A Zoologist’s Guide to Surviving Magical Creatures

I peered through the microscope, fascinated beyond belief.

There they were—tiny creatures with intricately designed armor, battling it out as if the fate of their world hung in the balance.

It was surreal. I could see microscopic swords clashing, little shields bashing, and tiny war cries that, while silent to me, somehow felt deafening in the chaos.

I watched, fascinated, as one of them, a stealthy warrior, took out his opponents with moves that wouldn't have been out of place in a Mythica-action blockbuster.

"This is... insane!" I blurted out, peering even closer into the lens. "I mean, these little guys are really going at it. Look at that one! Did you see that? He just disarmed three of them like a professional!"

I stifled the urge to cheer. This was like witnessing some microscopic gladiator match. The idea of grabbing popcorn and just watching the madness unfold flitted through my mind. It was easily one of the most epic things I'd ever seen in this strange world.

"Hey, Fiona," I called over, barely able to contain my excitement. "You think we could project this whole thing on a big screen? You know, for research purposes—like, to analyze the battle tactics more clearly?"

Fiona, standing over a magical contraption of some kind, glanced at me with a withering look, one that pretty much screamed, "I see right through you."

"This isn't for your entertainment, Carl," she said, arms crossed in that way that meant don't even think about it. "We're trying to solve a serious issue here, not host a screening of 'Coral Wars.'"

"Yeah, but come on," I persisted. "Just imagine it—a big screen showing this epic battle. It would be like a nature documentary, except with tiny gladiator creatures. People would pay for this kind of stuff!"

"No," she replied flatly.

Worth a shot. I shrugged and leaned back over the microscope, still captivated by the microscopic war.

"But still... these creatures are fascinating. What are they, exactly?"

"They're called Coralites," Fiona explained, her voice taking on that academic tone she used when explaining something she'd mastered in her sleep.

"Symbiotic life forms. They're the true architects of the coral reefs, working together to build and sustain the structures you see in Mythica's oceans. They're invisible to the naked eye, but they're essential. Without them, the underwater ecosystems would collapse. They provide nutrients, support plankton growth, and contribute to the magic flow that protects the reefs."

"So... there's basically an entire civilization of tiny beings living in the coral? And they're fighting a war in there right now?"

"Pretty much," Fiona replied, moving back to her instruments.

"But it's not a new civilization. They've been around as long as the coral has. Think of them as the coral's immune system. If there's a problem with the Coralites, it's usually a sign that something's gone terribly wrong."

I nodded slowly, processing this new information. "So if we just use magic to cure the coral, that might not be enough? Because this whole thing seems bigger than just a surface-level issue."

"That's what we're trying to figure out," Fiona said, adjusting the focus on another device.

"The Coralites are sensitive to magical imbalances. If the magic in their environment is disrupted, it can cause them to turn territorial—aggressive. It's like a magical version of a civil war."

I frowned. "So, we're looking at some kind of Coralite civil war?"

Fiona paused, giving it some thought. "In a sense, yes. The imbalance has thrown their usual cooperation into chaos. Normally, they exchange magical energy with their environment, reinforcing the protective aura of the reef. But now, their harmony is disrupted, leading to... well, what you're seeing right now. Chaos."

"Does that mean simply curing the coral won't fix everything?" I asked, a bit concerned.

"It's a start," she said. "The magical cure should stop the magical depression, but it won't resolve the Coralites' territorial disputes. That's a much more complex issue."

I leaned back, still marveling at the intricate society happening beneath the surface of what, back on Earth, would just be considered a dead coral. Here, though, it was alive with culture, energy, and now, conflict. I had to know more.

"Is there any way I can look up more about these Coralites? Like, do we have a database or something on them?"

Fiona nodded toward a nearby tablet. "The MECCP database should have everything you need. Just log in with your staff ID, and you'll get access to the coral research files."

I decided to grab the tablet from my bag instead and booted it up, logging in with the staff ID I'd been given when I started this insane internship. Within moments, I was scrolling through pages and pages of information about the Coralites.

What I found out was mind-blowing.

The Coralites weren't just primitive organisms—they had an advanced society with its own rules, culture, and social hierarchies. Music, in particular, was a core part of their existence.

The Coralites used music to synchronize their energy with the coral structures, helping to sustain the delicate balance of the ecosystem.

Each colony had its own "genre" of music, and sometimes, these differing genres would clash, leading to conflicts.

But it wasn't just the music. The Coralites were also masters of magical art.

They created stunning murals, using the coral as their canvas, illuminating the underwater world with their performances. It wasn't just decorative; their art played a critical role in maintaining the harmony of their civilization.

I sat back, stunned by the complexity of these tiny creatures. They weren't just living on the coral—they were the coral. Their entire existence was wrapped up in its survival.

I blinked at the screen, fascinated. "These little guys are more complex than I thought."

"What did you find?" Fiona asked, noticing my engrossed expression.

"They're not just fighting over space. It's... cultural," I said slowly, reading aloud from the screen.

"The Coralites have different music-based rituals that synchronize their magical energy with the coral. Some colonies even have different 'genres' of music. It's like... musical rivalries."

