A Zoologist’s Guide to Surviving Magical Creatures

Fenrir's grin widened. "Bingo!" He slapped his hands together in mock applause. "I knew you had it in you."

I blinked, still processing what just happened. "Wait, so the hidden space-time leyline... is in the Eternal Prison? That place is actually connected to it?"

He nodded, leaning forward with that damnable CEO-like confidence.

"Exactly. The Eternal Prison is more than just a holding cell—it's a time anomaly, a central link. Think of it as a kind of... well, a rift in space and time, where the leyline's power is... sealed, for lack of a better word. It's not just a prison for souls; it's a prison for time itself."

Something felt off. If the hidden leyline really was in the Eternal Prison, why couldn't I enter the place? With Kaleon's will and essence, it should be fine, right? After all, the leylines themselves originated from Kaleon's essence. It just didn't add up.

"Then if the space-time leyline is in the Eternal Prison," I began, crossing my arms skeptically, "why did Viracocha say my presence would cause destruction?"

Fenrir chuckled, setting his mug down. "Because your mere existence would wake up the guardian."

"The guardian?" My stomach sank. I could already tell I wasn't going to like this explanation.

"Yup." Fenrir leaned back with an easy grin. "The guardian has a bit of a temper. You see, it's got a strong attachment to Hestia. And let's just say it's not exactly Kaleon's biggest fan. It blames him for abandoning Mythica, slipping into his eternal slumber, and, most importantly, making Hestia cry."

I froze. "Y-you mean if I entered, the guardian would… attack me?"

"Oh, absolutely," Fenrir said, nodding like he was discussing the weather. "It'd come at you like you owed it money."

I felt the blood drain from my face. "Well, that's... horrifying."

Fenrir smirked. "That's why it's best you don't meet with Hestia. Not yet, anyway."

"But Kaleon wants me to find the hidden leyline!" I protested. "We need to restore balance to Mythica. If we don't, the whole realm—everything in it—could collapse!"

"One step at a time, Carl," Fenrir said, raising a hand to calm me down. "The hidden leyline is the last piece of the puzzle. Besides, the space-time leyline is still intact. You should focus on the other leylines first—those are the ones in trouble. There are forces out there trying to gain control over them."

I frowned, puzzled. "What do you mean? The fragments of the leylines? But no creature can absorb their power."

Fenrir gave me a sly grin. "Who said absorbing fragments is the only way to control the leylines?"

I tilted my head. "Isn't it?"

He shook his head, the smirk on his face growing wider with an air of amusement. "You're oversimplifying things, kid," he said, his tone dripping with patient condescension.

"Fragments aren't some casual trinkets you can just stumble across. They're hard to obtain for a reason—by design, even."

He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping as if sharing a secret. "Most Unknown Gods don't even bother fragmenting their powers. That kind of drastic move only happens when they feel genuinely threatened—when the risk of being captured is imminent. It's their version of a failsafe."

Pausing for effect, Fenrir's eyes gleamed mischievously as he continued. "When they make that call, their powers don't just vanish into thin air. No, the fragments disperse, spreading far and wide. And each fragment ends up in the hands—or claws—of their most loyal subordinates. These subordinates don't just guard them casually either; they're sworn protectors, bound to defend the fragments at all costs."

"So… you're saying Agnos is the only Unknown God who's had his fragments scattered?" I asked.

"Unfortunately, yes," Fenrir confirmed. "The rest of the Unknown Gods still have their powers intact. Which means they still have control over their respective leylines. But…"

I leaned forward. "But what?"

"But, just like fragments, the leylines themselves have nodes. Each node is overseen by a guardian."

I stared at him, deadpan. "How many guardians do you guys need just to babysit the leylines?"

Fenrir burst out laughing. "You'd be surprised by the numbers."

I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Great. So if the nodes are guarded too, what happens if one gets… I don't know, corrupted?"

Fenrir straightened, his expression turning serious. "A corrupted node disrupts the entire leyline network. Think of the nodes like network switches—they're interconnected. One goes down, and the rest feel it."

"Ohhh, I get it now," I said, snapping my fingers. "It's like a magical IT system. Got it."

Fenrir smirked. "Exactly. You're smarter than you look."

"T-thank you." I flushed, scratching the back of my neck. "So what do you suggest we do?" I asked Fenrir.

Since I couldn't unhide the space-time leylines, my next best option was to ensure the other leylines were safe. But how exactly was I supposed to do that? It's not like each node came with a handy alarm switch… or did they?

As if reading my thoughts, Fenrir smirked. "You don't need to worry about intruders messing with the leylines' nodes for now. We've got a top-tier security system monitoring everything. The leylines aren't without their advanced technology, you know."

I blinked. Of course. At this point, nothing in Mythica surprised me anymore—not even the thought of magical infrastructure doubling as high-tech fortresses.

"In fact," Fenrir continued, his tone taking on a sharper edge, "what we really need to focus on right now is tracking the traitors. The ones orchestrating these attacks. And, most importantly, finding the big fish behind them—the operative pulling the strings and trying to throw Mythica's balance into chaos."

"Huh?" I blurted out, incredulous. "You want me to catch the traitors? Do I look like a secret agent or something?"

Fenrir's smirk deepened. "Aren't you?"

I froze, baffled. "What? Me? A secret agent? You've got to be kidding me."

"You have the Gleipnir badge, don't you?" he asked casually.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "What does me having a Gleipnir badge have to do with being a secret age—" The realization hit me like a runaway Pegasus. My stomach sank. "Oh no. Don't tell me…"

"Bingo." Fenrir's grin widened as he leaned back with theatrical flair. "Welcome to the Gleipnir Secret Service and Intelligence Network, also known as GSSIN."