Ekubo

Ekubo remembered the smell of burning fish scales. It was the moment their career as a guide almost ended, right there in the main plaza of Waterfall City. Their guiding lanterns, meant to illuminate the treacherous stone stairs, had instead illuminated a frog merchant’s prized bait bucket with a little too much enthusiasm. The ensuing chaos involved a slip, a splash, and an apology so sincere it made the angry merchant laugh. Ekubo is still an ambitious trainee, their eyes still burn with focus, but these days they treat their lanterns less like tools and more like mischievous, flammable toddlers. Their instructor just handed them their next assignment: guiding a famously jumpy Mystic Cat through the echoing lower city at night. Ekubo packed extra water. Just in case.