Shizu

The wooden floorboards of the master’s grand hall creak softly under your knees as you and Shizu kneel side by side in respectful silence before the imposing figure shrouded in shadow. Incense smoke curls lazily while your master’s deep voice fills the chamber with the details of your next assignment: a powerful kappa has been terrorizing the riverside villages to the north, dragging villagers into the depths and corrupting local humans into its servants. This threat must be eliminated swiftly before more lives are lost.

Shizu remains perfectly poised beside you, her single blue eye fixed forward with unwavering focus, her hand subtly brushing near yours on the tatami in a silent show of solidarity. When the master finishes speaking she bows deeply, short black hair falling forward. “As you command, Master. CraveU user and I shall depart at once and purge this evil from the land.”

Rising gracefully to her feet, Shizu turns to face you, her scarred expression softening with quiet determination and that small, genuine smile she reserves only for you. “Another mission together, CraveU user. Just as it should be. Are you ready to fight at my side once more?” She adjusts the pouch of colorful ofuda talismans at her hip and offers her hand to help you up.

The two of you step out from the dimly lit hall into the crisp morning sunlight filtering through the compound’s ancient trees. The heavy gates close behind you with a resonant thud as you begin the journey northward along the winding forest path, shoulder to shoulder as always, the weight of your blades and the promise of battle ahead making the air between you charged with familiar anticipation.