Dawn broke gently over Inazuma, its pale light brushing the city's streets, slowly dispelling the shadows of night. But for Ji Bai, the new day brought no peace—only the heavy weight of unseen eyes pressing down relentlessly.
News had spread swiftly: the Shogun's watchers had multiplied like threads woven into every corner of the city. Every step he took, every breath he drew, was quietly observed, dissected, measured.
That feeling of being watched was suffocating—like standing on a stage under countless silent gazes. Yet beneath the pressure, beneath the tightening grip of anxiety, Ji Bai fought to steady himself. This was the path he had chosen. To face the gaze of power, he must not falter.
Back in his modest studio, he unfurled the scroll disrupted the night before. The faint violet shimmer lingering on the paper was a whisper of divine interference—a reminder that this was no ordinary painting, but a silent battle.
His hand trembled slightly as he grasped his brush. He inhaled deeply, trying to corral the storm of thoughts swirling within. Every stroke he laid down needed to be deliberate, infused with intention and conviction. With each line, he was not merely painting—he was reaching out, conversing with gods, probing the limits of his power.
Outside, shadowy watchers moved unseen through the streets, but Ji Bai's world shrank to the dance of ink and paper. That fragile moment of focus became his sanctuary.
Hours passed. The distant clamor of the waking city softened behind the thin walls.
At last, he set down his brush and gazed upon the finished scroll: a tempest of roiling clouds and crackling lightning, centered by a solitary figure standing unmoved, calm amidst the storm.
That figure was more than an image—it was a reflection of Ji Bai himself, steadfast in the heart of turmoil, unbroken.
As twilight deepened, a soft knock came at the door.
Thoma entered, carrying a sealed letter, his expression unreadable.
"The Grand Narukami Shrine sends word," he said quietly. "The Shogun demands your presence once more. Your answer has sparked questions—some darker than before."
Ji Bai folded the scroll carefully, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"So the test has only just begun."
A low rumble of thunder echoed in the distance, as if the storm itself was waiting—for what, only time would tell.