The messenger mad it back to the city manor first and started her announcement as soon as she entered the council hall.

“Honorable Lord Kijin, it is with great pleasure that I present the First Daughter, Mistress Sienna. And accompanying her, Fighter Hyrua.”

It wasn’t until she finished her announcement that the mountain of a man looked up from a table infested with paperwork.

“I trust you know what needs to be done with these, I’ll leave them to you while I see to this matter. Thank you, please bring them in.”

He was soft spoken, but there was the confidence of a commander in his words.

What was her name again? Mina? Mica? He really did need to do a better job learning the names of the younger staff.

Before he could figure it out, Sienna burst through the tall double doors.

“Father!” She belted.

In less than a blink of an eye, he had vaulted the table that took up more than half of the room and was locked in a standing grapple with his daughter.

“Ha ha!” You’ve been training well I see.” All traces of a city lord gone.

He made sure to control his strength to roughly match her level. But the giant man still pressured her. He had to save some face after all.

The two smiled wildly, their muscles tightening with force. Their intensity slowly wrapped around the room as the energy shifted, the intangible pressure becoming suffocating for everyone.

Without warning, Hyrua punched their father in the side. Giving Sienna the edge she needed to slip him into a headlock. “Greetings Lord Father.” He happily greeted as he crossed his arms behind his back. “I trust you’re not passing off important duties to others, again.”

“Ah, my son!” He laughed awkwardly. “Is it not the most important duty of a father to put his children first?” He righted himself, and while wearing his daughter like a cape he settled back into a grappling stance. “Now come here, I can’t let you get away with a cheap blow like that.” His face contorted into a terrifying smile.

After a few minutes an aggressive cough came from a bald man on the other side of the room.

“Lord Kijin, I believe there is a matter you’re supposed to be attending to. Or would you like to return to the work you left with me?”

He wasn’t a tall man by any stretch of the imagination, but many affectionately called him the King’s Wall because of how he reigned in the city lord.

Kijin froze while sitting on his son and balling Sienna up in his arms. He jumped to his feet and gingerly sat his daughter onto Hyrua’s back before untangling his thick mane from his horns.

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“Lars! I almost forgot you were here, thank you for reminding me before I could embarrass myself in front of our guest.”

Lars tried to hide his chuckle with another cough. “Even if the whole city were watching, I don’t think you would care.”

“So Father, why did you summon us? Is it about the festival? We were just talking about that! I can’t wait to finally compete!”

Kijin placed a hand on her shoulder and his chest bounced as he laughed. "I remember being so excited for the first festival I was old enough to compete in as well. Why, it must have been some fifty odd years ago at this point, but that's beside the point.” He gave his adviser a childlike look. “Can't a father wish to spend time with his children, even if it is rare for them all to be in the same place at once."

Sienna pinched his side.

"Okay, okay." He gestured with both hands as if trying to keep her scolding at bay. "While it is nice to spend some time with you two. I did call you on some official business.” Kijin put on the air of someone in charge. “Because of the coming festival, many of the clans and sects are starting to arrive in the city. The representative of the Divine Hearts sect arrived early this morning, and I would like you both to act as their guide. And Hyrua, I’m counting on you to make sure they don’t cause any trouble.”

The messenger, Mira, announced the entrance of their guest. "Hailing from the Divine Hearts, the Heavenly Talent, Kamadra!"

Kamadra walked in with a flourish and happily greeted everyone as the loose fabric of their elaborate robe fluttered around. They were dressed in bright yellows and silver that perfectly complemented their tawny complexion and light hair.

They saluted the room, "Hello everyone, I look forward to our time together!"

Kamadra had a smile that felt like it prevented darkness itself from being anywhere near them. And the light was compelled to dance in their silvery eyes.

They had been in the room for seconds and already captivated everyone’s attention. Sienna especially noted her brother’s embarrassed look as he tried not to stare too long. She’ll have to keep that in mind for later.

“I hope your trip was comfortable.” Sienna decided to forgo all formalities with their guest.

“Don’t even get me started.” Kamadra exaggerated an eye roll. “Sure the views were breathtaking and we sampled different local dishes on the way. But… the boredom! By the stars, you’d be surprised how quickly you run out of things to do in a tiny carriage.”

“Good thing you’re with me then.” Sienna whispered. “I even know all of the hidden gems that certain sticks in the mud would try to keep hidden.” She gestured over to her brother.

Hyrua quickly became enamored with the rooms decorations. His ears starting to burn.

“Anyway! You must have been eating properly enough on your journey, right? I’ll show you some of my favorite places and then maybe we can see how powerful those legs of yours are.”

Kamadra shamelessly showed off their leg. “Like them? Despite lacking certain…characteristics… that you have, I’m very proud in my legs. In fact, I hope to be able to show them off some more before I leave.” They glanced at Hyrua, now counting the squares in the ceiling.

"I think we're going to get along like sisters" Sienna wrapped her arm around them. "Come, let's go start our tour, I was just pulled away before I could really eat breakfast and I know some amazing noodle places for lunch! Is it alright if we go father? I assume that's all you summoned us for?" Sienna was almost too excited to wait for a reply as they started out the doors.

Kijin's face was filled with a toothy grin as he spoke. "Go, go and enjoy yourselves! We still have a few weeks of preparation and you should enjoy the city before so many visitors arrive that you can't even find the roads." He waved them off while proudly standing next to Hyrua.

“I should go too, Lord Father. Don’t forget to work properly.” They watched as Lars happily brought out more paperwork. “Good luck, I’ll make sure they don’t cause too much havoc.” He quickly dashed out before Kijin could say a word.