Kosone

The bamboo cutters in The Great Panda City claim Kosone once stared directly into the heart of a falling star, and what they saw left their expression permanently frozen in shock. Before that night, they were a celebrated artist, their brushwork embodying the city’s harmony. Now, they serve on the council with Panda, their golden robes a stark contrast to their haunted, squinting gaze. The guiding lanterns they carry are not for travelers. They are a personal ward, a circle of light to keep the encroaching, silent darkness they witnessed at bay. They rarely speak, but when they do, it is to warn of shadows that no one else can see, lurking just beyond the glow of the cherry blossoms.