Chapter 65: The Parade of Paws and Wings
🐾 Act I: A Curious Invitation
Ne Job was reorganizing miracle scrolls when a scroll with paw prints and feathers landed on his desk.
> You are cordially invited to the Celestial Pet Adoption Fair!
> Hosted by the Department of Divine Companions.
> Interns may adopt a certified celestial creature for companionship and Bureau support.
Ao Bing gasped. "Pets? Real ones?"
Taiyi Zhenren adjusted his monocle. "Last time, someone adopted a cloud serpent. It rewrote the filing system."
Ne Job grinned. "Sounds delightful."
Twinkle buzzed with excitement.
Lord Xian appeared. "Interns may attend. But no chaos. No stampedes. No unauthorized miracle bonding."
Ne Job saluted. "Understood."
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🐉 Act II: The Fair Begins
The Divine Courtyard was transformed into a wonderland of floating habitats, glittering stalls, and chirping scrolls.
Creatures of all shapes and sizes lounged in cozy enclosures:
- Scrollfoxes: small, furry beings that curled up in miracle scrolls.
- Cloud Puffers: floating puffballs that giggled when hugged.
- Inkfinches: birds that left trails of poetry mid-flight.
- Miniature Phoenixes: rebirthed every time they sneezed.
Ne Job wandered the fair, clipboard in hand, noting creature traits and compatibility scores.
Ao Bing was already bonding with a mischievous scrollfox named Nibble.
Taiyi Zhenren was negotiating with a phoenix over filing duties.
Ne Job paused at a quiet corner — where a small creature sat alone.
It was round, glowing faintly, with stubby wings and a sleepy smile.
A sign read: "Miracle Mote. Gentle. Empathetic. Slightly unpredictable."
Ne Job knelt. "Hello."
The mote floated into his palm and hummed.
Twinkle hummed back.
Ne Job smiled. "I think we're friends."
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🌀 Act III: Chaos Unleashed
Just as Ne Job signed the adoption scroll, a loud POP echoed across the courtyard.
A scrollfox had triggered a miracle orb — and released a "Joy Burst" miracle.
Creatures began bouncing, flying, and teleporting.
Cloud Puffers giggled uncontrollably and floated into the rafters.
Inkfinches wrote love poems on the judges' robes.
Phoenixes sneezed in sync, causing a minor solar flare.
Lord Xian arrived, robes singed. "Intern! Contain this!"
Ne Job gulped. "On it!"
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🧠 Act IV: The Kindness Net
Ne Job rallied his team.
Ao Bing summoned a cloud net.
Taiyi Zhenren activated a scroll labeled "Emergency Calm."
Pippa the sprite sniffed out the source — a rogue miracle orb hidden in a snack stall.
Ne Job held the Miracle Mote close. "Can you help?"
The mote pulsed gently, then floated upward — releasing a soft hum that rippled across the courtyard.
Creatures paused. Blinked. Snuggled.
The chaos settled.
Lord Xian blinked. "What was that?"
Ne Job smiled. "Empathy. Amplified."
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🎉 Act V: The Parade
With order restored, the fair resumed.
Ne Job was asked to lead the Parade of Paws and Wings, showcasing the adopted companions.
He marched proudly with the Miracle Mote floating beside him, Twinkle humming in harmony.
Ao Bing rode a scrollfox like a chariot.
Taiyi Zhenren's phoenix wore a monocle.
The crowd cheered.
Lord Xian nodded. "Acceptable."
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📜 Epilogue: A New Companion Registry
The next morning, a new scroll appeared in the Bureau:
> Companion Registry Entry #001
> Name: Miracle Mote
> Bonded to: Intern Ne Job
> Function: Emotional calibration, empathy amplification, snack detection.
Ne Job added a note:
> "Sometimes, the smallest companions make the biggest difference."
Twinkle hummed.
The Miracle Mote glowed.
And somewhere in the Bureau, a scrollfox curled up in a miracle pouch and snored.