Satoshi felt slightly nervous, but hesitatingly went over to the table anyway. He wasn't sure how to respond to Tiyun's worries, though.
"H-Hello..."
Kichiro followed close behind his brother. He felt a little ashamed at the memory of how he'd secretly liked his brother's stammering uncertainty with people, back in simpler times when he'd felt overshadowed by Satoshi's capabilities in almost every other way. Now...
He pushed the thought aside and gave Kangsho-Se a smile, passing his brother and taking a seat. "Good evening, sir. We'd promised an exchange of stories, hadn't we?"
A small fire was going in the hearth, just enough to warm the room, but not make it stifling, what looked to be tightly bound bundles of grasses and some wood serving as fuel. There was a scent in the air, which could have been attributed to herbs in the grasses doing what they could to mask the normal smell of smoke. Then again, there were two sticks of incense at the corner of the hearth, thrust into a small enameled jar and burning, so it could have been those as well. Slightly heavy, but not enough to be obnoxious, it was something like a flower, or an herb? Could grasses burn that sweetly?
Kangsho-Se smiled and gave a welcome with a gesture, just a touch louder than what would be considered "polite". That boisterous energy could just be who he was, If his profession was as he said... It could be understandable to want to live life a little larger than your average townsperson, since your next job could be your last.
"Two more to the circle! Welcome, welcome!"
A gesture to each individual was given with their introduction. "Ta-Fei, Uyang, Noju, these are Kishi, and Sato! I promised them a story in exchange, so shall we?"
It seemed like his arrival could be an exchange of stories, which was a good way to catch up with friends or acquaintances, as well as pick up any local gossip. Given the number of people in Miumi, should there have been more people if a story exchange was enough to draw a crowd? Kangsho-Se never did claim to be a Bard, though... Maybe it was just a quirk of the town or his character.
Kichiro wasn't sure if Kangsho-Se was deliberately making nicknames for them or if he'd just forgotten exactly what their names were, so his responding smile was just slightly strained. "Yes, good to meet all of you. We're just passing through Miumi. It's actually our first time here, so all of the stories will be new to us."
A good-natured murmur of greeting was given as Kichiro and Satoshi took a seat at the table, though as they got settled, the one indicated my Kangsho-Se as "Noju" took his leave, rising from his seat
A smaller man, he had the air of a scholar of some sort, though his clothing also seemed reminiscent of someone of some faith. "Ah, but it is late... Leeyi is no doubt waiting for me." The look he have Kangsho-se over his silver spectacles said that he knew the courier well, and blamed him for the jeering that would follow.
That comment elicited some chuckles and teasing from the other three, with comments like, "We know who is the head of the household in your family!", and "I bet it's not the shrine you're praying to regularly!"
There was familiarity in those tones, and Kangsho-Se just nodded and took a drink from his mug. "You'll have to have her join us, one of these days. No doubt, she has a few stories of her own." The grin he was wearing when he lowered the mug hinted at some subtext that Satoshi could tell the others were not privy to.
The moment of consternation was also telling, and Noju departed, leaving the three of them seated.
A pair of drinks were brought for Kichiro and Satoshi by a server that seemed hesitant, and they departed just as quickly and quietly as they arrived.
The moment of silence was broken by Kangsho-Se tapping his (mostly empty, from the sound of it) mug on the table and bringing the group to a sort of informal order. "We have with us tonight, a pair of residents from within the Forest of Spirits. Notable enough to travel there and see what you can from safety, but to grow up there is something quite impressive"
A gesture of his hand swept from the brothers to Uyang. "Uyang is a guard here, but he has not always been a resident. Ikkaku is quite the ways away, and a journey is not always the straightest line." A larger man, Uyang's bald head was compensated for by the length and fullness of his beard and moustache, which was groomed down and tipped with small copper ornaments. There was age on him, but whatever it may have done to his size and strength, more than enough remained to give pause to those with ill-intentions. His clothing had influences of what you had heard were those that made the blains their home.
