The woman strode in, draped head to toe in black—her dress swirling like midnight, silver ornaments crowning her head and jangling in a cascade down her arms. Each of her dozen bangles chimed with tiny bells, sending a silvery ripple through the crowd. Regal and magnetic, she drew every eye. Someone quickly took the wanted poster from her hands and pinned it to the notice board, the paper fluttering in the sudden hush.
High atop her towering treeman mount, the True Heaven Palace disciple swept a chilly gaze over the crowd. "The Great Ruins fugitive is highly dangerous—he’ll soon cross out of the Flame Desert. Stay sharp these next few days. If you spot the man in this portrait, keep quiet. Don’t spook him, or he’ll bolt before we can catch him."
Kira Bear darted forward, eyes wide with curiosity, but Quinn Shepherd quickly caught her small hand, holding tight so she wouldn’t vanish into the crush of bodies.
The mass of people in front of the notice board pressed together so tightly, breathing felt like a luxury. Kira tugged Quinn’s hand, wriggling them to the very front. Quinn glanced up—his own face stared back from the poster, bold letters underneath: “Great Ruins Fugitive: Quinn Shepherd.”
Kira’s eyes sparkled with delight and outrage. "Bruno, look! You’re right next to Big Brother in the picture—but they left me out!" she cried, bouncing on her toes.
Just moments ago, the street was a riot of voices. Now, silence crashed down—every head swiveled, every gaze fixed on Quinn, the fugitive in the flesh.
Quinn acted like nothing was wrong. He glanced at the notice board and let out a dry chuckle. "Ben Coates painted this—his brushwork’s hard to miss. Aiden Starr’s got one too, courtesy of Ben. Guy’s got a knack for making me look wanted."
Crash—
Instantly, the crowd recoiled, stumbling back and tripping over each other to clear a wide ring around Quinn. Faces blanched, eyes wide in terror—nobody wanted to be caught near the infamous fugitive.
Unfazed, Quinn flashed a crooked grin. "Grand Venerable sure gets around. Shame he bolted—I’d have liked to finish the job."
"Great Ruins scum—your time’s up!"
A roar split the air behind him. With a deafening whoomph, the treeman’s colossal foot came crashing down toward Quinn. These living giants—favored by Western sorcerers for their brute strength and bargain price—served as both steeds and war machines, their bark scarred with old battle wounds.
This True Heaven Palace disciple had picked a rare breed—the treeman’s trunk, branches, and leaves all glowed blood-red, twisted like veins. Its stance was honed by countless battles, every movement sharp as a drawn blade.
Quinn’s hand shot out. With a twist of his wrist, a pulse of green light—its very soul—tore free from the treeman’s chest. The giant froze, hollow. Raina Bear had drilled him in All-Gods Natural Art; he’d sweated over it, even if the art was said to suit women best.
The True Heaven Palace girl reeled in shock. Her silver headdress shot skyward, twisting into a phoenix of living metal that shrieked toward Quinn. Bangles snapped from her wrists, spinning through the air like hunting spirits, all aimed at his head.
A corona of flame erupted around Quinn—blue-red fire licking the air. Before the silver phoenix and bangles could reach him, they sagged and melted, pooling at his feet as silvery puddles.
Seeing defeat looming, the True Heaven Palace disciple tried to flee. Her robes snapped and billowed, catching the wind—then, impossibly, they lifted her, swirling her skyward. No need for flight spells when your clothes fly for you—All-Gods Natural Art at its strangest.
Quinn whistled low. "Clothes that fly you off—All-Gods Natural Art is full of surprises. Maybe I should get a new wardrobe."
He flicked his fingers, eyes gleaming. "Guess I underestimated this art after all."
The woman let out a strangled yelp and plummeted, crashing to the ground with a sickening thud. Dust billowed. The crowd flinched as one.
"Disaster!"
The crowd erupted, fleeing in wild panic. "A lowly man is killing a lady lord!" they shrieked as they dashed for cover.
