Get some fresh air.

Peony takes your hand right as you walk outside. "That was fast!" she says with a smile.

"Heh yeah. We're not done quite yet," you reply.

You're all led to the street. Now various people pass by, and Ramon takes a moment to observe. You get the vibe that he's done this on purpose. Perhaps he wants to test your intentions by witnessing how you react around his people--the peaceful air, the carefree citizens. It truly is relaxing to behold. Kids play, groups of people chat. You see more than just humans as well. There are a few catfolk and bunnyfolk, and even a couple elves in the distance. You've been spotting several gnomes as well, which is a race you haven't seen all that often. They're so small that they often disappear in the crowd of cities. It might also be that they have a preference to woodlands, or places of solitude.

"Can I go play, dad?" asks Tedrick.

"Of course. Go on ahead," he replies.

The boy runs off towards a few other younglings around his age.

Niki grunts under her breath as she keeps readjusting her undershirt. "This thing... is not quite right," she mumbles.

"You all good?" you ask.

She clears her throat. "Y-Yeah. I'm fine."

Ramon finally turns to you once again and speaks. "Demon King. What do you think when you gaze upon my village?"

"Well, I guess it's kinda what I'd want Castle Phoenix to be like," you respond. "Something like that anyway. I'd love to live in peace and quiet to be honest. A life of doing nothing but sleeping, eating, and hanging out with--"

"Your wife~!" Peony wraps herself around your arm and snuggles in close.

The lord chuckles. "I see. Yes, that does sound like a dream when you word it like that."

You look to Tedrick. Two other boys are saying something to him and pointing in his direction, but you missed what they said. Then you raise a brow as you see one of them push him to the ground. Poor Tedrick looks like he's about to cry. With dirt on his face, he wipes his eyes and tries to stand back up, but another kid trips him right back down into the grass.

Hartmut gasps. "Not again... The lad just hasn't caught a break with the other kids."

"I'm very sorry about this. Anything my people do, no matter the age, is my problem as well," Ramon says.

"Don't blame yourself. I'll--"

"Hey!" Eva screams out. "Leave him alone!"

You move to stop her, but she's quick. Eva hustles over to the altercation, and after a moment, the rest of you follow behind.

The bunny stops right beside the bullies with hands on her hips. "Leave little Teddy alone, you jerks. What did he do to you?" She scowls between the other kids.

All the kids can do is look between each other, back to Eva, and then they scurry away in panic. It seems they don't know what to do when actually confronted, especially by someone much more imposing than they are. After disappearing between buildings, she's left with Tedrick alone. It was a surprisingly fast encounter, but you're thankful for that.

The boy stares in awe, both in gratitude, but also in a way that brings red across his face. From such a position beside and beneath her, he's staring up towards Heaven.

"H-Hey! Where are you looking?" Eva's face turns pure red as she once again tugs down on her dress and stumbles backwards.

Tedrick pulls himself up and bows politely over and over. "Sorry, miss! Thank you, miss!"

As the boy is comforted by his father, you look to Eva strangely. "Are you... sure you're okay there, Eva? I know how you feel about situations like this, but you're acting even more flustered than usual."

Niki shudders. "We're just a little out of our element is all," she says with a strangely stuttered breath.

You look sceptically between them. "Something weird better not be going on. We're trying to make a good first impression."

Amara places her hand on your shoulder. "Well, I think that may have been a success, yes? It seems we have saved the man's son yet again."

"I guess." You stare back at the elf for a moment, and her eyes slowly drift to the side. With your Kitty Sense, you can tell that she's suddenly nervous, and it's getting worse the longer you inspect her visage. "Wait. Do you know something that I don't know?"

"N-No. Of course not," she replies quickly.

"Amara."

"It will be fine. Do not worry. I just believe that, perhaps, the few adjustments they made to their respective outfits may not have been the best ideas."

"... What adjustments, Amara?"

"Oh look. Lord Ramon wishes to speak with you."

"Amara..."

Ramon clears his throat. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything. I just wished to speak with you about this proposal of yours. To be allies. It will take some time for me to make a full decision on the matter. I must be completely confident in my trust towards you. I think the best course of action next would be to meet with the captain of the guard. I wish to know his thoughts of the matter. Follow me, if you will."

You glare back at the elf. "It better not be anything strange that makes us look like weirdos," you whisper.

With that, you follow behind both Ramon and Hartmut--the latter back to keeping his son close to his side. Now whenever Tedrick looks back, however, he can't help but shift his eyes to Eva with colour on his nose.