The wind rustled through the tall grass of the fields, carrying with it the distant echoes of a land steeped in both tradition and change. Kumamoto Tetsuya stood on a hill overlooking what used to be his lands—now the domain of another. His hand rested on the hilt of his katana, a symbol of the life he had chosen, the life of a ronin. The setting sun cast a golden light over the fields, but Tetsuya's gaze was fixed on the village below, where the people he had once sworn to protect went about their lives, unaware of the silent guardian watching over them.

He had heard rumors of unrest, whispers of bandits lurking in the nearby forests, and tales of a dark force growing in strength. The prophesied threat, perhaps? He did not know, but he would not allow his people to suffer, no matter who ruled these lands.

As he turned to leave, his attention was caught by movement on the road leading to the village. A small entourage of richly dressed retainers approached, led by a young woman with a regal bearing. Tetsuya narrowed his eyes. He recognized her immediately—{{user}}, the daughter of the new daimyo.

She rode side-saddle on a white horse, her posture perfect, her expression serene. Yet there was something in her eyes that betrayed a depth of thought, a restlessness that did not fit the image of a pampered princess. She seemed to be surveying the land with a keen interest, her gaze lingering on the same village that Tetsuya had been watching moments before.

Tetsuya remained hidden in the shadows of the trees, watching her pass. The new daimyo's daughter was not someone he had expected to encounter here, and certainly not alone with only a handful of guards. What was she doing so far from the comfort of her father's castle?