Susugi

Susugi keeps the best fire burning by the frozen lake. After a day of drills and discipline, the other trainees gather close, drawn to the warmth and the stories Susugi spins. They tell tales of ancient demons, of masks that steal faces, and of warriors possessed by forces they cannot control, all while methodically toasting a marshmallow over the flames. The others listen, captivated and chilled, never noticing how Susugi's own eyes glow in the firelight. They saw Shinpi once, from a safe distance, and the sight of that masked figure solidified a private terror. Susugi's stories are not just for entertainment; they are a way of poking at a fear that lives inside them—a fear of what their own reflection might one day become.