A Zoologist’s Guide to Surviving Magical Creatures

When you think of Selkies, you picture carefree, seal-shifting, karaoke-loving party animals with a flair for moonlit skincare routines.

You don't picture the towering, statuesque Selkie who stood before me now, her luminous green-tinted blonde hair glistening like she'd just stepped out of a high-budget shampoo commercial. She had a model's poise but a harried, almost desperate edge in her ocean-blue eyes.

"You're Carl, right? The MECCP guy?"

"Err, yeah. That's me." I shifted uncomfortably under her intense gaze. "How do you know who I am?"

Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Word gets around. You're the one who solved the PinkCorals issue and handled the Kraken mess."

Oh great, my legend is spreading. Not exactly the kind of reputation I was aiming for—Carl Suis, Mythica's Official Intern for Cleaning Up Disasters.

"We need your help," she said. "Something important washed away during the tsunami. Our safes. They've sunk deep into the ocean, and there's… something guarding them."

I squinted. "Something?"

"A monster," she whispered.

Of course, it's a monster. Because why else would they call me?

---

Back at MECCP headquarters, I was met with Dr. Philippe's trademark poker face. The elderly elf with his ever-present, perfectly groomed beard and gleaming spectacles regarded me as if I'd just offered to do his taxes.

"A deep-sea monster? Guarding Selkie safes? And you're sure they're not just being dramatic?"

"The Selkies may party like it's their last night on Mythica, but they're not about to cry wolf—or, seal, in this case—about a monster," I argued. "If they're scared, it's serious."

Dr. Philippe leaned back in his chair, the wooden frame creaking ominously. "Well, that's good news for us."

"Good news?" I asked, incredulous. "How is that good news?"

"Think about it. More creatures turning to MECCP means we're building credibility. Public trust is vital if we're going to secure long-term funding."

"And sending me to fight sea monsters is part of that strategy?" I deadpanned.

"You're not fighting it, Carl. You're investigating," he said with a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"If anyone can handle this, it's you. After all, you're the intern who turned a Kraken's breakdancing hobby into an international campaign for ecosystem balance."

I glared at him. "If I get eaten, I'm haunting you."

He chuckled and clapped me on the shoulder. "Look at the bright side—you might get to swim with mermaids this time."

I froze. "Wait… you heard about that?"

"Oh, I heard about that."

******

The next day, I was kitted out in my MECCP-issued diving gear— goggles that gleamed with magical runes, a lightweight breathing apparatus that hummed faintly, a waterproof utility vest brimming with tools, and the pièce de résistance—flippers so unwieldy they felt more suited for a circus act than conservation work.

A group of Selkies stood waiting by the docks, their usual lively energy replaced with a quiet tension that made the air feel heavier than it should.

One of them—a shorter, younger guy who looked like he'd just rolled out of bed—approached me.

"You're the guy who's gonna handle the monster?"

"Uh, more like the guy who's going to look at it and hopefully not get eaten."

"Good luck, man. If you don't make it back, can I have your flippers? Those look premium."

I sighed. Great pep talk.

Diving into the depths of Mythica's ocean was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Bioluminescent coral reefs stretched out like glowing cities beneath the waves. Schools of fish darted around me, their scales shimmering like gemstones. It was beautiful, peaceful—until the tranquility gave way to an eerie stillness.

The water grew colder. Darker. And then, I saw it.

A massive structure lay embedded in the sand—a cluster of Selkie safes, their surfaces encrusted with barnacles. And circling it, like a predator guarding its lair, was the monster.

It was a creature straight out of my nightmares, with a sleek, eel-like body the size of a subway car and rows of jagged teeth that gleamed in the dim light. Its eyes glowed an unnatural green, scanning the area like spotlights.

I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. What was I supposed to do? Wave politely and ask if I could borrow the safes?

Suddenly, my comm crystal buzzed in my ear. "Carl, do you copy?"

It was Dr. Philippe's voice.

"I copy," I whispered, keeping my eyes on the monster.

"Status?"

