Henrik Saetre

Qing's Quest book 2, Chapter 7: Shadows at court

Qing stared at the shocked guards. He had to act fast to stop the situation from escalating. But he had a plan. “Stand aside and let us in,” he said, stepping towards the guard.

“Help!” the guard yelled, and it was echoed by others.

“You dare stand in the way of Chicago’s Envoy?” Qing asked, chin raised.

The man froze, and for a moment, his shouts silenced. “Envoy? From…Chicago?”

“Since entering your cursed land, we have been waylaid, openly attacked, and had our camels slain,” Qing said, raising the firebolt next to his face, bathing his features in the red light. “So we’ve watered the sand with buckets of blood, all to reach your king. From the kingdom of Illinois, in the empire of the United States of America, we have arrived.”

“I…I’ve never heard of neither Illinois nor the Empire of the United States of…America?” the guard answered.

Qing intensified his innate light, turning up the brightness until it pushed back the darkness, and the guards stepped backwards.

“I carry a message from the gods.”

“But, didn’t you say Chicago?”

“It is a blessed land. Now, lower your spears and take me to your king, or I will lower it for you.” He met their eyes one at a time. “I will not ask again.”

The guard looked back at his four companions and wet his lips, hesitating. “Uh…”

As he spoke, Qing dispelled his Firebolt and activated his sandal’s Flash ability. The air whistled, and he came out right in front of the guard, swiping his axe, cutting the spear in two. Before the man could react, Qing unequipped the axe, ripped the man’s shield away, and grabbed him by the front of his tan uniform. He stalked forwards, lifting the man one-handed.

“Take me to the court before I lose my patience,” Qing said, using the commanding voice he’d developed before the siege of Shadowgrove. The guard flailed against his grip, yelping in fright, and striking Qing in the face. Qing threw him at the wall with a grunt, where he collapsed to the ground.

The remaining guards lowered their spears and stepped forward, but a voice cut through the air. “Stop!” An older man stepped from a doorway, hand on the hilt of a sword. His voice demanded immediate obedience, like a drill sergeant, and they listened. “Put your weapons down,” he said. “If the foreigners want to see the king, let them see the king. It’ll be their wet socks.”

“Are you sure, Taaj?” a guard asked.

The man sighed. “No. But I don’t see another way to avoid bloodshed.” He glared at Qing, but when he didn’t back down, the man turned and walked away, waving for them to follow. “Fine. I’ll take you in, but don’t try to run.”

As they walked between the remaining spearmen, crossing beneath the tons of rock that separated the Gilded Hold from the desert, Qing thought of how he needed to be careful with his power. He stared down at the first guard, groaning as another helped him up. He’d just been doing his job, even if he had been rather rude.

“That was pretty hot,” Morgana whispered next to his ear.

Yes, it was. But Kaela would not have thought so.

He walked on, mixed feelings in his belly as goosebumps spread across his skin.

Inside, a street ran along the entire wall, wide enough for fifty men to march side-by-side, but once they crossed that, they passed into narrow streets that ran like a maze.

The buildings were all whitewashed, with blue roofs. Their guide refused all attempts at conversation, settling for urging them along with waves and glares. It took them nearly an hour of walking before they arrived at the walled palace grounds. The architecture of the city reminded Qing of Moroccan elegance blended with Egyptian grandeur, and the air was heavy with the smell of spices, the sea, and way too many people.

There was a stark contrast as they stepped through the palace gates, picking up an escort, ten men strong. They left the bustling streets behind and entered lush gardens where their footsteps reverberated off intricate mosaics.

The palace itself had straight walls, a flat, blue roof, and looked to be larger than the entire village of Shadowgrove. Near the back rose a lone tower, three times as tall as the building, overlooking the sea. Bathed in light, like the world’s most intricate lighthouse, yet Qing didn’t for a second think it was anything that mundane.

Morgana gaped as they crossed into the palace. The doors were so tall they’d dwarfed even Vileheart. Hanging carpets and painted portraits adorned the walls, and there seemed to be more gold than in Fort Knox.

Jenny sighed.

“What is it?” Qing asked.

“I’ve missed this place.”

“You don’t sound happy to be back,” Morgana said.

“I am not,” Jenny said. “But leave it. You will see soon enough.” A wistful smile tugged on her scars.

After becoming so thoroughly lost that Qing wondered if they were being led on for the fun of it, they arrived at a set of grand doors guarded by eight soldiers.

“Halt! What do you think you’re doing here?” a guard asked.

“Envoy for the king,” Taaj, their escort, answered.

“Don’t you know he’s—”

“I know. Believe me,” Taaj said.

“Well…it’s your funeral,” the guard said.

As they opened the door, the music they’d heard standing outside ratcheted up to eleven, seeming to flood out of the doors. It was a mixture of drums, flutes, and castanets, blending to form a heady atmosphere of a late-night bar. The throne room was lit with braziers, leaving shadows to dance everywhere, and the smell of incense lay heavy in the air.

Qing stepped forth, taking the lead, keeping his innate light shining brightly, pushing back the room’s shadows as he walked in. The room was vast enough to play football in, and with a high ceiling supported by towering stone columns. Arched windows sat high on each wall, giving a view of the starry sky. Tapestries and plush pillows filled the space between the columns, where noblemen sat or stood in groups. Each had a saber or curved dagger hanging from their belts, and wore slippers brocaded with metallic threads. Scantily clad women moved between them, their thin fabrics moving in the air. At each of the thirty-four columns, guards stood in pairs, clad head to toe in chain mail, armed with shields and spears.

Oh shit… We’re interrupting the king’s party. That’s bound to put him in a good mood…

All eyes were on him as he marched deeper into the room, and all conversation ceased. Qing focused on the king, sitting slumped on a massive throne made from red velvet and gold. Middle-aged, the king’s skin was pale, as if the desert sun hadn’t kissed it for years. His eyes were dark and deep-set, restless, scanning the assembly as if seeking something within the shadows. Despite being richly attired, his clothes were poorly fitted, like overweight wealthy second generation sons. Despite the crown adorning his head, he looked like nothing but a retired professional fighter who had spent his fortune on sex, drugs, and greasy food. Some people never had much vitality, but this was a man who once had plenty but had thrown it all away.

Qing’s mouth drew into a tight line as two young girls in see-through material draped themselves onto the king. It reminded him of Princess Leia if she had worn a see-through robe on top of the golden bikini. Halfway across the room, the king’s eyes had yet to focus on him, but movement to the left of the throne drew Qing’s eyes. There, among a mountain of pillows, lay a dark-haired woman, her ample hourglass figure wrapped in shiny golden cloth that clung to her body. He tried to avoid looking directly at the midnight black gem cut into the shape of a star, nestled snuggly in a neckline that rivaled the Grand Canyon. He met black eyes that glanced in his direction, but there was no response in them, as if he simply didn’t exist. They reacted to him, as he would have reacted to an uninteresting rock.

So that’s the queen. No wonder Knut struggled.

A towering man stepped forth from his place next to the throne and held up a hand, commanding them to halt. A leather-wrapped sword-handle stuck up over his shoulder, and he wore nothing but a piece of cloth wrapped around his waist. With muscles upon muscles, he looked a bit like Gronk, except this man’s eyes were sharp as daggers. “Remove yourself at once,” he said.

Taaj took a deep breath and bowed, nearly striking his head on the floor. “These men claim to be envoys from Chicago, the kingdom of Illinois, of the empire of the United States of America.”

The tower of a man paused, brow furrowing, and said, “Never heard of it.”

The guard straightened. “They refused to wait, and…I’m not sure we could have made them.”

The towering man’s eyes narrowed, and he stepped between Qing and the King. Qing met the man’s gaze until he nodded and snapped his fingers. All the musicians stopped playing on the same note, and the room fell into silence.

“You may prostrate yourself for King Sharyar, the ruler of Zylphadia, golden templar of the sun.”

Qing stepped forth and bowed, but as he did, the throne room filled with shocked whispers. He looked to the side and saw Knut, Jenny, and Morgana all kneeling, their foreheads touched to the floor.

Oh, well. A bit too late for that now.

And he remained standing, because if he was honest with himself, he didn’t feel like kneeling down to any man, let alone someone whose world he was trying to save.

“King Sharyar, thank you for seeing us. We have traveled far and share common enemies. Evil has entered your world, and I’ve come to rid you of it. We chase an evil bonecaller, last seen portaling into the Gilded Hold. Rufus Grimshaw is his name, and he plans to bring about the end of your world by summoning the devil.”

Gasps sounded from the gathered nobles, yet the king made no move.

“I’ve come before you to ask your support in finding this man and stopping him once and for all, before he dooms your world. If there is somewhere in private we can talk, I will answer any questions you might have and share the details of what I know.”

The king kept quiet.

This isn’t working. I need something to sway the situation. What do kings love?

Qing forced himself to stand still and not shift his weight under the collected stares. Suddenly, it came to him. Cliomatrix’s sword. It was a perfect match for the templar. A golden sword for a golden king.

“As a show of good faith,” Qing said, “I’ve brought a gift to you from my journey.” He was about to bring out the sword when a man stepped from the shadows behind the throne.

He wore a crimson robe that seemed to absorb the light, and moved with a grace that defied his apparent age, bending down to the king’s ear. With his pale skin and rich attire, he looked like a slimy, anorexic businessman. As he whispered, he turned his dark, penetrating gaze to Qing, and grinned.

“See, it is him,” he said, loud enough to be overheard. His voice surprised Qing. It was the smooth, deep voice of a professional blues singer, and had an immediate effect on the king. Sharyar’s eyes went wide, and for the first time reacted to their presence, raising a trembling arm to point at Knut. “You,” he said, shouting. “You villain. Defiler! I banished you. Guards, seize him, immediately.”

Qing jumped in surprise as the room filled with screams as seventy-two spear butts smacked into the marble floor in unison, and the guards stepped forward. “Told you this would happen, didn’t I?” Knut said as he placed his back against Qing before turning and smirking. “I am a tough man to forget.”