The gesture ended the man who gave a polite nod at being recognized. "Finally, Ta-Fei has probably traveled further, and perused more wares than any of us likely will in our lifetimes— but then again, royalty is not always found in palaces of jade." His manner was precise and polite, if very casual. There was still a bearing about him that implied nobility, if not significant time spent in their proximity, however. His attire was elegant, if understated. almost as if they were playing poorer than they were. The reds and greys in the hem of his clothing were faded, but even faded, they were not common dyes, that is certain.
For all the grandiose setup that Kangsho-Se had given the others, when the attention was on himself, he set his hand back on the table and shrugged. "Me? I'm just a messenger."
"Honestly I'm still surprised it's such a big deal that we grew up in the Forest," Kichiro says, feeling a bit uncomfortable at Kangsho-Se's description... and trying to ignore the scents of the people at the table. "As long as you stay on the Spirit Road and don't harm the forest it's pretty safe, really. This is the first time we've ever traveled, so our stories will mostly be what we've heard from travelers in our parents' tea house."
There were a couple of deadpan looks thrown at Kangsho-Se at his completely underwhelming statement about himself, though Kichiro speaking up drew their attention away from chasing that response.
The general read of them seemed as if they were searching his face for any sign that Kichiro was making that statement in jest or being duplicitous.
Uyang spoke up after the silence seemed like it was going to stretch into uncomfortable territory. "You... Do not know." His expression was as if he was looking at a puzzle, and trying to understand. "How would you not...?"
Ta-Fei was looking between Kangsho-Se, Uyang, and the two newcomers as well. While it seemed like he was trying to understand what Uyang was getting at, there was no certainty there, either.
Kangsho-Se was simply enjoying the scene, and took another sip from his mug.
Rightly so, all of the attention in the common room was on the table, which, to be fair, was not much beyond Tiyun and the table itself. Any serving folk that had been out were in the back, and the lingering smell of a grilled bird of some sort was still present. The spice of the sauce that it was served with was not covered by the incense that was burning above the fireplace.
_______________________________
Kichiro feels just the slightest bit of annoyance. "Don't know what? Has something happened that we haven't heard about and everyone's assuming we know about? We depended on travelers along the Spirit Road. And we got out just fine. Has something changed?"
Satoshi looked about nervously; the staring unnerved him. He guessed he'd have to... say something? That was hard. But perhaps his view might have some merit? Nobody else was speaking up at the moment, so maybe he could comment?
"W-well, um, I do remember hearing talk about pacts with the kami and such protecting our village. O-or maybe people beyond the forest just don't know the right rituals to placate the more troublesome spirits? Of course anyone trying to cut the trees would run into trouble fast, so that might be it? Er... I'll just be quiet again now, I think."
And with that Satoshi clammed up again, hoping he hadn't made himself too much the center of attention.
Ta-Fei was the one to speak up, shaking his head at Uyang, and giving Kangsho-Se an admonishing look. "There is a foreign saying about being unable to see the forest for the trees." Cultured, calm, and precise, if relaxed. Certainly the mien of someone that is used to finding the benefit of a situation. His response did not draw all of the attention to him, but did let him speak without being overshadowed, or overshadowing.
"In this case, it would seem that it is difficult for you two to see, as you were in the midst of it." One hand came up to stroke his mustache thoughtfully. "I have not traveled into the forest out of caution, but I have heard it compared to a spirit ocean, if such a thing exists. Miumi itself is on the "beach" if we are to continue that metaphor."
His eyes were a dark brown, like that of an old book that had aged well. Those eyes looked at first Satoshi, thin Kichiro, to see if that short explanation made any sense. There was a nod to Satoshi's explanation, and an approving look.
"What is commonplace for the fish, may be understood by the diver, but the fisherman understands less."
Kichiro takes a breath (and suppresses a wince as it brings scents of food... no, people with it) and lets it out. "I suppose that makes sense. So, ah, I suppose it's time to start? Who goes first?"
Uyang is the first to give his story, that of a time when he was not yet a regular to this town, tending the herds at night when he saw something that he could not believe. At first he had thought it was a campfire that someone had left untended, but as he came closer, it looked like one of the horses were on fire. It was something that was not seen again, but the foals from that season were remarkably fast.
