Kyra’s spear sliced through the air in sharp, deadly arcs. She was fast, and each move was executed flawlessly, but no matter what she tried, Cragmarr was always a step ahead. He moved with a calm, almost effortless power, absorbing her blows. Each time her spear struck him, it was as if his body only grew stronger in strength and size—the impacts fed him rather than weakened him.

She circled him, searching for an opening, but Cragmarr was unyielding. His defences were impenetrable and counters efficient. Every strike she attempted, every feint, was met with a response, turning her momentum against her. It was like trying to move a mountain—no matter how hard she pushed, he only became more immovable.

Every Jingozi match followed the same rhythm with a round of battle card attacks and spells followed by pauses to regroup, collect Zii rewards, and reload cards. Each time Kyra charged, hoping to find a weakness, Cragmarr met her with unshakable resolve. His deflections and counters made her stagger. She was relentless, refusing to give in, but with each failed attempt, her frustration mounted.

In a last-ditch effort, Kyra summoned her dire wolf, Ebon. The massive creature leaped into the fray, its black fur bristling, eyes glowing. Ebon pounced, teeth bared. Cragmarr blocked, sending a card toward Ebon. By the time the wolf’s jaws clamped down on his forearm, Ebon was no bigger than a stray dog.

Cragmarr ignored the wolf locked on his arm and charged at Kyra. She raised her spear and planted the end into the floor to skewer him. But in her eagerness, she missed the subtle shift in Cragmarr’s angle.

At the last moment, Cragmarr twisted his body past the spear, transforming into a hulking giant. Ebon’s jaws lost their grip. Cragmarr’s massive fist shattered Kyra’s spear into dozens of fragments, knocking her off balance. Before she hit the ground, his foot bore down onto the back of her head, stomping her face into the cold Jingozi area floor.

The match ended with Kyra’s third defeat of the day. Of course, neither knew I’d been watching using my gift.

Kyra crumpled to the boat's deck with a grunt, winded and stunned. Ebon was back, too, now at full size. A single stern command from Kyra summoned it back into her ring.

“You fought well,” Cragmarr said, extending his hand.

Kyra’s face flushed with frustration and grudging respect.

“You set me up,” she said.

“I have more spells than you and waited until you played your strongest card to counter it with [Silence]. I did not realize familiars could join you in the arena.”

“It’s a special upgrade.”

“Indeed,” he nodded. “You represent the Amazons well, Kyra, but attacking is not everything. Often, you need patience and strategy.”

Kyra wiped the sweat from her brow, still catching her breath.

“I’ll remember that,” a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

Name: Princess Kyra

Tier 1 Apprentice

Faction Amazon [Daughter]

Level: 8

After all that training, Kyra levelled up. Good for her. I stared at the distant shore, pretending to mind my own business.

* * *

The river was calm as we sailed upstream, an early morning mist clinging to the water's surface. Between Runelore towing the boat and Kyra’s sailing expertise, there wasn’t much to do than enjoy the ride.

I took advantage of the time to fish. With a flick of my wrist, I sent cards flying into the water ahead of the boat. Fish floated up, allowing me to lean over and scoop the catch—if Runelore didn’t snap it up first.

We took turns resting and cooking. Cragmarr cleaned and prepared the fish while Kyra and I stoked the small fire in a makeshift pit on the deck. The smell of roasting fish mingled with the fresh river air.

After meals, we practiced Zii-Kata on the deck. Kyra’s form was adequate, but I highlighted a few areas to improve.

“Straighten your back a bit more,” I said, stepping to guide her posture. “And when you extend your arms, think of pushing the energy outward like this.” I demonstrated. She took my advice well, her usual cockiness tempered by a genuine desire to learn.

* * *

I broke up the monotony, bouncing in and out of the Jingozi arena for Zii-Kata and new spells.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Grabbing the first spell card caused my body to decay. My hair and teeth fell out. Scabs grew over my body. I blinked out of the Jingozi arena—back to the boat—shaken but not incapacitated.

YOU HAVE LEARNED A NEW SPELL

Spell: Renew

Draw until you have 5 cards in your hand. Burn 1 Zii for every card drawn. Continue turn.

The next spell card thrust me face-to-face with another demonic doppelganger. She cast a spell trapping me in a cyclone of fire, shards of ice, and jagged rocks tearing at my flesh. I blinked out.

YOU HAVE LEARNED A NEW SPELL

Spell: Elemental Strike

Burn 6 Zii to attack plus +6.

I blinked out again, collecting my breath. It was then the air whistled, and a splash erupted behind us. A ship had somehow crept up on us. Another cannon shot whizzed past, crashing wide off our starboard side and spraying us with water. The next one hit even closer, too close.

“Pirates!” Kyra yelled. “We need to take them out before they sink us!”

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” I muttered.

Before the next cannonball could hit, I blinked onto the pirate ship’s deck, appearing between a group of dark elves decked out in full pirate gear. For a moment, I stood there.

“Hey, fellas,” I said.

The first one turned. He shouted, and the rest surrounded, drawing their daggers and swords. One elf lunged, but I blinked to the side, watching the blade slice through the air where I had just stood.

AUTO DODGE: SUCCESSFUL

Card Discarded [4/5] 80%

Another slashed at my back. I ducked, slipping between them as their swords clashed above me.

