It's near twilight, and a cool breeze washes over the bordering forest, forcing the trees to sway around in happiness. News of the abrupt attack on the Kushi Village samurai has not yet traveled across the island.
A few hundred kilometres away from the gorge, are a group of Kurenai Village samurai-Bushi in navy haoris; indicating they're Academy students yet to graduate to be 1-Star Tama Artist.
Epiphany engrosses their expression, as they pass a red and black stripped pennant engraved "2 Star" —testament that one has been promoted from 1 Star after taking a rigorous examination, some thought.
The instructor leading the 23-year-old last years takes back his pennant, and stores it in his haori. Staring at the students gathered around him, an amiable smile crosses his face: he isn't worried about stage 2 or stage 3 profound beasts attacking them on this field trip —he has applied the necessary herb powder around the area.
