PAGE 40 (7 Panels)

Panel 40.1

It’s a bright, cloudless day, and the sun shines directly overhead. In the distance, a cart approaches the reader, moving steadily along a muddy road flanked by shallow water channels. Omohnari and Sim-Qian sit on the driver’s seat. Omohnari holds the horse’s reins. To the left, dense coral woods line the road. On the right, a simple fence marks the edge of a rice farm. Behind it, irrigation canals hint at the farm’s organized water system.

The cart travels from left to right, drawing closer with each moment. The scene can be framed through the trunks of coral trees, offering a natural border without obscuring the landscape. Alternatively, a bird’s-eye view might capture the full scope of the setting.

 

Panel 40.2

We see the cart’s back. Ewumon has cracked the door open, looking outside with worrying eyes.

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267. EWUMON:

Think they’re still mad at me?

 

Panel 40.3

We now see the cart from the inside, revealing that it’s much larger than it appears from the outside, almost impossibly so. It includes an assortment of furnishings: coffee tables, layered rugs, leafy plants, bookshelves, an armoire, a weapon rack, a bed, and a study desk.

On the left side of the panel, Zuhei sits on a cushion, his back resting against the wall. He has a band-aid on his nose, visibly smeared with pomad. On the right, Ewumon is still crouched near the half-open cart door. Her body remains in the same posture, but she has turned her head back toward Zuhei. Next to her, her black cover is neatly placed.

Scattered around the cart are various mysterious objects, some of which will reappear in future issues: a tiki mask, a large ceremonial inkstand with ornate legs, a crystal set atop a pedestal, a softly glowing jar, a skull wearing a crown, a framed charm inscribed with runes, hanging on the wall, a standing mirror, a bonsai tree, a giant acorn, a dragon scale, several East Asian-style idols.

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268. ZUHEI:

They’re always mad at something, so yeah, probably.

 

Panel 40.4

Ewumon lowers her eyes and closes the door. Her lips are tight. She looks sad and confused.

 

Panel 40.5

Ewumon crosses her arms and leans back against the armoire beside the door. She’s frowning. Her knees are pulled up to her chest.

 

Panel 40.6

Close-up of the top of the armoire. A helmet rests in shadow. It belongs to Omohnari and has red tones, but its details are hard to make out in the darkness.

 

Panel 40.7

Close-up of one of the cart’s wheels. The wheel jolts as it hits a rock, causing the whole cart to shake.

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269. SFX:

TOK!

 

PAGE 41 (6 Panels)

Panel 41.1

We see Ewumon as the red-toned helmet falls from the top of the armoire. It hits her on the head, bounces off, and lands in her lap. She clenches her teeth and squeezes her eyes shut in pain. Her fingers tense up instinctively.

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270. EWUMON:

Ouch!

 

Panel 41.2

The helmet is now in Ewumon’s hands. Its large, black, empty eyes seem to stare up at her. We don’t see Ewumon’s face, only her hands holding the helmet.

 

Panel 41.3

Ewumon drops the helmet with a scream like she’s holding a real skull, shocked and terrified.

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271. EWUMON:

Eeek! Even his armor hates me now!

 

Panel 41.4

Close-up of Ewumon’s hand reaching for her black guise, trembling slightly. The black clothing is on the left side of the panel, her hand is on the right, and between them, Zuhei appears in the background.

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272. ZUHEI:

Problem?

 

Panel 41.5

Ewumon’s pupils have shrunk. She’s pulled the black cloak all the way up to her chin like hiding from monsters under a blanket. Her lips are tense.

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273. EWUMON:

Father’s helmet. Does it creep you out as well?

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274. ZUHEI (OFF):

Never seen it. How many times do I have to remind you that I’m blind?

 

Panel 41.6

Ewumon is on the right side of the panel, and Zuhei is on the left. Between them, the cart’s door is visible in the background. Ewumon’s position remains unchanged. Zuhei sits as if in meditation.

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275. EWUMON:

Such a conversationalist.

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276. ZUHEI:

Sarcasm?

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277. EWUMON:

Sarcasm.

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278. ZUHEI:

Can you even spell conversationalist?

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279. EWUMON:

Shut up. You don’t get to question my Qanji skills.

 

PAGE 42 (7 Panels)

Panel 42.1

It’s the driver’s seat of the cart. We see Omohnari and Haeng sitting side by side. Omohnari holds Ur-Chin’s lead, and his ghatana rests between him and Haeng. Haeng has his staff across his lap, arms crossed. They’re both looking forward—directly at the reader. Haeng is on the left side of the panel, his eyes narrowed and lips pursed. Omohnari is on the right. His expression is milder, calmer.

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280. SIM-QIAN:

I blame puberty.

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281. OMOHNARI:

She needs training.

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282. SIM-QIAN:

She needs a beating.

 

Panel 42.2

Omohnari tilts his chin up and glances over at Sim-Qian. A small smile tugs at his lips as he lifts the reins slightly, giving them a light shake to urge Ur-Chin forward.

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283. OMOHNARI:

It’s not easy for her, being an alien and stuff. She only wants to be heard.

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284. SIM-QIAN:

I hear her alright. I hear her asking for a beating.

 

Panel 42.3

Omohnari glares at Haeng. Haeng turns his head to meet the stare. His mouth is open, and his hands are raised with palms facing up. He slouches slightly, as if defending himself, but his expression shows uncertainty. He looks like he’s yelling.

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285. SIM-QIAN:

What? She hurt your feelings, not mine!

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286. OMOHNARI:

…

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287. SIM-QIAN:

Fine. She needs to be trained and heard… and beaten.

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288. OMOHNARI:

Please, drop it.

 

Panel 42.4

From a distance, the cart moves from right to left. The reader’s view is set in the middle of a rice farm, where several farmers work the flooded fields. They have paused their winnowing, heads raised as they watch the cart. All the workers are men, wearing long-heeled getas. Sim-Qian stands upright on the cart, looking toward the farm.

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289. SIM-QIAN:

Oh, look, a farm!

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290. OMOHNARI:

So?

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291. SIM-QIAN:

We should make a stop.

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Panel 42.5

Haeng grips Omohnari’s shoulders tightly, his fingers pressing in a little too hard. Omohnari winces, clearly startled and uncomfortable. Haeng, on the other hand, glows with excitement. His free hand is clenched into a fist, and his eyes gleam with a strange joy, like he’s savoring a private, odd fantasy.

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292. OMOHNARI:

Why?

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293. HAENG:

To ask for work, why else? We’re broke. They may hire your sword or buy my hemorrhoid creams or something.

 

Panel 42.6

Haeng shakes Omohnari vigorously. Omohnari looks confused and dizzy, his eyes spinning. Haeng beams with joy, merrier than Robin Hood’s men. His face takes on a more exaggerated, cartoonish expression, maybe even with a hint of manga-style flair.

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294. OMOHNARI:

Your hemorrhoid creams don’t work. I’ve tested.

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295. HAENG:

Neither does your sword. I’ve tested.

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296. OMOHNARI:

Ouch! Literally below the belt!