Quinn glanced around—the street was suddenly deserted, every door and window slammed shut. Only Bruno and Kira Bear remained at his side. Not far off, the True Heaven Palace woman sprawled on the ground, dazed and battered.
Quinn walked over, his tone polite and friendly. "Do you know the way to True Heaven Palace?"
The woman sprang up, hairpins shooting from her head like swords at Quinn’s eyes. She darted to a nearby house, snatching the god-plaque from above the door with a practiced hand.
Boom—
The house shuddered, then reared up, morphing into a hulking giant. Two small side rooms twisted into massive fists, which crashed down at Quinn with earth-shaking force.
The hairpins froze inches from Quinn’s eyes, suspended in midair by the swirling runes in his gaze. They melted, dripping silver onto the cobblestones below.
Quinn looked up, starlight flickering in his eyes as he swept his gaze over the house-giant. In the windows, a family huddled together, trembling in terror.
"I knew those god-plaques were useless," Quinn muttered, his tone dry and wry.
Twin beams of starlight shot from his eyes, sweeping past the True Heaven Palace woman. "As a spellcaster, you disregard ordinary lives. I find that contemptible," Quinn said, calm but stern.
The beams shrank and faded back into Quinn’s eyes. The swirling runes vanished, starlight dimming until only darkness remained.
The house-giant crashed down, shrinking into a round house that wobbled and settled, dust swirling around its base.
Quinn turned away and walked off, while the woman remained frozen on the rooftop, too terrified to move a muscle.
Quinn scooped Kira Bear up and vaulted onto Bruno’s back. The woman still stood rigid on the roof, when a creaking sound echoed below. Her face twisted in terror as she whispered, "Don’t open the door…"
Creak.
The door swung open slowly, the sound vibrating through the air. The woman shrieked, "Don’t open the door—!"
Her strength gave out; a thin crimson line appeared at her neck and waist. Her body split at the waist, tumbling from the rooftop to the street, legs following with a sickening thud.
"The Cult Master is truly merciful," someone whispered in awe.
Outside town, Bruno couldn’t help but praise, "That woman was so vicious, but you still…"
Just as Bruno finished speaking, a shrill scream echoed from the town behind them. He turned, and a chill ran down his spine as he saw the woman’s lower half tumble from the rooftop to the street.
Quinn sighed, "It’s not really mercy. Spellcasters attacking ordinary people is taboo. We’re all human—what gives you the right to take lives as you please? In Everpeace and the Great Ruins, when adepts duel, we keep innocents out of it. Even when I fought Ben Coates, we went outside the city. Granny Sue fought Dragoncrest’s city lord above the city, not inside. No one decent drags their battles into the streets."
Bruno closed his mouth, silently respecting Quinn’s principles.
He’d meant to praise Quinn for sparing the True Heaven Palace woman, but now realized she’d been killed after all—and that Quinn’s mercy was for ordinary folk, not enemy adepts.
[Irrelevant website prompt skipped.]
Quinn had been raised by the Nine Elders of Oldridge Village, taught by their words and example. Though he wore the title of Heavenly Demon Cult Master, he always knew right from wrong.
In this, he surpassed many so-called righteous sect members.
"Kira, do you know the way to True Heaven Palace?" Quinn asked.
Kira Bear shook her head. "My mom always took me through the most remote places, dodging pursuers. I don’t remember where True Heaven Palace actually is."
Quinn thought for a moment. "Bruno, let’s stick to the main road and ask around in a big city. People there probably know where True Heaven Palace is."
Bruno trotted along the highway for miles. The road was broad and smooth—far better than those in Everpeace—and soon, more and more travelers appeared.
Beside the road, the river ran clear and deep, with fat fish, turtles, and snakes gliding below. On the water, magical travelers—mostly women, some men—rode the waves, hurrying on their way.
