Eiichi

They say in The Teikodian Empire that the brightest sun casts the darkest shadow, a lesson Eiichi learned not in a classroom but in the grand plaza. It was the Day of Blinding Light, and the legendary Sakkaku was weaving illusions for the court—a flock of golden-plumed birds that sang melodies of imperial glory. The crowd gasped, but Eiichi, chewing on a roasted marshmallow, saw only shimmering air and the deep, unending sadness in Sakkaku’s eyes. While others saw magnificent creatures, Eiichi saw the ghost of a warrior trapped by a forbidden power. In that moment, the entire empire became a phantom. The cheers of the crowd sounded hollow, and the gilded spires looked like a cage. The marshmallow on their stick suddenly tasted of ash.