AN: Hello guys, I bring to you all the new update! This chapter is kinda heavy... a really long one for me but it is the last chapter of the Victor arc. Honestly this chapter I could not bring a lot of character as it was mostly fights but I did what I could to develop a character when I could.
Anyway, time to respond to your reviews :D
Mr. AE Hachi-Roku: Huehuehue, you'll just have to read and find out his fate
TheAnime4Fan: Indeed, there is that possibility. But of course, I am adding in another rule. I hope it's not too much xD
Haseo55: More twisted? Hmm... I guess he is in a sense. I didn't plan to make him more twisted though. Yes, fractured Milla is irreplacable now, she's part of the party! woohoo!
Riku Uzumaki: If he manages to, then yes. That's part of the rules I explained. But don't worry, just read this chapter and more will be explained.
Ghost: ok, two reviews by you...
1st response: No, it doesn't work that way. Although I didn't go into details, it doesn't matter how 'fresh' the body is. So long as it's a Chromatus user, even if the user is so close to death, it will restore almost all the person's life source.
2nd response: Hmm... in terms of ending I already have one planned out so thanks for your thoughts on it. Whether or not I might use it though, I'll see if it fits into the story
U-know Yunho: Yes, the real fight starts! rawr
GroundZeroFirework: Indeed. The border between love and hate is sometimes so near XD
That Mysterious Reader: Oh right, thanks for pointing that out. I'll make up for it in this chapter :)
A post-game arc? Perhaps just an epilogue really...
Err... I don't plan to have life bottles to work like that in the game.
Time Heals All: Thanks. I hope it somehow fits in this story. Ah yes, Bislex and Rideaux will have their reasons for not adopting the 'kill others to restore' health which will be explained in this chapter :)
Yeah, Victor's character I feel could have been explored, especially in terms of his relationship with Elle, hence I added in the flashback :D
Alright guys that's it for reviews! Hope you guys will enjoy this chapter
CHAPTER 12: BATTLE OF MIRRORS
Victor's level 4 Chromatus form radiated an intense amount of energy. Milla's wound had completely healed by then so both she and Jude rejoined the fight, standing next to Ludger. Victor glared at the three of them.
Victor slumped a little and used the lance to hold himself up, "Well… I don't have much time in this form… but I'll replenish my life source through you Ludger! I'll make your death quick!"
Now much faster, Victor disappeared in a blink of an eye and appeared right before Ludger. Victor thrust his lance forward and gave a clean cut on Ludger's thigh. Ludger cried in agony and only then Jude and Milla realized Victor had appeared in front of them.
"So fast!" Jude said as he and Milla dived in to attack.
"I'll end it all here!" Victor spat in a dark voice.
"Not while we can help it!" Milla cried out, "Bolt Strike!"
Victor recognized the move but instead of dodging it, faced Milla directly. Milla thrust her blade enhanced with lightning towards Victor. Victor effortlessly parried the attack with his lance with no repercussion, much to the Lord of Spirit's shock. All four of the Great Spirits appeared to help, causing Victor to focus his attention on them. But even the Great Spirits had trouble battling him. Jude took the opportunity of a distracted Victor to sneak up behind him.
Jude charged his right fist and slammed it against Victor's back, "Demon Fist!"
Victor growled in pain but it barely wounded him. Victor spun around and used his left hand to grab Jude by the neck, strangling Jude. Jude could not believe the amount of strength Victor had. Jude could barely break free. Before Victor could impale his lance through Jude, Milla slashed Victor's arm, forcing Victor to release Jude. However while Victor reacted in pain, there were no visible wounds on Victor. This was the strength of the Chromatus form.
Ludger's movement was already impaired due to the wound he received on his thigh from Victor. Ludger watched Jude and Milla fend off Victor but just barely. At this rate, his two friends would perish. There was only one way for Ludger to remove the wound and fight Victor. Ludger took out the item with no hesitation. 'Fractured' Milla, who was still cradling Rowen in her hands, saw what Ludger was doing.
"Ludger, don't! Don't use it!" 'Fractured' Milla screamed but Ludger paid no heed to her words.
Ludger grasped the pocket watch in his hand and released its power. Ludger was surrounded in a bright light and his transformation began. Victor stepped away from his fight and turned to Ludger. Victor grinned beneath his Chromatus mask. Even Ludger knew he had to use the Chromatus's power to stand a chance against Victor. Ludger was in his level 3 of the Chromatus.
