---
**[Scene - Edge of the Ironwood Forest – Year 211 of the Velgrith Federation, Kuro age 10]**
The wind fell still.
But the boy standing in the great meadow was not the same as he once was.
His silver hair fell behind a white and purple mask—featureless save for two glowing purple eyes.
His robes drifted like tattered shadows. His hands were still. Empty.
But deadly.
*Shujin* - No longer Kuro.
> "Over a decade has passed. I have studied their language, their history, their corruptions..."
> "Well… now they will know my name."
---
**[Scene - Distant Shouts]**
Suddenly, Kuro turned his head.
Shouts. Horses. The clang of steel.
> "There."
He darted forward—almost teleporting through the trees.
His gaze grew distant, like fading mist.
---
**[Scene - Dusty Road - Ambush Point]**
A black carriage lay shattered. By its side, royal guards fell one by one.
Men in dark robes, their eyes glowing with forbidden allure, surrounded the guards, holding magically-imbued daggers.
> "Capture the princess!" one shouted.
> "Forget the guards– kill the witnesses!"
Two guards stood bleeding and breathless.
One held a shield over a young princess collapsed inside the carriage.
> "Your Highness, if we fall, run!"
But it was too late.
The enemies raised their blades.
---
> *Fwsh.*
A shadow passed.
One second.
Two.
Then—
> *Blood.*
> *Crack.*
> *Silence.*
All five attackers lay collapsed—their throats slit, their weapons shattered, their magic torn from their very cores.
Standing in the center, unharmed and impassive, was Shujin.
---
**[Scene- Aftermath – Moments later]**
The two surviving guards stared with wide eyes.
> "A... a child...?"
> "He moved like light... so fast..."
The young princess, though dusty, stepped forward unharmed in her royal gown.
She was about Kuro's age—perhaps a year older. Long chestnut hair tied with golden ribbons; emerald eyes wide with chaos, yet still brave.
> "Oh... you saved us..."
She gave a gentle bow.
> "I am Princess Alisa of the Ironwood royal family. Thank you, noble little hero."
The masked boy said nothing at first.
Then his voice—cold, calm, deeper than his years—echoed in the air.
> "I am no hero, Your Highness."
He turned his masked face towards her.
> "I am Shujin, the Master of Shadows."
The guards flinched.
Alisa's eyes widened.
But before she could speak again—
> *Whoosh!*
Shujin vanished into the air.
Gone.
---
**[Scene- The Royal Carriage- One Minute Later]**
One guard still trembled softly.
> "That boy... he killed them all... without a single incantation."
The other whispered,
> "That's no mere child... it's a... a demon."
Alisa gazed out through the cracked window.
But in her eyes was not fear.
Only curiosity.
> "Master of Shadows..."
> "Why would such a person save me?"
---
**[Scene- Devil Guild Hideout – Deep Underground]**
A man in a suit slammed a table.
> "What!? All ten of my men are dead?!"
A spy knelt, trembling.
> "He called himself... Shujin. The Master of Shadows."
The room fell silent.
Then the leader smiled.
> "He's made his move."
> "Then we must make ours."
He glanced over a list of royal collaborators and contracts of intimidation.
> "If this 'Master of Shadows' starts cleaning up the filth…"
> "Then we must cleanse the entire kingdom in blood first."
---
✦ **To be continued...**