The Lost & Found Department for Magical Creatures
By Enchanted Times Weekly
Hidden deep in the basement of the Grand Library of Everwhim lies a door
few dare to open. Marked only with a crooked sign that reads “Lost &
Found,” most assume it’s where librarians store forgotten quills and
overdue scrolls. But step through that squeaky oak door, and you’ll find
yourself in a surprisingly chaotic hub — the Lost & Found Department for
Magical Creatures.
“We don’t just find things,” says Fernwick Nibblebrush, the gnome in
charge of intake. “We find beings. Big difference.”
Inside the dimly lit room, shelves stretch to the ceiling, each labeled with
tags like “Unclaimed Phoenixes,” “Lonely Sock Golems,” and
“Dragons (Miniature, Slightly Singed)”. A sleepy unicorn munches on
carrot sticks in the corner. A flock of mischievous pixies flit about, trying to
alphabetize a pile of lost spellbooks by sneezing on them — which
apparently causes temporary invisibility. Handy, but counterproductive.
The department’s goal? To return magical creatures to their rightful
owners — or at least find them a new home if their wizard, witch, or young
apprentice has long since moved on.
“One time we found a talking cat who insisted he was once a powerful
sorcerer,” says Fernwick, scratching his beard. “Turns out he just read a lot
of books and was very persuasive.”
Each creature is treated with kindness and care. The staff — made up of
gnomes, brownies, and one surprisingly helpful banshee — interview
every new arrival, asking questions like:
“Do you remember who summoned you?”
“Were you last seen near a cauldron explosion?”
“Do you enjoy being tickled behind the ears?”
While the department isn’t open to the public, rumors say that if you lose
something magical — like a runaway broomstick or a particularly grumpy
troll — you can leave a note under a toadstool during the full moon. With
luck (and the right offering of blueberry muffins), the department may just
send it back.
So next time your enchanted hamster goes missing, don’t panic. It might
just be lounging in the Lost & Found, sipping lemonade and waiting for
someone to claim him.