Every morning in Wolumonde, fog encompasses the town. White mist rises as the sun vaporizes the dew. Tales have long been woven by the Winterwisps and Leithaniens alike of how spirits and other supernatural beings revolve their life around the fog. Winterwisps will tell of strange orbs of light that lure unsuspecting victims to never be seen again. Leithanien tales tell of vengeful spirits, often criminals and aboriginals slain under the orders of the Witch King.
Due to these tales, few traveled to the outskirts of town, much less into the forest, during the hours of dawn.
From the white mist, a figure with long horns materializes through the fog. Shortly after, another with long upright ears. One wears a tattered cloak, carrying a sheathed blade balanced on her elbow and shoulder. In her hands lies an ornate ebony wooden box gilded with black metal. Etched into the wood and metal are several, delicately carved runes and symbols. On the top sat an indentation with a spike coming out the middle.
Shining stopped, suddenly, before turning to where the fog was thicker. Barely, she could make out the shores of a small lake, its early morning scents tickling her nose while fresh moisture condensed on her clothes and hair.
"This is the place," she declared, voice monotone as ever before turning back down the trail. Footsteps sounded from nearby as Margaret slowly came to a halt behind her. Shining pulled out an old watch, chained to a pocket under her cloak. Opening it revealed several dials, most illegible to the vast majority of people, but all styled as clocks, ticking at different rates. "We're on time."
Margaret panned her gaze across their surroundings, squinting into the fog while her ears twitched and moved at every sound the forest around them made. After confirming they were alone, she asked, "Where are they?"
Eerie quiet ruled the mist for a few minutes before the sound of footsteps began and then slowly grew louder. Two more figures began emerging from the fog in front of them. One figure contained a halo and wings, but also horns and a tail. The second, two large feathers on either side of the head. The initial had two staves crossed in an X formation on their back while the other held a Lateran arts canon in their arms. As their faces came into view, a lax, but also unnatural smile showed on the blue-haired sankta, and on the red-haired liberi sat a stern, uneasy glare to Shining in particular.
"You're late," Margaret chastised before placing herself in front of Shining. Fiammetta did the same for Mostima who rolled her eyes mockingly at the display.
"I prefer to call it, fashionably late," Mostima joked while placing her hand on her hip and gazing with one eye open. "What's wrong, Radiant Knight? Scared of a couple Laterans after spending so much time with the Sarkaz?"
"Some caution is required, especially with your Notarial Hall bodyguard," Margaret said as she squinted her glare at Fiammetta. In response, Fiammetta's finger twitched over the trigger. Margaret slowly raised her shield and began reaching for her weapon.
"Margaret…" Shining softly pleaded as she gazed at her companion.
"If she lowers her weapon, I will lower my guard," Margaret flatley declared while giving a cursory glance to Mostima. The blue-haired sankta's smile was a little wider as she silently observed the situation. Without losing the smile, she shook her head and turned to her partner.
"Hey Fia, do as she says before I have to stop time for someone again. Can't say it won't be you this time."
The fiery liberi took her finger off the trigger before lowering the cannon, and Margaret let go of her weapon, but her hand hovered nearby. Fiammetta turned her gaze to Shining and then to the sinister box in her hand.
"What kind of witchcraft is on that box?"
"It's a seal," Shining replied.
"Is there a curse?"
"Only if it is forced open."
Fiammetta narrowed her eyes at the object, her finger itching to return to the trigger.
"Is that going to be a problem?" Margaret asked with a tight voice. Once Fiammetta's gaze turned back to her, the knight continued, "Even the most trustworthy messengers will see countermeasures to tampering."
"Most don't use devilish witchcraft," Fiammetta spat in response.
Margaret's gaze hardened and her hand twitched as it hovered above her weapon. Fiammetta's grip on her own weapon became stronger. As the two glared at each other, Mostima spoke up.
"What's this spike? Is it to collect blood?" Mostima asked as she poked the tip of the spike gently.
Fiammetta's gaze snapped back to Mostima and almost immediately she began to protest, "Mostima! Don't-"
"Relax~," Mostima cooed lazily as she leaned forward to gaze at the object in Shining's hand. "We've seen much weirder. Besides, as long as we don't try to screw with the seal, the curse stays dormant, right?"
"...Yes, to both questions," Shining confirmed, but as she did her gaze landed on Fiammetta. The liberi tensed at this, and it didn't help that Shining's expression didn't change from the same expressionless mask she always wore.
