Crown Tournament 3 [Chapters 21-25] (Patreon)

Hey peeps!

Again, hope you like the new book cover.

Here are more chapters!

Shami

Chapter Twenty-One

We stopped just outside the door of Room 23 and knocked using the pattern Akiva had taught us. Three quick taps of the knuckle followed by a firm smack of the palm. The door rattled open a moment later.

“Come in, come in,” Finlay whispered urgently, practically yanking us inside.

Sage peered over his shoulder, her face pale with worry. “It felt like you were taking forever,” she whispered.

“Or perhaps it simply felt long to us,” Sinsidius murmured, his tone thoughtful. “We’ve learned that waiting can be just as agonizing as infiltration.”

“You can say that again,” Wren chimed in, wings twitching with excitement. The syrocko drake looked so overjoyed, I half-expected him to accidentally light the room ablaze with a blast of fire. “It’s good to see everyone back! Roux! Yumi! All of you!”

But then he stopped short, his breath catching. “Roux… your scales.”

Though Yumi had healed the worst of Roux’s wounds, a few cuts and scars still remained, pale streaks marring her once-flawless hide.

“I can’t believe they did this to you,” Finlay growled, his hands curling into fists.

“They’re monsters,” Sage hissed through clenched teeth.

“We’ll make them pay,” Kenji vowed, shaking his little raccoon hand. “It was the dragon team, wasn’t it? With Dario on our side now, we’ll beat them in the finals, and we’ll make sure they never hurt anyone again.”

“Tell them I said thank you,” Roux whispered into my thoughts. Her voice was soft, tired, but full of warmth. I repeated her words aloud to the others, and several of them nodded in quiet solidarity.

“She’s looking better,” I added. “Yumi said everything else should heal in time.”

“It was worse before,” Dario said darkly. “They were in a horrible state when we found them.”

“Being caged while wounded was unbearable.” Mika’s feathers ruffled. “So many injuries around me, and I couldn’t even heal them…”

The true form caladrius gave a shiver that seemed to echo through the room. “We must never allow such a thing to happen again, Lady Feng.”

Yumi nodded, her face drawn and pale. She had pushed herself hard to heal everyone. The joy of reuniting with Dario had kept her going, but the exhaustion still clung to her like a shadow. “It was awful,” she whispered. “They kept me prisoner to prevent the Feng Family from interfering. And I was so scared for all of you. Aziel and the dragons kept talking about whether they should just kill you anyway. They lost track of you after you left my estate.”

She shuddered, only calming when Dario gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

“I still can’t believe you saved me,” she said, her voice breaking. “Empress Xiu… she wanted to experiment on me and Mika. To study our true forms. And then you just walked through the door. Like something out of a legend.”

Dario flushed, his usual stoicism faltering. The blush looked strange against his scarred and weathered face. “Well, I… I didn’t read many stories growing up. But I knew I messed up before. I’m going to do better this time. With you.”

Yumi’s smile lit up the room.

It looked just like my dream, after the tournament was won, and Dario had finally come to his senses. Despite the pain and chaos, she looked exactly as I had hoped she would: happy.

And somehow, that made me feel like I could finally breathe again.

“So what happened to Akiva?” Finlay asked. “I thought he’d return with you.”

I shared what Luna and I had witnessed, the confrontation with Aziel, the Empress’s involvement, and Akiva’s calm but ominous departure.

“Sounds like we’re on our own,” Dario said grimly.

“I think so,” I agreed. “And if the Empress really joins their team, that puts them back at five dragons. We’re going to have to train like never before.”

Roux gently nudged my side with her horn, her eyes glowing softly. “Partner. I’ve been gone a long time. But from the sound of it… Dario’s joining our team?”

I nodded and turned to the others. “Roux just asked if Dario’s officially with us now.”

Funny timing.

Dario looked over at me, lips parting to respond, but then he abruptly turned to Lux, eyes widening, just as Roux began to speak again.

“Working with Dario can lead to a lot of benefits in battle. But we’ll need to be careful. As you know, the kirin signs aura is exceptionally powerful, since it tells us what the best course of action is. The aura is even more effective if used in tandem. Seemingly bizarre moves will suddenly become effective when your teammate joins in. But it requires full trust and coordination.”

Full trust and coordination, huh?

Dario and I definitely didn’t have that level of coordination yet. We hadn’t even managed to split our enemies properly during the fight with the onryo arcanist, and a tournament battle would be an entirely different matter.

Apparently, Lux and Dario had come to the same conclusion. Dario turned to me, his expression serious. “We need to train together. A lot. The double Signs Aura could be our ace in the hole against Aziel. His team only has one kirin. We have two.”

I nodded, but before we could discuss anything further, we were interrupted by a knock at the door. Three quick raps and a light smack. Akiva’s pattern.

“It’s him,” I said.

When I opened the door, Akiva stood before us with his king basilisk looming behind. Both wore the same grim expression, one carved in flesh and the other in scales.

Akiva stared at us for a long moment. I couldn’t tell if he was simply being his usual reserved self or trying to find the words to admit that he couldn’t help us. So I spoke first.

“I heard your conversation with Aziel.”

“I thought you might have,” he replied. “Heard something shift in the hall.”

So that’s why he’d asked Aziel to walk him out.

He sighed, and for the first time, even the legendary assassin looked weary. “It’s like Orwyn feared. Powerful players are involved. Elias has dealt with Empress Xiu before. He said she was... a real piece of work.”

“How can the nations possibly tolerate this?” Sage asked. “She’s a tournament host. She can’t just enter the fray herself.”

“They won’t deploy her until the finals,” Akiva said. “By then, they’re likely counting on it being too late for anyone to object. Their aim is the Crown, no matter the cost. I’ll try to warn the other nations, but the story is… far-fetched. It’ll be my word against theirs.”

“So we really are on our own,” Finlay said grimly.

“It doesn’t matter,” Dario said, his jaw clenched tight. “We’ll win the tournament.”

“I’m sorry I can’t do more,” Akiva murmured. “But we’ll be watching, and cheering for you.”

He reached into his pack and tossed a small purse into my hands. Despite its size, it was heavy. When I opened the drawstrings, I saw not just gold coins, but five gleaming star shards nestled inside.

Finlay gasped. By now, we all knew how valuable star shards were. Elias had managed to swindle a few off corrupt traders earlier, but we’d since run out. These would be enough to buy the artifacts and trinkets we needed to compete, especially if we were going up against my father’s gear.

“Take this, too,” Akiva added.

He reached into his cloak and pulled out a length of golden chain, clearly intended to be worn as a necklace rather than a bracelet. “Orwyn said this was never supposed to leave the village, but you need every advantage. You are like a son to Elias, and a son must be able to avenge his father.”

The chain thrummed in my hands the moment I touched it.

