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?"