Selvina stood up and walked with Luna as they headed towards the agreed upon location.  As the pair were going towards their location the mage decided that she wanted to say a quick word to Luna first.  [color=gray]”What about Lady Dawa?”[/color]  The magierprinz wanted to hear Luna’s thoughts on that matter.

[color=yellow]”I pondered that myself.”[/color]  Lunalel answered her partner.  [color=yellow]”For now, she is a possibility, but as she said I’m sure she wouldn’t be it for if she were possessed the seal would be just broken.  We can ask Kozue if there is anyone else with Lady Dawa’s power.”[/color]  Luna smiled and nodded at Selvina.  It was still hard to believe the person in front of her was a male at one point.  Luna stopped to ask someone if they knew where Kozue was.  They pointed her in a direction telling the two that she was helping treat the injured.  After giving thanks, the two continued toward where Kozue was.  [color=yellow]”Sound good to you, Selvina?”[/color]

Selvina nodded before giving Luna another look.  [color=gray]”But wouldn’t that knock Kouze out as well then?  And possibly Ayumi too?  She said the three of them were the most powerful of the group, right?  I could examine the seal to see if it prevents them from approaching … but if Lady Dawa would be incapable of ordering Kouze into a room with demons she isn’t that powerful, is she?”[/color]

[color=yellow]”Did you hear the ire coming from her when she talked to Eith during the conflict?”[/color]  Luna asked the mage that accompanied her.  [color=yellow]”For example. . . How would you treat the person that turned you into this form? But you have to sit there while they are freely walking around your home?”[/color]

Selvina nodded - it would take a lot to convince her to see the demon queen of her own free will - she wasn’t very interested in meeting with a creature who clearly had evil set out for her.  The magierprinz paused outside of the room before they entered and raised her hand up to stop Luna.  [color=gray]”Do you think she’s been cursed by some sort of demon in the past, then?”[/color]

[color=yellow]”I doubt it.”[/color]  Luna giggled.  [color=yellow]”That said, in the past when my family was a zealously religious, apparently demons were despised and were to be slaughtered on sight.  Things have changed of course, but perhaps the followers of this temple were taught something similar.  Or perhaps something happened.”[/color]  Luna shrugged as she turned to enter.

As soon as the two entered, Kozue turned to them.  She had a thoroughly sharp look in her eyes though not necessarily hostile.  [color=tan]”You two. . .  Did you put down those two demons traveling with you?”[/color]  The girl asked, noting their two missing companions.  The question took Luna aback slightly.  [color=tan]”Or did Lady Dawa suggest you not bring them when you come talk to me?”[/color]  Kozue continued her treatment of the men and women that the party had knocked out on their way in though with eyes on the back of her head.

Selvina looked towards Luna as she decided to answer this question honestly.  [color=gray]”Your lady advised not bringing them.  She said you would not appreciate their presence.  We are just here to ask some questions and do a little investigation on this matter.”[/color]

[color=tan]”Of course you are.”[/color]  Kozue said as she finished wrapping someone’s forehead in linen.  She stood to look at the two.  [color=tan]”If Lady Dawa wishes, I shall comply.  Ask your questions.”[/color]

Selvina looked over to Luna as if requesting her to ask the first question.  As the leader it was somewhat her responsibility to set the tone of their conversation.

[color=yellow]”I guess the first question should be. . .”[/color] Lunalel looked over the people in this makeshift infirmary.  [color=yellow]”Is everyone fine?”[/color]  The Knightess asked finally looking Kozue in the eyes.

The priestess returned the look sharply for a few seconds before looking away.  [color=tan]”They’re fine.  I’m glad you took the chances to take them down with merely that.  Everyone’s alive, though hurting a bit.  They shouldn’t hold it against you.  Instead, I’ll focus their mistakes into bettering themselves.”[/color]  Luna could swear she saw a slight smile on the girl’s face but forgot as soon as she returned her vision to them.  [color=tan]”Now, what are you really here for?”[/color]

Selvina raised an eyebrow at the priestess’ curt response.  It was time to get down to business.  [color=gray]”We have been told the spirit inhabiting the temple has decided to take over one of it’s members.  Lady Dawa advised we speak to you on the matter to learn what you know about these circumstances.  Is there anyone suspicious?”[/color]  The mage was almost certain she would say either Lady Dawa or Ayumi in turn.

[color=tan]”Suspicious?”[/color]  The girl seemed to try processing the thought.  [color=tan]”I’d trust any of these men and women with my life.  Though I may need to train these ones a bit more.”[/color]  The priestess looked over the group in the room with a slight sigh.  [color=tan]”Ayumi’s the biggest firebrand we have here though.  If I had to point a finger, and I really don’t. . . It would probably be Ayumi.  She’s unorthodox and a bit on the wild side as well as. . . Strange.”[/color]

Luna nodded at the statement, understanding what she meant.  Lady Dawa seemed to be of the same opinion. [color=yellow]”I see.”[/color]  Luna felt she’d leave the questioning to Selvina.  [color=yellow]”I’ll heal the ones that have bruises.  I feel bad now.”[/color]  Luna left to use her healing magic on those injured.  Kozue looked slightly worried, but eased up when she saw a bruise on someone’s face visibly disappear.

