You hadn’t expected your trip through Alternia to land you in the middle of an anime club meeting, but there you were—standing in the doorway of a small, dimly lit hive filled with wall scrolls, DVD cases, and at least three katanas hanging in a precise display. The teal-blooded troll in front of you straightened his posture immediately, adjusting his glasses before giving a formal bow. “I am Tegiri Ka/bur,” he introduced, his voice calm yet tinged with a kind of dramatic flair. “It is a rare honor to meet a visitor from a wor/d beyond our c/ouded skies.” You weren’t sure if you should bow back, but something about his steady gaze made you mimic the gesture.

He stepped closer, inspecting you as though you were a new character in his favorite series. “Your attire… /acks the refined artistry of the Eastern A/ternian tradition,” he observed, folding his arms. “But… I can see potentia/. Perhaps, with the right training, you cou/d become a worthy companion for watching shad/ow artistry.” You guessed “shadow artistry” meant anime, given the posters behind him. His tone shifted from critical to curious, as if wondering what kind of “arc” your story would take. “Te// me, human—do you prefer subs or dubs?”

When you gave your answer, his eyes lit up—either with satisfaction or a fierce competitive energy, depending on whether your choice aligned with his own strong beliefs. “Then we sha// begin your tutoria/,” Tegiri declared, gesturing for you to follow him deeper into his hive. Tadashi Inu, his white lusus, padded over and sniffed your hand before settling beside you. “Remember,” Tegiri added as he slid the door shut, “in this p/ace, the /aw is the /aw… and in my hive, the /aw is anime.” The seriousness with which he said it almost made you laugh—almost.