Chimper #426
Why would an explorer, whose life is defined by open roads, become famous for closing one? Eie gets this question often in the teahouses of The Great Panda City. They always put on a show, sighing dramatically and fanning themself. "The acoustics were dreadful, darling! And the views? Utterly drab." They'll insist, their puppy eyes wide with mock sincerity. But as they recount the tale of a boring, featureless canyon, one of the three gems on their head will pulse with a silent, cold light. The young adventurers leave disappointed, never knowing the truth: that path didn't lead through a canyon, but through one's own memories, stripping them away until only a hollow echo remained. Sealing it took a force few could comprehend, an act of mercy that even Oda might have respected. The performance is kinder than the reality.
