A Zoologist’s Guide to Surviving Magical Creatures

"You want to meet Hestia?" Jiuge's tone was incredulous, laced with a hefty dose of sarcasm. "Sure, let's just waltz into the Eternal Prison, knock on her cell, and ask if she has time for tea."

Agnos chuckled darkly. "You don't just 'meet' Hestia, Carl. It's not like she's lounging around waiting for visitors. The Eternal Prison isn't exactly an open house. And no visitors allowed remember?"

I frowned, crossing my arms. "Yeah, but you two are, what, elemental powerhouses? Gods of the leylines? If anyone can figure out how to get me in there, it's you two."

"Flattery will get you nowhere," Agnos said, though his smirk suggested otherwise.

Jiuge paced, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. "Even if we could sneak you in, it's beyond risky. The Eternal Prison isn't just some fortress; it's an artifact of war. It's enchanted to suppress divine power. Even we'd be vulnerable inside."

"And you think I wouldn't be vulnerable?" I shot back, feeling a little defensive.

"Oh, no," Agnos said with mock sincerity, "you'd definitely die. Horribly, I might add. But, hey, points for enthusiasm."

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Okay, so it's dangerous. I get that. But if Hestia's the key to stopping all of this, don't we owe it to Mythica to try?"

Jiuge stopped pacing, her gaze softening for just a moment. "You're serious about this, aren't you?"

I nodded. "Look, I know I'm just a nobody from another world who stumbled into this mess, but if there's even a chance that talking to Hestia can help, isn't it worth the risk?"

Agnos sighed, setting his teacup down with a deliberate clink. "You've got guts, Carl. Stupidity, too, but guts nonetheless."

Jiuge crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. "If we're doing this, we'll need a plan. A damn good one."

"Great!" I said, already feeling the adrenaline kick in. "So, where do we start?"

Agnos exchanged a look with Jiuge, and for once, they seemed to be on the same page.

"First," Jiuge said, "you're going to need an audience with someone who can even get us close to the Eternal Prison. Someone with connections... and leverage."

"And who might that be?" I asked hesitantly.

"You need to meet with one of The Council," Jiuge said, her tone deadly serious.

I blinked. "Wait, another council? How many councils does Mythica have? This isn't just a bunch of mystical god bureaucrats, right? I mean, it's not some sort of secret underground organization or—"

Jiuge cut me off, looking at me like I'd just grown a second head. "No, Carl. It's not a cult, nor is it a shadowy, mystical cabal of ancient deities trying to overthrow the realm in some dramatic fashion. It's… this one is the ruling council body of Mythica."

"Well, that's a letdown," I muttered under my breath. "Sounds like they're more into paperwork than world domination."

Agnos snorted, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Believe me, if they were, it'd be much more efficient. Paperwork is a hobby, Carl. Smiting is their actual business."

"Wait, wait…" I rubbed my temples, trying to wrap my head around this. "So, are they like a formal, magical government? Like a council of political, all-powerful gods?"

Jiuge sighed. "Yes. They enforce the balance of creation, make sure realms and ecosystems work in harmony, and keep Mythica from falling apart."

"Well, that's reassuring," I said, though I was still unconvinced. "But I still think it sounds like some sort of underground organization, you know? Like The Council meets in secret, somewhere deep underground, plotting the fate of worlds in dimly lit rooms with candles and long, flowy cloaks."

Jiuge shot me a tired look. "What in Mythica are you rambling about?" She then turned to Agnos, who was casually sipping his tea, completely unfazed. "Where did you even find this guy? He's... annoying."

"Well, he has a tendency to let his imagination run wild," Agnos said, a sly smile tugging at his lips, his golden eyes glinting with mischief. He took another leisurely sip of his tea, thoroughly enjoying the exasperated look on Jiuge's face.

I held up my hands defensively. "Hey, I'm just saying, it's giving me some serious Harry Potter vibes."

Both Jiuge and Agnos froze, their expressions puzzled.

"What?" Agnos asked, clearly lost.

"Harry Potter," I repeated, though it was becoming increasingly obvious they had no idea what I was talking about.

