One would expect a guardian of peace to be diligent and full of wisdom. However, neither of these traits is present in our guest. Sophia is the laziest bum I’ve ever met. She sits on the couch all day, eating snacks and watching TV. The only benefit to having her besides being the producer of research cells is the fact that she keeps Lesun happy. After Sophia arrived, Lesun rarely bothers me anymore during working hours. Despite Sophia’s slothfulness I am meaning for her to stay until after I’ve completed my secret study.

     However, after meticulous studies of Sophia’s cells for days, my efforts proved to be fruitless. Her DNA seems to be nothing special compared to that of mortals. This raises the question that if magic doesn’t belong to that of the physical world, then where is its source? Following my failure to produce results, I have decided to abandon this nearly impossible task of fortifying my forces with Sophia’s magic.

     I know that our invasion is set for tomorrow. Sophia, being a guardian of peace, will not take this kindly. Since I am a creature of dignity, I refuse to hurt my rescuer. There is no doubt that she will find out about this plan tomorrow morning after all of my followers leave for the big event. To counter this, I’m planning to lock her up in one of my prison cells tonight and explain the reasons to her afterwards.

     After a long day of hard work, I make my way down the long corridor leading to the rooms of my workers. The hallway’s checkered marble floor reflects the pendant lights overhead, illuminating the zone. Along the way, I stop by one entrance. This is Lesun’s room. Sophia and Lesun are playing inside, as I suspected. The TV is on as usual. I am here to fulfill my duty to play with the youngster.

     “Vorelix, Vorelix, Vorelix!” the kid bounds up to me excitedly, “Vorelix, you’re finally here!”

     I walk into the blue room with the fox bouncing around me. Sophia sits in Lesun’s red car-shaped bed, facing the TV. Lesun’s room is filled with boxes of toys at its corners and a desk against one of its walls. Sophia, finally notices my presence, waves me a greeting before turning back to the television.

     “Hey, Vorelix. How’s work?” Sophia asks me with eyes still glued to the figures juggling knives on screen. The guardian seems to be watching a talent show.

     “Fun,” I answer sarcastically over the noise, “How’s TV?”

     “Fun too.” She didn’t seem to pick up my insult, but I don’t mind.

     Fur wraps around my leg, and I look down to see Lesun hugging my limb and grinning up at me cheekily. “Hehehe. I’ve caught you!”

     “Oh? You think a little cuddling can defeat the mighty Vorelix?” I sneer, “you simple-minded peasant!”

     I manage my best evil laughter, only to feel sharp teeth nipping at my leg shortly afterwards. “Ow!”

     “Hehehe.”

     “Lesun! No biting!” I reprimand the kid in a serious tone.

     He obeys and lets go, muttering an apology: “Sorry.”

     “I will accept your sorry-ness, but you will have to share three pieces of your caramel candy with me.”

     “Are you serious?” the poor bewildered fox stares at me with wide eyes, “How about two?”

     “Four.”

     “Three?”

     “Four.”

     “I hate you!”

     “It’s not like I can’t steal your whole jar,” I smirk.

     “Sophia,” Lesun shakes the guardian’s leg, “Vorelix is being mean.”

     Our lazy guest finally turns her attention towards me, and I laugh: “It’s not like I fancy cavities. Who wants your candy anyways?”

     “Vorelix!” Lesun scowls at me.

     “I’ll be off then, it looks like I’m not welcomed here.” I turn to leave.

     “No! Come back!” Just as I expected, Lesun dashes in front of me and blocks the entrance, “I still have something to show you!”

     “Oh?” I feign interest.

     Lesun runs to his desk and snatches up a paper. He hurries back to me, waving it in the air. “Look!”

     “What’s this?” I steal the paper from him. It’s a scribbly drawing of two bigger stick figures standing on either side of a smaller stick figure. The one on the left has pointy ears atop its head and wears a cape; the one on the right is in a dress; the little one in the middle also has pointy ears, but this one doesn’t wear anything. Lesun has showed off tons of these types of poorly drawn artworks in the past, and this one is nothing special.

     “It’s me, you, and Sophia!” Lesun beams, “can you give it back now?”

     “I don’t wear a cape. And where are your clothes?”

     “That’s not a cape, that’s your trench coat. And I have clothes!”

     I chuckle. I love messing with critters. However, I have had enough fun with the unfortunate youngster already. Hence, I decide to be generous just to make up for it. “Oh. My bad. Hey, Lesun, want me to redraw your art so it looks more realistic?”

     “Yeah!” Lesun answers excitedly.

     From the speakers set throughout the building comes a series of bell chimes calling its residents for dinner. Sophia, whom I have almost forgotten about, finally breaks from the TV’s spell.

     “Vorelix, what about the drawing?” the young fox mills around me, disappointed.

     “I will have it ready sometimes,” I reply, “but you will have to be a good kid and go up for dinner.”

     Sophia stands up sluggishly from the comfort of the bed, unwilling to leave. Subsequently, I recall my plan to lock her up. It is necessary to immobilize the guardian first, and I recognize that I can use Sophia’s love for TV against her. The plan is simple, as you will see. I turn to our guest compassionately:

     “Sophia, I can bring you your food. Would you like chicken or fish?”

     She looks at me with her trademark gentle smile, “Fish, please. Thanks.”

     “Got it.” I turn to walk out the entrance. Lesun scurries by me and proceeds down the passage, then pauses a distance away to wait for me to catch up.

     “Hurry up! Hurry up! Hurry up!” the youngster calls.

     “When did you learn to boss me around, kid?”

     “Hehehe.” He dashes off the long, narrow corridor, his footsteps echoing down the passage.