Find Niki's family.

It's a lovely little town of sandstone buildings and beautiful fabrics of all kinds and colours hanging over doors and windows, and draped around people's bodies. Citizens set up behind stalls throughout the streets peddling their wares, likely more now that there are so many people in town for the tournament. You imagine this place is much more quaint when the Golden Sword isn't happening. You still see only sunhearts, and you wonder if other travellers are here somewhere. For now, however, you need to race to Niki's home as quickly as possible.

"So where is it?" you ask.

"We're close. Just a block over now."

You come to a small home nestled tightly between two others. It's a two-story house with a rickety wooden door. Niki stops in front of it and takes a deep inhale before sighing. Slowly, she raises her hand up. She doesn't knock until she looks to the side and notices you there beside her.

Knock. Knock. She lowers her arm and stands nervously. Every moment passing by of nothing happening must be **** for her.

Then the door opens. Standing on the other side is a young man about your age with short black hair. He's dressed in casual attire, though still a style you're not used to seeing back from Avana--red silks, loose fit. He looks absolutely stunned, and says nothing for what feels like forever. You're not certain what to say either, as you're not even sure what's happening.

Finally, he speaks. "Niki..."

"Hedi! I--"

"What are you doing here?" He looks left and right down the street. "Wait. You entered the Golden Sword, didn't you?"

"That's right." She snickers. "Him too."

He embraces her tight. "I missed you so much, sister."

"I missed you too." After being released, she gestures to you. "This is my good friend and party leader, Kyle."

"A pleasure to meet you," he says. "As you heard, my name is Hedi Vakila."

"You're a lot more polite than your sister," you say.

He laughs. "I imagine she's carved by the life she's had to live, wherever she went after..."

"It's fine," she says. "I just want to see you, mom, and dad. Are they home?"

"They are." He turns and shouts, "Mother! Father! Please come downstairs." Then he looks back to you both again. "Come inside. Please."

You follow him into the home. It's cozy--nothing like the manor, but it's furnished with the love and care of years passing by. The fireplace is lit, and holds a pot of stew filled and cooking. Two figures make their way down the steps, and when they see who stands beside you, they're speechless as well.

The man has long black hair. His build is slim, and he has a lengthy pointed beard that ends at his stomach. He wears something similar to Hedi, though his clothes are dark green. Next to him is a woman with long hair as well, though it's starting to speckle with grey. She has a purple, pink, and white silken dress. They hurry down the steps and you can see tears welling up in the woman's eyes.

"My sweet Niki!" she says, fumbling over to give her a hug as well.

"What have you done, my dear. You know how dangerous it is to be back here," says her father.

"The Golden Sword," her brother says. "She entered just to see us."

Niki pats her mother on the back. "It isn't just that I'm afraid. Your lives are in danger because of me, and there's no chance I wasn't going to find a way to get here and protect you."

"You betrayed our ways, and you did so knowingly," her father continues. "I understand your feels, but surely you also understand the position you're in."

"I don't care! Because what we've been doing, there has been someone or have been people watching you, waiting. If we do anything, they'll kill all three of you. We're here to find them, take them out, and keep you safe. Nobody messes with my family. I don't care if I was sent away. I'm here now!"

You speak up. "That's right. We have reason to believe it's someone working under Demon Kind Sa'dis. We were made aware of their spymaster's alias, Lynx. I have a feeling it's her men watching you."

"And if we can't find them, I guess we'll take you somewhere safe. I'm not leaving your side until we know you're no longer in danger."

Hedi chuckles. "You know, I'm pretty tough too. Since you left, I underwent the Rite of the Sun. Check it out," he says before pulling up his left sleeve. There's a black design just before his shoulder on the side of his arm. "Now that we know, I'll never leave their side. We'll get help from the guards too. Thanks, Niki. And thank you too, Kyle."

"So how exactly are we doing to find these spies?" Niki asks.

"You didn't have a plan?!"

"Welcome to my world," you mutter. "It's going to be hard with all the people coming for the tournament. It's what let us in, but we might need to wait for it to end before we can flush them out. We'll see. In the meantime, do what you said. Don't leave their side, and get protection if you need it. Niki and I will see what we can find. Maybe the spies will see us and try something."

Hedi scratches his chin. "Wait a minute. Are you two... you know."

Her mother gasps. "You found a boyfriend?"

"No, no. It's not like that," Niki says.

"Whatever you say. You two enjoy a nice date on the town. We'll be here," Hedi says, and then looks to you. "And you better take good care of her, Kyle. I entered the Golden Sword too this year, so we might end up facing each other. I don't want the boy taking care of my sister to be weak, so you better be ready."

"You're embarrassing me. I don't need protection!"

He starts cracking up. "Well, you should use it anyway. I don't think you're ready for kids!"

Niki grabs him by his shirt and starts shaking him, though he continues to laugh.