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You recognize a man nearby. It's the guard you first saw back when you first arrived--the one with the marking over his eye. When the two of you make your way into the ring, he holds out a hand to stop you.

"This isn't a party. It's a sacred part of the ceremony, where--" he starts to say

Niki cuts him off. "Kyle is with me, so deal with it!"

"F-Fine. But that's it. Nobody else is allowed past this point but master craftsmen, our always-talented announcer, and in this special occasion, Lady Sulta. You may continue."

Passing by him, you see that the first smith has a table covered in beautiful swords, most of them curved like you've seen most people carry here. Niki looks them over slowly, but she ultimately shakes her head. Swords haven't really been her thing. She then moves to the next, where a shimmering suit of armour is set up on a stand, and on tables in front of it are plate segments, gauntlets, and more.

Niki taps her knuckle against the suit's chest piece. "This is some mighty armour."

A woman behind the counter smiles proudly. "I'm the finest armoursmith around these parts, so it's only natural."

"But I kinda like my body to breathe..."

"I've noticed," you say.

"I'm durable enough without it," Niki says, smacking her stomach. "This is so hard. I don't know what to pick."

As she continues forward, you feel a gentle hand on your shoulder. You turn to see the gorgeous sorceress from earlier, and your eyes immediately shoot up and down her body. She certainly knows how to keep cool in this scorching hot weather, that's for sure. When you look back to her eyes, she gives you a smile. Though she doesn't say anything about it, you feel like you've been caught in the act.

"I don't mean to interrupt," she says. "But you are the competitor Kyle Warren, correct?"

"I am. Yeah," you reply.

"You must mean a lot to her to be dragged in here as well. I've been watching everybody closely, and I have a hunch you didn't come here simply to take part in the Golden Sword. In fact, you seem like a fish out of water, to be so frank. I don't mean to insult. I think it's rather cute. But I would love for you to tell me why you've actually come here." Her dark lashes, her painted lips--you certainly meet a lot of these bold, strong women in power, and she's certainly not an exception. "Only if you'd be so kind."

You look back to Niki. She's lifted and is swinging around a huge greataxe, and the smith nearby is ducking in cover.

Seeing that you're hesitant to speak, Vazeela continues. "And it was my doing that your friend was able to keep her victory, was it not?"

"That's true. Thanks again. I really didn't use magic, though," you say.

"I know. I wasn't lying. It seems that her opponent had suggestions planted into her mind. That's powerful enchantment magic. Though I'm not certain, I have a theory that this Falcon woman was working with others, and if this town is in danger, I must know. I only came to enjoy the competition. I come in secret every year. Though this was the first in a long time where I showed my face."

"Yeah... She was working with Zakira and Umi. They're all spies, or assassins, or whatever. It was Niki's family they were watching."

"So it was personal. You two must be important." She smirks and leans in closer. The subtle scent of blackberries wafts across your nose. "Intentionally or not, if you saved this town, I suppose I owe you a favour. Don't blush now. I'm only coming closer so that others don't hear. Please tell me more."

"R-Right. Well, I don't really know how much I should say, though I guess if you're part of the Circle, we have worked with a couple others there."

"Is that so?"

"Lord Rada Beela the pyromancer, and Lord Drev Barkis the enchanter. Both pretty high levels."

"That they are. Beela and Barkis. Of course. The first is a boring recluse, and the second is a pervert, but they are certainly talented men. Allow me to introduce myself properly then, darling. Lady Vazeela Sulta, a chairman of the Circle and a transmuter. How interesting. Not only do you have mysterious girls spying on you, but you've also now met with three of the five chairmen. Who are you?"

"I'm just trying to live my life."

"Then who do these girls work for?"

You hesitate. "... a Demon King."

"Oh I see." She glances around, and then looks right to you. "Is it the man known as Sa'dis?"

"It is. You know him?"

"Those that are knowledgeable have heard of a Demon King taking residence near Tivera and slowly trying to grow in power, yet nobody has done anything yet. It may already be too late to nip it in the bud. These people who are called, and call themselves Demon Kings, are not uncommon. They come and go. But so close to the Empire... People could be hurt."

Niki swings a pristine warhammer around not far behind you. The sound of it crashing through the air causes your attention to turn.

"Be careful with that," you say.

She holds it in her hands. "The man over there excels in bludgeoning weapons. Is this the choice for me?"

You shrug. "That's up to you."

Lady Sulta leans in again. "When you're finished here, follow the phainopepla. The black bird that will wait outside of the arena. We'll converse more in private, and then perhaps speak of a... reward." With a wink, she turns and begins walking away.

You go back to following Niki. She stops at another table, and looks deep in thought. When she turns back to you, she has an iron shield over her arm, and the sun's powerful rays nearly blind you as it reflects on the polished metal. She raises it up into the air and then looks straight towards you.

"I know what to pick," she says.

"Oh?"

"I may be strong, and I do love to smash things, but after travelling with you for all this time, I know what I am. I know my duty. Everything I do, I do for one reason. To protect. Kyle, I'll always be your shield. That's what I am." She turns and slams the item down onto the table, scaring the crap out of an elderly man on the other side. "I want you to make me the best damn shield ever!"

The top of his head shines just as bright. Grey hair wraps around the sides, and he has a short beard braided in the middle with coloured beads. A flicker of light shimmers in his crimson gaze, and he grins wide. "You chose the right man, champion. I might look old, but I'm the best damned shieldsmith around, and I'll make for you something special."

"Do you make magic shields?" you ask.

"Boy, I wouldn't be here if I couldn't make something magic. These are the best of the best you see around you. I'll figure something out, but if you have any interesting monster materials or the like, bring them to me too. We'll make something amazing!"

"Really?" You step behind Niki and lean in close to her backpack to whisper. "Hey, Jelly. Can you..."

"Is that fellow talking to your pack?" the smith asks.

You return to him with a pouch filled with all the various shards of crystal you picks up from that cave the other day. "How about these?" you ask as you place the pouch down with the sound of clattering glass.

He opens it curiously. "Ooh. A challenge, eh?"

"Surely he'll find a use for something in there," you say.

"Good thinking!" Niki says. "Finally I'll have a magic item too. With my powerful shield, and your... perverted sword--"

"Should we go back to remembering why it was lighting up?"

"N-No. I meant to say your awesome sword."

"I'll get working on it right away!" he shouts. "For this, I'll need some help. My whole team is going to be on this. And when the victor of the Golden Sword goes out there and fights with a Dulhin branded shield, people will finally be able to really see what I can do. It's taken long enough. Everybody always asks for a flaming sword or suit of armour. Shields are true justice!"

He's really passionate about this. It's for the best though. That means he'll work hard on Niki's item. I'm kinda envious.