Draserraney

*****WPC OCT 2024 Entry*****
When Carl Suis, a fresh zoology graduate, lands an internship with MECCP (Mythical and Endangered Creatures Care and Protection), he expects to work with exotic animals—not be magically whisked into Mythica, a realm brimming with dragons, mermaids, and other magical creatures.

What starts as a dream job quickly spirals into chaos. Feeding creatures is the least of Carl’s worries as he tackles ecosystem meltdowns, interspecies feuds, and cultural clashes straight out of a fantasy fever dream. Forget the myths—these creatures are nothing like the books said.

With Mythica’s fragile world teetering on collapse and MECCP’s future at stake, Carl must rely on his zoological skills, quick thinking, and unexpected allies to save the day. But in this unpredictable land, survival means embracing the wild—and the wildly hilarious—at every turn.

Can Carl protect this magical world, or will his internship be his last adventure?

A Zoologist’s Guide to Surviving Magical Creatures

It took me a second to process what Agnos was saying. "So, you're telling me the Baku's like a nightmare therapist now?"

I tried to imagine the creature in action, a giant nightmare-consuming monster handing out counseling advice. I'm sorry, Carl, your fear of the dark is deeply rooted in your childhood trauma.

"Exactly," Agnos continued, his voice steady. "But not just therapy. It's about... transforming fear into something productive. Something... useful."

I couldn't decide whether that was genius or creepy. Probably both. "How does he do that? You can't just turn a nightmare into something productive, can you?"

Agnos gave me a long look. "Not by conventional means. But the Baku's methods are anything but conventional. Take, for example, Dream Tuning."

I wrinkled my nose. "Dream Tuning? Sounds like something out of a science fiction novel."

Baku's Method