"Even though you know what will happen to your body if you use it, you decide to go through with it." Victor acknowledged, "We think alike after all."
"I'm nothing like you!" Ludger replied, "I fight to protect my friends. We're not the same!" Ludger then gestured to Jude and Milla, "Let's go!"
Jude and Milla nodded and the three moved in together. As the three neared, Ludger burst in and confronted Victor in a one-on-one fashion while Milla and Jude attacked from the flanks. Ludger swung his lance and Victor returned the favor, both dodging their own respective attacks. However, Victor managed to graze Ludger's left shoulder. It was clear that Victor's level 4 Chromatus was much quicker. Milla and Jude appeared on Victor's flanks.
Jude came in from the left, his fist charged up, "Cerberus Strike!"
Milla was attacking Victor's right, "Sigil Spear!"
Victor did not feel threatened and spun his lance. Then he slammed his lance on the ground and several purple energy blasts erupted around Victor, "Hexentia!" None of the energy blasts managed to hit Milla or Jude but the blast was powerful enough to send them off their feet. Jude and Milla landed on their backs, temporarily out of the fight. Victor's level 4 Chromatus form was simply too powerful.
Ludger released a battle cry and engaged Victor once more, delivering a series of quick attacks with his lance. Ludger's attacks were all over the place, a speed that no human eye could match. "Dual Waltz!"
Ludger's high speed attacks were all blocked by Victor. Not one managed to even scratch him. And Ludger knew why. Victor's Chromatus level 4 was fast so Ludger's current level 3 Chromatus was probably slow enough for Victor to intercept them. And also because the two were the same. They knew how each attacked. But this time, Victor had the advantage since his Chromatus was much more powerful.
"This is the best you can do?!" Victor taunted, "Let me show you how to properly use that technique!"
Victor returned the favor, using the exact form of attack Ludger had. However unlike Victor, Ludger only blocked the first swing. The rest, all of Victor's attacks connected. Victor's Lance slashed Ludger's Chromatus armor as if it was a training dummy. Although Ludger was not harmed thanks to the Chromatus armor, he could feel the pain. Victor charged up for the final blow when Jude and Milla both combined their attacks together, smashing Victor from behind. The impact caused Victor to miss his final attack, stumbling on his feet. Milla and Jude pulled the injured Ludger to a safe distance.
"This is all pathetic insects can do in the end." Victor mocked, "You can't defeat me. All you've all been doing is interrupt me one after another. I'm sick of it!"
"He's stronger than Ludger's Chromatus form." Milla said while panting, "If we're not careful… he really can kill us. Even with the Great Spirits, he's a tough match for me. It is no wonder… he managed to kill everyone in this dimension."
Jude clenched a fist, "Unforgivable… how can he be a fractured version of Ludger? He's nothing like him!"
A bright light shined between them and then, Ludger returned back to normal. It was no surprise. The Chromatus form could only last a certain amount of time due to the vast energy it required. However sustaining injuries during the Chromatus shortened the duration. Ludger had received too much blows by Victor to remain in his Chromatus form.
"Daddy! Please stop fighting!" Elle begged. The party forgot that Elle was watching.
Victor turned to his daughter and for a moment, he forgot about his surroundings. His daughter's plea for him to stop, it was almost natural for him to follow through. But it was only for a second. Victor was doing this so that he could meet his objectives, to regain his family. "No Elle, daddy has to do this." Victor said with resolve, "Please honey, and don't stay here. I don't want you to watch daddy do this."
"Then don't fight!"
Victor looked away, "…I'm sorry… but I can't do that." Victor was about to rush in and finish the remaining party members but he lost his strength. Victor had to use his lance to support himself. 'Damn it… time's running out. I can't maintain… in this form much longer!' Victor thought.
Ludger got back up but his legs were shaky. The use of the Chromatus form sapped up his energy and not to mention the injuries he sustained during the Chromatus form. Jude and Milla were suffering from minor wounds as well.
Elle did not know what to do. She was lost. One moment, everyone was laughing at dinner and then she fell asleep. When she woke up, she only found Rollo asleep next to the couch she was sleeping. She heard some noises outside and came out to investigate. And she found her father battling against her friends. She hated it. She wanted everyone to get along. 'Fractured' Milla, noticing that Elle was still close to the battle called out to her.
