After devouring Schleimfisch and a variety of other dishes, Eris and I continue wandering through the bustling streets of Mistvale's morning food market.
But now?
Now, I need sothing sweet—sothing refreshing—to cleanse my poor taste buds after that questionable experience.
"Eris," I whine dramatically, clutching my stomach like a damsel in distress, "I need sothing sweet to save … Is there any good dessert around here?"
Eris hums thoughtfully, tapping her chin. "A dessert, huh? Let's go look around!"
"Nn!" I nod eagerly.
With that, we dive back into the sea of food stalls, weaving through the crowd. My eyes dart around like a kid in a candy store, scanning for sothing light, fluffy, and sweet.
And then—
I see it.
A milk stall.
Not just any milk stall—a vendor selling fresh, ice-cold milk!
My eyes light up like fireworks.
"Look!" I exclaim, tugging on Eris's sleeve. "Milk! It's cold milk!!!"
"Oh, good eyes!" Eris grins, following my gaze.
We hurry over, and right away, sothing even cooler catches my attention.
Behind the vendor, another man is working with a glowing blue crystal, mist swirling around it like tiny snowflakes. He pours water into a mold, taps it to the crystal, and—
Whoosh!
The water freezes instantly into solid ice.
"WOAAAAHH!!" I gasp, clinging to Eris's arm. "What is that?!"
Eris chuckles at my amazent. "That? It's an ice magic crystal!" she explains. "They're found inside dungeons. Just a little touch, and bam—instant ice!"
"Ooooh!" My jaw drops.
So that's how they make ice in this world?!
Honestly, who needs a refrigerator when you have magic this good?!
We quickly join the line, and when it's our turn, the vendor greets us with a cheerful grin.
"Hey ladies, would you like so cold milk?" he asks, motioning to a lineup of frosty milk bottles. "We've even got ice cream if you're in the mood for sothing sweeter!"
…
Wait.
Ice cream?!
THE FREAKING ICE CREAM?!?!?
My entire world shifts.
I grab Eris's shoulders, shaking her slightly. "DID HE JUST SAY ICE CREAM?!"
Eris laughs. "Yep! It's a popular treat, especially in the sumr!"
I turn back to the vendor, eyes blazing with excitent.
And sure enough—there it is.
A row of big, colorful buckets sit in a frosty bath of ice, each filled with different flavors of ice cream!
Milk, chocolate, berries… so many colors!
They actually have ice cream in this world.
I'm about to cry.
Then, the choice is obvious!
"Ice cream, please!" I say, practically bouncing with excitent.
"Alright, two ice creams for us," Eris adds, grinning.
The vendor nods. "And what flavors would you like?"
I stare at the buckets of colorful ice cream, scanning each one curiously. None of the nas make any sense to , so I go with the one that matches my favorite color.
"I'll have the reddest one, please!"
"Ooooh, Roterraberry, huh? Nice choice!" Eris winks before pointing at another bucket. "I'll take the blue one—Azuriberry, please!"
The vendor scoops up our ice cream, drizzles so thick, glossy syrup over the cones, and hands them to us.
And just like that…
Voilà! ICE CREAM!
I cradle mine carefully, as if holding the world's greatest treasure, then take a tentative lick.
The mont my tongue ets the creamy ice cream and that sweet, tangy syrup…
Mmmmmnnnhhhh!!!
"It's delishhh!!!" I exclaim, practically lting from happiness.
This is exactly what my taste buds needed! The flavor is basically just strawberry ice cream, like the ones back on Earth—only a bit creamier.
But hey! Ice cream is ice cream—it's the best thing ever invented!
"Hmmm, not bad!" Eris says, licking her own cone. Then, she turns to with a playful smile. "Felicia, wanna try mine?"
My ears perk up. "Oh? Can I?"
"Of course!"
Roterraberry is good, but not mind-blowing.
Maybe Azuriberry is better?
It's so blue.
I wonder if it tastes like blueberries?
Thus, we switch cones, and I take a curious lick of the blue syrup.
Mmmmmhh!!!
I knew it! This blue stuff is basically otherworldly blueberries!
"So, you like it?" Eris asks, watching with amusent.
"Nn!" I nod, enthusiastically licking away.
But then… I freeze.
Wait a minute.
HOLD UP.
Did we just…
INDIRECT KISSU AGAIN?!?!?
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
I glance at Eris, eyes wide.
Oh no.
SHE'S LICKING THE EXACT SA SPOT I JUST LICKED.
SHE KNOWS.
I panic, spinning around so fast that my cloak whips behind like a cape. My face erupts into flas, and my ears feel like they're about to explode.
I can't let her see like this! Not again!
In a blind attempt to distract myself, I take a massive chomp out of my ice cream.
…
"Aaaaaaaa…." I groan, tears filling my eyes. "My head… it hurts!!!"
A sharp, freezing pain slams into my skull, making my entire tail puff up like a startled kitten. My whole body shivers violently, ears twitching as I clutch my head in pure agony.
This is all Eris's fault!!!
And what is she doing?!
Laughing.
SHE'S LAUGHING AT .
"Now, now," Eris chuckles, looking smug. "You can't just inhale ice cream like that, silly! You'll get brain freeze!"
She says this while taking a perfectly normal, elegant lick of her cone.
anwhile, I'm out here dying.
"H-HELP !!!" I wail, shivering uncontrollably.
Eris just giggles and pats my head. "You'll live."
SHE'S NOT EVEN HELPING!!!
For so stupid reason, brain freeze as a catgirl feels ten tis worse than when I was human!
I can't even be mad, though.
This ice cream? Totally worth it.
————————
Later…
By the ti we finally exit the bustling food market, the sun hangs high in the sky, signaling noon.
And my belly?
Stuffed.
I'm so full that I don't think I'll need another al today. Ever.
Each step feels a little heavier, my body sluggish from all the food. My tail sways lazily behind , and all I really want right now is to find a nice shady spot and nap until tomorrow.
But there's work to do.
We make our way toward the center of Mistvale, where the streets widen into a broad main road that's alive with activity. Vendors call out their final bargains, rchants haggle over goods, and adventurers stride past in heavy armor, so laughing, so arguing, so dragging monstrous carcasses behind them.
And after a few more minutes of weaving through the lively crowd, we finally reach our destination:
The Mistvale Plaza.
This vast, open square is the beating heart of the city.
Here, three towering buildings dominate the space, standing as symbols of power and governance:
The Mistvale Public Office
The Comrcial Guild
The Adventurer's Guild
According to Eris, these are the only places authorized to issue identity cards.
But there's a problem.
I have no paperwork.
No birth records.
No proof of where I co from.
No established identity.
My chances of getting an ID here?
Practically zero.
And worse—if they figure out that I have no records…
Things could go south fast.
Without proper identification, I could be flagged as a criminal trying to hide my identity… or worse—
A slave with no recognized human rights.
The thought alone sends a chill down my spine.
Eris, noticing my hesitation, suddenly reaches out and takes my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. Her grip is warm, steady, and full of confidence.
"Don't worry, Felicia," she says with a reassuring smile.
I glance at her.
Previously, she ntioned that she has connections within the Adventurer's Guild. That she'll handle everything. That I'll be fine.
And I trust her.
After all, I've already put my life in her hands since the mont we t.
Thus, with Eris leading the way, we step forward—
Straight toward the largest building in the plaza.
The Mistvale Adventurer's Guild.
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