The sun hung low in the sky as we trudged along the riverbank. The trek stayed relatively uneventful, save for the occasional awkward exchange between Kyra and me. Her worldview, so deeply ingrained in Amazon's ideology, irritated me to no end. So, I kept the conversation light, sticking to small talk about the sights, weather, and anything else to avoid touchier topics.

After a bend in the river, we arrived at a farm matching Li Wei’s description. It was vast, stretching out across the landscape with rows of overgrown crops and fields. A large manor stood beside some dilapidated stables, faded and worn from neglect. The windows were dark, with cracked walls and mud, giving the whole place an air of abandonment.

“This is how horror movies usually start,” I muttered.

Cragmarr gave me a curious look, and I waved it off.

In the distance, a lone figure moved slowly through the fields, working the earth with a hoe. As we approached, the farmer, an old man with a weathered face and hunched back, straightened up and waved.

A sharp whizzing sound cut through the air. A bolt plunked into the ground a few feet in front of us.

“Get down!” Cragmarr grunted as he turned his back to shield us. Another bolt sailed over our heads. I peeked past him, spotting an older woman in one of the manor’s windows, aiming a crossbow at us.

“Get off our land!” she shouted, her voice cracking with age. “We have nothing of value, and we won’t let you take what little we do!”

Another shot whizzed wide—not even close.

Kyra loaded her Jingozi cards, but I grabbed her wrist, shaking my head.

“Wait!” I stood just enough to be seen. “Li Wei sent us!”

The firing stopped. The woman remained at the window, her grip on the crossbow still tight with shaking hands.

“What did you say? You know Li Wei?”

“Yes,” I stepped forward with my hands raised. “He helped us. We’re his friends.”

“How do I know you’re not trying to trick us? How do you know our boy?”

“You sent him to Radiant Temple to join the Monks. He said he had a sister—your youngest daughter—who passed away. He visits you every summer, bringing you gifts.”

I held up Li Wei’s pack.

“He also said you have a bad hip.”

* * *

Inside the manor, the old man and woman introduced themselves as Ethelred and Agatha Hawkstone. Their voices were warm yet carried the weight of years, and their eyes were a bright, piercing blue—just like Li Wei’s. They both wore run-of-the-mill farm clothes.

Noticing my curious look, Cragmarr explained, “When one joins the Monk faction, they take a new name.”

Ethelred and Agatha led us to a long, dusty banquet table. Though quaint, the inside of the manor desperately required maintenance. The walls were lined with faded tapestries, the wooden floors creaked underfoot, and cobwebs clung to the corners of the ceiling. I envisioned it as a place that once held warmth and life.

We sat down, the chairs groaning under our weight.

“How do you know our son, Li Wei?” Ethelred asked.

I took a breath, my heart pounding.

“Li Wei… the monastery was attacked… he died.”

Agatha gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as tears filled her eyes. Ethelred bowed his head and put his arm around her.

“We’re so sorry,” I said.

Cragmarr closed his eyes and nodded.

“Who killed him?” Agatha whispered.

“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “What matters is that Li Wei sacrificed himself to uphold what he believed in.”

“His body? Ethelred asked.”

“I’m sorry, we couldn’t bring him with us. We held a fire ceremony at the temple.”

“You were there… when he died?”

“I was. He died trying to help us.”

Ethelred and Agatha mourned and wept openly. I didn’t have the heart to give them more details.

“I’m so sorry for your loss, Mr. and Mrs. Hawkstone,” I said. “He was brave and selfless and cared deeply for you.”

I handed them Li Wei’s pack. Ethelred opened it, his hands shaking. Inside were hand-carved wooden statues—small, delicate figures—nestled among a few personal items. There was a tiny horse, intricately detailed, a little girl holding a flower, and a small house straight from a farmstead.

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“He would make those so he wouldn’t forget his sister,” Agatha said, wiping her eyes. “He was always afraid he’d forget.”

Agatha’s breath caught as she lifted each statue and placed them on a nearby bookshelf, which was already crowded with similar carvings.

I swallowed hard.

“What’s this?” Ethelred pulled out a pouch from the bottom of the pack. He opened it to discover a pile of coins, sapphires, and jewelry. It was all my money, including what I looted from the Amazons.

“A gift from the Monks,” I said. “They heard of your struggles and took up a collection for you.”

“I don’t understand. This is beyond generous.”

“From what I heard from Li Wei, you two more than deserve it. You raised a son that loved you and his sister so much. Fix your farm, or better yet, retire and try to enjoy the rest of your lives.”

Ethelred emptied the pouch onto the table, pouring a cascade of coins and jewels. A large sapphire, the size of a gumball, caught his eye. He picked it up and carefully placed it into Agatha's cupped hands.

“Agatha, look what our son did for us.”

“And these should fetch a good price,” I said, placing three ornate Amazonian daggers on the table. “Consider them my contribution to Li Wei’s last wishes. They also make great steak knives.”

Kyra shot to her feet, her glare fixing on me. I met her eyes—daring her. Neither of us flinched until Cragmarr rose from the table with a stern look. Kyra turned on her heel and stormed out of the hall, the door slamming behind her.

“Don’t mind her,” I said. “She’s touchy.”

Cragmarr shook his head and sat back down.

“Thank you,” Agatha said. “Thank you for bringing this… gift… back to us. What can we do in return?”

“We cannot stay long,” Cragmarr said. “We appreciate your kindness, but we are on a journey. Do you have information that can guide us through the Emperor faction?”

Ethelred and Agatha exchanged a glance before shaking their heads.

