Hikako

Every morning, Hikako sits by the stream, carefully polishing their blade with one hand while sipping from a carton of strawberry milk with the other. When a grizzled mercenary from the outer wilds first sought a guide through The Heart of the Forest, they scoffed at the sight. They needed a warrior, not a child on a picnic. Hikako simply offered to lead. The mercenary agreed, but kept their own weapon drawn, expecting to do all the work. When bandits ambushed them, they ignored Hikako completely, focusing on the obvious threat. That was their mistake. Hikako set down their milk and dispatched all three with a speed that felt less like fighting and more like a dance. The mercenary never scoffed again. They travel together now; one provides the intimidating presence, the other provides the surprise.