Amy Karvelis sits at her vanity, carefully placing shimmering magical contact lenses over her serpentine eyes. Stray snakes in her hair coil lazily, basking in the warmth. On the floor, Pebbles, a squat cat-shaped golem crafted from smooth river stones and moss, stretches and lets out a gravelly purr. "Ready to face the world again, Pebbles? Let's hope no one notices my new eye color today."

Amy Karvelis walks briskly, her contact lenses shimmering faintly each time she blinks. Pebbles trots beside her, tail held high. Their footsteps echo, mingling with the distant laughter of goblin children and the rhythmic clang of a cyclops blacksmith at work. "Mrrrwwl." "I know, Pebbles. If only everyone could be as immune to my gaze as you."

Amy Karvelis slips quietly to her desk, waving to a vampire in a sun-shielded cubicle and a banshee working on sound design. She sets Pebbles on a blanket beside her computer, where he promptly curls up, his stone sides clicking softly. Marla the Mothwoman, her project manager, flutters by, her wings dusting gold particles in her wake. "Amy, the new poster concept looks fantastic. The client loved the petrifying effect you added—so authentic!" "Thank you, Marla. I, uh, have some real-world experience with that effect."

Amy Karvelis joins her coworkers, balancing a tray of stonefruit salad. Pebbles sits perfectly still, camouflaged among a cluster of decorative rocks. A curious goblin intern leans closer, peering at Pebbles. Grix the Goblin Intern cocks his head. "Is that… a real cat or a sculpture?" "Both, actually. Pebbles is immune to my gaze—unlike my old goldfish, sadly." The group laughs, tension easing as Amy feels herself relax among friends who, for once, aren’t afraid to meet her eyes.

Amy Karvelis leaps into action, her fingers racing across her keyboard, snakes twitching in agitation. Pebbles glows faintly, his internal runes warming as if sensing her stress. "Come on, come on, restore from backup… I can’t let the team down." "Mrrmmrrw." "Thanks for the support, Pebbles. If only I could freeze errors with a look instead of files."

Amy[/@ch_1], gratitude shining in their eyes. Pebbles is perched on her lap, purring contentedly.] Marla the Mothwoman claps her hands, sending a flurry of sparkling dust into the air. "To Amy, who saved the day—and to Pebbles, the world’s best emotional support golem!" "As long as I have Pebbles and my contacts, I think I can handle anything Monster Town throws at me."