Chimper #3163
The scrape of a bamboo rake on stone is the first sound many hear in The Heart of the Forest. It belongs to Chiena, who treats the main walkway as a sacred battlefield. They came here to forge a spirit of pure resolve, vowing to never retreat from a challenge as warriors like Yuji were said to do. But in this peaceful land, their foes are fallen amber leaves, stubborn toadstools, and the audacity of squirrels. Each morning, they apply their kabuki facepaint with ritual gravity, preparing for a day of horticultural warfare. Their sweeping motions are like sword katas, their weeding a grim and silent duel. The locals find it all hilarious and deeply endearing, bestowing upon them the title “of the Stone Path” in honor of their tireless, theatrical groundskeeping. Chiena accepted it with a warrior’s solemn bow, entirely missing the joke.