Fiona raised an eyebrow. "Musical rivalries?"

"Yeah. And when their music clashes, it can cause territorial disputes. Kind of like fan wars, you know?" I smirked, half-joking.

But then I stopped. A crazy idea struck me, and I looked back at the coral sample with newfound suspicion.

"What if this whole thing is like a fan war?" I muttered to myself. "What if that's what's causing the magical depression?"

Fiona gave me a puzzled look. "You mean, the Coralites are fighting because of... music?"

I stood up, pacing. "Think about it! If music is how they synchronize their energy with the coral, then maybe the different colonies are clashing because they're not vibing with each other's... genres. What if one group's music is throwing the whole ecosystem out of balance?"

Fiona crossed her arms, considering it. "That's a stretch, but it's not impossible."

I leaned back over the microscope, this time focusing not on the ongoing battle but on the structures themselves.

There had to be some kind of clue here—something we were missing. I was convinced that this wasn't just a territorial dispute. There had to be a deeper reason for the conflict.

I zoomed in on a cluster of coral that seemed less damaged than the rest. The more I studied it, the more something felt off.

My gut was telling me to look closer, and sure enough, as I focused, I noticed faint symbols etched into the coral's surface.

They were written in Greek—στρατός.

"Fiona, take a look at this," I said, beckoning her over. "There's something written here."

She squinted through the microscope for a moment before her eyes widened. "That's... that's stratos."

I blinked, confused. "Stratos? Like, the atmosphere?"

"No," Fiona said, her expression grim. "Stratos. It's Greek for 'army.'"

An army? My mind raced. That explained the fighting, but this wasn't just any battle. This was orchestrated. And that word—army—kept nagging at me, like it was tied to something bigger.

Something... oddly familiar.

"Wait," I said slowly, a lightbulb going off in my head. "Fiona... have you ever heard of a music group called BTS?"

Fiona gave me a puzzled look. "What? No. Why?"

"Who's the biggest music group in Mythica other than PinkCorals?" I asked, leaning in like it was a matter of life or death.

Fiona's eyes lit up instantly. "Oh, that'd be Stratos. Seven demigods, each one more legendary than the last. They're basically music gods, literally," she gushed, practically swooning mid-sentence.

I could feel the blood drain from my face. "Oh no... this can't be..."

"What? What are you talking about?" Fiona pressed.

I swallowed, suddenly feeling like the walls were closing in. Back on Earth, BTS is a massive boy band. They have a huge fanbase. The fanbase is called ARMY.

For a split second, my heart froze. I was genuinely terrified BTS had somehow infiltrated Mythica. I mean, can you imagine? Absolute chaos. Fan wars would be the least of our problems. We'd be looking at a full-blown, magical catastrophe.

Fiona blinked at me, her face frozen for a second before she burst out laughing. "You think this has something to do with the music demigods called Stratos?"

"Hear me out," I said, leaning in closer. "Look, what if this is really a fan war? The Coralites have their own music faction, right? What if their fanbase is getting territorial—like, two different fanbases clashing?"

Fiona's laughter stopped abruptly as she processed the idea. Her eyes widened in realization. "Wait... if the Coralites have their own music and culture, and these wars are starting because of magical energy imbalances tied to their music..."

"It's a fan war," I finished, feeling both ridiculous and brilliant at the same time.

"Oh my Stratos," Fiona muttered. "That makes way too much sense."

"So, what could trigger the Stratos fan war?" I asked, almost not believing it myself.

Fiona shot me a look, half-amused and half-exasperated. "Carl, you've officially lost it. But honestly... I think you're onto something."

We stood there, dumbfounded. It wasn't just a civil war—it was a fan war.

And somehow, that felt even more dangerous. Because if we didn't stop it, the magic depression could spread, and Mythica's entire coral ecosystem could collapse.

"Great," I sighed. "So how do we solve a fan war that's breaking down an entire coral civilization?"

Fiona didn't answer, her eyes already locked on the samples under the microscope. I knew we had to think fast—because in Mythica, fan wars were clearly not something to take lightly.

Something told me PinkCorals' flashy music video, filmed right on the coral reef, was the trigger for all this madness.

*********

Zoologist Guide on Coralites

Fun Facts:

Micro-Master Builders: Coralites are basically underwater Bob the Builders—except their tools are magic, and they're a bit territorial. Picture a group of tiny creatures squabbling over who gets the best real estate in the reef.

Invisible Sass: They're so small you can't see them with the naked eye, but trust me, if you could, you'd probably hear them throwing shade at each other over which colony has the flashiest coral.

Musical Fanatics: Coralites are huge music lovers. Think of them as the BTS ARMY of the sea, but with magical glow sticks. They throw tiny underwater raves that keep the reef buzzing with energy.

Energy Drama: Their entire civilization runs on energy-exchange networks. But here's the kicker—they're really into hoarding magic. Imagine a tiny Coralite trying to steal energy from another colony, leading to what I like to call a "coral turf war."

Coral Wars: Speaking of turf wars, when Coralites argue over territory, it's not just a squabble—it can lead to serious coral drama, like "magic depression." You haven't lived until you've seen a coral reef go dying because its colonies had a disagreement.