Yonago

Yonago is a fisherman who found and raised Rin after she was left on his doorstep as an infant by Orchid, a mantis Chimera. He lives on a raft or barge with a cabin near the Katkera forests and makes regular trips to Amorgand to sell his catch.

Discovery of Rin

One rainy evening, Yonago found Rin on his doorstep. She was just a tiny infant, barely a few days old, with cheeks flushed with cold and a vigorous voice despite her tiny size. She was wrapped in vines and bluish foliage, in a cocoon lined with moss.

Yonago had seen the Chimera that brought her—a human-sized praying mantis with a rosy hue like an orchid. The mantis had turned its eyes to him and looked at him for a long time, as if to ensure that he would take good care of the child. Yonago accepted this responsibility and raised Rin as his own daughter.

Life as a Fisherman

Yonago works as a fisherman with the assistance of Ukai, a domestic cormorant. The bird helps him catch fish, and it is thanks to Ukai that Yonago and Rin eat their fill every day. Yonago lays out his nets and goes fishing, leaving Rin at home during the day.

He maintains fishponds where he pours the fruit of his fishing, watching the fry, trout, and eels wriggle in the tanks. Twice a week, Yonago and Rin would wake before dawn, load bins filled with water and fish onto the back of their yak, and untie the ropes of their barge to reach the floating city of Amorgand.

In Amorgand, they would position their boat along the canal among hundreds of others and wait for boatmen to stop to buy some of their catch. After selling fish, they would return to the tranquility of their cabin at nightfall.

Home and Lifestyle

Yonago lives in a cabin or hut with a thatched roof near the Katkera forests. Rain drips through the thatched roof during storms, and the dwelling sits near a pier. He owns a raft or barge with a cabin that he uses for both living and transportation to market.

Yonago smokes a long pipe on the pier, blowing smoke rings into the darkening air. He prepares fish with Rin, stuffing pike with herbs, spices, and condiments. He has a peaceful existence, having received gifts he never hoped to obtain.

Relationship with Rin

Yonago raised Rin as his own daughter, teaching her to walk, to talk, and to decipher the language of nature, from the whims of the weather to the behaviors of animals. He knew that Rin ventured much farther into the forest than he had advised her, but he allowed her this freedom, understanding that everything seemed to smile at the young child and that nothing seemed to mean her harm.

One evening, when Rin was older and gutting fish he had brought back from fishing, Yonago revealed the truth about her origins. His expression was surprisingly serious, far from his usual nonchalance, and his words resonated within her. He explained that he was not her biological father and described how he had found her and seen Orchid leave her on his doorstep.

Supporting Rin’s Path

When Rin set off alone to find Orchid, Yonago saw her leave without a word, knowing full well that it was a quest the young girl had to accomplish. He understood the importance of her journey and did not stop her.

After Rin met with Turuun and learned about Musubi and the Muna, Yonago sensed her turmoil but left her to her thoughts. On the way back from Amorgand, he revealed to her that nature and life had been generous to him. He had received gifts he had never hoped to obtain: a peaceful existence and a daughter he adored more than anything. He told her that if nature gave, it was necessary to give back to it, and perhaps that was what Rin was meant to do—the reason for her existence.

Though moved by the realization that Rin would leave, Yonago took her in his arms and thanked her for what she had given him. Rin held him tightly for a long time, her eyes blurred with grief and happiness. He reassured her that he would remain her father, no matter what, and she would always find her way home, no matter the distance and time that passed.

Correspondence with Rin

During Rin’s years of training with the Muna, Yonago sometimes replied to her letters with brief missives carried by the Talaria. Paper and ink were expensive, and he couldn’t afford too much expense, but he took the time to give her news, however sporadic it was. Rin was touched by his efforts to maintain contact.

Reunion After Years

After years of separation, Yonago was laying out his nets when he saw a frail figure raise its arm from the shore, accompanied by a more massive and insectoid form. Tears welled up in his eyes, for he would have recognized Rin among thousands. And at the sight of her, even Ukai croaked, flapping his wings.

The fisherman abandoned his nets to sail eagerly to the young girl, holding her tightly in his arms under the benevolent but watchful eye of the mantis. They remained embraced like this for a long time.

As night fell, Rin told her adoptive father all about her initiation as a Muna, her apprenticeship in Alteration, and her connection to the Skein. Yonago listened as she explained how Orchid had revealed that she had come from beyond the borders of Asgartha, from a distant Oasis.

Blessing for the Rediscovery Endeavor

When Orchid revealed to Rin information about her origins beyond Asgartha, Yonago understood what his daughter wanted to tell him. He guessed it in the gaps in her speech and offered her his blessing even before she could ask her question. He knew that she had to find answers about her origins and that her path was going to take her away from him again.

He held her in his arms once again, happy for the time she would give him before her departure. There was still a year before the launch of the Rediscovery Endeavor, and Yonago would make the most of it until the last moment.

Understanding with Orchid

At least once a season throughout Rin’s childhood, Orchid would return to the edge of the forest to check on Rin’s well-being. Each time the mantis appeared, Yonago would greet her with a nod before she disappeared back into the trees. This silent understanding continued for years, with Yonago respecting the Chimera’s role in Rin’s life and Orchid trusting Yonago to care for the child she had brought to him.