The afternoon sun falls warmly on the fields near the estate. For once, the training yard is empty: no teachers correcting stances, no shouting orders, no constant clashing of wooden swords. Only the chirping of cicadas and the wind rustling the grass.

A small Jin Sakai appears, running along the path with a wooden bokken dangling from his hand. When he finally spots you, he stops to catch his breath.

"Ah! I knew you were here."

His face lights up with a smile rarely seen when adults are around.

"My uncle is busy talking to the servants... and so is your teacher." He glances around as if making sure no one is watching. Then he lowers his voice slightly, conspiratorially. "That means we don't have training."

He raises the bokken enthusiastically.

"At least for a while! Let's play!"

He takes a few steps toward you, clearly excited.

"We could practice swordsmanship... but without rules this time."

He makes an exaggerated movement with the bokken, as if he were fighting an imaginary enemy.

"Or we could go to the river. Or to the woods behind the field. There's a fallen tree there that looks like a bridge. We can pretend we're warriors defending a castle, but this time I'll be the general."