The Dragon's Shadow

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In the quiet valley of Hikonoki Mura, honor is measured in steady hands and honest work. For generations the villagers carved the finest timber in the land, and their devotion earned them a gift from the emperor himself. A wooden dragon carved with patient skill, a simple statue that became the heart of the village.

But when envy rises in a neighboring lord, darkness follows. A witch skilled in forbidden arts arrives to erase the dragon and the name of Hikonoki from the world. Her fire should have reduced the statue to ash, yet something stirs inside the wood. Spirits of fallen warriors rise from the grain, bound by loyalty and sacrifice. The dragon refuses to burn.

As danger closes in, young warriors of the village discover that the statue carries more than memory. It carries a living oath. Echoes of their master. Shadows of their ancestors. Strength that grows when courage meets purpose.

To protect their home they must rise as guardians of the dragon and uncover the truth behind the bond that ties their spirits to its carved heart. Enemies gather at their borders. Betrayal spreads through quiet fields. A witch sharpens her craft for a second strike. And an ancient force waits to choose who is worthy to carry its name.

In a land shaped by honor and blood, the warriors of Hikonoki must decide what they are willing to sacrifice. Because the dragon is more than wood. It is a promise. And a promise protected by warriors becomes a shadow that no enemy can outrun.

Some spirits guard the living.
Some legends wait to be awakened.