Teiichi

The younger trainees at The Dojo will tell you that Teiichi and their rival, Ren, have been sparring every day for a decade, and the score is still perfectly tied. They say the dents in Teiichi's elder armour are less from war and more from Ren’s persistent staff strikes. What the novices don't understand is that the contest was never about winning. It was about the joy of having an equal, someone who could anticipate a move before it was made. Ren gave them the azure blue cap after one particularly grueling match, a jest about keeping their head out of the clouds. Teiichi has worn it ever since. When Ren finally breaks through their defense, Teiichi's gleeful laugh is the only sound that fills the yard.