Ta-Fei tells a story of some of the oddities that he has seen. From the way he talks, he must have seen a lot, but as he goes to describe the skull of this creature, you find it hard to believe that it was an actual thing. There is no way that something could have a head as big as a wagon, with three horns coming out of its face. Ta-Fei clarifies that it was said to be from the "Other side of the world", but it is still a suspicious tale.
The servers did not stop bringing drinks until someone waved them off, so an empty mug was not something that occurred. Small snack foods were available to anyone that asked for them, the skewers of avian meat just as readily available. Tiyun kept a wary eye on the group, but did nothing untoward.
Kichiro is careful not to drink anything alcoholic--with how fragile his control was, he didn't dare impair himself to the least degree. Tea was good, though. The meat, on the other hand, swiftly disappeared whenever it was offered to him.
He listens to the tales with interest, comparing them to ones he'd heard in their parents' tea house. It takes him a moment to realize there was a pause in the conversation.
"Oh... is it supposed to me my turn now?" he asks.
Kangsho-Se lowered his glass from taking a drink of his mug, picking up a skewer and taking a small bite. His manner was relaxed, despite the not-so-subtle tension still radiating from the owner and his employees, and he shrugged as he chewed and swallowed.
"If you wish. I have not told mine, so being as you are new, would you rather be the last story told this night?"
While the stories were being told, the number of patrons had decreased until this table was one of the last. The only other table was that of a few guardsmen who seemed more interested in their food and the warmth than paying attention to you. The fire in the fireplace still burns, but the lanterns had been turned higher.
Kichiro nods a bit over-eagerly. "Yes, that sounds good to me," he says, finding himself glad to put off speaking to this group of adults for a little longer.
Kangsho-Se gave a nod, and pushed his drink a little away from him. The expression on his face said that he was considering what he was going to tell. It seemed like he had settled on something when he took a deep breath and let it out slowly, leaning forward to rest his elbows on the table. One hand stroked his chin, while the other was resting on the opposite wrist, and his expression solidified as he looked around the table.
"I get paid to go places, sometimes with and without things or people." A narrowing of his eyes hinted at the difficulty of what he was saying— or trying not to. "This story happened a while back and work has taken me in other directions since then."
He snorted softly, a tone of disbelief in the words that followed, eyes distant as if he were not here, but there, where the story happened once more.
"Not that I would want to put myself near it again."
As if realizing that he was being vague, he met the eyes of everyone seated and frowned slightly. "What if I told you I witnessed an attempt to eat the moon?"
Kichiro's eyes go wide. "Something could actually do that?" he asked, incredulously.
Satoshi listened thoughtfully.
...."This sounds like the kind of story where either something is highly mistaken about perspective, or is doing something very strange with symbolism or something."
He did still pay close attention.
A quirk of the corner of his mouth was easily read as acknowledgement at the oddity of his statement, and Kangsho-Se gave a shrug.
Uyang raised his eyebrows at the declaration, but seemed to accept it easily enough.
Ta-Fei tilted his head in consideration, but did not comment.
"Perhaps. I admit that I chose not to investigate further beyond what I had already stumbled into, and getting myself out of there was difficult for a number of reasons."
That statement gave way to a short sigh, and he straightened slightly.
"However, that is starting the story near the end. A week prior I was contracted to travel into what they had termed 'the remnants of Lung Wa'. A parcel was part of the contract, and it was a regular delivery. Now, as standard, neither were the contents were known to me, nor did I seek to learn what it was I carried."
"The distance was not insignificant, and the time frame was generous, so I lent my skills to a merchant train heading in that direction. I'm a fair hand at a few things, and the pay was a bonus, so I went."
His expression darkened, "It was along the way that things took a turn, and went beyond what I had even anticipated. We had come along what had been a small town, but the smoke that we had been seeing told of its fate. It had been ransacked and razed, with those that had not fallen, taken. While not uncommon, the scale was more than usual. Add to that the pall of the still smoldering fires that hung over the area strangely, and everyone with sense was thinking that we should have kept moving."
