Senna stepped out of the Guild's heavy oak doors and into the late afternoon bustle of the city.
The stone-paved streets were lively—hawkers shouting deals, adventurers boasting about their latest kills, the clatter of horse-drawn carts, and the scent of grilled skewers drifting from food stalls.
Finally. Some peace.
Well, sort of.
Despite the noise around her, it was a different kind of chaos than the one that came with Nyr constantly pushing her buttons.
She wandered past a group of rookie adventurers crowding around a sword vendor, then paused at a tailor's window, eyeing a sleek, dark cloak with silver-thread embroidery.
Too flashy. Would probably tear on the first quest.
Still, she liked the way it shimmered.
She moved on, tail swaying, and dipped into a quiet alley that opened up into a small square where a few kids were playing with a wooden golem toy.
A soft smile tugged at her lips.
Then she caught a whiff of roasted chestnuts.
Alright… maybe I deserve a snack.
She followed her nose to a street cart manned by a stout, bearded man with fireproof gloves. She tossed a silver coin onto the counter.
"One bag," she said.
"Coming right up," he replied with a grin, already scooping hot chestnuts into a cloth pouch.
Senna popped a chestnut into her mouth as she strolled along the street. The warmth was welcome, but—
Too salty.
She chewed slowly. Although tasty, he Definitely overcharged me.
She glanced back briefly at the cart, scowling internally. But she didn't say anything. Not to the vendor, not to anyone.
If Nyr knew I thought that, he'd say I'm stingy.
She rolled her eyes at the imaginary version of him in her head.
Senna: I am not stingy, I'm just little carefull with money.
She popped another chestnut and turned her attention to a shopfront ahead of her.
The display window was lined with elegant coats, cloaks, tunics, and dresses—tailored with both fashion and function in mind. One jacket even had stitched-in rune pockets for quick item access.
Not bad.
The bell chimed softly as she stepped inside.
Cool air and the scent of fresh fabric welcomed her. Bolts of cloth lined the walls, and mannequins displayed various enchanted accessories. A sharply dressed clerk looked up from folding scarves.
"Welcome, miss. Looking for something casual, or… combat-capable elegance?"
Senna eyed a dark crimson overcoat with hidden blade sheaths under the sleeves.
"Just browsing," she said, already walking toward it.
Senna casually browsed through the combat gear, her fingers brushing over reinforced stitching and rune-thread linings.
Everything here screamed practical, deadly, efficient—just the kind of look you'd expect from a B-Rank adventurer.
But then… her gaze drifted.
Past the leather vests.
Past the cloak with hidden throwing knife loops.
And finally… to the corner display—dresses.
Elegant. Flowing. Completely impractical for battle.
Her eyes locked onto one in particular: a soft, twilight-orange dress with gold-accented lacing.
The fabric shimmered subtly under the lighting, and the color—it matched her fiery hair and eyes almost too well.
She glanced around.
No one was watching too closely, right?
Senna stepped forward and gently lifted it from the rack, holding it against herself. She caught her reflection in the mirror across the room… and blinked.
Oh.
She looked breathtaking.
A beat later, the shopkeeper looked up and gasped lightly. "My gods, miss… that color was made for you."
Another woman nearby clapped her hands. "Stunning! If I had that hair, I'd wear that every day!"
Senna stiffened. A blush threatened to climb her cheeks, but she quickly masked it with a shrug.
"Eh. It's alright," she muttered, but didn't put the dress back.
She held the dress up again, catching another glance of herself in the mirror.
If Nyr were here…
He'd definitely make fun of her. Probably call it her "secret princess side" or say she was preparing for a ball thrown by some noble idiot.
But then her smile softened.
Who am I kidding?
"Wow, stunning! Are you trying to seduce the mirror?"
He'd compliment her first. Probably too much. Then follow it up with something ridiculous like,
"Wait—flirting—that's basically my second nature!"
Senna chuckled quietly in her mind, shaking her head. It was stupid… but lately, she'd been thinking about him more and more.
She cleared her throat, folding the dress neatly over her arm as if she hadn't just had a romantic comedy moment in her brain.
"I'll try this one on," she told the shopkeeper.
