Niyoko

The quietest sword in The Great Panda City was once just a chimp who found more solace in a bowl of broth than a conversation. Niyoko saw a moving portrait of Katana once—a whirlwind of steel and purpose—and it planted a silent, impossible ambition in their heart. They left the bamboo-lined streets, their own blade feeling heavy and clumsy, and began to wander. They fought mercenaries and monsters, not for glory, but for instruction. In the heat of a desperate duel, they realized their shy nature was a shield; opponents saw a blushing face and an old head warmer, never expecting the fluid, decisive strike that followed. Niyoko still seeks the best ramen stalls on their travels, but the goal is no longer to be like Katana. It is to be someone Katana would one day have to acknowledge.