First, I want to say to everyone that I am truly sorry for not posting anything here in a while. If you are still being patient, I want you to know that I both love and appreciate you. However, I have a very sad announcement to make. I am currently undergoing an extremely difficult bout with emotional burnout with this series. I'm unfortunately no longer happy with the quality and direction of this series and have become too overwhelmed by the scope of the Five Worlds War/War of Discoveries universe. It simply grew out of my control.
When I started this series eight years ago, I was young and thought this would just be a fun fanservice series. What I never expected was it to grow as popular as it did. I was happy for a long time. But the truth is, it became too popular and too much story for me to control. Too many subplots, factions, side quests, etc.
Furthermore, it's just so hard for me to continue with the gnawing sense that I could do so much better with this concept. When I know there are objectively better narratives I could write for it, but I'm so deep in the story as is, I couldn't possibly add them. My greatest strength and my greatest curse have been that I want to give the absolute best I could possibly give you all, at all times, and I want you all to know that has not changed. I also want you to know that this is precisely why I want to step back and truly examine what I think makes for a good story, because I want to give you all my absolute best.
Please know that this is not because of anyone in particular, this is all on me, and my constant struggle with the very serious mental illness known as burnout. This is hard for me to do, but I have to do what is best for myself and my own mental and emotional health, so that I can one day rediscover the joy I once felt for this series. All I ask is that you all respect my decisions and desire to focus on my health and leave this story untouched, because I do plan to return. It's just very likely this story will be different. Perhaps it will be the same, but it will likely be a new concept.
This is not the end for me as a whole though. I still have plenty of stories and concepts I do believe in, and will continue working on these concepts. I will continue to experiment with new ideas to see how they land, and I will continue my mission to give people my absolute best. Also, I do at least intend to continue my other stories for the time being, such as Wild Hunt, because I thankfully still enjoy writing that at the very least. Furthermore, I intend to devote more of my focus to my professional work, because that is also my future. As for this series, while this is the end for now, know that one day the story will return. Whether as is or in a different form, that remains to be seen. But I ask you all respect the decision regardless. I just need to truly step back and realign myself, before I work myself into an early grave due to depression and burnout.
I love you all, thank you for eight years of support, and I hope I can continue telling stories to you all with the joy that I am unfortunately lacking at the moment. Thank you, and God bless.