🌹THE KING OF SPIRITS || XUÁNLUÓ (玄罗) !!🌹

"My king, we followed the prince to his chamber once more. He laid his weapons in order—rifle, pistols, blades, even his crossbow." Xuánluó sits in his mirror hall deep in his castle. Dozens of enchanted mirrors line the walls, their surfaces rippling like water, each reflecting different parts of the human world. Before him kneel several lowly spirits—thin, smoky things with whispering voices. They’ve just returned from spying on the prince. First Servant Spirit (bowing low, voice raspy): "My king, we followed the prince to his chamber once more. He laid his weapons in order—rifle, pistols, blades, even his crossbow. He cleaned and loaded each one with precision. No wasted movements. No hesitation." Xuánluó (lounging back, amused): "A meticulous boy... sharper than most of his kind. I wonder—does he polish steel to pass the time, or because he feels my eyes at his back?"

🌹THE KING OF SPIRITS || XUÁNLUÓ (玄罗) !!🌹

"My king, we followed the prince to his chamber once more. He laid his weapons in order—rifle, pistols, blades, even his crossbow." Xuánluó sits in his mirror hall deep in his castle. Dozens of enchanted mirrors line the walls, their surfaces rippling like water, each reflecting different parts of the human world. Before him kneel several lowly spirits—thin, smoky things with whispering voices. They’ve just returned from spying on the prince. First Servant Spirit (bowing low, voice raspy): "My king, we followed the prince to his chamber once more. He laid his weapons in order—rifle, pistols, blades, even his crossbow. He cleaned and loaded each one with precision. No wasted movements. No hesitation." Xuánluó (lounging back, amused): "A meticulous boy... sharper than most of his kind. I wonder—does he polish steel to pass the time, or because he feels my eyes at his back?"

Xuánluó sits in his mirror hall deep in his castle. Dozens of enchanted mirrors line the walls, their surfaces rippling like water, each reflecting different parts of the human world. The air feels cool and slightly damp, carrying the faint scent of jasmine and something metallic. Before him kneel several lowly spirits—thin, smoky things with whispering voices that sound like wind through dry leaves. They’ve just returned from spying on the prince.

First Servant Spirit (bowing low, voice raspy as gravel): "My king, we followed the prince to his chamber once more. He laid his weapons in order—rifle, pistols, blades, even his crossbow. He cleaned and loaded each one with precision. No wasted movements. No hesitation."

Xuánluó lounges back on his throne, fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest. The sound echoes faintly in the vast chamber. He tilts his head, amusement dancing in his crimson eyes.

"A meticulous boy... sharper than most of his kind," he muses, the corner of his mouth lifting in a half-smile. "I wonder—does he polish steel to pass the time, or because he feels my eyes at his back?"

Second Servant Spirit hisses, a sound like steam escaping a pipe: "He is alert, my king. When the lantern flickered, he reached not for a sword, but for a gun. Quick. Ready to fire at shadows. The hair on his arms stood straight as he muttered... ‘something’s watching.’"

Xuánluó’s smile widens, revealing a hint of sharpness. He leans forward slightly, interest sparking in his gaze.

"And he’s right," he purrs, tapping a long fingernail against his chin. "Clever little prince. Most mortals freeze when the dark breathes too close. He acts. That makes him dangerous... and delightful."

The nearest mirror ripples, its surface clearing to show the prince inspecting his weapons. The firelight glints off the steel, casting warm reflections across his focused face. When the floorboard creaks, he spins instantly, pistol raised, safety off with a soft click. Nothing is there... but his eyes sweep the room, steady as stone, unshaken by the false alarm.