"Elle!" 'Fractured' Milla called out, "Come here. It's not safe there!"
Elle turned to 'fractured' Milla and nodded. She saw 'fractured' Milla holding Rowen in her arms and the old gentleman seemed unconscious. Elle started running towards 'fractured' Milla. Victor got mad with rage when he saw his daughter obeying the 'fake' Milla. His precious daughter was no one else's!
"ELLE IS MINE!" Victor roared, "HOW DARE YOU CALL HER?!"
Victor completely ignored Ludger, Jude and Milla and went for 'fractured' Milla. His speed was too quick in his level 4 Chromatus that no one could stop him. 'Fractured' Milla saw Victor appear before her with his lance raised above him.
"No one… calls Elle but me!" Victor spat. 'Fractured' Milla tried to draw her sword but at this rate, Victor would impale her first before she could defend herself.
"MILLA!" Ludger screamed in horror.
It was like slow motion for 'fractured' Milla. She saw the lance closing in on her chest. Then just as the tip of the lance reached her, Victor was suddenly blasted away by some force from behind 'fractured' Milla. Victor flipped in the air and landed safely on his feet, but the front of his chest was dirtied by the unknown attack.
"Are you alright?" A voice asked behind 'fractured' Milla.
'Fractured' Milla turned around and her eyes widened in surprise, "You… what are you doing here?"
Alvin grinned, "Well now… you know what they say? The hero has to come fashionably late." Leia nudged Alvin in the ribs. Elize was also present with Teepo. The whole party had assembled.
"Alvin, Leia and Elize! Thank goodness you guys came." Jude said with relief. Jude was worried that without them, they probably would lose to Victor.
Leia saw the bleeding Rowen and gasped, "Rowen! Oh no, what happened to you?" Leia immediately began her healing artes. Also because she was once a nurse, she quickly stopped the bleeding.
"Don't worry Rowen; we'll take care of you!" Elize said as she joined Leia.
"Oh my…" Rowen said weakly, "Am I already in heaven? I see… two beautiful angels guiding me now." Rowen joked but both Leia and Elize were focused in healing him. Rowen then stared at Elize's face. She had a determined look on her, just like how she normally would. "I see… that you've… got back your spirit."
Elize merely nodded as she focused on healing Rowen.
Meanwhile, Alvin joined Ludger as the assault force to face Victor. Jude gave a brief summary of the events to Alvin. Jude told him who Victor was, his relation with Elle and his fighting abilities. Victor had not made an offensive move since Alvin interrupted the fight. 'Fractured' Milla also joined the group now that Rowen was in safe hands.
"He might be at his limit." Ludger said, "Using the Chromatus at level 3 normally takes a toll on the body. But… if that's the level 4, then Victor shouldn't last long as well."
'Fractured' Milla drew her sword, "We'll attack together then."
Victor looked at all five of them and then laughed, "With the exception of Milla, I have killed all of you before. And Ludger is weaker than me. I'll show you how futile your efforts are."
"We won't know until we try!" Alvin barked back and ran towards Victor. The others followed behind Alvin.
Victor welcomed them all, moving into a defensive stance. Alvin confronted Victor directly, attacking with his sword and sending a bullet in Victor's way. Victor easily dodged them and found Jude and Ludger attacking together.
"Demon Fist!"
"Time Disintegration!"
Jude threw a charged fist towards Victor and Victor side-stepped the attack. Ludger released a furious and quick number of attacks with his dual blades before finishing it up with a kick but Victor parried all of the attacks with his lance. In return, Victor spun around and swung his lance, creating a powerful shockwave and throwing both Ludger and Jude several meters away. Alvin, Milla and 'fractured' Milla then strike at the same time with both Millas coming from behind Victor. Victor engaged Alvin first, blocking Alvin's blade with his lance. When Alvin shot twice, all Victor did was tilt his head to the side, although one of the bullets managed to graze Victor's Chromatus mask. In anger, Victor lunged in and grabbed hold of Alvin's neck with his left hand, choking the life out of the former mercenary.
"Let him go!" 'Fractured' Milla cried and slashed Victor's exposed back.
