Ihona

Ihona remembers the taste of perfectly toasted sugar, a sweet warmth against the cold mountain air. The other trainees at The Dojo saw only the Meow Cap and the marshmallow stick, dismissing them as a soft-hearted mascot. While others chased prestige in sparring rings, Ihona mastered the patience of waiting for the flame to caramelize the edges. One day, Maneki-neko approached them—not a powerful warrior, but a quiet chimp offering a snack. The lucky cat purred, a sound like tumbling coins, blessing them with a fortune no one could see. So when a drake blocked the mountain pass, Ihona took the Dragonslayer Blade they'd been polishing in secret. They didn't win with might. They won with patience, striking at the one moment the great beast yawned.