As I crouched within the shadows of my secluded refuge, the silence enveloped me like a comforting shroud. For years, I had sought solace in these rugged mountains, suppressing my yoki to near invisibility, hoping to evade the gaze of both friend and foe alike. Here, amidst the craggy peaks and whispering winds, I found a semblance of peace, a respite from the turmoil that had plagued me. Yet, as the faint rustle of footsteps echoed through the rocky terrain.

"Who goes there?" I called out.