Tōko is an 11-year-old girl from a remote paper-making village. She possesses pale skin, hair reaching her abdomen with an uneven fringe, and collarbone-length side hair framing her face. Her attire typically consists of a traditional haori jacket, light brown folded trousers for mobility, and sandals worn with blue socks. Her most striking feature is her golden eyes, visually paralleled with the bottled lightning used as fuel in her world. Orphaned young when a wind-sparked fire killed her biological parents and her neighbor’s husband, Tōko now lives with her adoptive grandmother, mother, and sister. Her adoptive sister resents her, viewing her as a burden and harboring unresolved grief over their father’s death. Seeking eye medicine for her ailing mother, Tōko enters a forbidden forest and is attacked by a Fire Fiend. Fire Hunter Haijū sacrifices his life to save her, entrusting her with his hunting dog, Kanata, and his sickle before dying. Blamed indirectly for Haijū’s death, her village assigns her atonement: journey to the capital to return Kanata and the sickle to Haijū’s family. Boarding an armored collection truck to begin her journey, she meets companions including brides-to-be Hotaru, Benio, and Kaho. Tōko demonstrates quiet resilience despite initial meekness, swallowing hurt from her sister's coldness. She violates safety protocols to stop Kaho’s escape attempt, resulting in a Fire Fiend confrontation. Though reprimanded, Benio’s intervention prevents her expulsion. During this, Kanata protects her from another Fire Hunter, Enzen, who strikes her—an early hint of her unique connection to the dog, which typically only obeys Fire Hunters. Dangers escalate as the journey progresses. Fleeing a dragon-like Fallbeast attack into the forest with Kaho and mechanic Shouzou, they encounter treefolk, sentient plant-like humanoids who reveal lore about the world’s collapse and a prophecy concerning a "lord of the fire hunters." Later, Tōko defends Kaho from a bear-like Fire Fiend, killing it with Haijū’s sickle despite no formal training, showcasing latent combat abilities and growing resolve. Separated from companion Akira during an attack by Hibari, an enforcer for the divine clans, she is ambushed by another Fire Fiend. Her pupils shift to a cat-like shape—a sign of awakening dormant power—allowing her to slay the creature in one strike. This coincides with the appearance of the Flickering Flame, a comet central to the prophecy. Her bond with Kanata remains pivotal. The dog’s immediate loyalty and aggression toward Enzen when he harms her suggest her inherent affinity for the Fire Hunter role. This connection, combined with her unexplained combat prowess, positions her as a candidate to fulfill the prophecy of becoming the "lord of the fire hunters," destined to confront the Flickering Flame and potentially save humanity. Reaching the capital, she reunites Haijū’s belongings with his son, Koushi, intertwining their destinies. Her experiences culminate in broader involvement with political conflicts like the Spiders' rebellion and the divine clans' machinations, while her personal arc centers on mastering her abilities and confronting her prophesied role.