Hitohiko the Planted

Hitohiko polishes the crystal lens of their favorite lantern, its light a weak challenge to the setting sun. They were once the most trusted guide in The Crystal Highlands of Armaria, their charm as sure as the path they illuminated for others. But that evening, the monoliths shifted with a low groan, and a chasm opened faster than a breath. The light they held was not enough to find a hold for their partner, not enough to stop the fall. They have not left that cliffside since. Travelers who once sought their guidance now find only a silent figure rooted to the stone, a noble who gave up their future to become a landmark of loss. They are called the Planted, for they have grown into the rock of their own grief.