Jishirou

Jishirou paints their face for a war that ended long ago, yet their only true companion is a creature of silent ink and gentle touch. The same demonic encounter on an expeditionary fleet that scarred Mesuokami left its mark on Jishirou, too—a hollowness that the grand plaza of Waterfall City couldn't fill. They became an outcast, the lone wolf archetype fitting them not by choice but by necessity. It was in the lower pools that they found the octopus, its limb tangled in a discarded net. In freeing it, Jishirou felt a flicker of purpose return. The creature stayed, a quiet companion who doesn't understand war or loss, only the steady hand that offers it food. Its curious gaze never flinches from the painted mask. When a tentacle gently curls around Jishirou's wrist, it is the only anchor they need in a world of rushing water and haunting memories.