[Center][h1][url=https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1420823][color=8882be]Maiko [img]https://i.imgur.com/eLAOVLv.png[/img][/color][/url] | [url=https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1426005][color=#ddd1be][img]http://i65.tinypic.com/263ycxz.png[/img] Elora[/color][/url][/h1][/center][hr]
As the others peeled away from the group, Maiko's attention was drawn towards the group of monks near the stairs. It had been some time since she had met up with other monks, and she would always relish the opportunity to chat with other orders and compare notes. Not wanting to have Elora feel left out, she motioned for the archer to follow her as she approached the group.

[color=8882be]"Hey there!"[/color] Maiko greeted the group. [color=8882be]"Is it just me, or are there an awful lot of monks here? Any of you students of the Perfect Style?"[/color]

The group of monks bowed in acknowledgment to Maiko. It seemed some of them were members of a rival team, and others were dressed in the crimson robes of the Ruby Phoenix. "I am Bokan," said one of the monks. "No, that is not the style we have chosen, but we have heard of it. I suppose you are monks as well?" Bokan looked towards Maiko and Elora and raised his eyebrow in question.

With the others having trickled away already, and with her inability to properly find footing with conversation as easily as her colleagues, she obliged Maiko’s gesture and followed the girl as she approached a group of monks. Thank Saranrae that she had a bowl of noodles in her hands to busy herself with while the monk of her team initiated conversation. Elora, seemingly absentmindedly, slurped at her noodles, though was very intent on the going-ons of her surroundings, particularly noting her other allies busy with their own talk. 

Her gaze continued to peruse the scenery until one of the strangers spoke, and the elf waited until she had appropriately licked her lips clean of any residue the free meal had left and responded quite matter-of-factly: “This one is - I am not.”

[color=8882be]"I'm Maiko, and this is Elora,"[/color] Maiko said, introducing them. The monks nodded, although asides from Boram, none of them felt it necessary to share their own names. [color=8882be]"So, you're not dressed like all the rest of the monks. Are you in the competition? What did you do to get here?"[/color] 

"We're the Monks of the Enduring Spirit," Boram replied simply. "At the previous ceremony ten years ago, we helped uncover the plot that nearly unraveled the Ruby Phoenix tournament, and were given an invitation to compete in this tournament as part of our reward." 

Another of the monks piped up. "If it weren't for Marthysan the Righteous, we may never have figured out the plot. I wonder if the Sisters Wu still hold a grudge... it's only been ten years."

"Ten years is a long time for many people who lack patience," Boram reminded the other monk. "In any case, I haven't seen either of the Sisters Wu yet. We should be fine."

Still quietly slurping at her noodles, Elora let her gaze wander away again as Maiko introduced them. Truth be told, she wasn't at the tournament to make friends, but even she knew to stop herself from pointing out the obvious; still, it slipped out under her breath, just lowly enough to reach her friendly monk's ears. "Taking the glory, hm?" 

Then, clearing her throat a little, she spoke at her normal volume: "Why would these Sisters hold a grudge?"

"You haven't heard, then?" Boram asked with quiet surprise. "You must still be fresh off the boat. In the last Ruby Phoenix Tournament, a sorceress from Lingshen was disqualified just prior to the final round for cheating. She and her twin sister were swapping places while the other received illegal healing from the mainland. She swore vengeance upon her competitor, the de facto victor Marthysan the Righteous, who is sitting right over there."

The monk pointed towards a quiet-looking man who had been watching the room with interest, his gaze lingering on the members of the party. As Maiko met his eyes, Marthysan smiled and nodded at her. Before Maiko could comment, the other monk continued blabbing on. "I've been listening to the rumors all day today. While some people believe she may strike soon, the event happened a decade ago, and many believe the sorceress has forgotten about the perceived slight or moved on. I am in the former camp. Loxas here seems to be in the latter."

"Surely the organizers wouldn't allow cheaters to return to the next games, right?" Loxas replied with a dismissive wave of his hand. "There's nothing to worry about!"

Elora raised her eyebrows slightly, unable to deny the cleverness of the plot. Her eyes followed the monk's finger to the man, and after his acknowledgement of Maiko, gave him a polite nod of her head in return for his smile. She kept her gaze lingering in his general direction as they continued to speculate on the situation, taking an idle sip from her bowl.

"There's never nothing to worry about," she said in reply to Loxas, wiping the corners of her mouth with a thumb. To Maiko, she cleared her throat a little, and wondered aloud. "Might be nice to ask him if he's concerned, at all."

Maiko nodded in response. [color=8882be]"It certainly sounds suspicious,"[/color] she replied before turning back to the monks. [color=8882be]"Thank you all for greeting us! Good luck in the tournament!"[/color] The monks bowed their heads towards the duo before returning to their gossip.

[color=8882be]"Let's go talk to this Marthysan guy, then!"[/color] Maiko suggested to Elora, but at that moment, Chung Po had announced his challenge. [color=8882be]"Ooh, this looks fun! I wonder if they know what they're in for..."[/color]