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"Yes, of course, I would love to see the sanctuary. I'm pretty sure my mother will be okay if i stay the night, if of course you guys are okay with that." Kukiko replied to Katori. "I'm pretty sure she has some herbs for sale too. Maybe she'll have what you're looking for." Kukiko tried her best not to frown at the thought of being a healer. If only it were as easy as Katori makes it sound.

After some walking Kukiko giggled at Taaru's question. She sarcastically answered, "No we live in the ocean across the continent." She gestured to her ice skin and hair. "Of course silly. My dad owns the white mansion at the edge of town, and my mother is a merchant and often travels all around the main land trading. She loves being home during Zena's market days, so she tries to make it home as often as possible for them." She smiled. "My brother is training to be a skilled jeweler and artisan, while my sister is getting involved with politics." She sighed. "And then there's me."

She ended it with that abruptly as they approached her mother's stall. "Hey mom!" She moved ahead of the group. From the looks of it her mother just finished with a customer, and from her mother's expression, it seemed she was really enjoying the market day. After introducing the group as her new friends and how they helped her, Kukiko's mother laughed and said, "Thank you for helping my Kukiko. Any friend of hers is a friend of mine. Now, what can I help you with?"

[Kukiko 4]

"Oh spirits, Taaru." Katori giggled, "I promise he's usually a lot brighter than this." She winked towards her brother, "Maybe a cute girl is throwing off your game today?" Her lips opened slightly in surprise as Kukiko described her family. It sounded like the other girl was pretty well off! Though it wasn't something that Katori could really be envious of considering their own family. Her parents and her uncle never really spoke about her grandmother on her mother's side but she knew most of the estate and their wealth had been inherited after the woman passed away. Apparently she had been involved with the council even at one point! But she wasn't the best of people or at least that's what Katori gathered from the dark expressions that crossed her mother's face whenever she tried to approach the topic.

So while they lived in a really nice stone manor themselves and had plenty of land they lived a mostly simple life. They bought just enough food and supplies to live on while her mother worked hard to take care of animals and her father traveled for magical quests and trades. They just were fortunate enough to have plenty of room to house others whenever necessary, "It's definitely fine for you to stay! It just may get noisy if the younglings go running about. My uncle had twins about three years ago and they can be quite the handful." Katori found her thoughts stumbling to a halt when they were introduced to Kukiko's mother, "Oh! Yes, I do have a list!" She beamed and handed the parchment to the older iceling lady, "It's just typical medical supplies that my mother needs to help patch up some creatures. Oh! And some herbs for teas that we enjoy."

And once they received the herbs they would be ready to be on their way back home. Katori's fingers tapped alongside her hips excitedly. Even if she didn't fully participate in training herself it would be fun to watch!

[Katori 5]

Kukiko's mother looked over the list of ingredients and herbs they needed and gathered them all from the rear of the shop stall, when she returned, she grabbed the nearest Oban style satchel bag and put all the ingredients in there. She collected the coins from Katori and said. "This is a gift for you, for helping Kukiko. Please take it."

Kukiko smiled and thanked her mother. "Would it be alright if I went with them to their animal sanctuary and spent the night?" Kukiko gave her mom the biggest begging eyes she could muster, even though she knew her mother was already going to say yes.

"Of course! You're obviously in capable hands. Keep her safe for me would you?" She said to Tryston with an endearing smile.

"Yay! Thanks mom." Kukiko hugged her mom over the counter and waved her goodbye. She started marching off, and looked back to gesture her newfound friends.

[Kukiko 5]

Katori couldn't help but to nudge Taaru playfully before she accepted the herbs from Kukiko's mother, "Thank you!" She replied with a bright smile, "We'll definitely take good care of her!" She linked her arms with Kukiko, "Let's go home~ I'm sure you'll like it there. If you don't want a room to yourself you can always spend the night with me!" Unlike others Katori was not afraid of strangers. She had a good sense for others and she felt like Kukiko was going to be a fun friend. If she could put up with Tryston and Taaru for training then she earned even more points in Katori's book!

Following Tryston’s lead, Katori made certain to point out familiar landmarks to Kukiko as they walked along. “There’s a cliff that looks like a howling raptrix before you enter the valley.” She advised as she pointed to a figure in the distance, “It marks the stream that cuts along the northern edges of our family’s land before it flows downwards towards Sauti. We have plenty of room, acres for beasts to roam, and there’s even a huge barn and an old forge behind our manor.” As she continued speaking and describing things the scenery around them began to shift. There were less mountains and more gently rolling hills that turned into open acres with a forest in the far distance marking the way towards Sauti. In between the forest and located along the open fields was a large two story stone manor with several outbuildings. It was that manor which they called home, its iron gates all too familiar to the trio as they led the way towards the great front doors.

