Noriha

The gem merchants near the palace claim Noriha earned that scar escaping the Emperor's dungeons, a single lucky plant sprout tucked in their poncho their only provision. The imperial guards have a different tale: a disgraced scout from a failed expedition, banished from the war room and left with nothing but their sword. But the kids who run the rooftops swear they saw it happen—a fall during a daring raid on a noble's private greenhouse. They say Noriha landed hard, but the plant on their head bloomed the moment they stood up. Noriha never confirms any story. They just lean against the white marble walls, adjusting their shades against the glare from the golden spires, a silent traveler in a city built on noise.