Her clever plan can't fail to work on Shen and he goes on talking with a pleased little tuck of his head. "Only the invention of the most powerful and fearsome weapon in all the lands. A young peacock I was when I first discovered the formula and I spent my life perfecting it, until it was capable of leveling a building in seconds, of bringing entire armies to their knees in terror."

In theory, that relentless voice corrects him. If a single panda hadn't managed to lay it all to ruin. And should he speak of this so freely? But truthfully, he wouldn't know what else to do. If he couldn't count this as an accomplishment, if he were to accept that his invention had been a failure, then his entire life would have been... a waste. No, no, he must cling to his pride with an iron grip, like it's the last thing he has.

Still, for a moment his gaze tracks across an unseen mental image haunting him, expression anything but self-assured, before his attention snaps back to the girl and he finally notices her scribbling. Immediately, he is on guard again. "What are you doing?"