Qing's Quest book 2, Chapter 6: The Gilded Hold

Cliomatrix held Qing firm by the throat as they flew high above, two of her harpies holding his legs. The moment Chain Lightning shot from the stump of Qing's arm, ripping through Cliomatrix before arcing to the other two. As the electricity ravaged through their bodies, Cliomatrix’s hand seized around his throat, crushing his windpipe. Then they all went limp, tubmling, the ground rushing against them. Qing's stomach dropped, and he would have screamed if he could, but he had to be laser-focused. He had one chance, and had to time it perfectly. Use the health potion right before impact, so it would heal the life threatening damage first. But, his vision started fading as they fell, brain starved of oxygen. He popped the healing potion while they were a fair bit above the ground. His arms tingled as the flesh regrew below the elbow. He screamed once his throat healed, the earth rushing up. There was nothing to grab onto. Cliomatrix fell, but above him, her feathery wings doing little to slow her descent.

Oh shit.

Qing smacked into the sand dune, feet underneath himself. Both legs snapped and the bones dislocated from his hip as he pushed some of the momentum forward, angling down the hill. He succeeding in slowing his skull’s impact, but as head met sand, the world still went black.

With a groan, Qing opened his eyes, finding Knut and Jenny standing above him.

"You live.“ Jenny said.

Qing blinked and called energy down from above, casting Divine Light on himself.

He winced as the bones moved underneath his skin, snapping in place, then the pain receeded as they healed. With a hiss, he held his arms up, watching as the hands built back up as if 3d-printed from flesh, nerves, and blood. He flexed them, and took a deep sigh.

Thank you, god.

“That was gnarly,” Qing said.

“It was spectacular, brother,“ Knut said, grabbing a hand in both of his. “Thank you for saving me."

"Likewise,” Qing said, looking around. ”Are we safe?"

"For now.” Knut helped him sit. The remaining harpies lay dead, arrows sticking from their chests. But Cliomatrix sat nearby, restrained by Morgana's whip. She cursed at the mercenary, her snake-hair hissing. But when Qing spoke, she stilled and turned her eyes to him with a smile that would make a catholic priest cross his legs.

“My hero…” she purred. “Release and heal me, and I will give you pleasure you have never even imagined.”

Qing and Knut shared a look, and he accepted the mans hand. Legs shaky, he stumbled towards the elite, growing more stable with each step.

Morgana tightened the whip, the magical metal digging into Cliomatrix’s naked flesh, drawing fresh blood. She looked like something taken out of a Conan novel. A Queen, captured, stripped, and tortured, except for the being half-chicken part.

"Why did you attack us?" Qing asked, crinkling his nose at her musty smell. It seemed to come from her chicken legs and feathery wings.

"You're in my territory," she said, and raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Where is the other harpies going?"

"They go to feast on man flesh."

"Call them off."

“I would love to,” she said, tilting her head. "Heal me and let me go. I will fly to my forces and save any men yet alive. You have my word.” She smiled beautifully.

Qing shivered. "How can I trust anything you say?"

"You have defeated me and shown your strength. Kill these women and I will be your mate for life. We’ll take the world by storm, from the skies. You’ll have a tribe of us at your beck and call. The blood of our enemies will—“

“Quiet! I’ve heard enough," Qing said. “Knut?”

He held out his hand, and the handle of Paulhandler’s Keg-smasher smacked into it. "I will leave no enemy at our backs.”

"No!” She said, the snakes dancing in mesmerizing movements, and her eyes went wide. “Wait. I can give you—"

The axe bit into her neck, cleanly separating head from body, and it rolled towards him. The snakes still lived, and snapped towards him, but he dodged.

“Oh, hell no!”

He called on the heat of the desert, mixed it with mana, and conjured up a Firebolt, casting it at the head.

The snakes seemed to scream as they burnt to crisps.

"I didn't think you had that in you," Jenny said.

“I stand by my words," Qing said as he wiped the blood off his axe. "I will not leave an enemy at our back, to stop us from our quest. We have delayed long enough as it is," Qing said, walking over to Cliometrix’s corpse. He looked down at the bloody corpse before bending down and pulling out three snow white feathers, from her wings, untainted by blood.

Item: [Harpy Feather of the Princess] x 3 has been added to your inventory.

"What's that for?" Jenny asked.

"I don't know. Just felt right, I guess. You never know when a harpy feather might come in handy.” He nodded at Knut. ”Five minutes ago, I think we both would have given, if not an arm, then at least a pinky finger for a slow-fall potion or somesuch…" Qing smiled wistfully at Knut, who nodded in agreement.

"True."

Next, Qing picked up the golden sword she had wielded.

Item: [Dawn's Edge, Level 17, Unique] has been added to your inventory.

This arming sword was bathed in the first light of dawn's break, capturing the promise of a new day. Its edge is forever sharp, and its hilt adorned with a sunstone that warms in the presence of danger. It was famously used by Elenora Lightfoot, a Templar of renown who used its power to end the tyranny of the Burgundy Shadowlord.

+300 Attack Power

+100 Defence

+20 to Dexterity

Hilt warms in the presence of danger.

(Sword, One-handed)

”Switching to swords?" Jenny asked.

"Maybe in a few levels," Qing replied. “But all the items here are higher than me, so I can’t use it yet. Anyone want it?”

They all shook their heads.

“What does it mean that the items are higher level than you?” Morgana asked.

“It's not a great sign," Qing said. "It might mean the monsters are stronger than we are.”

“This fight was too close,” Morgana said, nodding, as she unhooking her whip from the dead body and running it through the sand to get the blood off.

"What do you mean?" Knut asked.

"Maybe we are not ready,” Morgana said, picking out a piece of skin stuck in her whip. “Maybe we need to... “

“No,” Qing said, interrupting. “We hurry. Cleo should not be left alone here a minute more than she has to.” They all nodded, Morgana albeit a bit slower.

“Bring their knives," Jenny said.

"How come? Don't you have enough weapons?" Qing said.

"Yes, but these are pure gold," Jenny said with a rare smile.

Qing's eyebrows rose. "Pure gold? Are you sure? I thought gold was a soft metal and these definitely stabbed like iron.”

“Not pure then, but there's more gold in each of these than three gold coins, at least,” Jenny said and tossed him one.

Item: [Golden Dagger, Level 10, Uncommon] has been added to your inventory.

A dagger made from gold and iron. Pointy and sharp, it will kill.

+30 Attack Power

(Dagger, One-handed)

“Excellent!” Knut said, and clapped his hands together. “Let’s gather them all.”

“But who's going to carry it all?" Morgana asked and nodded with her head, and something in her tone made Qing look.

"Oh, God, no," Qing said. The camels lay dead. Ripped apart. All except Smokey, who stood stamping on shaky legs, alive but bleeding. A harpy lay underneath him, trampled to death.

"I'm so sorry," Qing said as he sprinted over, pulling down energy from above, casting Divine Light on the camel. Smokey grunted mournfully, but as the wounds healed, he straightened.

Qing hugged Smokey’s head. "I'm sorry I let them hurt you.” Smokey snorted and pushed at him, but not too hard, seemingly forgiving him.

After burying the remains of the camels and redistributing their supplies, with most of it going on top of Smokey and the rest into Qing's inventory, they marched into the desert.

For the rest of the day, Qing gained the new nickname, 'the fourth hump', due to how much stuff they stuffed into his inventory.

***

Two days later, they crested a hill, dusk cloaking the desert in hues of gold and amber. Qing's eyes widened as he stared down at a city unlike any he had ever seen. "What is that?" Silhouettes of cerulean blue domed rooftops sat on towering spires with white walls.

"That, my friend, is the Gilded Hold," Knut said, clapping Qing on the back. "It's a city where the wealth of worlds converge."

“But there is plenty of shadow in the city," Jenny added as the wind ruffled Qing's hair, bringing with it the salty tang of the sea, mingled with the fragrance of spices.

"I've never seen desert and ocean so close."

"It's one of a kind," Morgana said, who had grown increasingly quiet with each mile.

On the far side, by the ocean, lay a bustling harbor, ships large and small, their hulls flat or deep. A metropolis of the ancient world.

Qing was about to step forward when he spotted something in the darkness. He squinted at the fading light. "What is that?" He pointed at something outside the city walls, unlit by the flickering lights abundant in the rest of the city.

"That's the pyramid," Jenny said, "Bad place."

"They have a damn pyramid?" Qing asked. “What for? Burying their dead?” He’d read about Egypt.

"Of course not," Knut said, “How wasteful would that be? No. The pyramids are said to gather magical energies, easing spellcasting within and magic there regenerates faster.”

“How’d you know?”

“Common knowledge.”

“If it’s true,” Jenny added.

“Huh,” Qing said, scratching his cheeks. “Let me guess. They've got slaves here, don't they?" "

“Yep," Jenny said, "A beautiful city, but built on suffering."

In the middle of the city stood a massive tower with a domed top, like an overcompensating Taj Mahal. "I guess that's where we'll find the king."

"Yeah. That’s the palace, right next to the Grand Library."

“Doesn’t look much different, does it, Jenny.”

“Nope. The Gilded Hold never changes. For good or bad.”

The last part of light faded behind the desert, casting the city into twilight.

Qing sighed. The city looked massive, and had to house hundreds of thousands. "Let's get going.”

I’ve got a bad feeling about this place.

But he kept it to himself. No way he’d be dumb enough to say something like that.

An hour of walking saw them approaching a gatehouse, manned by five guards leaning on their spears and shields.

"What do you want?" the tallest guard asked, swaggering out.

"To enter the city," Qing said, as if it was obvious.

"It's too late. No-one enters now. You'll have to come back tomorrow."

"We're here to see the king and cannot be delayed," Qing said.

The guards eyes widened and he looked to the ones behind him. “Heard what he said? Here to see the king?”

The others laughed, albeit somewhat forced.

“Yes. Now please let us through.” He knew it wouldn’t be this easy, but he had to try.

The guard waved them off as if they were naught by a fly. "Why don't you take your three-humped camel, your ugly women, and fuck right off.”

Qing tensed and stepped forward, but Morgana stopped him, hand on his shoulder.

She whispered, ”I know a way in. Let’s just go.”

“We can't afford any delay," Qing said. “Let us through.”

“Or else?” the guard asked.

Qing pulled the heat left in the air and fet it mana, conjuring a Firebolt. In his other hands he equipped his axe, and cast Smite, making the weapon glow. Shadows danced across the gatehouse and the guards hastily raised spears and shields as their leader screamed, “Mage!”

Knut cursed.