Even at a glance, I could tell it was an artifact, a powerful magical item forged with at least ten star shards. The craftsmanship was beyond anything I had ever seen. I considered myself a skilled smith, especially with Roux’s guidance. Back in Indigo Port, I could nearly rival the veteran crafters.

But this?

Even a single loop of this chain held more precision, more layered intent, than everything I’d ever made.

The room fell silent. Everyone stared at the glowing artifact in stunned awe.

“What is that?” Yumi whispered. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“It radiates kirin magic,” Dario muttered, glancing from the chain to Lux with wide eyes.

Sage pulled out her necklace, adorned with tanuki fur. The bright tufts looked almost laughable next to the austere, gleaming gold in my hands. “It’s just like my charm. Magic woven from eldrin, but this… this is on a completely different level. It’s almost as if they were fused together.”

“Yes,” Akiva said. “It’s not merely gold. That chain was spun from the mane of a gold kirin.”

A gold kirin…

It was just like what I’d seen in the library.

“Helvetti,” I recalled. “He was the gold kirin’s arcanist, wasn’t he?”

“Yes,” Akiva confirmed. “His bond with the gold kirin allowed him to partner with three other eldrin simultaneously. The power of the gold kirin is unparalleled. When woven into an artifact, it amplifies all magic you wield, Amir. Even the strength of your other artifacts will rise. It is one of the greatest treasures of the kirin village. In Helvetti’s hands, the Apex Arcana was turned to darkness, but I believe you’ll redeem its legacy.”

I looped the chain around my neck. At once, a surge of energy pulsed through me, like strength and certainty flowing into every cell of my body. Even the weapons at my waist seemed to stir, responding to the chain’s presence.

To my surprise, Akiva grinned.

“Helvetti always claimed the chain would only bond with a worthy arcanist,” he said. “He was arrogant enough to rival a whole pantheon of gods, but he wasn’t wrong about his magic. It seems my son chose well. Fly high, next Red Wind.”

With that, he turned and exited the room, his long coat whispering behind him.

“So, we really do have to handle this on our own,” Wren said, his voice firm with resolve. “We’re going to avenge Master Hyperion and Master Elias ourselves…”

He stomped a clawed foot against the floor, sparks flaring. “I can’t wait! This is going to be amazing! I can already feel the Apex Arcana charging my fire!”

I wished I shared his confidence.

Master Elias’s words echoed again in my mind. He’d passed on the Red Wind title because he believed I was ready. Akiva believed it too. Even Solarbrand believed. When I drew the sword, it pulsed with life, like it belonged in my hands.

But still… I wasn’t sure.

Wren seemed to sense my hesitation.

“Don’t worry, my arcanist,” he said gently, his voice surprisingly steady. “We’ll get through this. We already reclaimed our whole team. All that’s left is more persistence.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

We sped down the river, cutting through the rushing currents under the cover of night. Despite the boat’s rickety frame, it held true, just as Akiva had promised, gliding steady through the churning waters.

But as I rowed, muscles straining, a tight knot of anxiety coiled in my chest. By now, Empress Xiu had almost certainly discovered our escape. She might have been preoccupied with the grand celebration and the nobles clamoring for her attention, but once the party wound down, we knew she’d come after us.

The flight down the Keshari River stirred memories of another nighttime escape, the ambush by the Geist Squad after one of our early tournament victories. Even then, the Empress had made it clear there was no line she wouldn’t cross. And since then, she had only gone further.

What if we were caught? What if her hunters were already tracking us along the riverbanks? Akiva had claimed she wouldn’t freeze the river, doing so would cripple her nation’s trade, but what if she didn’t care?

Every ruler of Keshari was bound to a river dragon for a reason.

Master Elias had trained me for the arena, not for midnight escapes and shadow wars. I was already uneasy about the tournament, but this… this was even more foreign.

“You all right?” Dario asked, rowing beside me with steady strokes. Finlay was at the other oar, matching our pace.

“I’m fine,” I said, though the tension in my voice betrayed me.

“Let me help.” Dario placed a hand on my back.

Warmth bloomed through my spine, spreading like golden fire. My shoulders loosened. The ache in my muscles melted away. I inhaled deeply, the air lighter, my breath fuller. The weight I’d been carrying, both physical and emotional, seemed to lift.

“What was that?” I asked, surprised.

“My magic,” Haoyu called, his voice drifting over the water. The massive kunpeng eldrin swam just ahead of us, too large for the boat but perfectly suited to the river. His eyes scanned the darkness, always alert.

“Kunpeng are shapeshifters,” he said. “My limber augmentation applies that same flexible energy to your body. It restores your stamina. Quite useful in a fight, or a midnight escape, as it were. You’ve been rowing hard, Amir. Let yourself rest a little.”

I nodded gratefully. I remembered now, during my battle with Dario, his stamina had seemed endless. This must have been why. All along, Haoyu’s magic had been supporting him.

“You’re the real hero, Haoyu,” Wren said, popping his head over the side of the boat. “We owe you big. If we ever have to escape through the desert, I’m your drake.”

Haoyu had done more than his share. His dual affinities—briny saltwater and wind—allowed him to speed our boat faster than any merchant ship I’d ever seen. His form could shift between bird and fish, and in his aquatic shape, he was a force of nature, propelling us far beyond the capital.

“Are we there yet?” Sage asked, her voice muffled under her hood. “Didn’t you say your family lives out here?”

“We’re close,” Yumi said, peering into the darkness. Her eyes scanned the landscape, picking out details none of us could see. “Just past the Tranquil Forest. Maybe an hour more. Once we’re close, I’ll send out the signal.”

“I thought your family was based in Zarimoria,” Finlay said.

“We are,” Yumi replied. “But we have branches in every country. We’re merchants. Global ones. And since we’re... well, wealthy, we get kidnapped more than we’d like. So every branch is trained to retrieve us. We’ve got contingencies for everything.”

“I see,” Finlay muttered. “But how can you be sure they’ll help you? You haven’t been here in years.”

I glanced at her as well, uncertain. I’d spent years in Rosewood, forgotten. No one ever came to help me. What if we were walking right back into a trap?

Yumi didn’t hesitate. “We Fengs stick together,” she said firmly. “Some rich families, like the Hons, cut off their own when they fall on hard times. But we have a saying: iron weighs more than gold. Blood carries iron. That means we always help our own.”

She looked so certain. Calm. Strong. And she hadn’t led us wrong yet.

So I dug in my oar and kept rowing, matching the rhythm of the current, trusting her word as the stars wheeled overhead.

After we reached a grove filled with towering trees, their bark stark white like bleached bone, Yumi raised her hand.

“This is it,” she whispered. “The Tranquil Forest. We’re close enough to give the signal.”

She turned to Mika, who had been keeping vigilant watch, her golden eyes gleaming in the moonlight.
“Can you fly high enough?” Yumi asked gently.

“I’ll manage, Lady Feng,” Mika replied with quiet dignity.

