A Zoologist’s Guide to Surviving Magical Creatures

The alley reeked of damp moss and something acrid that made my eyes sting.

Pale green moss clung to the crumbling stone walls, casting a faint glow that wasn't nearly enough to make me feel safe.

Shadows sprawled long and deep, twisting in ways that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

Agnos tossed the Soulless Orb at me without warning.

I barely caught it, its weight pulling my hands down. It was heavier than it looked, smooth and cold, like polished stone but thrumming faintly, almost alive.

Not magic, exactly. But maybe the kind of magic that left a bad taste in your mouth.

"Hold on to it," Agnos said. His usual smirk was there, but it didn't reach his eyes this time. "Tight. And whatever you do, don't drop it."

"Right," I muttered, gripping it tighter. "Because I definitely want to fumble and unleash... whatever this thing does."

His tail flicked, his amusement returning like a storm cloud passing briefly. "Oh, you know its name. Soulless Orb, right? But you don't know what it does?"

I glared at him. "I know what it's called. I just have no idea why I'm holding something that sounds like it eats people's souls."

Agnos stretched leisurely, his sleek purple fur glinting under the moss's dim light. "Relax, Carl. It doesn't eat souls. At least, not directly."

"Not directly?"

Before I could press him further, his posture shifted. His tail went rigid, his ears flattened, and his pupils narrowed into sharp slits. The lazy, smug demeanor vanished in a heartbeat, replaced by something feral.

"What's going on?" I asked, clutching the orb tighter.

"They're here," he said simply. "Wonderful. Someone really doesn't want us to succeed."

"Can we talk about the how and why later?" I said, taking a step back as the creatures stalked surrounding us.

And then I saw them—emerging from the shadows with the ease of creatures that belonged to another world entirely.

The creatures twisted unnaturally, coalescing into shapes that didn't belong in the physical world. Four-legged, smoke-like forms slithered out of the darkness, their glowing red eyes locked onto us.

"Wraithhounds," Agnos said, baring his teeth in a grin that could have been a snarl. "Nasty things. They don't just kill you—they eat your essence. Your soul, if you want to get poetic about it."

"Poetic? Oh, great," I said, stepping back instinctively. "How do we fight them?"

"You don't." He crouched, claws extending with a faint glow. "I do. You stay alive. If we make it out, maybe I'll tell you a secret."

"If? That's comforting."

The first Wraithhound lunged, and Agnos moved faster than I thought possible. One moment he was beside me, the next he was a blur of purple fur and glowing claws, raking through the creature's smoky form. It howled and dissipated into black mist, but two more took its place.

I was still frozen in place, half-impressed and half-terrified. They weren't just shadows; they were like living nightmares, hungry and insatiable.

"Carl!" Agnos yelled, his voice sharp now as he sliced through another Wraithhound with a practiced strike. "Don't just stand there!"

I snapped out of my daze, my instincts kicking in. I wasn't a fighter, but I sure as hell wasn't going to let Agnos do all the work. I quickly scanned the alley for something—anything—that could be useful.

That's when I saw it: a broken pipe lying on the ground near a wrecked cart.

Without thinking, I grabbed it, hefting the rusted metal pipe in my right hand. The other hand holding the orb tightly. It wasn't ideal, but it was better than nothing. And then—

Wham!

I hit the Wraithhound square in the face with a solid thud.

The metal hit the beast's side with a sickening thud. The Wraithhound recoiled, snarling in pain, but it didn't back off. Instead, it growled and bared its jagged teeth, its red eyes gleaming with hunger.

Agnos, still darting through the shadows with ease, looked back at me. "Nice. But keep it up. They're not going to stop just because you hit them once."

Another Wraithhound joined in, closing in from behind. But I wasn't about to let them get the best of me.

I spun around, using the pipe to knock the second hound off balance, sending it tumbling into the debris. I followed up with a quick strike to the first Wraithhound's head. The pipe connected, and this time, the creature crumpled into a pile of shadowy mist that evaporated into the air.

"Yes!" I cheered, feeling smug for all of two seconds—until another Wraithhound appeared, mouth wide in a snarl.

The thing was fast—too fast.

With a flash, it lunged, its teeth gleaming like a row of jagged knives.

I ducked, the hound's claws grazing my shoulder. The searing pain hit like a lightning bolt, but I gritted my teeth and rolled away, kicking up dust as I scrambled to my feet.

Agnos moved like a warrior, dodging and countering with slashes that left faint trails of light in the air. He was fast, but the creatures weren't slow either, and for every one he dispatched, another seemed to materialize from the shadows.

I watched, stunned, as Agnos leaped and twisted in midair, his claws slashing in arcs that left faint trails of light. He was graceful, almost hypnotic, but he wasn't invincible.