Qing's Quest book 2, Chapter 5: Tits and wings

The axe handle felt firm in Qing's hands as he gripped it tightly, staring up at the descending harpies. They shrieked obscenities as they descended. Part of the Earth's population would have found this situation extremely…interesting, as the upper halves of the harpies were all woman, as if a Moroccan model agency had rented out their most beautiful members, and they didn’t wear a single thread on their bodies. But their lower half was all chicken, with feathered feet ending in eagle-like claws longer than Qing's fingers. The wings sprouting from their backs ranged in colour from swan white to raven black. If they weren't attacking, the sight might have been magnificent. As it was, Qing felt the familiar fear stir, and his hands went clammy.

"Knut, I think it's time to fire," Qing said.

"But, look at them," Knut said, and Qing turned. The man stood slack-jawed, eyes open. "They are so beautiful," the man said. "So…naked."

"They are half chicken, you crazy idiot," Morgana said, aiming her crossbow. The bolt flashed upwards and hit a wing. The harpy shrieked in pain, wrapping her wings around herself and plummeted towards the earth. But two others grabbed her legs, hauling her away. "You will pay. We kill you. You die!” the shrieks rained down on them.

“Snap out of it, Knut," Qing said, and ran past Jenny, heading away from the camels, Knut, and Morgana. That put Jenny as the centre of their force. She held her axes out to the side and roared up at them, "Come at me, you ugly chicken bitches!"

A slap sounded in the air. Knut rubbed his cheek. "What was that for?" he said.

"Shoot the monsters," Morgana said, "or they'll bite your damn sausage off. Look at their legs, not their tits."

That seemed to break the spell, and Knut drew and released, a fire-tipped arrow flashing up. It hit a harpy, straight in the face, mid-dive. She went limp in the air, dead.

Qing opened himself to the air’s charge, pulling on the electricity. The hair on his arms stood as it built, and he fed it mana. One hand raised against the diving monsters, he cast Chain Lightning. Thunder roared through the air and five harpies went rigid, arms, legs, and wings splaying out wide before they collapsed, dropping limp towards their death.

Twenty-one remaining.

They opened their wings right above ground, flashing in to attack. They carried golden knives in their beautiful, manicured-like hands. Eight attacked Knut and Jenny, but her whip cracked through the air, taking the wing off one, black feathers filled the air.

But the next harpy lashed out, its clawed feet digging into Morgana's left shoulder, throwing her backward. She cartwheeled through the air, blood streaking into the air, and screamed in pain.

Knut fired an arrow point-blank, tearing through the naked chest of a harpy who tumbled head over heels across the sand before throwing himself to the side.

Then, Qing lost sight of Knut as five harpies descended on him. They came down like fighter planes, but Qing wouldn’t be cowed. Quick Reflexes proc’ed and he stepped to the side, lifting Paulhandler’s Keg-smasher. A harpy crashed into it, her foot cut off at the knee, blood spraying the desert like a crop-duster. She furiously beat her wings, screaming in pain, trying to gain height.

But there were too many of them for Qing to avoid. Talons screeched at his back plate like nails on chalkboard, searching for his unprotected flesh. It knocked him forward, and a dagger buried itself in his hip. Pain flared and his foot buckled, but he swung wildly, forcing the harpies back. They circled, darting at him in turns. Each time he turned to defend, another struck at his back so fast he couldn’t keep up.

"Why do you seek death?" Qing said, and blinked, pulling on the desert’s heat.

They cackled, laughing like twenty-year-old girls on a night out, and three threw daggers at him.

One flew towards his face, and he blocked it with the axe as he fed mana into his hand. Another clipped the side of his face as the Firebolt appear in his hand. He threw with all his might, hitting a harpy, caving in her chest. Her hands clawed at the blackened wound as she was thrown to the ground. Feathered feet kicked sand, but only for a moment before they stilled.

“Sister!”

“Revenge!”

“Tear!”

The others rushed in. Qing raised his arm to protect his face, and claws ripped into it. A dagger bounced off his chest plate.

"Get back," Qing roared as he ripped the golden dagger out of his hip and threw it at a harpy. It hit her, hilt first, but he’d thrown it so hard she fell from the air. Two remained on him, and he swept the axe in a circle, buying a moment to check on his friends.

Four harpies held Knut, his bow and quiver lay on the sand. He screamed for them to let him go. Morgana was crawling backwards, two harpies stalking towards her. Jenny was out of sight, surrounded by harpies, but he heard her. She was screaming, but it was in rage.

Good. I need to help Knut. If they carry him away we could lose him forever.

Qing popped a healing potion and kicked off towards his friend. As he passed the harpy he'd knocked down with the dagger, he chopped out with his axe, lobbing her head off.

"No!" screamed the harpies that chased him.

Adrenaline flooded through his system, making him feel invincible yet vulnerable, everything in life on a knife's edge.

As he sprinted, he closed his eyes for a moment and sent his feelings into the ground. He found the earth, targeting a harpy approaching Morgana, and cast Nature's Grasp. With a surprised shriek, she sank into the sand, beating her wings furiously and grabbing onto her friend. All she accomplished in her terror was to pull the other harpy in with her, their wings entangling.

As he passed the group around Jenny, he heard her scream in pain, and for a moment he worried. But a harpy flew past him as if pulled by a cord. Both her wings were missing, and she collapsed with a whimper, long and black silken hair splayed around her head.

Do I help Jenny? No. Trust her to do her part. Focus on Knut. Save Magic Missiles in case they fly off.

The four harpies had lifted Knut, and were beating their wings, rising into the air. Three feet, six feet, ten feet off the ground. Knut screamed in fright, pulling on his arms and legs.

"You will do nicely," a harpy said. “Your friends can’t save you now.”

"You've never met a man like me,” Qing roared in reply, activating his sandals’ Dash. He flashed forward, coming out of the sprint right underneath them. He squatted down and jumped straight up towards them. He arched his back, axe held over head, and he threw with all his might. The axe flashed through the sky.

Please don't hit Knut…

The axe smashed through the harpy holding Knut's right arm, embedding itself in her stomach. As she dropped, Knut drew a dagger from his belt and stabbed the one holding his other arm, cutting her wrist.

But it wasn’t over yet. As she let go, Knut pitched downwards with a scream until he hung head down.

The two remaining harpies pierced his legs with their talons and threw daggers at Qing, continuing to gain height. Qing landed in the sand, making a small crater. As he turned, eyes closed, he peeled back the veil of reality and siphoned off arcane energy, casting Magic Missiles. Arcane energy flashed towards a harpy. She let go of Knut and dived, attempting to dodge the incoming spell, but to no avail. It burned through her wing, into her chest, and her hip, and she fell screaming, her wings snapping as the sand embraced her.

It was too much weight for the last harpy, and they started descending, so she let go of Knut. He plumeted head first.

"Shit, shit, shit“ Qing said and rushed forward while pulling down light energy, forming Divine Light and casting it on Knut, just as he caught him. He couldn't stop the fall, but he needed to stop him from dying instantly. Instead of hitting the sand headfirst, Knut landed on his back with a crack, but Divine Light already worked its magic, and Qing knew he would live.

"Enough," roared a voice that would have won any singing competition. Qing turned and looked up at quite possibly the most beautiful face he'd ever seen, online or in real life. Next to her, Cleopatra would have been the ugly friend. Her face had a perfect symmetry, full lips, sharp nose, high cheekbones. Influencers would sell their soul for her natural beauty. His heart raced as he looked up at her, ignoring the perfect breasts heaving as she beat her swan-white wings. Taller than any NBA player, but what freaked Qing out was her hair. Twelve snakes moved around her head, as if a medusa had dreadlocks.

And Qing instinctually knew her name. Cliomatrix. An elite foe.

"You will be mine," she snarled at Qing. “Finally, a worthy mate for my children."

"Excuse you?” Qing said, looking her up and down, arching an eyebrow at her feathery half.

"You will sire my children, and be their first meal," she said, smiling, hands on hips.

She flapped her wings, hovering in place, and put her hands out left and right.

“Arms!” she said, and two harpies flew in, one carrying a golden heater shield, another an arming sword. She grabbed both and waved them away.

“Leave use alone and go back where you came from, and I will let you live,” Qing said.

"Let us go?" she said, tilting her head and laughing musically. Even though she was a homicidal monster, it still sent a tingling up his spine. "Drop to your knees and beg," she said, “and maybe I will let your friends live, if you come without a fight."

"I don't believe you," Qing said.

She smiled. "Clever man. What need would I have of a weakling.” She lowered the sword, pointing it at Qing's chest. "I want you. And I'm going to take you. I’ll carve your arms off in single combat and carry you back to my nest," she grinned.

Qing swallowed as discreetly as he could, but held her gaze. This was an opportunity to save his friends.

“Cliomatrix, I accept your challenge of single combat," Qing said. “So stand down your…sisters? And let us fight."

“Peculiar,” she said as he named her, tilting her head and tapping her bottom lip with a perfect index finger, snake hair dancing around the razor-sharp sword.

"Agreed," she said, and whistled a golden note that would have smashed glass and set Qing's teeth on edge. The remaining harpies lifted, leaving Jenny and Qing, gathering behind Cliomatrix like an entourage in a rap music video, except there were more feathers and about the same amount of clothes.

Qing took a deep breath, held it, and let it out slowly, calming his nerves. Every monster in this world was lethal, but few more so than elites. Arcane Missiles and Chain Lightning were on cooldown. Nature's grasp and the grasp of the dead would be useless unless she touched the ground. Raise Skeleton was not worth the mana. That left Smite.

"Let's dance," he said.

She smiled, angling her wings, and like an angel created by a God on fairy dust, dove, sword pointed at his chest.

Qing wanted to end this fight fast.

She dove and Qing leaped towards her, axe blazing with Smite as he struck. But with a twist of her wings, she dodged, agile as a sparrow despite her size, letting him sail past her. Her sword flashed out, biting into the back of his thigh. As he landed, his leg collapsed, and he fell to one knee with a grunt. His good leg pushed into the sand and he threw himself to the right. The golden sword carved into the sand where his arm had been a split second earlier, and sand whirled as she passed.

She hovered in the air, brought her sword up, inspected at the tip, and licked his blood. "Delicious," she said. "Magical, potent…” She shivered, legs shaking. "Oh, that's exquisite!”

"You lay the fuck off my blood," Qing said. "Get back down here so we can finish this."