[Katori 6]

Kukiko stared into the hillsides at the landmarks Katori was pointing out to her. "This place is beautiful, and we haven't even gotten to your home yet!" Kukiko had spent most of her time shopping and reading books at home with her familiar Duram. She did enjoy her strolls on the way to town, but she had never ventured far from home and the market. Maybe I could go adventuring someday... The thought was foreign to her, but for now she pushed those thoughts from her mind as they approached a beautiful big stone manor.

"Wow." She breathed. "It's older looking, but no less impressive. It really reminds me of my own house." There was no time to dwell on the architecture as she was suddenly pulled further into the manor. "H-hey wait!" she exclaimed as she couldn't help but laugh at the situation. Ah well, there'll be time to admire it later.

[Kukiko 6]

"Oh my goodness, Kukiko! Taaru slow down!" Giggling Katori flew away with her brother as they quickly introduced Kukiko to anyone that they spotted in the manor. "Oh! This is my room." She pulled her brother to a halt as she pointed to one of the second floor bedrooms, slightly smaller than her parents but with a balcony that she loved. "We can pull more blankets and furs out and if you want we can even share my bed. It's plenty big enough unless you wanted to just camp out in front of the fireplace." Katori gestured inside towards a wardrobe and a large canopy bed covered in shimmering material like stars as she spoke. Before the bed was an open area with a curved stone fireplace where a velvet chaise of midnight blue was placed so that she could read before the fireplace at night, "Our grandmother often had important guests in the manor before she passed so most of the rooms were lavishly furnished. Our parents updated a lot of things as well when we had a large group of guests living here about four years ago? Tryston stayed with us then and had a room on the bottom floor but it's been changed into Uncle Kian and Rho's room with a nursey for their twin babies."

"There's more guest rooms along the bottom floor but honestly I don't know if you want to brave the younglings." She teased lightly before Tryston's voice caught her attention, "Oh!" A light flush decorated her cheeks as she spun to look at Taaru, "Do you have any last minute things to show Kukiko or should we head outside to Tryston?"

[Katori 7]

Kukiko once again only had a moment to see each room, and meet each person. "Forgive me but with how fast we're going, I'll probably end up forgetting some names or mix people up, haha." She knew she would have a hard time keeping track of who's who. Before she knew it they ended up in the Katori's room, and she nodded her head to agree to sleep here. She scoffed at Taaru's comment and was about to give him an earful on politeness, but before she could get a word in, he was already halfway down the stairs.

She took a moment to admire the wardrobe, clothes and some of the furniture. She turned to Katori and said "Well, I suppose there will be time to admire all of this later. We should get to the courtyard before your brother has a conniption." She walked side-by-side with Katori down the stairs, but at her own pace, taking in the view. "It really is a gorgeous house. My house doesn't quite have the same... castle-like feel." It all made her feel almost... regal. Like an honored guest of a great count and countess. She chuckled to herself and continued outside where her newfound teacher and now-fellow pupil were waiting.

[Kukiko 7]

"H-hey! I do not!" Katori's cheeks flushed a deep violet as she elbowed her brother sharply, "More like better for her to stay with me since I'm not lame." She managed to retort though her flush remained. She didn't snore, did she? Why is he like this? Brothers. Bleh. And to think she was the only girl in their generation so far! There were simply too many boys in this house. No wonder she was excited to have Kukiko over.

"Don't worry. You can come over more in the future if you like and learn them all. Most of the family is off doing their own things this week but we can have a big dinner another night for sure." Katori beamed at Kukiko before giggling, "You're right! I suppose we should go train before they get too antsy." Following Kukiko and enjoying the slower not being dragged being the Taaru tornado pace, Katori nodded at the compliments. "Thank you. I'm sure your house is still lovely. Our grandmother just had a bit of....an extravagant nature? Mama doesn't talk about her much at all but Uncle Kian mentioned she had an even bigger estate in the capital. I can't imagine what it must have been like to live there." Her voice trailed off as they emerged into sunlight and she found herself reaching out to try and catch the wooden staff as it was tossed towards her. Clumsy like usual the training weapon slipped through her fingers like butter, Katori sighing as she simply waited for it to fall so that she could pluck it from the dirt.

[Katori 8]