With that, the true-form caladrius spread her four luminous wings. Though still healing, they looked far stronger than before. She wobbled slightly on takeoff, but rose into the air with growing confidence.

As Mika ascended, the forest came alive with sudden sound. There was chirping, cawing, and a symphony of unruly squawks rang through the branches. I remembered, belatedly, what Yumi had once told me: unlike other mystical birds, caladrius couldn’t manipulate wind. Instead, they held sway over non-magical birds, commanding them as a shepherd might a flock. It was similar to Peeter’s gift, but Mika’s command worked on an entirely different level.

Within seconds, flocks of birds erupted into the sky, forming a radiant living rainbow in Mika’s wake. It surged upward, a shimmering plume of feathers and color, a signal that could be seen for miles.

And just as quickly as it had come, the rainbow scattered, the birds peeling away, returning to their nests. Mika landed gracefully on Yumi’s shoulder, breathing heavily.

“Whew,” the caladrius murmured. “That took more out of me than I expected. And I must thank the others for their help, being roused at this hour was surely not ideal.”

“How long will we have to wait?” Dario asked, his voice tense. His bow was already drawn, eyes scanning the dark horizon. He was clearly thinking the same thing I was: if we saw the signal, so could the Empress.

“They’ll be here soon,” Yumi said. “Don’t worry.”

But even she sounded uncertain.

I drew Solarbrand, the blade sliding free with a soft rasp. It pulsed with a warm, eager light. My left hand tightened on my smaller sword, the Apex Arcana at my neck humming with power, as though readying itself for battle.

Then, just minutes later, Yumi gasped. “Wait... they—how? They came all the way?”

A strange and beautiful airship crested the horizon, moving quickly through the sky. It wasn’t quite as fast as the Westerlies, but far swifter than any docked ship we’d seen in Keshari.

And in terms of design, it couldn’t have been more different.
Though it shared the same streamlined shape of most airships, this vessel was vivid, vibrant, its hull and prow feathered in dazzling colors, glittering like the sky itself had burst open into plumage. Four enormous, rainbow-hued wings flapped from its sides, shimmering with every beat.

“There are more feathers from mystical birds on that ship than I can even name,” Sage muttered, awestruck. “No wonder it moves so fast. It’s all wind manipulation.”

“That’s... my family’s personal ship,” Yumi whispered. “Not the Feng Family’s. My immediate family. My mother designed it herself. They must have heard rumors, that I was taken.”

The ship descended with a soft, controlled thump, hovering just above the ground. Even when still, it floated gently, the wings furling like a bird at rest.

A circular hatch in the hull hissed open, and from it emerged the rescue party.

Three armored guards stepped out first, clad in the same black lacquered armor I remembered from Aziel’s attack on the Feng estate. Their eldrin followed close behind—a crackling raiju, a regal denglong, and a burning phoenix whose feathers shimmered like molten gold.

The raiju’s arcanist, who led them, narrowed his eyes as he spotted me and Dario. I recognized him instantly. He was the one who had thrown us out during the assault. But there was no open hostility in his gaze this time. Only a begrudging respect. We may have brought trouble once, but we’d brought Yumi back too.

Behind them came a dozen more servants and attendants, less formidable, more practical. A few were arcanists, but none had eldrin as powerful as those on Yumi’s team.

And then, last of all, her parents stepped through the hatch.

Though I had never seen them before, I knew who they were the instant they appeared.

There was something about the way they held themselves. They were tall, composed, graceful. Their presence demanded formality. They had the same elegant bearing as Yumi, only more practiced, more ingrained. Their expressions were unreadable, as if they had spent their entire lives mastering the art of restraint.

And yet, I saw it in their eyes, an unmistakable flicker of relief. Their daughter had returned.

Yumi’s father wasn’t particularly tall, just a few inches shorter than me, but his presence was commanding. His sharp, austere features radiated dignity, and there was a refined handsomeness to him that age hadn’t dulled. He wore a tailored tweed-patterned suit, and the shining arcanist mark on his forehead revealed his bonded eldrin: a cerberus.

Yumi’s mother bore a striking resemblance to her daughter, though her hair was cut short and streaked with elegant hints of silver. Like her husband and daughter, she was also an arcanist. Her partner, perched gracefully on her shoulder, was a carbuncle, a small, jewel-crowned cat we’d once fought in an earlier tournament round. Unlike its battle-hardened cousin, this one looked refined, well-groomed, and impeccably behaved.

Yumi stood frozen for a moment, her eyes wide. “Oh. Wow. I hadn’t... I didn’t expect you all to come. I thought I’d just be... I don’t know, delivered back to the estate or something.”

Despite everything we’d just endured, she sounded more like a student bracing for a scolding than a girl rescued from captivity.

“What are you talking about?” her father asked, his tone crisp and disapproving. “Of course we would come. We received word there was a rumor you’d been taken.”

“We were already discussing our next steps,” her mother added, folding her arms, “but then we saw your signal. I must say, though… I’m surprised and frankly disappointed by your choice in company. After everything that’s happened, we hoped you would exercise better judgment.”

Yumi gave an awkward, slightly forced laugh, her voice high with nervous energy. “Ah, what a pleasure to see my parents, my handmaiden, my butler, and, um... everyone here all at once!” She quickly motioned toward her family. “This is my father, Chu-Kau, and my mother, Sui-Lin.” She then gestured toward a shy young woman with large, doe-like eyes and a beauty mark on her chin. “And this is Stella. She’s been my maid since we were kids. And this is—”

Her mother cut her off with a firm, cool voice.

“There’s no need to introduce everyone just yet, dear. I think there’s one question we’d all like answered. Why are you with these people again? Weren’t you kidnapped the last time you traveled with them?”

“Oh, well, you see…” Yumi stammered, her face turning red as she struggled for a diplomatic answer.

“They did kidnap us, yes,” Mika interjected, flapping her still-healing wings, “but they rescued us too. So, fair trade, yes? All’s well that ends well.”

“I was the most heroic of them all!” Wren chimed in cheerfully. “I bravely stayed behind in the assassin’s safehouse, waiting for everyone to return.”

“The... assassin’s safehouse?” Chu-Kau asked, raising an eyebrow with such cutting precision it could’ve been mistaken for a drawn blade. At that moment, I deeply wished Roux had telepathic access to Wren. She would have told him that now was not the time.

But Wren wasn’t the one under scrutiny. All eyes were on Dario.

To my surprise, Dario suddenly dropped to his knees, bowing his head low. “I offer my sincerest apologies!”

Even Haoyu blinked in shock. “My arcanist... is that really necessary?” the kunpeng whispered.

“I made a mistake,” Dario said. “A grave one. I didn’t protect Yumi. I failed her when she needed me. But I swear, that I will do everything in my power to make things right. For her. For all of you.”

There was a murmur among the gathered servants and family members. A few were visibly moved by the sincerity in his voice.

