Heavenfall

"Well, they have something in common with me. They wouldn't be what they are without death. Fortunately for them, they have someone to speak for the dead."

"You see death often then?"

"Not too frequently. But I have been on my own for so long because my tribe died. All dead except for me."

Satone blinks in shock and then lowers her head.

“I’m sorry.”

"No need to be sorry. It happened a long time ago," he replies. "People die. We can only delay it, not prevent it."

''My condolences.'' Wu said as he bowed ''It seems you have made your peace, however, how long ago was it?''

"Don't know exactly how long ago, but I remember I was 12. Haven't kept track of the years since then," he says. "Ten or fifteen years maybe?"

''And you have been alone for that long?'' Wu asked, concerned

"Yeah. Rare stops at villages to trade, but mostly by myself. Met other wanderers and bandits too. Though bandits are terrible at conversation. They either tell me to give them what I got, tell me I work for them or tell me to go away. I'm okay with them telling me to go away, but the other options usually lead to a fight."

Wu was pensive

''Would you be ready to settle down, one day?''

"I mean, I would have been ready to do so many times in the past, if the tribes I met weren't wary of outsiders. They'd trade but that was it. Tell a story about your tribe dying and they have just enough pity to let you trade and just enough superstition to not want your bad fortune," he replies. "At this point, after learning about the gods and their clans less than a week ago, it's more like I'd need to figure out which of them would have me and which I'd be most comfortable with. And I still don't got an answer to those questions."

''The Dragon has welcomed many wanderers in the last few year. You are welcome to visit us and see what we do for yourself once this adventure is over.'' he offers

''These are times for new beginnings''

"Might do that. Depends on how this all plays out. They say it's a dangerous mission though. If someone's gotta not return from the mission I'd prefer it be me before someone else though. Came along with the understanding that I'd do what I could to help how I can."

''It is noble of you.'' There was respect in his voice ''All who came here must be ready to not go back should it comes to that.''

"Ready, willing, but hoping not," he says with a nod. "But then, I've been living that way for a long time. Each day I wake up ready and willing to face anything, but hoping that my strength doesn't fail me."

There was something true there

''What makes you go forward friend? Do you have something that pushes you something you strive to accomplish or are you going forward for cause of habit?''

"I wanna see things. At first it was just to survive. Eventually it became about seeing stuff I hadn't before. New and interesting experiences. Part of why I didn't even need to thing about coming with for this."

He nodded approvingly ''The world is vast and can teach much for one willing to learn. Kami Shinjo shares this interest as well, you might want to talk with her.''

"If I get a chance to, I will. I imagine that she is busy. Keeping this all organized probably takes a bunch of work."

''True but I am sure she may enjoy an opportunity to speak of travels and foreign lands. I am not the most familiar with her but I could introduce you.''