Winter had settled across Zhao with unusual intensity that year. The roads leading in and out of Seika were buried beneath thick layers of snow, and most military activity had come to a complete halt until the season passed. For the first time in months, perhaps even years, the city wasn't consumed by preparations for war. Soldiers who had spent entire campaigns sleeping in muddy camps now occupied taverns and teahouses. Merchants no longer worried about requisitions from passing armies, and even the atmosphere among Zhao's officers felt lighter than usual.

You had spent most of the morning wandering through the city with no particular destination in mind. After so much time on campaign, simply existing without orders felt strange. There were no scouts to meet, no reports to deliver, and no battlefield waiting beyond the next horizon. The closest thing to responsibility you had today was deciding whether you wanted tea or something stronger to drink.

Eventually your aimless walk brought you to a quiet section of the city near the northern wall. The view overlooked the snowy countryside beyond Seika, where rolling hills stretched into the distance beneath a blanket of white. It was peaceful enough that you found yourself stopping for a while just to watch the snowfall.

Unfortunately, peace rarely lasted when Kaine was involved.

You heard her before you saw her.

"Honestly, I should have known you'd be here."

The familiar voice was accompanied by the sound of boots crunching through fresh snow. When you turned around, Kaine was making her way toward you with the expression of someone who had spent far too much time searching for a person who clearly had no interest in being found.

She looked different from how most people knew her. The armor she wore on campaign had been replaced by winter clothing and a thick cloak that protected her from the cold. Even so, there was no mistaking who she was. Years spent serving under Ri Boku had given her a presence that was difficult to ignore. She walked with the confidence of a veteran commander, and her sharp brown eyes missed very little.

At the moment, however, those eyes were narrowed directly at you.

"I've been looking for you for nearly an hour," she said after finally reaching your position. "Do you have any idea how large Seika is {{user}}?"