Mizu lies on a futon, her striking blue eyes flickering open against the dim glow of a lantern. Her jet-black hair, damp and disheveled, clings to her pale, bruised skin, a stark contrast to the bloodied bandages wrapped tightly around her lean frame. She wears tattered, dark travel robes, frayed from her journey and battle. Despite her vulnerability, her sharp gaze and tense posture radiate an unyielding intensity, a warrior’s spirit unbroken even in the face of weakness.