Victor ignored the pain and threw Alvin across the ground like a rag doll. Victor turned around to face the two Millas.
"What can the two of you do?" Victor mocked, "One is nothing but a 'fake' with any Great Spirits to assist her and you… I have defeated the Lord of Spirits of this dimension countless times before!"
"Your arrogance leaves a bad taste." Milla replied, "Let me show you how different we are."
Both Millas ran towards Victor in a zigzag fashion. Victor watched the two closely. Milla arrived first, smashing her blade against Victor's lance. Victor instantly disappeared and appeared on Milla's side but 'fractured' Milla covered her, releasing quick thrusts with her sword. Victor growled in annoyance and moved his lance in an arc before smashing it where 'fractured' Milla stood. Milla pulled 'fractured' Milla away before the lance could reach her and backed away. Although Victor suffered no major wounds, the two Millas at least managed to aggravate the man. And most importantly, buy time.
"Damn you!" Victor cursed, "Damn you all! I… I…"
Then the moment came. The moment that Ludger had predicted when Victor went into his level 4 Chromatus form. Victor began a fit of coughing and dropped to his knees, having to use his lance to support himself. Victor was at his limit. Even when Ludger used the Chromatus, he could not keep it longer for four minutes. Victor had been using it for under two minutes and could no longer maintain that form. Victor released the Chromatus power and dropped on all fours, coughing blood on the ground. Still screaming in pain and anguish, Victor finally opened the mask that was covering his face. The sight shocked the group.
As Victor screamed in pain, everyone could see it. The right side of his face was covered with purple-like seals and the seal seemed to be consuming more, moving towards the left side of the face. Once it stopped moving, it had covered most of Victor's upper face, only leaving the nose and below unaffected. Victor panted loudly but was no longer in pain.
Victor glared at all of them, "…What…? You've never… seen this?" When he got no answer, Victor chuckled, "Typical… it's typical of… Bisley to leave… everyone in the dark."
"What do you mean?" Ludger questioned. At this point, everyone had lowered their guard. Victor was at his limit after all.
"Tell me Ludger… do you even know… how a fractured dimension… is created?" Victor asked. Ludger said nothing and Victor answered, "To pass Origin's Trial… the only way to do that… is to get to the Land of Canaan… and to do that, only a Kresnik with the… ability to use the… Chromatus can do so." Victor grunted in pain but he continued on, "However… as I told you before… the Chromatus ability has a drawback. The more one uses its power, the more you destroy your own body… but that's… not the only price you're paying."
"There's more?!" Jude said in disbelief.
Victor laughed at Jude's reaction, "The Kresnik line is cursed with the burden… of completing Origin's Trial. It's true that you will destroy your body the more you use the Chromatus, there is another effect that will break out later on…" Victor then pointed to the purple-like seals on his face, "…which is this. The seal that signifies a user has become a catalyst."
Ludger stared at the seal on Victor's face, "A… catalyst?"
"That's right… while it is much more obvious you are… destroying your body from the Chromatus, a user will become… a catalyst later on if a user continues using the Chromatus… and unlike the body, you cannot go back. Even if I kill you, a Chromatus user, I will still remain a catalyst. All killing you will do… is curing me of this 'illness' of overusing the Chromatus! But I cannot undo the fact that… I am already a catalyst."
"So what's that mean?!"
"Fractured dimensions… are created through the selfish use of Chromatus users who are already a catalyst." Victor explained with an evil grin, "Basically… once a Kresnik is a catalyst, every time he transforms into the Chromatus form, he's not only destroying his body… he creates… a fractured dimension!"
"What?!" The whole party cried in shock.
Ludger took a step forward, "You mean… all these fractured dimensions are created… from Chromatus users that are catalysts?!"
"That's right! And it's not just limited… to Chromatus users in the prime dimension. There are thousands of fractured dimensions… that have Chromatus users who are catalysts. That includes… me!"
Ludger could not say anything. He was stunned. Everyone else was quiet as well. They understood the gravity of the matter. With each fractured dimension created, it would slowly increase the miasma output that could slowly overflow.
"And each time a Chromatus user that is a catalyst uses the Chromatus, the seal consumes us more… it will continue to consume us until…we lose ourselves!" Victor then started laughing, "Only… death can… stop the user from creating anymore fractured dimensions. And upon death… one last fractured dimension will be created… and become the divergence catalyst of that dimension. Basically on my death, the new fractured dimension… will have a 'Ludger' that is a divergence catalyst."
