Morning in Noctis (which remains dark as night).
Alea opened her eyes in her stone-walled bedroom, wrapped in a raven-feather blanket (not a metaphor—actual raven feathers) that looked like something out of a dark adventure tale. For a moment, everything seemed normal.
There were no vampires reciting poetry at the window.
There were no wolves panting in the corridor.
There were no shadows trying to kidnap her to another dimension.
Calm.
Cozy.
—BOOM!
Something exploded outside her door.
Alea nearly tumbled out of bed. Thankfully, she was relieved to not be wearing her cinnamon roll pajama set, which would have made her look ridiculous in such a dire moment.
"WHAT WAS THAT?!" she shouted, throwing open the door still clad in her black lace nightgown from the underworld; she always imagined herself as the hero in an adventure story, but at that moment—her morning dishevelment made her feel like a cliché character.
What greeted her was purple smoke, and in the midst of it stood Roux Grevlind—a small goblin with mint-green hair who was sneezing while holding a strange device glowing orange. Roux's face, despite being surrounded by smoke, reminded Alea of wildflowers growing in the crevices of rocks, untamed yet vibrant.
"Good morning, Princess of Light!" he exclaimed, as if nothing was wrong, "Your breakfast has exploded a little!" Roux waved his device around, seemingly proud of the astonishing creation, especially for anyone accustomed to the tranquility of the morning. There was something comforting about this goblin's endless enthusiasm, like the refreshing dew that brightens the atmosphere.
"Breakfast?"
"Yep! I made you aura purifying pudding with moonlight magic catalyst and dimension-warping mushrooms, known for their extraordinary ability to influence the surrounding environment."
Alea felt a mix of flavors and reflections from this odd conversation. It seemed that every time Roux took the initiative, there was always danger—and sometimes, a delightful surprise.
"…What kind of mushrooms?" Alea asked suspiciously, trying to understand what kind of fungi could carry such danger in her seemingly healthy dessert.
"Mushrooms that can jump dimensions if shaken too hard."
Alea furrowed her brow, imagining the mushrooms bouncing around in the pudding, possibly on their way to another world.
"…You mixed that into the pudding?"
"With love!" Roux replied enthusiastically, as if love were the secret ingredient to every success.
Alea shook her head, feeling a throb in her temples. It was as if she was trying to clear the fog from her mind while Roux's voice filled the empty space around her.
"Why are you here at... whatever time this is?"
"I signed up to be your personal research assistant!" Roux said, holding up the registration paper with pride, as if it were a golden ticket to a world of magic.
"WHAT?!" Alea exclaimed, her voice laced with disappointment as her thoughts bounced between confusion and the urge to hide from this new reality.
"The official letter has been signed by Principal Aether! He said, 'If Miss Alea is still alive after the first week, she is entitled to one certified goblin,'" Roux declared proudly, while Alea wore a shocked expression, struggling to determine whether this was a joke or some ridiculous reality. She had never imagined that the existence of a certified goblin could become a part of her hellish daily life.
Alea let out a long sigh. "I'm not even dead yet, and it already feels like hell…"
Her workspace had completely transformed.
The desk was cluttered with strange tools: jagged jars, a magnifying glass that screamed if used too closely, and a mini golem doll resembling her—sitting in the corner and saying, "Alea dear, good morning~" automatically every five seconds. Alea felt amused by the doll's voice, as if there was a smart version of herself continuously providing dubious encouragement every morning.
"I also made you this," Roux said proudly, pointing to a small black box with a large red button.
"Don't tell me that's an explosive device…"
"No! It's an Emotion Amplifier. If you press the button while you're sad, the whole room will fill with the smell of baked goods!" Roux looked confident, as if this was the ultimate solution for all emotional problems in the world.
Alea blinked. "...Okay. That's kind of sweet."
"But if it's pressed while angry... it will explode." Alea realized it would be wise to learn about these devices; otherwise, she might end up exploding herself before time ran out.
"Roux!"
As Alea attempted to move the glass beaker from the table, something beneath it lit up. She felt as if magical eyes were watching her every move, ensuring that nothing suspicious occurred.
"DON'T TOUCH THAT!"
Too late.
Boom.
The floor beneath them suddenly transformed into a trampoline of light, bouncing both of them up to the ceiling before they eventually landed in a pile of enchanted cushions that—magically—contained not just cushions, but also rubber balls and straw. For a moment, Alea was reminded of the funny incident when she and Roux tried to concoct a silly potion that resulted in a colorful, furry pet, recalling those unforgettable moments that always awaited ahead.
Roux grimaced. Alea sighed.
"I know I should have asked for a break this morning..."
"But we know, today is an unpredictable day!" Roux replied with contagious enthusiasm. He recalled the magical notes they once made, detailing all the disasters that occurred during their chaotic experiments, and how they always managed to succeed despite the surprises.
After the chaos settled, Alea leaned back in the corner, her hair tousled and her face dusted with magical flour, yet... she wore a small smile. Funny memories of when they got trapped in a giant bubble that wouldn't pop surfaced, reminding her of the unique bond they formed throughout this challenging journey. These memories made her even more certain that life with him was never boring.
Roux sat beside her, cradling his artifact like a baby. He felt proud of their latest discovery, even though he sometimes didn't fully understand how it all came to be. "Pause!" he shouted, as if commanding time to stop for a moment so they could relish this moment a little longer.
"You know," Alea said, "sometimes I feel my sanity is wearing away one unit per hour."
"That's understandable. But look on the bright side!" Roux replied, trying to suppress his laughter. He recognized the challenges of the chaos, yet he also knew they could overcome anything as long as they remained united.
"What?"
"Every day with me is an unexpected experiment!" Roux grinned widely as a wild idea suddenly struck Alea. She contemplated designing a potion that could enable them to understand all animal languages—an idea that might just provide them with new companions on their next adventure.
Alea glanced at him. "And it could end with us being buried under rubble from the third dimension."
Roux chuckled softly. He sensed Alea's anxiety, but there was something exhilarating about that uncertainty. Living with her felt like playing a game without rules, where every move led to an unexpected surprise.
But then, he turned to her with a slightly serious gaze—a rarity for him.
"I know you don't fully trust us, Alea," he said softly. "But I'm not here just because of your blood. I chose... because of you."
"Because... of me?"
"Because you are the most annoying light I've ever seen. But you're also the light that makes the darkness around me... feel warm."
He looked at Alea with eyes full of hope, as if he wanted to open a door to a new world rich with adventure. Roux understood very well that behind her defensive demeanor, Alea harbored a longing for the warmth of friendship that could always be relied upon in difficult situations.
Alea didn't respond. But the smile on her face was impossible to hide.