Yuhoko

When the ancient fish statue in the plaza began to weep saltwater, Yuhoko was just another courier, running messages up the slick rock stairs from the fishing docks to the main city. They were reliable, known for a steady gait and an expressive face that hid nothing. But as a tremor shook the city from its watery foundations, a deep crack split the pale stone. A hostile water spirit, ancient and furious, poured from the fissure. As it lunged toward a group of merchants, Yuhoko moved without thinking. Their eyes, once merely curious, flared with a pinpoint of blue light, and a shimmering shell of force deflected the attack. The spirit recoiled, hissing. The crowd fell silent, staring not at the monster, but at the courier. The power was awake now, and it had no intention of going back to sleep.