The Wraithhounds began circling, their growls low and guttural. Agnos dispatched another with a swipe to its neck, but his movements were slowing, his breathing heavier.

I grit my teeth, swinging the pipe again as the next Wraithhound came for me. This time, I was ready. With a grunt, I brought it down hard on the creature's skull, and this time, the Wraithhound did disappear, its form flickering before it vanished.

I didn't stop to celebrate this time.

Agnos darted past me in a blur, his claws tearing through another Wraithhound. But the remaining ones were closing in.

They were coming faster now, their growls growing louder as more emerged from the darkness. I swung again, knocking another one away, but the pipe was starting to feel heavier. I was getting winded.

Then, I heard it—a sound that stopped me dead in my tracks. A sharp, high-pitched howl pierced the air, a signal to the others.

"Agnos," I called out, trying to sound calm and failing miserably, "there's more of them. They're kind of multiplying."

"Yeah, I noticed," he snapped, flipping over one hound and landing with a hiss. "Thanks for the update, Carl."

I had to do something, or I wasn't going to make it out.

I looked around desperately. The alley wasn't just a battlefield; it was a junkyard. Broken crates, rusted chains, and barrels filled with something grainy—salt?—were scattered around.

"Think, Carl," I muttered. "Use your brain for once."

I grabbed a rusted chain dangling from a pulley system and looped it around one of the barrels. My hands fumbled, but adrenaline kept me moving.

"Hey, over here!" I shouted, waving the chain like a lunatic.

One of the Wraithhounds snarled and charged. At the last second, I yanked the chain, tipping the barrel.

Glass shards and what I hoped was enchanted salt spilled out, hitting the creature square in the face. It howled and recoiled, its form flickering like a bad TV signal.

"Ha! How do you like that?" I yelled, feeling a brief surge of triumph.

That triumph didn't last.

Before I could react, a new Wraithhound, larger and more terrifying than the others, appeared. It was massive, its dark form rippling with energy, its eyes burning like twin suns.

I backed up, heart pounding but the orb in my hand faintly pulsed. A slight warmth spread through my palms, up my arms, and into my chest.

In that moment, I remembered Agnos' words: Don't drop it.

The Wraithhound lunged.

This was it—the moment of my death. I squeezed my eyes shut and clutched the humming orb tightly against my chest, bracing for the inevitable.

My mind raced through every stupid decision that had led me to this moment. Mythica, the internship, the dragons, the mermaids—and for a brief, panicked moment, all I could think about was how absurd this was. My life wasn't supposed to end in a damp alley, mauled by shadow-dogs.

But then something strange happened.

The Soulless Orb began to thrum once more, glowing faintly at first, then flaring into a blindingly bright light. The air was thick with magic, and for a moment, I could feel the very fabric of the world around me shifting.

"Carl, what are you—" Agnos started, but his words were drowned out by a blinding light erupting from the orb.

The Wraithhounds froze mid-lunge, their snarls turning to whimpers. Their glowing eyes dimmed, and their smoky forms wavered, becoming almost translucent.

"What the...?" I whispered, staring at the orb in awe.

The light faded, but the effect remained. The Wraithhounds were retreating, their bodies dissolving into the shadows from which they came.

"Did I just... do that?" I asked, my voice shaky.

Agnos landed beside me, his fur slightly singed and his breathing heavy. He stared at the orb, then at me, his usual smugness replaced by something closer to curiosity.

"Well, well," he said, chuckling. "Looks like the Soulless Orb likes you. Or maybe you're just ridiculously lucky."

I sank to the cobblestones, clutching the orb like it was the only thing keeping me grounded. My chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath.

"What does it do, Agnos?" I asked, holding it up. "I mean, besides glowing dramatically and scaring off shadow monsters?"

Agnos tilted his head, his golden eyes glinting. "Oh, it does plenty. Most of which you're not ready for yet."

"Why do I feel like that's not reassuring?"

He smirked, licking his paw. "Because it's not."

As my breathing steadied, I noticed something new. The orb's surface, smooth and unbroken before, now had faint runes etched into it. They glowed softly, their patterns intricate and unfamiliar.

"What's this?" I asked, showing it to Agnos.

His expression darkened for a moment, then lightened again, like flipping a switch. "A key. Or a map. Or a really annoying riddle. Take your pick."

"Could you, for once, not be cryptic?"

"Where's the fun in that?" He flicked his tail and started walking. "Come on, we're not done yet. And don't get cocky just because you scared off a few puppies."

I got to my feet, gripping the orb tightly. The glow from the runes felt warm now, almost comforting, but Agnos's words repeated in my mind.

Not ready yet.

As I followed him deeper into the labyrinth of alleys, I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't just a tool or a weapon.

It was something far more dangerous. And it had chosen me.