Volume Five: The Shadow

Chapter XIV

Where the Serpent Thrives

June 12, 1211

Chengdu, Sichuan — SONG DYNASTY

The heavens invited the dawn of light cheese and haze clouds beyond the next rim within the distant peaks of Guangxi. Before the clouds and mountain towers, the domain rested a village of over seventy structural buildings, residential complexes, public courtyards, and farmhouses with vineyards on the outer skirts of the village. Upon this prospering land, a small peak carried a house full of roots, ravines, and thorns, blessed by the serpents of the ancestral dragons that bathed and planted soils into heavenly blooms. This nostalgic feeling from the duo serpents felt good to be back, grown with delightful memories, and this village was Viper and Fanshe's home.

Chengdu.

After a few days of hiking from the last location of two crossroads, Viper, Fanshe, Lotus, Wolf Boss, Chen Xing, and Kai arrived upon the last apex hill before the village ahead of them, where the haze clouds dominated above, the ebbs of glistening white stroking the ridges. Wolf Boss heightened his relieving sigh after stretching and popping his back, glancing at the small town when Kai and Chen Xing joined the wolf's company with Zhong's daughter next to her feline brother.

"Home sweet home," Viper observed their homeland in front of the group with her serpent brother. She held her umbrella that blanketed the shadow from midday's dawn, which fiddled with the warmth of light and breeze raying on her. The display on her seemed to be as majestic as the last time Viper felt closer to home. The serpent master turned to her companions and beckoned at the village. "Welcome to Chengdu."

"Home of the serpents," Fanshe, the cobra, commented, surveying the domain as the environment around the small town had thrived with hopes and prosperity. Clouds of memories washed in his thought, reflecting the moments of his past life as a former bandit under Great Gorilla's membership; after a few years of lowlife before his life worth progression as the Nine's Serpent, the cobra met Great Gorilla's nephew, unlike no other giants that could do such glory and companionship that filled in their hearts, which changed them into believing the good to stop the calamities. "After all these years of low grounds and the following events of dedication and courage, this village still feels like. . . I am back from adventures. I haven't been here since. . ."

Fanshe looked down to the rocky soil. "Since Hajin Province happened."

His sister snuggled his head, her lengthy tongue vibrating with a kiss. "Are you with me, brother?"

And his eyes of lime met hers. "I am."

"You have all the time you need, you two," their striped feline friend comforted the serpents. "We'll be here."

"You are such a sweet kid, Xing," Viper grinned. "You remind me of Tigress."

The odd sensation of being familiar to his aunt was true from the looks of Tigress and her posture. Chen Xing was no Tigress but far more forgiving and kind to Viper as the serpent could see him too well, and the tiger admitted that she was right from her perspective after all.

At exactly over two hundred paces, entering the south-eastern road into the complex structural entry of Chengdu, the sextet broadened and swam their heads on a thriving town full of villagers into prosper, who strolled in random guides elsewhere at the broad courtyard and the following complex buildings. Not only the people who occupied here but beyond the following roads and the next before were officers in lamellar armors or ebony black and gold outlines. They were rhinos with cloud tattoos, their tusks carving in countless details of where they lived: waters, trees, clouds, and fires. Seeing several eyes from the citizens and local authorities on the cobblestone road, welcoming the daughter and son of Great Viper and warriors, Viper slithered onward and beckoned her head with a smile upon the people. The smell of hot brew tea, baked bean buns, apples, and oranges from the fruit carts wafted, with the pleasant senses inviting the warriors to try out the seller's kinds of foods nearby.

"My village is yours to live with," Viper worded the group, passing by the citizens before they stopped amidst the road, where the pathway to the north was clear to see Great Viper's house on the sloping peak. She rounded her head at the closest outskirt. "There's a place for you all to have a house to rent not far from here."

The giant bovine, vibrating his puff from his muzzle, asked the serpent master. "Is that house large enough for me?"

"Lucky for you, Kai," Viper replied with a smirk. "I believe you will fit in there just fine."

Sounds good to me.

Kai maintained his teacher's belongings on his back, which had weighed on his bulky shoulder. "Wonderful," Wolf Boss surveyed the village. "So, how do we meet the one in charge of the house rent, Viper?"

"When you meet the owner there, Zhong, tell her you are friends of Master Viper's daughter. Her debts will be paid in full."