"You know, the Harry Potter. The kid with a lightning-shaped scar who goes to a magical school and discovers he's the chosen one to defeat the dark wizard who's been trying to take over the world. He has friends, epic battles, and, like, a whole secret magical world under his nose."

Silence filled the air as I looked at them expectantly, waiting for the realization to hit.

Jiuge blinked, then glanced at Agnos, who just stared at me blankly.

"...So, it's about a boy with a lightning-shaped scar?" Agnos asked slowly.

"Yeah! Exactly!" I said, a little too enthusiastically. "And there's a whole secret society with wizards and magical creatures and—"

Agnos's face remained completely deadpan.

Jiuge simply raised an eyebrow. "A boy with a scar… and a secret magical world…?"

I grinned, feeling the triumph of finally explaining something. "Yes! That's the vibe The Council's giving me! It's like—secret society, magical politics, big battles… maybe not the boy with the scar, but you get the idea."

There was a long pause before Jiuge sighed dramatically. "Carl, that sounds nothing at all like The Council of Mythica."

"Seriously," Agnos added, lifting his teacup again, this time in a mock salute. "I can't wait to meet this 'Harry Potter' character. I'm sure he's as famous as you say he is."

I blinked. "You've never heard of Harry Potter?"

"No." They both answered in unison, their deadpan tones making it clear they were not remotely impressed.

"Well, he would have understood," I muttered, slumping in my chair. "Next time, I'll just keep my weird references to myself."

Jiuge sighed, rubbing her temples as if I were the bane of her existence. "Carl, for once, could you take this seriously? The Council is no joke."

Agnos, lounging nearby with an air of perpetual superiority, snorted. "You wouldn't last two seconds in their presence. They'd probably turn you into a garden gnome just for breathing too loud."

"Not helping, Agnos," I shot back, before turning to Jiuge. "Fine, fine. From what I wager, they're must be some kind of divine committee, right?"

"More like the backbone of Mythica's entire existence now," Jiuge explained, folding her arms.

"The Council was formed by Kaleon's decision to right his wrongs and help maintain the balance in Mythica. They're all gods and deities tied to the Creation Element, and it's their job to keep Mythica running smoothly. They shape the laws, balance the realms, and oversee the ecosystems, making sure everything stays in order."

"So... celestial middle managers?" I offered.

"More like the CEOs of existence," Jiuge corrected, though her lips twitched as if she was trying not to laugh.

"They're the reason this world doesn't fall apart at the seams, at least. They oversee everything—elemental forces, species relationships, ecosystems. Without them, Mythica would descend into chaos."

Agnos cut in with a smirk. "And yet, despite all their cosmic brilliance, they still argue over the placement of a single leyline like it's an office coffee pot."

Jiuge rolled her eyes but didn't deny it. "The Council governs through policies, balancing creation, culture, and even technology. They're the ones who decide how the fabric of Mythica functions."

"So… basically, they're mythological bureaucrats," I said, earning myself a sharp glare from Jiuge.

"Think of them as a mechanism regulating Mythica's cosmic order," she continued, ignoring me. "They're revered and feared for a reason. One wrong move, and you could find yourself erased from existence or worse."

"Worse than erased?" I gulped. "What's worse than erased?"

"Having to listen to Agnos talk for eternity," Jiuge quipped, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Agnos, unbothered, raised his teacup in a mock toast. "Ah, the sweet sound of your jealousy."

I groaned, rubbing my face. "Okay, okay, I get it. Big, scary Council, vital to the world, don't mess with them. But why do I need to meet with them? Can't you, I don't know, put in a good word for me?"

"Because you're the one who wants to meet Hestia," Jiuge pointed out. "And if you want to enter Eternal Prison, you'll need their approval—or at least Viracocha's."

"Viracocha?" I asked, my voice cracking slightly. "The creator god of the Inca realm?"

"Correct," Agnos said, his smirk widening. "And I, for one, can't wait to see you groveling at his feet."

"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence," I muttered, already dreading what lay ahead.