Catgirls And Dungeons (Yuri)

"Welcome, honored guests. How may the Hearthcarvers assist you today?" the guild staff says with a professional smile.

Eris steps forward without hesitation, her usual confidence shining through.

"Hi, we'd like to learn about available dungeon properties," she says with an easy smile, "and maybe get some guidance on the buying process?"

The guild woman gives a gentle nod, her posture as graceful as a dance. "Of course. We would be delighted to assist. Please, follow me inside."

And so… we do.

We step past the gleaming threshold, through the tall, ornate gates, and into a place that feels like a different world entirely.

Inside, the Hearthcarvers Guild is nothing like the noisy streets of Mistvale.

It's quiet… but not cold.

Warm light pours down from enchanted glass domes overhead, turning the pale granite floor into a river of soft gold and pearl. Every surface gleams, polished to perfection.

And the air… it smells faintly of lavender, and something woody and grounding, like old books and cedar.

I instinctively stick close to Eris, trying hard not to let my boots squeak against the too-shiny floor. My ears flick at every small sound: the quiet shuffle of papers, the soft murmur of voices, the hum of magic pulsing faintly through the walls.

This place feels… sacred, like a temple for some reason.

Eventually, after a few moments of walking in respectful silence, the staff woman leads us to a waiting area tucked away behind tall carved screens. There's a long, low table made of dark, polished wood, its surface smooth like glass, and two long velvet couches, plush and rich in a deep, dark red color.

I can't help but gape a little, hugging my arms around myself.

"It's like… so fancy in here!" I whisper under my breath, tugging on Eris' arm.

Eris chuckles, plopping down onto one of the couches and patting the seat beside her. "Yeah. Feels more like a noble's mansion than a guild, huh?"

I flop down next to her, still wide-eyed, tail flicking with restless excitement.

The cushion sinks under me, swallowing me up in softness.

Waaah… fancy!

Reminds me of princess Felicia's couch for some reason.

Then, the guild woman, ever poised, tilts her head politely.

"Would the honored guests care for a drink? We offer fresh water or a selection of teas."

"Oh, two teas, please," Eris says smoothly.

The woman bows ever so slightly and disappears without a sound.

A few minutes later, she returns, her tray balanced perfectly. Two delicate cups of steaming tea… and to my surprise, a small assortment of treats as well. There are candies wrapped in shiny paper, delicate biscuits, and even a few pieces of dark chocolate.

They look… absolutely delicious.

If it was me just a few days ago, I would've munched on those snacks like a greedy little beast.

But now… haaah… this cursed numb tongue of mine is driving me crazy!

All I can do is stare at the treats longingly, like a starving cat pressed against a bakery window.

Ughhh…

This is torture…

Still, I try to focus.

The guild staff sits down across from us. She then carefully pours the tea into delicate porcelain cups, then proceed to opens the sugar jar with a soft clink, offering it to us.

Eris grins and dumps a generous amount into her tea, swirling it around with a soft stir. I copy her, even though… well… it's pointless for me, isn't it?

We both take a sip.

The warmth of the tea slides down my throat and settles in my belly.

Comforting… even if it tastes like plain hot water to me now.

Then, finally, the guild staff speaks.

"So, may I ask what kind of properties you are interested in purchasing today?"

Her voice is smooth and polite, but there's a subtle sharpness beneath it—the kind of tone used by people who handle very expensive things. "And do you already have a particular place in mind?" she adds, gracefully pulling out a sleek pen and parchment.

"We're looking for something quiet and private," Eris says casually, crossing her legs as she leans back into the velvet cushions. "Somewhere surrounded by nature. Preferably with a stable climate, and easy access to natural food sources."

The guild staff nods, jotting everything down in that elegant script of hers.

Her pen moves like it's dancing. "Anything else I should keep in mind?"

"Hmmm…" Eris pretends to think for a second, then shrugs. "Nope. Just show me all the available options. Price doesn't matter."

There's a sudden silence.

The woman's pen pauses mid-stroke. I stiffen in my seat.

Wait.

Did I hear that right?

I blink at Eris, ears twitching.

She just said… price… doesn't matter?

Right?

RIGHT?

What the heck?

Even the guild woman, who's been calm and composed this whole time, seems briefly thrown off. Her eyes flick up in a blink of surprise, but just for a split second. Then her expression smooths over like silk, and she gives a polite nod.

"Oh, and I almost forgot," Eris adds, reaching into the inside her pocket.

