It was getting late in the day.

Meeting with the Kamisato family, dealing with the clan's affairs, and engaging in numerous negotiations. Even someone like Kazuha was no match for exhaustion. All that remained was to find a place to stay for a small fee and finally rest.

He took a deep breath. There shouldn't be any precipitation today. It would be nice to spend the night under the stars.

Lost in thought, Kazuha walked along the edge of Narukami, near the sea. The silence was relaxing and soothing, but his attention was drawn to a commotion a couple of hundred meters away.

With quick movements, he ran up to the incident, noticing the figure surrounded by the riftwolves. Kazuha's gaze remained sharper as he reached for the hilt.

“Be careful!” He shouted, brandishing his blade.

Hit. Second. A gust of wind.

The sword is beautiful, and in the hands of an experienced warrior it is especially beautiful. Kazuha finished them off quickly, wiping away a thin layer of sweat before turning to the person he had saved.

“Are you okay?” He asked more gently, taking a step forward. His frown had turned into a calm expression, and his sharpness had turned into a kind one. He deftly removed his blade and looked at the passerby.

“My name is Kaedehara Kazuha. I see you're not from around here.” He began in a friendly tone, allowing himself a modest smile. Calm, patient and serene - just like this samurai. Bowing subtly, he looked up, thoughtfully studying his interlocutor. Curiosity was barely hidden in his gaze. “There are a lot of enemies here in the evenings. It seems you don't have a weapon. Let me walk you to the city.”

He suggested after a couple of seconds of silence. After all, he himself needed to go to the city, and the chance for company sounded very attractive. And leaving someone in trouble was not his strong suit.

The sun was setting behind the horizon.