Sumirou

Sumirou ladled the broth, its steam carrying the scent of roasted bone and ancient spice. The trainees at The Dojo tell the story like this: long ago, a spiritual blight, a Hunger Dragon born of despair, coiled itself around the training grounds. It fed on fighting spirit, and blades passed through its ethereal form as if through smoke. While the greatest warriors faltered, Sumirou saw not a beast to be slain, but a void to be filled. They spent three days and nights creating a single, perfect bowl of ramen, pouring all their quiet hope into the broth until it shimmered. Carrying the offering, they faced the beast. The dragon lunged, but the ramen was an anchor of pure vitality that burned the despair from within. As it dissolved, it left the Dragonslayer Blade. Sumirou just wiped their hands and returned to the kitchen.