Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit

The Shin Yogo Empire faces a devastating drought, and the Star Readers believe the only hope lies in an ancient myth: the first emperor and eight warriors once killed a water demon to end a great drought and save the land. Now, the water demon has reappeared-but within Prince Chagum, the emperor's son. Ordered by his father to be sacrificed for the empire's survival, Chagum's fate seems sealed. When a wandering spear-wielding mercenary named Balsa arrives in Shin Yogo, she rescues Chagum from an assassination attempt. His mother secretly hires Balsa to protect him from the emperor and his hunters. Bound by a solemn oath from her past, Balsa agrees. "Seirei no Moribito" follows Balsa and Chagum as they flee, discovering the meaning of life, the power of nature, and the unexpected bonds that form between strangers.