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I broke into a cold sweat. The entrance to the city was bustling and so crowded. I can just feel my body's strength seep away… Ugh, I never was good with crowds, they always make me feel dizzy too…

“Are you okay Cas?” meowed Asmo. I closed my eyes and held my head with my hand as I took a deep breath.

“Y-Yeah just… a little overwhelmed.” I looked back at Asmo as he was wearing concern in his glitter-like void amber eyes. “Let’s get to the inn.”

“Don’t push yourself,” he advised as he bopped his head into mine. I give him a scratch on his neck as we make our way to the inn.

Walking into the city finally, there wasn’t any trouble luckily, we found ourselves in awe.

“This must be a bazaar!” Asmo exclaimed. “Such an obvious tourist trap right at the entrance haha!”

“Once we’re settled in maybe we’ll go take a look,” as we walk through the lantern-lit district, my anxiety dies down “Gotta say the food stands smell so good too~!”

“Let’s get to the inn… all that metamorphosis we went through, I’d say we deserve some food!” he meowed in excitement.

“I think it’s over there” I spotted its sign from a distance and noticed. “Oh look, it’s also the adventurer’s guild!”

“Two birds, one stone.”

Pushing both heavy thick wooden doors open, Asmo and I take a look inside the Guild, the ground floor it seemed, with the reception in the centre of the hall, a bar to the left with plenty of seats and tables… a spacious hall. Stairs to the rooms for the inn. It was really impressive and grand.

I walked up to reception with glee on my face, I mustered up the courage to speak to the pretty uniformed lady, with a beret over her silky pink hair and a cute bow on her neck.

“Hi…” I said quietly “I’d like a room for the night…” She looked at me with empathy as she smiled

“Yep, right away, it’ll be 15 Vils!” She browsed some papers at her desk, and then some jingling could be heard before it got drowned by drunk laughing from the bar. “Is there anything else?”

“-ah! Right, I’d like to join the Adventurer’s Guild, but I’m pretty new to how it works-” I got cut off before I could explain as I heard a thud of a mug get slammed on a table.

“Adventurer?” Said a nasty groaning voice “Zihazihahha! You hear that, men?!” tables around joined in on the laughter.

“Oi, Kevin, that’s not nice ghahaha.” I turned around slowly, my legs were shaking slightly. Asmo purring in my ear.

“ No no no, as a professional in the field, hyuk–!” clearly drunk, I watched the man they called Kevin stand up from his chair, from the 5-metre distance I could tell he was all muscle and strength. He slowly walked over to me, making the floor tremble with each step. “I gotta make sure- that kids stay back behind their mums! Zihazihaha”

“Mr Rome, that’s no way to talk to–” the kind receptionist tried to calm the fire but-

“Huh!? I’m doing you a favour here!” he was right in front of me, stinking of booze, I was scared, yet I couldn’t help but glare up at him in protest. “Hmmn? What’s with that look, brat? Don’t you know how to respect seniors? Zihazihahah!” Asmo climbed down my back- “See? Even your stupid cat has more sense than you zihahaha!”

“Don’t…” I muttered. Holding back tears, my emotions get the better of me

“Huuh? What's that? Can’t hear you, brat!?”

“Don’t call Asmo that, you bastard!”

“Zihahaha! What a hoot!” he reached for the club on his back, and all I could do was stare him down “Gotta put you in your place, kid, and heh- with that pretty face of yours maybe more–” he swung his arm and prepared to be hit I close my eyes. Instead, I hear his scratchy scream. Quickly I open my eyes and I hear a ferocious growl. In front of me a large, fluffy and ferocious charcoal jaguar.

“Where the hell did this beast come from, ghaa!” in agony Kevin screamed as the jaguar-like beast let him go.

“Asmo!?” the big cat looked at me and smiled, I felt relief, so proud and so in shock, Asmo can change his size? And he’s so strong!? Before I could loop again Asmo interrupts.

“Cas… stay behind me,” he meowed, and quickly I kept close to him as we watched the drunkard.

“You stupid cat–!” he stood on one knee as he tried to swing again “You’ll pay for thi-”

“Enough!” exclaimed a strong and demanding voice, but too late because Kevin’s club was almost- stopped? 

Out of nowhere another tall… whoa… uh guy, was in front of me and Asmo, only seeing his back, we peek around his toned body - to see him hold down Kevin’s attack and then kick him into the floor to knock him out. “I thought I told you already, stop picking on newbies!” he turns to the other people in the hall “Same goes for you all!” I watch Asmo turn back to his normal size, and then glance at the dude as he approaches me.

“Um…”

“You okay? Are you hurt?” He gives me his hand to help me up… oh boy… I hold his firm palm as his big hand gently helps me stand up, Asmo climbs over my shoulder, and I observe this guy, I look up at him. Noticing his sleeveless tunic as I do.

“Oh-! I- I’m fine…” I quickly take my eyes away from him but as I do that he lowers his head and takes a long look at my face. Flustered, I look back at his stubbled face, with fiery eyes, and a bandana keeping his dark hair back. Ugh how long is this dude gonna stare at me… the more I stare at him the more details I notice about him, pierced ears… a mole on the nose. Suddenly he stands back up.

“Good! No scratches or anything!” He exhales and chuckles “Sorry about this, people can get rowdy around here.”

“Uh? Oh yeah, it's… it's all good.” I stuttered “Thanks uh dor helping me out, I’m new around town…”

“Oh! Hey, no problem haha.” he leaned over the reception counter “I’m Miles, Miles Knight!” he introduced himself as he gave the receptionist some coins “This is for the repairs, Nio… tell the boss I’m sorry.”

“Um, I’m Casper Cromwell.” scratching Asmo’s neck, “And this is my cat, Asmodeus”

“Aw, Well nice to meet you!” he chuckled “Such a cute name suits such a pretty boy, hehe~!”

“Oh, my~” meowed Asmo. I blush in surprise as I feel my face warm up.

“W-What!? Wh- huh?!” stuttering, I’m left speechless, by a handsome tall boy I met not even for a full minute.