The Reluctant Godparent
In the realm of the fae, tradition dictates that gifts come at a price: the firstborn child. But one young fae wants nothing to do with parenthood and discovers a little-known loophole in the ancient laws.
As her mother pressures her to uphold family customs, she learns that fae can demand additional items or tasks alongside the firstborn. Sensing an opportunity, she devises increasingly absurd conditions to accompany her gifts, hoping to discourage any potential child-bearers.
Her latest scheme? A contract that not only demands the firstborn but also requires the human to complete a series of ludicrous tasks. These include teaching a stone to sing, bottling the sound of silence, and knitting a sweater from moonbeams. And that's just the beginning.
However, our protagonist soon realizes the potential consequences of her actions. Since fae gifts are given in advance of receiving a child, her impossible conditions create a dangerous economic situation. If humans can't fulfill the additional requirements, they can't bear children to repay their magical debts. This loophole threatens to crash the entire fae economy, built on the exchange of favors and firstborns.
As word spreads of her clever (if reckless) contracts, other young fae begin to follow suit. Soon, the realm faces a crisis: a growing backlog of unpaid magical debts and a looming shortage of the children that fuel their society.
With dry wit and deadpan humor, this tale explores family expectations, societal pressure, and the unintended consequences of bucking tradition. As humans struggle to meet outrageous demands and fae elders panic over the economic implications, our protagonist finds herself at the center of a growing controversy. She must navigate the complex web of fae politics and economics she inadvertently tangled, all while trying to maintain her childfree status in a world obsessed with offspring.