Meet up with Monarch.

Eaera Fal'anis leads you through the crowd. If anything, more people recognize her than you. Though you feel rather exposed in nothing but a loin cloth and some bits of leather, nobody cares. People dress this way all the time, and nobody has recognized you yet. People in Tanver's Crossing know the idea of you more than your actual self. It actually feels kind of good, especially when you catch people ogling your body. Perhaps you still carry the aura of a king, even without your regal wardrobe.

Though of all people gawking at your outfit, it's especially within your own party.

Amara readjusts her skirt, which she's been doing frequently. "This is rather fun, but I cannot wait to once again be back in my priestly dress."

"I'd say that this isn't fun at all," Niki says. She squirms as she walks. It looks to be increasingly difficult for her to focus as the gentle material tickles over her sensitive skin. On top of that, she feels incredible bare. Probably because she is. With nothing underneath, it's like she's wearing a bathrobe in public, but even thinner.

"I don't know. I think I could get used to being king," Eva says with a wide smile. "Do you all have to do my bidding?"

"You wearing clothes vaguely similar to Kyle's doesn't make you him."

Suddenly, Fal'anis stops. She raises a hand. "We are here." Then after a whistle, you sense movement on the rooftops. The elf steps away from the nearest building and begins to depart. "My job is complete. Head inside right away. And good luck on whatever quest has brought you back here. I feel it is important."

"Thanks again, Ms. Fal'anis. We'll do our best," you reply.

The building itself is all together ordinary. It's just somebody's home, and not a beautiful one either. It's plain, old, and one wall has been consumed by vines. The window shutters are closed tight, yet the front door is partly ajar. You step past the front fencing and to the doorway, nudging it open slowly before peering inside.

It isn't as dark as you expected. There's a magic lamp in the back corner, and then a smaller one on a table in the center of the room. Two bodies await you.

The first stands. She appears before you as illustrious as before--fiery, golden hair and a passionate demeanour, as confident and regal as a queen despite her occupation of mountain bandit. Long ears, bold lashes, bright lips, and hair done up into spiralling pigtails--there's no mistaking the presence of Monarch. Nobody would ever guess she's anything other than a high class noblewoman, but you know the truth, and it seems like her identity is known by another person of interest given who sits across from her.

You have seen her once before. However, it was during an intimate moment with Time. She has short reddish brown hair, and is wearing a rather modest navy dress. You try not to think too hard about the one memory you have of her as the two of you make eye contact. Though while your thoughts wander to curiosity on how accurately Time replicated her naked body, she isn't much better, as her gaze lingers down your barely clothed, athletic physique.

The door shuts, and your group walks forwards.

"A marvelous disguise!" Monarch shouts with a grin. "It... Truthfully, it drives me absolutely wild. For the Demon King of Tivera to stand before me, wearing nothing more than that? It is cruel. What sort of man are you, to tease me like this?"

"Your thoughts changed pretty quickly there," you reply.

"Never mind that. We are meeting for an important reason. Demon King, this here is Trade-Lady Gren. Come take a seat."

All of you take a spot next to the table. It isn't large, so you're seated rather close together. You look the Trade-Lady over, not because you remember being inside her, but moreso the implications of her knowing Monarch.

"Your influence runs deep," you say to the elf.

"But of course it does," she replies with a scoff. "I am Monarch. I have already caught the Trade-Lady up on everything that has happened. Slowly, I am working on rebuilding the reputation that he slandered. Not everybody believes my mind was being influenced, but in time, my actions will prove the reality. What he may not have realized is that I am not at my best unless I am one hundred percent me."

Finally, the Trade-Lady speaks up. "I want to say that I'm not proud that my job requires me to have certain... dealings. But this is the way of things. Monarch does keep a certain balance to the free cities. And I've known her long enough to believe all that she told me. I've been worried about Demon King Cresswell. Though history, most called Demon King were known for conquest. Meanwhile, ours has been dormant. Working in the shadows. I've come to realize that this is just another form of conquest."

"But that is not why I wanted to speak with you," Monarch says. "See, something strange happened recently. Vorlek the Warlord--"

"Yeah. We know that already," Eva says boisterously.

Amara places a hand on her shoulder. "I think that your new outfit is going to your head, Eva."

"I do not like being interrupted," Monarch snaps.

"Apologies. She did not mean any harm," Nyllia speaks up. "But yes, we know of Vorlek the Warlord, and his killer, Xavex the Evolving."

