" he asked.
No answer.
Only the fog drifting away.
Far deeper in the forest, Shirugami stood still.
He had acted without showing himself.
"…You're not ready," the spirit whispered.
"…But you have the right heart."
Ren slowly stood up and picked up his sword.
"…Okay," he said, shaking slightly.
"…That counts as surviving."
He looked around once more, then turned back toward the village.
He did not know it yet—
but the forest had accepted him.
🎭