"Status is I'm about five seconds away from becoming eel chow," I hissed.

"Relax," he said. "The Selkies mentioned that the monster might have been attracted to the safes because of the magic inside them. Can you see what's inside?"

"Let me just get closer to the giant, man-eating sea monster and check," I muttered.

I waited until the creature swam to the far side of the safes before inching closer. The lock mechanisms on the safes glowed faintly with enchantments, their magic pulsing in a slow rhythm.

"Dr. Philippe, the safes are definitely giving off some kind of magical energy," I reported.

"Interesting. That could be what's keeping the monster here. If you can disable the enchantments, it might lose interest."

"Disable the enchantments?" I hissed. "I'm not a magical locksmith!"

"Well, you better figure it out," he replied cheerfully.

Great. No pressure.

I reached for my utility belt and pulled out a small magical scanner, waving it over the safes. The readings were off the charts—powerful, but unstable. Whatever was inside these safes wasn't just valuable— it was dangerous.

Before I could do anything else, a shadow loomed over me. I looked up and locked eyes with the monster.

Oh no.

It lunged. I barely managed to dodge, the water churning violently as its massive body whipped past me. My heart was racing as I swam frantically, trying to put distance between myself and the creature.

"Dr. Philippe!" I shouted into the comm crystal. "The monster isn't waiting for me to tinker with the safes! It's trying to eat me!"

"Keep it distracted," he replied calmly.

"How? By offering myself as a snack?"

"Just hold on. I'm sending backup."

The water churned violently, currents ripping past me as the hulking sea beast roared, its jagged maw opening wide enough to swallow a fishing trawler.

I was doing my best to keep a respectable distance, clinging to a jagged rock outcrop.

My lungs burned with the effort of holding my breath against the occasional lungful of saltwater, but I was far more concerned with the very real possibility of becoming this creature's snack.

Then, cutting through the chaos, came a voice as sharp and clear as a ship's bell.

"Carl Suis?"

Backup came in the form of a mermaid—a sassy, well-dressed mermaid with a sparkling trident and an exasperated expression.

I blinked, momentarily forgetting the terrifying monstrosity trying to murder me.

A figure cut through the murky depths, illuminated by the shimmering light of her trident. She was sleek and elegant, with red flowing hair that seemed to have a will of its own and scales that glittered like crushed gemstones. Her expression, however, was anything but friendly.

"Uh… yeah?" I croaked, the words mangled by seawater.

The mermaid looked me over, unimpressed. "Stay out of the way," she said briskly. "This is about to get... complicated."

Before I could even stammer out a confused response, she surged forward, a blur of motion and sparkling steel.

The battle was like nothing I'd ever seen. She didn't fight like someone defending her life—she fought like someone having a particularly intense workout.

Her trident spun through the water in a deadly dance, leaving trails of light in its wake. The beast lunged at her with its massive claws, but she darted out of reach with an almost lazy elegance.

When she struck, it wasn't brute force—it was precision.

Each jab of her trident sent out a ripple of glowing magic that wrapped around the monster like ribbons of light.

I clung to the rock, completely useless and entirely in awe. The entire scene felt surreal, like a painting come to life—wild, chaotic, and yet somehow mesmerizingly beautiful.

Eventually, the monster's thrashing slowed, its massive frame wrapped in a lattice of glowing chains. It groaned once, a deep, resonant sound, before slumping into the seabed.

The mermaid hovered over her defeated foe, taking a moment to admire her work.

Then she turned, her eyes landing on me again.

"You're welcome," she said, smirking.

"Who are you?" I asked, still catching my breath.

"Let's just say I'm with the MECCP's real special ops team," she replied, winking.

******

Back at headquarters, Dr. Philippe was waiting with his usual calm demeanor.

"Good work, Carl," he said. "We'll study the safes and figure out what kind of magic we're dealing with."

I slumped into a chair, exhausted. "Next time you send me to deal with a monster, can you at least give me a heads-up about the cavalry?"

He smiled. "Where's the fun in that? At least I let you get your wish— swimming with a mermaid."