“Dario saved me,” Yumi said at last, her voice soft but resolute. “He found me in the basement and slew the guard who had been posted to watch over us. We need him. We need all of them. We’re in serious danger.”

That only deepened the murmuring, but I could see expressions changing. People were connecting the dots.

“The dragon team that attacked our estate is working with the Empress of Keshari,” Yumi continued. “That’s why I was brought here. That’s why I was taken.”

Now there was a stir of genuine alarm. Several servants looked toward the guards, and the guards, in turn, looked toward Yumi’s parents with quiet urgency.

Chu-Kau’s jaw tightened. “All of you! Inside. We’ll speak more freely within the ship. And if the danger is as severe as it sounds, we’ll be honored to bring you wherever you need to go.”

Yumi exhaled.

Chapter Twenty-Three

The Feng family’s rainbow-colored airship wasn’t quite as fast as the Westerlies, but it still got us back to Indigo Port by nightfall. Below us, the city shimmered like a jewel, its glowstones glinting in vivid contrast against the deepening reds and purples of the setting sun.

“Whew. I’m glad that was quick…” I muttered under my breath.

“Tell me about it!” Wren chirped, flicking his tail. “That was the very definition of awkward!”

Most of us—Finlay, Luna, Sage, myself, and our eldrin—had been ushered into the lower quarters as soon as we boarded. Yumi and Dario, on the other hand, were left topside to endure the full might of her parents’ righteous fury, and the endless fretting of their overly devoted entourage. Even from below, we could hear the storm of scolding. It was like being chastised by a dozen versions of Master Elias, all at once. And to make matters worse, Yumi had refused to back down.

“We’ve arrived,” came a sharp voice. It was Yumi’s father, Chu-Kau. His cerberus padded silently behind him, all three heads watching us with grim solemnity.

As I stepped from my seat and approached the door, his gaze settled on me like a weight. “Make sure you keep Lady Feng safe.”

“I will,” I replied, bowing deeply.

He returned the gesture with a stiff nod, his expression neither relieved nor reassured. The Fengs were clearly uncomfortable sending their precious daughter back into danger, but Yumi had convinced them there was no other choice. With the tournament’s final rounds looming and so much at stake, she insisted on returning.

She was waiting for me with her mother by the exit, a circular opening in the ship’s hull, where a spiraling feathered ladder descended toward the outskirts of Indigo Port.

“Don’t worry, Mom!” Yumi said brightly. “I’m not even fighting!”

She turned toward me and rummaged through her satchel. “Look, I’m handing my crown pieces over to Amir. He’s a super strong arcanist with a legendary master. He’ll take care of everything.”

With a flourish, she practically shoved the pieces into my hands.

Each of the three crown pieces gleamed with elegant craftsmanship, small metal tokens embedded with tiny cut star shards. They were tokens of victory, awarded for clearing rounds in the tournament… three from the prefecture bouts, three more from the regional. These were the final three pieces needed to qualify for the championship round.

As I moved to place them carefully into my pack, Yumi suddenly stopped me.

“Wait. You’ve just been... shoving them into your bag?”

“Um, I mean... I wouldn’t say shoving exactly,” I said. “I thought I was placing them pretty carefully.”

“Maybe she means you’re just really strong,” Wren offered. “Like, your gentle placement is so powerful it feels like a shove to normal people.”

Yumi laughed. “That would be flattering if it were true. But no, I meant that you’re supposed to build with the crown pieces.”

“Build with them?” I asked.

“Hand them over.” She glanced at her mother. “I’m just demonstrating, I promise.”

I passed her all six of our collected crown pieces. With deft hands, she began fitting them together like a puzzle. Within seconds, she had constructed a partial circlet, something that looked very much like a real crown. It was just missing the central prong and a gemstone setting.

“Pretty cool, huh?” she asked.

“I didn’t even realize they were designed to do that.”

“They are. You get the final pieces for winning the finals. Once the crown is complete, you turn it in and receive your real reward: your star shards and the true crown.”

“I suppose it makes sense that Master Elias never told me about this,” I said, admiring the gleaming metalwork. “This is exactly the kind of thing he would call ‘needless pageantry.’”

“Exactly,” Roux echoed in my mind, her voice amused. “He’d probably rant for half an hour about how a warrior’s focus should be on training, not ornamental crowns.”

We both chuckled as I carefully tucked the assembled crown back into my pack.

At the bottom of the ladder, the guards from Yumi’s old team were already waiting for us, led by Ming-Sheng, the raiju arcanist. The same man who had once expelled us from Yumi’s home now regarded us with something close to respect.

Ming-Sheng stepped forward, nodding. “You must win for all our sakes. I hate to admit it, but you are stronger than we ever were. With the stakes as high as they are... the outcome depends on you.”

I swallowed hard.

For the first time, the tournament didn’t feel like a competition. More people than ever were counting on us.

We truly seemed like the best hope to win it all, but I had already failed once. No matter how many victories we stacked up, I couldn’t shake the lingering doubts, or the dark dreams that still clung to me like shadows at the edge of my vision.

Dario stepped forward, his fist clenched tight. “We will win. I’ll make up for every mistake I’ve made.”

He sounded resolute, utterly certain. He and Yumi led the way, walking ahead of the group with their heads high and faces set in unwavering focus.

“It’ll be all right, Amir,” Luna whispered, gently nudging me with her shoulder. “You can do this. You saved me. You saved Elias. And you saved Yumi.”

“Yeah!” Wren cheered, tail lashing behind him. “Our persistence has gotten us this far, my arcanist! One final push, and we’ll win it all. We’re in the finals!”

“You’re right,” I said, taking a steady breath. “We’ve made it to the finals. We can really do this.”

“You even managed to free me again,” Roux added telepathically. “I wasn’t sure it would happen... but you did it.”

I turned to her, blinking in surprise. Her prediction had been the one thing keeping me going in my darkest moments.

“But you said you foresaw it. You said we’d come together again!”

Roux let out a melodic telepathic laugh. “Partner. Kirin can only use their destiny magic once they’ve reached full maturity. I’m not quite there yet. I can’t see the future. I just said what I thought would keep you moving.”

“Wait, really? But everything happened exactly how you said it would!”

“Only because you’re the incredible arcanist I always knew you were. Even if it had been a true prediction, Amir, it wasn’t the words that saved us. It was you. And that same strength will carry you through the finals.”

Her words settled something in me, banishing the last lingering traces of doubt. My chest filled with quiet certainty.

We were going to win.

The others had already passed through the city gates, and I broke into a jog to catch up. “Roux! Wren! Come on! It’s time to register for the finals!”

We charged forward into the vibrant bustle of Indigo Port. The familiar streets swirled with color and life. Everywhere I looked, people and mystical creatures from every corner of the world mingled in the massive port city. The salty scent of seawater filled my lungs as bright indigo banners waved overhead, advertising everything from magical gear to spiced seafood to rare silks. Bards sang as they danced through the streets, their mismatched melodies joining together in the city’s unofficial anthem: “Indigo, indigo, the rarest color of the rainbow.”

