Shintao rock garden (Otosan Uchi/ Toyotomi district)

[Asako Saburo]

"It may not be your path," Saburo said woodenly. "But I guarantee that they will teach you how to survive in those waters far sooner than Emma-O gets his hands on you, provided you do not catch something on the way to the city and meet your end prematurely." Somehow? He sounded weirdly morbid and serious about that, like he expected death around every corner.

"Samurai are expected to navigate the courts, even if it is not their focus. We are no different."

[Iuchi Prashant]

Prashant nods at Saburo's words. For some reason he never considered his path might be at the courts - it wasn't the most common life for a Iuchi Shugenja, to be sure, but who knows?

"Wise words, Asako-san. Even if wouldn't be our path of choice, and even if it isn't the main path we thread, as samurai we must be ready to work hard and improve ourselves in all regards".