The bustling market square hummed with life, a vibrant tapestry of sights, sounds, and smells that seemed almost overwhelming. Merchants shouted over each other, their voices mingling into a chaotic symphony of bargains and boasts. The air was thick with the mingling aromas of freshly baked bread, sizzling skewers of seasoned meat, and the sharp tang of magical herbs wafting from an alchemist's stall. Stalls overflowed with wares, from glimmering trinkets sparkling in the sunlight to enchanted oddities pulsing with a faint, hidden power.

Amid the swirl of activity, Snik Snak blended in perfectly. His smooth scales shimmered like polished gems, their gradient shifting from deep purple at his claws to vivid magenta along his ridges. His iridescent purple eyes darted from stall to stall, catching glints of light that made them appear to shift hues as he moved. Silver hoops dangled from his ears, occasionally sparkling as he turned his head, and his magenta-tinted hair stuck out in a playful disarray. His tail twitched with excitement, its feathery, leathery spikes moving rhythmically as if reacting to the market's liveliness.

Snik Snak's attire only added to his charming personality. A dark purple wizard robe draped over his small kobold frame, fastened at the neck with a polished golden chain clasped by ornate buttons. The robe's hood hung back and his floppy wizard hat bobbed with each step. A dangling golden moon charm swayed from the hat's tip, catching light as it moved. Around his waist, a thick cloth belt cinched his robe, the fabric flaring into a swath that draped in front of him with understated grandeur.

Clutched in his clawed hands was his prize: a steaming, golden-crusted meat pie. Its flaky pastry glistened with a buttery sheen, the rich aroma of slow-cooked spiced lamb, roasted garlic, and caramelized onions wafting up to him. The tantalizing scents mingled with hints of thyme and rosemary, while a velvety gravy promised a decadent burst of flavor in every bite. Despite the market's chaos, Snik Snak appeared wholly satisfied, a triumphant grin spreading across his face as he savored his well-earned treat amid the vibrant whirl of the marketplace.

With a triumphant grin, Snik scurried over to the fountain at the center of the square, where he perched on the rim like a dragon hoarding treasure. The sun glinted off his shimmering scales as he shifted his robes to get comfortable, his tail curling around the edge for balance. Around him, the lively crowd moved in a swirl of chatter, laughter, and the occasional bartering squabble that added to the sounds of the bustling market.

For a moment, Snik Snak felt a rare sense of peace amidst the chaos. This pie—oh, this pie—was more than just a meal; it was the culmination of days spent haggling, dreaming, and savoring the anticipation of its golden crust and savory filling. He held it aloft reverently, his eyes narrowing with delight as he admired the glistening buttery sheen. Taking a deep, satisfied sniff, he let the rich aroma of spiced lamb and roasted garlic wash over him, savoring the moment as though it were the height of culinary perfection.

"Ahhh, this is it," he muttered to himself, his tail swishing in delight, the feathery tips twitching with anticipation. "Finally—a snack truly worth of Snik Snak the Magnificent."

He closed his eyes, savoring the anticipation, and opened his maw wide, ready to claim the first glorious bite – but the moment was shattered by a sudden, deafening boom.

The air around the fountain erupted with a crackling burst of golden light, as if the heavens themselves had descended upon the square. Snik Snak yelped, his claws scrambling for balance as he nearly toppled into the fountain. His precious snack soared through the air in an unfortunate arc, landing somewhere in the chaos. Shielding his eyes with his hand, he squinted against the overwhelming glow that now bathed the square in a blinding brilliance.

As the blinding light receded, a towering figure took shape at the fountain's center, exuding an aura of unearthly power. His golden skin seemed to ripple like molten sunlight, each movement casting radiant reflections onto the cobblestones. Glowing eyes, piercing and all-knowing, swept over the square, holding the crowd captive in their intensity. The sheer weight of his presence forced even the boldest onlookers to step back. He stood tall and unshakable, emanating the quiet authority of a being who had witnessed the rise and fall of ages, his every gesture a testament to an existence beyond mortal comprehension.

"SNIK SNAK!" His voice boomed, shaking the very cobblestones beneath the fountain. Several merchants shrieked and dove behind their stalls, though the celestial's tone carried a hint of warmth beneath the thunderous volume. "MY FRIEND, LIBERATOR OF THE MIGHTY, YOUR DESTINY CALLS!"

Snik Snak froze mid-reach, his claws hovering indecisively over the dirt-smudged remains of his precious pie. His head turned with agonizing slowness toward the booming voice. Striding toward him with purpose and glowing like a divine lighthouse was none other than Jophyr. The celestial's radiant presence practically screamed "heroic entrance," though to Snik, it just screamed "trouble."

Snik had freed the Empyrean from the Gallery of Angels not so long ago. Back then, Jophyr had lent his considerable power to help Snik and his companions finish a battle, though it was more incidental than intentional; the celestial's primary goal had been putting as much distance as possible between himself and his former prison.

