Karina: "It is neat! I've been there! There's a whole tour village at the base, it's all shady and green, and cool but not cold. Also there were always leaves falling, never stopped the entire time.
It felt sooo big. Like, with a mountain it climbs up slowly so you don't really realize how big it is until you're up there at the top, but with this even the roots are just huge, and then suddenly it goes straight up.
I think there's some people who worship it there too."

Frederic: "Back to the Erdroffer estate first. The trip to Madosa was meant to be fairly short, so we should check in before Karina's father gets worried.
Then, uh... We'll see. Probably lots of work under the tree. The beasts get worked up this time of year."

Karina: "Oh blegh, don't say it like that. You sound like some stuffy noble. To my place!"
Frederic: "To the Erdroffer place."

~~~

The carriage train takes a bit to get to the edge of the city, and as you get closer the path get busier as roads converge into the main thoroughfare for Belusi. Large carriages and wagons full of goods, some people on foot, a few people on horses, a few people on other stranger creatures that you don't recognize. Many are on large ground birds, not unlike a slim horse-sized chicken.
Reaching a large group of stables on the edge of the city, you and the rest of the train's passengers disembark, and you're on foot from there. The main road is still full of carriages and foot traffic as you four walk up into the city. The others are completely nonplussed by it all, and effortlessly navigate the crowds. Thankfully, Frederic's size gets people to move on their own, so progress is fairly fast.

You make your way up towards the castle, at one point passing a large stone inner wall dividing the outer city from what seems to be the nicer district. Karina shows the guard a badge, and after a quick tap with a badge of his own, waves you through. Past the wall is significantly calmer and quieter, all the buildings taller, larger, and more expensive.
After getting about halfway up to the castle from the dividing gate, the others turn down a perpendicular road, much smaller than the main road you were on. From here, the road is lined with large mansions with wide, well cared for grounds and tall wrought iron fences lining the borders. The gates vary, some just shut and locked, others have a guard or two posted outside. As you approach one on the left with two guards posted, one of the guards does a double take at your group, then grins and calls out.

Guard: "Ah! Miss Karina! You've returned!"
Karina: "Yes. Would you go inform Joshua that we're back."
Guard: "Right away, Miss!"
He gives a quick salute, then hustles toward the manor. The other gives a nod and a smile to your group, but maintains his post. Karina starts heading up towards the manor, and taking her cue you and the others follow.
Karina: "No reason to make anyone come all the way out here for us. Joshua's the steward, Gram. Um, for now don't talk much unless asked a question. Etiquette is really easy to mess up, especially with nobles."
A moment before you reach the steps leading to the doors, one opens with a man standing behind it.
Average height, trim build, slicked back chestnut hair, clean shaven face, dark slacks and vest with a light grey undershirt, and most strikingly a pair of dull but unmistakably red eyes. He looks the part of a young butler. Upon seeing you, he gives a quick bow at the waist.

Butler: "Ah, Miss Karina. The guard had told me you arrived. Welcome home."
Karina: "Hello Joshua. Ah, this is Gram. We met him out on our trip, he's a guest."
He sidesteps to let you all in, holding the door open. The others go first, and as you step over the threshold you feel his eyes rapidly scan over you. As soon as you're in he shifts to face you directly, giving another quick but deep waist bow.
Joshua: "Excellent. Mr. Gram, a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Please let me or a servant know if you require anything."
Now that you're closer, you also catch that all his teeth that you can see are sharp and pointed.

Joshua: "Miss Karina, your father has asked to see you once you arrive home. He is currently in his office."
Karina: "Oh! Alright, we'll go see him then."
He gives a last quick bow, and the four of you set off again, Karina leading through the mansion. It's, pretty much what you'd expect from a mansion; red carpet running the halls, a painting or vase or other piece of art placed every so often, a few servants here or there, cleaning or tending to something. Not quite palatial or anything, but clearly Karina's family has some money. It isn't far to the office, and once you arrive the group stops outside with Karina in front. She carefully knocks a brass knocker on the double doors, and a gruff man responds from within.
Man: "Come in."

As Karina opens the door, you catch a look at him. Blond hair like Karina, though darker than hers and a few stray bits of white, with a thick mustache and a large complement of wrinkles around his eyes. He looks up, and immediately his face lights up into a smile as Karina leads the group in.
