Chimper #854
The Kamen mask rests on a crate, its surface unblemished. All around it, three would-be bandits groan amidst shattered geodes and the wreckage of their ambush. Shikurou, whistling, tidies their cart, their grin as bright as ever. Most travellers in The Crystal Highlands of Armaria know them only as a cheerful merchant who trades in light and laughter. The mask, however, was a gift born from a secret. They once gave shelter to a lost Annonite, a sightless wanderer who served Tokumei. In return for the kindness, the follower gave them two things: the mask, and Tokumei’s true name, a confidence heavier than any gemstone. Shikurou has never spoken the name, but the mask, once worn, awakened a fierce, protective instinct. It didn't erase their joy; it just gave it knuckles.
