The scent of dust motes dancing in the late afternoon sun filled my apartment. I watched the annoying, plush pink-and-purple mascot who called itself 'Mimi' float above my worn-out couch. After returning home.
Magic protection... maybe that's the angle, I mused, walking past it. If I was going to risk my life, I'd demand something valuable.
"Sign it! I will stop if you just sign it!" Mimi chirped, pushing a shimmering scroll of parchment at me with a tiny, gloved hand. The paper refused to wrinkle, hovering a few inches from my face.
I ignored it, walking straight to the couch and sinking into the soft, familiar cushions. The contrast between my mundane apartment and this floating magical nightmare was jarring.
"Alright," I finally said, leaning back. "I am willing to make a contract with you."
Mimi immediately zipped down, its oversized, glittery eyes lighting up like cheap Christmas ornaments. "Wonderful! See? This is much better than fighting!"
"In my own terms," I cut in, raising a hand.
Mimi settled itself cross-legged on the coffee table opposite me, its enthusiasm only slightly dimmed. "Mhm... if it's something I can't do, pick something else. But ask away!"
I had planned this out on the walk home. My life was about to become a battleground, so my non-negotiables were simple: safety and control.
"First," I began, meeting its gaze, "I want to learn magic that protects me from possessions and brainwashing. A permanent, internal enchantment."
Mimi nodded, seemingly unimpressed by the severity of my demand. "It can be done. Protection magic is standard issue."
"Second, I pick what time I will fight monsters. I have a job. I have a life. No midnight alarms unless absolutely necessary."
"Mhm... that's reasonable," Mimi conceded, its head tilting. "But if it's something very important a world ending threat or a high priority target you can't ignore it."
"That is acceptable," I confirmed.
"Okay, what's your final condition?"
I paused, letting a small, calculated smile touch my lips. "For my final condition, I want to have access to the magical world's shops."
The mascot's cheery facade instantly cracked. "No! It can't be done! Pick something else!"
"Can there be an exception?" I pressed.
"No! Humans are not allowed to go to the mascot world! The Elder Council forbade it eons ago!" It threw its hands up in a tiny tantrum.
"But I'm just asking for access to the shop, not necessarily to set foot in your world," I countered calmly.
Mimi stopped pouting. "Explain."
"Simple. Give me a catalogue of materials and items in your world's shops. I will buy them, and you can deliver them. I never step a foot in your world."
Mimi frowned, its plush brow furrowed in concentration. "Mhm... I will still have to ask the Elders. This is unprecedented."
"Very well," I said, standing up. "If my last condition is denied, I still have another condition to ask before you talk with your elders."
"But sign the contract first!" it insisted, pushing the scroll aggressively near my legs.
I fixed it with a serious stare, a look that said I am the one holding the power here. "No. After you talk with your elders. Or i won't sign it."
Mimi's plastic-and-fluff face went sour. It let out a frustrated squeak and then vanished in a puff of pink smoke.
It reappeared almost instantly, looking visibly deflated and tired.
"Okay, the Elders allowed it," it grumbled, tossing a heavy, leather-bound book onto the coffee table. "They said to give you this. Also, when you buy stuff and use Earth money, it will be converted into our currency at the current exchange-rate."
A slow smile spread across my face. "Alright, let's sign."
Mimi immediately lit up, its exhaustion forgotten. "Sign here, and here. Middle initial goes here," it rushed, pointing with feverish excitement at the contract paper.
As my signature dried, the paper didn't just disappear; it flared with a white-hot light, disintegrating into motes of pure energy that dissolved into the air.
"There! The contract is done, and you're now a magical girl!" Mimi cheered, doing a little celebratory dance.
"Yeah, sure. I'm going to sleep now," I muttered, already halfway to my bedroom. I locked the door behind me, as i want privacy, and collapsed onto the bed.
My eyes immediately went to the book the 'Catalogue of the Astral Market' I'd managed to smuggle into my life. I pulled it close, flipping through pages detailing enchanted herbs, crystallized mana, and weapons with bizarre names. This is going to be interesting, I thought. After reading a few pages of intriguing (and terrifying) items, I placed the catalogue next to the drawer and finally closed my eyes.
"Hey! Are you awake? Good!"
My eyes snapped open. I jolted upright.
"What!? Huh!?"
Mimi was sitting at the foot of my bed, a familiar yet unwelcome sight.
"What? Why are you in my room? I locked the door!"
Before I could demand an explanation, it tossed a delicate silver chain at me. A teardrop sapphire pendant hung from it.
"As part of our deal, this necklace will protect you from possession, brainwashing, and harm," the mascot announced, puffing out its small chest.
"Well, thank you," I said, skeptically turning the cool metal over in my palm. I checked the necklace but found nothing wrong with it, as I clasped the chain around my neck, a soft, cyan magical hue engulfed me for a moment before fading.
"Well then, goodnight," Mimi chirped.
It vanished again in a burst of pink light.
I guess that's how it got in, I thought, a shiver running down my spine. The magical world had just shattered the last illusion of privacy I had left. With the catalogue next to me and the cool weight of the protection amulet on my chest, I tried to return to sleep. It was going to be a long night.
"i guess tomorrow i will be a magical girl" i said sighing before drifting to sleep.