A Zoologist’s Guide to Surviving Magical Creatures

The cool water glistened in the moonlight as I scrubbed at the stubborn remnants of Fiona's unfortunate incident on my face.

The pool was tranquil, the sound of the nearby waterfall a soothing backdrop. Yet, my thoughts were anything but peaceful. My mind spun, trying to devise a way to get past the Qilin without, you know, dying.

The guardian creature lounged on his hammock a few feet away, now out of his fighting stance but keeping an eagle eye on me. He had resumed sipping from his coconut like he wasn't moments away from challenging me to a fight.

Talk about mixed signals.

I leaned back on my heels, rinsing my face one last time, and glanced over at Agnos, who had somehow managed to climb into a nearby tree, sprawled out like royalty. He batted at a stray leaf lazily.

Some god of destruction.

"Alright, Carl," I muttered to myself, "no magic, no strength, and no desire to get pummeled by a creature with divine credentials. Time to try Plan B."

Plan B, of course, being my favorite strategy: talking my way out of this.

I stood and dusted off my pants, the damp edges clinging annoyingly to my calves. Clearing my throat, I approached the Qilin, who peeked at me from behind his oversized sunglasses. Yes, sunglasses. At night. Because why not?

"So, uh, Mr. Qilin," I began, offering my best polite smile. "I've been thinking—"

"That's dangerous," he quipped, lounging deeper into his hammock.

"Fair," I admitted with a shrug. "But hear me out. Fighting me is going to be a massive waste of time, don't you think?"

The Qilin tilted his head, his ethereal mane glimmering like liquid gold under the moonlight. "Go on," he said, clearly humoring me.

"Well, here's the thing," I began, trying to keep my voice casual. "If you let me have the fragment, you won't have to guard it anymore. No more endless vigilance, no more staring at this same waterfall day in and day out." I paused, giving the Qilin a moment to absorb my words.

"You could—oh, I don't know—go back to the beach. Maybe join the party? There's a demigod DJ spinning beats, plenty of divine cocktails, and, let's be honest, way better company than a random human and a lazy cat."

The Qilin's ears perked slightly, and I could see the gears turning in his head. Hook, line, and sinker.

"Tempting," he mused, swirling the straw in his coconut. "But why do you want the fragment? What's your game, human?"

"Me? Oh, I don't want it," I said quickly, holding up my hands. "I'm just the collector. Think of me like a delivery guy. The fragment belongs to him."

I jerked my thumb toward Agnos, who had shifted from lounging to kneading the tree branch like it owed him money.

The Qilin's gaze flickered between Agnos and me, a hesitant uncertainty in his eyes.

"That cat?" The Qilin's voice was cautious now, as he looked at Agnos. "The fragment belongs to him?"

I gave a small, confirming nod. "Yep, all his. Agnos. I'm just the... collector, really. That's all."

The Qilin's eyes widened as they landed on Agnos, and his expression shifted from one of suspicion to fear. His coconut fell to the ground, forgotten. "Wait. Him? The Agnos?"

"That's the one," I confirmed, trying not to sound too smug.

The Qilin scrambled to his feet, knocking over his hammock in the process. His once-relaxed demeanor evaporated as he hurriedly smoothed down his floral shirt, looking like a teenager caught slacking by a strict teacher.

"Unknown God," he stammered, bowing deeply. "Forgive me, Lord Agnos. I didn't recognize you in...that form."

Agnos shot him a disinterested glance, yawning. "Just get this over quick. I want to leave before sunrise."

The Qilin immediately straightened up, an awkward yet respectful bow following his recognition. "I did not realize. I have no wish to anger a being of such power."

He paused, glancing at Agnos again before turning his attention back to me. "If it belongs to him... then I see no reason to delay you. Take it."

I blinked. That was... surprisingly easy.

I didn't hesitate. I took the fragment, feeling the familiar pulse of energy course through my fingertips as it connected with me.

The moment I touched the fragment, the world shifted.

A rush of memories flooded my mind, disjointed yet vivid. I saw scenes of destruction, cities crumbling under massive waves of energy, and Agnos in his true form—a towering feline-like figure cloaked in a tempest of chaos. His eyes glowed with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.

And then, there was me.

Not the me standing by the pool, but a version of me dressed in armor, wielding a blade that pulsed with the same energy as the fragments. I stood beside Agnos, not as a mere intern but as an equal.

The vision faded as quickly as it had come, leaving me breathless. My knees buckled, and I barely managed to steady myself against a nearby rock.

I nearly stumbled, my heart racing with the intensity of the vision. But I steadied myself, catching my breath as I shoved the fragment into my pack, the weight of it settling heavily on my shoulders.

"Agnos," I managed to croak, "I've got it."

"You okay, Carl?" Agnos asked, his tone unusually serious.

"Yeah," I lied, wiping sweat from my brow. "Just...the fragment. It's powerful."

The Qilin watched me with a curious expression, his earlier fear replaced with something akin to respect. "You're not just a collector, are you?" he asked quietly.

I didn't answer. I couldn't.

Instead, I turned to Agnos. "We've got the third fragment. What's next?"

Agnos leapt down from his perch, his tail flicking with anticipation. "The next fragment is in a place you're going to love."

"Why does that sound like a lie?" I muttered, but he was already walking away.

The Qilin stepped forward, a hint of hesitation in his voice. "Take care, human. The fragments...they're not just keys. They'll change you."

I nodded, not entirely understanding but feeling the weight of his words nonetheless.

As we left the pool behind and ventured deeper into the forest, the fragment pulsing faintly in my bag, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was on the cusp of something far bigger than I'd signed up for.

Whatever the next location was, I had a sinking suspicion it wasn't going to be as relaxing as a Qilin on a hammock.