My first day on the job was finally here. Feeding baby dragons? I mean, how hard could it be, right?
The night before, I'd stayed up late, reading everything I could about these magical creatures. Yet all I could find were the basics. Nothing that would give me a hint on how to actually feed them.
In just a few hours, I learned more about baby dragons than I did about my favorite K-pop idol. (Spoiler alert: They're mischievous little brats!)
Playful and curious. That's a good thing, right?
I figured they must be similar to little kittens. I mean, how bad could it be?
Then I came across one tiny detail that filled me with hope: baby dragons had a diet primarily made up of sweets and fruits.
Okay, I can do this.
As I got dressed, my tablet pinged with a notification from Eldrin. Apparently, he'd forgotten to hand me my caretaker uniform. Typical! Just what I needed on my first day, a missing uniform.
A few minutes later, the doorbell rang, and I hurried to answer it. A package lay on my doorstep, and inside was my caretaker uniform. As I pulled it out, my eyes widened.
It was more than I expected—a utility vest, two pairs of earthy green long-sleeve shirts, a pair of gloves, two pairs of pants, sturdy boots, goggles, and a belt filled with various tools.
I quickly changed into my uniform, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves bubbling inside me.
MECCP was a sprawling magical park, and my first job was at Dragonling Den in Kunlun Park. According to my tablet, I needed to catch a magical buggy to get there.
I immediately locate one just outside at the Buggy park area. I randomly chose one and the buggy whirred to life, automatically detecting my employee ID. An AI voice chirped, "Destination?"
"Dragonling Den, Kunlun Park!" I shouted, trying to sound confident.
Suddenly, the buggy took off like a rocket! I let out a scream, mind you, it was a very 'manly' scream. Who knew this was how magical transport worked?
I clutched the sides, my knuckles turning white as we zoomed through the air. The landscape below transformed into a blur of vibrant colors, dotted with breathtaking views of mythical creatures frolicking in the fields and soaring through the sky.
At one point, a twenty-meter-long dragon soared alongside us, its massive wings flapping effortlessly against the backdrop of a brilliant blue sky.
I couldn't help but gawk at its sheer size. It was a magnificent creature, its shimmering scales catching the sunlight like scattered jewels. In comparison, the flying buggy felt like a buzzing fly flitting beside a great, majestic eagle.
The dragon turned its head, golden eyes sparkling with mischief as it regarded me. To my utter disbelief, it transmitted the word "RETARD" in a mocking manner, as if it found my presence amusing.
I blinked in shock, a mix of indignation and confusion swirling within me. Was I really being insulted by a dragon? "Seriously? Did that dragon just call me a retard? How rude!"
As I wrestled with a mix of shock and indignation, the buggy continued its exhilarating flight, leaving me wondering just how chaotic this day could get.
The warning blared through the buggy's cockpit like a shrill, unrelenting siren.
"WARNING! WARNING!"
My stomach dropped. "Warning? Why? What? What is it?! Stupid AI, can't you be specific for once?" My voice cracked halfway through the sentence, panic already clawing its way into my throat.
The AI, of course, didn't answer. It only kept repeating its monotone, panic-inducing mantra, as if yelling at me would solve anything. And that's when the buggy shuddered violently.
It wasn't just turbulence, it felt like the entire buggy had been thrown into a blender. The vibrations rattled my bones, the metallic groan of the frame threatening to snap any second.
I gripped the steering wheel with sweaty hands, frantically scanning the horizon. The sky had gone from pristine blue to a roiling mess of black clouds in seconds.
"A storm? Now?!" I shouted, my voice competing with the gale howling through the cockpit vents. "The weather was perfect two minutes ago!"
Then I saw it.
A massive silhouette coiled against the stormy backdrop, its scales gleaming with an unnatural shimmer.
Lightning illuminated the sky, and for a split second, I locked eyes with a Storm Wyrm. Its elongated body twisted through the air with a predatory grace, each wingbeat sending shockwaves that rattled my buggy harder.
"Oh no. No, no, no." I sank into my seat, gripping the controls tighter as realization hit me. "Not this again. Why is it always me?"
It wasn't just the Wyrm itself, it was the territory. I'd flown right into its hunting grounds.
Rookie mistake number one. Always check the territorial maps. Great. I'm about to become Wyrm chow on my first day.
The Wyrm roared, its bellow resonating through my chest like thunder. The air pressure shifted, sending the buggy spiraling. My screams morphed from panicked to outright primal.
But then, something clicked.
Fear wasn't going to save me. If I kept spiraling—literally and figuratively—I was going to die. I had to survive. I had to see those baby dragons no matter what.
Steeling myself, I switched to manual mode. I slammed the throttle forward, gripping the wheel like my life depended on it. Because, well, it did.
The AI piped up again, offering no solace. "Danger proximity: HIGH. Defensive measures recommended."
"Gee, thanks!" I spat, yanking the controls to dodge a swooping attack. The Wyrm's claws missed by inches, but the turbulence it caused sent the buggy jerking violently. My head smacked against the window, stars flashing in my vision.
I shook it off and focused on maneuvering. My breath came in short gasps, my knuckles turning white on the wheel. The Storm Wyrm was relentless, its serpentine form weaving through the storm with terrifying precision. Its tail lashed out, creating shockwaves that sent me spiraling again.
"Hold it together, Carl. Hold it together!" I screamed, half to myself, half to the buggy.
The Wyrm lunged again, its mouth open wide, rows of razor-sharp teeth glinting in the lightning. I yanked the buggy into a nosedive, narrowly dodging what could've been my last moment on Mythica.
Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the Wyrm faltered. Its trajectory shifted, and it let out a shrill, otherworldly screech before veering off into the distance, disappearing into the storm clouds as if something had scared it off.
I didn't have time to ponder the "why."
The buggy's alarm changed tones.
"You have arrived," the AI announced, its voice now irritatingly calm.
I blinked at the console. "Are you kidding me?" My voice was hoarse, my hands trembling on the controls. "That's it? No 'congratulations for not dying'? Nothing?"
The buggy descended, its systems automatically stabilizing as the turbulence faded.
Below, the dragonling den came into view. The sight was breathtaking—a sprawling canyon surrounded by jagged cliffs, with waterfalls cascading into crystalline pools.
The area shimmered with a faint magical glow, an invisible barrier designed to keep predators like the Storm Wyrm at bay.
Relief washed over me in waves as the buggy landed smoothly on a designated pad. My legs felt like jelly as the buggy came to a stop, the cool canyon air hitting my face. I could still feel the vibrations from the buggy in my bones.
I stayed seated for a moment, contemplating my life choices. My throat was sore from all the screaming earlier, and I needed a moment to calm down. I hoped the baby dragons would cheer me up.
After all, among all mythical creatures, dragons were my favorite. But after that little encounter, I was seriously reconsidering my choices.
I learned from the handbook that the Dragonling Den currently has three baby dragons. Given how rare they are—apparently, it takes 500 years for a baby dragon to hatch—it's no wonder they're listed as endangered. That meant they needed extra care and attention, and it also meant I had no room for error.
"Just three dragons," I muttered, trying to convince myself it wouldn't be too hard. "Piece of cake."
"Okay, Carl! You can do this. What could go wrong? They're just baby dragons," I reassured myself, stepping out of the buggy.