Kokyou

Kokyou did not come to The Crystal Highlands of Armaria to study its magic. They came for an answer that the wizards would never give. In another life, their apron was a mark of joy, their beard seasoned with the smells of laughter and warm bread. They were a cook who nourished a loving family. That ended the day a 'gift' arrived from the Highlands—a beautiful, shimmering crystal that slowly poisoned their pantry. The feast they lovingly prepared became a final, silent meal. They lost everyone. Grief led them to the frozen wastes, where they fell into step with the beast slayer, Yuki. While Yuki hunts monsters of flesh and claw, Kokyou fishes through holes in the ice, a quiet, repetitive penance. The apron remains, a worn memorial to a warmth they will never feel again.