She did not seem like she necessarily cared for protection, and whether that was due to naivety or confidence was hard to say. Mages often tended to be more powerful than they led on, so his offer very well could be useless to her. Regardless, he could offer company, at the very least.
A brow rose from beneath his hood at her next gesture, and it became far more clear to him that she did not have much for way of communication at the moment. But he got the point, she thought he was a sword for hire. A funny thought, given how many in Ionia would love to pay for Yasuo’s particular skills. If only it were that easy for them.
“No.” Yasuo answered, a hand rested on the intricate handle of the blade. “I want to repay your kindness, whether my sword stays sheathed or not means very little to me. If my company satisfies you, that works just as well.” He added, removing his hand and allowing the cloak to drape back over.
Sona nodded again at his answer. Not a very satisfactory one though, in her opinion. It only made her more curious... he hadn’t even given her his name. What sort of person was he? Where had he come from? Why was he obviously concealing himself? ... he seemed well-intentioned.
No sooner was she preparing a way to ask more questions that her head turned to the distant sound of small feet running down the path. A child’s head eventually came into view over the dip in the road, a mess of browns in his hair and a scruffy look about his clothes. It looked like he’d ran the whole way from wherever he’d come from.
“Miss Sona, Miss Sona!!” he called out, and Sona hopped off her case to her feet to greet the worried boy. “It’s Ami! You have to come, quick! She...”
The boy then noticed the man with her, to him tall and imposing. He immediately looked nervous and unsure, as if not expecting someone else to be there. But while he seemed to be deciding what to do, Sona had gotten to her knees to be level with him and put her hand on his arm. A kind of conflicted guilt crossed his face then, but he looked like he’d made his decision more quickly than he’d have liked to.
“Ami, she... My sister is sick, and needs to see you. Right away!”
<Where is your mother?> Sona asked, her thoughts both close and far away in the way they sounded in one’s mind. Keeping the facade up served no purpose when someone’s life could be in danger.
“She... Went to the next town over. To trade.” The boy kept eyeing the man beside them.
“...” <He is a friend> she tried to assure the child, but he didn’t look comforted.
“Y-you... uh... Ami is...”
<They can’t hear me> she brought herself closer to him. <If your mother and sister are in danger, tell me Ami is sick. If you’re telling the truth then tell me I need to come with you.>
The child hesitated again, shuffling his feet. “... Ami is sick...”
That was all she needed to know.
<Run over to Mapo’s house and tell her what’s going on> Sona thought as she stood back up. <Stay there until it’s safe. ... they will be alright. I promise.>
Looking crestfallen, the boy took a few slow steps backwards. Like he didn’t want to leave like that. But before he could let them see him break into tears he turned and ran with all his might back to town, disappearing over the dip in the road just as he’d came.
“....” <Stranger> Sona finally addressed her ‘company’. <I’m sorry if it seems I’ve misled you in my quiet, but I didn’t want to scare you... ... thank you for your brief company.> Picking up her basket she offered him the few remaining rice balls with her usual, hospitable smile. <These would go to waste if you don’t take them. I need to return to town...> A prospect that soured her smile just slightly. She knew she was being watched from somewhere now... and he didn’t need to be involved.
