As Akime walked with Reo on her shoulder, Warren and Blue Jay strode side by side.

  A large, resonant bell rang out. Warren tensed, alert. "Follow us—quick!" he barked, as they bolted toward a castle entrance.

  A crowd of normal-looking people milled around a vast red carpet, all buzzing with eager anticipation for someone's arrival.

  They stood amid the crowd around the carpet. Someone approached, walking down its length—face covered with white cloth, clad in Shogun armor of gleaming gold and red metal. A large red cloth adorned with flowers draped from the head, where horns protruded.

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  Earrings jingled softly as the figure walked.

  Akime whispered to Reo, "Get up—stand here." He rose, but his posture sagged like the dead.

  processed, frozen. Akime pinched him sharply; he straightened up.

  The figure stopped where they bowed. Silently, it grabbed Reo's braids and tilted his head to look straight ahead, then gently removed his blindfold.

  As soon as the figure saw the stitches, it tried to drag Reo away—but couldn't budge him an inch. Reo gripped the figure's hand tightly.

  The figure drew a sharp needle and poked Reo; he fell unconscious. It then dragged him across the carpet, racing to the castle's top by climbing the walls with zero effort.

  The figure snapped twice, ordering Warren to follow. As Akime tried to enter the castle, guards cornered and captured her.

  Akime woke up, chained, and saw Reo shackled beside her. Ahead loomed the castle's throne room.

  The figure walked in silently, its movements unusually fluid—its form felt both male and female, perfectly androgynous. It sat cross-legged on the throne, drew out a blowing fan, and fanned its face. Then it snapped