Selvina continued to think for a moment before asking her next question.  [color=gray]”If someone did accuse you of being the guilty party, what evidence could you provide that you aren’t in fact possessed?”[/color]  The implication of her question was incredibly obvious but it was better to get there sooner rather than later.

[color=tan]”Evidence? And what evidence do you want me to show you?”[/color]  Kozue replied, her eyes narrowing making her seem even more hostile than normal.  [color=tan]”What evidence can one show to prove they are not possessed?  Are you here to solely insult my person?  You could hardly find such evidence on Ayumi or Lady Dawa either.”[/color]

[color=gray]”I’m not suggesting that you have to prove yourself innocent.  But you’ve been in the service of this temple for a long time.  Surely some of your fellow priestesses could vouch that your character hasn’t changed recently?”[/color]  Selvina was a little taken aback by the hostility and tried to maintain a neutral tone in spite of herself.  [color=gray]”I was simply hired to help you guys out here.  We all want to go home as soon as possible and let this area return to how it was previously functioning.  If you have anything that could help us, any insight on how we might discover the person who has been possessed it will help us get out of your way faster.”[/color]

[color=tan]”You’ll find both I and Ayumi act the same we always have as have everyone at the temple.”[/color]  Kozue stated. [color=tan]”If it were that simple, we could have solved this ourselves by now.”[/color]  

[color=gray]”That is a fair point … what do you know about the history of the temple in regards to the creature however?  Does this temple have another purpose aside from holding it within?”[/color]

Kozue looked at Selvina for a few seconds, contemplating what to do next.  Lady Dawa likely told them to ask, so she told.  [color=tan]”Very well.  This temple is to the kami, Inari, as well as the location of the sealed spirit.  Long ago, Inari had two servants.  Sisters. Two kitsune.  Spiritual foxes with great power.  One sister supposedly sought power and rebelled against her master, traveling to Yomi to steal power.  She is the one sealed here.  After she gained her power, she attempted to kill both her sister and Inari.  She destroyed the main temple, but ultimately failed as she was chased, subdued and sealed by humans.  Tales pass down however, that she also killed her sister in the final confrontation so I suppose she achieved her one goal.”[/color]  The Priestess seemed slightly melancholic at the thought, but shook her head and looked back to Selvina.  [color=tan]”Time passed and we have come to our current situation many years later.  This is where her sister chased her, and where humans sealed her.  We built a temple on the location as to better ourselves and to keep watch over the seal.”[/color]  She went silent, looking to Selvina and Luna who had reappeared after hearing the story.

Swen had never been one to completely believe or discount tales about the gods - they were likely based in some sort of fact, but they were often times exaggerated.  Still though this information could prove useful if this had happened before.  [color=gray]”Has the spirit possessed someone before?  How was it solved the previous time?”[/color]

Kozue looked at Selvina with slight irritation.  [color=tan]”It has never happened before.  If we knew how it were ‘solved previously,’ we’d have exercised the spirit by now.”[/color]  The priestess said with obvious irritation lining her voice.

Luna spoke up, trying to diffuse whatever tension there was in the room.  [color=yellow]”Alright, suppose we don’t figure out who exactly it is.  What is your course of action?”[/color]  It was something that could be asked without ire, right?

Kozue looked from the mage to the knightess.  She breathed in and out before continuing.  [color=tan]”We exercise everyone.  From the most suspicious to the least until we rid ourselves of the spirit.”[/color]

[color=yellow]”But. . . Your Lady said that. . .”[/color]

[color=tan]”That is correct.  If it means keeping the spirit from running free, we all should be obligated.  What are the lives of us for those that may be lost?”[/color]

[color=gray]”I hope Eith manages to help us then.  I’d prefer not to kill the innocent personally.”[/color]  The idea erked on Selvina but she had to grudgingly respect Kouze’s dedication to the cause.  [color=gray]”Who would replace you on this mountain, then?”[/color]

[color=tan]Lady Dawa would have to find others to replace us.  She’s the only one that could exercise the spirit right now.  So it would come to her.”[/color]  Kozue stated,  unphased by her own thought process.

[color=gray]”What if Lady Dawa was the one who was possessed?  Who would help take care of her?”[/color]  Selvina questioned Kouze.  They were all relying on her and so long as they had no lead there was a reason each person here stood to benefit.

[color=tan]”Then you should leave as quickly as you can.  This place is going to become a hell outside hell. As you would put it.”[/color]  Kozue said, looking to her fellows.  [color=tan]”Are we done? I believe my brothers and sisters will sleep better without you around.”[/color]  She didn’t mean anything bad about it, but the way she said it would tell otherwise.

Luna was slightly jarred by the girl’s manner of speech but agreed.  [color=yellow]”Yes, I believe that will be all.”[/color]  Luna started for the door and tugged on Selvina.  [color=yellow]”Let us away.”[/color]