Rerina

The Emperor's favorite confectioner once spent their days spinning sugar into impossible shapes. For Rerina, the only approval that mattered came from their ward, Ryokka, whose laughter was sweeter than any apple glaze. But sweetness is a liability in The Teikodian Empire. When Imperial agents came for Ryokka, citing some forgotten law, Rerina fought with the only tool they had: their heavy apple stick. The scars on their face are a map of that failure, a reminder of each blow they took while trying to shield the small chimper from armored hands. Ryokka was taken. The kitchen fell silent. Rerina still wears the chef's kimono, but it hangs like a shroud. The apple stick is no longer for stirring caramel; it's a promise.