"Gotcha," the one-eyed wolf nodded.

"Thanks, Viper. We'll catch up to you at your dad's house," Xing said, still holding his quill and bow while his other paw grasped his chokuto sword's grip on his waist.

"I'll go with Viper and Fanshe," Lotus joined the serpents on their side.

"Okay, Lotus. Stay close to them. We'll be right with you."

It took a moment for her to bless her brother and her father by nudging their faces, and Lotus began to walk with the serpents through the path where the villagers were currently praising their return. They merged towards the cobblestone hill with orange lanterns with strings crossing from above them. After their departure, the other three strolled on the occupied road, where citizens piled with wide-open eyes and mouths. What was odd for Xing was that he was close to the one-eyed wolf and the giant yak, but neither of the people was staring at the tiger's faded scar. He noticed Kai's horns were the ones that trembled most citizens at every corner as if the trio could detect their stupendous faces.

"Looks like we got some fame," Wolf Boss notified.

"Oh, yeah?" Xing pondered but did not make eye contact at the people's sight. Nearing from their left, an antelope child gasped and chirped.

"Whoa! Look at the yak's horns!"

"He's so mighty!"

The other child, a rabbit, looked at Kai, who depicted them with a snout of greeting.

About two blocks away, Chen Xing explored near the fruit stands as he searched for chili peppers, but there was no luck while surveying the seasonings of various colors; the tiger could not know plenty. Before the Nine's Leader, a ram in her light rose top and brown trousers presented a ladyship bow to the newcomers. "Greetings there, travelers," she beamed. "How would you like to try some spices from different countries?"

"Of course," the tiger smiled and browsed the list of spices ahead of him. He pointed at something pink that was lighter than the white. "What's this one here?"

"That is a Himalayan salt, sir. This spice is brand new from northern India before the peaks of the Himalayas."

"Oh?" Xing was stunned. "Let me try that."

The tiger allowed him to taste a remnant of pink spices for a first try, and a salt flavor was dominant on the tip of his tongue, not harsh or salty, unlike the sea salt. This looks promising.

Wolf Boss could see the tiger purchasing a small portion of Himalayan salt, including a large bag of thirty oranges for him and Kai. The last thing he saw after waving farewell to the spice lady were steam buns at the next counter, where the fox behind it cooked some bread. "Wonderful. I'll have twenty steam buns, Dragon Warrior size," Xing ordered.

"Damn, boy. You are hungrier than I am!" Wolf Boss was shocked and chuckled.

Peeling off the fruit skins, Kai and Wolf Boss chewed oranges, nearly arriving at Chengdu's outskirt across the stream, the sky water foaming on rocks as they passed the small, wooden bridge. Before their eyes was a large clay house with wood carvings on roof tiles, perching next to other residential areas on their right.

Kai was still aware of his horns to enter the house, but as tolerable as the yak viewed the threshold, he could manage to sink his head under, passing inside. The yak regarded the entry as the Shui Palace's barrack corridor, colossal enough for the bovines with large horns. At the front patio with garden flowers, the landlord, a white sheep with gray wool in her dark velvet violet top and black trousers, waved at travelers.

"Auh! How can I be in your service, gentlefolk?"

"Hello, ma'am. We are friends of Master Viper's daughter. She wishes you could offer her guests a house rent," Zhong told the landlord.

"Of course," the sheep landlord notified, placing the basket of water beside the lily plants. Her brown eyes scanned on the tiger. "Oh, dear me. You look like. . . Master Tigress?"

"Oh, no, ma'am. You do recognize her as I am nearly identical, but not close," Xing buzzed his chuckles. "Do you know her, Miss?"

"Oh, yes! She's a great customer," she simpered, then gasping. "Are you her kid?"

"I am her nephew," he answered.

"By the spirits!" she clapped her hooves. "It is my honor, sir!" the sheep beckoned her hoof to her new customers. "Come right in, warriors! I am in Master Viper's debt."

"Thank you, Miss."

"Master Xing?"

Right before the sheep opened the door, the trio glimpsed behind and saw a reptile with a long tail and a spike ball crossing by the meadow. Emerging only in his metallic kilt with a belt with dull points, the crocodile master approached with a slight grin, yellow-green eyes flashing.

"Master Croc!" Xing chirped, then quickly cleared his throat, bowing to him before the reptile master did the same. "Pardon me. It is an honor to meet you again."

