"Isn't it obvious? Because we're doing this illegally," Eris says.
And she says it so nonchalantly, like this is just another casual Tuesday for her.
"It's true that I know the Guildmaster," she continues, stretching lazily, "but I don't know anyone else. Well, except for Karven. So we have to be careful. All the rooms and floors of the Adventurer's Guild are monitored by magical surveillance devices. eting the Guildmaster here, in secret, is a lot safer than doing it in his office or so random public spot."
"I-I see…" I stamr, feeling an uncomfortable chill creep up my spine.
"Well," Eris shrugs, "there's always the option of getting your ID through the black market. But that's even riskier. We could end up in an even bigger ss than we're already in."
"W-what if we're caught?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Eris grins, then suddenly—
KKKGH!
She makes a slicing motion across her throat, mimicking a beheading.
Oh shit.
"I-Is it really that serious?" I squeak.
"Yeah," Eris replies, her grin fading into sothing much more serious. Her sharp blue eyes darken, and her voice lowers. "Forging official docunts is a capital offense here. If we get caught, you could literally lose your head for it. And not just you—, the Guildmaster, Karven—everyone involved would be at risk."
Oh shit!
A chill rattles through , cold and rciless. My stomach drops, and suddenly, this whole plan feels much, much more dangerous than I had realized. Back on Earth, identity fraud was serious, sure. But usually, it ant a few years in prison or a hefty fine.
Here?
It ans death.
I stare at Eris, hoping, praying she's just ssing with , that this is another one of her dumb jokes.
And then—
"Haha, just kidding!" she bursts out laughing, slapping on the back like she didn't just give a mini heart attack. "Not a death sentence, just a few thousand crowns fine! The Guildmaster will take care of it. Just leave it to him!"
Oh…
Ohhhhhh.
So it was just a joke.
I squint at her.
DAMN IT!
"AAARGHHH!!" I wail, flailing my tiny fists against her arm. "Eris! Don't scare like that!"
"Pfft—HAHAHA!" She clutches her belly, laughing so hard she nearly falls off the couch. "Your face just now! It was so serious! I swear, I thought you were gonna faint! Ahhh, that was adorable! I can't breathe—!"
"Hmph!" I cross my arms and turn away with a pout.
Still, now that I know we won't be executed on the spot, my nerves settle just a little. The tight knot of anxiety in my chest loosens, and I let out a deep breath.
"But still," Eris says, finally calming down, "getting your ID is really important."
"Yeah…" I nod, the weight of the situation still pressing on .
Without it, I wouldn't be able to work, to earn money, to live freely. Technically, I wouldn't even have basic rights. Without an identity, I'd be treated as a criminal—or worse, a slave.
A shiver runs through .
"Anyway," I say, turning back to Eris. "How can you be so sure he'll help us? Did you bribe him or sothing?"
Eris scoffs, leaning back against the couch and folding her arms behind her head. "Bribe him? Nah. Even if I wanted to bribe him, he wouldn't take it."
I open my mouth to ask why, but before I can, the door creaks open.
And just like that, my question dies in my throat.
A tall, imposing lizard Furren steps into the room, his re presence thick with authority. His sharp golden eyes sweep over us, calculating, piercing, as if he can see straight through my soul.
The air in the room shifts.
Heavy.
Powerful.
So this… is the Guildmaster!
He bears a striking resemblance to Karven—the sa white, spiky hair and dark green scales marking parts of his face. But where Karven exudes professionalism and calm, this man is on an entirely different level.
He's dressed in regal attire—a deep red suit adorned with intricate silver embroidery, with the unmistakable crest of the Mistvale Adventurer's Guild emblazoned on his chest. Every stitch, every detail radiates prestige. Large, leathery wings extend from his back, folded neatly, yet their sheer presence adds to his imposing aura.
But it's his eyes that freeze in place.
Golden. Slitted. Piercing.
The kind of gaze that demands submission without a single word.
The mont those eyes lock onto mine, my entire body goes rigid. My breath catches, my heart stutters, and for a brief second, I feel small. Just how can soone command so much authority in a single glance?
