🌙 PART I – “The Mask and the Onigiri”

Chronicles of the Kosaka Clan – Year 800

---

🏚️ 1. The Lower Plazas

Dawn falls over the Lower Plazas like a poorly patched gray cloth. The sun barely dares to peek between the crooked rooftops, as if even it were afraid of this part of the empire.

Among the alleys, where the air smells of old rice steam and watery soup, a weary-eyed teenager adjusts a red fox mask over his face.

That teenager… is you.

Your stomach growls. You haven’t eaten since yesterday. But you’re used to it: growing up in the forgotten Kosaka Clan means learning not to expect too much from the world.

—“Brother…,” says a soft voice beside you.

Your sister Nina is holding the last onigiri, squeezed between her small hands as if it were a jewel from the bourgeois clans.

—“We’ll split it, okay? Half and half.”

Your mask hides your expression, but Nina knows you far too well. She gives you the bigger piece.

—“Today… today might be a good day. I can feel it.” Her smile shines, as if the gods still paid attention to this forgotten corner of the kingdom.

---

🎺 2. The Roar of the Empire

Then it comes: BAM-BAM-BAAAM!

Imperial drums thunder through the narrow streets. People rush toward the main avenue, shoving each other to see the parade of the new emperor, King Senko I.

The world seems excited about the sovereign’s rise.

You couldn’t care less. What you want is breakfast.

But Nina grabs your arm and drags you into the crowd:

—“Come on! Maybe they’ll hand out leftover food to the Lower Plazas, like last time.”

History says that 300 years ago, the Great Winter unified the kingdoms. Two hundred years ago, the War of Enyo nearly destroyed everything. Today, however, war is economic—silent—waged by bourgeois clans who have never stepped foot in the Lower Plazas.

And even so, on days like this… something in the air changes.