The woman beamed. "Of course! Changing rooms are to your right, miss."
The dress slid on—well, mostly.
Senna wriggled a bit, trying to guide the snug fabric over her shoulders. It hugged her frame nicely… except when it came to the back and, of course, her tails.
She cursed under her breath.
"Stupid tail hole…"
The dress had none. Most formal clothes weren't made with beastkin in mind unless specially tailored.
Her tails, long and sleek with a fiery tuft at the end, now curled awkwardly up her back like a coiled rope trying to escape confinement.
It wasn't graceful. Not like she wanted to look right now.
Still, as she looked in the mirror—even with the zipper halfway done and her tail doing gymnastics—she couldn't help but admit it:
She looked good.
Beautiful, even. Strong and elegant all at once, the fiery orange of the dress complementing her wild hair and sharp eyes. Her tail flicked out in annoyance, making the hem flutter.
She stepped carefully out of the changing room, holding the dress together.
The shopkeeper looked up—and her eyes widened in delighted shock.
"Oh! Miss, that color sings on you! The fit's almost there… though we'll need to make a few adjustments, especially around the back and—ah yes, of course—the tails."
Senna folded her arms. "Yeah. Most dresses aren't made for this," she said, giving her tails a pointed swish.
The shopkeeper chuckled warmly, already pulling out her measuring tape. "A powerful tail and a powerful figure—what a challenge!
"Don't worry, we'll add a tailored opening with reinforcement stitching. Flexible, clean, elegant."
Senna stood still as the shopkeeper measured, trying not to squirm while her tail flicked reflexively every time the tape brushed it.
"You know," the woman added with a wink,
"some women pay extra just for a dramatic accessory like that."
Shopkeeper instantly regretted what she had said but after hearing senna's words she gave sigh of relief I her mind.
The shopkeeper, however, went pale the moment the sentence left her mouth.
The "authentic tail". It was a twisted industry secret—taken from enslaved. A grim souvenir passed off as fashion.
Senna raised an eyebrow. "You calling my tail an accessory?"
The shopkeeper grinned. "No, dear. I'm calling it glamorous."
That earned a genuine laugh from Senna.
"…Keep the dress under my name," she said. "And make sure the tail opening doesn't itch."
The shopkeeper hesitated. Then let out the softest breath of relief.
"height…173cm. Bust… 92. Waist… 62. Hips… 93…."
As the shopkeeper jotted down the final measurements, she suddenly paused, her eyes lighting up with inspiration.
"Oh! Wait right there, miss." She walked around Senna and gestured toward the back wall of the shop, where a small but elegant display stood behind glass.
"Have you ever considered accessorizing your tail?"
Senna blinked. "My… what?"
The woman beckoned her over. "Tail accessories! Enchanted silk wraps, chain-links with charms, gem-studded clips. Mostly for beastkin ladies who want to add a little extra flair. Some even double as hidden weapon holders or magic foci."
Senna approached the display cautiously. Her tail twitched behind her, almost shyly, like it knew it was the center of attention.
Inside the case, delicate items shimmered—braided leather bands laced with silver, jeweled clasps, and soft wraps dyed in brilliant hues. One even had a tiny crystal lantern that pulsed with soft light.
Senna raised an eyebrow. "These things… don't get in the way?"
The shopkeeper smiled. "Not if they're chosen right. Here—" she unlocked the case and carefully pulled out a copper-and-orange wrap that matched Senna's eyes perfectly. "Try this. Just a bit of wrap at the base with a charm ring near the tip. Subtle but striking."
Senna took it, eyeing it skeptically. Still… she crouched slightly and began wrapping it around the base of her tail. The charm at the end clicked gently into place.
She stood, tail swaying behind her.
The effect was subtle—but gorgeous. The charm caught the light, and the copper tones gave her tail a wild, polished look. Like something feral that had learned how to walk through noble halls without bowing to anyone.
Senna stared at her reflection again. This time, she didn't smirk or sigh.
She just nodded, slowly. "Yeah. That's… kind of cool."
The shopkeeper beamed. "It's yours, half-off if you get the dress too."
Senna sighed. "You're good at this."
"Darling, I sell magic and ego management for a living."