As we step out of the Adventurer's Guild, the sun is setting, painting the sky in streaks of pink and gold that look like someone spilled a jar of shimmering magic across the horizon.
"Hihi, cheer up!" Eris chirps, giving me a playful tap on the back. "We got your ID sorted out! That's what we came here for, remember?" Her voice is so bright and cheery, but I can't quite match her energy.
"Yeahhh…" I sigh, my cat ears drooping pitifully. The weight of disappointment still clings to me like an unwelcome shadow, hard to shake off.
After all… how could I not be down? The physical test results made it painfully clear—I'm so weak that even a 12-year-old could probably bench press more than me! And then, just when I thought my strong mana could redeem me, Karlogen and Eris banned me from using any magic.
"Huhu… can I at least do a little bit of meditation?" I plead, putting on my most pitiful kitty eyes. "Just a teensy-tiny bit, pleeeease?"
But Eris crosses her arms . "No! Absolutely not!"
"Hmmmp! Fiiiiine!" I pout, puffing out my cheeks, feeling extra sulky. My tail is swishes behind me. Yes, even my tail is getting frustrated!!!
"Come on now, you have to be careful!" Eris says.
"Tsk, you're right…" I mumble, clicking my tongue in frustration and letting out the longest, most dramatic sigh I can muster.
It's all because of that stupid chest pain. Every time I try to use mana, this tight, crushing tension builds up in my chest, and the mana goes wild for no reason, leaving me gasping in unbearable agony. It's frustrating, and it makes me feel so powerless.
But even so, I don't want to give up. I can't give up! Without magic, I'm useless. And who would want to be with someone as helpless as me? NO ONE!
"Don't worry, the Guildmaster promised he'd look into it. Once we figure out what's causing the pain, we'll fix it, and you'll be able to use your mana freely!" Eris says.
She then reaches out for my hand again, and even though I'm feeling down, I instinctively squeeze her hand back.
"Hic… but what if it's impossible?" I sniff, trying to blink away the tears threatening to spill over. "Guildmaster even said he's never seen something like this before…"
"Hey, don't underestimate Karl! And don't be so pessimistic!" Eris nudges me. "After all, he's the Guildmaster! He's got connections all over the world! He'll find the best mages to help, and they'll solve this mystery. Just be a bit patient, okay?"
"A-alright…" I reply, forcing a smile.
Eris is right, I shouldn't be this pessimistic.
And trusting Karlogen is the only thing I can do, anyway.
"Nyarghhh! but I still want to practice mana so badly!" I groan dramatically and angrily, stomping my feet as I step. My tail lashes behind me, showing just how sulky I feel.
Eris bursts out laughing. "Alright, enough moping around!" she declares. "Let's do something fun!"
"Huh? Fun?" My ears perk up at the word.
"Yeah!" Eris grins wide. "I totally get why you're feeling down. If I couldn't use magic, I'd be super bummed too. But hey, do you really want to spend the rest of the day feeling sad and mopey?" she says and looks at me.
"Ummmm… nuh-uh," I shake my head.
"Then, I say we do something so amazing, so ridiculously fun, that you'll forget all your worries!"
Her energy is so infectious that, before I know it, a genuine smile starts to creep across my face.
"Y-yeah, let's do it!" I say, feeling a flicker of excitement reigniting in my chest.
Eris is right!
There's no point in sulking over things I can't change! Being gloomy won't make anything better. Instead, why not put my worries aside and enjoy the day? The world around us is beautiful, full of new things waiting to be discovered, and the adventure is just beginning. So, I might as well make the most of it and have a blast!
"But, um… what exactly are we going to do?" I ask, curiosity bubbling up.
Eris taps her chin. "Hmmm… I know a super magical secret place! Wanna see?"
"YES!" I reply. "But… what kind of place is it?"
"Well, it's a secret!" she winks.
And so, hand in hand, Eris and I stroll through Mistvale's streets, heading toward her 'secret magical place'. And for the first time in hours, I feel my spirits lifting.
———————————————-
Moments later…
"Woaaaaaah!!!"
I feel like I'm on top of the world!
And, well, that's because I actually am—standing on top of the highest building in Mistvale: the giant clock tower!
The view is absolutely breathtaking. The entire town of Mistvale sprawls out below, with its winding streets and bustling squares looking almost toy-like from this height. Beyond the town walls, the landscape unfolds like something out of a storybook: to the north, a dense forest stretches all the way to the towering, majestic mountains; to the south, a vast, shimmering lake glitters in the fading light, stretching endlessly to the horizon. Roads snake away from the town to the east and west, dotted with tiny farms and teeming with the comings and goings of travelers and merchants.
The setting sun bathes everything in stunning shades of orange and pink, while the wind whooshes around us, adding an exhilarating thrill to the moment.
The journey to get here was suuuuper tiring, though. We had to climb sooo many stairs to reach the top. Halfway up, my legs felt all wobbly and so painful that I couldn't walk anymore. But then, Eris just laughed and carried me on her back for the rest of the climb!
And now, as we stand together on this high perch, it's simply amazing!
"Hihi, how is it?" Eris asks, her grin wide.
"I love it!" I squeal, though my hands are still clamped onto the railing for dear life. "But… aaaaah… I'm still really scared…"
My fear of heights hasn't magically disappeared. Sure, it's a bit better than before, but my knees and legs are definitely still shaking like jello.
"Hihi, if we keep doing this every day, you'll get over your fear in no time!" Eris teases.
"Y-yeah… I really hope so!" I manage, my voice quivering.
We then settle in, pulling out the food we grabbed on our way here for a light pre-dinner snack. Nothing fancy—just a bunch of steaming, juicy meat skewers.
Nomnomnom…
Now that I think about it, this feels like the most luxurious dining experience ever. Delicious street food, a breathtaking panoramic view, and a beautiful friend sitting right next to me.
Seriously, what could be better?
Nope!
NOTHING!
And then, as we sit there, savoring the last moments of daylight and watching the sun dip below the horizon, the sky begins to darken, welcoming the moon and the first stars. Suddenly, a curious thought suddenly pops into my mind.
"Eris, where are the dungeons?" I ask between bites.
"Oh, dungeons? They're everywhere!" she replies, her eyes sparkling.