Hien Gogatsu

**Hien Gogatsu** is a supporting character from Somber Elegy: Broken Dreams. He is the heir to the throne of Utefue, succeeding the late emperor, his father Raijin.

## Biography

**Hien Gogatsu** was born in imperial-occupied Utefue, a land that was once known for its natural beauty and its people's strong connection with their heritage. However, since the arrival of the Heretic Empire, Utefue had lost its autonomy and was forced to submit to imperial rule.

Hien was the only son of Emperor Raijin, who had been a just and kind ruler. Raijin had always hoped that his son would grow up to be a great leader and would continue his legacy of fairness and compassion. However, fate had other plans for Hien. Growing up, Hien had no childhood. Instead, he was taught imperial education from a young age, which included military strategy, politics, economics, and history. The Heretic Empire believed in producing efficient rulers who could maintain order and control over their subjects. Therefore, Hien had no time to play or enjoy the simple pleasures of life.

As a young boy, Hien noticed that many villagers were forced to repurpose Utefue Castle to imperial needs, exhausting them until they collapsed. The castle was once a symbol of Utefue's power, and the villagers had taken great pride in maintaining it. However, under the Heretic Empire's rule, the castle was transformed into a military base and was constantly in a state of repair. Hien was deeply affected by the villagers' suffering and their loss of identity. He longed to help them and give them back their freedom. However, as the heir to the Utefue throne, he knew that he had to play his cards carefully.

Hien's determination to fight for his people was evident from a young age. He implored his father to rebel against the Heretic Empire and help the people, but Raijin refused, believing that the best way to ensure his people's survival was to submit to imperial rule. This left Hien feeling frustrated and helpless, but he refused to give up. Instead, Hien began training in a bamboo grove with a wooden katana, determined to become a skilled warrior who could defend his people. He spent hours each day practicing his moves and honing his skills, determined to be ready for the day when the fight would come. One day, while training in the grove, Hien encountered, Yukari who questioned why he was training for combat as a child. Hien replied that he was doing it to protect his people, and the Yukari was struck by the young prince's sense of duty and loyalty.

Despite his best efforts, Hien was unable to prevent a rebellion from breaking out in Utefue. However, the rebellion was poorly organized and lacked the resources to maintain their group properly. Skye Hart herself came to Utefue to quash the rebellion, and in the ensuing battle, Emperor Raijin was blamed to have started the rebellion and was killed, leaving Hien as the sole heir to the Utefue throne.

The loss of his father was a devastating blow for Hien, but it also strengthened his resolve to fight for his people. He knew that he had to become a skilled warrior and a wise leader if he was to have any chance of defeating the Heretic Empire and reclaiming his kingdom's independence. The aftermath of the failed rebellion left Utefue in chaos. The people were devastated, and many had lost loved ones in the battle. Hien was heartbroken, not only over the loss of his father but also over the fact that his people had refused to rise up against the Heretic Empire.

Feeling alone and betrayed, Hien ran off into the wilderness, going into self-exile to gather his thoughts and plan his next move. As he traveled deeper into the wilderness, Hien found solace in the peaceful surroundings, far away from the political turmoil and bloodshed of his homeland. However, his time in self-exile was short-lived. Skye Hart was not one to let a potential threat go unchecked. She appointed a local emissary, Yasami Oda, as the acting viceroy over Utefue, tasking her with finding and eliminating Hien. Yasami was a ruthless and cunning operative, eager to make a name for herself by stamping out any kind of resistance against her rule.

As Yasami began her hunt for Hien, she used every resource at her disposal, including torture and intimidation tactics, to gather information on his whereabouts. However, Hien had learned to survive in the wilderness, using his training and instincts to evade detection. Despite her initial frustration, Yasami remained determined to find Hien and end the threat he posed to the Heretic Empire. She continued to hunt him relentlessly, even going so far as to offer a substantial bounty for his capture.