A Zoologist’s Guide to Surviving Magical Creatures

"Waiting for me?" I blinked, a bit confused.

"Of course," Fenrir said, leaning back in his chair with a smirk. "I've always known you're the one who holds the core's fragment."

I raised an eyebrow. "You knew?"

"Yeah, of course. I'm a wolf god, Carl. You forget, I have a keen sense of smell. And you, my friend, smell like Kaleon."

I blinked at him, completely thrown off. "Smell like Kaleon?" I glanced down at myself like I was suddenly covered in wolf pheromones or something. "What does that even mean?"

Fenrir chuckled at my reaction. "It's not literal, Carl. But as a wolf god, I can sense Kaleon's essence. It's kinda like his 'signature scent' that clings to you. You've got the Kaleon brand, if you will."

"Well, great," I muttered. "Now I'm the walking, talking Kaleon air freshener."

Fenrir laughed outright at that, clearly amused by my confusion. "Exactly." He leaned forward, his smirk never faltering. "Now, let's get down to business. Kaleon sent his message, and I'm here to honor the pact. You need protection, and I'm here to provide it."

"Protection?" I blinked, trying to process this whole situation. "I thought you were just... here to help out. Not play bodyguard."

"Same difference," Fenrir replied with a nonchalant shrug. "I'm to protect Mythica, and the one who holds the core's fragment. That's you, by the way."

I sighed, feeling the weight of it all. "So, you're really my... bodyguard?"

He grinned like he found this whole thing hilarious. "Looks like it, Carl. Don't worry, I'll keep things interesting. Just remember, no more reckless stunts, alright? I'm not babysitting you."

I stared at him. "Reckless stunts? I don't do reckless stunts!"

"Carl." Fenrir raised an eyebrow. "You're holding the core's fragment. You are a reckless stunt waiting to happen."

"Great," I grumbled. "I get a bodyguard, and it's you."

Fenrir's grin widened, clearly enjoying this. "You're lucky, Carl. Not everyone gets to be under my protection. I don't offer this kind of service for just anyone."

I sighed, still feeling like I was in way over my head. "Alright, fine. So, what now?"

Fenrir leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "Now we play it by ear. Just remember, I'm watching. You make a wrong move, I'm here. You need backup, I'm there. But don't go getting yourself into any more trouble than necessary. Got it?"

"Got it," I said, though I wasn't exactly reassured. I had a feeling I'd be calling him for help more often than he'd like.

Fenrir leaned back, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Good. Now, go ahead and grab that coffee." He snapped his fingers, and a fresh cup appeared in front of me. "I expect we'll have a lot of talks ahead, Carl."

As I took a sip, I realized one thing for sure: my life in Mythica had just gotten a lot more complicated.

"So how exactly are you supposed to protect me? And Kaleon said you knew the whereabouts of the Space-time leyline," I asked, trying to make sense of the situation.

Fenrir, holding a coffee mug in one hand and leaning casually against his massive oak desk, took a slow sip of his coffee, eyeing me with a grin that was way too amused for my comfort.

"Well, that's a bit complicated. You see, the location of the Space-time leyline is 'hidden,' but it's not entirely hidden... per se."

I stared at him, utterly baffled. "Not hidden, but hidden? What does that even mean? Is this some kind of riddle?"

Fenrir's grin widened, clearly enjoying my confusion. He leaned back and set his mug down with a flourish, as if preparing for a dramatic reveal. "I heard you wanted to meet Hestia, at the Eternal Prison."

I froze. My frown deepened as I processed that. "Wait, what? How do you—?"

Fenrir chuckled at my reaction, clearly relishing the moment. "Ah, you're wondering how I know. Word travels fast in Mythica. You'd be surprised what you can learn when you've got... certain contacts."

I blinked. "Contacts? What, are you secretly running a spy network now? I thought you were just a wolf god turned entrepreneur, not some mastermind behind a global intel operation."

Fenrir just gave me a sly smile, as though my confusion was the most entertaining thing he'd seen all week. "Let's just say I know things. And right now, what I know is that you've got some big plans. Meeting Hestia? That's... ambitious."

I couldn't help but narrow my eyes. "I'm guessing you've got a reason for bringing it up, huh?"

"Always," Fenrir said smoothly. "But before we get into that, you might want to reconsider the idea of meeting Hestia. It's not the right time."

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Great. Another obstacle in my already chaotic life."

Fenrir's grin didn't fade. "Don't worry, I'm here now. Just don't go doing anything stupid, and I'll protect you from all the really bad ideas. First, I've got to make sure you're not walking into danger, which... let's face it, Carl, you have a bit of a habit of doing just that."

I shot him a look. "I don't habitually walk into danger!"

Fenrir gave me a look that said otherwise. "Well, you're right. It's not a habit but more like you're attracting them. And when I say this, I say it out of my concern for your safety."

I sighed, rubbing my temples. Just when I thought things couldn't get any more complicated, Fenrir decided to drop a bombshell. Something I definitely didn't expect.

"Do you know why the Eternal Prison is named like that?" he asked, casually leaning back in his chair.

I frowned, already sensing that I was about to be tested again. "Why are you trivia-ing me right now? Is this some kind of... test? Am I supposed to prove I'm worthy of your protection or something?"

Fenrir just shrugged, taking another sip of his coffee like he didn't have a care in the world. He was a master of making everything sound like it was a game.

I thought for a moment, trying to piece things together. "Is it because time doesn't flow—" The instant I said that, a lightbulb flickered on in my head. I looked up at Fenrir, realization dawning. "The space-time leyline... the hidden realm is in the Eternal Prison!"