Man: "Karina! You're back! I didn't expect you to be so long on your trip! I was almost starting to get worried."
Karina: "Geez, papa, I'm fine! I had Frederic!"
Papa: "Haha, so you do. Though what's this, Leon? It's been a bit son, what are you doing back in my daughter's company? Thought you were off making waves at that academy."
Leon: "I, took a vacation. Karina asked me to come along."
Papa: "Mm, right right, adventure business. Always good to have a strapping young mage, and I suppose that's good, practical experience for you then.
And, who is this face I don't recognize?"
Karina: "This is Gram! We met him at Madosa, he's a genuine Adventurer, freshly graduated from the Adventurer Academy there!"
Just like with Joshua, you see her father's eyes look you up and down, though you catch his eyes narrow at your waist where your gun belt lies.

Alphonse: "Hm. Alphonse Erdroffer, Karina's father.
So you're a gunner then."

He raises his eyebrows a bit at that.
Alphonse: "Interesting combination.
So Karina, tell me about your trip."
Karina: "Oh! Well, we went to Madosa, and then looked around the guild office for someone to join us, and we found Gram. And, then we went on a job nearby to hunt some wolves. I sent a letter to Leon then.
After that, we decided to come back here to Belusi, so we got with another group of ships and came back, and then we had another job out at the port to escort a bunch of lumberjacks to look at trees.
And, then we're here!"

He leans back a bit and relaxes. You hadn't noticed until he released it, but it had gone from happy to see his daughter to a scrunched up frown, with his shoulders tensed up as well.
Alphonse: "Good, good. So, you fought then?"
Frederic: "A couple times, yes. Nothing I haven't seen before, Karina did not get a scratch on her."
He smiles at this. You glance to the side and see both men are smiling.
Alphonse: "Good man. And yourself?"
Frederic: "Taking scratches is my job, sir."
The smile fades.

Alphonse: "That wasn't a real answer, Frederic. And yourself?"
Frederic: "...I took some injuries, yes. Easily healed with Gram and Karina here."
The father is silent while he scans the rest of the group over. He stops on Leon, and you follow his gaze to Leon's hands where you can see the edges of bandages on his arms, covering the wounds from the birds.
Frederic: "There, was one fight where something slipped by. Leon was hurt by beast birds on the trip back to Belus. Too agile for me to guard everyone at the same time."
Alphonse frowns heavily and closes his eyes, before breathing in deeply and exhaling again.

Alphonse: "I can't deny that even travel has its risks. What's important is you all survived and you kept Karina safe.

Mr. Gallington, what do you intend to do now?"

Alphonse: "Well that's good to hear. You're already ready to find a new party."

You all stand there for a moment.
Karina: "P-pardon?"
Alphonse: "I'm glad you had this adventure Karina, but that's what it was. An adventure. I made it clear from the beginning that this was, at best, provisional. And I am not satisfied with your safety."
Karina: "I'm fine! Frederic protected me!"
Alphonse: "He was not able to protect Leon, or himself. If the team falls apart because of that, then right after he falls, you will be next. I won't let that happen. And that besides, being an adventurer is dangerous. A simple trip from Madosa to Belus saw you attacked, and as an adventurer you'd be seeking it out!"
Karina: "You! You're being awful! You can't do this! It's not all like that!"
Alphonse: "Karina, I am trying-"
Karina: "To strangle me and my life, like I'm some pretty bird in a cage!"

Alphonse stops and his face freezes, then he turns to the rest of the group.
Alphonse: "Frederic, would you show the others to the lounge. I need to have a discussion with Karina."
Frederic: "Yes sir."

He opens the door again and ushers you and Leon out. As soon as the door closes, faint muffled yelling from a young girl resumes.
Frederic leads you to a nearby lounge in silence, stopping to talk to a nearby servant after you and Leon sit down. He joins you a moment later.

Frederic: "Well."

The room is thankfully free of any servants after the one Frederic talked to left.

Frederic says nothing for a bit.
Frederic: "I think her father is going to be keeping a close eye on her for the near future, and she wouldn't have much chance to even if she wanted."

Frederic: "I don't think anything in particular. Willers are more popular than mages around here, so you not having a sword or a bow or some kind of traditional weapon might be it.
Though there's also the fact that most swords can't accidentally go off near his daughter."