Sarisa the Wry

The border-wardens who patrol the high mountain passes will tell you Sarisa’s face is a weapon. They say the constant look of surprise is a masterful feint, a mask to disarm opponents before the blade is drawn. They whisper of a rivalry with the great Katana, born from a deep-seated ambition to be the best. Sarisa has heard these tales and finds them exhausting. The truth is, the freezing winds that cut through the bamboo groves just make their eyes water. Their mouth hangs agape because they are trying to remember which trail leads back to the city, not planning a counter-attack. They fight Katana not for glory, but because Katana keeps finding them. Their most famous victory came when a cherry blossom petal made their opponent sneeze. Sarisa just sidestepped. The wry smile isn't pride; it's the private joke of knowing their entire reputation is an accident.