Turn around.

A middle-aged man stands at your gate. He has long lavender hair, a short beard, and a pair of rabbit ears just like Eva. He actually shares a few traits with her now that you inspect him more closely. Though unlike her, he's a stoic man with a face weathered with age. He stands garbed in a dark red robe and grips a wooden quarterstaff holding a large pearl at the end. It seems to have been him that cleared his throat to grab your attention. Though before he can speak up, Eva hops forwards and speaks.

"Dad? What are you doing here?!"

"That's your dad?" you ask.

"I heard you found a new home," he says. "I'm glad. But I've come with a request."

"Nuh uh. No way." Eva grabs your arm and spins you around. She then leans in close to your face to whisper. "That man has been out of my life for so long that I barely recognize his face, and now he comes back just to ask something of me? I say you draw that sword and--"

"Hey. We should at least see why he's here. It has to be important, right?" you reply.

She looks to you for a lengthy moment. Finally, she lets out a deep exhale. "You're right. We'll hear him out. But if it's something that pisses me off, I'm out!"

The two of you turn back to face him.

Her father scratches his beard. "I know you're not pleased with me, Eva, but this request doesn't concern me. Others are in danger, and I've heard you have an adventuring party now. I come with a quest that I wouldn't trust anybody else with. Will you all hear the words of this old man?"

"You're not even that old," Eva mutters.

Niki looks between Eva and this stranger. "You have my attention, but you better not make Eva sad, or I'll stuff that staff straight up your ass."

He pauses. Before him stands a small army of colourful individuals, but despite the strangeness of it all, Eva has never been so safe. Even if he was here to hurt her, he would be completely outnumbered. "You've made a lot of friends," he says softly.

"What if we speak over lunch?" Amara suggests. "I will prepare something nice."

"I'll start growing some flowers!" Peony says. Though it isn't related to anything going on, she seems pleased with herself.