I fired a smoke bomb at my feet, filling the air with thick clouds. The pirate elves stumbled and coughed, disoriented. I hurled a barrage of maximum-infused cards straight into the floorboards, the magic tearing through the wood. With a quick flick of my wrist, I cast [Elemental Strike] onto my last battle card, sending a fireball blasting into the hull. The ship groaned and shuddered, water already rushing in. Pirates panicked, scrambling to abandon ship, and dove into the water.

Once I knew that they were finished, I blinked back to our boat.

“I don’t think they’ll bother us,” I said.

“There may be more,” Cragmarr replied.

Kyra leaped onto Runelore, letting out a shrill Amazon warcry. The runes on the terragrym’s shell flared to life, and our boat surged forward, gaining speed. As we raced downriver, the pirate ship erupted into flames in the distance.

* * *

The river widened as we neared Gilderport, the towering walls of the port city coming into view. Kyra told us Gilderport was the heart of trade between the Amazon and Emperor factions.

The harbour was massive, a maze of piers and wharves lined with warehouses, market stalls, and merchant vessels of all sizes. The docks teemed with ships as they entered inland from the ocean, their sails billowing as they jostled for position. Even afar, I smelled the mix of saltwater, spices, and something distinctly metallic.

“I love that smell,” Krya said, inhaling deeply. “The blacksmiths and their magical forges here are the best in the world. You can buy almost anything, or they’ll make it for you.”

The architecture was visibly distinct from Raishoto's. The buildings were tall and narrow, their timber-framed facades leaning slightly forward as if they’d been standing for centuries. Each structure was detailed with ornate carvings—dragons, griffins, and strange creatures I couldn’t name—twisting around windows and doorways.

Other buildings were connected by arched stone bridges crossing the narrow, cobbled streets below. Above it all loomed tall, twisting spires of gleaming brass and copper, each crowned with rotating wind vanes crackling with magical energy. Banners flapped in the breeze, each decorated with the crests of merchant guilds, marking their territories within the city.

As we navigated the bustling port, the waters around us churned. Kyra ran to the side of the boat and leaned over in excitement.

“This is the best part!” she squealed.

The ocean's surface swelled, and a form emerged—a colossal water Golem, its body composed entirely of swirling currents and shimmering seafoam. It towered above us, eyes glowing with a soft, coppery light as it turned toward our small boat. I froze, watching in awe as the Golem extended one of its enormous, fluid arms. It nudged our boat, guiding us smoothly through the crowded harbour, steering us past other vessels and into an open berth.

Kyra tossed a Zii coin into the Golem as we docked. The Golem responded by spraying water over her before sinking back into the depths. Cragmarr tied us in place, pulling the boat against the dock.

“We must blend in,” he said, eyeing the crowd. “We cannot risk being recognized.”

“Already ahead of you,” I said.

I blinked to a stall across the docks, grabbed three large cloaks from a display, and left a Jingozi token on the counter as payment. I blinked back to Cragmarr and Kyra, handing them the cloaks. The dark, muted cloaks were long and heavy, with deep hoods—perfect for blending in with the sea of travellers, merchants, and sailors.

The wooden planks groaned beneath our weight as we stepped onto the docks. The port city buzzed with activity—traders shouting about their goods, sailors puffing on pipes over dice games, and merchants deep in haggling wars.

“Anybody else hungry?” I asked.

* * *

The pub was packed, filled with the scent of ale, roasted meat, and rowdy conversation. We found a quieter table near the back. Cragmarr and Kyra ordered drinks, and I decided to try ale for the first time.

A plump barmaid, her ample cleavage spilling out of a low-cut blouse, handed us three frothy mugs. I took a tentative sip and grimaced. Cragmarr and Kyra downed their drinks with enthusiasm.

“How do you two drink this stuff?” I wrinkled my nose, pushing the mug away. “It tastes like someone peed into a sock then poured it into a beer.”

“Don’t you know? The pee is the secret ingredient,” Krya chortled. Cragmarr smiled and nodded.

“Ha, ha, very funny.”

Without missing a beat, Kyra reached over to grab my mug.

“Are you even old enough to drink?” I asked.

Kyra rolled her eyes and chugged while Cragmarr signalled for another round. Despite the fact Golems don’t eat, I wondered if they all loved booze as much as Cragmarr.

“Fancy some food to go with that ale, dearies?” the barmaid asked as she brought us our refills.

“What do you have?” Kyra asked.

The barmaid listed a few options, but we settled on the stew. When the bowls arrived, steaming and filled to the brim with tender chunks of meat, vegetables, and thick, savoury broth, I couldn’t help but sigh in relief. After days of surviving on fish and rations, the stew was like a gift from heaven. I dug in, savouring each hearty bite.

As we ate, I leaned forward and asked Kyra, “So, where exactly is your brother’s family?”

Kyra wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, thinking.

“It’s called Ironhaven. But I don’t know where it is.”

A sudden crash interrupted our discussion. Across the room, a group of dark elf pirates knocked over a table. A brawl ensued, chairs and mugs flying.

“They got pirates everywhere,” I mumbled with a mouthful of stew.

“The dark elves are criminals,” Kyra said. “It’s best to avoid them.”

“This place is too dangerous,” Cragmarr said. “We need to find somewhere safer.”

“A Jingozi sanctuary,” I said. “A city as big as this should have one, right?”

“Yes,” Cragmarr nodded.

“What’s a Jingozi sanctuary?” Kyra asked.

“Oh, princess,” I flashed her a grin. “You’re in for a treat.”