Knut moved in the sand, sitting up, and Jenny jogged towards him. Morgana had fashioned her whip into a crutch, keeping distance from the two harpies still stuck in the quicksand, angling towards the camels.

The longer I fight, the more times they’ll have to recuperate. But, she’s lightning fast…

He didn't want to use a heal yet, holding some of the healing in reserve, and he didn’t want to give away his abilities. They’d see Knut survive, but now how.

Cliomatrix dove, and he forced himself to stand.

Qing feinted an axe strike, but anticipating her dodge, he spun in a tight half-circle, axe whipping around behind and up. He had judged it correctly, and his axe slammed into her shield, knocking her off course. She shrieked and flapped frantically, her golden shield dented. But more than that, her chicken foot touched the ground, once, righting herself. As she did, Qing activated Shadowsight, opening his eyes to a world that was dark, cold and filled with terror. Hundreds of ghosts and the souls of the dead stood around them. The desert was filled with them.

But he had learned his lesson during the siege of Shadowgrove, and as she touched a foot to kick off, he commanded five of the dead to grasp her, pushing his will against them and overcoming their resistance in a flash.

Before she could lift off, undead hands grabbed hold of her legs, and Qing blinked away Shadowsight, hobbling towards her.

She shrieked in pain, raging, sword and shield laying about, cutting into the sand. But no matter what she did, she couldn't harm those already dead. Her eyes flashed as they glared at Qing, feathers mixing with blood. 'You will pay for this,' she said.

“I doubt it,” Qing replied, and he felt Firebolt come off cooldown. He blinked, pulling on the heat, and cast a Firebolt straight at her. She slammed her shield into the spell, swatting it away.

Whoa…She is damn powerful. How to safely finish this?

Her sword had a longer reach than his axe, and she was too agile. Previous tough fights he’d used the roots to his advantage, but he had no doubt she’d fly away in a split second given the chance.

'Surrender,' Qing said, as he approached, chin raised. “Take your sisters and return to where you came from.”

She snarled, eyes crazy, “This is nothing! You'll be mine.”

Qing stopped just out of reach. ”So be it,” he said, siphoning off energy from the universe, mixing it with mana, and cast Magic Missiles. She blocked with her shield, but caught only one, and it burned through the metal. Another burned through her wing, and the final hit her belly. Blood pulsed out, painting a white wing red. Her screams of pain touched Qing, but he pushed any regret away. She stood in his way, and had turned down mercy. All that remained was Qing’s quest.

She was held by the dead, and he stepped in, swinging at her shielded side. She couldn’t reach him with her sword, and had to block. The axe carved through her shield, chopping her arm in two. White bone stuck out, and a detatched part of him noticed her bones were hollow.

“No!” she screamed, glaring at her arm. “You bastard!”

Before Qing could strike again, she whistled.

He’d excepected it, but that didn’t change the challenge, as seven harpies descended on him like a tornado of feathers. They pushed him towards Cliomatrix’s waiting sword.

Qing reached up, pulled energy down, casting Divine Light on himself. It healed him, as the harpies converged on him, a storm of claws and daggers. Qing swiped his axe in large swings, cutting down one, then a second, but they ripped him to sheds. A claw raked his skull, a knife in the gut, and then, a dagger slashed across his face, cutting into his eyeball.

His vision halved.

Panic grabbed at his neck, as he screamed in rage and fear, and twisted to chop, but his axe wouldn’t move. His arms were wrenched backwards by claws, as the harpies grabbed his limbs. Hissing filled his ears, and the axe was ripped from his grip.

Cliomatrix stepped in front of him, snakes whistling in the air. ”You had better be worth it,” she said, snarling. At this distance her yellow eye seemed dominated by the black pupil, and looked nothing like a human’s. Not an ounce of compassion.

“Qing!” Jenny said, shouting over the clanging of her armour as she sprinted towards him.

But Cliomatrix struck. And when the golden sword cut off his arm, just above the elbow, he screamed. The pain nearly sent him into shock, and he moved the arm towards his face to look, spraying blood across the harpies. With a smirk, she cut off his second, and his legs collapsed, the body giving out at the shock.

She grabbed him by the throat and lifted him to meet her eyes. ”You are mine. I always get what I want.” Despite the injuries to her legs and wing, she squatted and hopped into the air, carrying him with her. Two harpies flew with her, each holding one of his legs.

They held him face downwards, and as they gained height, Qing’s stomach lurched. The remaining harpies harassed his friends, growing smaller. Jenny ran for Morgana and Knut, who was struggling with his bow. But it was too late.

Qing screamed at the pain, shaking his legs, waving his stumps, showering the desert with his blood.

“You will give me strong offspring,” Cliomatric said, and he felt her warm and soft breast on the back of his head.

What to do? If they dropped him now, he’d die on impact, and he didn’t have arms.

But then he looked down at Smokey, realising they were flying over the massive dune they had tried to hide behind. If he could time it correctly then maybe…

“The whole of Sunfire Heights will be mine!”

Teetch clenched, he pushed down his fear and pain just in time to feel the spell come off cooldown. He pulled on the air’s natural charge.

“Our children will feast upon your body, gain your power, and then I’ll show the viz—”

“Hey bitch,” he said, interrupting her. “I’ll see you in hell.”

He cast Chain Lightning.

Qing's Quest book 2, Chapter 4: The Blood Claws

Qing looked back. Far in the distance, the last member of the royal guard disappeared behind the horizon.

“So what’s the green dragon?” he asked.

“It’s a foul substance,” Knut said, shaking his head. “Addictive and enjoyable. It makes you feel seen, but not by the living, but by the dead. It rots your mind from the inside out. They can seem normal for periods when they smoke it, but the voices get louder with time, until you would kill your own family for just a few drops more.”

“So it’s a drug?”

“Yes, one of the worst. If the queen is in the green dragon’s claws, not only won’t she help, but she may be a dangerous foe.”

“I see,” Qing said, and they settled into an uncomfortable silence, the whoosh of sand moving across the dunes filling their ears.

Qing opened his character sheet. It was time to set the stat points.

After killing the Butchers in Shadowgrove, he had levelled up, and also gained two level two skill books. He’d learned Chain Lightning as they left the kingdom, adding an area-of-effect spell to his repertoire.

Elementalist Spell: “Chain Lightning” (Electric Damage)

A ranged spell that strikes an enemy with a bolt of lightning, dealing electric damage and jumping to additional nearby enemies.

Cost: Medium Mana

Cooldown: Medium

After levelling to fourteen he could select one more, but it might be better to hold off under he saw more of what they would be facing. Too many of the level two skills were enticing.

They had barely encountered any people on the journey so far. The tunnel had opened into this desert, which was held back by the gigantic mountains bordering the Whispering Woods. Stepping forth into that sun had been uncanny.

Fortunately, Jenny and Knut were experienced travelers and led them from watering hole to oasis.

What are we going to face in this place?

He took out the sorcerer’s circlet and ran his thumb along the smooth gold with a smile.

Item: [Circlet of Azure Wisdom, Level 17, Rare] has been added to your inventory.

Made from Zylphadian gold and set with the Seer’s Stone, The Circlet of Azure Wisdom has been used by Zylphadian sages for centuries. Most prominently was Maone, the one-throated, who served as court mage for five kings.

+15 to Intelligence

+20% to Mana Regeneration

(Circlet, Headgear)

But the smile faded as he refocused on the level. It had been a long time since he’d received something higher than his level. What did it mean? Was he now under-leveled for this part of the world? Was it just a powerful item with a high-level requirement? The hooded thwab he had received, a long-sleeved, ankle-length robe like those he’d seen used in northern Africa, was level fifteen.

At least he’d felt no pain using his magic during the attack. It had disappeared during their treck. And it had been easy to kill the bandits, especially with Chain Lightning. But they were human. Nothing seemed to indicate that toughness meant you could survive having your throat cut or be stabbed through the heart, at least for humans. But Vileheart and the Butchers had survived crazy amounts of damage. So what did levels truly mean? Qing and Jenny had arm wrestled, and he’d won, easy. She had been the strongest person he’d met, maybe outside of Baylor Svartsmed, whom he’d never tested his strength against.

But then there was the sorcerer? It had been difficult to defeat him with the powerful spell shield. Qing shifted uncomfortably on Smokey’s back. Was it even them who had killed him? All Qing did was interrupt his focus. The demon had slain him. Maybe they would have defeated him in the end, but they had been lucky.

He took a deep breath and scanned the map. Zylphadia was dangerous, despite the desert’s tranquil feeling. Even with Divine Light and being level fourteen…

We need to find Rufus fast and rescue Cleo. God knows what she was going through now.

He looked up into the sky.

And how much time does meimei have?

Having been on Earth, seeing the streams of the other champions, it had eased the burden somehow. At least he wasn’t alone in his quest to save the planet, but at the same time, he was in a race against time.

What if another champion succeeds before I do? Will I find a way to bring Divine Light to Earth or would I be sent back without it? What if I get stuck here?

He frowned and looked back at the others. Knut and Morgana’s camels walked along happily, as happily as camels walk, but Jenny’s struggled. This was the fastest it would go, carrying all that muscle and plate mail.

Why didn’t I see GG coming back from Earth? Why haven’t I heard anything, aside from the one quest to stop the bandits? The neighbour said I was the first one to make it back. Maybe that put scrutiny on me and they figured out GG helped me?

Anger soared within him, and his nostrils flared. Whoever was behind this…

He took a deep breath and pushed the anger away, opening his stat sheet and put all four points into intelligence, as he had done with the points from level thirteen, bringing it to forty. That gave him three hundred mana, just like his three hundred health.

Strength: 47 (25+22)

Dexterity: 26 (14+12)

Intelligence: 40                 -

Vitality:  30 (25+5)

Attack Power: 993

Defence: 705

Health: 300

Mana: 300

Qing was about to theorycraft around which spell to pick when the temperature dropped and he dismissed the windows, finding them riding through a light shadow. But there hadn’t been a single cloud in the sky since they started through the desert. He shaded his eyes and stared towards the sun, which was still bright to look at, but a darkness had moved in front of it.

“Is that a cloud?” he asked.

Knut rode up alongside him. “If that’s a cloud, then my piss tastes of gold.”

“Does it?” Morgana asked.

“What?”

“Taste of gold.”

“Of course not.”

