Kael sat on the infirmary cot in the museum, covered in magical ash and still sparking in ways that were probably illegal. Next to him, a nervous rookie healer handed him a towel, looking like he was afraid Kael might bite.

"I'm fine," Kael muttered as he wiped his face. "Just exploded a little."

Across the room, the genie floated guilt-free, flipping through a fashion magazine with magical hands. His robe fluttered dramatically in a breeze he was clearly generating himself.

"Oh please! That wasn’t even a real explosion! Just a minor energy release," he said theatrically. "You’ve earned a mystical soul mark, yes, but you look fabulous."

Kael glared at him.

"I don’t give a damn about looking fabulous if I can’t go home and sleep."

The genie snapped his fingers, and a massive scroll appeared with trumpet sounds.

"Here’s the magical contract. It’s already ‘accidentally’ signed the moment you touched the jar. Congratulations! You’re officially the bearer of my divine essence."

"Great! And where’s the opt-out clause?"

The genie grinned wickedly.

"There isn’t one. It’s in invisible ink."

Kael dropped his head back, staring at the ceiling in deep despair.

"Why can’t it be Tuesday? Tuesdays are always less dramatic..."

Minutes later, in the Central Archive, Kael walked through the halls carrying a box of talismans in one hand, with the genie floating behind him, giving magical instructions he clearly didn’t want to hear.

"To channel my power, you must open your inner spiritual chakra!" the genie said.

"What if I lock it and leave it in the bathroom?"

"You can’t escape your destiny, Kael! A dark force is awakening, and only you can stop it!"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Mr. Lamp."

As they entered the office, E13, the receptionist golem, observed them with its glowing eye.

"Kael. You are... accompanied."

"I'm possessed," Kael corrected, dropping the box onto the desk with a thud. "Tell the boss I want eternal vacation."

But Director Gravos was already waiting in his office. When he saw the floating genie behind his most apathetic employee, the badger raised an eyebrow… and his magical mustache twitched as if sensing danger.

"Explain. Calmly."

Kael entered, picked up a mug of cold coffee, looked at it for a second… and then it slipped from his hand. It shattered on the floor.

"That sums it up pretty well, don’t you think?"

As they cleaned up the mug shards with a levitation spell, the genie decided to jump in.

"Kael has been chosen as the celestial bearer of my ancient power! Together, we shall face unspeakable horrors, travel to forgotten realms, and awaken sleeping beasts!"

"I didn’t sign up for that," Kael interrupted. "I signed a part-time contract with the option to leave early if I finished ahead of schedule."

Gravos didn’t respond right away. He simply rubbed his temple with one claw and sighed.

"Kael… did you unleash a magical entity with supreme arcane abilities?"

"With museum permission," he added, raising a finger.

"And now you’re... bonded?"

Kael nodded with almost artistic resignation.

"According to this floating clown, yeah."

Gravos stayed silent for a long moment. Then he said:

"Fine. You’re suspended for two days. With pay."

Kael narrowed his eyes.

"That sounds suspiciously generous."

"Because in two days, representatives from the High Council will come for you. And you’ll have to explain why you activated an alpha-level relic without magical authorization."

Kael turned pale.

"...I’m gonna throw up."

The genie smiled brightly.

"The adventure begins!"

Kael just mumbled to himself:

"Day two as the arcane slave of a dramatic genie: I need a second cup of coffee... and therapy."