Kichiro listens, lost in rapt attention, though he shudders at the image of the destroyed town. All thoughts of trying to figure out Kangsho-Se were lost in listening to the tale.
"Then a wagon hit a rut and broke an axle."
"A lead snapped due to the extra strain from losing a wheel."
"One horse, startled by the commotion or something, decided to bolt, taking a wagon off the road and getting it stuck."
"A keg, jostled by the horse bolting, burst."
There was a knowing look given to everyone as he listed the events. "So all of a sudden, there were several problems to solve, any one of them guaranteed to stop the caravan in its tracks. All of this was something that could ruin a career, if the goods were volatile... Outside of a ransacked town, to boot."
There, Kangsho-Se paused to take a drink. He had been doing a fair amount of talking.
"The Caravan Master, he saw these things happening, and rather than let panic set in with the realization, he hopped down from his wagon and started giving orders left and right. Three went to go take a look at the wagon and axle, one went to see just what had snapped, and two others to go take stock of the situation of the horse off of the road."
"Faced with a task, it was easier to work than panic. The axle might have been a lost cause, but by evening the stuck wagon was back on the road. The pall was still hanging over the area, and someone was going to have to scout the town."
"...We drew straws."
"Me and two others got the short straws. Koga was a guard, been traveling with the same caravan for years at that point, and Hon was another rider like me. Said that he knew magic, but he had shown more magic with his dagger than I had seen him produce anything magical." A shrug indicated his regard for the claim, and its importance.
"The town was quiet, and even as we were approaching it as steathily as we could, something did not feel right. You could still smell the smoke from the housed that had burned, and even that did not smell quite right. It was faintly sweet, like the wood was just cut, and not burned. Even stranger, was that some of the buildings were still standing. With as much smoke, or fog, or whatever that was covering the area, it made it seem like the whole town had burned, but in the center of the town, around the well, there were three houses that still stood.
There were no lights in any of them that we could see, but one of them had smoke coming out of the roof. It spilled down the sides like ghostly water and stretched out to blend in with the fog, or it was the fog, or smoke..."
Another drink from his mug, and Kangsho-Se, wiped his mouth, his eyes still distant. A shake of his head and he continued.
"When we stepped into the town, still trying to hide, all the hairs stood up on my arms. Something was not right. The town had been emptied, except for the dead, but there were no tracks that any of us could find."
"Hon had been shaken since we stepped into the town, but I couldn't understand what he was saying. Something about a 'separation', but there were so many magical words along with that, that we just waved him quiet and crept closer."
"We reached one of the houses, but we had heard nothing, and saw nothing. It was disorienting, all the quiet, and the fog..."
"Koga disappeared first. I had been looking around the other corner of the house, when Hon made a small sound. I turned back around to see that all the color had drained from his face, and he was just staring at where Koga had been. "I had heard nothing, so I tried to get his attention to ask, when he just shook his head and bolted away from the house."
By now, Kangsho-Se had his hands clasped on the table.
"A shadow crossed my vision, and Hon had vanished. I don't know what happened, but I was starting to see things in the smoke, and could not understand what they were. Shapes, almost-creatures, but not, and they seemed to be walking towards the hut with the smoke pouring down the roof."
"I somehow maded it back to the edge of town— I don't remember how, but everything was strange. I looked back at the hut, that looked like a small house now, and saw lines streak up from the hut, and somehow hook into the moon. Hooks of smoke and shadow were tensed and you could tell that the force was great, as the moon budged and seemed to come down."
At this point, Kangsho-Se gave a shake of his head, and shrugged.
"At this point, I had realized that something was affecting me. I have no idea what it was, because I know that this part makes little sense, because I saw jaws of some creature rise up from the direction of the hooks, open as if to take a bite out of the moon."
Another shrug, dubious at how it sounded. "Maybe it would have. A streak of moonlight severed a couple of the lines, and as if all of this was not strange enough, it seemed like it came from a hare. It was dressed like the warriors of the emperor's court aspire to appear, wielding a guan dao. Its armor was of silver, gold, and jade."