“Why wouldn’t you just say it’s not a cloud?”

“It was a simple analogy!”

“No,” Jenny said.

They all turned to look at her.

“That was a hyperbolic conditional statement and not an analogy,” she said, scratching at one of her scars, staring towards the sun.

“Well…” Knut said and shared a glance with Morgana.

Qing snapped his fingers. “Knut. Be serious. Tell me what you see.”

“It is moving too fast to be a cloud, and…” he pointed at the sandy dunes. “Unless the wind is different up there, it’s moving against it.”

“Could it be a flock of birds?” Qing asked. “Ravens?”

“In the desert? Not a chance,” Knut replied. “No. This is worse. Whatever that is…its bad. They…whatever they are, are the size of humans, with black wings.”

“Are we in danger?” Morgana asked.

Knut held up a hand, and they stopped, sitting in silence as he stared up. Suddenly, he ripped the bow off his back and set about stringing it. “Yes, we are. That’s a damn flock of harpies, large enough to kill a hundred men.”

Qing looked behind. “Could they be chasing Abdul and the Thutmoses?”

“Not much else for them to hunt in the desert.” Jenny said.

“We’ve got to hide!” Morgana said, turning her camel in a circle. “Quick!”

“Hold,” Qing said.

“Even if we turned and gave chase, we wouldn’t catch them in time to help,” Knut said. “And that’s if the harpies don’t descend and attack us first.”

“I know,” Qing said.

We can turn off the path and hide, leaving them to slaughter Abdul, or attract their attention and face an impossible fight.

“How many are there?” Morgana asked, panic rising in her voice.

“Too many,” Knut said. “Maybe a hundred?”

Qing’s jaw clenched tightly, and he grasped the reins painfully.

We need to let the harpies pass and focus on the quest. I can’t risk the Earth for a hundred men I barely know, but… It doesn’t feel right.

Fear roiled inside him at the sight of the dark cloud. He could make out the individuals when he squinted, as tall as him and with a wingspan half again his height.

“Qing?” Morgana said. “If you don’t make a decision soon, it’ll be made for us!”

The experience points for defeating the harpies might go a long way towards a new level, but he didn’t know how dangerous they were, and he only had one life. One chance to complete the quest and get back in time. He thought of meimei. She had to be alive. Even a thousand men wouldn’t be worth her life. This wasn’t the right fight.

“Take us away,” Qing said. “Out of their path. Find a place to hide.”

Knut tugged on the reins of the camel and whacked its hind with his bow. “Hyah,” he said, and the camel hopped forward into a loping gait, moving at twice its normal speed.

They headed straight off the path, towards a rocky outcrop in the distance, a tall dune with an abnormally steep side. Smokey passed Knut’s camel to take the lead, and Qing turned to look. Morgana followed right behind Knut, but Jenny lagged, her camel struggling with her weight.

“Are we sure they are hostile?” Qing asked.

“As sure as…” Knut started, before looking at Morgana. “Yes, they are hostile,” he finished.

The sound of heavy wingbeats reached them, growing louder, as if a thousand birds came flocking together. Qing reached the dune first, breaking line of sight.

He hopped off Smokey. “Stay,” he commanded, before scrambling up the dune and crawling the last feet.

Jenny was nearly at the outcrop, but Qing realised it would be too late. The harpies were nearly on top of them.

I waited too long. Damnit. Will the harpies care?

He held his breath as the flock passed above, and he looked at Jenny. She passed into safety.

Then, Qing’s belly sank as part of the flock detached and descended in their direction. They couldn’t hide.

“Incoming!” Qing shouted as he stood and scrambled down the sand in a loping run. With each step, his feet sank deep, sliding more than walking, arms wheeling, nearly falling.

Wait. I’m going about this wrong. I need to remember who I am now.

So he kicked off and soared through the air, landing far down, sand splashing around him as his thighs absorbed the impact. With a grunt, he hopped again, soaring even further, covering the distance down in a flash, arriving as Jenny did.

She hopped off her camel, hauled off her pack, and pulled out her dual-wielded axes.

“I count thirty,” she said, clanking as she stomped forward.

“Thirty?” Morgana said as Knut tied the camels in a row behind Smokey. “Shit! That’s too many.”

“It’ll have to do,” Qing said, equipping his axe. “We’ve done worse before.”

“Not harpies,” Morgana said and shook her head. “I’ve read they are strong, vicious, and intelligence. Not to mention they can fucking fly. A bit different than a zombie, isn’t it?”

“No,” Qing said. “It’s not. Because we are stronger. That’s what you need to understand, Morgana. You’re no longer fighting as an individual. We are a team. You protect our back, we protect yours. Use your whip wisely, and we’ll get through this.”

Her mouth was a thin line, but she nodded, taking out her crossbow. “I’ll get off a shot first.”

Qing nodded. “Here’s our plan. Knut is the main damage dealer. Given time, all it takes is thirty arrows. Jenny, you tank, attracting their attention. I’m second damage dealer, and will be ready to heal. Morgana, you’ve got one job, and that is to keep them of Knut.”

A scream filled the air, voice like honey, as if a teenage popstar had been auto-tuned to perfection.

“Prey, listen. Watch us in wonder as we tear you apart!”

Qing's Quest book 2, Chapter 3: The Banished

Inspiration for the first part is this photo I took in the Sahara desert in May 2023 at 6:20am during sunrise.

------------------

“Wow,” Qing said as he grasped the reins, steadying himself atop Smokey.

“What is it?” Knut asked from his normal sized camel, having yet to look across the dune.

But Qing couldn’t find words as he stared at the sunrise. The golden sun appeared across the dune, painting the landscape in shades of black and yellow, the clean lines of desert dunes creating a visage no painter could ever recreate, nor any photo capture.

Qing stared at it.

This is spectacular. I’d never see this if I hadn’t been portaled into this world. Maybe meimei is watching me and gets to see this too.

But then he felt sick in the stomach.

No. There is no way fucking way this Quaxinor’ay is going to Stockholm syndrome me. I’m going to find Rufus and get my ass home.

Qing tugged on the rains, setting Smokey into motion.

“Come on,” he said to the others, breaking them out of their stares. “We’re wasting daylight.”

***

“When were you here last?” Morgana asked as they rode, rocking across the dunes.

“Ten years ago,” Knut said.

“Why?”

“We used to trade here. The court at the Gilded Hall used to be our top customer.”

“Of what?” Morgana asked.

“What was it you called it, Qing?” Knut asked. “Boner pills?”

Qing nodded.

Morgana chuckled. “Really. So what happened? If it used to be your biggest customer, I mean?”

“He fucked the queen,” Jenny said, pointing a thumb at Knut.

“What?” Qing said. “In Shadowgrove, didn’t you just tell me you insulted her?”

“No,” Knut said, waving a hand. “It was the King who felt insulted.”

“What were you thinking?”

“That he has a harem, so why shouldn’t she?”

“Well…” Qing said. “Can’t really argue with that.”

“Exactly. But it turns out King Sharyar didn’t agree with me, so he banished us.”

“Ten years ago now,” Jenny said. “We used to make so much money there...”

“You still want us to come?” Knut asked.

“Not much choice now, is there?” Qing said and shrugged, waving at the desert. “I don’t even know where I’m going.” Then he grew serious. “Besides. That danger is nothing compared to our current quest.”

“What about you, Morgana?” Jenny asked. “Have you been to Zylphadia before?”

At first, she didn’t answer, and when Qing turned to look at her, she squirmed in her saddle.

“Answer the question,” he said.

She sighed. “Yes, I have. But the memories are unpleasant and I would rather not dredge them up for nothing.”

“Oh, do share,” Knut said. “We love a good tale, don’t we, Jenny?”

“Leave it, Knut,” Jenny said with a grunt. “If she doesn’t want to say, then she doesn’t have to.”

“Yeah, but what if...”

Qing held up a hand, and they all went quiet and halted. They knew he always kept the mini map up as they rode, looking for threats and animals as they rode between the sandy dunes, following a track that could only be seen due to its high concentration of camel dung. But now, dozens of dots appeared at the edge of the map, as if a column of soldiers two wide marched towards them.

“We’ve got company,” he said.

Knut clicked his tongue and led them right, heading off the path and around behind a large dune. They rode single file, hoping whoever approached would pass them by.

More and more dots appeared.

“There have to be over sixty, maybe even a hundred of them,” Qing said in a whisper.

Qing tensed as he watched the column pass them by on the map, but suddenly it stopped.

“Shit. They’ve spotted us,” Qing said. “Knut, you go up behind in case we need covering—”

“It’s too late,” Knut said, pointing.

He was right. The dots were spreading out around them at speed, and he looked towards the top of the dune just in time to see a line of armored camel riders appearing over the top, weapons in hand. Half wielded shields and lances, the others held bows, arrows nocked.

“Oh shit,” Knut said. “It’s the Zylphadian army.”

“Back to back!” Qing said, about to hop off Smokey, but as if the animal understood his verbal commands, it turned and stepped backwards, facing the enemy. Qing stayed on top, and reached behind him, pulling on the rope that raised the metal plate that sat fixed around the third hump. Like James Bond’s cars, the plate protected him against arrows and strikes from the rear. As the riders started down the dune towards them, Qing could have sworn Smokey growled, and what did he know about camels, so maybe that was normal?

With all the bows trained at them, what he wouldn’t have given for a spell shield like the sorcerer had used. There had to be fifty bows ready to loose. The camel riders collapsed on them from all sides, lances lowered.

“Wait for them to get close,” Qing said. “But if any of them loose, we attack, straight forward and out. I’ll hold them off.”

The warriors wore chain mail, covering them from ankles to the top of their heads, where their helmets sprouted a tall spike, making them appear larger. It would have been scary, but Qing hadn’t defeated the Butchers and Wildheart to be intimidated by a regular human. He stared them down, knowing that their number were dangerous, but confident in his ability to defeat any single one of them.

“What do you want?” he said, calling out to them.

“Justice,” one rider said as he unhooked the veil of chains from his face, letting it fall to the side. The middle-aged man had eyes as hard as any marine Qing had seen on TV.

“Put down your weapons then,” Qing said, “and tell me of the justice you seek.”

“You travel in ill company,” the man said, pointing a curved sabre at Knut. “Two of your companions have been banished from this land, and the third is a wanted criminal.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake!” Qing said. “Lower your weapons. We are on a quest to save the world. Let me tell you the story and you may make your judgement.”