I had seen it all before, back at the start of the prefecture bouts, but now, after everything we’d been through, it all felt more epic, more earned. More real.

With confident steps, I followed Dario and Yumi to the central tournament board.

A new official waited for us there, a polished crown piece pinned proudly to his chest. He was scribbling out the final tournament bracket, and it looked like only two other teams had made it this far. We would be the third.

“One last team for the finals,” Dario said, stepping forward and displaying his partially completed crown.

The official turned, and immediately lit up in recognition. “Oh! Hello, Dario.”

Dario blinked. “You know who I am?”

“Of course we do! You’re one of the most celebrated fighters in the tournament. Your performance in Zarimoria was legendary. But it looks like you’ve swapped out your whole team. Whatever happened to those big bodyguards that used to follow you around?”

“Oh, I’m not fighting,” Yumi interjected, gesturing toward us. “These guys are my new team. Apparently, they found Dario even more charming than I do.”

The official blinked, then whirled to face me. His eyes nearly popped out of his head. “Wait, you’re Amir Rosewood! And you… you’re Dario Hon! But... you were supposed to be rivals! Weren’t you fighting in the semifinals just weeks ago? The officials told us Amir’s team vanished before the final round!”

I raised the partially assembled crown Yumi had given me. “Like she said, we’ve joined forces. As far as I know, there’s no rule against it.”

“Well… no. There isn’t.” The man rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s just... wow. I was expecting a rematch between the two of you. The last time you fought, they called it a battle for the ages. And now... you’re on the same team?”

He looked genuinely heartbroken.

I smiled. “Trust me. You’re going to see something even better this time.”

“Ah, well. You know how it goes,” Wren said, puffing up proudly. “Everyone wants to join Wren’s Winning Team!”

“Oh? Is that the official team name now?” the tournament official asked, quirking an eyebrow. “Dario, are you sure you don’t want some say in this?”

“I don’t even remember what my team name was,” Dario replied. “This is fine.”

“Ah... well, all right then,” the official muttered, clearly bewildered as he scribbled Wren’s Winning Team onto the board in a flourish of indigo ink. “And there we have it. The final four teams of the tournament. The only contenders who fought their way through all six regional rounds to reach the grand finals.”

He turned to us with a ceremonial smile. “Now, I’m sure you’ll want to look over the updated brackets and rules. Your final match will be held in Sellix. The nation has sent a guide to escort you, and to provide... company.”

“A guide to keep us company?” Sage asked. “That wasn’t part of the original plan.”

“Oh, well, you’re finalists now,” the official said, almost reverently. “Very important guests. The stars of the show! You’ll be afforded every courtesy and formality.”

And with that cryptic remark, he bustled away, leaving us standing beneath the looming tournament board. I stepped forward to study it more closely.

Just as he’d said, there were only four teams remaining, each a veteran of six hard-fought matches across six different nations. Only the strongest, smartest, and most determined had survived to this final stretch.

A new heading had been freshly painted across the top of the bracket, bold and gleaming in the city's trademark indigo:

FINAL ROUND RULES:

1.       The semifinals shall be 3-on-3 fights.

“That’s going to be a lot more complicated than the previous round,” Sage murmured.

“Yeah, back then it was just two-on-two. Though we did a few three-on-three fights in the prefectures,” Finlay said. “It was just that back then, we were useless, so Amir did everything for us!”

“Well, that’s definitely not the case anymore,” I said. Even if I was worried about the fight ahead, I was confident in the work my teammates had put in.

2.       Arcanists will be allowed to use 4 items, with a maximum of 2 artifacts.

That was another step up.

We could use two artifacts now, meaning I could use both Solarbrand and the Apex Arcana. Now that we were here, we were really going all out.

3.       The first team to incapacitate 2 out of 3 arcanists wins.

“Incapacitate?” Luna whispered, her voice tight with unease. “That sounds... really serious.”

“Yeah, seriously serious,” Finlay muttered. “The earlier rounds had clear rules against killing. This? It doesn’t say a word about it.”

My eyes narrowed as I recalled my father’s conversation with Akiva, how he had boasted that the Empress herself would be fighting alongside him in the finals. If that was true, then it made sense. He had probably pulled strings behind the scenes to tilt the rules in his favor.

My hand instinctively drifted to the hilt of Solarbrand at my waist.

For most competitors, crossing the line into lethal force would be unthinkable. But my father? He was a murderer. He wouldn’t hesitate.

“We’ll have to fight seriously,” Dario said, jaw clenched. “No holding back. We charge through, no matter what they throw at us.”

I nodded.

Below the rule summary, I spotted a new line, an amendment detailing the mechanics of the grand finale. It was a more intense version of the semi-finals: a full five-on-five match. Every member of each team would fight. Victory would go to the first team to incapacitate three of their opponents.

No second chances. No substitutions. No room for error.

The equipment rules remained the same, two artifacts and two trinkets per fighter, but the stakes had never been higher. We needed more gear. Stronger tools. Right now, I was the only one I knew for sure had artifacts, Solarbrand and the Apex Arcana. Dario’s golden bow was clearly magical as well, but Sage, Luna, and Finlay? They’d be outmatched if we didn’t upgrade their equipment. And if any of them were seriously hurt because I hadn’t prepared properly, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.

At the bottom of the ruleset was the final tournament bracket. Seeing it made the weight of everything hit me at once. Dozens of elite teams had entered. Only four remained.

My heart thudded as I read the names.

We would be fighting in Sellix against Team Bugging Out. And my father’s team, The Claws, would face Winter’s Ruin in Keshari.

“Team Bugging Out, huh? Does anyone even remember who they are?” Finlay asked.

“Sounds like we should’ve taken that name,” Sinsidius added, his voice hissing through the slits in his skull mask.

“I remember them,” Sage muttered. “Their leader is a jorogumo arcanist. The others are strong, too. We’ll have our work cut out for us—but now that we know who we’re up against, we can strategize.”

“Well, let’s get moving,” Yumi said with a grin. “I might be out of the fight, but I’m still your bankroll. I’ll commission us a ship.”

Sage tilted her head. “Wait, didn’t they say we had a guide?”

Right on cue, a familiar, raspy voice called out, “And that guide is me… the greatest tourist in human history!”

I turned, and a grin spread across my face.

A squat old man with a wild, lopsided haircut hustled toward us, every inch of his body festooned with clattering souvenirs and jangling trinkets.

“Wait… Old Man Valdo?”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Old Man Valdo swaggered up to us, grinning from ear to ear. Around him, Peeter flew in happy circles. He really was a beautiful grifter crow, his black feathers as shiny as ink.

