Catgirls And Dungeons (Yuri)-Chapter 44: Cheer up

As we step out of the Adventurer's Guild, the setting sun paints the sky in streaks of pink, gold, and soft violet, like someone spilled a jar of shimmering magic across the horizon.

"Hehe, 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 as bright as ever, but I can't quite match her energy.

"Yeahhh…" I sigh, my cat ears drooping pathetically. The weight of disappointment clings to me like an unwelcome shadow, refusing to budge.

How could I not feel down? The physical test results made it painfully clear—I'm so weak that even a twelve-year-old could probably bench press more than me. And just when I thought my strong mana could redeem me, Karlogen and Eris straight-up banned me from using 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?"

Eris crosses her arms, standing firm. "No! Absolutely not!"

"Hmmmp! Fiiiiine!" I huff, puffing out my cheeks in frustration. My tail swishes behind me in protest—yes, even my tail is annoyed!!!

"Come on now, you have to be careful," Eris insists, her voice firm but gentle.

"Tsk, you're right…" I mumble, clicking my tongue and exhaling 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 pressure builds up in my chest, twisting like an iron vice, and the mana goes wild—uncontrollable, erratic, and painful as hell. The agony leaves me gasping for breath, completely powerless.

But even so…

I don't want to give up.

I can't give up.

Without magic, what am I? Who would ever want to be with someone so utterly useless? No one.

"Don't worry, the Guildmaster promised he'd look into it," Eris says, her voice cutting through my spiraling thoughts. "Once we figure out what's causing the pain, we'll fix it, and you'll be able to use your mana freely!"

She reaches out, taking my hand again. Even though I feel like curling into a ball of despair, I instinctively squeeze her hand back.

"Hic… but what if it's impossible?" I sniff, blinking rapidly to keep the tears at bay. "Guildmaster even said he's never seen anything like this before…"

Eris nudges me with her elbow. "Hey, don't underestimate Karl! And don't be so pessimistic!" She gives me a confident smirk. "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 patient, okay?"

I hesitate, then nod slowly. "A-alright…"

Eris is right. I shouldn't be this pessimistic.

And besides, trusting Karlogen is the only thing I can do right now.

But still…

"Nyarghhh! But I still want to practice mana so badly!" I groan dramatically, stomping my feet like a child throwing a tantrum. My tail lashes behind me, a perfect indicator of my sulky mood.

Eris bursts out laughing.

"Alright, enough moping around!" she declares. "Let's do something fun!"

My ears twitch. "Huh? Fun?"

Eris's grin widens. "Yeah! Look, I totally get why you're feeling down. If I couldn't use magic, I'd be super bummed too. But do you really want to spend the rest of the day feeling all mopey and miserable?"

I hesitate. "Ummmm… nuh-uh."

"Exactly!" She pumps a fist. "So I say we do something so amazing, so ridiculously fun, that you'll forget all your worries!"

Her enthusiasm is contagious. Before I even realize it, a genuine smile creeps onto my face.

"Y-yeah! Let's do it!" I say, feeling a flicker of excitement finally 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 just enjoy the day?

The world is huge, brimming with wonders waiting to be discovered, and my adventure is just beginning.

Might as well make the most of it!

"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 exclaim. Then I pause, narrowing my eyes. "Wait… what kind of place is it?"

Eris smirks mischievously. "Well, that's a secret!" She winks.

And so, hand in hand, we stroll through Mistvale's winding streets, heading toward her 'super magical secret place.'

For the first time in hours, my spirits finally feel lighter.

———————————————-

Moments later…

"Woaaaaaah…"

The word slips out of me in an awed whisper, carried away by the wind.

I feel like I'm on top of the world.

And, well… I kind of am—standing atop Mistvale's tallest structure, the great clock tower.

The entire town stretches out below us, sprawling like a miniature kingdom. From this height, the winding streets, bustling markets, and neatly arranged rooftops look almost toy-like, their details softened by distance.

Beyond the town walls, the world unfolds in breathtaking layers.

To the north, an endless forest stretches toward the horizon, its emerald canopy shifting with the evening breeze. Towering mountains loom in the background, their snow-capped peaks dusted in the warm hues of twilight.

To the south, a vast lake glimmers, its surface rippling with golden light as it stretches far, far beyond the eye can see.

To the east and west, roads snake away from town, lined with scattered farmhouses, fields bathed in the soft glow of lanterns, and the distant silhouettes of travelers making their way home.

Above it all, the sky is a masterpiece—streaks of orange, pink, and violet blend together like an artist's brushstrokes, casting a dreamlike glow over everything. The wind rushes past, cool and crisp, tugging at my clothes, making my hair flutter wildly.

It's…

Incredible.

Though, to be fair, getting up here was less incredible.

The journey had been gruelling.

So. Many. Stairs!!!

There is no elevator in this world, so of course, we had to climb stairs.

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And by the time we reached the halfway point, my legs felt like jelly, my breath came in ragged gasps, and every step felt like lifting a mountain.

After all, my stamina isn't very good.

However, just as I was about to give up, Eris—the absolute menace—burst out laughing and carried me on her back the rest of the way, effortlessly scaling the stairs like she didn't have a whole person clinging to her.

Now, as we stand together, catching our breath, it all feels worth it.

Absolutely worth it.

"Hey, how is it?" Eris asks, tilting her head with a grin.

I swallow the lump in my throat, still gripping the iron railing like it's my last lifeline.

"I love it!" I squeal, heart pounding from more than just excitement. "But… aaaaah… I'm still really scared!"

Because, yeah.

Turns out, standing at the highest point in the city doesn't magically cure a fear of heights.

Sure, it's a little better than before, but my legs are trembling, my tail is puffed up like a terrified kitten, and I'm pretty sure if I let go of this railing for even a second, my soul might just evacuate my body.

Eris giggles. "Hehe, if we keep doing this every day, you'll get over your fear in no time!"

I gulp. "Y-yeah… I really hope so." My voice wavers, not exactly full of conviction.

She plops down on the stone ledge, patting the spot beside her. I hesitate, but eventually ease myself down as well, moving at the speed of a terrified sloth.

And just like that, we settle in—side by side, watching the town below as the day slowly slips into night.

We pull out the food we grabbed earlier—simple, steaming meat skewers, their scent rich with spices and charred goodness.

Nom… nom… nom…

As I take a bite, savoring the juicy, flavorful meat, a thought strikes me.

This… might just be the most luxurious dining experience I've ever had.

Delicious street food.

A breathtaking view.

And a beautiful friend sitting right next to me.

Seriously. What could be better than this?

Nope. Nothing.

As we eat, the last remnants of daylight melt away, and the sky shifts to a deep, velvety blue. The first stars begin to twinkle, faint but steady, as the moon slowly rises over the town, casting a cool, silvery glow across the rooftops.

For a while, we just sit there, watching the world change around us, lost in the quiet beauty of the moment.

And then—

A question suddenly pops into my mind.

"Eris, where are the dungeons?" I ask between bites.

Eris's eyes light up, a mischievous sparkle dancing in them.

"Oh, dungeons? They're everywhere!" she replies, grinning.