"Same, kid," Croc rounded his triangular head once. "What brings you here?"

"Paying my respects to Master Viper's father, who will be passing soon," the tiger answered. "You come to see him, too?"

"I am," he replied. Master Croc surveyed the two warriors behind Xing and found a wolf strolling close to the tiger with recognition. "Zhong. It's good to see you alive and well."

"Likewise, Master Croc," Wolf Boss smiled. Kai reverberated a blunt puff with an introduction; as for the crocodile, regarding the well-known presence that Masters of Gongmen had a conflicted history before, he dodged the yak's sight but accepted Kai's greet.

"Master Xing. I am hoping if I could—"

"Of course!" Xing accepted. He slipped the bags off from his shoulders and his bow and quill with arrows, handing the rest to Zhong. "Zhong, Kai, I'll be stealing Master Croc for a moment. You can unpack here and go to Viper's house."

The tiger and the crocodile sauntered back to Chengdu and entered the roads, leaving the wolf and the yak behind.

On the path again, sighting the marvelous scenery before taking their route into the alleyway, filled with fabrics of dried sheets and cloths hanging on strings, Chen Xing clicked his tongue on having lots of ideas in his mind to speak with the legendary Master Croc, one of three masters who prevented the Wu Sisters from ruling China. The tiger wished not to mention the reptile's bovine companion as if he promised not to reflect on the illusion that they witnessed the true horrors.

The reptile searched for curiosities at first, but the tiger asked him first while passing the following road with hill stairs and lanterns. "What are you up to, Master Croc?"

"Same as before, looking after the Holy Flame Tower while being a Stewardship member," Croc answered, his sharp hands locking on his belly. "I see you are getting along with Zhong well."

"He's a good wolf," Xing beamed. "Truly. I like his spirit and the pack of wolves he led."

"Hmm. You noticed that Zhong and his wolves were part of the Peafowl Noble's honorable guards?"

"I do. I know the wolf's tale too well," the tiger regarded, reflecting the wolf twins and Zhong. His mind now thought of the peafowls. "How have my brother, my sister-in-law, and mother been doing there? Lord Dongji, Lady Huiliang and Lady Xia?"

"They have been seeking to approve Emperor Huangdi's yuan donation," Croc replied. "The city is going well during long repairs."

"And both Niu and Master Storming Ox?"

"They are getting along well," the reptile said. "Their bond between the father and the son has been thriving since Niu craved to have Ox with him. Would you like to hear some news?"

"I am all ears. Excuse me," Xing smiled before he pardoned the pig villager beside him, who accidentally nudged his shoulder.

"Ox is planning a retirement by the end of July."

A nippy breeze flooded Xing's whole heart. Though still remembering the last time being together in the dark future, the tiger wanted to see Storming Ox after the incident. Glancing down to his feet before looking at Croc, Xing asked about the bovine's title. "Who will be taking Master Ox's role after his retirement?"

"It's a good question, Master Xing," Croc considered. "I may be the next Emperor's Wisdom, but someone else who is daunting and caring will fill in my old friend's role."

Strolling past the next alleyway, the two warriors arrived at the small tea house, where the dow with her mat poured her teapot on the large bovine's mug at the corner. Once departing, the tiger caught sight of the rabbit scurrying across the street, lingering behind the wooden boxes of radishes. Master Croc continued speaking as Xing reflected on Master Ox's next chapter ahead of him.

"I think it is the wise decision for Juren because he desires to spend more time with his kid. For as long as he breathes," the reptile said.

"I hear the Emperor's Wisdom is a risky position," Xing mentioned.

"It is," Croc nodded, pardoning the rabbits before them. The two warriors went to the next hill, the large courtyard showing a stage play of dancing dragons before the serpents reigned and twirled their sashes, entertaining the spectators.

"After how many years has he been working with Emperor Huangdi?" the tiger asked.

"Seven years as the Wisdom, twelve years as the Master's Council, and forty years as a Kung Fu fighter," he calculated.

"By the spirits," Xing gaped with a surprised posture.

Croc took moments to query the tiger when thinking of his old companion who mentioned Xing's words. "With Ox's decision for his retirement, I am hoping that comes from your idea, Master Xing," the reptile said. "Was it you who told him to be with his boy more often?"

