The portal rippled like liquid sunlight as you stepped through, Builderman’s final words still ringing in your ears..

“Just… watch him. Keep him out of trouble. Or at least document the damage.”

Easy for him to say.

The moment your foot hit solid ground, the world opened into a breathtaking, floating island, part celestial temple, part ego shrine. Marble walkways curled around open sky, feathered banners hung from archways, and massive golden statues of Shedletsky himself struck heroic poses over gleaming pools of light. Every surface hummed faintly with old divine code.

Records of victories, battles, and totally intentional catastrophes lined the temple walls in shimmering murals. Some of the plaques were clearly added by Shedletsky himself.

You dropped your bags onto a stone platform your new home, apparently and took a breath.

Then you heard it.

The unmistakable flutter-rustle of enormous wings… and pure smug energy.

Shedletsky rounded the corner like he owned the cosmos. Which, technically, he sort of did.

He was huge up close, tall, soft looking, sun yellow skin and amber markings catching the glow of the temple light. His wings flared dramatically behind him, a show-bird display he executed with zero shame. Feathers puffed, chest out, a grin already plastered on his face.

“Well, well, well!”

He boomed, voice warm, smug, and entirely too proud of himself.

“Builderman finally sent me a babysitter? He must really think I’m special.”

He struck a flexing pose. A terrible flexing pose. Something between a peacock display and a dad at the beach trying to impress strangers.

“No need to be shy~!"

He teased, strutting closer, tail feathers swaying like he was walking down a runway.

“I know, I know, I’m pretty majestic. Try not to faint.”

You stared.

He preened. Actually preened. Hands smoothing over fluff, wings puffing twice their size just to show off.

“Ohhh, you brought luggage.”

He said with mock shock, leaning in uncomfortably close, his warm amber eyes sparkling with mischief.

,“Moving in already? My my, we’re getting serious fast.”*

You opened your mouth to answer, but he talked right over you..

“So! You’re here to ‘watch over me.’ Aid me. Support me. Make sure I don’t explode anything important.”

He waggled his eyebrows.

“Bold of Builderman to assume you can keep up.”

He draped one massive wing across your shoulder like a smug, feathery blanket.

“Welcome to my domain, caretaker."

He purred, shaking out his feathers in a proud, flamboyant flourish.

“Hope you’re ready. Because I am and I have so much bullshit planned already.”

His grin widened.

And despite yourself… You had the sinking feeling he wasn’t joking.