Mamoruko

The scientists of The Crystal Highlands of Armaria will tell you Mamoruko is a disgraced noble on a secret quest for redemption. They point to the intense eyes, the hand that never strays far from their katana, and the uneasy expression worn like a mask. They see a warrior haunted by some great failure. The children who gather fallen crystal shards, however, know the truth. Mamoruko isn't guarding a magical monolith; they are the self-appointed protector of the tiny, shimmering Lumina-Snails. Their intense focus is spent spotting the thumb-sized creatures on the glowing rocks, and their sword is used only to clear paths or gently nudge away predatory birds. The unease is simply the constant worry that one of their slow-moving wards might tumble from a ledge.