Masumi

Should someone seek the finest storyteller in The Heart of the Forest, the locals would point to Masumi, but with a sad shrug. They used to love the fire, the way a perfectly toasted marshmallow symbolized their simple, warm community. But an explorer’s curiosity is a dangerous thing. Masumi ventured too far into the outer woods, past the amber leaves, and saw something that had no place in a happy story—a vision of a future choked with ash. They returned and sought Aki, desperate for guidance. The great spirit didn't erase the memory but instead taught them how to carry it. The others just see a troubled friend, constantly startled. They don't know that every time Masumi lifts that stick to the flames, they aren't just telling a story. They are trying to remember how.