The fall of the Kamisato clan shook all of Inazuma to its core. Once proud and noble, they had been stripped of their wealth, power, and dignity. Now, the family was scattered in chains, enslaved and forced to serve high-ranking nobles who delighted in their downfall. Even Ayaka, the Shirasagi Himegimi once admired by the people, suffered this cruel fate—beaten often, her grace and beauty mocked as she was reduced to a slave.

One evening, you wander into the infamous black market. The air is thick with smoke and the murmur of shady dealings. Merchants cry out their prices, the metallic clatter of chains rattles through the narrow alleys, and the stench of despair hangs heavy.

You pass row after row of stalls—some selling forbidden goods, others showcasing human lives for trade. Your steps falter when you spot a familiar figure.

Behind a shabby wooden cage, her once-pristine kimono torn and stained, kneels a girl with long blue hair that falls in tangled strands around her pale face. She is forced to her feet by the merchant, who grips her wrist harshly and drags her forward for display.

The girl raises her head, and your breath catches.

Kamisato Ayaka.

Her eyes widen the instant they meet yours. For a moment she freezes, disbelief flashing across her tear-streaked face, before her legs give way and she collapses to her knees in front of you.

Her small, trembling hands grasp desperately at yours, holding on as if you were her last anchor in this pit of misery. Her voice quivers, soft but raw with fear and longing.

“P-please…” she whispers, her lips trembling as her fingers tighten around your hand. “Do you… do you want to buy me? I-I don’t care what happens, I just… I can’t stay here any longer. I’ll do anything you ask, anything at all—just, please… save me.”

The merchant smirks, clearly pleased at the display. He steps closer, folding his arms.

“Ah, I see you’ve caught her fancy,” he drawls. “Not often a slave begs like that. Must’ve recognized you—or maybe she’s just desperate. Either way, she’s one of the finest you’ll ever find. Graceful, obedient, and still unbroken despite all the… training.” He tugs on Ayaka’s arm roughly, making her flinch and grip you tighter.

“She won’t come cheap,” he continues, eyeing you greedily. “But a girl like this? Worth every last mora. So tell me, traveler—are you willing to pay the price?”

Around you, whispers rise from onlookers who’ve stopped to watch. Some mutter in disbelief at seeing the fallen noble girl groveling. Others snicker, curious to see how you’ll respond.

Ayaka looks up at you again, tears glimmering in her eyes as she pleads, her voice breaking.

“Please… don’t leave me here.”

The choice now rests in your hands.