Tatsumi reluctantly accepted the hand of the young girl he now knew as Maribel and rose from the ground. [b][i][color=Gold]The monster's ignore her? She's different, not like the villagers, that much is obvious.[/color][/i][/b] Tatsumi returned the young girl's smile. It was clear that the girl meant well, unlike the seemingly soulless villagers. [b][color=Gold]"I'm Tatsumi... pleased to meet you, Maribel. So, you come to visit the villagers? Don't they seem... I dunno, a little strange to you? It's almost like they're... empty, not really there. Maybe I'm just imagining it..."[/color][/b] He shook his head, moving to exit the alley.

He thought about what she said. [b][color=Gold][i]No parents, huh? Even if the monster's don't bother her it must be rough, and she must be lonely if she comes here for company...[/i][/color][/b] He looked out towards the area outside the walls of the village, pointing towards the horizon and turning his head back towards Maribel, [b][color=Gold]"So, you don't live in the village? Does that mean you live out there, all be yourself?"[/color][/b] Inside, he felt an inexplicable empathy with the girl, like he knew what it was like to be by yourself.