[color=00aeef]“No, you’re not imagining it Hunter. It’s true that the people here are soulless. Didn’t you hear about the war long ago? Ever since then the people in Iredele have given up. They only live to play a role chosen to them by the mayor,”[/color] Maribel explained, pointing over to Spencer. 

[color=00aeef]“The woman you tried to save? She only acted like she needed help because that was her role. It’s like a performance. And once you take away that role, the villagers are left with nothing left to drive them. No reason to exist. So they don’t.”[/color]

For such a young girl, she seemed to have a clue about what she was talking about. It only added to the mystery of what this town was and the purpose of it all. If there was even a purpose to begin with. Maribel clenched Tatsumi’s hand a little tighter as he pointed to the village walls, the twin blue moons illuminating them with their pale light.

[color=00aeef]“I live where I want to. Or where it’s easy to run away. Just because the monsters don’t bother me doesn’t mean I’m not out of danger,”[/color] she said before noticing both Macey and Mu returning from the Temple. She led the Hunter over to those two until she stood in their path, hand still holding Tatsumi’s.

[color=00aeef]“Hello Hunters. Are you friends with Tatsumi?”[/color]

Back in the two square, Spencer gave both Jenniver and Leo a weary look. Great, more tourists. He wondered why Leo didn’t explain all of this to the girl but figured that the man was too cooped up in his explosive houses to get many visitors anyway.

[color=39b54a]“It’s nice to meet you Jenniver. An odd name…but I guess it’s fitting for a Hunter. As for your questions…well the God Hand usually picks female sacrifices. Don’t know why, and frankly I’m better off not knowing. As for the garbled Latin, it’s more of a final farewell before Death really. Or it can be a curse to spite your murderers. ‘May the Absolute grace you’, or something like that.”[/color]

The man then took a notice of Jenniver’s book and his one open eye seemed to widen in interest. They didn’t get many scholars around here, especially hunting ones. Well then, maybe this group wasn’t totally hopeless.

[color=39b54a]“Look, if you’re just here to ask questions that’s fine. But aren’t you a Hunter? Shouldn’t you be out doing some, I dunno, actual hunting? Hmm? Tell you what, I’ll offer you a free job for payment, you and your, er, new hunting friends. The whole lot of you. According to some witnesses, there’s been a large gathering of…something at the Paraanon Ravine just east of here. Settle that problem for me and maybe I’ll overlook you ruining another one of our rituals. Settled?”[/color]