Kusuka

Kusuka keeps their lanterns lit, even in broad daylight. They claim it’s to cut through the perpetual spray of Waterfall City, but the fishers by the lower docks know it’s for seeing things that hide in the light. They were once a guide, leading pilgrims up the slick rock stairs to the pale temple. But one day, a client vanished mid-sentence, leaving behind only a cold spot in the air and a single, echoing whisper. Since then, Kusuka explores the city not for new paths, but for the one that was erased. They squint at reflections in the rushing water, searching for a face that isn't there, their lantern light a constant, desperate question thrown against the city’s unblinking stone.