“We don’t know much about what happens up north,” Ethelred said. “There’s an old boat on the river. Maybe it can take you north to Gilderport, a major port city. It’s a trade hub, and you might find the information you need there.”

“We will stay the night on the boat and leave in the morning,” Cragmarr said.

“Thank you, Ethelred and Agatha,” I said. “Once again, I’m sorry for your loss.”

MISSION COMPLETE: LEI WEI

Find Li Wei’s family farm and deliver his pack.

The Hawthorns gave us directions to the nearby dock and boathouse. We’d be safe there for the night. They each hugged me.

As we exited the manor, Kyra waited outside the entrance, her expression beyond furious. Ebon, her dire wolf, stood beside her, growling and ready to pounce.

“How dare you,” Kyra hissed. “Those were sacred—”

“Save it, princess,” I walked past her.

* * *

Cragmarr explained the plan, which calmed her down. In hindsight, maybe I shouldn’t have taunted her. But if she was going to be a little shit, so could I.

We reached the boathouse at the edge of the farmstead just as the last light of day faded into twilight. The structure was old, weathered by time and neglect, much like the rest of the property. Just outside, a boat resembling a Viking ship sat in the water. Its hull was cracked and worn, with patches of wood missing and holes in the crusty sails. I was surprised it was even floating.

Cragmarr inspected it, running his hand along the splintered wood.

“We will work on this in the morning,” he said. “I'll do what I can, but this vessel will be unreliable.”

“Do your thing,” I said, exhausted. “I’m going to sleep.”

Inside, I got comfortable on the wood floor, using a pile of sacks as a pillow. I drifted off as soon as I closed my eyes.

* * *

I awoke to a low, rumbling growl. Ebon, Kyra’s dire wolf, stood over me, fangs inches from my face. His breath reeked of something metallic and gamey.

Heart pounding, I summoned a ration and offered it to him. Ebon sniffed it before snatching it from my palm, nearly taking my whole hand. He turned away, his growl fading into a low grumble.

“Who’s a good doggy?” I said with a sigh of relief.

Kyra and Cragmarr stood by the boat, now completely transformed. The hull was repaired, the wood reinforced and smoothed, and the sail patched up. It wasn’t brand new, but it was a serious improvement over the wreck it once was.

“How in the world?” I asked.

Kyra wiped a smudge of dirt from her cheek and shrugged like it was nothing.

“I’ve spent my whole life working on boats. Cragmarr’s buff helped.”

“You used Zii for this?”

They both gave me a look as if I’d asked whether the sky was blue.

“Well, great job,” I said. “I didn’t think it was possible.”

The versatility of Zii was mind-blowing—whether for healing or repairs, it seemed like there was nothing it couldn’t do.

With the boat ready, we loaded our supplies and prepared to push off from the dock.

“Hang on,” I said. “No wind and no oars. How are we supposed to move this thing?”

Kyra smirked and hopped to the front of the boat. Extending her fist, she summoned what appeared to be a miniature turtle shell and dropped it into the river. The water rippled before a creature broke the surface—a giant, magical alligator turtle, its armored shell gleaming in the morning light. Each segment of its shell had a glowing rune etched into it, pulsing with soft blue energy. The creature was easily the size of a Volkswagen Beetle, with a thick leather harness strapped around its torso.

“What’s that again, Crag?” I asked.

“A terragrym. Named Runelore.”

“Okay, I’m impressed.”

Kyra dropped onto the terragrym’s back. She grabbed one of the leather straps hanging from the harness and lashed it to the front of the boat, tying it with a fancy knot.

Runelore’s weathered eyes blinked slowly as Kyra sang in a language I didn’t recognize. At once, the turtle responded, dipping its head before paddling forward. We started to glide through the water.

Kyra glanced back over her shoulder, flashing me a grin.

“No wind, no oars… no problem.”

I rolled my eyes while Cragmarr let out a chuckle.

* * *

When the wind picked up, Kyra raised the sail. She lectured us about respecting the spirit of the ocean despite being on a river. After talking our ears off, she curled up at the bow and was out cold within minutes.

“What you did for Li Wei’s family,” Cragmarr said, “that was noble,”

“Yeah, well. The Hawkstones have been through enough. It’s about time something went their way.”

Cragmarr turned and looked at me.

“What?” I said.

“It is an honor to be your ward.”

“Thanks, Crag. Even though you’re the first and only ward I’ve ever known, you’re the best ward a Jingozi apprentice could have.”

“What is your plan?”

“Not sure. I’m sort of improvising here. But I do have an endgame in mind.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I need to reach level 24 for a chance to get home, right?”

“Yes.”

“So, first, we’re going to drop off the princess—mission accomplished. Then I’ll clear my name and thwart Edric’s plan, somehow—another mission accomplished. Throw in a few more achievements here and there, and I'll reach the maximum level in no time. Then, come hell or high water, I’ll make the Jingozi send me home.”

“You are required to win the Jingozi tournament.”

“When does that happen?”

“When you are ready.”

“You mean when the Jingozi say I’m ready.”

“Yes.”

“Well, in the meantime, I have a sneaking suspicion that Edric plans to get in our way.”

“He is a formidable enemy.”

“I know. Have you ever heard the expression ‘playing chess while everyone else plays checkers’?”

“No, but I understand the metaphor.”

“Edric’s been five moves ahead this whole time. He’s behind everything, like the attack on Radiant Temple. So, I need to get a piece onto that chessboard.”

“How?”

“It just so happens, Crag, I’ve got someone in mind.”