Monarch's smile returns. She leans forwards and inspects the kimono-garbed elf for a moment. "Lady Tesgella. Yes, I have heard of you. One of the most noble of heroes to grace these free cities, at least when it comes to those from Tivera. Most are rather reckless and uncouth." Her eyes then shift to Niki.

She's busy fiddling with her dress.

Masumi leans in to whisper, "If you keep playing with it, it'll only be worse."

"I kn-know that," she mutters back.

"Three keys had to be found first. One was in the Oraang Desert. Another in Silverleaf. The last, we have a feeling came from the free cities somewhere," you explain. "And if we find out who took them all, maybe we can discover the identity of the group behind it. Some people wanted Xavex to kill Vorlek. They wanted him to get stronger. Evolve. If we don't put a stop to this, he's only going to get more difficult to defeat."

"Then you are in luck, because we know exactly where the key was prior to the theft," says Monarch.

Trade-Lady Gren nods. "I owe you a great debt, Kyle Warren. I know of the dungeon, and of what happened there. If this Xavex the Evolving devours another meal as potent as Vorlek, we may have a wrathful god descending upon us. I trust your strength, but even with it, I fear for the safety of my city, our neighbours, and the Empire as well. The world perhaps."

"Do you think you can really track the theft of the key?" Monarch asks. "I asked around, and so far nobody seems to know. All I can say is that I am fairly certain it was not taken by anybody of note from within the criminal underbelly of the free cities. What I have not done, however, is go there myself."

"We'll definitely do our best. It isn't just us anyway. If we don't find anything, my people might find something useful from the other locations."

"How far is our destination?" asks Nyllia.

"About forty miles or so southwest of here. There is a hidden cave just short of Twilinae Forest, west of Fort Yerme. I will mark exactly where to find it. Otherwise, it would be easily missed. Be careful. It runs quite deep. Whoever took the key must have been quite capable, because I have heard stories of deadly monsters in the depths of that cavern."

Niki slams her hands down on the table, harder than she meant. "So... it's time to do another dungeon then."

"That is one way to label it I suppose," answers Nyllia.

"It's what we do best," you say.

Amara swings her wand forward. "You will have the power of my magical bolts at your disposal, Kyle," she says in jest.

Eva giggles. "Then I'll leap forward, and slice our foes down with Lauo! Afterwards, I'll grab you, Amara. Get a big handful of those boobies."

"That cannot be how you see me," you respond.

Niki raises her staff. "By the light of the gods, I will heal your wounds!"

"I do not believe we are going to venture deep into a cave wearing our disguises," Nyllia says. "That would not be wise."

"That's why we're enjoying them for now," Eva says.

Monarch once again rises from her seat. "Meet me on the bridge west of town. There I will give you the map and send you off. Obviously, do not tell anybody of my dealings with the Trade-Lady. I will be disappearing out through the back door now, as to not raise suspicions. See you soon, Demon King and friends." Then with an overly dramatic bow, she exits the room.

After a moment, Trade-Lady Gren stands next. "And I'll leave through the front. Give it a few minutes before following, just in case. Either way, thank you, King Warren. This information alone is not reward enough for your deeds, especially if you do succeed in stopping this threat. When the time comes, I'll have something proper. I bid you adieu for now." She curtsies and then departs.

Now only your party remains. They stand, and wait as per Gren's request.

"I suppose we should return to our usual outfits," Masumi says. "Dressing will take time anyway."

"That's true," Eva replies. "Kyle, you have--"

Just then, Masumi claps her hands together with an innocent smile upon her face. As she does, the entire room poofs into a cloud of swirling mist. It dissipates as swiftly as it came, leaving everybody but her completely nude.

"Aaahh!" Eva screams, frantically covering herself up. "L-Let us get our clothes out of the Bag of Holding first!"

"But we have all seen one another naked already, yes? And we are indoors."

"Still! It was so sudden..."

Masumi looks to you. "I find it interesting to see who moves to cover themselves in such times of embarrassment, and who doesn't. You don't seem bothered at all."

"I'm not," you reply. "I don't feel ashamed of my body. If all of this was an elaborate plan to see my dick, then you've earned a look for your efforts."

The kitsune lets out a deep, long chuckle that shifts into an amused hum. You can just barely make out a piercing set of eyes behind half-closed lids as her smile widens. Otherwise, she doesn't say anything more.