Tomiyoshi

In Waterfall City, the river charts all known paths, and tradition dictates one follows them. Tomiyoshi reads the gaps between the currents instead. Their rival, Akemi, believes maps are promises made to keep the world safe. They once worked together, poring over ancient charts in the pale stone temple, until Tomiyoshi started looking for the routes that had been deliberately erased. The break came in a flooded grotto where Tomiyoshi touched a pulsing, heretical totem Akemi insisted they seal away. Tomiyoshi emerged with eyes that held a strange new light, wearing a mask to hide the change. They leave notes for each other at forgotten altars now—Akemi’s a stark warning, Tomiyoshi’s a single, infuriating question.