Valdo smiled. “The host nations asked for tour guides, people who could show the arcanists around, and I thought… Who better than me? I called in all my family members to petition the king and they finally annoyed him into submission.”

“We grifted our way into becoming ambassadors!” Peeter crowed. “We knew you would grift your way to the semifinals!”

“This was no grift, Peeter,” Sinsidius replied, a note of definite joy infecting his typically serious voice. The solemn and wise grave moth could not have been more different than the brash grifter crow, but the two had always gotten along. “We won our way here fair and square. Though, due to other people’s cheating, we had to make some changes to our roster.”

“Yeah, if it weren’t for that nighttime ambush, the tournament would have ended already! They would have just given up after seeing Master Elias and Master Hyperion walk into the ring,” Wren angrily added.

Valdo stopped for a moment, blinking. “Wait. You’re right. Elias isn’t here. I’d been looking forward to seeing him again. What—” He turned to Dario, looking totally flabbergasted. “Wait. You joined the team? Wow. Things have really changed since the days I was a competitor.”

“Yes, I joined the team,” Dario said, eyeing Valdo curiously. Haoyu and Lux stood behind him and the trio’s body language just screamed confusion. They were all too polite to say it, but they had no idea why Valdo was on our team to begin with.

Yumi blinked, tilting her head to the side. “Oh. I think I remember you guys.”

“Yeah, they jumped off the arena in round one,” Mika said.

“That’s right,” Valdo said, pointing a boastful finger at his chest. “That was my specialty…Valdo Technique Number One. Leaving the arena as soon as possible!”

“And there’s no Valdo Technique Number Two,” Peeter added. “That’s our one and only super signature attack!”

“Is that really an attack?” Yumi asked.

“No, it’s not,” Sage said. “He was just on the team because of the rules.”

“Well, the good news is he will be an awesome tour guide, because he specializes in finding good deals in every city.” Finlay grinned. “It’s great to see you guys again.”

Valdo smiled back, but there was a hint of worry there. “Well. You guys will have to tell me what happened to Elias. I can’t even imagine what it took to bring down that grumpy force of nature. But for now, come with me. I don’t want to keep the captain waiting.”

Valdo led us through the city, towards the main port that faced the sea. Once again, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by a wave of wistful nostalgia. It was here in Indigo Port that we’d waited for Master Elias to return with Solarbrand. After he’d returned, we’d traveled to Keshari together on a riverboat.

But as we faced the Grand Indigo Hotel, my nostalgia turned to bitterness. It was also here that I’d met my father for the very first time.

“Is something wrong?” Luna asked.

I blinked in surprise, only just remembering that she’d joined us months after that meeting. Roux, Wren, and the others had all told me about things gradually getting better over time. Finding Luna again was definitely an example of that.

I told her about how I’d met my father and about how he and his dragons had kicked around Wren and our other eldrin before leaving.

She scowled. “Your father sounds like he’s not good for anything. Sure, he might be strong. But we’ll think of a way to beat him, just like your master did.”

“Luna’s right,” Roux said. “Your father never beat Elias in a fair fight. I’m sure he’ll use some dirty tricks if we face off in the finals, but we’ll take him down together.”

It seemed like the rest of the group was thinking the same thing.

“Who do you think we’ll fight in the finals?” Sage asked, nervously chewing her lip. “The dragon team is strong, but they are up against Winter’s Ruin in Keshari. Sylvester seemed strong, plus he was keen to get revenge.”

“Winter’s Ruin, huh?” Yumi asked. “I heard a rumor that eldrin with ice powers are strong against dragons. Maybe they’ll win and the crisis will be averted.”

I frowned. “I don’t know about that… It seems too good to be true. Sure, Winter’s Ruin is strong and coordinated, but the dragon arcanists are super strong. Plus, the tournament is in Keshari.”

“So you think the Empress will try and cheat?” Yumi asked. “I mean, I wouldn’t put it past her.”

“That, plus Keshari is already a hot and arid desert. The Winter’s Ruin arcanists really know how to use their auras and all that, but it’ll still be a natural disadvantage…” I trailed off for a moment, searching for the right words as my eyes bore into Roux’s shimmering silver fur. It wasn’t just raw logic that made me think we’d fight my father in the finals. There was something more… the push of Roux’s destiny magic.

“We will fight the Claws in the finals,” Dario said. His words were brusque and curt and he was clenching his fist so hard that his knuckles were stark white. “When a kirin arcanist meets another, they can sense if they are bound together by fate. Amir and I are bound to Aziel Theano. We are meant to battle him.”

Finlay crossed his arms. “Well, don’t just focus on the final round. Focus on who is ahead of us. If we spend all our time worrying about fighting Amir’s dad, Team Bugging Out will crawl all over us.”

Valdo stopped in his tracks, turning around to laugh. “Hah! You’ve grown wise, young Finlay. You were always just thinking about your big goal of saving the orphans. Now you know how to take things one step at a time.”

Peeter cawed and flew around Valdo’s balding head in a haphazard little circle. “Yes, yes. Old Finlay had more guts than sense. New Finlay has both!”

By then, we were back at the port. As always, Indigo Port’s eponymous port was bustling wildly, even in the middle of the night. Countless ships entered and set sail. In the distance, I saw the usual small riverboats, guided by captain arcanists and their eldrin, setting off.

I automatically started walking towards them, but Valdo stopped me.

“Amir! You’re a finalist now! This is the ship you’ll be taking.”

He pointed at a gleaming black and gold boat docked at the center of the port. Large indigo banners, proclaiming “Crown Tournament Finalists” flew on either side of it.

Everything about the ship screamed that we were now a big deal.

The ship was huge, at least two or three hundred feet across, bigger even than the Westerlies. Everything about it was shiny, polished to almost an absurd sheen that made me wonder if we were riding a boat or a giant floating jewel. The wood was so fresh that it looked like it’d just been cut off the tree and painted. The huge ship had an appropriately huge number of sails. I tried counting them as they flapped in the wind, but they were all overlapping on top of each other and I eventually got bored. There was no way we needed all this ship to get to Sellix, but considering the size, even Haoyu would be able to comfortably stay with Dario.

The ship’s name was painted at the side in elegant gold lettering. Sellix’s Pride.

“Wow, really?” Finlay asked. “That ship is bigger than a small village.”

“Yes, really,” Valdo said.

“See? I told you he always knew the best deals,” Sage explained to the gaping Yumi and Dario.

“Hah! I’d like to say that…but in reality, it’s because of your hard work,” Valdo admitted. “Only four teams made the finals of the Crown Tournament. Team Bugging Out is getting treated just as well. They left this morning.”

“Wow, what was the name of their ship?” Wren wondered, gazing up at the massive ship. It was so big that it cast a huge shadow over Wren. “Sellix’s Other Pride?”

“No idea, but probably not that,” Valdo said.

