[CENTER][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/250610/b7565ddf7383bf63f49ca570773ff370.png
[/img][/CENTER]

[color=silver]

[color=00aeef]"Once again, I am very grateful for both your hospitality and your trust."[/color] Miwa said, bowing as she received the bag of coins, putting it inside her clothes before she looked to Akari with a warm smile and gave a silent, thankful bow as she accepted a bowl of stew before sitting down near the others.

Receiving the bag of money directly felt a bit strange for Miwa, almost as if she was merely being hired as a mercenary. While there were many ways she and other members of the Shirakawa temple could be clearly distinguished from mercenaries, should the temple accept her proposal, it would still be beneficial both for their image and for the temple for a rule to be made stating that no member of the Shirakawa temple would accept direct payment and simply ask for a donation to be sent once the job was over. Regardless, such matters were more fit to be pondered about once both the job was over and Miwa was back to the temple.

[color=6ecff6]"Truth be told, I would be in quite some trouble should you have not accepted my offer."[/color] Miwa said with a chuckle as she heard one of the elf women mentioning how easily Doctor Vesmir, their employer, secured another helping hand for their expedition.

Despite the somewhat casual talk between the two elf women, Miwa couldn't help but notice the weight of the words Jazdia spoke. Judging by her words, it was undeniable that Jazdia was an experienced ranger, particularly regarding the Lands of Twilight. She knew well both how to navigate these lands and the dangers that it offered, so it was understandable that she had some strong opinions about those that didn't give enough thought at how dangerous the Lands of Twilight were.

[color=6ecff6]"Many are the reasons that would lead one to undertake such dangerous ventures. Some might be easier to understand and empathize, but others might be a bit more complex and personal... Sometimes even appearing to be foolish to others, but important enough to make them risk themselves despite knowing the dangers that await them... Assuming they really know the dangers of the Land of Twilight and aren't merely fools who overestimate themselves, that is."[/color] Miwa said as she calmly ate from the bowl she was given.

[color=6ecff6]"Regardless, I am happy to know we have an experienced ranger in the group as it is my first time coming to the Lands of Twilight."[/color] Miwa said, with a reassuring smile towards Jazdia.

[color=6ecff6]"As for my reasons for being so far away from my homeland in such a risky venture... The short answer would to restore the former glory of the Shirakawa temple, both financially and regarding it's reputation."[/color] Miwa said.

[color=6ecff6]"The Shirakawa temple was once well known in the Far East as a bastion of hope and safety in a land plagued by internal conflicts and wars. Where most temples would only offer aid and peaceful, passive resistance to the horrors of wars, the Shirakawa temple took on it's own hands the task of maintaining order and ensuring that innocent would not be dragged into conflicts they had no hand in starting."[/color] Miwa said, already halfway done with her bowl of stew.

[color=6ecff6]"The little martial arts we used to train solely for defense was gradually developed with time, turning into Shirakawa Ko-ryū, feared by using spears and naginatas, seamlessly transitioning from defensive stances to offensive ones and mixing rituals and sacred dances into flowing strikes, allowing Shirakawa priests and monks to summon torrential rains to stop enemy armies and using the power of sacred, purifying water in combat."[/color] Miwa continued. It didn't take much for one to realize how proud she was of her temple's history as she told her story.

[color=6ecff6]"In the last 60 years, when the peace the Shirakawa temple fought so hard finally arrived to the Far East though, the temple lost something very important to it. A reason to exist. With a new era of peace, the protection of the Shirakawa temple became unnecessary... As it did the temple itself. Those who knew of the temple and it's history are either gone or in the evening of their lives and the newer generations see the temple as a relic of the past, faded to disappear and remain only in books of history. In order to prevent that, I, as the next Miko of the Shirakawa temple made a proposal to the elders... To start offering our aid to those who need, working as adventurers. In exchange for our help, all we ask is for a small donation to be made to our temple and for our history and our temple to be remembered and kept alive."[/color] Miwa finished, letting out a deep sigh as she finished the bowl, handing it to Akari with a smile.

[color=6ecff6]"Anyways, thank you for the food! I was starting to get [i]real[/i] hungry! Especially since my last party was kind enough to abandon me without leaving anything behind..."[/color] Miwa said, rolling her eyes with a sigh as she mentioned her last party.

[/color]