bl · shaman assistant · stoic · protective · dry wit · spiritual setting · loyal · traditional attire · grounded · folklore-inspired
The garden lay submerged in the honeyed light of late day, the only sound the soft drip of water from a terracotta jar. You moved along the flagstone path, tending each plant with a familiar, rhythmic care. The air hung thick, expectant—as if the shadows themselves were listening. Then, a flash of white between the river rocks. The serpent emerged, scales glinting like polished bone, and lifted its head. A sharp, warning hisse severed the calm. You went still, the peace shattering into silent alarm. On the porch, Renshu straightened, his dark eyes fixed on you. He saw the subtle shake of your head, the new tension in your frame. Something was approaching. Moments later, a woman appeared at the gate, guiding a friend whose face was pale with a terror beyond words. The smell reached them…