The tiger remembered his previous conversation with Master Storming Ox a few days after the illusion they volunteered. After promising themselves not to mention the drawings, Master Ox made his word to Xing that he considered staying close to Niu.

Niu needs you more than ever, Master Ox. Love him. Be with him as long as you can.

You know I will, kid.

Chen Xing looked ahead and met the reptile's eyes. "I did," the tiger nodded. "I am glad Ox is retiring. And I hope he finds happiness ahead of him, Master."

"So do I," he comprehended, swimming his head.

"And where the heck are we?"

Xing worded when they swam their heads, observing the roads that guided them in different directions: one towards the downhill before the outskirts and the western hill that depicted loads of hanging cloths and sheets on the strings from the building structures.

Finding amusement, with the same friendship feeling that he, Rhino, and Ox lost on foot into going directions that repeated the same history before, Master Croc let out his hum of ecstasy. "That happens to be too, kid," the reptile pulled his grin, his digit pointing at the peak with the moss house. "Here. It's that way."

"Brilliant," the tiger commented and began strolling.

"And by the way, Xing," Croc leaned closer, "Do Zhong and. . . Kai know their way?"

"Yeah. They're right behind us."

Xing darted his thumb from their back, and Wolf Boss and Kai were right behind them all along; the tiger was the one who burst his chortles. Oh. . . The reptile deadened his voice.

"You are so spiritual, Master Xing. You remind me of the panda," Master Croc complimented him.

Wolf Boss paced his stroll and joined the reptile's company. Kai stayed close to the three, light breezes fluttering his green cloak. When he glanced at the guards far to the top left, who patrolled the cobblestone alleyway, nearly muttering in awe before the guards returned to their positions, Kai looked onward and remembered Oogway's commander in the Great War, who had him reminded of the old officer of him. Wolf Boss nudged his paw on Croc's right shoulder.

"So, Master Croc. How have you been up to?"

Where do I begin? Croc thought.

This enchanting sight was coming back to Viper after so many years. Seeing the house with the walls of moss, flowers, and root thorns made her think of early times when she could relieve her father and mother in this lovely home. With her hard work and dedication that had driven her to be the next Kung Fu master at the Jade Palace, Viper missed her family of two, including his sister, who she used to bake cookies on every Winter Feast. Her young self tweeting her laughs while clutching the kite's string made their hearts warm; Great Viper and his Lady, Lily, were in proximity to slithering near their daughter, watching the windy sky that hovered the green serpent with billowing white beard and scathes. Their adoptive son, the cobra, leaned ahead of his parents before his mother cuddled him with her whole body. Fanshe had this vivid moment of being so loved by his mother before Great Viper had his eyes on his daughter's savior, allowing the father to accept the boy with a kind heart.

The serpents glanced at their home that used to bloom flowers on this cottage house. From Lotus's eyes, seeing every inch of the moss on the house's structure before the roof tiles were stems and roots withered, ebbing with rust-like shrouds. They could hear the house groaning in pain. On the side of the residence, the serpents and the wolf arrived before another snake appeared from the front shoji door with honorable guests and masters. Before their eyes, a lime serpent with cherry lips and a crown of two lotus flowers slithered to them.

"Viper. Fanshe," their young sibling shed her grin. They nudged and blessed their young sister.

"Hua," Viper cuddled her.

"Sister," Fanshe broke his smile. "It's good to see you again."

Hua, fading her smile, widened her eye pupils when pointing her tail at the wolf. "Oh. Who is she?"

"Hua, this is our friend from the Nine of Prosper Valley. Lotus," Viper introduced her. "And Lotus, this is our sister who makes cookies every Winter Feast. Hua."

"My pleasure to meet you," Lotus nodded with a little smile.

"Same," Hua stretched and cradled her tail on her paw with an introduction. She beckoned her head to her siblings. "Come this way. Mother is in the living room with guests."

Entering from the shoji door, the quartet surveyed the living room with twelve honorable guests who conversed with one another, sharing their tales about how they met Great Viper and experienced his distinction. Viper and Fanshe glanced at the visitors in order: one rhinoceros in a crimson coat, three serpents of dark green (one python and two cobras from the Himalayan continent), two badgers with gold ring eyes, four water deer in dark lime sleeveless tops, and two pigs in black robes and small guans. Farther down the hall, when a deer walked to the side and grabbed a white cup near the front dash, another serpent approached from the stairs, seeing the others before the wolf.