"It said something, and there was a response— of which I understood neither– as the jaws receded." At that, he sat up, breaking the tension that he had been building.
"That, I decided, was out of my league, and I managed to make it back to the caravan— not without incident– and spent the next two days recovering from whatever it was that was probably in the smoke. They had seen nothing back at the caravan, but Hon and Koga did not return. In the day following the axle got repaired enough to move, and we left that place."
Kichiro shivers. What sort of hunger would seek to eat the moon? He is reminded uncomfortably of the scent of lung and liver in the room that none but him could detect.
Satoshi was inwardly torn. On the one hand, that was terrifying. Not something that should be poked into. It sounded more like folklore than reality, though he knew enough about the world to know that sometimes folklore was an accurate, though usually exaggerated, depiction of actual events.
On the other hand, a part of him really wondered how that whole affair must have worked, and wanted to dissect and analyze it. But he knew full well he was nowhere near skilled enough to do that yet.
...Why did he always think yet in those situations? Could he ever really be skilled enough to analyze something that could try to eat a moon?
...And why did he somehow feel that the answer to that was perhaps yes, someday?
His face scrunched in introspection.
Uyang's response was measured after hearing that story. "Is possible. Many things we do not see, or do not know how."
Ta-Fei had remained silent, and only had his eyebrows raised at the prospect of something like that. "A hare... Another of the endless conflict between Tsukiyo and Fumeyoshi?"
Kanghso-Se only shrugged.
Eventually, attention turned to Satoshi and Kichiro, the three of them curious about what story they might hear.
Kichiro sat silently for a few moments before noticing the number of eyes that had turned towards him. He shifted a little uncomfortably.
"Ah... I suppose it's our turn? Well, umm, if news from the Forest is as rare as you say, maybe a story from home would be new for you? So, ummm… well, this is a story about Morinoya. Everybody seems to tell it differently, but this is the version I heard the most.”
”So, it was a long time ago, and there was a lot of trouble. Evil oni were rampaging around, and people suffered under them. But there was one man named Itsuki who stood up to them. He would attack places where the oni were weak and then disappear.”
”Over time, people began to seek him out. The desperate, the wronged, the angry, slowly they formed an army. As his forces grew his attacks on the oni grew more bold, but still he could not challenge their leaders, and so the oni’s grip on the land remained.”
”Then one day, on the border of the Forest of Spirits, he found a powerful oni tormenting a small kami. Alone and without support, the warrior challenged the oni and engaged in a fierce battle. The two were nearly even, and the kami watched in fear as the two rained blow after blow upon one another. At last, with a startling suddenness, the oni and the warrior thrust their blades through one another’s chests at once.”
”The kami approached the dying warrior, who locked eyes with it and gasped out two words. ‘My people’. Touched by the sacrifice of this warrior, the kami went to the others of its kind in the forest, vouching for the honor of the warrior and his people.”
”His followers were distraught at his death, but to their surprise, a few days later an army of kami emerged from the forest and offered an alliance. They set terms by which the people could enter their forest, and terms by which they would fight side-by-side against the oni. With the aid of the kami the oni were soon driven from the land, and peace returned.”
”Without a war to fight, the young son of the fallen warrior looked for another purpose. Thinking of the future, he spoke with the kami about travelers through the Forest of Spirits. In time they agreed upon a single road through the Forest that would be safe… and the young son built a teahouse along that road. And that was the beginning of Morinoya, our home.”
Around the table, there were looks of understanding from everyone. Kangsho-Se was nodding, while Ta-Fei seemed as if he was enlightened, and Uyang appeared to be contemplating something thoughtfully.
"Sometimes the most innocuous of things can have quite notable origins", Ta-Fei mused, receiving a grunt from Uyang in agreement.
At this point, it was truly night, and the last drinks had been brought, no more snacks remained on the table, and the pot of tea was more room temperature. The fire had been banked, so a little bit of chill had begun to seep in with time. There is a chill in the air, creeping closer with every passing minute. Tiyun had been ushered upstairs by one of the servers, and there seemed to be a faint family resemblance with the younger male, who simply sat and waited, just in case something was needed by the last table.
