Ikuen

You can't trust that smile, a rival messenger once grumbled, watching them bound up the city's great stone stairs. "They're keeping something behind it." And they were right. By day, Ikuen was the quickest courier in the sprawling city, a flash of charcoal grey delivering notes from the fishing docks to the pale temple on the falls. But the Kamen mask wasn't just for show. The strength for their other life—the silent guardian of the lower levels—came from a single, whispered word. It was the true name of Tokumei, given in a moment of trust after Ikuen delivered a message that saved the Annonite leader's life. This secret is the foundation of their bond, an intimacy deeper than any touch. Each time Ikuen dons the mask, they protect more than the city; they protect the one person whose lost identity rests safely in their heart.