The cavalry surrounded them, standing so close Qing could have reached out and touched the lances pointed at his chest.

The riders laughed, and one said, “No wonder he travels in such company. He’s insane.”

“Enough, Abdul,” Knut said. “You know as well as I do that the banishment was bullshit, and done only to save face for a king with no legs to stand on.”

The archers pulled back their arrows, and the cavalry tensed to strike, but Abdul raised his hand. “Hold,” he commanded. “Do not kill them. Not yet. Knut. Your tongue has always been rogue, yet even you should know better than to speak ill of the king in front of us.”

“Sure,” Knut said with a shrug. “But there are a lot of things I should know better than. What I’d like to know is, what under the yellow sun is the head of the royal guard doing all the way out here in the desert with a company of shock cavalry? I doubt you’ve come for us. We’ve barely met anyone on our journey.”

“The royal guard?” Qing asked.

“Yep,” Jenny said. “Abdul here is the head of the Gilded Hold’s royal guard, and has been for 20 years.”

The man shifted in his saddle.

“Excellent,” Qing said, forcing a smile. “Then I’m glad we met you. We are chasing a fugitive, a rogue necromancer named Rufus who has kidnapped a young girl called Cleo, and plans to release the devil upon your world. When last we saw him, he fled through a portal to your city. We go to your king’s court to ask for support in tracking him down.”

Abdul shook his head. “You’re telling me you are chasing a guy who’s made a deal with the devil and kidnapped a girl? Do you have any idea how that sounds?”

“Yes, but it’s true, nonetheless. Will you take us to your king?”

“No,” Abdul said. “I will not. You will leave this realm. Jenny, out of my respect for you as the previous champion, I give you a chance to leave with your life. Ten of my men will to escort you out of Zylphadia, given a promise you will never return.”

Before Qing could object, the man held up his hand to forestall objections. “Take my offer, or I will sentence your comrades to death here and now. Then you may continue alone.”

“I would like to see you try,” Qing said, opening himself to the elemental charge. He held out his hand and equipped Paulhandler’s Keg-smasher, the axe appearing out of thin air.

“Wait, wait, wait!” Knut said, raising his arms. “Don’t be an idiot, Abdul. Tell us why you are out here!”

“I swear, what Qing says is true,” Morgana said, voice cutting through the air. “He is from a mystical land far away, and has come on a quest to save our world from some really fucked-up people. Please, take us to the court. You won’t regret it.”

“And if the king wants,” Jenny added. “We’ll take trial by combat. Too much is at stake.”

“I’m afraid I cannot do that,” Abdul said, taking a deep breath. “We’re hunting a dangerous group of bandits led by a sorcerer named—”

“Masheer el-Farah?” Qing asked. “Would that be the sorcerer you’re looking for?”

“How could you possibly know that?” Abdul asked.

“Because we already killed him.” Qing said, voice flat. “You are welcome.”

Abdul’s eyebrows nearly disappeared underneath his helmet. “You killed Masheer the sorcerer? I…I don’t believe it. Our sources tell us he had ten men with him.”

“It was sixteen,” Qing said. “And he kind of summoned a demon. But, we got him.” Qing pulled out the looted circlet and held it up above his head, turning around so every warrior could see it. “And we saved all six of the True Moon Tribe’s children he held captive.”

The soldiers started whispering among themselves, and Abdul asked, “How could you do that?”

“He’s from Chicago,” Morgana said.

“Chicago?” Abdul said, waving a hand, and the warriors lowered their weapons.

“Yes,” she said, and blinked at Qing. Or maybe it was a wink. It was hard to tell with the eyepatch.

“That is amazing news. I owe you a debt of gratitude,” Abdul said and bowed from the saddle. “It is not widely known, but my brother is a member of the tribe. If you speak true, you have saved my niece.”

“You’re welcome,” Morgana said and smiled, lifting her eye patch to knuckle her eye.

“That also explains why you are riding Smoky,” Abdul said, nodding at the massive camel. “I thought you might have raided the tribe and stolen him, but…I couldn’t fathom how he would let you ride him.”

“Why?” Qing asked, leaning forward to scratch Smokey behind his left ear, and the camel angled its head so he could better reach. “He’s such a good boy!”

Abdul barked a laugh. “Smokey? A good boy?” He tugged off his gloves and held up his four-fingered hand. “The worst injury I ever received was by his teeth.” He smiled wistfully. “I tried to ride him once. I was young and dumb.”

“Wow,” Qing said, sitting upright. “Anything else I should know?”

Am I riding a death machine?

“I do not know,” Abdul replied. “I’ve only ever seen Kamil ride him. But if he trusts you, he should treat you well.”

“Excellent,” Qing said. “Well, with all of this sorted out, let us be on our way. The sooner we get to the king, the better. I will take the responsibility and the risk.”

Abdul grew quiet.

“What is it?” Knut asked, shifting to look around at the gathered riders, none of which would meet their eyes.

“I…haven’t been honest with you," Abdul said with a sigh. “I have also been banished.”

“Shit,” Knut said.

“These men refused to serve the new commander, and rightly so. I’m afraid there will be no help for you in the king's court. He has grown paranoid, and a darkness has settled over Zylphadia these last ten years.”

“I don’t care about the politics,” Qing said. “I just need you to get us there and in front of the king.”

“I cannot. Anyone seen with me is to be killed, and helping me is a death sentence by itself.”

“Then why are you here hunting bandits?” Jenny asked.

He shrugged. “There’s nowhere else for us to go.”

“Well, actually, I think there is,” Qing said, an idea springing to mind. He took out Mercer’s hammer and tossed it to Abdul. “Take this and head towards the kingdom of Thulenore. In the Whispering Woods you will find the village of Shadowgrove. Give this to Erik Eriksson or Aria and tell them I sent you. There you will receive shelter, food, and water.”

“What? They would take in a hundred men?” Abdul asked.

“Yes. The kingdom was attacked, and many fell. But we defeated the shadow and cleansed the land. They need strong men for rebuilding, and you will find a warm welcome, meaningful days, and good company. In return, I would have you protect the village.” Qing stood in the saddle and spoke loud for all to hear. “That is an offer open to any and all of you. A fresh start!”

A cheer went up from the warriors, and Abdul bowed. “It seems again I am in your debt.”

“Think nothing of it. I’m happy to have made a friend, not an enemy.”

Next, Qing asked about Rufus, but they had not seen or heard of anyone matching his description or that of Cleo.

“But maybe Ti-ei can help you,” Abdul said. “Find him in the king’s court. Tell him you hunt Kandisha with a moon-bound blade. He’ll understand I sent you, and that your honor is vouched for.”

“What of the Queen?” Knut asked. “Will she help us?”

Abdul paused. “No. You will find no help from her. The green dragon has captured her.”

Knut and Jenny cursed.

“Green dragon?” Qing asked.

“I’ll tell you later,” Morgana said in a whisper.

When they parted ways, the royal guard headed towards Shadowgrove, while Qing and his party continued towards the Gilded Hold.

“Are you sure we should continue?” Morgana asked. “They haven’t seen Rufus, and the court sounds about as helpful as a punch in the belly when pregnant.”

Qing turned in the saddle and met her gaze. “This is the way.”

Qing's Quest book 2, Chapter 2: Smokey and the bandits

Qing slowed to a walk as he felt the magic gathering in the area, concentrating around the sorcerer. The demonic energy of the summoning swelled in potency. Knut loosed arrow after arrow, all splintering on the invisible shield. The young girl lay unmoving in the middle of the circle.

He had to act fast. Arcane Missile? Firebolt? How do you interrupt a demonic summoning? The easiest would be to kill the summoner. But would that even stop it? What if…

In some books and movies, the summoner’s focus had to be perfect. If their concentration broke, the summoned entity could turn on them. Every time he used Grasp of the Dead or Raise Skeleton, it was a battle of wills. Maybe that could work here.

Qing called up a Firebolt, lobbing it at the sorcerer, no longer needing to worry about hitting the girl who stayed on the ground. The firebolt flashed across the ground, a shadow appearing on the sand next to Knut as the Firebolt passed, before it, too, splashed against the invisible shield.

Damn it!

Qing gathered energy for Arcane Missiles. Could the two of them overwhelm the shield in time? Maybe Arcane Missiles could pierce through since it was higher level? Qing stopped the casting as an idea formed in his head. Magic resistance… Maybe that was the key.

He located the void inside of himself and shaped a tube as he sprinted forward, passing Knut in a flash.

The girl screamed. She floated into the air, chest up, limbs and head pulled towards the ground. Suddenly, blood burst forth from her eyes and nails, running through the air to fill the ring drawn in the sand, turning it a dark red. The summoning was nearly complete.

But Qing was within range, and he cast Mana Siphon towards the sorcerer. The tube shot forth as he willed into it a diamond sharp tip. As it hit the shield, it felt like he’d punched glass, and the tip sliding across the barrier. Brow furrowed, Qing moved the siphon around, looking for a way in, but the shield was omnidirectional, a globe covering the sorcerer and the girl. But when pushed, it wasn’t like a needle against a glass globe. It felt more like a plastic ball. There was a flex. Maybe he could pierce it.

Qing closed his eyes and his face scrunched up, hands balled into fists, claws appearing unthinking, as he strained to push through. It bent. He grunted and took a deep breath, reset, and mentally pushed. Suddenly, the tip pierced through and he stumbled forward in surprise. But he held onto his concentration and shot the funnel forth straight into the chest of the sorcerer. It met resistance, but nothing like the shield, and Qing overpowered it easily.

The sorcerer stumbled, staff dropping to the sands, hands clutching at his chest. He looked up and met Qing’s eyes before screaming, “No!”

The magic in the area turned chaotic. Like a beautiful picture drawn in sand on a table, but then someone shakes it.

A roar filled the air.

Blood poured from the screaming girl. Qing ran forward, pulling down light energy, casting Divine Light, healing her. But despite the energy leaving him, nothing happened, for a moment.

Then, light gathered around her, outlining her whole body. But between the light and skin lay a darkness that could only be seen due to the light. Pain flared and Qing stumbled, hands grasping the top of his head, nails digging into his skin, as he face-planted into the sand and skidded. The cold ground pulled on his warmth. Teeth clenched against the pain, he twisted in the sand, looking at the girl. The light and darkness fluctuated, keeping a rhythm with his headache, until suddenly the light collapsed inwards. She glowed, and the bleeding stopped as her wounds healed. Then she collapsed to the ground, one of her arms falling across the circle, breaking it.

