A Zoologist’s Guide to Surviving Magical Creatures

"Why is Hestia a prisoner of war? She didn't start it in the first place!" I asked, utterly shocked by the revelation.

Both Agnos and Jiuge exchanged hesitant glances. It was clear they weren't eager to explain, but Jiuge eventually broke the silence.

"The Mistress—Hestia—surrendered herself," she said quietly. "After Kaleon fell into eternal slumber and bound himself in the coffin within the Lake of Tears, she decided to ease Kaleon's guilt by giving herself up."

"That doesn't make any sense," I said, my voice rising. "Why surrender? The war was over."

"That's where you're wrong, Carl," Agnos interjected. He flipped his long purple hair—unconsciously, I think—before adding, "There are those who continue the war, exploiting it even after Kaleon chose to sleep."

I frowned, still not fully grasping it.

"What do you mean, exploiting it?"

Jiuge elaborated, her tone heavy with frustration. "Some people used Kaleon and Hestia's misfortune for their own ends. They didn't want peace. They twisted Kaleon's sacrifice and Hestia's name into justifications for chaos. Some claimed it was Hestia's wish, or Kaleon's undying love—blah, blah, blah."

Agnos sighed, the sound thick with disdain.

"Some were fervent supporters of Kaleon. Others just wanted to stir trouble for power or greed. It's a mess of opportunists and fanatics."

I rubbed my temple. The answer was right there, just out of reach. Something about this whole situation wasn't adding up. Kaleon unified Mythica. He left a power vacuum. No one has taken his place.

…Wait.

My breath caught. Holy crap.

"Oh. Oh, no." I turned to Agnos, the pieces finally clicking. "You're telling me someone wants to keep Mythica in chaos so they can swoop in and play hero. If they reunite the realm, they get to take Kaleon's place."

Agnos grinned, swirling his tea. "Glad to see those gears turning, genius."

"But Hestia could've stopped it!" I argued. "She didn't need to surrender—she could've taken charge and ended the war herself. Instead, they locked her up so she couldn't interfere!"

Agnos shrugged, sipping his tea like this was just another day for him. "Congratulations. You've uncovered the obvious conspiracy. Shall we throw you a party?"

"Hold on," I said, narrowing my eyes. "Something doesn't add up. You told me Mythica's leylines are powered by Kaleon's essence. Doesn't that mean, technically, he still controls Mythica? The war destroyed one realm, sure, but Mythica is still intact. And no one can access the core. So who's really pulling the strings?"

Agnos paused mid-sip and then smirked. "And here I thought you had some intelligence. Never mind." He sauntered off to refill his tea.

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" I yelled, glaring at his back.

Jiuge sighed, shaking her head with a look of pity. "Carl… who do you think controls the leylines?"

"Kaleon, obviously! His core—" I froze as the pieces finally clicked together. "The Unknown Gods of the leylines… You're saying whoever controls you guys can control Mythica?"

Agnos's smirk widened. Jiuge's smile turned cold. Their auras shifted, becoming almost suffocating. Sparks of purple and pink energy crackled in the air around them.

"Control the Unknown Gods?" Agnos scoffed. "In their dreams."

Jiuge sneered. "We're not some puppets to be controlled by just anyone. They can try, but all they've managed is locking us up."

I stared at Agnos, realization dawning. "Wait, that's why they imprisoned you. They wanted to control your leyline and failed. But how are you walking around freely if people know what you are? Shouldn't they be trying to hunt you down?"

Jiuge cut in, arms crossed. "Good question. Agnos, care to explain? You're supposed to be one of the toughest and most elusive of the Unknown Gods. How did you get caught in the first place?"

Agnos? One of the most formidable gods? No wonder Dr. Philippe and Fiona were terrified of him—his fearsome reputation clearly precedes him.

Agnos froze mid-sip, and to my shock, he looked… embarrassed.

"I'd rather not talk about it," he muttered.

Jiuge raised an eyebrow. "Oh? That's suspicious. Spill, cat. What happened?"

After several rounds of pestering—and some rather creative threats from Jiuge—Agnos finally caved. "I heard you'd been captured. You were missing. I… acted impulsively."

Jiuge froze, her cheeks suddenly flushing pink.

I couldn't help but grin. "Wait a second. You got caught because you were trying to rescue her?"

"Yes!" they both snapped, glaring at me in unison.

I raised my hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay! Sheesh, no need for the tense divorced couple drama. Although… you two do have chemistry."

"The kind that destroys worlds?" Jiuge snarked.

"Wow," I said with a smirk. "For someone who hates Agnos, you sure sound like him."

"Say another word," she warned, pink lightning crackling in her hands, "and I'll fry you."

Agnos sighed. "Enough, Jiuge. We have more pressing issues. Carl, after everything you've heard, do you have a plan?"

I took a deep breath, my mind racing. The tangled web of this conspiracy (and damn, Dr. Philippe was right all along) begins to make sense.

Kaleon's slumber, Hestia's imprisonment, the conspiracy, the missing leylines, Jiuge's mission to the Lake of Tears, and Leyline's connection to the core…

Then it hit me.

"Wait. I think I have a solution!" I exclaimed. "But first, I need to meet someone."

Agnos and Jiuge both raised their eyebrows, their expressions a mix of suspicion and intrigue.

"Meet someone?" Agnos leaned back in his chair, swirling his tea like a wine connoisseur who didn't trust the vineyard. "Care to elaborate, or are you planning to leave us hanging?"

Jiuge rolled her eyes but added, "You better not be wasting our time, Carl. We're kind of in the middle of unraveling the biggest conspiracy in Mythica here."

I scratched the back of my head, trying to organize my thoughts. "Well, it's a bit of a gamble, but hear me out. What if I met with Hestia? I mean, directly. Not some second-hand account or misinterpreted decree. We talk to her. Face-to-face."

The room went silent. Agnos froze mid-sip, and Jiuge's pink lightning crackled faintly around her fingers like she was about to zap me on principle.