Most of them practiced arts founded on the creed ‘all things have spirit, all things have gods.’ Some girls and boys would leap onto the river, shout, and instantly the water would surge up—waves carrying them forward at breathtaking speed.
Others traveled by land, riding atop treemen or vine-men—the latter plodding along more slowly.
Overhead, spellcasters rode all manner of flying birds, rainbow wings dazzling against the sky.
"Looks like we’re getting close to the city," Quinn said, relaxing as the crowd thickened.
Suddenly, a chorus of thudding footsteps rang out. Quinn watched in amazement as dozens of girls burst from a mountain hollow, raced over a small hill, and charged onto the highway.
They were riding a huge box with more than ten legs, which sprinted down the road at breakneck speed.
More girls rushed in from a nearby village, riding wooden boats—each sprouting legs and dashing across the ground.
Quinn stared, wide-eyed. These boxes and boats seemed almost alive, racing like Bruno himself. It was truly a strange sight.
"There's no end to wonders in this world. If we brought these magical arts back to Everpeace, they'd be incredible!" Quinn marveled.
But then he blinked, thinking, "Of course, it'd probably cause chaos too. Some powerful mage would end up riding a whole mountain just to show off."
The girls were just as curious about Bruno and Quinn. The many-legged box lumbered closer, its cloud-like cushions supporting six or seven girls, all staring at the Dragon-Qilin and his rider.
The lead girl must have been their chief—she'd awakened the box with magic, carrying the group along at her command.
She had a charming smile, her big eyes under silver tassels curving like crescent moons. Her accent was pure Western Lands, and she giggled before speaking: "Hey, little brother, your big pig runs so fast! Where'd you get him?"
Quinn paused, realizing 'little brother' was her way of saying 'young man.' He smiled, "That's Bruno, a Dragon-Qilin—a mix of dragon and qilin."
Kira Bear poked her head out of Bruno's fur, peering curiously at the girls. Instantly, they squealed with delight, wanting to hug and play with her. Quinn, amused, let Bruno approach so he could lift Kira Bear onto the box.
As Quinn chatted with them, he learned the girls were surprised to see him with Kira Bear. In the Western Lands, after a walking marriage, sons are sent to the father's family, daughters stay with the mother.
This custom led to unusual households—some with only girls, others with only boys. In fact, whole villages could be made up of just women, with no men in sight.
Seeing Quinn with Kira Bear, the girls assumed she was his daughter, but his youthful, sunny look didn't fit the image of a father. Their surprise was obvious.
"Ladies, can I ask you something?" Quinn said politely.
Confused by the local customs, Quinn asked, "I met a girl once. She invited me to her house, but wouldn't let me use the front door—she told me to climb in through the window instead. Is that some kind of tradition?"
The girls burst into laughter. The leader's eyes curved into crescents again. "Little brother, don't you know? If she wants you to climb in the window, it means she wants to get close—like mandarin ducks, necks entwined and cheeks brushing."
Quinn scratched his head, puzzled. "What does 'mandarin ducks entwined' mean?"
The lead girl hopped onto Bruno's head, laughing. "Hold still," she said, then pressed close, guiding his hands to her waist and brushing her cheek against his, their ears touching softly—smooth, warm, and impossibly tender.
Quinn blushed bright red, flustered and overwhelmed by her scent and closeness.
She giggled and leapt back onto the flying box, while the other girls laughed at Quinn's dazed, tipsy look. Their laughter was clear and joyful.
One girl teased, "Chief, are you smitten? Maybe you should marry him!"
The leader glanced at Quinn, clearly interested but hesitant. "I'm not sure he'd want that..." she murmured.
The other girls egged her on, and she tossed a scented charm to Quinn, laughing, "Little brother, you can climb in my window tonight—I'll teach you how to be a pair of mandarin ducks."
These girls were bolder and more flirtatious than any in Everpeace's capital, and Quinn was quickly overwhelmed. He changed the subject in a hurry: "Do you know how to get to True Heaven Palace?"