Options were limited, but no respectable place of lodging would allow themselves to have nothing available for guests, no matter the hour.
Kangsho-Se was the first to take any distinct action as the lull lapsed into minutes of thought.
"Well," he began, upending his mug and setting it back on the table. "It has become late, and sleep awaits us all."
Uyang grunted, his drink long-finished, a skewer from one of the light foods in the corner of his mouth. "Yes. Your stories were appreciated", he said simply.
Ta-Fei had stifled a yawn, and gave a nod, a casual pass of his hand leaving coins on the table as payment. "Agreed. It was most informative and engaging."
The server– who had been mostly awake– rose and swept by to collect the empty mugs and plates, as unobtrusive as one could be serving the last table in the inn. Coins were left by the others, and if any motion of pay is made by Kichiro or Satoshi, it was waved off.
"Your story was the best", was said by way of explanation.
"Oh... thank you," Kichiro said, though he realized he'd hardly thought of payment. Too long being the one waiting the table, he supposed, though you'd think that having to collect the payment would have...
He yawned. Oh. Or he could just be tired.
"How late is it?" he mumbled to himself as he stood and stretched. More clearly he said, "Have a good night, everyone. It was good to meet you."
He got up and headed for their room, tired enough it dulled the Hunger within him.
Satoshi, still somewhat caught up in quiet contemplation, briefly starts when the storytelling comes to an end.
"Oh, um, yes, thanks. Sorry that I didn't have much more to contribute. The stories were all good, though. Good night."
Inwardly, he was glad that he didn't have to think up a story of his own, as he accompanied Kichiro upstairs. They still were supposed to find some time to really talk to this red courier, but Satoshi didn't feel bold enough to do so while others were around.
Sleep comes easy after the day that the two of you have had.
The stories are certainly something that beg the imagination. Still, considering the oddities of the spirits that the two of you are used to and familiar with, it is certainly not outside the realm of possibility. Perhaps that is why the dreams that each of you have are strange.
At some point in your sleep, you dream.
Kichiro, it is a strange balance you strike with your Hunger. You eat, and eat freely. Strangely enough, you are not out of control. The dishes that are brought to you are of the freshest they can be, and taste amazing. Your favorite foods are part of the menu, but there seems to be no stigma or judgement should you choose to go hunt them yourself. Undoubtedly strange, but this has all the hallmarks of a dream, and not a bad one at that.
Satoshi, you find yourself seated and holding a menu. This does seem to be a dream, but the smells of the food are quite appetizing. In fact, it appears that according the menu near your hand their specialties are some of your favorites. The setting is a known place, and from the samples that are arrayed in front of you, you have but to request. Somehow, you know that you are free to eat until you are full.
Kichiro is pretty sure he's dreaming. And it's a good dream for once, one that's not about... yeah, let's not think about that right now. Instead he focuses on the smells, the tastes, the feast. He orders whatever sounds good, eats enough to really get the flavor of it, and moves on to the next dish. No need for moderation or worrying about waste in a dream, right? Just like there's no need to look around and wonder at where this place is, or who's bringing him food, or why.
...but in spite of that, these exact thoughts gnaw at the back of his mind. Even as he enjoys the meals, he can't help but look at the servers, the tables, everything. Deep down Kichiro knows he can't enjoy a feast like this. Not after what he did. Not after what he's become. He can't deserve a moment of quiet like this. It must be a trap, whispers that seed of guilt in his heart.
And so he stops before he's full. Smiling, complimenting the chef, but refusing more.
Satoshi took some time to realize he was probably dreaming. It was nice to be able to just relax for a time. Still, at a certain point it occurred to him that he shouldn't eat *too* much, or he wouldn't be able to move on and get things done. He still ate until he was full, but refrained from gorging even as thoughts started to wander to concoctions and inventions.
The dream drifts, percetpion blurring and sharpening as you try to focus. The passage of time is something that you can't quite put a finger on, but somewhere between sipping something light and citrus from a small cup, the outside world intrudes. Like wading through warm blankets, you drift from your meal, back to your room in the Candelight's Warmth.