"This is madness!" Jude exclaimed, "All of this… just to pass Origin's Trial?!"
"Origin's Trial… is to test humanity's true character after all." Victor remarked, "A cruel fate for the Kresnik line, isn't it?" Victor then laughed as he got back to his feet, although his legs were shaking as he did so, "But it's okay… I will… be the one to end Origin's Trial… and get my wish. I will be reborn! Ludger! Your life is mine! The prime dimension is mine!"
Suddenly Victor grabbed his pocket watch and quickly transformed to his level 4 Chromatus form. Before the party could react, Ludger ran ahead and transformed into his level 3 Chromatus. In the end, Ludger decided he needed to be the one to end all of this. He needed to end Victor, his own mirror image. Jude and the rest of the party called out to Ludger but Ludger refused to listen. This was his battle.
"LUDGER!"
"VICTOR!"
Elle watched her father moving towards Ludger in a final confrontation. "Daddy!" She screamed.
Victor heard his daughter calling for him and that small lapse of concentration was his downfall. Ludger pierced his lance directly through the center of Victor's chest. Then everything stopped. Everyone watching stared in silence. On the tip of Ludger's lance was both the purple orb, the divergence catalyst. And the final Waymarker. It was finally done. Victor and Ludger were still in Chromatus form. Neither of them moved a muscle. Victor could feel the foreign object in his body and yet at the same time, he could not. He was numb. He wondered if this was what it meant to die. To feel nothing.
Elle stared at the scene before her, her knees trembling and her vision blurring due to tears clogging up her eyes. She wanted to scream. She had just been united with her father and now, the person she admired and had taken care of her, had ended her father's life. It was a nightmare for Elle.
Victor finally released his Chromatus form and with a smile, fell on his back. Victor gestured for Ludger to listen and Ludger obliged, getting down on one knee.
"…I guess… I can entrust… Elle… to you." Victor said weakly. As he said this, the purple-like seal on his face was beginning to recede. It meant that Victor's life was slipping away. Victor grasped Ludger's arm as if he was holding onto dear life, "Please… take care… of Elle… open the path to Canaan… and… complete Origin's Trial…"
"Victor…"
"You… finished me… with the Chromatus… that's good… because you can only… replenish your life source… by killing another user… while in the Chromatus form… at least you… did that without… me telling you to."
Ludger looked away, "I… I'm sorry that… it had to end this way."
Victor stared at Ludger for a few seconds before he chuckled, "I… guess… we are the same in the end… but I haven't thought like that… in a long time. Not since… I became like this. So in return, let me… tell you something useful."
And Victor told Ludger one final bit of information. When Ludger heard it, he found the information pointless. But he decided to honor Victor by acknowledging that he will keep it in mind. For now, it was over. Ludger had the final Waymarker now.
"Daddy!" Elle screamed as she ran towards her father. The party circled around Victor. Rowen was conscious now and needed Alvin's support to remain standing. Elize and Leia's healing had helped tremendously.
"Elle…?" Victor whispered, turning in the direction of his daughter.
Elle grabbed her father's hands, tears falling freely from her eyes, "Daddy, you're alright, right? You're not hurt? Daddy?"
Victor closed his eyes with a smile, "Listen… to me Elle… Daddy… needs to go… and be with mommy."
"No!" Elle cried, "You're coming with us! I finally found you after not seeing in a while! You promised we'd go to the Land of Canaan! We can make a wish! Please daddy!"
"Elle… from now on… you need… to listen to Ludger… he… he'll be your father… in daddy's place… he'll take care of you… I know it. Just remember Elle… daddy… daddy loves you… daddy will… always watch… over you… be a… good… girl…" Victor then raised his hand and weakly caressed Elle's cheek. And with his last ounce of strength, he wiped a tear away that rolled down her cheeks. And then, his hand returned to the ground. And with a final breath, Victor stopped moving.
"NO! DADDY! DON'T DO THIS! DADDY! PLEASE! DADDY? WAKE UP! DADDY!"
Once Victor was gone, a bright light shined and then the light moved into Ludger. This was to signify that Ludger had absorbed the life source of Victor's Chromatus and healing his 'illness' he obtained from using the Chromatus powers.
