''The guiding road an Oni chooses to walk to find her strength.'' There's a lonely expression on Shigeko's face as she turns away. ''Strength, true strength, is what all young girls must cultivate, and the Paths are guides toward that end.''

''Yours is that of the Fool... as in Fool's journey, huh?''

''In essence, yeah.'' Shigeko chuckles after you two exchange a glance. ''Twelve years old is when every Oni girl undertakes a soul-searching trial inside our Ancestors' Cauldron, my vision eventually settled onto a journey of experience; at first, I wanted to be a cook.''

''That's cute!'' A big apron around her would look nice... ''If it is still something of a hobby of yours, I'm sure my parents could show you how our alchemical oven works.''

''Slow down.'' Shigeko chuckles again. ''We've barely known each other a week.'' Yet you've already saved my life...twice. ''Oni put a surprising importance on what we eat. The clans are no gourmet chefs, but there is great honor in preparing good, healthy food. Although one too many get adventurous and tamper with drugs in the pursuit of answering our riddle of strength, I'm not touching that pitfall.''

Shigeko has been almost silent and undeniably dutiful from the moment you became companions. She's been vague about her childhood and past for now, but the little glimpses she shared are fascinating. For someone who grew up so far away, shaped by a culture you can only consider alien, she doesn't look chained down or crippled with a narrow perspective.

''A Fool Journey...'' She's here in the Allied Kingdoms to make memories, gather experiences, and hopefully gain something worthwhile to bring back to her clan. ''...I suspect there's quite a lot more to the woman known as Shigeko Takara.''

''I'll wager my health there's quite more to the little lady known as Rey Vesperus.'' Yeah, the kind of girl who stood by while a baby lamia got dragged into the street to be... No, better not think like this. Shigeko's good mood doesn't deserve to get soured.

''Look who it is.''

Coming from the general direction of the Mamono village is the distinctive pink silhouette of Augustine Aurora holding a newly acquired lamp. She spots your duo and gently trots to meet you a few walks from your bench.

''You've warned the militias, didn't you?'' Comes her greeting. ''They arrived in force, put the entire district on lockdown before things could degenerate.''

''It got that bad?'' Looking her up and down reassures you that she hasn't been manhandled.

''Holding an Elder hostage might just have been the one drop to spill the cup. Branka became very heated, the girls gathered to protest...'' Her eyes stray to a point beside you for a moment. ''...I think that awful Jules might have escaped shortly after your exit because I didn't see him. Once big Klaus arrived with his men, I found a good enough excuse to slip away.''

''Interesting, the entire Mamono village on lockdown?''