Taking stock of yourselves, you feel fine. In fact, you are not at all hungry like you would be when you usually wake up in the morning. The low murmur of activity can be heard from your room, and the expected smells from food preparation. Thinking back to your dream, the experience is fading slowly.
Kichiro, your Hunger is also quiet.
Kichiro sits up and stretches, then sets about preparing for the day.
"I had the strangest dream last night," he comments to his brother as he does so. "Something about a feast. I wasn't quite sure why I was at one, but, well, it *was* a dream."
Satoshi also wakes, and heads into his morning formula-brewing.
"That's a little strange. I dreamed about a feast too... an oddly clear dream, at that."
Kichiro gives Satoshi a strange look. "That is strange. And, um, how are you feeling now?"
Still accustomed to hours at the Tea House, it is "morning", if a little later than usual due to how late the two of you were up the night before.
Nothing else seems amiss.
Kichiro, still surprised by how full he's feeling, debates getting something to eat anyway. After all, there's no way he's full because of a dream... right? Or maybe just get something for the road. It was probably about time for them to be moving on, anyway.
Well, either way, it was time to talk to the innkeeper. He heads towards said person. "Good morning!" Kichiro says cheerfully.
..."It's kind of odd that I feel full after that dream. Adding in how clear both our dreams were, I hypothesize a supernatural component. But from where?..."
Satoshi was thoughtful as he went down, considering his... complete lack of ability in the field of magic. Well, he wasn't going to get much of anywhere trying to investigate, it appeared.
Tiyun gave Kichiro a wary nod of greeting, still clearly uncertain about seeing the two brothers sitting with the individual that he had asked them to look into. Merchants were up and discussing things in lower tones with some back-and-forth, and as usual, a couple of guards were present, helmets off and eating their food with a tired air. Nothing about the room or the people seems amiss, and outside the sounds of the town waking up can be heard.
"Morning... Was your rest adequate?"
Kichiro nods. "Very. Um, is now convenient to talk about what you asked us about yesterday?"
Satoshi nodded as well.
"Yes, that was a good sleep."
Inwardly he... wasn't sure what to think about things. They hadn't really accomplished the objective of asking about Kangosho-Se's species.
There is a moment of hesitation before Tiyun gestures to the table across from him, a motion that conveys a bit of irritation. A marker is placed in his ledger, and a passing server is given a sign as they finish their circuit and return to the kitchen.
"Now is a good time", he agrees. His tone is diplomatic, though there is a touch of curiosity in his eyes.
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Kichrio hesitates a moment, then sighs. "I can't give you a firm answer. He seems like just a man with a dangerous job, but it's quite possible he's just better at hiding what he is than us. It's hard to prove he's not something else, if that makes sense."
Tiyun seems understanding at the explanation. None of it appears to surprise him, all things considered. "That is fine. This village grows, and this location is unique. I do not doubt that there is more going on here than I expect, I only wish to keep an ear out for what I can."
He is not as irritated as he initially seemed, and there is no strong sense of disappointment, just the tone of someone looking beyond the immediate.
"Thank you for your efforts."
It does appear that he is satisfied with your results, at least.
Kichiro gives a small bow. "You are welcome. We ourselves will be leaving this morning. I believe we've gotten everything out of our room. There's not anything else we need to do before leaving, right?"
"Sorry we couldn't answer more certainly..."
Satoshi's packing had been somewhat more involved than Kichiro's, considering the amount of equipment he carried.
The shake of his head waved off your apologies. He is not overly put out about the lack of information. "That just means that there is nothing to find, or it is very well hidden. Either way is reassuring." At Kichiro's inquiry, he opened the ledger and gave it a quick glance. "There is no outstanding debt for either of you, I hope your stay at The Candlelight's Warmth was to your satisfaction. Feel free to have food before you depart."
Interestingly enough, neither of you are hungry yet.
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"Then we will be on our way. Our thanks for your hospitality."
Kichiro turns to go. Once he and Satoshi are outside, he says, "So to Sakakabe now? Maybe when we're on the road we can think more about the route we'll take there."
He frowns, thinking. "...did we get a map?"