"We Nuncios may act on behalf of His Holiness, but when we do we are to act with neutrality," Mostima said before wrapping her hands around the box. Shining did nothing as Mostima took the box and inspected it. "Besides, it must be pretty important for the Black Fiend herself to ask for help from a sankta, fallen or not."
Fiammetta finally eased her grip some, but the intensity of her expression did not.
"I'm sure even you remember some of the old man's stories from his time in Kazdel," Mostima commented offhandedly as she inspected the box.
"His Holiness visited Kazdel?" Margaret asked while lowering her shield and widening her eyes.
"Yup," Mostima confirmed while turning the box to inspect its craftsmanship further. "Not while he was Pope of Laterano though." She paused, then looked up and placed a finger to her chin before adding, "If memory serves correct, he actually said it was conversations with a certain sarkaz named Theresa that helped inspire the creation of Nuncios when he did finally become Pope."
Shining held her sword tighter, shifting it in her arms. Her brows relaxed and her eyes closed as she tried to commit the idea to mind.
"If they were on such good terms, why didn't he aid her?"
Mostima gave an overly dramatic sigh. She tucked the box under her left arm and looked to Margaret before bluntly stating, "No wonder you got run out of Kazimierz." The blue Sankta peaked open a single eye to see Margaret glaring at her dangerously, daring her to continue. Mostima smiled and continued, "Not even the almighty ruler can go against the will of the nation. I mean, look what happened to the King of Victoria or the Witch King. I've never been to Kazdel, but from what I've heard it looks a lot like what happened to Theresa. A tale as old as time really."
Mostima paused to look at the Radiant Knight's face. Though it was stern as ever, she could tell there was some doubt. Especially after the former champion turned her gaze away. For some reason, Mostima's smirk seemed to only grow larger at the sight.
"Enough," Shining cut in. Her brows knitted lightly and the edges of her mouth curled down ever so slightly. Mostima met her gaze, but the smirk never left her face.
"Well, now that I've managed to piss both of you off, it's probably a good time to tell me where I'm taking this," Mostima suggested while patting the box.
Shining closed her eyes and took a deep breath inwards through her nose then out the same way before answering, "Deliver the package to Medical Director Kal'tsit of Rhodes Island."
When the Black Fiend opened her eyes, Mostima was no longer there, gone and vanished like she was swept up by the wind.
Fiammetta growled once she noticed before turning around and running back into the mist.
"Law fucking dammit Mostima!"
Both Followers stood, gazing at the fog Fiammetta had run off into. Shining was the first to turn around and head back, but her companion stayed behind a little longer, looking into the ground as she thought about all that the strange sankta had just said. She didn't linger long though, and turned around quickly enough to catch up to Shining.
Routine was a funny thing, and whenever one settled into it, even small disturbances tended to get noticed.
The first was the fact that Reed hadn't delivered lunch. Typically she was very punctual and precise in her planning, so Evan felt a growing unease. Not because he was hungry, but because he was starting to wonder where his impromptu secretary had gone.
Working with Reed wasn't particularly of note, and he liked that. She was very focused on her task, and was always on point. Most of their conversation was about work so far, and it was a refreshing change compared to his regular work environment.
Yet, despite their seemingly aloof relationship, as seconds ticked by into minutes, Evan only found his worry compounding. She was his responsibility after all. He didn't expect her to do anything reckless, but he began worrying nonetheless. That was when a sudden knock at the door of his room snapped Evan's attention. With a surprising sense of urgency, he flung the door open.
What greeted him, however, was not at all what he was expecting. Standing before him was a certain red-headed vouivre with a Scottish accent. What drew his attention beyond her presence was an ordinary wicker basket with an ordinary red and white checkered picnic blanket flowing out the side. Seemingly noticing his gaze, her smile brightened and she moved the arm tucked under the handle forward.
"Wannae go on a picnic? Just the two o' us?" she asked with the last part given with a lighter bubblier pitch than the last.
It was at that critical moment that Evan began to feel his poor virgin brain overload then spontaneously short circuit.
"Uhhhhh…" Evan voiced with his mouth slightly agape as his mind raced. "What the hell is happening?"
Noticing his confused state, Bagpipe softened her smile before saying, "I wanted ta thank ye f'er helpin' me with Reed. We...had a wee talk the other night, and I think it helped both o' us. So, I just wanted ta treat ya a little."