Qing rose to his knees and covered his ears as a deep laughter boomed through the air. The sorcerer ran, sprinting away from the circle.

Knut lined up a shot.

‘Hold,’ Qing said. Something was coming, fast.

A massive arm erupted from the sand, grasping the sorcerer around his waist as if he was an action figure. It was blood red, covered in scales and spikes, and each finger ended in a nail long as a claw, each black as a hole, seeming to such in the light. A final scream from the sorcerer, and then the hand squeezed. Like a tube of tomatoes, red splattered across the sand, and the hand pulled the remains into the ground. The desert boiled for a moment before falling still.

“Holy shit!” Knut said.

“No. Devil crap,” Qing replied, before chuckling. “That was too close.”

“You are insane.”

Qing felt a crazy smile creep onto his face and he shrugged. “This entire world is insane.”

They moved to the girl, who looked hale, but lay unmoving, as if she was sleeping.

“Is she okay?” Knut asked.

Qing closed his eyes and sent his senses out. He could feel no more magic in the area.

“Maybe? Let’s get her home. There’s nothing more we can do here.”

As Knut picked her up and started wandering back to the others, Qing ran over to check on the sorcerer. Two legs, one arm, and a bit of his head was all that remained. The staff lay splintered, but the circlet glowed on the sands. Qing picked it up.

Item: [Circlet of Azure Wisdom, Level 17, Rare] has been added to your inventory.

Made from Zylphadian gold and set with the Seer’s Stone, The Circlet of Azure Wisdom has been used by Zylphadian sages for centuries. Most prominently was Maone the one-throated, who served as court mage for five kings.

+15 to Intelligence

+20% to Mana Regeneration

(Circlet, Headgear)

“This might come in handy,” Qing muttered as he ran to join his friend.

“That was lucky,” Knut said.

“Yes, it was. I had hoped we were finished with demons.”

“You and me both, brother.”

Qing took a deep breath. “Let’s go check on the other kids and make sure Jenny doesn’t kill Morgana.”

***

It was a tired but happy group that arrived at the watering hole where the True Moon tribe had set up their camp. The parents and the elders ran out to meet them, with the kids running ahead, crying in relief. Qing smiled as a deep tension left his shoulders. As the little girl was swept into the arms of her big brother, Qing took a deep breath, pulling in the sight. She had woken up on the way back and seemed to have no recollection of the summoning.

The leader, Kameel, stepped forth, blue robes flowing. He grasped his own forearms, lifted them throat high, and bowed deeply. “Thank you, champions. We are in your debt. You have saved our kids, our soul, and the future of our tribe. Forever you will be welcome at our fires. Always you will have a share of our water.”

Unsure of what to say, Qing snuck a glance at Knut. His friend mimicked the elder’s gesture and bowed in return, so Qing did the same.

“All in the will of the great God in the sky,” Knut said.

Qing kept silent.

“And so it was,” Kameel replied before opening his arms wide and giving a huge grin. “Welcome, friends! We have gifts, food, and would celebrate your heroics. Join us!”

Quest Complete: [Rescue the children]

Bandits have kidnapped The True Moon tribe’s children. Rescue the children, bringing them back to the tribe.

-Objective: Rescue children (6/6)

-Optional objective: Defeat bandits (15/15)

-Optional objective: Defeat bandit leader (1/1)

-Reward (Received): Thawb of the moon

-Optional reward (Received): Health potion x 2

-Optional Reward (To be received): Smokey

Item: [Health Potion] x 2 has been—

Item: [Thawb of the Moon, Level—

Qing closed the windows as they opened, and then said “Uh-oh,” as energy flooded through his being, hauling him into the air.

Level Up!

“Congratulations on reaching level fourteen. Open character screen to distribute new stat points.”

The tribesmen shied away, running, staring back as he floated up. Energy filling every pore in his body until they burst with energy and a golden bubble exploded from him. Every part of his being vibrated with energy as he dropped to the ground. He no longer sank to his knees as he landed, but absorbed the shock with his powerful legs.

“Ding,” Qing said as he dismissed the text.

“‘Congratulations!” Knut said, as Qing had taught him the custom was.

Jenny nodded.

Morgana stayed silent.

“What in God’s name was that?” Kameel asked, turning to Knut, eyes wide. “Is he an angel?”

“Not in the way you think,” Knut said with a chuckle.

“Yes,” Morgana said.

They all turned to stare at her.

“What do you mean?” Jenny said, hands on her twin axes, face scrunched up, pulling on her scars.

Morgana shrugged. “For these people, he’s the closest to an angel they’ll ever see.”

“Don’t be daft,” Qing said. “I’m no angel.”

“Then…what are you? You rescue our children from an overwhelming force, you fly, you glow, and…where do you come from?” Kameel asked.

“Eh…Chicago?”

***

They stayed for a meal, served around a gigantic bonfire, and the tribe brought out wonderful drums, filling the night with happy rhythms. The kids danced and played around the fire, safe at home once again.

As Qing munched on a piece of mutton, the fire hot on his face, the Elder waved at a tribesman. He disappeared for a moment before returning with a massive camel. Qing and the party had brought twenty camels back from the bandit’s camp, and gifted fifteen to the tribe. They also handed over the weapons they found. They were all of normal quality and not worth much to the group, but for the tribe, they were priceless.

This specific camel was unlike any other camel he had seen, though he hadn’t seen that many over the last week of hiking through the desert. This one was the size of a car, and it had three humps, which seemed unusual.

The tribesmen all rose, and the elder said, “Qing of Chicago, as a thank you for saving our children, please accept this gift. His name is Smokey and has been my ride since I was a young man.” Kameel’s face broke into a grin, and he waved enthusiastically for Qing to follow as he hurried over to the camel and gently caressed its camel’s face, scratching underneath its chin. Then he grabbed the camel’s lips and peeled them back.

“Look!” he said. “Smokey’s got perfect teeth, even though he’s sixty years old! It’s a magical camel, and I would like you to have it.”

Somehow, Qing felt he should refuse. So he did. “No, I couldn’t possibly. I mean, this is your camel.”

“No, I insist, habibi.”

“But We’re only going to the Gilded Hold. I might not even need a camel after that.”

“If you don’t accept this camel,” Kameel said, raising a finger into the air, brow furrowing, “it is a slap to my face. You will cause me great distress!”

“But…”

“No more buts!” the man said with a smile, placing the reins in Qing’s hands.

Qing peeked at Knut, who smiled and gave two thumbs up.

He closed his hands around the reins.

Mount: [Smokey, epic] has been added to your inventory.

Smokey boasts three impressive humps and a size that dwarfs even the largest camel. With smokey fur and perfect, gleaming teeth, Smokey is a mount of distinction and pride.

Raised and trained by Kameel, the former king of bandits, Smokey forms strong bonds with riders, ensuring loyalty and protection in the harshest of environments.

Its massive frame can carry heavy loads without tiring, making it an ideal companion for long journeys across the most unforgiving terrains.

(Mount, Camel)

“Oh, wow…”

That’s new.

“Yes! Yes! You recognise what an outstanding specimen he is, no?”

“Yes?” Qing said and smiled.

Smokey seemed unconcerned about the whole affair, mouth working constantly, chewing on god knew what.

Later, when Kameel insisted they stay for the night, Qing turned him down, despite Morgana’s complaints. “We have to get as far as we can tonight. Our quest cannot afford delays.”

With both water skins and bellies full, they rode out of the camp, camels rocking beneath them as children and the tribesmen waved them goodbye. Qing tried to find a comfortable way to ride Smokey, tensing as his new steed walked along the edge of the dunes.

***

A few hours later, nearly sleep riding, they stopped, just off the beaten path, in a gully between several dunes. Jenny made a fire against the cold desert air, which Knut lit by putting an arrow to his bow and touching the then glowing tip to the wood.

“That’s never going to get old,” he said, putting it tip down into the sand to cool.

“Let’s talk about today,” Qing said. “This was our first big fight as a group.”

“Except for that other group of bandits,” Knut said.

“There were only four of them,” Jenny added.

“And the fight with the wild dogs,” Morgana added.

“Of course that one doesn’t count. We didn’t even have to kill any before they ran away,” Knut said.

“Yeah, but Qing made us chase them down anyway,” Morgana said, tossing some sand towards the fire.

“They could have attacked and killed innocent people,” Qing said, and something in his tone made the others quiet down. “Today could have gone horribly wrong.”

“But we saved them all," Morgana said. “And it’s not as if it was close. Only me and Jenny got wounded, and you healed us both.”

“That’s the problem, Morgana,” Qing said. “You don’t even see it. An innocent girl nearly died today, because you fled combat to seek safety and put your life above hers. You asked to join us so you could work on redeem yourself for what you did working for Rufus. This is not the way. This is not how you earn our trust. You need to do better. Be better. As champions, we cannot be selfish.”

The only sound was the fire’s crackling.

“You get one more chance to prove yourself. Don’t make me regret it.”

“But I—”

“Don’t. You’ve said enough for today. It’s time we sleep. We have an early morning. I’ll take the first watch. Knut, you take the second, Jenny, the third.”

Morgana opened her mouth, but closed it under Qing’s glare and lowered her eyes to the sand, trailing her fingers through it, drawing spirals.

They all heard the unspoken part. That Qing didn’t trust her to sit watch.

As the others settled down to sleep, Qing climbed to the top of the dune and sat down. After willing his light to dim, he stared into the darkness.

He thought of home. His baby sister. Did the hospital still have power? Maybe she was watching him right now, as she used to do when he streamed. A smile tugged at his lips, but his heart ached.

How far has Rufus made it? Is Cleo ok? When is the next boss? Will I be ready to face it?

He sighed.

At least the world hasn’t ended yet, which means there is time… But how much? We need to get to the Gilded Hold, talk to the king, and secure his support. Then we can track down the bastard and end this.

Qing spent his watch playing with his mana. He’d connect with the light energy above, pull it down as if he would cast Divine Light, and then release it. It was like doing pushups. He focused on every step of the process, trying to gain a deeper insight, looking for some piece of knowledge that might one day help him access the spell while on Earth. He could have sworn that he had felt mana when he’d been there…

The night passed fast, and Knut woke them as the sky brightened.

