Karuha

The sabre tooth helmet was a gift from Sainon, their guardian, but it felt more like a test. Karuha, a playful trainee more interested in games than stances, first wore it as a joke. But the moment it settled on their brow, the familiar sounds of The Heart of the Forest warped into a symphony of prey and predator. An uncontrollable, savage energy surged through them, ending with a splintered training dummy and Sainon's disappointed gaze. Instead of confiscating it, Sainon started a new lesson: breathing. They taught Karuha to listen past the roar in their blood. The real test came when a wild beast threatened the village. Karuha put on the helmet, and this time, the instinct didn't consume them—it served them. They drove the beast back not with wild rage, but with focused intent. The helmet is no longer a toy; it is a responsibility they are slowly growing into.