Puzzle pieces fell into place and Evan felt his mind calm with the information received. Despite the wave of calm, he still felt compelled to ask, since part of him was still concerned with Reed.
"How did she take it?"
Giving a little more light to her smile, Bagpipe chimed, "It went well. I asked her f'er a bit o' help preparin' this basket too."
"When you put it like that, it's hard to refuse…" Evan chuckled in his mind before finally giving his answer. "You know what, since it's around lunch time, sure. Did you have somewhere in mind?"
Returning to her regular smile, Bagpipe replied, "Aye, follow me."
As the two walked through the inn and out into the town, Evan took a moment to think about the implications of what Bagpipe had told him. He knew he took a bit of a gamble telling Bagpipe what Reed had said, but he just didn't want to sit idle with it. Bagpipe didn't seem to him a bad person, and it certainly helped that Grani seemed to know her and he trusted Grani as a friend.
Besides, it had worked out in the end. At least, this time.
Returning to the present moment, Evan began taking note of Bagpipe as they strolled through the streets. One thing he had noticed was that many of the Rhodes Island operators that had joined with the rest of the humanitarian aid waved happily to them. As they did so, Bagpipe enthusiastically waved back to all she saw. A few locals also joined in too. As they got farther from the city, however, a quiet lull set in. Dark clouds loomed overhead, but the sun had been peeking through. The temperature was beginning to cool down as the end of summer approached, and he conjured thoughts of winter back home.
In his youth, snow would commonly form a fluffy blanket, allowing children in a school yard to play small games where they simulated society, trading ice as though they were gems. Sometimes they found an ice chunk they would personify, and huddle around before a mean, but ultimately a misguided kid destroyed their small idol and they mourned its loss. The teachers never cared, they were too busy in their own world to understand why a bunch of kids, snotty and still sobbing, explained how Jane from two grades up destroyed their 'bluey' which was just a piece of ice. Forget, carry on the day, and then go home and play video games while drinking hot cocoa. Parents were often too busy to make snowmen, but it was still a peaceful set of memories nonetheless.
Over the years, however, a change happened outside. More intense snowstorms dotted an otherwise dead landscape which couldn't maintain snow for barely a week. Being a more scientifically inclined kid, and with the power of google and wikipedia, Evan learned that an excess amount of things called 'greenhouse gases' were flooding the atmosphere. Surely, people would do something about it, right?
"Watchya' thinkin' aboot'?," Bagpipe asked, grabbing his attention back to reality.
For a moment Evan almost forgot she had two massive horns peeking out of her face. Grani trusted her, that was enough.
"Oh, just what winter was like back home."
"Ah, back in Columbia, eh?" she asked so innocently.
"I don't want to lie to her for some reason," he thought before another reality was brought before him again. He felt his heart sink a little as he started to think harder about his words.
"How about this: how'd ya get to Rhodes Island? I've told ye my story, so it's only fair to share y'ers," the redhead vouivre said while looking him dead in the eye with an expectant smile.
"Well, let's just say a traffic incident in Lungmen with an off duty LGD officer had me being interrogated. Not too long after, I got an offer to go to Rhodes Islands due to things I still don't understand."
"A spur o' the moment decision I take it?" Bagpipe asked, with a smaller smile. Her expression shifted too, but Evan ignored that as he focused on their conversation which he realized was taking them out of the city.
"Yeah something like that…"
"A'right…may I…ask who interrogated you?"
"Superintendent Ch'en…Hui'chi I think it was?" Evan asked, a little unsure. He only realized his mistake once Bagpipe's eyes lit up and her smile carried an excited curl and her eyes shone brightly.
"Wait, you've met Chenchen?!"
"Chenchen? Oh, I am so using that against her next time." That was unfortunately his first thought, but that soon gave way when he noticed Bagpipe was starting to pout. He took a deep breath in and composed himself. "Yes, I know Ch'en."
Saying it almost with a laugh, he felt a tingle go down his spine as Bagpipe raised her eyebrows and gave a smirk before quipping, "Were ya thinkin' somethin' rude there mister?"
"Of fucking course!" Evan felt himself shout in his head, remembering the rumor factory that had spawned already.
All that melted away, when he was shocked out of his own mind by a hearty laugh from the girl he was walking with, who he had moments ago found out knew Ch'en. The laughing continued as he walked forward a little, realizing Bagpipe was getting an absolute kick out of his reaction.