Elle continued crying out for her father. No one in the party said anything. Even 'fractured' Milla could not do anything to console her. But Victor was gone. Elle's cries could no longer be heard by Victor. With each cry, Ludger's heart ached. He had hurt Elle. And while it felt like hours for Ludger, it was only seconds before the divergence catalyst finally broke. And Elle's original world, the world she had lived with so much precious memories of her father, shattered.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Everyone was back in the prime dimension. And instantly, the party could see the difference. Lake Epsilla was no longer the beautiful landscape. It was dry. Desolate. The great villa that Victor lived in was not present as well. And the area around Lake Epsilla was dead. No greenery at all.
Ludger had the final Waymarker in his hands and due to the use of his Chromatus, his legs lost strength. Before he could fall, Jude quickly supported Ludger. It was a small token of trust between the two. Or perhaps Jude understood the burden of the use of the Chromatus.
Ludger then focused his gaze on another important part of his life, "Elle…?"
Elle was where she last was. Hunched alone now with Victor no longer beside her. Only Rollo the cat sat next to her. She stared into the empty ground, where her father spoke to her one last time. She understood the meaning of fractured dimensions. She understood what it meant to destroy a divergence catalyst. Even though she is only eight years old, she understood all of this. But to kill her father, the man who raised her, was too much.
Ludger approached Elle slowly, "Elle…? Come on… it's getting dark here. We should get to Drellin at least."
It was faint, but Ludger heard Elle say, "…No…"
"…Elle…?"
Elle turned to Ludger and her eyes were still filled with tears. And she looked at Ludger as if he was a monster, "I said no!"
"Elle, what's wrong?"
"How could you…?" Elle snapped, "Why did you have to kill daddy?!"
Jude approached Elle, "Elle, you have to understand…"
Elle however continued on, "I hate you Ludger! I hate you! I don't want to be with you anymore!"
And then Elle ran off and Rollo followed instantly. Rowen, Elize and Leia gave chase to make sure she did not stray too far. However Ludger remained rooted in place.
"Ludger, you know Elle didn't mean any of it." 'Fractured' Milla said softly, "She's… just… well, she needs some time to calm down."
Ludger nodded, "…I know…"
"In any case, we should head to Drellin and get a room. We have a lot to sort out now that we got the final waymarker." Milla suggested.
Jude and Milla led the way and Ludger followed. However his mind was elsewhere. He knew Elle was being emotional but she was not wrong. He killed the person that Elle always talked about. If someone killed Julius, Ludger would be filled with rage. But Ludger took full responsibility. It was his duty to obtain the final Waymarker. But Elle's words, although so little was said, it hurt. It was much more painful when Ludger had to kill a 'fractured' Jude in the last mission. He saw Elle almost like a little sister and her words… were just too much. The innocent Elle he knew, who also liked him, now hated him. Despised him.
'Fractured' Milla took a quick glance at Ludger with worry. Not just because of what Elle said to him. But because of his situation. Ludger was killing himself. The Chromatus was a double-edged weapon. And he was speeding the process of killing himself because he used the power to keep her in the prime dimension.
'I'll need to speak with Ludger… at Drellin.' 'Fractured' Milla thought. 'Not just about what happened… but why he should stop… using his Chromatus powers on me.'
CHAPTER END
AN: Alright guys, this wraps up the Victor arc. With the changes I've made, I'm gonna list out the changes here so that you guys can remember. I've also given the changes/rules in my profile page in case you guys wish to refer back to the changes without the hassle of going to this chapter again.
1. The Chromatus ability is a double-edged weapon. The more you use it, the more you hurt your body and can kill yourself.
2. However you can restore your body/health by killing another Chromatus user. From there, the dead Chromatus's user life source will transfer to the victor
3. To 'heal' oneself, the user must kill the other using while under Chromatus form.
4. However Time De-factorization still occurs the more one use the Chromatus form. So even if a user heals his body by killing another Chromatus user, he will still slowly become a Catalyst. The process of killing oneself from overuse of the Chromatus is just much quicker over becoming a catalyst
5. Once you become a catalyst, you cannot undo it.
6. As a catalyst, every time one uses the Chromatus ability, he will create a fractured dimension. Only in death will this process stop.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. If you have any thing you find confusing on the changes, let me know