After nearly an hour-long walk, Lyra, Reina and the Bright Sun party arrived at the Cat-Tribe's Adventurer's Guild Branch HQ, which was a large wooden building near the center of Helos city. As they walked, they had drawn a few looks their way, but overall the people here seemed more used to "Exotic" creatures like humans and elves, so it was nowhere near as bad as it had been back in the Revean Empire. There wasn't just cat-people out and about either, that Lyra noticed, though the ones with cat ears and tails were certainly a majority. However, she also spotted a few people with different features, like a couple that had orange pointy ears and and orange tails, fox-people, and also a very burly and hairy man with round fluffy ears, so bear-people.
Regardless, they were not ready to go sightseeing just yet, after all, and so they headed into the guild, and made their way towards the reception area. Kelly the Archer had been here once before so she took the lead, but it really wasn't all that necessary as the interior of this place had the same layout as the HQ back at the Capital City of the Revean Kingdom did, which was likely intentional. Adventurers should feel at home in any HQ they were in, so having the same layout and system in every branch across the world was likely intentional.
Together, they headed up to the Reception area, but then the Bright Sun company took their leave, as they had something else to do in the city during the forenoon. Lyra was the mission lead, so she could hand in the mission by herself, after all, and the Bright Sun would get their own completion reward deposited right away into their guild account. Lyra and Reina would see the five-man-team later today anyhow as they were all staying at Karnir's mansion, so they'd definitely meet up for dinner later.
-"Hello, we'd like to hand in our quest." Lyra said as she and Reina came up to the receptionist, which was a cat-woman with bright blonde hair, though her ears and tail were black, which made Lyra suspect the hair was actually dyed.
"Of course. May I see the papers?" the woman asked, smiling politely. So Lyra provided the woman with the initial quest papers, and then the letter from Karnir which stated that the mission had been a resounding success.
"Very good, let me just process thes-" the receptionist began, before there was a sudden disturbance at the entrance. Lyra watched as a tall man with a muscular build, light purple skin, pointy ears and silvery eyes entered the HQ, accompanied by a handful of cat-women who clung to him as if he was a celebrity. Lyra quickly realized, that this man must be an elf! Though based on the color of his skin, a dark-elf. She also realized the receptionist was looking at the elven man with the same dreamy expression as the other girls.
Lyra could understand the reaction, somewhat. He was undoubtedly a very handsome man. Tall, muscular but still lean and elegant, sharp and defined facial features, and silvery hair which went well with his silvery eyes. He also wore rather revealing fur clothing, showing off his strong legs, his six packs, his broad chest and arms. No doubt intentional.
-"Who's that?" Lyra asked, and the receptionist looked almost offended. She pushed her chest out slightly, before she said:
"That's Arandir, the only S-rank adventurer here in the Cat-Tribe territory. The strongest and most handsome man, by far..."
Another nearby adventurer, a cat-man with brown-hair, who had been busy dealing with his own receptionist, leaned in and said:
"You must be new here. Arandir is very famous. Has quite the "Posse" of women following him every where he goes. If they are lucky, he might take them with him into a dungeon just so he can show off..."
-"Sounds bothersome..." Lyra said, and was just about to turn, when the Dark Elf suddenly caught glimpse of her, and he froze right in his tracks. She looked at him, and he looked at her, for a few long seconds where nothing happened. Then, as if possessed, Arandir quickly made his way over, heading straight for Lyra.
-"Oh dear..." Lyra said, as Reina tentatively stepped in protectively in front of her master. But it was not protection Lyra needed, as Arandir quickly took a knee in front of Lyra, and looked up at her with that stupidly handsome face, eyes shining with devotion!
"Has the Moon Goddess herself descended upon these lands? I find myself in awe, lost in your ethereal beauty, as I humbly greet you, your Highness." the elven man said loudly, and all of the cat-women who had followed him were left gaping, staring at him, and then glaring at Lyra. Great... more cat-fights, Lyra thought quietly to herself.
-"You can rise, Arandir. Also I am no Highness." Lyra said simply, yet the Dark Elf would not budge, still on his knees before her.
"May I at the very least kiss your feet, your Highness?" The Dark Elf said, yet he did not move, not without her express permission. Reina looked absolutely horrified, though she was also conflicted. Finally here was someone who also saw the greatness of her master, which was good, but at the same time he was being too much! The others in the HQ, the cat-women posse in particular, looked just baffled, and upset.
-"I... guess?" Lyra said, sounding unsure. The Dark Elf however just lowered himself further, before placing a kiss over each of Lyra's feet, his lips touching her skin through the opening in the sandals she wore. As Arandir did this, Lyra could feel the hostile gaze from behind, like daggers boring into the back of her skull, no doubt the receptionist. Must be very upsetting to have your idol suddenly at the feet of another woman.
