Kiru
キル · 切るHideo’s student · Noboru’s ward
Raised in Lord Noboru’s house and trained by Master Hideo. Not the most gifted fighter in the house, just the hardest working. His name means “to cut”, and his master taught him to defend first.
Kiru's circleキルの仲間
Kiru, the master who raised him, his best friend, and his best friend’s little brother.
Master Hideo Mori
モリ・ヒデオKiru’s master
The master who raised Kiru and Koji. He is gone before the story begins, and he left them one rule: defend first.
Koji Hayashi
ハヤシ・コウジKiru’s oldest friend
Hideo’s other student, a natural prodigy. He has sparred with Kiru for years and still tells him he leads with his shoulder.
Shin Hayashi
ハヤシ・シンKoji’s little brother
Koji’s younger brother. Growing up next to a prodigy is hard, and Shin is tired of being compared.
House Sagaraサガラ家
The house that took Kiru in. Violet silk, gold thread and lacquer, and a gold fan crest on everything it owns.
Lord Noboru Sagara
サガラ・ノボルLord of the region · Kiru’s guardian
The lord who took Kiru into his house as his ward. Calm, careful and respected. Most people say he is the reason the old war ended.
Daichi Sagara
サガラ・ダイチNoboru’s son
The older brother Kiru grew up beside, and the greatest ninja alive. He moves as little as he can and never needs to boast.
Captain Hiroto Arai
アライ・ヒロトCaptain of the house army
Commands Lord Noboru’s army. Professional, disciplined, and among the strongest fighters alive.
Sora Minobe
ミノベ・ソラYoung house guard
The house’s newest guard. He worships Daichi and copies everything he does, right down to the headband.
The old war古い戦
The war ended years ago. Its general, Masanori Kuroda, has not been seen since, and the people who fought for him are still out there.
General Masanori Kuroda
クロダ・マサノリGeneral of the old war
He led the old war’s vanguard. When the war ended he vanished, and Lord Noboru’s house would rather nobody said his name.
Seijun Kuroda
クロダ・セイジュンKuroda’s nephew
Kuroda’s nephew and chosen heir. Talented, earnest, and loved by his uncle.
Genji Kameda
カメダ・ゲンジOld-war veteran
A veteran the peace left behind, with nothing kept from the war but his sword. Kiru’s first real duel.
Jiro Sadanobu
サダノブ・ジロウKuroda’s First Blade
Older, calm and almost impossible to rattle. He barely moves, and he doesn’t need to.
Renjiro Akamatsu
アカマツ・レンジロウKuroda’s Second Blade
Proud and relentless. He attacks while everyone else is still resetting, and he is sure he will be First one day.
Shun Kageyama
カゲヤマ・シュンKuroda’s Third Blade
Quiet and patient. He watches how you breathe and how you stand, and waits for you to make the mistake.
Masato Fushimi
フシミ・マサトKuroda’s Fourth Blade
The youngest of the four and the steadiest. Whatever you have learned, he has an answer for it.
The road旅の道
Everyone else Kiru meets on the way: two rebels, a survivor, a smith, a smuggler, a monk and his healer, a shadow, and a bounty hunter.
Toma Arakawa
アラカワ・トマYoung rebel leader
A young rebel whose father died because of the old war. Angry, loud, and very easy to follow.
Nami Arakawa
アラカワ・ナミToma’s sister
Toma’s younger sister, and the sharper of the two. She notices what doesn’t add up.
Chiyo Furuya
フルヤ・チヨOld-war survivor
She lived through the old war, and she remembers the people it took.
Haruto Kaji
カジ・ハルトSwordsmith
An old swordsmith who made blades for the old war. He can tell where any blade was forged.
Yuna Seki
セキ・ユナSmuggler and guide
She knows every road in the region and everything that moves along them: medicine, people, weapons and news.
Brother Kenta
ケンタMonk
A fighter who became a monk. His sanctuary takes in the wounded from every side and asks no questions.
Minae Hara
ハラ・ミナエHealer
The sanctuary’s healer. She treats anyone who comes through the door, and can read a wound like a letter.
Kaede Moriya
モリヤ・カエデA shadow
She moves at night and works alone. She has her reasons, and she keeps them to herself.
Iori Matsuda
マツダ・イオリBounty hunter
A fighter for hire who walks away the moment the money or the risk stops making sense.