Snik Snak had been more than a little peeved when the so-called temporary ally had vanished without so much as a "thanks." He had long since given up on the idea of ever seeing the Empyrean again. And now, here he was—appearing out of nowhere, interrupting what should have been a perfect, peaceful snack break. To call it "less than ideal" was an understatement of epic proportions.

"Oh no," Snik hissed under his breath. "Oh no, no, no, no. Not him. Not now."

Abandoning his snack—a tragic, heart-wrenching sacrifice—he sprang to his feet with a squeak of alarm and bolted into the nearest alley. His tail flicked in agitation as he weaved through crates and startled merchants. Behind him, Jophyr's voice rang out again, echoing through the square with a mixture of celestial authority and unyielding cheer.

"DO NOT FLEE, SMALL ONE! YOUR GLORIOUS FUTURE AWAITS!"

Snik darted deeper into the maze of alleys, his claws clicking frantically against the cobblestones. "Glorious future, my tail!" he hissed, weaving between crates and startled pedestrians. He chanced a glance over his shoulder, only to see Jophyr's glowing form still striding after him, undeterred by the twisting paths or the chaos left in their wake. Snik groaned, throwing his arms up in frustration. "Does he not know hot to not be obvious?!"

The chase spilled back into the market square, where chaos erupted like a poorly timed fireworks display. Snik Snak darted between stalls, his nimble movements and small size allowing him to squeeze through impossibly tight gaps, leaving a trail of toppled baskets and startled merchants in his wake. Behind him, Jophyr strode with all the subtlety of a thunderstorm, his glowing form scattering crowds as his booming voice rang out.

"FEAR NOT, MY FRIEND. YOUR DESTINY AWAITS!"

"Fear this!" Snik snapped, leaping over a cart of cabbages that promptly tipped over, spilling its contents into Jophyr's path. The celestial champion didn't falter, lifting the cart with one hand and setting it neatly aside before continuing his relentless pursuit. The market's bard, sensing an opportunity, began narrating the chase in song, much to Snik Snak's dismay.

"A nimble kobold doth flee for his life, pursued by a glowing beacon of strife!" the bard sang, strumming a lute dramatically. Snik groaned, darting under a merchant's table as Jophyr accidentally tipped a stack of barrels, sending them rolling harmlessly away.

"STOP RUNNING, SMALL ONE! I MEAN YOU NO HARM!" Jophyr called, his sincerity somehow making the situation even more ridiculous.

"Then STOP CHASING ME!" Snik Snak yelled back, scrambling up a crate and disappearing into the next alley with a frustrated flick of his tail. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you're causing?"

Jophyr's reply was as unapologetic as it was loud. "TROUBLE IS TEMPORARY! DESTINY IS ETERNAL!"

Snik Snak groaned, ducking under a low-hanging canopy that sent a cascade of drying laundry into his face, emerging on the other side looking like a poorly wrapped kobold burrito. Shaking off a rogue sock, he spotted a stack of barrels and scrambled up them with surprising agility, muttering, "This has to work. Barrels are like stairs for heroes, right?"

Jophyr, however, had no intention of playing by kobold logic. Instead of climbing, the Empyrean simply floated upward, his golden aura lighting up the alley like an overenthusiastic festival lantern. "SMALL ONE," he boomed cheerfully, "WHY DO YOU FLEE? YOUR FRIEND IS HERE TO GUIDE YOU TO GLORY!"

"Glory?" Snik hissed, nearly tripping over a rooftop shingle as he leaped to the next building. "You're the one turning my life into a bad play!"

The chase continued, drawing the attention of nearly everyone in the market. Children giggled and cheered as though watching a street performance, while merchants flailed their arms in equal parts outrage and despair at their upturned wares. A fruit seller, shaking a mango at the sky, wailed, "This is not what mangoes are for!" Meanwhile, the market's bard leapt onto a nearby crate and continued his impromptu ballad.

"Behold the brave kobold, so fleet and so small, pursued by the light that outshines them all!" he sang. Snik Snak groaned as he continued his dash over the rooftops, muttering, "Who brings a bard to a chase?"

Finally cornered in a narrow alley with no more rooftops to escape to, Snik spun around, his tail lashing like an irritated cat. He planted his hands on his hips and glared up at Jophyr, who hovered serenely as if this entire chase hadn't left a trail of chaos.

"All right, Glowstick," Snik snapped, one claw jabbing accusingly in Jophyr's direction. "What in the name of all that's scaly, shiny, and snack-related do you want?"

Jophyr landed gracefully, folding his glowing arms as if he were about to deliver the most important speech in the history of existence. His radiant features softened with a hint of fondness, though his tone remained as grandiose as ever.

"I want you, my friend. Together, we will topple the gods themselves, rewrite the very fabric of the cosmos, and create a legacy that will echo through eternity. It is your destiny."

Snik Snak stared at him, his jaw slack and his mind racing to process the absurdity of it all. After a long, heavy pause, he crossed his arms and muttered. "Fine…but you owe me so many snacks for this that I'm going to need a separate bag just to carry them all."