1 Prologue

"Legends say that all worlds orbit the Spirit Realm, or were born from it at some point in time. The first shamans bridged the Spirit Realm to our world, allowing humans to survive the Age of Ice and for civilization to become what it is today.

The legends also say, that in worlds other than ours, there are no spirits or shamans. But sometimes, those worlds line up with ours through the veil of the Spirit Realm, and a spirit-sent appears."

--- Folk Legend, Sichuan, China

"The spirit-sent appears, riding on the back of a dragon. To bring peace and stability, the spirit-sent took his place as ruler of the shamans and created the Order of the Flying Dragons."

---Tales of the Flying Dragons, Yunnan, China

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The Dragon peered lazily through its talons at the human world below. The Middle Kingdom of China would not last much longer. Already, the warlords had split the country into chunks and pieces, unfolding scenes of madness and destruction in their squabbles.

The Dragon would not interfere, not while she and her children went unfed. There was no incense or prayers from the shamans, who were too desperate to remember the one who had granted them their power.

Even the Shaman Council had forgotten its duties to the Dragon, to the one who granted them governance over the Middle Kingdom shamans. The Grand Temple lay derelict as the young leader fought her power struggles in the Southern city of Canton.

This did not bother the Dragon, who watched and waited. She had seen the spirit-sent hurtle past her and into the world below, she knew that a new era was about to begin.

Once she had carried a spirit-sent on her back, bringing forth a storm of fire to end the Warring Era as the founders of the Flying Dragons.

But for now, she would only look on as the spirit-sent moved South, carrying the mantel of her name.

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"So our grand plan," Joyce deadpanned, taking in the wreckage of the car she had spectacularly crashed into the side of the road for no good reason, "is to pose as a nonexistent cult."

"Not a cult," Spade said. "The Order of the Flying Dragons."

"That sounds like a terrible idea!"

"You just crashed our only method of transportation, you don't get a say."

Joyce sighed. It wasn't her fault she had failed the driving test three times, she had gotten the worst testing sites every time she tried. And the car crash? Well, she didn't drive auto to begin with.

"Still a terrible idea."

Spade sighed impatiently, irritation dripping off him like oil off a roasted duck. Joyce glanced at the sword hanging from his belt and gave up with a sigh.

"Fine," she said, "I just hope you know what you're doing."