World Walker Park [Magical Amusement Park Base-Building]

"Too much?" Tippy asked her brother and Neb.

Rion shrugged. "I'm more surprised about the potion. Who'd have thought so much could go so wrong for a simple potion?"

Neb, who was chewing on a definitely not stolen bag of popcorn from the park, shrugged. "It happens occasionally. Mortals are weird when the masses get involved."

Tippy and Rion shared a glance. "It happens occasionally?"

"Sure."

"Do you have any examples?"

The elderly god waved his hand. "Well before your time."

The siblings blinked. Rion then addressed his sister. "And no—to your original question. The hint was… good. Not perfect, but good. Hopefully Luka understands the warning."

"He won't," Neb said, reading threads of fate in the near future. "But that may be the Trickster interfering again. I suppose we'll just see."

Tippy frowned. "If things go wrong, I'm intervening. Regardless of the consequences."

"Me too," Rion added.

Neb nodded as well. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

***

Luka exited Ressen but stopped cold. The world seemed to hiss, a quiet verbal warning that seared the air and tickled his ears. He turned and looked up, finding Snake staring down at him.

"Something wrong?" he asked the long boy. Jear said not to show fear, unless, of course, he was attempting to harm Ressen, then show all the fear possible so Snake could easily smell him.

The guardian beast's slitted eyes peered from his wrapped perch. Snake was massive, so much so he coiled around Ressen like a spring. As thick as a semi truck and made of pure muscle, Snake was a creature made by the world—a tool given sentience to protect his linked World Tree. Scales like golden bars, he hissed at Luka. And the world churned.

At once, every eye connected to a beast, animal, or monster turned and stared at the World Walker. Luka felt a cold sweat go down his back, followed by a hesitant thought: What's going on?

Snake lowered his massive head from half-way up Ressen's trunk, blocking out the sun as it loomed over him. Frogs hopped over, dragonflies buzzing around Ressen's moat drifted by, birds stopped to watch, and countless rodents peered through the forest at him.

No… no, that wasn't quite right. They stared past him. Through him. Around him. They looked between Luka and something, someone else, finding issue. They hissed, howled, yelled, bellowed.

The bushes nearest Luka shook, and a figure took off running. The hissing, howling, yelling, and bellowing animals stopped. Snake peered down at the fleeing figure for a long moment before turning back to Luka.

Protect.

The word hovered in his mind, spoken in a child's voice—in Snake's voice.

"Thank you," Luka said. "Do you know who that was?" If he was better prepared, he might have been able to identify the figure. But who would have figured someone was watching him from the bushes?

Snake swayed in the wind. He didn't know.

"Well, thanks anyways. And great job protecting the place."

Snake radiated joy.

With that, Luka was off… only to stop in a dozen paces. Around Ressen's trunk and within the mount and beast resting area and stable, dire-wolves Leo and Sebby and dire-emu Olive played with countless new friends. It seemed Zora had arrived. And she brought all her pups.

Luka stiffened. Where was Leaker? He looked hesitantly around, spotting the mutt in the pack of dogs chasing a ball Zora threw. He also spotted the monster from earlier, the silver tiger-alpaca-rhino, lounging sleepily in the sun. It watched the pack chase the ball, yawning and unfurling a long, slender, purple tongue.Also dozens of other dire-mounts, non-dire mounts, and a few other monsters hesitantly moved in.

Well—hesitantly was subjective for monsters. They prowled, stalked, walked through the area like they owned the place, proudly touting their claws and fangs, massive wings and muscles. Luka didn't recognize any from Earthen lore, but some were close enough to make connections. Like the goat monster that floated idly through the air. It had fish scales for fur and spiraled horns that jutted from its forehead like twin unicorns. Kirin, was what Luka thought, but for all he knew the monster could be called "havlantianthirlorp," or something equally as ridiculous.

Luka pulled out a piece of paper and wrote "reminder to build veterinary buildings." He then strolled forward.

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"You made it."

Zora turned, a big, bright smile on her face. "This place is worthy of my ancestors!"

"Is that good?" Luka asked.

"It's amazing!"

"I'm glad. But just wait until you see what we have planned for—"

"Ah, there you are, human," a pompous voice said. "I was wondering when I might grace you with my presence."

Luka turned, finding Gilded Beast King Orris standing atop a massive crystal of salt. The goat-kirin monster was licking the salt, uncaring of the opossum with a golden crown on his head inches away.

And while Luka didn't really want to deal with Orris, he had been interested in talking to him. So, he played it up. "O' mighty King Orris, I too have been looking forward to this meeting."

