After returning from a successful hunt, the guild receptionist hands me a letter.
"What is this?" I ask.
"It's an invitation from the palace. After every flood defense, there is a celebration, and many adventurers are honored for their service. They say the Goddess personally witnesses the event, and those honored will be blessed by her!"
Oh no. "Has anyone ever gotten sick and been unable to attend?"
"Don't be silly! It's the palace! If that did happen, they would carry the person to the celebration and back, and they would be in the care of the palace's healers."
"Right, of course. It's the palace, how could I forget! When does the celebration take place?"
"Tomorrow morning!" The receptionist beams.
After that conversation, I began to notice details I had missed up until now. Within the guild hall, there were busts, portraits, and other works of art dedicated to this goddess. They portray her as a larger-than-life figure; tall, slender but buxom, young but wearing a wizened look, with hair that looks like it was carefully placed one strand at a time. Needless to say, this is the product of exaggeration laid upon exaggeration.
But she does look vaguely familiar. If we reduce her height to something more typical, shrink the chest quite a bit, exchange the lion king's mane for a cute and flattering hairstyle, and slap a somewhat dopey expression on her face...
Oh no. It's her. Irena.