The air shimmered with a peculiar blend of excitement and disbelief as I followed Eldrin through the lush, vibrant pathways of Mythica (Eldrin says that's the name of this place and that it's a magical realm), the reality of my situation began to sink in.
I glanced around, taking in the absurdity of the situation.
One minute, I was just another zoology grad buried under a mountain of job applications, desperately hoping that this internship might be my ticket to a stable, halfway-decent career.
The next, I found myself in an entirely different world. A world where magical creatures wandered about as casually as commuters on their way to work.
And, of course, at this moment the universe decided to make things extra awkward by covering me in fur. Everywhere. (Courtesy of the potion's side effect, of course.)
And I mean EVERYWHERE. Well, except for my face, as I shifted uncomfortably in my clothes.
My arms were practically a walking fur blanket, and when I caught a glimpse of myself in a reflective surface, I could almost hear my dignity packing its bags and flying off towards the distant land of utter humiliation.
"Oh well, at least my fur looks healthy," I mused, running a hand over the soft, silken coat of my transformed state. The sheen was impressive, practically glowing under the golden rays of the Mythica's sun.
"By the way, for someone who's being magically transported to another world," Eldrin remarked, his brow quirked in curiosity. "You're handling this situation pretty well."
I shrugged, memories of my chaotic past surfacing. "Oh well. It's not my first experience."
Eldrin froze mid-step, his pondering look quickly replaced with wide-eyed surprise. Then, with a laugh that sounded somewhere between amusement and disbelief, he chuckled. "Not your first, huh? Now that is a story I'd love to hear someday."
"This," Eldrin gestured dramatically with an open hand, "is the Mythical and Endangered Creatures Care and Protection—MECCP for short."
I raised an eyebrow. "MECCP? The name doesn't scream magical to me."
Eldrin chuckled, his silver hair glinting in the sunlight. "This place is dedicated to preserving mythical creatures that are at risk of extinction. Most of them are endangered due to excessive hunting, especially the more monstrous types."
"Monstrous types?" I echoed, trying to imagine a creature that might be more terrifying than a dragon.
"Yes, you know, like the Basilisk or Manticore," he replied casually, as if they were old friends. "Our goal here is to maintain their ecological environments so they can thrive and not disappear altogether."
"Sounds noble. And you guys are the good guys, right?" I asked, mostly teasing but also genuinely curious.
"Of course! Though some creatures may not see it that way. You might want to keep your wits about you."
He led me past magnificent trees that sparkled with luminescent fruits and pools of crystal clear water that shimmered like glass, reflecting the vivid colors of the surrounding landscape. The park was enormous, sprawling across sections that seemed to be themed after different mythologies.
In the distance, I could hear the soft rustle of leaves—probably some mythical creature that I didn't even want to try to identify right now. My mind was still trying to process everything.
And then there was the smell of plants. Not the kind I recognized from earth—no, these were plants I'd only ever read about in old fiction books. Some of them I thought only existed in myth. My senses were on overload, like a nature documentary come to life around me.
"Here we have Olympus Park for those Greek creatures," Eldrin pointed to a distant hill crowned with clouds, "and Kunlun Park for Dragons and Phoenixes and the likes."
"Wow, that's a lot of parks. Just out of curiosity, do you perhaps have a petting zoo for the friendly ones?" I asked, my mind racing with possibilities.
"Good question. Not quite. But we do have 'Meet and Greet' sessions for the more social creatures, although I wouldn't recommend attempting to pet a Chimera."
I grinned. "Noted. And where do I fit into this grand scheme?"
"Ah! That's where things get interesting," Eldrin said, a twinkle in his eye. "You'll be a caretaker, which means you'll be involved in their daily care and feeding. It's a big responsibility!"
I thought back to my last job at a pet store, where I had more "pet-peeves" than actual pets. "How hard can it be to feed a bunch of magical creatures? It'll be like feeding my friend Sam's ferret but on a much larger scale."
