Catgirls And Dungeons (Yuri)-Chapter 29: Morning

I slip into my new pink dress, step into my leather boots, and throw on my red hooded cloak, giving it a playful twirl. The fabric flutters around me as I spin, and I sneak a glance at Eris, my heart skipping a beat.

"So... how do I look?" I ask, nervously excited.

Eris grins, her sharp blue eyes sparkling with approval. "Cute!" she exclaims without hesitation. "I'm so glad we bought that dress. It looks amazing on you!"

"R-really?" I stammer, my cheeks warming under her gaze.

"Yeah! You might even steal the hearts of all the boys in town! Hehe." She winks playfully.

"Y-you think so? Am I really that beautiful?" I ask, my voice quieter.

Eris leans in slightly, her expression sincere. "Of course. You're the most beautiful girl in the world."

BA-DUMP.

The words hit me like a spell, sending my heart spiraling into a frantic dance.

O-oh, Eris... How can she say things like that so easily? Does she even realize what she's doing to me?

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart.

Despite the fluttering in my chest, energy surges through me. Today's the day! The Adventurer's Guild—here I come!

Even though my stomach grumbles in protest, longing for bacon, I decide to hold off. After all, Eris mentioned the morning market would be filled with delicious treats, and there's no way I'm missing out on those!

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Moments later...

We head downstairs into the inn's bustling dining area. The scent of fresh bread and roasted coffee wafts through the air, mingling with the morning chatter of early risers.

"Oh! Morning, Felicia! Morning, Eris!" Lilly beams at us as she wipes down a table.

She and the other servers are already in full swing, cleaning and prepping for brunch. Although food service hasn't started yet, a few guests sit patiently, sipping on steaming cups of tea.

"Morning, Lilly! Good morning, Chef Gordon!" I greet them brightly.

Behind the counter, Gordon is already at work, slicing through a loaf of bread with his usual expertise. He turns at the sound of my voice, his broad grin warming the space like a sunrise.

"Hehe, how was your sleep last night? Good?" Gordon asks.

"Yes! It was wonderful!" I beam. "Thank you so much for the late-night milk and snack! It was amazing!"

"Glad you liked it." He chuckles, his chest puffing with satisfaction.

Eris adjusts her cloak before addressing him. "Alright, I'm taking Felicia to the Adventurer's Guild for her ID now. If all goes well, she should have it in a few days."

"No rush, take your time!" Gordon waves us off with an easy smile.

But before we can leave, he turns to me, his eyes twinkling.

"Felicia, I can't wait to have you in my kitchen! I'm still blown away by how flawless your knife skills were yesterday! That was amazing—an absolute performance!"

I flush at the praise.

"Thank you, Chef Gordon. I can't wait either!"

His words fill me with pride. Soon, I'll be working, earning my own money, and finally standing on my own two feet. No more relying on Eris. No more being a burden.

I'm so lucky, I think to myself. To have landed a job this quickly in a new world... it almost feels too good to be true.

Just as we turn to leave, Gordon calls us back.

"Actually, Eris, there's something I forgot to mention." His voice takes on a more serious tone, and his gaze flickers to me. "Felicia, would you mind stepping outside for a moment?"

"O-oh, sure." I blink, caught off guard by the shift in atmosphere.

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As I step outside, the cool morning air nips at my cheeks. I shiver slightly, wrapping my cloak around me.

Through the wooden door, I catch a glimpse of Gordon's face.

His brows are furrowed, his usual cheerful expression replaced with something... heavier.

Something's wrong.

I fidget anxiously, wondering what he wants to talk about.

I just hope... it's nothing bad.

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As I stand outside the Gilded Horns, my gaze drifts upward to the sky, my thoughts tangled in uneasy speculation about what might be unfolding inside. The quiet is abruptly shattered by Eris's voice, sharp and seething, cutting through the air like a blade.

"THOSE BASTARDS! THEY F***ING DARE!!!"

Her roar is thunderous, and I flinch, my heart lurching in my chest. Before I can even process her outburst, a deafening BAM erupts from within, the force of it rattling the ground beneath my feet. The sound reverberates through my bones, and a surge of panic grips me, sharp and unrelenting.

I rush back inside, my pulse roaring in my ears. The moment I cross the threshold, my breath catches, my eyes widening in stunned disbelief.

Eris stands amidst the wreckage of a shattered table, her fist clenched, splinters of wood scattered around her like shards of her fury. Her chest heaves with ragged breaths, her entire body radiating a terrifying, almost primal rage. My knees weaken, a knot of fear twisting in my stomach as I force myself to take a hesitant step forward.

"E-Eris?" I whisper, my voice trembling, barely audible.

This is a side of her I've never seen before—raw, unbridled anger. Her bloodshot eyes burn with an intensity that could scorch the earth, her veins standing out against her skin as she grits her teeth. Her fangs are bared, her breathing heavy and ragged, as though she's barely holding herself back from tearing someone apart.

The others in the room—save for Gordon—are frozen, their faces pale, their expressions etched with fear. The air is thick with tension, suffocating and electric.

Then her eyes lock onto mine, and something shifts. The fury in her gaze softens, melting into something more restrained, though the storm still rages just beneath the surface. She exhales slowly, as though forcing herself to regain control.

"Felicia?" she murmurs, her voice strained but gentler now, like the calm after a tempest.

"W-what happened?" I manage to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Eris takes a deep breath, her chest rising and falling with deliberate effort. "Felicia," she begins, her tone low and measured, "why didn't you tell me earlier about those bastards who harassed you?"

Her words hit me like a sledgehammer, and I feel my heart constrict painfully. The memories of last night come rushing back—the two drunk men, their leering faces, their hands reaching for me, the stench of alcohol on their breath. I had buried it deep, told myself it was nothing, but the truth is, I'm still terrified. Their ugly grins, the way they cornered me, the paralyzing fear that gripped me—it's all still so vivid, so raw.

"I-I didn't think it was that important," I stammer, my voice breaking. "P-please don't worry about it. I-I'll be more careful next time..."

But even as I speak, my body betrays me. I'm trembling, my hands shaking uncontrollably, my fear too overwhelming to hide. I don't want to burden Eris with this—she has enough to deal with. But no matter how hard I try, I can't stop the quaking in my limbs.

Gordon lets out a long, weary sigh, but it's Eris who moves. Without a word, she steps forward and reaches for my hand. The moment her fingers close around mine, the trembling begins to subside. I look up, and the anger in her eyes has transformed into something else—something soft, warm, and achingly tender. Her bloodshot eyes glisten with unshed tears, and the kindness in them makes my heart ache.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." I choke out, my voice cracking as the floodgates of emotion threaten to burst.

Eris pulls me into her arms, holding me tightly, her embrace firm yet gentle. And in that moment, I break.

Tears pour from me in uncontrollable waves, my sobs wracking my body as I bury my face in her shoulder. All the fear, the pain, the helplessness I've been holding back comes crashing down, overwhelming me. I cry harder than I have in years, my tears and snot soaking into her clothes, but she doesn't seem to care. She just holds me, her hand gently patting my back.

"It's okay," she murmurs softly, her voice a soothing balm. "Let it all out... It's okay..."