Chapter 37: COMMON

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I reached out, my fingers brushing against the edge of the floating card—my next spell. Making contact, the Jingozi arena went pitch black.

Kyra lay on the ground before me. Her face twisted in pain with a swollen belly heaving with the effort of labor. I watched, unable to move, as she struggled, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps. No one else was there—no midwife or doctor—just Kyra and me.

Her cries grew louder, more desperate, until they became screams. The skin of her abdomen split. It was a horrifying sight—a phantom incision. Blood pooled around her, and she stopped screaming. Her eyes went wide with shock, her mouth agape in a silent plea.

Three babies crawled out from the gash in her belly. They were small, blue-skinned creatures with sharp claws and empty sockets for eyes. Their tiny, twisted bodies writhed in the blood and fluid.

The babies crawled toward me like insects with terrifying speed, their shrill cries piercing my ears. I stumbled back, but they were on me, clawing at my skin, their teeth sinking into my flesh. I fought back, swinging my arms wildly, trying to fend them off.

As I struggled, Kyra stood over me, drenched in blood.

“This is your fault,” she hissed. “You left me. You abandoned me when I needed you most.”

I shook my head, trying to form words and explain, but nothing came out. I was frozen, helpless under her accusing gaze. My legs buckled, and I fell to my knees. She reached down, her cold hands clamping my head. Her nails dug into my scalp as she squeezed.

With a violent yank, she plunged my head into her stomach cavity.

“Why did you leave me?” she shrieked, her voice piercing my mind as I struggled to free myself. Her grip was a vice. My breath slipped away, my lungs burning as blood rushed down my throat.

* * *

I awoke on the Jingoz arena floor.

“What the fuck was that?” I gasped.

“Rough dreams, huh,” the voice said.

“It’s never been like that. I couldn’t blink out.”

“You were trapped.”

“Trapped by the Jingoz?”

“No. When you're here, your visions can only come from me—or you.”

“So, you’re doing it to me?

“I would never.”

“What, then?”

“Visions, like the one you just had, occur because you need it—they’re for you, not me.”

“What? How is that supposed to help?”

“Think of it like a warning system.”

“I can’t just download an app for that or something?”

“It doesn’t work that way, Ember. There’s always a reason you see what you see. Like there’s a reason you’re here in the first place.”

“Destiny,” I muttered.

“If you want to use that word, sure. But I can tell you, from here on in, your visions will become more profound. You should pay attention.”

“Great, just what I needed. For things to get worse.”

“I didn’t say that. But I promise that you will get stronger.”

“I’ll try to remember that next time demon babies are trying to rip my face off.”

* * *

YOU HAVE LEARNED A NEW SPELL

Spell: Forcefield

Burn your defend: End the hand instantly and freeze the pot for the next hand.

Cragmarr and I decided it would be wiser to approach Jon Deerfoot’s location by daylight. We made camp for the night. On the menu was fire-roasted fish, as usual.

“Where do you go?” Cragmarr asked.

“What do you mean?”

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“I can tell your mind goes somewhere.”

“How’s that possible? Time is literally frozen here when I’m gone.”

“My buff meta. As your ward, I can sense you on a deeper level.”

“I see. Well, my gift lets me blink into the Jingozi arena any time,” I flipped a fish. “I can see the world in the reflection of the floor. Since time is frozen here, I can observe, plan my next move, and even load Jingozi cards. I do my Zii-Kata there, so what would take me hours takes a split second.”

“Impressive indeed.”

“And because of my last gift evolution, if I can see someone, I can blink to where they can see.

“At level 20, your power and abilities will increase exponentially again.”

“I’ve got a feeling I’m going to need it. But there’s one problem with my gift.”

Cragmarr nodded as I gathered my thoughts.

“I’m having visions in the arena,” I said. “They’re not real, even though they feel like it. But they’re getting way more intense. They’re like my inner demons or something.”

“That must be troubling.”

“But then again, it feels amazing to be there—like all is right in the world—my world.”

“You should do that more often, then. In our faction, we believe in making common sense into common practice.”

I spent a few moments mulling his words over.

“Make common sense, common practice. Crag, you’re pretty wise for a pile of clay and rocks—you know that?”

* * *

We arrived at an unsettling sight—a vast expanse of land cleared of every tree, leaving countless stumps stretching for miles in every direction.

“Well, this wasn’t on the map,” I said.

A keep stood in the distance, at the center of the vast clearing, still under construction. Workers moved like ants along the outer walls and atop the battlements, their figures small against the stone structure. The drawbridge was down, a heavy, iron-bound barrier surrounded over a thick moat. We stayed hidden in the cover of the woods, crouched low as we scouted the scene.

“Can you transport yourself inside?” Cragmarr asked.

“No. If you can’t see inside, I can’t blink inside. I can’t use the arena to see inside either.”

“Look over there,” he pointed.

