Shadow affection

Morning fog covers the forest. Birds chirp faintly. Ren wakes up inside the tent. Kujo is asleep beside him. The old man is already outside, preparing some herbs.
Scene: Shadow Infection
Suddenly, a wounded deer limps into view—its eyes pitch black, its body slowly turning dark, twitching unnaturally. Ren steps back in fear.
The old man rushes forward, kneels, and places his hands on the creature. A glowing green aura emits from his palms, slowly purifying the deer. Its eyes return to normal, and it runs off.
Ren (shocked):"Wh-What was that?"
Old Man (calmly):"That animal... was becoming a Shadow. You see, Shadows aren't born. They're made—when the heart turns completely black."
Backstory Reveal:
The Old Man sits by the fire and begins telling the story to Ren, who listens quietly:
“A long time ago... there was a boy. Born different. His arms were longer... his eyes wider. The villagers feared him, mocked him, hurt him. And yet, he had the purest heart. He helped everyone who needed it, never asking for anything in return.
But the world doesn't always reward kindness. As the years passed, cruelty and loneliness filled the boy’s soul. One day, the villagers beat him nearly to death... and something inside him broke.”
(Flashbacks show scenes of the boy being shunned, crying in the woods, then screaming as black mist surrounds him)
> “He lost control. He burned the entire village to ash. That’s when the first Shadow Demon was born—from a human heart, shattered beyond repair.”


Final Moments of the Episode
Ren, deeply disturbed, grips his fists.
Ren:"So this evil... started from pain?"
Old Man:"Yes. The Shadows are not just monsters. They are what happens when pain turns into hate... and no one is there to save them."
Suddenly, a distant howl echoes through the forest.
Old Man (serious):"And now... they want you, Ren. Because you saw too much."
Ren, still shaken from the story, looks at the old man.The deer he saved is now gone, as if nothing ever happened.
Ren (intensely):"How did you heal it? That black stuff… the darkness was leaving it. What did you do?"
Old Man (quietly, looking at his hands):"I used a power language… one that renews the corrupted cells from your body. It speaks not to your ears, but to your soul.”
Kujo (confused):“What do you mean? A language that… heals you?”
Old Man:"It’s called Kutsu."
As he speaks the word, a soft gust passes by, leaves swirling in unnatural patterns.
Old Man (narrating):
“Long ago, the world was breaking apart under the curse of the Shadows. The gods had vanished… and all that was left were pain and monsters. But then came the Elders—not humans, not gods… something in between. They created Kutsu, a sacred language with no alphabet, no sound… just will and purity.”
“It wasn’t just made to heal—it could reshape things, cleanse, even… destroy. But with time, the language was lost. Spoken only by those who truly sought balance.”
Close-up
Ren and Kujo look at each other. They’re both stunned, but Kujo’s eyes sparkle with excitement.
Ren (sincerely):“Then… can you teach us?”
Kujo (grinning):“Yeah! If we learn this... we can stop the demons, right?”
The Old Man looks at them long and hard. He sees their determination—but also their pain. He closes his eyes.
Old Man (softly):“I can teach you… but only if you promise me one thing.”
Ren:“What?”
Old Man (firmly):“You must not use it for revenge. Not for anger. Not for control. Kutsu was meant to bring balance… and if spoken with a twisted heart… it will backfire.”
Ren looks down. The memory of his sister dying flashes again. Kujo puts a hand on his shoulder.
Ren (looking up):“I promise. I want to stop them. Not become them.”
Stars above the trees:
The old man nods and begins drawing symbols in the dirt with a glowing stick.He chants something under his breath. A soft pulse of energy brushes the air.
Old Man:“Then your training begins at dawn.”