"Thank you, your Highness!" Arandir then said and rose to his feet, bowing deeply and flashing the most suave, charming smile imaginable her way.
-"I really am not a "Highness" though, Arandir. I am Lyra Lunarsong." Lyra said, dipping her head slightly.
"Of course you are a Highness, your Highness. What else could you possibly be, you are a High-Elf! The noblest of all elves! There is no elf alive today higher than you!" Arandir said, shocked. He continued: "Where do you think the word "Highness" is even derived from, if not from "High-Elf", your Highness?"
Lyra sighed and shook her head. Was this how meeting any elf was going to be, moving forward? And how did he even know she was a High Elf?
-"How did you know I was a High Elf?" she asked him, trying to not mind the clear and increasing hostility from all the cat-women nearby.
"Ah, there is a certain glow around you, which I cannot properly explain. I knew however instantly, the moment I laid eyes upon you, that you were a High Elf, your Highness. My grandmother once also beheld a High Elf, and she told me if I ever met one, I would know right away, and I see now that she was right."
-"I see..." Lyra said, shaking her head gently. Great, just great.
"Your Highness, please, let me serve you for the rest of my life! I am happy to guide you to Nav'ilya, my homeland, where I am certain you will be made Queen upon the very moment of your arrival, your Highness!"
-"Honored as I am by your offer, I am currently traveling. I may visit your homeland later, but it is not a priority for me right now. I also have a very exceptional servant already." Lyra said, and looked at Reina, who breathed out a sigh of relief. She had been worried.
"I understand... then I shall eagerly await your arrival, at the entrance to my fair homeland, your Highness. I do not care if I have to wait for decades, just to be your guide." Arandir said, and reached out to take Lyra's hand, and gently kissed the back of it as he bowed down deeply.
-"As you wish..." Lyra said, a bit weirded out, but hey, he was handsome and crazily devoted, so that made things a bit better. After that, Arandir took his leave, quite promptly, and his posse of cat-women followed though he no longer paid them any mind at all. Eventually, Lyra turned back to face the receptionist, and caught the woman's glare. Jealousy, envy, anger. All emotions present in her gaze.
-"So, the quest-" Lyra began, but was sharply interrupted by the receptionist who cut her off.
"No. Absolutely not. Get out." the receptionist said.
-"What? Why? I am here to hand in the quest-"
"I don't care. You are disturbing the peace, and being obscene! These are grounds to have you removed..." the receptionist said, once again cutting Lyra off, glaring daggers at her. Seems this one could not keep things professional, and was taking out her anger on Lyra and Reina.
"Are you insane? Master did not cause any scenes, Arandir did! If you have an issue with obscenities, take it out on him!" Reina now shouted at the receptionist. But she would not budge, and instead doubled down.
"Now you are raising your voice as well? That's it. You are both banned from this Guild Branch effective immediately! Get lost, and do not come back. If you do not comply, we will expel you by force!" the receptionist said, and everyone else watched in shock.
"I'd like to see you try..." Reina began, growling low. But Lyra stopped her, holding out a hand.
-"Come then, Reina, lets go." Lyra said, and Reina looked at her in disbelief.
"Why are you just taking this massive injustice, Master?!" she protested, but still followed Lyra as the High Elf moved towards the door.
-"Because it is pointless. We do not need the guild, nor do we need a high rank. Besides I do not want to cause issues for Bright Sun. They can hand in the papers tomorrow, we still get our reward, and the quest is cleared." Lyra answered, trying to be the bigger person, but frankly she too was upset. Neither she nor Reina had done anything wrong. The receptionist was just being petty and vindictive for stupid reasons, unable to remain professional.
"But that woman should be punished! She wronged us! Wronged you, master..." Reina complained as they exited the guild HQ.
-"She probably will be, in the end. I admit, I am upset, but I do not want to drag more people into this mess, and frankly the mission reward is not that important right now." Lyra said, sighing, rubbing her temples.
"But still..." Reina grumbled and kicked a pebble down the road. Lyra smiled faintly, and moved to ruffle her hair.
-"Thank you, for being upset on my behalf. It made me happy you stood up for me. But lets leave it here, and go enjoy ourselves instead. I hear they have lots of meat around these parts, not just from cows and pigs." Lyra said, trying to appease her very upset dragon. And the offer of meat was a very safe bet. Immediately Reina brightened up, and together, they hit the town, looking for any vendors or stalls that sold exotic grilled meats and BBQ.
Little did they know however, that this was not the end of the troubles did this jealous receptionist would cause for them...