Eldrin stopped abruptly, turning to face me. "For trial, I'd like to see you try feeding a baby dragon. A word of caution, it's not as easy as it sounds."
I scoffed. "Pffft, how hard can it be? Just toss some food in a bowl, right?"
"Let's just say they're not very good at following directions."
As we continued through the park, we reached my new living quarters. To my surprise, I was greeted by a fully furnished studio apartment complex. It looked surprisingly modern, equipped with all the necessary amenities.
"Welcome to your new home!" Eldrin announced with a flourish.
I stepped inside, my jaw dropping. "This… this looks like something out of a high-end real estate ad."
"Don't let the exterior fool you. You'll be in a magical realm, after all," he quipped, "but we have to keep things practical for the employees."
I glanced around, taking in the sleek furniture, the lovely kitchenette, and even a small garden outside the window. "And here I thought I'd be sleeping in a hayloft. How did you manage this?", I said as I spotted an empty parking lot stretched out on the far side of the apartment building, its stark emptiness making the structure feel even lonelier.
"Magic and a sprinkle of good taste," Eldrin winked. "There's even a 24-hour convenience store nearby, as well as food courts for employees. You might find that Mythica has its conveniences."
I blinked in disbelief. "So, I can get snacks at any hour? This is a magical realm and I can get midnight snacks? Now, that's what I call a win!"
"Just remember not to bring any food into the dragon area. They have a habit of taking anything that resembles a snack," Eldrin warned with a knowing look.
"Noted," I replied, already envisioning the chaos that could ensue if I ever misstepped.
I couldn't have noticing fast food franchises at the foodcourt. I chuckled. "I didn't expect fast food to make it here. Do they have a drive-thru?"
"Only if you can outrun a unicorn." He said with a deadpan expression.
"Alright, fair point," I said, suppressing laughter. "But what about all the other magical creatures?"
Eldrin waved his hand, dismissing my concerns. "We have measures in place to keep everything in order. Just don't venture too close to Olympus Park without supervision. The Minotaurs can be a bit aggressive when they're hangry."
"Hangry Minotaurs? I'll add that to my list of things to avoid," I replied, feeling more optimistic about my new life.
We made our way to the administrative office, where Eldrin handed me my Mythica ID and MECCP employee ID card.
"This Mythica ID card is essential. It contains your personal information and also your Mythica credits—the currency here," he explained.
"Ah yes, the magical equivalent of money." I smirked.
"Actually, you'd be surprised how far it goes here." Eldrin added, his tone serious. "Just don't lose it."
He then produced a tablet out of thin air. "This will help you navigate MECCP. It has all the necessary information about rules, creature care, and a handy employee handbook."
"Sure, because who wouldn't want to read a handbook?" I replied, my tone light. "Just what I needed on my first day—more reading."
"Is there a 'how to survive baby dragons' section?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Only the section on emergency procedures," he said with a grin.
"Trust me, it'll be useful," he insisted, maintaining a straight face. "And this," he said, handing me a phone, "is the only device that works here. I've already added my contact info and installed essential apps."
I examined the phone skeptically. "Is it at least capable of making calls?"
"Only to other Mythica residents," Eldrin replied with a hint of mischief. "You'll find out soon enough what I mean."
"Wow, I'm already feeling more connected!" I exclaimed, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders.
Eldrin clapped me on the back. "Tomorrow is your first day, and you'll be starting off with feeding baby dragons."
"Great! How hard can it be?" I said, my bravado masking the rising anxiety in my chest.
"Just remember," he warned with a serious look, "they're hungry and might mistake you for food."
"Delightful," I replied, imagining myself as a walking buffet for tiny fire-breathers.
After saying our goodbyes, I returned to my apartment. I sprawled on the couch, staring at the ceiling. Was I really about to feed baby dragons?
Suddenly, my phone buzzed with a notification. A reminder from Eldrin, "Remember, be cautious tomorrow."
"Cautious?," I muttered to myself. "Isn't this place safe?"