My name is Seth; I’m an elf. I live alone in a mansion left to me by my grandfather; he also left me his entire fortune that will probably outlive me. In all honesty, even with an elf’s long lifespan, my grandfather was incredibly wealthy; his company had ties to almost every possible market in the world, but that’s besides the point.

  For the past 5 years I’ve been studying chibi care. For those of you that don’t know, a chibi is a miniature humanoid the size of a toddler, but when they come into the world they are the size of newborn puppies. Chibies are born through special plants known as Gaudium Bulbs; the most common ones are Rose and Cabbage.

  Gaudium Rose bulbs will always produce a female chibi, and Gaudium Cabbage Bulbs will always produce a male chibi. There are at least 16 other types of Gaudium bulbs out there. Botanists are currently experimenting with crossbreeding different types with slow results, but chibis are incredibly fragile creatures. In the past, chibis were used for unsavory things; that is, until the Chibi Protection Act was put in place around the entire world and chibi abusers were put to death or forced into hard labor.

  Shortly after the Chibi Protection Act was put in action, scientists discovered that Chibis raised in loving households can generate good luck, meaning that Chibis can cause good things to happen. There is no concrete explanation on why this happens, but there are cases where people who have been diagnosed with cancer miraculously recover overnight like magic.

  Some scientists believe that the reason for this might be because Chibis might be descendants of the Zashiki-warashi, though this has yet to be confirmed, but either way, raising Chibis is very beneficial, but it’s because of that side effect that many people wanted to be Chibi Keepers mainly for their own gain. It was then discovered that after getting everything they wanted, the Chibis were abandoned in the wild to perish, so when this was discovered, the offenders had their assets taken, and they all had to spend life in prison, and a screening test was put in place to weed out the good from the greedy.

  I took that test and was fully certified. I also had to take self-defense classes so I could protect the Chibis in case of emergencies. I also had to renovate one of my rooms so it could be able to grow Gaudium plants; that room is on the first floor. I also had to get two nurseries prepared, one for newborns and one for babies. The last thing I had to get was a child’s room. Currently, I’m getting ready for the arrival of my first chibi; his name is Lay. He’s a newborn chibi just born two days ago. An agent will also be with him mainly to do a final inspection of my home to make sure it’s up to snuff.

  After that, the agent will do follow-up visits every so often, and I am incredibly nervous. I mean, after all the research I’ve done, nothing can prepare you for the real thing. I’m in the ground floor sitting room trying to calm my nerves with iced tea.

  I’m constantly looking out the window facing the yard, and honestly, the silence within this mansion is deafening. As I pace around the sitting room, my phone begins to go off. I check my phone and see that I got a response to my roommate ad.

  The other day I placed an application for a roommate on a website a friend of mine created. The website is like Craigslist for people looking for roommates, but it also has a hidden function only a few people know about. The hidden functions do background checks on the applicants; you need to be a premium member to use them. If a premium member were to reveal this hidden function to others either in a text or private chat room, the website terminates their account and blocks them from entering the site. How this website is able to keep up with that is a mystery to me; my friend is just that good.

  It looks like I have two applicants this time. I do background checks on each of them. It seems that both of them have a couple of lies on the applications. One of them is a heavy addict; the other has a criminal record containing some concerning information. I let out a deep sigh and add these two to the blocklist, banning them from the website.

  I know that all ex-cons aren’t bad, but for what I plan to be doing, I cannot have them around. It seems that the world is becoming a dark place, but I know there is still light out there. Chibis are proof that light still exists.

  As I sit back down, I see a white car pull up to my home. I smile and rush to the door. I come outside feeling the chill air against my skin; it’s mid-December, Yule has just passed. A woman soon comes out of the car and goes over to the passenger side, and she turns around holding a specialized carrier. It’s shaped like a futuristic space pod with a clear dome and silicone holder. Currently, the glass dome is covered by an insulation shutter to keep the heat inside for the chibi.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  The woman smiles. She’s dressed like a social worker; she has soft pink hair with white frosted tips. She also has the horns and ears of a cow. She also has a great bust. Like most of her kind, she looks at me and says,

  Maybelle: Hello, you're Seth, right? I’m going to be your advocate for the Chibi Preservation Agency; my name is Maybelle!

