[D1 LM, Asako Qi's] A Letter and a Gift

[Miya Akari]

"They could have, but I actually insisted. I wanted to take the opportunity to check in with everyone and catch up," she explained. "Has everyone been following your advisements properly? Or are there some I will need to speak with for you?"

[Koumori]

"How sweet of you, Miya-san." She said with a small smile across her red painted lips. "As for my advisements, most have been listening to them. There are still plenty of fishermen attempting to hunt down all the salamanders that they can in the cove and I am believing they're smuggling them off the island for money, but I have nothing to prove that with. The local population of salamanders does seem to be taking a dip, however they could be hiding."

[Miya Akari]

"I will look into it, if you wish," Akari offers. "It would not surprise me if some might try to take advantage of the natural resources here. But it would upset me. Who knows what minor fortunes or spirits might be displeased by such recklessness. Odd occurrences of animals in stories tend to point to some sort of connection to that realm, so I wonder if some might be inviting it's wrath."

[Koumori]

"If you could be a dear?" She asked with a smile before then taking the pot off of the candle and filling Akari's cup. Once it was filled, she set the teapot down and waited for her own cup to be filled. "Oh, they are certainly incurring wrath. Given how long this island has been without people, I can imagine that some of the animals here have gotten rather old and I'm certain that you know the stories as well as I am for what happens when an animal lives long enough."

[Miya Akari]

The Miya takes up the pot and pours as well, with the careful and considered hand of someone that is familiar with more ceremonial pouring. It certainly was not currently being performed, but Akari did so out of habit anyway.

"It is a worry. I want the people here to be as safe as they can be. But I also understand the interest and curiosity. People still try to map and understand the Shinomen and other spiritually active forests even with the secrets they jealously guard form people. This island is likely to maintain a mystique about it like those places. But even they tend to have relatively accurate maps, if only to avoid them."

[Koumori]

Qi nodded sagely before taking a sip of her tea and savoring the exquisite flavor. When she was finished, she gingerly set the cup down and sighed, clearly pleased with it.

"Exactly. If it were up to me, I'd have everyone leave the island and allow the spirits to have it as they always have. Trying to explore an island that was so very against anyone coming here in the first place was -is- ridiculous. Now here we are, already beginning to harm the island and it's spiritual forest."

[Miya Akari]

The imperial took a sip from her own cup, a pleased expression taking over. "It is our nature. Humans feel the need to control. I would no sooner expect us to leave here than I would expect the waves to stop."

[Koumori]

"Oh, that is certain. Not only the need to control, but the need to explore and figure out the mysteries of life. It's something I do understand. I myself do enjoy a good mystery most times. Yet, does it not feel to you like we're prodding into something... alive? A living and breathing thing."

[Miya Akari]

"I think it feels more like we're being observed. Not so much by a living forest, but perhaps a thing living in it. Almost as if the mists were cleared away so that we might be tested?" she suggests. "But we have not been given the parameters for the test."

[Koumori]

"If it is a test, I doubt we will be given anything. However, given how most spirits are, we will either be based on how kind we are and able to work together, or how vicious we are... If, of course, these is even a test." She commented with a soft sigh. For all her pompousness, she still took her job seriously.

[Miya Akari]

Akari sips her tea as she listens. "It's all a mystery, more to me than to you I imagine. I can only guess wildly as I know very little of what spirits are like."

[Koumori]

"Depends on the spirit. Some are fickle, some aren't. It's... a mess. One difficult to learn and master, but we do what we must to guide our lands spiritually."

[Miya Akari]

Akari offers to top off tea for Qi.

"Is there anything that us laypersons could be doing to improve the spiritual wellness of the land? And specific prayers or offerings for the spirits to honor them?"

[Koumori]

She nodded her thanks and then did the same for Akari.

"I haven't gotten to know the spirits here too intimately yet, so I assume the general prayers will work. Certainly always thank the trees for their wood and the animals for their meat. Try not to disturb much... The usual. Offerings here and there wouldn't be bad. There's been reports of deer in the area, which likely means some predator like wolves as well. Offerings to both..."

[Miya Akari]

"Oh? I hadn't heard reports of deer." She seems to perk up at that. "Such lovely creatures. I hope to see them in coming days. And I will be sure to offer prayers as well. Do you have any plans for any organized ceremonies coming up?"

[Koumori]

"There's been a few, but nothing crazy like they've completely taken over the island, which means there must be predators for them here. That means wolves are likely. Though, ceremonies? Not too many other than one in the Cove to apologize and thank the salamanders."

[Miya Akari]

"I'd definitely like to be there for that. Not sure I could do much more than attend though," she sips her tea. "Maybe fasting and offering?"

[Koumori]

"Maybe not fasting. You'll need your strength, but offerings and prayers are always welcomed. The spirits enjoy such things." She agreed before taking a slow sip of her tea, enjoying the flavours.

[Miya Akari]

"I will consider what I have to provide as an offering then. Have you been able to find any free time to relax or are you keeping too busy Asako-san?"

[Koumori]

"Oh, trust me, I find plenty of time to relax. Mostly it is interrupted by these damned spiders, but I do try. As for offerings, they can be anything. Feathers, shells, pretty rocks, so in and so forth really."