"Defeated Princess, No Love？

after

"Got a plan, princess?"

The dragon's molten gaze tracked shadows dancing across mildewed walls as Sophia tightened her cloak. "Adventurers' Guild."

Arn's scales rippled with the sound of a thousand swords being sheathed. Crimson wings folded into his spine until he became a ginger cat with eyes like smoldering coals. Sophia cradled him against her chest, his warmth bleeding through woolen fabric to combat the corridor's chill.

The guild hall reeked of charred meat and shattered dreams. Hunters in blood-crusted armor nursed ale while mages' apprentices trembled over half-eaten ration bread. Sophia's entrance drew wolfish grins.

"Lookit the shadow-rat! Come to lick goblin blood for coppers?"

A dwarf's ale mug slammed onto a warped table. "Bet two silver the whelp can't spell 'firebolt'!"

"Double that," sneered a man with scar tissue where his nose should be, "if your elf wench warms my bed after!"

Arn's claws pricked through Sophia's tunic. "Let me singe their beards off."

Her fingers tightened imperceptibly around his fur. The movement could've been mistaken for affection.

The drowsy receptionist had bark-patterned skin and hair cascading like willow branches - a Tree Elf. Sophia's request cut through the din: "Adventurer registration."

Parchment scratched under quill as she wrote:

Name: Sophia Veygar

Class: Mage

Rank: VII

The elf's gasp silenced the hall. "Seventh Circle Mage?!"

Mugs froze mid-swing. A dagger clattered on flagstones.

Sophia's hood tilted, revealing lips curved like a unsheathed dagger. "Is there a problem?"

Gold-ranked hunters materialized like vultures, their offers rising in desperate crescendo:

"Join Crimson Wyverns! 30% loot share!"

"Nightblade Company needs arcane support!"

She plucked the iron guild badge, its edges biting her palm. "Recommendations?"

The elf pointed trembling fingers at the quest board. "S-silver tier requires party..."

Blood Moon Notice

Bounty: Frostspire Drake Horns (Gold Tier)

Reward: 50 Gold Crowns

Black Iron Request

Goblin Ear Collection (Steel Tier)

Reward: 3 Silver Moons per 10 ears

Sophia's finger hovered over a yellowed poster at the board's edge:

Crimson Writ

Seeking: Mage Capable of Third Circle Water Magic

Location: Lake Lysandra Ruins

Reward: "Answers"

Arn's tail twitched. "That reeks of Fae trickery."

"Precisely." She tore down the quest, the paper crackling like autumn leaves in her grip.