She pulls out a small, black card, sleek and glossy, with a mysterious shimmer.

I can't tell what's written on it from this angle, but it looks… fancy, and important, dangerous, even?

Eris slides it across the table like she's placing a casual bet.

The guild woman takes the card, and the moment her eyes land on it…

Something changes.

Her expression doesn't shift much—but it's enough. Her gaze sharpens, the curve of her lips turns ever so slightly upward, and her posture becomes even more refined, like she's just realized exactly who she's dealing with.

"Thank you for the information," she says with a soft bow. "I'll inform our property consultant immediately. Someone will be with you shortly to assist with your selection."

With that, she stands and glides away, her heels tapping faintly against the polished floor until she disappears behind a set of tall oak doors.

I finally exhale the breath I didn't realize I was holding.

"Wow!" I murmur, stretching my legs out and flopping back against the velvet cushions. "They're really professional here!"

"Of course they are." Eris grins, swirling her tea in its cup. "They're gonna milk a hella lot of money from us, anyway."

"Urghhh…" I groan, slumping dramatically against her shoulder. "You're right…"

But then something itches at my mind.

I glance sideways at her, suspicious.

"But Eris… what was that card?" I ask, lowering my voice, leaning towards her. "That guild lady completely changed the moment she saw it!"

Eris just chuckles under her breath.

Then she leans in close too, her lips brushing near my ear, and whispers softly:

"That, my dear Felicia… is a Black Sigil."

She pulls back just enough to flash a little smirk.

"Eh? Black…"

"Shhhh." Eris presses a finger to her lips, grinning.

"Oh!" I gasp, finally catching on. I quickly lower my voice to a whisper. "B-Black Sigil? What's that?"

"It's proof of the highest patronage status with the Hearthcarvers," Eris whispers back. "So they know not to waste my time by showing us the inferior stuff, and will even give us some nice benefits."

Gulp.

"…I-I see…"

I clutch my teacup tighter, the warmth of the porcelain doing nothing to chase away the sudden chill crawling down my spine.

Now that I think about it…

Eris' real identity is still a total mystery, isn't it?

All I know for sure is that she used to be one of the pillars of the ShadowFang Guild. She's strong. She's respected. She's scary.

But… now I'm starting to get the feeling Eris might actually be way, way more than I thought.

Is she… some secret high-ranking noble?

Or worse… royalty?

Before I can spiral too far, Eris suddenly speaks, her tone dripping with amusement, as if she's reading my mind again.

"Oh? You're thinking about how the heck did I get it, right?" she teases.

"What?!" I blink, caught off guard, blurting out loudly.

I immediately lower my voice again. "H-How? How did you get something like that?"

Eris giggles softly, leaning in even closer, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

"I took it from a corpse."

"…Wha…?"

"He wanted to kill me first," she says, grinning lazily. "But, well… he didn't. I killed him instead. Found this little thing tucked inside his pocket."

My mouth hangs open.

"D-Damn… are you serious?"

"Yup." She takes a delicate sip of her tea, as if recounting a lazy stroll in the park.

Gulp…

Why… why is Eris making me so nervous now?

It's like I'm getting tiny glimpses of something terrifying beneath that laid-back, smug smile. The thought of people trying to kill Eris… the thought of what kind of life she used to live… it sends an involuntary shiver racing down my spine.

And now that I think about it… why did Eris has to hide identity in the first place?

She still doesn't want to tell me, and I guess I shouldn't pry too much either.

But… I do hope she'll open up to me someday.

Anyway, we sip our tea quietly, waiting.

It doesn't take long, maybe five minutes, before a well-dressed gentleman arrives.

He's a tall human, with sharp features, slicked-back silver hair, and a crisp black suit subtly embroidered with the Hearthcarvers crest.

He bows deeply, his manner impeccable.

"Good afternoon, honored guests," he greets, his tone both warm and polished.

"My name is Alvero. I will be your property consultant today. It's a pleasure to assist you. If you wish, we can move somewhere more private to discuss your purchasing plans."

"Sure!" Eris smiles as we rise from our comfy seats. "Nice to meet you, Alvero."

"The pleasure is mine as well, Miss…?"

"Eris. Eris Wildfang."

"Yes, Ms. Eris Wildfang."

And so, Alvero leads us deeper into the building, toward a private chamber.

It kind of reminds me of that secret meeting room Karlogen arranged for us at the Adventurer's Guild.