Enter the city.

You almost immediately are struck speechless. There are people in armour, using swords, wearing all sorts of elaborate and fantastical garb, and that's not all. Not everybody is human. You spot some with long, pointed ears. Some are short, with big, bushy beards. There are folk with animal ears as well. It's too much to take in. You lean back against the nearest building with your hand on your head and try to calm down, but it's overwhelming. This is, without a doubt, the kind of fantasy setting you've seen in video games, anime, and more.

You look around again. The elven women are slender, with beautifully smooth skin and perfect bodies. Some of the outfits folk are wearing you'd only expect to see in a sexy Halloween costume shop, though much more vibrant and whimsical. One girl walks by with the ears of a cat atop her head, and the top she's wearing you can only compare to a bikini.

The cobblestone streets wind around simple homes and various shops. Fortunately, you seem to be able to read the signs, though you're unsure if that means they're in English, or you've actually picked up a new tongue entirely. Either way, you need to ask somebody for help, though if this is all normal to them, you need to make sure you don't look like an insane person. It's probably best not to ogle the cuties too much either, for a similar reason.

Old thoughts linger in your mind.

But now, you're no longer the odd one out. People look to you for entirely different reasons. By wardrobe, and how you carry yourself down the street, you fit in perfectly. Any eyes that linger now do so because of admiration and interest. People find you handsome, strong, and perhaps even intimidating. Nyllia, who is more recognized by appearance alone, always turns heads, though in such a lavish dress, the effect is tenfold. And for Xiaoqing, perhaps she's inspected to her involvement with the two of you, or it's her cool, mysterious visage that causes people to mutter to one another about who this other man may be.

People gradually clue in that you aren't an ordinary group of three simply passing by. Though nobody yet approaches, you hear many things murmured amongst each other, and Nyllia likely hears even more.

"Is that Kyle Warren?" one whispers. "I thought he was the Demon King."

"No, no," another corrects them. "You're thinking of Sa'dis."

"Am I?"

More comments include, "By the gods. Is that Lady Tesgella? She looks more like a queen than the actual queen."

That man is swiftly smacked by another beside him.

But you also hear, "Who is that man again? Warren? Holy moly he's hot. Where do you even get a suit like that?"

"Wow. The guy with the cape looks like some sort of heroic king."

Another nudges him. "They're literally calling him Hero King, dumbass. He helped lead the defense against the Demon King."

A young man asks, "Isn't that the name of the Demon King?"

"No! Didn't you hear? That was King Thadius propaganda. That wanna-be king was the Demon King's sex **** or something. I don't remember. Either way, it was all a conspiracy. I'm surprised he didn't slander more of our heroes. He probably would have if they didn't get his ass."

"Do you think Kyle would sign my ass?" asks an eager woman.

One beside him furls his brow. "Why your ass? And what, are you on a first name basis with the guy?"

"I w-wouldn't mind being..."

"Ooh. That's probably why the queen is coming today," a kid says to his father. "She invited him to talk about all the cool stuff he did!"

"You might actually be right. Huh."

The older brother ponders deeply as he watches the trio disappear further down the road. "Either way, that Lady Tesgella girl is hot as fuck."

But it's his friend who smacks him in the stomach. "Don't say that, man! Her guy is like, right up ahead. Do you want Kyle Warren himself coming after you? No offense, but you don't stand a chance."

"In a fight, or are you calling me ugly?"

"You're not ugly, but I mean, look at him. All I'm saying is I'd let Kyle call me Demon King anytime."

"What the fuck does that even mean?"

These comments mostly blur into one another, into a sea of whispers. You catch some of them, but either way, you have other things to do. And as interesting as it is to hear what everyone has to say, you'd rather hear the words of Nyllia or Xiaoqing. Speaking of which, you look to the elf and gather her attention. It isn't difficult. It seems she has the same opinion on the crowd as yourself, which makes sense, given she's more used to it than you are. She loves the people more than anything, but she doesn't do it for the fame, and what's more important to the both of you than basking in the attention of an audience is the more intimate connection to those closest to you.

"You know Avana better than both of us," you say. "I lived here, but shortly but comparison. So where are some good places for us to go? Whether it's a shop or somewhere else. We might as well spend a bit of time here before finding the queen."

"She is likely already within the city. But I agree, I think it would not only be best to be amongst the people in regards to your reputation, but I would also enjoy--"

"Is this a date?" Xiaoqing whispers. Then she clears her throat. "Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt."

"You are worried that you are intervening on something, right?" asks Nyllia. But without waiting for a response, she continues. "You are not. Now come. I will lead the way."