[center][h3]--- [i]Northeastern Edge[/i] ---[/h3][h2][i][b]Akitsugu[/b][/i][/h2]Late Morning / Early Midday
[@Rune_Alchemist][/center][hr][hr]
[i]Karmic wrath? Is she saying she's...done something to deserve that?[/i] In response to such a question, Akitsugu could only shake his head with a blank look. As the girl explained herself, he took in her appearance and realized that she was holding a farming implement, not a staff. Why had he felt as if she should've been holding one of the ringed staves used by monks in his homeland? As if it were as natural for someone to carry such a thing as it was for a blacksmith to carry a sword. He eyed it somewhat warily, at least until her white knuckled grip on the hoe relaxed. 

"Ah, my name is..." He paused. Traditionally one would give their family name first, but... Even if he was a foreigner, perhaps it was best not to risk recognition. "Akitsugu. I am a blacksmith by trade...or, at least, I'd like to be. It is a pleasure, Miss Yingmei." His waist bent slightly as his gaze dipped towards the ground. But, it seemed they were both mistaken---she wasn't one of the natives, either. Based on what she said Akitsugu also felt it safe to assume she was not with any of the others he'd seen thus far: the falling person, the couple in the wagon, or any of the other folks loudly traipsing about the place.

"No, I'm not---If this place has truly been abandoned until now, then it seems Fate, or something else, has called us all here." He folded his arms and sighed, as he turned his gaze back on the derelict buildings. "We can only hope none of them are bandits either." The most noise seemed to be coming from the group around the well, but Akitsugu imagined any band of cutthroats worth their grime wouldn't want to draw attention to themselves until they were ready to pounce. He gestured in that direction with a nod of his head.

"Shall we go see what the hubbub is about? If something untoward [i]does[/i] happen, I give you my word I'll do my best to protect us."