“Flora!” uttered both men after Natacia brings their attention back to her.  “Flora!  How did you…” The village elder‘s face turned pale upon seeing the little girl beside the female hooded stranger.  “Forgive me elder, I tried keeping an eye her for a second, but she somehow found her way out here.”  A third adult joins in to those present, rushing quickly to the little girl’s side.  This one a woman and although she is old she is definitely younger than the village elder.  Natacia’s hypothesis might be correct, that only the eligible and young womenfolk of Aliya were the only ones taken, leaving the too young or too old behind.<br/><br/>The village elder sighs loudly in resignation.  “We’ll it seems you have the right to know before you decide in helping us.  However, I must tell you now, there is very little we can offer you, in monetary terms for your services…”  The young man cuts him off there.  “That is not true elder!  If everyone chips in I’m sure we can amass some amount as payment…”  He looked downcast all the sudden as if not sure of his bold statement.  The elder then stood tall with bearing, turning again toward Natacia.  “Regardless, whether you decide to help us or not, you need to know the truth of things first.  Please follow me.”  The old man slowly shuffled, leading Natacia toward the center of the village.  There stood a large golden statue of the Goddess of Love and Beauty, Aphrodite.  But it appears to have been tarnished and vandalized.  Almost every inch of its surface is covered in unidentifiable dirt or filth.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">NSFW</div><div class="spoiler_body">(http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w172/minarou/a35cf7aa-4f87-4d36-8d79-f6df86faafe9.jpg)</div></div><br/><br/>“The village of Aliya is specially blessed by Aphrodite thanks to its founder, a renowned Sister of Rapture who bore our village’s name.  The goddess was so pleased with Aliya’s works and achievements that she’d extol all her descendants, particularly its women with exceptional beauty and near perfection.  As a way of giving thanks to the goddess, they would offer some of our young girls into the service of the Sisterhood, so that they may grow up to serve better in her tenets.”  The village elder looked up at the goddess statue’s smudged face, his expression creasing as if reminiscing something painful.  “But one day they came.  Dark minions of the one called Morkoth the Unseen: orcs, goblins and other unspeakable horrors, descended on our peaceful village.  Even though we provide the Sisterhood with fresh recruits none of us are warriors ourselves and so we fell easily to Morkoth’s forces. “  His head bowed down, perhaps in shame as he continued the retelling.  “They rounded up all the eligible young women and marched them off to the ruins call The Everchanging Halls, where Morkoth is said to reside.  Not long after the abduction of our women, the Sisterhood came to hear of our plight and sent in three capable warrior-priestesses, one at a time.  One of them came from here, Airi is her name.  All three however have not returned since and we fear for the worst.  And the rest, you so have heard,”  The old man now sternly faces Natacia.  “Now then, do you still wish to help us?”<br/>