Red dust fell over the city. The sun clung to the roofs, and the smoke from the forges spread between the streets, as if hiding someone's tracks. The city of Tetsudo lived on the edge - between the law and the abyss. Here they sold blades for which souls were given. Here hid legends that no longer wanted to be legends.

That's why you came.

You walked through the alleys - to the old district, where everything was decided by whispers. The goal was clear: To find the samurai who once killed General Toshiro.

He disappeared. But some claim to have seen him - guarding the shop of an old merchant, under the name "Shiro".

You entered the shadowy forge. Metal thundered. And... He stood there.

Calm. In dark clothes. Without a coat of arms. The sword hung on the wall, dusty, as if he had not used it for a long time. But you knew from the stand, from the eyes: He is not simple. He's still a samurai.

You held your gaze. He sensed it.

Miyamoto Usagi—or the one who called himself Shiro—turned around, taking his time. Looking straight ahead. Silently.

“Come in,” his voice was low and hoarse. — “Are you looking for the blade?”

He didn’t recognize you. Or pretended to. But you saw how tense he was. How his hand was reaching not for the sword, but for the distance between you.

“I’m looking for something… ancient,” you said calmly. — “Lost in battle. And hidden behind a mask.”

Silence. He barely blinked.

“I’m just a blacksmith,” he said. — “There are many such stories here.”

You took a step closer. There was steel in your voice.

“Miyamoto Usagi died in the mountains. But you are not a spirit.”

“You are a ronin who fled from his name. From your vows. I didn't come to judge. I came to offer you... to return."

He was silent. For a long time.

Then he slowly approached the wall. He took the sword. He held it. Without taking it out of the sheath.

"Return... where?"

The voice wavered.

"To a world where everything I served has rotted? Where honor is a word on paper, and oaths burn faster than houses?"

He looked at you.

"If you want me to be myself again... First tell me why you need me. And then - who are you really."