Wren flared his scales. “Sounds like you just don’t want to admit I’m right. Still, all the ships are going to be renamed Wren’s Pride once we make it to the final round!”

With that, my proud syrocko drake led us all on board.

The ship gently rocked beneath our feet as we got onboard. For some reason, it felt good to be on a boat now, after riding all those airships. Back when I was a kid, I’d been terrified of the water because of the East Sea Raiders, but after the last round of the tournament, I now associated the waves with good things… riding through the river with my team and Master Elias, picking up Luna and winning at the Waxing City with her.

Of course, we’d been ambushed at sea too, by my father and his dragon team, but now I felt like I could finally deal with all that. It wasn’t perfect, but things were getting better, and just like my eldrin advised, I was considering both the bad and the good together.

As soon as we got onto the ship, I saw several arcanists wearing lightweight armor patrolling the inside of the ship. All of them looked like well-trained warriors and their eldrin partners were adapted for aquatic combat. I saw many arcanist marks I’d recognized from the tournament, like draugr, ogopogo, and even a kraken. Some of the eldrin walked with their partners on board, but I had to guess that some of them were probably waiting underwater. The uniform set of weapons they carried, two long spears plus a crossbow, reminded me of one of the tournament teams that had already been eliminated, the Argoan Elite. Those guys had been a bunch of mercenaries from the Kingdom of Argo, but these men looked like naval fighters.

“Are these guys soldiers?” I asked Valdo. “What are they doing onboard?”

“I asked for guards,” Valdo said, his eyes narrowing. “I told everyone I met what happened with Empress Xiu. Of course, most people didn’t believe me. I’m just some guy and she’s an empress. But I made enough noise that they decided to send some guards around just to shut me up. Speaking of which…”

His voice went down to a whisper and he brought me away from the main group. “So, tell me about Elias? It was the Empress again, wasn’t it?” Valdo had been there the last time the Geist Squad attacked us, which was why Master Elias had not so gently pushed him to leave the team.

“It was,” I said. “Well, even worse than that.”

I told him about everything that had happened since he was gone, going from my father’s midnight ambush to the desperate scramble to save Master Elias and free everybody. Before coming to us, Valdo had been a storyteller, but he seemed to be a very good story listener too. In a sharp contrast to his usual jovial nature, he was somber and quiet, only interrupting to ask me how something made me feel.

At the end, Valdo shook his head and let out a long sigh.

“Wow. I guess everything turned out how Elias feared it would. All these powerful people interrupting the tournament, using dirty tricks. But he was also right to train you, Amir. It’s just been a month or so since I left, but I can tell you’ve grown a lot stronger.” The old man clenched his fist, sounding fiercer than I’d ever heard him. “I’m sure you’ll defeat your father, Amir! In fact, I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life!”

After that, Valdo sent me off to bed.

It’d been a long day after all and we had a long trip to Sellix waiting for us. The room was just as huge and luxurious as I imagined, though I pulled the pillow and sheets onto the floor as usual. I’d never liked the softness of beds. If anything, they made me feel like I was trapped, falling into quicksand.

As I drifted off to sleep, the same nightmare from before emerged from the depths of my mind, haunting me once again.

Flames. Collapsing stone. Pillars of light.

Just like before, it went from a twisted disrupting mantra to an endless vision to an actual haunting feeling in my body.

But this time, I also heard my friends’ words and encouragement, buoying me through the darkness.

Loudest of all was Wren.

I could almost feel him shifting next to me as we slept, his body as hot as the desert sun.

“Don’t worry, Amir! We got this. We just need to stay persistent!”

Chapter Twenty-Five

I let out a long yawn as I sat up the next morning. Thanks to everyone’s encouragement, the heaviness from the nights before had started to lift. I wasn’t feeling as sorrowful or anxious as I had, but my mind still felt foggy, like it had wandered too far and wasn’t quite ready to come back. I was so groggy that when I swung my legs off the bed, I accidentally kicked Wren’s tail.

“Oh, sorry!” I said quickly.

“Huh? Uh, it’s all right, I guess,” Wren mumbled, blinking up at me with one sleepy yellow eye. “Didn’t really feel it. I’m pretty tired too after everything that’s happened.”

He’d grown even bigger than I was used to, and he’d curled up close to me during the night. Maybe that was why his warmth had helped keep the nightmares at bay.

“Still having nightmares?” Roux asked, gently nudging my side with her horn.

“Yeah, but it’s better now,” I replied. “They’re still there… but I can manage them.”

“Talking about nightmares, huh?” Wren said, shifting his weight with a sigh. “Yeah. I’ve had some bad ones, too. I keep thinking about what happened, how I wasn’t there when Master Hyperion crashed through that window. Just thinking about him almost dying is terrifying.”

“It was terrifying, Wren,” I said. “But I don’t think you could’ve changed anything. My father held everyone hostage. We had to surrender.”

Wren bared his sharp teeth in frustration. “Sounds just like that scoundrel. It’s hard to believe you two are even related.”

“He didn’t raise me,” I reminded him. “My mother did. And after that, it was Master Elias and Roux. And you too, Wren. We’ve grown up a lot together on this journey.”

“You’re right, my arcanist. Our persistence has brought us to the brink of victory,” Wren said with newfound conviction. He rose to his feet, a serious glint in his eyes. “Time for our morning routine. We won’t be at our best without it.”

I raised an eyebrow, surprised. Normally, Roux and I meditated quietly on our own, with Wren joining later. “You sure?” I asked. “If you’ve had nightmares too, you might want more rest.”

Wren shook his head fiercely. “No way! The best way to fight nightmares is to make sure they don’t happen in real life. And for that, I need to be as disciplined as you and Roux. I already know the basics of meditation. I’ll be quiet, promise. But I’ll do it my own way. Time for some eager meditation!”

I couldn’t help but smile. I’d never heard anyone so enthusiastic about meditating. Usually, it was calm and reflective, but Wren somehow made it sound like a battle cry.

“Wow. I don’t want to speak behind his back, but Wren’s really grown,” Roux said in my mind. “Just like Valdo said… You’ve all changed since he last saw you. Wren, too. It’s only been a few weeks, but he’s different now.”

Roux’s words made me pause mid-breath. Because I saw Wren every day, I hadn’t noticed the changes gradually. But it was true. He wasn’t the impulsive little hatchling I’d bonded with anymore. He was larger than a draft horse now, and emotionally, even larger still. The hardships we’d endured had shaped him, and it was his talk of persistence that had helped me hold on when I was ready to fall apart.

It really felt like everything was starting to align.

I turned back to my meditation, focusing inward, locking on the gentle pulse of Roux’s destiny magic flowing through me. It had vanished when she was kidnapped, but now it burned steadily again, warm and bright.

By the time I finished, I felt centered. Whole. I opened the door and bumped straight into Luna.

“Oh!” She gasped, stumbling back a step.

“Sorry!” I said, reaching out to steady her.

