Kohina

On the night the communications array went live, Kohina heard the secret that ended their life as a merchant. They had crafted the lattice frame from their finest arctic white bamboo, a stark contrast to the glowing monoliths of The Crystal Highlands of Armaria. It was a collaboration with Mekanikku, who saw the reed's resilience as essential. Kohina, fitted with the recon headset, was meant to be the first operator. But the first message they intercepted wasn’t for them. It detailed Mekanikku's defection and the mission's imminent collapse. The shock of it is a feeling that never left their face. These days, they still trade in bamboo, but their intense eyes aren't on the customers. The headset stays on, forever listening for a voice they never should have heard.