"Mother," Viper made her move first and curled Lily.

"Oh, my sweet flower," Lily cradled her, her tongue vibrating with a kiss. "My hatchling."

Viper's mother held her sight on the other, who approached Lily with a friendly posture. The cobra, Fanshe, was introduced. "Mother."

"Son," Lily wrapped her lengthy tail over Fanshe and clutched her babies. "My children. I miss you both."

"We both are," Viper said.

"Come see your father, you two."

"Then let's not delay any further," her daughter notified. Closing and placing the umbrella next to the counter before the scent sticks lit with cherry blossoms, Viper encouraged Lotus, whose gold-ring eyes observed the living room with masters. "Lotus. Do enjoy yourself here with fellow people. Make yourself comfortable."

"Of course."

Lotus, showing her friendly posture while seeing Viper's sister serve her some grape tea, approached the dining room and grabbed one, with her paws meeting the warm cup as the wolf sipped and greeted the serpents before the twin badgers and the water deer.

Sharp wheezes moaned behind the shoji wall door that illustrated the tale of the mighty lung dragon to a reptile creature with sharp white fangs. Inside the chamber, wafting with spicy cherry and mint scents of the dragon's blood from incense sticks on two counter tables near the open window to the left, lay a dying serpent with a silky white manchu beard in his deathbed. With the old snake's harsh wheezes heightening, Viper held her tail on her lips, drawing her breath in shock.

After seeing the Great Viper, Fanshe reached for his sister's back and saw he could not hold his single tear back. Their mother, Lily, curled her tail behind them, nudging the two onward without holding her children back.

"Moonfall. . . Fireworks. . . Red ribbon," Great Viper rasped, the window casting the yellow-orange light on the old serpent.

"Father?" Viper called, slithering towards the bed.

"Door. . . Fangs. . . Blood," their father rasped more, becoming harsher and lesser in between, bringing Fanshe to curve his lips with depression. On the night that he — a former bandit — saved Great Viper and his family, his core fragmented, leaning close before the old snake's smile depicted in front of their eyes. "She is so close. . . I can see her."

His eyes began to open, showing silvery clouds that blanketed his pupils. Great Viper could stare at the repeatable memories of his daughters curling their bodies on the courtyard platform and his son practicing his tail strikes outside his house. With a sense of warm and pointy digit caressing from his neck and crown, his daughter's tender voice breathed out to his muzzle.

"Father? It's me. Viper."

His clouded eyes broadened, and his lips stretched to a smile. "Oh. . . My Viper."

"I am here, Father," she rested half of her body on her father's blanket. Surrounding their space, the sensation of timidness and grief clutching in his bones, Fanshe clicked his tongue with the introduction of vibrant hisses — a friendly presence as the Great Viper educated his children well.

"Dad?" he approached.

Great Viper's breaths wheezed. "Who. . . Who goes there?"

Finding his father's amnesia symptom, Fanshe felt the veins from his cold heart wash away, the impact of his father's memory losses reminding him of his peacock brother's mother. Lady Xia formerly had dementia and could not think clearly about what Fanshe was up to when hanging out with his brothers and sisters outside the Shui Palace. Leaning close to his father, Fanshe flattened his tail on him.

"It's Fanshe," the cobra answered, quivering his voice. "Your son."

"Auh. . . Fanshe. . . Fanshe."

The reverberation of Great Viper's fading breaths echoed under his raspy throat as if finding relief when seeing the two close upon him. He let out his soft sigh of wince. "My cup. . . Hand me my tea."

The introduction of the casual walk was heard from the shoji door, which Lily had opened and called the nurse; a water deer in a sleeveless dark green top and brown edges carried a teacup, stirring the beverage with a spoon. The nurse placed the tea on the counter next to the old serpent and pulled her grin.

"Here's your tea, Great Viper," the water deer said.

"Huifang?" Viper guessed.

"Yeppie," she beamed. "It's good to see you again."

"Is this—?" Fanshe inspected and smelled the tea with a sweet, flowery flavor. "Lavender?"

"Dragon's Blessing," Viper and Huifang worded simultaneously; the elder serpent's raspy voice was heard.

"Tea. . ."

"Oh! Sorry."