  Seth: Well, welcome. Please come inside; it’s chilly out here.

  I invite Maybelle inside; she is ecstatic about my home. She goes on and on about how beautiful it is, and I give her a tour of the major rooms where the Chibis will be cared for. It’s a relatively quick tour, mainly because all the other rooms are unimportant. Maybelle then turns to me with a curious look.

  Maybelle: You seem fully prepared for this task, but my only concern is that this is an awfully big house. I’m concerned that the Chibis could get stuck or hurt, and if so, you might not make it in time to aid them.

  I then pulled out my phone and opened an app, showing her my Nanny Cam footage.

  Seth: I had the same concern, so I have cameras installed in every hallway and room. The cameras are even labeled with what room they are located in.

  Maybelle was impressed. Soon we went to the ground floor neonatal nursery; it was an all-white nursery with a butterfly theme. The bassinet is incredibly big; it even has dividers. There is a wash tub in the corner along with a fully stocked bottle-making station. Against the wall beside the bottle-making station is a side room mainly for times when you have to stay overnight. This nursery is located under the mansion foyer’s double staircase; the entrance is in between them. I got the idea from a certain movie, but the room turned out great. Back, back to the side room.

  It’s a medium-sized room and has a king-sized bed with a bookcase and flat-screen TV as well as a mini fridge. Maybelle smiles and hands me the carrier, and I almost jump. She takes a photo of the nursery and turns to me.

  Maybelle: I am proud to say this, Seth, you might be the biggest success story in the history of chibi care. I am so happy to be assigned to you, and I will write a promising report to my superiors now. There is one thing left to do.

  Seth: And what is that?

  Maybelle: The First Encounter Photo: Of course you see the agency likes to document every moment of a Chibi Keeper’s career, the first encounter Photo is the start of that; we can do a video if you like.

  Seth: A video would be perfect.

  Maybelle then begins to record me with her phone. I place the carrier on the changing table, and I press the master switch, causing both the insulation shutter and the glass screen to descend, and for a brief moment it seems like time is going as slow as possible. Then I see him; he’s curled in a fetal position wearing a long white shirt resembling a medical gown only without the gap in the back. His hair is as black as night; it’s also a little curly, and I am absolutely taken away by his adorable looks. His soft breathing is so innocent and cute; it’s like my heart is going to stop from his adorability.

  I slowly reach my hand down; I gently scoop him up into my palm, and he’s actually smaller than my entire palm. He’s so warm as well. I put my finger near him so I can feel his skin. The moment my finger gets close, he lets out a big yawn, and I freeze where I am, and my eyes start to fill with tears. He’s the most precious thing in the entire world, and knowing that he’s in my care makes everything seem brighter.

  When he settles down, I begin to stroke his head; he lets out a series of coos, and tears begin to fall down my cheeks once again.

  Maybelle: I knew you were something special, Seth. Most people start to gush over their chibi and end up scaring the poor dears, but you, Seth, it’s like your heart is made for this.

  Maybelle had stopped recording before she spoke; I was too transfixed by my Lay’s sleeping form that I barely heard her soon. Maybelle manages to get my attention, and she hands me Lay’s file; I place it on the table. Maybelle then makes her way out of my home.

  Now that I’m alone with Lay, the weight of my responsibility sets in. I end up sitting in the father chair holding my little Lay in my hand; he lightly squirms from time to time. I think he’s getting adjusted to my hand.

  For a moment the silence becomes awkward. I then remember my training, specifically my lessons on newborn Chibi bonding; the first thing they tell you is to speak to newborn Chibis a few times a day to build a bond. Remember, their ears are incredibly sensitive, so make sure to use a soft and low tone.

  Seth: Hello, Lay, welcome to your new home. I promise to give you the best life possible. My name is Seth, but you can call me Papa or Big Bro when you’re able. I’m going to let you sleep now, you sweet child.

  I slowly get up and walk over to the bassinet; I gently place Lay onto the soft bedding. It looks like he could be swallowed up by the bedding. After a few moments, Lay begins to readjust himself, cuddling into the soft bedding, and then I see something; I have to get a closer look, but it’s unmistakable.

  Lay is smiling, and I slowly stand back up and let out a silent scream. My heart is filled with so much joy as happy tears run down my face. This is the best day ever.

  End of Pilot