Sooner or later he'd find himself a good fight again. Given the downtime the Deputy had somehow managed to obtain, he had decided to take up his heavy sword and pack it to no-man's land, intent on finding a new spot to spar, if not a new partner with. Yomi hardly gave him any time of day, and not to think too rudely, but the head Warrior wasn't exactly in his league, anyways.
Sword dragged behind him before he swung upwards, slicing through air as it was brought down and decimated the nearby boulder. With a roll of the shoulder he moved the sword up again, if only to lean it against him. A sidestep later he had the long-sword deep in the side of the mountainside he trekked along, a low rumbling vibrating thereafter.
A grin followed his glance at the handiwork before yanking the weapon of choice back and atop his shoulder.
Korosu looked up from his path under the thick trees as he heard the ringing of a sword. He smiled to himself. 'At last!' He thought hopefully, hurrying towards the noise. Upon seeing Maware in the near distance, he shouted out in a friendly voice.
Startled by the sudden appearance of the Wanderer, Maware shot a look over at the stranger, brows raised. Better than an attack out of no where, but in truth, he almost preferred being startled into a fight.
"You from around here, bud? I haven't heard anyone calling me soldier in years."
Switching his grip of the sword into his left hand, he couldn't help but smirk. Looking over the man in front of him, perhaps he actually had found himself a new opponent.
He smiled and shook his head, coming closer so they wouldn't need to shout. "I'm from the North. Too far to count the miles. My name is Korosu-" At this, he raised his hands. "Not a lovely name, I know, but I was born in dark times. Is this a clan's territory?"
"North, huh? Ah, name's Maware. Deputy of Solarisclan."
Hand was outreached towards the other, a friendly offer to shake hands.
"You're in no-man's land, buddy. Territory of both Lunarisclan and Solaris. No one's got a problem with you sticking around here a day or two, but I wouldn't stay longer than that if you know what's best for ya."
Advice or a threat? His voice wouldn't give it away, but he continued on talking anyways, grin only growing wider.
"I don't suggest crossing through either territory alone, if that's the way you're headed. Although, I don't really mind taking you through myself, need be."
Korosu shook his hand firmly. A strange flash in his eyes for just a moment. "Deputy? Ah, I'm sorry if I offended you back there then." He gave a half smile. "Well, Maware, I've been traveling for too long. I'm looking to settle down and if I could be useful in anyway to a clan, I would love to earn my stay. I know clans can really vary on whether or not they're needing a helping hand, though, so be honest if there's no room for me." Korosu gave him a serious but peaceful look, gripping the strap of the worn leather bag around his shoulders. "I'd do all I could to help, for only some food and shelter."
Retracting his hand, he had to think on the question, if just for a moment. Cocoa colored irises scanned again over Korosu's figure, silently judging his character. Grin disappeared to reveal a troubled, unsure expression. Rubbing his chin, he clicked his tongue, considering what Yomi might have to say about the stranger. If any clan were to allow strangers, she'd be the first to welcome them.
Switching his hold on the hilt of his sword, he took a step away from Korosu and leaned his head back some.
"I get it. See, a I think a new face is just what we need around here! But you know,"
Tightening his grip on the weapon of choice, he readied himself for an attack on the Wanderer.
"I guess that depends on what kinda work you're capable of."
Although he knew many of the other clan positions needed members much more than the current Warrior count, it wouldn't be anything other than justified to test Korosu himself. If only by using his Deputy status. At least, that's what he'd tell himself.
Eyeing Maware's sword, Korosu stepped back just a smidge. "I'm unarmed, friend." He quickly unbuckled the straps securing his coat and opened it to reveal no weapons. "I have experience being a part of a clan. I know how to hunt, defend, build."
With a heavy sigh, he pulled back, lowering his sword and returning to his original position. With the other clearly unarmed, it wasn't as though the lancer had an extra sword to around for sparring.
"They have clans in the north?"
Rubbing the back of his neck, he continued after a slight pause.
"Alright, alright. Decision's up to Yomi, but I'll put in a word for ya. What would you rather be doing, hunting or building?"
Turning back the way the Warrior came, he removed his hand from his neck and beckoned Korosu to follow.
"Hunting, for sure." Korosu followed him, closing his coat. "And thank you, I can't tell you how much I appreciate this. It's been a very trying journey so far. How many are there in your clan?"
Nodding his head at the thanks he received, clashing of iron and steel echoed off his frame as he led the soon-to-be Hunter into Solarisclan territory.
"I don't mean to boast, but we have more force than Lunarisclan, for sure. "
Tapping the sword against himself, he nodded approvingly once again. He gave only an unspecified amount, on the off-chance Yomi rejected him. Surveying the hills lined with forest up ahead, his eyes caught sight of a figure crossing through the treeline. Squinting, he made a note to check the tracks when they arrived there.
"What kinda trials have you dealt with out there though? That shit's gotta be more interesting than a basic, simple ol' clan-life."
"Oh," He let out a slow exhale, "..Well, I lost my family. My wife died of a viral disease about seven years ago when we were still in our clan, and my two sons.." Korosu's expression hardened with sorrow, "My boys were taken from me out on the road, two years ago come next week. We were looking for a new start; WelkinClan was destroyed by sickness and poverty. There was no food and nothing was growing anymore. We believe the land was cursed. Is cursed. I miss the 'simple old clan life'." He gave Maware a hazy, worn expression.
"It's not that the journey has been hard, it's that the journey alone has been hard."
Overwhelmed by the tale, he exhaled with an impressed whistle. He had to allow for that information to sink in; the echoing of footsteps against grass veering twice as loud to him than before.
They were lucky. Solarisclan and Lunarisclan both. Those sort of hardships were known not in his class, at least not to an alarming extent. Giving another glance over the Hunter, his story felt akin to a warning-- Maware truly moved by how much the man chose to reveal.
With a deep inhale, his internal and overflowing optimism kicked in. He was just pressing for more information, after all.
"That's beyond harsh, pal. Fate must have a real nice plan for ya now that you've gotten through all that and made it here. You follow any sorta faith?"
The man stopped in his tracks, completely caught off guard by the question. He watched Maware, eyes glazing over as he searched for an answer. "I don't know, honestly. I did once. At least I thought I did. Perhaps my faith faltered, allowing evil to reign around me." Korosu sighed before turning his gaze towards the trees. "What of yourself, deputy? Are you a believer?"
Noticing the Wanderer stop, Maware took a last step forward before coming to a halt. Without even turning to face the other, he listened intently.
"Yeah."
No hesitation, the Deputy answered as quick as Korosu posed the question to him, leaving no space between his last words. With a half-turn, a broad smile returned to his face.
"You'll find most, if not everyone here believes in a higher power, too. Maybe you'll get some validation sticking around here for a bit. Ah! Not that we're some kinda clan cult, or anything! We won't push it down your throat, so don't worry."
Laughing the statement off, he resumed their walk, trying to quicken their pace to the line of trees. Not that the heavy set of armor made it any easier for him.
Sooner or later he'd find himself a good fight again. Given the downtime the Deputy had somehow managed to obtain, he had decided to take up his heavy sword and pack it to no-man's land, intent on finding a new spot to spar, if not a new partner with. Yomi hardly gave him any time of day, and not to think too rudely, but the head Warrior wasn't exactly in his league, anyways.
