Kiyonari the Patterned

The locals in The Heart of the Forest will tell you that Kiyonari is guided not by maps, but by the steam rising from the best noodle stalls. But one other wanderer knows the truth. They know Kiyonari’s route is no random pilgrimage; it is a meticulous circuit, a challenge laid out in empty bowls and cryptic notes left under lanterns. For years, the two have chased each other across the amber-leaved clearings. Kiyonari finds a hidden grove of river mushrooms; their rival leaves behind a broth recipe that perfectly complements them. This is why they are called 'the Patterned'—for the predictable, joyful orbit they maintain around their unseen competitor. Some say they’ve never met, but anyone who sees the gleam in Kiyonari’s eyes as they find a new message knows better. The meal is just the excuse.