She looked worn thin, her eyes hollow with fatigue. Worse off than I was, and unlike me, she hadn’t had the benefit of meditation to carry her through. Behind her stood Marik, the white hart’s sharp eyes scanning the hallway as if expecting an ambush. Even among allies, Marik remained vigilant. A guardian to the end.

“Are you all right?” I asked.

She wavered slightly, steadying herself with a hand on the doorframe. “I came to check on you, Amir. You looked tired…”

“I’m fine,” I said. “Had some rough dreams, but I’ll get through it. What about you? Did something happen?”

“Oh, I just didn’t sleep well,” Luna replied, brushing a few strands of hair behind her ear. “Not used to the rocking of the boat, I guess. I’ll be fine. I was honestly more worried about you. After what happened to your master…”

“The thought of Master’s injuries does weigh on me,” I admitted. “I dreamed of fighting by his side in the finals ever since the tournament began. But now, I know the best way to honor him, and the Ginza Aggression Art, is to focus on the battles ahead. That was one of his core teachings: unwavering task focus.”

Even as I said the words, I could hear my voice shifting, subtly mimicking the cadence and confidence of Master Elias. The thought brought a small smile to my lips.

“Well,” Luna said, her voice warming, “at least Valdo’s back too. He’s kind of a mentor for you as well, isn’t he?”

Behind me, Wren let out a cheerful snort. “Hah! Old Man Valdo as a mentor! That’s rich.”

“Not for martial arts,” I replied with a chuckle, “but his life advice hits pretty hard. And Sellix is his stomping grounds. If anyone knows what we’re walking into, it’s him.”

Mentally, I made a note to ask Valdo about a trinket that might help ward off bad dreams. Usually, magical items scaled in price depending on their utility, but with the five star shards Akiva had given me, I might be able to afford something decent. Even if I could manage the nightmares, I didn’t want to enter the finals drained and unfocused.

After another hour of sailing, our rainbow-feathered ship finally docked at port. By that time, the entire group had gathered near the main hatch, eager to set foot on the island and begin the final stage of our journey.

Finlay glanced around at our fidgeting crew and chuckled nervously. “Sinsidius, we look like a bunch of kids waiting for the school bell. Can you imagine what our classmates would think if they saw us now?”

“They’d likely be shocked to see me in my full grave moth form,” Sinsidius replied dryly. “Though probably more shocked to see that I’ve aligned with an entire team of seasoned arcanists.”

“Oh, they’d definitely be surprised,” Kenji said brightly. “You went from fuzzy caterpillar to terrifying winged monster, and I went from pudgy raccoon to... well, slightly less pudgy raccoon!”

We all laughed at that. Yes, even the ever-stoic Dario. The shared moment helped strip away some of the tension.

As the ship doors finally hissed open, Yumi stepped forward, distributing heavy pouches of gold to each of us.

“Use these to buy gear,” she instructed. “The dragon team was decked out in powerful equipment when they attacked my home. If we want to stand a chance, we need to match them, if not outclass them.”

I held up the pouch Akiva had given me, the weight of five gleaming star shards heavy in my palm.

“I’ve already got these,” I said.

Yumi narrowed her eyes and shoved the bag of gold into my hand with the force of a practiced arcanist. “I said all the best gear. Not some. We can’t afford half-measures.”

“Got it,” I said, accepting the extra funds with a wry smile.

“Unlike Indigo Port,” Valdo began, stepping forward with the kind of theatrical flair only he could muster, “Sellix is a vast island… Rugged, diverse, and ancient in its traditions.”

“Real big!” Peeter chirped from beside him. “Way bigger than you remember!”

We all turned to stare at him.

“Um, Valdo?” Sage asked, quirking an eyebrow. “You do remember we have been to Sellix before, right? We dropped you off here.”

Luna glanced at me and leaned in with a whisper. “Are you sure this guy’s good at giving life advice? Islands are bigger than cities?”

“Bah! Peeter interrupted me!” Valdo snapped, puffing out his chest in protest. “I was going to say that Sellix doesn’t have a central market. Instead, you’ll find shops scattered across the island. Each region has its own specialty, so I suggest splitting up and exploring different areas. That way, everyone can find what suits them best. You’ll be able to reach each district using the local ferries.”

I stepped forward to get us organized. “I’m hoping to pick up another trinket. I’ve already got Solarbrand and the Apex Arcana, so I’m set for artifacts. But after giving Luna the Quickdraw Dagger, all I’ve got left is my old syrocko drake sword.”

“Something that works well with stealth would be perfect for me,” Luna added. “I don’t have any armor yet, but I need something light. Something quiet enough to keep me undetected.”

“I’d like more ranged options,” Sage said. “I try to keep my distance and use my tanuki statue ability mostly for defense.”

“I like to brawl up close,” Finlay chimed in, cracking his knuckles. “I’ve already got that kraken armor Amir gave me, so maybe a heavy-hitting weapon. Something big, like a warhammer or a spiked mace.”

“I’m good on gear, thanks to Yumi,” Dario said, casually slinging his golden bow from his back and revealing a gleaming silver shield from beneath his cloak. Though smaller than the tower shield he’d once used in Fiveside, this one pulsed with raw magical energy. “For trinkets, I can use caladrius amulets to heal us. So Yumi and I’ll help find things for you guys.”

Valdo handed us each a parchment map marked with the five main Sellix marketplaces: one for each cardinal direction—north, south, east, and west—and a central district.

Sage and Finlay decided to stick together and explore the east and central markets. Luna, for reasons she didn’t care to explain, insisted on heading west. Yumi mentioned having a family friend in the northern market, so naturally, Dario joined her there. That left the southern market to me.

“I’ll come with you, Amir!” Valdo said with a gleeful twinkle in his eye. “No one knows the South Sellix stalls like I do! Though…” His voice dropped to a conspiratorial tone. “If my eyes don’t deceive me, it seems there’s someone else you’d rather take along.”

Luna, who had just swung onto Marik’s back to head for the west ferry, stumbled, stammering with a blush blooming across her cheeks.

I felt heat rising to my face too, but I’d long since learned that the only way to beat Valdo at his own game was to play along. He was useless in a fight, more of a trip hazard than a team member, but he was relentless when it came to teasing. A living, breathing barrage of sarcastic arrows.

I smirked. “Actually, Valdo, do you know a good restaurant around here? Somewhere we could grab dinner later? Preferably a place that allows eldrin too.”

Valdo howled with laughter, clutching his belly like I’d delivered the punchline of a joke he’d waited years to hear. “Oho! Amir, my boy, I would be delighted to assist. Let’s stop by the market first and I’ll point you to the perfect spot. Luna! Make sure to meet Amir at the Sellix Sea Star tonight. It’s right near the south docks!”

“I, um, okay! I will!” Luna squeaked, then galloped off at full speed on Marik’s back, vanishing before anyone could tease her further.