Ding!
[System Notification: Would you like to hire Xander?]
"Why would I hire him?" Talia asked the cat, one eyebrow arched, arms crossed like she'd just discovered socks floating in her soup.
The cat—fluffy, smug, and perched atop the counter—yawned dramatically.
"Think of it like... adopting a very loud, very stabby puppy," it said, licking a paw. "But with less drool and more trauma."
She squinted. "That's not helping."
"Okay, okay. Hiring him means he'll be bound to your team. He can't betray you, and he's obligated to protect you. Basically, a contract of magical servitude—with dental benefits."
So basically, he's my slave. Neat, she thought, already imagining Xander doing her laundry and calling her "Master Supreme."
The cat paused mid-lick and gave her a long, pointed look. "That is not what I mean. No slaving. Just mildly forced teamwork. Totally different vibe."
She hummed, clearly ignoring the clarification. With a dramatic jab of her finger into the air, she confirmed the system prompt.
"From today, you are my slave," she declared grandly to Xander, who looked up from sharpening a dagger with the slow confusion of someone trying to decode a threat in another language.
"...What did you just say?"
"Nothing!" she chirped, already picturing him mopping floors in a little apron.
[System Notification: Contract Generated]
A glowing parchment shimmered into existence, hovering in the air with a faint hum. Its surface was covered in strange, shifting glyphs that rearranged themselves into legible text.
[Contract Details]
Parties Involved:
Talia Wren (Owner)
Xander (Employee)
Terms:
Magical Binding – Xander is now officially bound to Talia's team. Betrayal is magically restricted.
Protection Clause – Xander must protect Talia from external threats to the best of his ability.
Limited Freedom – Xander maintains personal autonomy but must follow Talia's directives during missions or operations.
Compensation – Room, board, and access to café resources (when applicable).
Escape Clause – Either party may end the contract with one day's notice. Magical binding persists for 7 days post-termination to allow for a proper exit.
Signatures:
Talia Wren (Owner): _______________________
Xander (Employee): _______________________
Talia grinned. "Sign away, Mr. Stabby," she said, tossing the parchment toward him.
Xander eyed the contract like it might explode. His hand hovered above the line.
"You're... actually serious?"
"Would I joke about something this fun?" she replied sweetly.
He exhaled sharply, muttering something about cursed stars and lunatic women. With an exaggerated flourish, he signed.
"Fine. I'm stuck with you. Let's get this over with."
[System Notification: Xander is now officially hired.]
Ding!
[System Notification: Would you like to view your status window?]
Talia blinked at the sudden prompt hovering in the air, a soft chime still ringing in her ears. She tilted her head, squinting at the glowing letters.
"My status window, huh?" she muttered, already feeling a weird sense of anticipation bubbling in her chest.
"Sure. Why not? Show me what I'm working with," she said, tapping the notification with a flick of her finger.
Status Window
Name: Talia Wren
Class: Café Owner
Level: 1
Health: 80/80
Mana: 50/50
Inventory: Empty
Skills:
Café Management – +10% efficiency in café-related tasks
Magical Servitude Binding – Allows formation of contracts with employees/allies
Charm (Passive) – Slightly increases influence in social situations
[System Notification: Xander's Status Window Available. Would you like to view it?]
Oh! This should be cool—I'll finally get to know more about him, she thought.
"Alright, show me," she said.
Xander's Status Window
Name: Xander
Class: Mercenary
Level: 20
Origin: Wastelands of Eldharn
Health: 400/400
Mana: 150/150
Skills:
Dagger Mastery – +15% damage with daggers
Enhanced Reflexes – +20% agility
Survival Instinct – Increased resistance to harsh environments
Undying Loyalty – Magical bonds reduce betrayal likelihood by 50%
Intimidation – Instills fear in lower-level enemies, reducing their effectiveness
Talia stared at the screen for a long beat, a wicked grin spreading. "Well, well. Looks like I've got myself a little powerhouse."
Xander, standing a bit taller now, narrowed his eyes. "Don't get too comfortable. I'm still figuring out how you're making me do this."
"Don't worry," she said sweetly. "You'll get used to it. Besides, you signed the contract."
"Yeah, yeah," he muttered. "So what's next, oh mighty Café Owner?"
Her gaze lingered on the screen, narrowing slightly as she read aloud, "Eldharn, huh?"
Xander's eyes widened. "How did you—?"
She raised a finger. "Oh, you know. Bit of magic, bit of intuition."
He blinked, clearly stunned. "I… I'm from Eldharn. How did you really know that?"
