Kurumiko

Kurumiko makes the best dango on the mountain. Customers who line up beneath the cherry blossoms, their breath fogging in the cold air, believe the dragonslayer blade on their back is a family heirloom, a prop for a good story. They only see the meticulous way Kurumiko rolls the rice flour, their focus absolute. But the older wardens from the Panda Council, who patrol the bamboo-lined streets, see something else. They see the perfect, unnerving stillness in Kurumiko’s posture and the way their eyes track every shadow. They whisper that the blade isn't an heirloom; it's a retirement gift from a life no one here would ever ask about. Kurumiko simply polishes their spectacles and serves the next customer with a wry smile, letting both stories be true.