A young man emerged from the forest, accompanied by a metal demi-golem. The demi-golem was a hulking figure, its limbs glinting in the morning light.

“That’s our chance,” I said. “We can take them out and assume their places.”

Cragmarr frowned, his eyes narrowing as he studied the scene.

“Something is not right,” he said. “A demi-golem would never help a criminal like Jon Deerfoot freely. I do not want to attack until we understand.

“Alright. We’ll wait until nightfall. Once it’s dark, I’ll sneak in and see what I can learn.”

Cragmarr raised his hand, signaling me to be quiet. I followed his gaze—another group of travelers, followed by another metal demi-golem. A little later, another group approached.

We watched until nightfall as more continued entering the keep where Jon was.

* * *

Pulling on my Ninja mask, I blinked onto the top of the keep’s wall. The night was quiet, and the activity had dwindled to a few patrolling metal Demi-Golems whose footsteps echoed against the stone.

I crouched low, moving along the wall. The demi-golems were methodical in their patrols, and I pressed myself against the stone. One passed close by, its metal body more visible in the moonlight. They were like silver mannequins, the size of bodybuilders, carved with runes all over their bodies. But their faces had the same orange marble eyes as Cragmarr.

I held my breath, waiting for it to move on.

The keep was a maze of corridors and staircases. I ducked into alcoves to avoid Golems making their rounds, their torches lighting their paths.

I blinked into the Jingozi arena, hoping to better see the keep's layout. The familiar obsidian floor materialized beneath my feet, and the aurora-like sky shimmered above as usual. But something felt off.

As I tried to focus on the keep, the edges of my vision blurred. A chill ran down my spine. Something was watching me.

I turned, scanning the arena's periphery. There, in the shadows, a figure loomed. It was barely visible, like a smudge on reality itself. My heart skipped a beat as I attempted to zoom in to get a clearer look.

The image was distorted, vibrating, and shifting as if made of static. The harder I tried to focus, the more it seemed to resist my efforts. A sense of dread washed over me, growing with each passing second.

"Hello?" I called, but there was no response.

This wasn't right. The arena had always been a safe place, a refuge where I could observe and plan. But now? It felt like a trap closing in around me.

The shadowy figure seemed to grow, its presence becoming more oppressive. I couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible would happen if I stayed much longer.

My breath came in short gasps. I needed to leave. Now.

With a thought, I blinked out of the arena, finding myself back on the keep's wall. I leaned against the stone, trying to calm my racing heart. Whatever that thing was, it wasn't supposed to be there. And I did not intend to find out what it wanted.

Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself. I'd have to do this the old-fashioned way. Find Jon's room without the arena's help. It would be riskier, but it felt safer now than facing that shadowy presence again.

I pushed off the wall and navigated through the keep, creeping closer to its heart in search of the master quarters. After dodging a few close calls, I spotted the door to the room at the end of the hall. Pushing open a window, I climbed onto the outer wall. The cool night air brushed my skin as I clung to the stone, inching toward the master chamber.

The shutters creaked open, and I slipped inside. The room was dimly lit by smoldering candles, casting flickering shadows on the walls. Jon lay sprawled naked on the large bed, surrounded by three women whose limbs were tangled as they slept.

I grabbed Jon by his ponytail and yanked him from the bed. His body hit the cold floor with a dull thud. He had no chance before my knee pressed against his throat. His eyes bulged.

Instinctively, Jon loaded his Jingozi hand, but nothing happened. I held up a glowing card just inches from his eye.

“Try me, Jon.”

He understood, his hands hovering in the air. The three women on the bed remained oblivious, lost in their slumber.

“Who?” Jon gasped.

I pulled off my mask.

“Ember. What… what do you want?”

“I have a contract to kill you, Jon. But I'll reconsider, depending on what you do next.”

Someone knocked on the door.

“Jon, forgive me for interrupting... whatever you’re doing,” a voice called from the other side.

“Tell them you’re busy,” I kept my knee against his windpipe.

“I’m… busy. Can’t it wait?” Jon croaked.

“There’s a late delivery. You’re needed downstairs.”

One of the women stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She saw me and screamed, the sound piercing the stone walls. The door splintered open as a metal golem guard barreled in, followed by a man with a drawn sword.

I yanked Jon up, positioning him as a human shield, and pressed my card against his throat.

“Go ahead, see what happens,” I said.

“I’m… I’m fine,” Jon sputtered. “Everyone stand down. She’s… an old friend. We’re just… catching up.”

The metal golem hesitated, its orange eyes darting between me and Jon.

“Leave us,” Jon said. “I’ll be down when I’m done with her. Now go.”

After a reluctant nod, the man exited the room, followed by the three women. The Golem retreated last. I kept Jon in my grasp.

“Come now, Ember,” he said. “You and I both know you’re not going to kill me. You need me for something. So let me put some clothes on—or not—and we can talk over a drink. You can fulfill that contract and kill me after if you’re... unsatisfied. What do you say?”