Shorina

The palace guards in The Teikodian Empire whisper that Shorina is a spy, a phantom who slips through keyholes. They say the scar marring their face was a gift from an imperial interrogator and the apple stick is a cleverly disguised blade. The scholars in the archives see something different: a determined researcher in an Omniscient Robe, poring over agricultural histories and maps of forgotten farmsteads. To them, the injury is a tragic mark from a childhood accident. Down in the market, the fruit vendors just see a quiet, regular customer. They know Shorina has an uncanny knack for picking the sweetest apples, even from a bruised pile, paying with calloused hands. Shorina confirms none of these tales, offering only quiet nods and the steady tap of their stick on the marble floors.