For a moment, the world seemed to melt away slightly, and he took in his surroundings. He hadn't noticed the hike, but Bagpipe had led him to a secret spot by a cliff overlooking the lake and the mountains.
"Wow…" Evan thought to himself, looking out over the scene. Instinctively, he took out his phone and began arranging a picture. That's when Bagpipe slid into frame and held up a V sign. Without thinking, Evan let slip a stupid mistake, "V for Victory?"
Bagpipe blinked for a moment, her smile still present, but her eyes clearly were turning cogs. That's when she blinked then smiled with her eyes closed and mouth in a wide, genuine smile, waiting for him to take the picture.
A snap simulated by the audio of the phone and she broke formation to run over.
"Let me see!" she shouted repeatedly while running over.
A feeling strangling his heart sunk his mind back to harsh reality for but a moment. Yet, Bagpipe ran over, an eager smile plastered on his face.
Then a new thought occurred.
"Maybe it's not such a bad thing."
Evan showed her the photo. Using a few techniques, he had made the Vouivre appear to the left of the center of the frame. Her eyes seemed to sparkle as she admired the beauty. Afterwards, a whistle of admiration sounded and Bagpipe praised his work with, "You're quite good at this."
"Just something I learned in Middleschool," Evan said. Memories of the past flooded his mind briefly.
"I aught'a show ye some photos of Chenchen and I from our time at the Royal Guard Academy."
"Wait, Ch'en went to the Royal Guard Academy in Victoria?"
"Aye, we were bunkies!"
A few moments passed before Evan comprehend what that meant. Suddenly, he tried to imagine those two, of all the people he knew, sharing a bunk.
"I was on top," Bagpipe said before adding, " Used to catch a glimpse o' her readin' while hangin' my body like a cavernous fowlbeast."
The image of Bagpipe's hair spilling over to Ch'en's view was imagined. All the while Bagpipe was preparing the picnic by setting out the blanket.
"Back in School, Chenchen always had a pissed off look on her face. Made no end o' enemies at first, but tha's just the kind of girl she is. Nae time at all, she had people seein' her wi fresh eyes."
Bagpipe's smile remained, but her eyes fell as she focused on the memories of her own past.
" But…y'know, bandagin' up her wounds, cookin' for her, teamin' up wi' her squad and all that…I had tae look after her a fair bit," Bagpipe's expression shifted back to the present, a somber look on her face. "And that was no easy thing."
"I guess people need work wherever we go…" Evan thought to himself. If he had stayed in Lungmen, what would life have been like? How would he have met Bagpipe then? What would his relationship be with Ch'en and Swire beyond penpals?
"I heard Rhodes Island is parkin' in Lungmen f'er the Winter. I was thinkin' about payin' Chenchen a visit."
"Well I know where Ch'en lives, so we could surprise her then."
"Oooh, I like tha' idea," Bagpipe sang a little before sitting down on the blanket and patting the free space to her right. Evan took the cue and sat down without a second thought.
For a while, nothing more was said. At that moment, Evan took a chance to let himself go. The smell of a late summer breeze wafted from the mountains and for just a brief moment, he finally had the opportunity to truly appreciate the beauty of the mountains before him.
At least, until a sandwich slice entered his peripheral view and he saw Bagpipe give a grin with a little cheek and close her eyes while widening her grin.
He didn't know why, but at that moment the world seemed just a little brighter as he stared at the redheaded vouivre as she smiled with her bright orange hair dancing in the wind.
After returning from the mountains, Bagpipe left for the kitchen to clean up her basket, and Evan began to return to his room.
As he was about to open the door though, a voice addressed him.
"Have fun on your date with Bagpipe?"
Evan froze, while he had briefly registered who the voice belonged to, it paled in comparison to the information it carried. Time seemed to stop as he rethought everything that had just happened.
"A date?! Wait, wait…no…yes…no…maybe…ah shit…"
"Oh, geez, tell me I didn't break you," the voice whined in vain.
"Well, yeah, you did…" Evan started slowly as his mind continued to race a mile a minute yet was still jammed. "I am very confused, beyond confused. When did it become a date? The word 'date' was never said, it was never implied."
"'Wannae go on a picnic? Just the o' us?'" the voice mockingly reiterated with even more sweetness, and a poor attempt at a Scottish accent. "Come on, are you really that dense?"
