Meet Captain Zido.

Grenmila the gnome drums her little knuckles against the door. "We've arrived, Captain--"

The door swings open, throwing the gnome away and to the ground.

"Are you all right?" Hartmut exclaims as he hurries over to help her stand.

Captain Zido poses proudly as he stomps a foot down through the doorframe. The man is incredibly tall, his skin is dark, and he has long black hair that reaches down his back. Beneath a ruby gaze, he has a sparkling white smile, and his barrel chest can barely be contained beneath a white swashbuckler blouse with a deep cut collar. His legs are tightly squeezed by a pair of black trousers, and on his belt is a long ornate scabbard.

"Ah! Sorry about that, Gren," he says with a booming voice. "So these are our guests, are they? Welcome to Gobiidae! Though you best not even think about harming anybody here, Demon King. I'll strike you down right where you stand."

I feel like I wasn't the first between us to hurt someone. "Yeah. I wasn't planning on it."

Niki nods. "Of course the mightiest one here is a sunheart."

Zido laughs boisterously. "Naturally~! Heh. It certainly has been a long time since I've been able to lay eyes upon one of my own. Such a beauty as well, in a stunning suit? How amazing. Perhaps we could give each other some pointers in combat."

"No thanks. Not interested."

"Huh?!"

Grenmila cackles. "Now that's not something he's used to hearing. And so quickly too."

"I was only jesting anyway." Zido clears his throat. "Please, come inside. My home is yours."

As he turns away, Amara looks to you with a smile. "At least he is not like Mr. Imaeris, right?"

"I'll take solace in that," you reply.

"Pardon my interruption," Hartmut speaks up. "But I believe my son and I should head home. This isn't our business, and surely my sweet daughter is feeling better by the hour thanks to you. Good luck, Ramon. If you need anything, just let me know."

"Then it'll be me, Niki, Eva, Amara, and then I assume you too, Lord Ramon? You'll be waiting outside, right Peony?"

The dryad nods with a smile. "She's a druid, so I feel like you'll be safe."

Grenmila chuckles. "Truly an honour to hear such praise from a dryad. Follow us then."