Orris nodded along like Luka's words were the most obvious utterance in the kingdom. "Yes, yes," he said, lifting his nose high, "my very presence knows no bounds and silences the brightest of worries."

Luka spared a glance at Zora. The veterinarian watched the back and forth with wide eyes. If she had popcorn, she'd likely be snacking, enjoying the show. It wasn't everyday that one got to experience the… mystical mystery of a Gilded Beast!

"Of course, my king," Luka forced himself to say, as sappy as possible. "For what did you need me?" He figured he should get Orris' request out of the way, especially if that somehow tied into the 'wish' he was supposed to be getting.

Zora had explained it back in Sneerhome: Orris grants wishes as payment for favors. And Luka figured it was time to cash in.

Orris pointed a fluffy hand at his castle. All eyes turned, even Leo—who had broken away from the pack of pups to say hi to his rider—and the kirin monster.

"What about it?" Luka asked. The castle was the size of a small hut, perfect for an opossum-sized Gilded Beast. But it did have spires and a tiled roof. Frankly, Luka knew he put too much effort into it… at least it looked nice.

"I request, no, demand, an additional wing," Orris said. "I have need for a place to house my guests. Guests, might I add, that are befitting of a castle."

Luka quirked an eyebrow. "Guests?"

The Gilded Beast pursed his lips, then said, "It seems the rules of old no longer apply. My siblings encroach on my territory, entering without so much as an invitation." Despite the regalness of the little fellow, he spoke with a drop of enmity. Or maybe just annoyance. It was hard to tell, since he was an animal.

Leo tilted his head at the statement. Zora, similarly, was confused.

Luka did not like the sound of 'encroaching territories' and whatever that meant. "As," he paused thinking of a word, "overseer of these lands, should I be worried about your siblings?"

King Orris sighed, his little crown slipping down the side of his head. It would have fallen off, but a line of magic kept it cemented to his fur.

"No."

"Are you sure? Because breaking the Gilded Beasts' rules of old—"

Orris held up a hand, silencing the peasant. "Yes, there will be restitution for my siblings to pay. But that is between them and me. Your 'lands,' however, will be safe. I guarantee that."

Before Luka could respond, a new voice said, "As do I."

Everyone, including Zora, and the very much confused Leo, turned. The kirin licking the salt rock stood on the open air, looking between Luka and King Orris. It was the speaker and it sounded as beautiful as a windchime in a gentle breeze.

With a sigh, Orris said, "Allow me to introduce my Gilded Beast sister, Soul Singer Mira."

"Come now, Brother Orris," Mira said, "I, unlike you, don't require my title to be uttered every time someone refers to me… My King."

"Ha ha," Orris mumbled. "You old goat."

"What was that?"

"Nothing! Nothing at all!"

Luka respectfully studied the kirin in a bit more detail. Now that he was closer to her, it was obvious she wasn't exactly a goat. With a body more akin to a doe with goat features, golden fish scales wove through ivory fur like pebbles in a field of flowers. A great mane of misty magic surrounded her neck, acting like a pillow or cloud. The mist flowed all around her, flooding around her hooves and allowing her to stand on air.

Twin spiral horns jutted from her forehead, and wicked ears curled deep behind her head. Her eyes were golden, and a slender tail ending with a tuft of fur wagged with the wing. Finally, she wore a single sapphire earring, a loop of pure gemstone that hung from her ear and danced with her movement.

Luka instantly knew what it was, because he had something similar. It was an artifact. And if his guess was correct, then Orris' crown was one as well.

Giving a little bow—for some reason that felt right in this situation—Luka said, "Welcome to World Walker Park. I am World Walker Luka, if there's anything I can do to make your stay better, don't hesitate to ask."

Mira bowed back, regal and serene. "Thank you. But I am not here as a Gilded Beast, but instead a wandering vagrant looking for a place to rest my hooves."

Orris snorted. "What nonsense are you speaking?"

The kirin eyed the opossum. "I needed a vacation. This is that. Don't be a prude." She went back to licking the salt rock.

Orris watched her with a slack jaw for a moment before turning back to Luka. "Even if she's fine with living with the mutts, I'm not. She shall sleep in my guest wing—which has yet to be made. Chop chop, World Walker. We don't have all day."

Luka adopted a predatory smile. "Fine with me. As long as I get my wish."

The rodent froze.

"With interest," Luka added, "because you failed to tell me I was entitled to a wish when I built your castle."

"Ah—"

Soul Singer Mira spoke right over him. "I wonder how great of a wish you'll get for building such a work of art! A castle, a home, fit for a king! Isn't that right, Orris?"

The little guy adjusted his crown. "I suppose... the wish shall be a rather large one."

Luka smiled. He was going to like this old goat.