Talia smirked and tapped her temple. "Perks of magical management. I get to see things. Like where my stabby puppy came from."
Xander stared at her, then glanced back at the contract—clearly second-guessing everything.
"Well," he sighed, "guess I'm stuck with you. But don't think I won't be watching your every move."
Talia smiled, hands on hips. "Wouldn't have it any other way, Mr. Mercenary."
---
"Alright, let's celebrate the new hire," Talia declared, spinning on her heel and slinging a dish towel over her shoulder like a victorious knight sheathing her blade.
Xander raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "You mean you want to make more coffee."
"Correction," she said, pointing a spoon at him like a wand. "I want to brew joy, manifest comfort, and sip triumph. Also yes, coffee."
He sighed through his nose, but didn't argue. That, from him, was basically a love letter.
As she approached the espresso machine—still half-convinced it was more enchanted artifact than appliance—a familiar chime rang through the café.
Ding!
> [System Quest: Barista of Destiny!]
Objective: Celebrate your first employee hire with a specialty drink. Bonus points if they cry from how good it is.
Reward: ???
Failure Penalty: Mild existential dread (temporary).
Duration: 10 seconds
Talia blinked at the glowing text, mouthing the words. "Bonus points if they cry? Ten seconds?!"
> [00:00:09]
She snapped her head sideways and hissed like a student caught cheating during finals, "Hey, Cat—define 'specialty drink.'"
The smug feline, now lounging atop the pastry case like it ran the place, barely looked up. "Something personal. Something powerful. Preferably caffeinated."
> [00:00:08]
"That's not helpful!" she whisper-shouted. "Am I supposed to psychoanalyze him and pour it into a mug?!"
> [00:00:07]
"Exactly," it purred. "Welcome to magical food service. You're a barista, therapist, and miracle worker. With beans."
> [00:00:06]
Talia groaned and slammed her hands onto the counter.
"Alright... Mr. Mercenary with trust issues and a thousand-yard stare... espresso base. Obviously."
Ding!
> [Café Management skill activated!]
> [00:00:05]
She lunged for the beans, grinding them with the grace of a caffeinated banshee.
> [00:00:04]
Steam whooshed. Milk frothed. Cinnamon? Yes, even if it was just for her.
> [00:00:03]
She snatched a cookie sword from the jar and stabbed it artfully into the whipped cream.
> [00:00:02]
Sliding the drink across the counter, she exhaled like she'd just defused a bomb. "One Mercenary Macchiato," she announced. "May it stab you in the heart… with flavor."
> [00:00:01]
[Quest Timer: Complete]
Talia leaned on the counter, smirking like a victorious caffeine gremlin. "Nailed it."
Xander eyed the drink like it might explode or insult his ancestors.
Then he took a sip.
One beat. Two.
His eyes widened just a little. Lips parted. Blink.
"This... actually tastes better than the first one," he muttered.
Talia slapped a hand over her heart. "Be still, my cold café owner soul. That's the nicest thing anyone's said to me today."
"It's only noon. And I'm the only one you've seen today."
"And yet," she said, smugly leaning on the counter.
[System Notification: Quest Complete!]
> Reward Acquired: Recipe – Mercenary Macchiato
Bonus Reward: Café Aura Upgrade – Sanctuary Warmth Lv.1 unlocked!
[Effect: Adds calming energy to Haven Brew. Enemies cannot enter while the aura is active. Survivors receive mental restoration upon entry.]
Talia gasped. "Dude. My café just leveled up."
"What?" Xander asked, glancing around. "What leveled up?"
"Nothing," she said, way too fast. "Just... emotional growth. Definitely not supernatural blessings."
He gave her a long stare. "You're weird."
"And you signed a magical servitude contract, so we're both having a banner day."
Suddenly, the windows flickered with eerie violet light, and a distant, bone-deep roar echoed across the horizon. One of the big ones. A mutated beast, drawn from some other rift-broken world.
Talia glanced at the door.
No shaking. No scratching. No shadow sliding beneath.
Just the soft glow of a golden sigil etched above the frame—a steaming mug wrapped in curling vines. Warmth pulsed from it like a heartbeat.
It was real.
"It's working," she whispered. "We're safe."
Xander followed her gaze, then looked at her, a trace of something unreadable in his expression. "You're saying this place is protected now? Like, magically warded?"
She raised her mug and smirked. "Welcome to Haven Brew, Mr. Stabby. Home of espresso and existential safety."
The cat yawned, tail twitching as it settled into a sunbeam.
"And this," it murmured, "is only Day One."