[Day 0, Late Morning] Professional Interest (Open)

[Shiba Raizo]

That... got a a smile, albeit not a happy one.

"Take it from someone who's had to pass through the Mori Isawa, plenty of spirits don't much care about things like fortifications."

[Kakita Sakura]

There's a tapping of a stick against the ground, audible a few moments before a Kakita appears- tapping a simple stick against the ground, a servant following closely, Kakita Sakura's head turns as she hears voices, and she bows in the direction of the two. “Greetings. This one is Kakita Sakura- would I be imposing to ask your names?”

[Kitsuki Kiyonobu]

“Greetings. This one is Kakita Sakura- would I be imposing to ask your names?”

"Good morning, Kakita-san," replied one of them in a soft, cultured voice. There was a faint sound of rustling cloth. Perhaps he had bowed? "I am called Kitsuki Kiyonobu. With me is Shiba Raizo. May we be of assistance?"

[Kakita Sakura]

“Ah, the offer is appreciated, but there is no need, Kitsuki-san.”

Sakura smiles, coming to a halt closer to the two samurai. “I was merely familiarising myself with the castle before the Miai begins- a true familiarisation is a far greater work, of course, but I can still learn the general layout.”

Her head tilts. “It is quite the remarkable structure; worthy of the title of Kyuden.”

[Kitsuki Kiyonobu]

“I was merely familiarising myself with the castle before the Miai begins- a true familiarisation is a far greater work, of course, but I can still learn the general layout.”

Her head tilts. “It is quite the remarkable structure; worthy of the title of Kyuden.”

“ 'Know yourself, know your enemy, and know the terrain,' ” the Dragon quoted. "No doubt Kakita-san shall begin the miai with a tactical advantage over the rest of us." From his level tone it was difficult to tell whether the Kitsuki was joking.

[Kakita Sakura]

“I was merely familiarising myself with the castle before the Miai begins- a true familiarisation is a far greater work, of course, but I can still learn the general layout.”

Her head tilts. “It is quite the remarkable structure; worthy of the title of Kyuden.”

“ 'Know yourself, know your enemy, and know the terrain,' ” the Dragon quoted. "No doubt Kakita-san shall begin the miai with a tactical advantage over the rest of us." From his level tone it was difficult to tell whether the Kitsuki was joking.

Sakura smiles regardless, tilting her head to listen to the sounds of the castle. “Perhaps so. Certainly, it seems to me that the castle was constructed with hosting events such as this in mind first and foremost; it almost reminds me of Kyuden Doji in that regards.”

[Shiba Raizo]

"Might be why I find it so strange."

Raizo's tone was neutral, even if his words weren't.

"Since coming out of the forest, everything about this place has struck me as... odd."

[Kakita Sakura]

"Might be why I find it so strange."

Raizo's tone was neutral, even if his words weren't.

"Since coming out of the forest, everything about this place has struck me as... odd."

“Oh? Might I ask how so, Shiba-san?”

Sakura smiles, her tone one of genuine interest. She has her own thoughts on the Castle, but she is interested what a Shiba might think in comparison with the castles of the Phoenix.

[Shiba Raizo]

"Just... not an environment I know what to do with. I've been living out of a tent, tramping up and down the Phoenix provinces with the army since right after my gempukku. Everything here is different. Not just the physical surroundings, but the way people interact with them. It's... unnerving."