But as they set off and crested the first dune, Qing gasped.

“My god!”

Qing's Quest book 2, Chapter 1: Firebolts and lightning

Spoilers! Please don't read before you've finished book 1!

I'm writing some random stuff here so you don't get spoilers in the preview in case you haven't caught up yet. Lalalalalalalalalalalal :)

Notes before starting book 2:

-Qing didn’t get to keep the machine gun he took from Jerome, it wasn’t there when he woke up. I forgot to write that in.

-Major change: At end of epilogue, it isn’t Rowan who comes running after them. It is Morgana. She doesn’t want to stay there, but asks to come along because she wants to make up for the evil she has caused. 

-A lot of other edits will be done to book 1, but these are the two major changes I’ll be making that should should know before starting book 2 that I know of now. 

And with that, let's get into book two!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Drop your weapons and release the kids,” Qing said, staring at the cloth-covered bandit’s dark eyes. He could barely make out the man’s pupils in the soft light coming from himself. Cloth covered the rest of the man’s face, tightly wrapped to protect it. Qing shifted his weight, and the sand underneath his feet shifted.

God, I hate sand. It is coarse and rough, and it does get everywhere.

He refocused on the man’s wicked sword, sleek and curved to cut. It hung angled towards the ground, as if the man felt no threat at all.

“Take off your fancy armour, strip out of those red pants, and drop your valuables. Then we might consider letting you go.” His voice was coarse and dripped with venom. “We are twenty, and there is only one of you.”

Qing held up a finger, and with a thought, Qing brought up his quest log.

Quest: [Rescue the children]

Bandits have kidnapped The True Moon tribe’s children. Rescue the children, bringing them back to the tribe.

-Objective: Rescue children (0/6)

-Optional objective: Defeat bandits (0/15)

-Optional objective: Defeat bandit leader (0/1)

-Reward: Thawb of the moon

-Optional reward: Health potion x 2

-Optional Reward: Smokie

What was a thwab and what…or who the hell was Smokie?

Then he opened the map he had received after surviving the attack on Shadowgrove and scanned it. Five red dots represented the enemy, spread out in front of him. Useful, except he’d tested with Knut, and it only extended sixty feet.

“There are only sixteen of you, which means you are at least fourteen short,” Qing said, crossing his arms. “Release the children, or suffer the consequences.”

The man tilted his head. “What makes you think you can walk in here, demanding we hand over our prisoners, and your blood will not water the desert?”

“Poetic words for a bandit leader.”

“Who says I’m a bandit? To the desert tribes, I’m a rebel, yet my comrades see a leader. One who stands against the king’s tyranny.”

Qing’s eyes flicked, caught by motion in the distance. A flicker of red in the evening light. Knut was in position, ready to provide covering fire. That meant he had stalled long enough for Jenny and Morgana to be ready. All Qing had to do now was hold out until they rescued the kidnapped children and arrived to reinforce him. Or he could just kill all the bandits by himself.

“You might as well step out of the shadows,” he said and lifted his hand and mimicking a gun, pointing at the five places he knew the bandits lay.

The man clicked his tongue, and five bandits rose, sand cascading off their clothes. They stepped forward, rolling across the shifting ground like dancers, to line up around the leader.

“I’d know your name before we kill you,” he said, eyes narrowing.

Qing closed his eyes briefly, reached out to the electricity that held everything in the world together, and pulled it to his hand.

Let’s see what this baby can do.

“I don’t care,” Qing said and raised his right hand and fed it mana. His fingers started crackling, as if he was emperor of the galaxy, and he cast Chain Lightning.

The spell arced forth and struck the bandit leader in the chest before forking to strike four of the surrounding men. They all seized up and collapsed. As the boom thundering through the camp stilled, camel screams mixed with the men’s groans. The lightning had not killed them, but they were all stunned, as if they’d shoved a fork into an electric socket.

Qing charged, and as he did, blinked his eyes. He peeled back the curtain of reality, siphoning off energy to soar through his body, forming into Magic Missiles that he cast on the remaining bandit. Light from the three missiles lit up the surroundings before slamming into the figuratively shocked man. He fell to the ground, dead, blood spurting from holes in his throat, chest, and hip.

Qing equipped Paulhandler’s Keg-smasher and raised it in an overhead chop and jumped towards the downed bandit leader.

“Wait! My uncle is—”

The edge carved through his chest, warm blood splashing across Qing’s face. He spat as he ripped the axe out.

Two more bandits charged from the black tents, as Qing rushed among the stunned bandits, dragging the axe across their throats one by one before they regained their senses. Then he stood to meet the incoming bandits, head held high, axe across his chest.

Brave bandits. To charge me as I stand across six of their defeated comrades. Or maybe…

Qing checked the map.

I see.

He smiled.

A spark of fire followed by black and yellow zipped past his head. A thud and a scream came from behind as the sneaky assassin took Knut’s arrow through the heart. The two remaining bandits slowed and looked at each other. When one man’s head exploded, splattering the other with blood and brains, it was too much, and the bandit dropped his weapon and fled towards the open desert.

Qing stared after him before deciding that no, they could not afford to leave him alive. He might hurt others. Those too weak to stand up for themselves.

Qing closed his eyes, sending his feelings down into the ground. He felt the sand, how it flowed like waves. This was no forest crawling with life. This was like the sea, except the waves moved in days and months rather than seconds and minutes.

Unlike the demons, the man’s steps did not repulse or burn nature, it merely... tickled.

Qing cast Nature’s Grasp and opened his eyes to watch as the man fell forward with a scream. As he walked closer, the man’s feet disappeared, followed by his ankles, dragged into the quicksand.

So that’s how it works in the desert. Curious.

He pulling in heat from the cold air, mixing it with mana until a Fireball appeared in his hand. He threw it at the man’s neck, knocking him flat, face down in the quicksand as his flowing robes went up in flames. His arms stilled.

“Help!”

Qing turned. Morgana jogged towards him, clutching her right side, face set against pain.

“Qing, help me.”

He ran to meet her, pulling down light energy from above, casting Divine Light to heal her wounds.

She sighed in relief and stood.

“Where are Jenny and the children?” Qing asked.

Morgana looked away.

“What happened?” Qing said, grabbing her arm.

“I hesitated. One of them came out of nowhere,” she said. “He got me good, cutting deep. I…I needed healing.”

“Damn it.”

Qing took off towards where he knew they kept the children.

“Leaving your comrade alone in a fight is not the way to gain our trust,” he said as Morgana followed.

She replied, but Qing angled between two tents and activated Dash. His stomach sank into his body as flashed across the ground like a lightning-powered Tesla. As he dropped to normal speed, he kept running, but stumbled, not used to the soft ground.

Damn sand.

“Jenny,” he shouted, standing.

Aside from his footsteps, the camp was quiet, and the smell of camels covered everything.

If something happened to Jenny, then…

“You fucker!”

Qing’s lips tugged into a smile at Jenny’s voice. She lived.

He rounded a tent and stepped into the opening where the bandits had kept the children bound and secured to long posts stuck in the ground. Jenny stood over a bandit clad in black, flowing robes. She struck his face again and again, plate mail clanking. How she could bear wearing full plate mail in the desert, Qing couldn’t fathom. His metal chest armour was plenty warm.

“You don’t. Hurt. Children,” Jenny said, each punctuation marked with a fist.

“That’s enough, Jenny,” Qing said. “Is he still alive?”

She turned, and Qing winced at the sight. Blood ran down her side, and she missed part of her right cheek.

“No,” she said. “But I’m pissed off.”

“Want me to heal?”

“Not now. One of the bandits took off with a kid.”

“Shit,” Qing said. “How did that happen?” He looked at the four bandits laying dead on the ground, some missing entire limbs.

“It was chaos. And we missed one. They weren’t sixteen.”

“Why are we standing here? Which direction did they go?”

“Knut is tracking while I’m…interrogating”

“But you killed him.”

She looked down and let go, dropping the body to the sands. “Yeah.”

“Damn it, Jenny,” Qing said and looked at the kids. Five sat bound to the posts, but there was a sixth post, empty. A young girl had sat there. Middle Eastern and about the same age as his little sister. Anger bloomed in his chest, and he rounded on Morgana, finger pointed at her chest.

“If she dies because of you…” He couldn’t get out another word. He didn’t have to. She knew what he meant.

But as she looked away, her eyes widened, and she pointed to the sky. “There!”

Qing turned to see an arrow soaring through the air, tip glowing. A signal from Knut.

“Stay and free the kids,” Qing said. “We’ve got this.”

The blazing sigil they put on Knut’s bow during the Battle of Shadowgrove proved its use yet again.

His muscles compensating for the shifting ground as he sprinted up a sand dune, unequipping his axe, freeing his hands. He bounced to the top and looked around. Far ahead, Knut stood facing a robe-clad man holding a staff and a girl. Unlike the other bandits, this man wore no head cover, wearing only a circlet on his shaven head. Set in the front was a blue gem that shone in the darkness.

As Qing sprinted down the other side, Knut loosed an arrow. It flashed forward, but splintered to pieces upon an invisible barrier.

Damn it. It’s a sorcerer. This could be bad.

The man held the young girl in front of him as a human shield and shouted, “Stand back! Let me leave, and I will release the girl unharmed. But if you take one step closer, you will regret it.”

“You take one more step, and you die,” Knut said, another arrow already knocked. “My quiver is never-ending, but I doubt your mana is. You don’t piss against the wind, do you?”

“What?”

“You’d have to be dumb enough to piss against the wind to keep fighting. Let the girl go, and drop your staff.”

The sorcerer snarled and stuck the tip of his staff into the sand and turned, drawing a perfect circle in the sand. Then he tapped the screaming girl on the head, and she fainted.

Qing sprinted, and with every third of his rapid steps, Knut loosed an arrow, but each splintered uselessly against the shield.

The sorcerer dropped the girl to the sands and hopped out of the circle before raising his arms to the sky.

“Great demon Orzos, I summon you. Take this virgin offering as I, Masheer el-Farah, summon you to fight for me. Come kill, slay, and feast with glee.”

The sorcerer lifted his staff and Qing felt the magic gathering, welling up from deep within the ground.

“Damnit.”