Chapter 1:

Jin stood atop the watchtower in Fort Sakai, his gaze sweeping across the expanse of Iki Island. Thoughts swirled through his mind as he reflected on the tumultuous events of the past few days. Just a day ago, he had successfully vanquished the Eagle, bringing an end to her tyrannical reign and providing aid to those still afflicted by her deadly poison. Yuna stood beside him, her attention captured by a peculiar device held near her right eye. What was it called again? Jin racked his brain, struggling to recall the elusive Western name.

"What was the name of that device again, Yuna?" Jin inquired.

Yuna paused for a moment, a hint of uncertainty in her voice. "I can't quite remember the name either. I obtained it because Taka found it fascinating. He was captivated when he observed a blacksmith at work in the forge at Yarikawa. According to him, it's a tool used by mainland smiths to assess the quality of swords more effectively." She spoke with a touch of wistfulness in her smile.

Curiosity mingled with nostalgia on Jin's face as he asked, "How does it work? What makes it special?" Memories flooded his mind, reminding him of his loyal friend who had chosen to save him rather than take his own life.

Yuna explained, "Taka mentioned something about the glass within this device, enabling it to magnify objects and reveal hidden details that escape the naked eye."

"Why wouldn't they simply test it on a tatami mat or examine objects up close?" Jin pondered.

"Take a look at that wall over there, and you'll understand," Yuna replied.

Following her instructions, Jin turned his gaze towards the designated wall. As he peered through the device, a look of astonishment washed over his face. "By the gods," he exclaimed, "I can see the tiniest wood splinters on that wall!"

"Taka mentioned the use of convex or concave lenses. I don't fully grasp the technicalities, but they do seem to offer remarkable advantages," Yuna explained.

Lost in thought, Jin contemplated the possibilities. "Imagine a larger version of this device, with multiple lenses. It could allow us to observe distant locations as if they were mere footsteps away. Generals could see the enemy before they even set foot on the battlefield. Truly an impressive invention," Jin mused.

Yuna nodded, a smile playing on her lips as she witnessed Jin's fascination. "People from the western regions of the mainland have been using similar devices to gaze at the stars for quite some time."

"The stars!" Jin exclaimed, accidentally spitting out the sake he had been drinking. "How did you come to possess one of these?"

"Actually, I have two of them. The other one is the same as the device you mentioned, and I obtained it from Kenji," Yuna revealed.

Jin's mind momentarily shifted to Kenji and his recent success in the sake trade. Kenji's sake had gained such renown that even the Shogun himself had requested it from Jin's uncle. A pang of sorrow tugged at Jin's heart as he recalled his uncle's words, "You will be hunted for the rest of your days, and Clan Sakai is no longer under the Shogun's command." The once illustrious Clan Sakai, once the right hand of Jito, had been supplanted by the Masamura clan from the mainland. Jin couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy. He was now a clanless orphan, with no family to call his own. His life had undergone a dramatic transformation within a matter of months. He had been on the verge of becoming the adopted son of his uncle, Lord Shimura, and taking on the name Sakai Shimura Jin. But now, he was forever known as "The Ghost of Tsushima." Yet, he had no regrets. Given a second chance, he would make the same choices again, for he would do anything to protect the people of Tsushima and those who couldn't defend themselves. Shaking himself from his thoughts, he refocused and said, "Do you have another one of these devices?"

"Yes, don't you remember? I mentioned earlier that this one is the same as the one you were talking about," Yuna replied.

Jin offered an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Yuna. Forgive me."

Yuna chuckled softly. "No need to apologize. I was just teasing you. But it seems like you've been lost in thought. Come, take a look through this one. It seems that Western ship captains use it."

Jin peered through the device, his eyes widening as he surveyed the island of Iki and the surrounding waters. However, a wave of unease washed over him as he beheld a troubling sight. In the distance, he spotted a fleet of Mongolian ships, their sails billowing as they headed towards the mainland.

In that moment, a resolute determination surged within Jin. It was clear to him that the Ghost's presence was urgently needed elsewhere. Tsushima had been saved, at least for now. With a firm resolve, he made up his mind to leave the island behind, to protect the mainland

To be continued...