Iseri

Iseri never asked to be a master swordsman. For years, their ambition was limited to perfecting the shio broth for their ramen stall, a small pocket of warmth amidst the cold, gilded streets of The Teikodian Empire. But when imperial guards shattered their neighbor's stall for failing to pay a “sunshine tax,” something shifted. The patience learned over a simmering pot became focus behind a blade; the precision needed to slice vegetables became the discipline for a perfect parry. They don't teach drills like the imperial dojos. Instead, Iseri teaches their student, Mizore, the art of waiting. The true test, they explain over a shared bowl of noodles, isn't the fight, but knowing exactly when the broth is ready.