Carefully supporting the old snake's head from behind with her hoof, Huifang gave him a sip into his lips. The lavender scent was nearly strong but less sharp than the other remedy medicines as Viper remembered Mei Mei drinking a cherry tea for the cold. Their father, gorging the rest, droned his sigh of relief.

"Oh. . . Thank you, nurse," Great Viper pulled his weak grin, flashing his foggy eyes before the water deer. "You may go now. . . Send the Poison Clan. . . my regards."

"Of course, Master," Huifang nodded, walking out of his chamber and going downstairs to meet her sisters. Viper saw her brother's suspicious glance when their mother closed the shoji door.

"Brother?"

"Poison Clan?" he worded. "You know this one?"

"Easy, son. The Poison Clan treated your father well," Lily answered. "You have no enemies here."

"She was with me and my friends since Huifang visited the Valley of Peace last Winter Feast," Viper clarified. "The members of the Poison Clan are the monks and fighters who helped Po and his panda students."

Fanshe lowered his grunt sigh of understanding, meeting the two serpents' eyes. "How has father been treated, Mother?" the cobra asked. "My last thought about the Poison Clan is that they formerly served with the wicked teacher."

"You heard about them before?"

"I guess so?" Fanshe thought. "Hmm. The Nine had read other news the last time a few months before we stepped into the city-state of Hajin Province."

"The one who mistreated his disciples is no more, Fanshe," Lily explained. "After a successful mission from the Dragon Master and the Four Constellations saving the realm from the evil vulture master, the clan leader and her sisters seek ways to discover ahead of themselves rather than facing punishments."

Nodding, Fanshe flatted his tail under his chin. "With the term 'Poison Clan,' do they build remedy antidotes and lethality needles?"

"Yes and no, brother," Viper answered, approaching him as the window now bathed the light on her. "They gather herbs from expensive areas and develop cures. The female warriors would not be here if their reputation were dreadful when assassinating people with 'lethality needles.'"

Fanshe, still comprehending, looked at their mother. "I find Huifang has been kind to you and father?"

"My dear, Fanshe, she is a wonderful lady," Lily smiled. "She does have strong types of enthusiasm, quite quirky, and energetic."

"My friend Hong is like that, but extreme and spiritual," he regarded. "I think they'll get along well."

Their mother stretched her half grin to a beam, setting another match for the dragon's breath incense on the table. Her daughter, Viper, joined her and blew another stick. "Mother, I hope I can meet the poison clan leader and give our thanks for sending her sisters to aid my father."

"The Clan Leader is not here, I'm afraid," Lily answered. "She will arrive in three days."

"Fanshe. . ."

Great Viper chortled and cleared his scratchy throat.

"Father?" the cobra cuddled and lay halfway on the bed as Viper could see him comforting their father.

"Daughter. Do you have a company with you?" Lily queried.

"I do, Mother," she answered.

"Is your friend Tigress with you?"

Tigress. . . I wish you were here with me.

In hoping to have a big sister by her side, Viper would have the feline comforted her. The serpent did not doubt that Tigress's nephew was here in the village; despite her friend's absence, Viper noticed where Tigress could be as Viper found a news article on the counter next to the pack of incense sticks, the topic displaying Hajin Under Attack.

Author's Note

— My deepest and sincerest apologies for the long update. Things have been going off lately, and for the past two months endeavoring to shatter writer's block, Hurricane Beryl came last week on Monday and swept across the city where I live. I am alive and well, but only a few damages at my home did happen.

— Depending on this half a year in 2024, ever since writer's block continues to clutch my mind still (this is a complete chapter written two months ago), while the plot remains all on the map of the beginning, middle, and ending, I might be thinking about canceling the series but will have a difficult time letting it go if I cannot continue the story further and searching for beta readers. In case of wondering, I left the fandom for a big break, and will not be returning to the KFP fandom as far as I wish to focus on real life, and thinking of making original stories. Consider Kung Fu Panda as my largest inspiration than other DreamWorks films, including the three fantasy worlds of Narnia, Middle Earth (LotR), and the Known World (Game of Thrones) I adored. That fantasy project of mine, outside of FanFiction, will be the largest one to write someday.

— I am hoping you all are having fun this Summer break. And Dragon's Dreamworks! I miss you guys! I would like to have a few of you be my beta readers if y'all are interested.

7/19/2024