I've never felt anything like this before. It's as if his re presence weighs down the air itself. If he asked a question right now, I'm certain I'd confess everything—even things I haven't done.
This isn't just confidence.
This is the weight of undeniable power.
Terrifying. Absolute. Authority.!
—————
However, a few monts later…
"Mmmmnnhh!!! This is so good!" I practically lt into my seat, happily munching on cookies, savoring every delicious, buttery bite.
Who would've thought? The terrifying, imposing Guildmaster who had frozen with fear just monts ago… is actually super nice! Like, grandfather-level nice.
Turns out, his na is Karlogen Vonderask—pretty cool, right? But since Eris calls him Karl, I do too. And, as I quickly discover, he's actually Karven's father! That explains the resemblance.
But the surprises don't stop there.
Apparently, Karl was an old friend of Eris's father. In fact, Eris's dad once saved his life back in the day, when Karl was still an active dungeon explorer. That experience bonded them, forging a friendship where they would always have each other's backs. It's no wonder Eris ca to Mistvale—between Chef Gordon and Guildmaster Karlogen, she has so seriously solid connections here!
Karl chuckles, his deep, rumbling voice warm and full of amusent. "If you like, Karven can prepare so extra cookies for you to take ho as a nightti snack."
My ears perk up instantly.
"YES, PLEASE!!!" I exclaim, practically vibrating with happiness. "Thank you so much, Guildmaster Karl!"
And just like that, he's officially my new favorite person.
Karl smiles, but then his expression turns slightly more serious as he shifts his attention to Eris. "So, Eris," he says, folding his hands together. "How can I help you today? Since you requested to et in secret, I take it this is a sensitive matter?"
"Well… kind of," Eris replies. "It's about Felicia."
She pauses, then begins explaining everything—who I am, why I have no ID, and the situation we're in.
I stop munching on my cookie, suddenly feeling a little nervous again.
This is it. The mont of truth.
—————————-
Monts later…
"So, as you can see, Felicia lost all of her mories. The only thing she rembers is her na…" Eris explains, her tone lighter than the weight of the topic.
"Ah… I see." Karlogen nods slowly, his golden eyes softening with understanding. "That must be very difficult."
I lower my gaze, unsure how to respond. Even though I know the truth—that this catgirl's past is a complete mystery even to —it still feels strange to hear it spoken aloud.
"So, Karl," Eris continues, leaning forward slightly, "would you be able to help us this ti? Felicia needs an ID so she can work."
"Of course, that won't be a problem," Karlogen replies kindly. "And regarding her previous identity, I'll also look into it."
"Oh, that would be wonderful! Are you planning to search the magic signature archive?" Eris asks.
"Yup," Karlogen nods. "We'll start that process once she's registered with the Guild. But of course, only if Miss Felicia here is comfortable with it."
I blink, caught off guard by his consideration. "Well… I don't mind," I reply after a mont. Truthfully, I'm just as curious as anyone about who this body belonged to before I woke up in it. "But, um… what exactly is a magic signature?"
"Oh, think of it like a fingerprint, but magic!" Eris chis in, her tail flicking as she prepares to explain.
A magic signature, as Eris describes, is a unique magical imprint inherent to every living being. Unlike fingerprints, which are distinct but completely individual, magic signatures are sowhat hereditary. They carry traces of one's lineage, making them useful for tracking down familial ties or confirming identities. It's similar to how genetic testing works on Earth—except, instead of DNA, they analyze the residual magical essence a person naturally emits.
I listen intently, fascinated. This world truly operates on an entirely different set of rules.
"But… what if I don't have any magic?" I ask hesitantly, a small worry gnawing at .
"Huh?" Eris gives an incredulous look before bursting into laughter. "Felicia, everything has a magic signature—even the smallest blade of grass!"
"Ooooooh!" My ears perk up as realization dawns. "Then… does that an I can use magic too?!"
The thought sends a jolt of excitent through . The idea of wielding magic has been a fantasy of mine for ages!
Eris grins. "Of course! But that depends on your mana core!"
Mana core?
A whole new wave of curiosity washes over . I can already tell—I need to learn more about this.
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