Search for the other girls.

"Uhm. Kyle?" you hear Niki say from behind. She steps up to you and speaks softly. "I..."

"What's up?" you ask.

She looks bashful, even without something embarrassing happening. She isn't being tickled, or stripped, or any other humiliating situation, yet her warrior bravado is fading. You wonder if she's still flustered about what just happened. Though, she leans in close and speaks once more.

"This is the second time now."

"Second for what?"

She runs a hand back through her hair and looks to Fang nervously, and then back to you. "Twice we've... you know. Remember the time after you took me to the ball?"

"That was a crazy day. Is that bad?"

Colour starts to fill her cheeks. She turns away. "W-Well, I guess n--"

Before she can continue, Fang interjects out of nowhere with a coy smile on her face. "Does that make you two an item?"

Niki steps back and gasps. "I didn't s-say that! And don't eavesdrop on people's private conversations!"

Fang giggles and looks to you. This time, it's her that leans in close instead, and whispers, "You better share."

"We really should be looking for Amara and Eva..." you mutter.

"All right then. I should be heading off too anyway. Good luck on your mission. I hope I see you two around again sometime, especially this mighty warrior of yours." She gestures a salute, and quickly slips down between the buildings, out of sight once again.

It leaves the two of you alone in an awkward silence, in public yet in solitude atop the roof. Niki walks up beside you, and the two of you stare off into the distance--at the sea of chimneys billowing smoke, and the hills off in the distance. From here, you can almost make out the great river that splits the city down the middle. You look to her, but she seems to be deep in thought.

"Thanks for everything," she says and turns an affectionate gaze towards you. "I never thought I'd be invited to a ball, you know. I never thought I'd want to either. But that was an amazing day, Kyle. That includes afterwards..."

After saying that, she has to look away to recover. Finally, she continues. "I came to this empire not really knowing what I'd find, but I thought I'd at least have luck finding an adventuring party. So let's hurry up and find the ones I managed to get, just in case there's more of those assassins lurking about. There's no time to waste!"

You smile. "You're right. Let's get going."