Yoshirei the Shy

Always, before drawing their adventure sword, Yoshirei paints their face. The others think it’s a symbol of ferocity. Yoshirei knows it is a mask. Before Minamoto came to The Heart of the Forest with their righteous fire, a mask wasn't needed. They were content to listen to songs from the clearing's edge, their silence simply part of the landscape. But Minamoto’s words demanded action, and Yoshirei found their own voice trapped. The cause was just, and their inaction felt like a betrayal. So they picked up the sword instead, learning to let its edge speak for them. The ones who remember still call them 'the Shy.' Newcomers see the paint and laugh. Yoshirei never corrects them. This warrior is a role they play, someone brave enough to stand with heroes.