Evan swung his head to the owner of the voice and locked eyes with the fluffy tailed lupo. For a moment they just stared at each other. Initially, Provence wore a smirk as she leaned her right shoulder on the wall. As seconds ticked by, however, he didn't lessen the intensity of his stare. Only after Provence's smirk faltered did he answer.
"Yes, I am."
The lupo's lips parted slightly in shock at the declaration. Her keen eyes didn't miss the transition of his own face to his own slightly cheeky grin. For a few long moments, Provence's gears turned with her head. Once he saw it click, he opened the door and entered his room just in time to hear the lupo chuckle before giving way to giggles which grew into roaring laughs.
Sure, he was dense, but that didn't mean he was an idiot.
With the laughter of a lupo echoing through his door, Evan took a deep breath and allowed himself to slide down the door. Afterwards he clutched himself into a fetal position.
He thought through Bagpipe's actions and started to think hard.
"Alright, calm down. You've mistaken human kindness for romantic affection before. It's natural. Maybe Bagpipe didn't really mean that much by it. Just relax and don't jump to conclusions. Just breath…"
Evan took a deep breath and shoved the feeling down. Like a tarp going over a flame, he pressed it down, deeper into his mind.
Yet just as always, an ember remained. An ember that may never cool completely.
A seed had been planted in his mind, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to water it.
The sound of papers suddenly thumped against his desk, and he remembered that Reed had assigned herself to his secretarial roles, and his office was his room so he didn't mind. Plus, she wasn't alone this time.
In the chair, a little nine-tailed Vulpo was looking at his work as well.
"Welcome back, Mister Carvey. How was your date with Bagpipe?"
Evan took a moment before he remembered and smiled. "The food you helped prepare was delicious. Thanks."
"You're very welcome." Reed's lips curled ever so slightly upward. With the afternoon light filtering in by the window, it seemed to cast a light on these two. Neither knew his origins yet, but that didn't seem to matter to them.
Suzuran took a moment to look away from her work and her frustrated pout gave way to a bright smile. Without hesitation she jumped down and began running up. Well, until her smile faltered and she came to a halt. Evan and Reed watched with curiosity before the adorable being recomposed herself, smiled and bowed.
"Welcome back, Evan-san!"
Reed covered her mouth, but not even she dared look away. After that Evan opened up his arms and the light beamed again before throwing herself in his arms.
That's when a familiar, yet sinister presence sent chills down his spine.
"Ah, Skadi-san!"
Skadi showed no emotion whatsoever, but he could still feel her gaze somehow.
"Hello," Skadi deadpanned before returning her gaze to the room. Lissa ran out of Evan's arms and the Abyssal Hunter bent down and held out her arms. Sure, Skadi was no stranger, but he could see Reed looking a little worried before her porcelain and mask returned to her face to mask her emotions.
"May I inquire about the nature of your visit, Miss Skadi?"
Skadi's gaze returned to Evan, and so did that of whatever hung around her. An invisible presence that seemed to inspire dread about his very nature. All he knew was that it wasn't Skadi.
"It's ok Reed, Skadi's a friend," he said before smiling. "But first, can I ask why both of you are here?" His fingers pointed between Skadi and Suzuran.
"Well…" Skadi said before looking behind her, as though confirming something. Evan didn't see anyone, so he just assumed she was expecting Grani.
"I-I haven't seen Evan-san in a while…so…I came to say hi!" Lissa had toned up the brightness to eleven somehow, and it seemed to be affecting Skadi. Well, it had to because she had received the sugar beam at point blank.
For the first time, Evan saw a small smile appear on the enigmatic hunter's face. Her eyes seemed to soften at the sight of the child, her light overpowering the sinister presence, which seemed to slink back into whatever abyss it came from.
The smile was short-lived, however, and Skadi put Lissa down before leaning to her level.
"Little one, go find Mudrock and the others of your field squad. The Schultz wants to see you all."
Lissa looked back to Evan. Skadi shot him a glance from her peripheral vision, but her stance and face remained the same. Evan looked at Suzuran and nodded.
"Ganbarimasu!" Suzuran said to Skadi while pumping both her arms with a determined look on her face. The Abyssal Hunter nodded with another small smile and then stood up. Before Lissa walked out of sight from the door though, she looked back briefly before continuing to run to find the others.
"Again, Miss Skadi," Reed began up again. "May I inquire the reason for your visit?"
"The Schultz wants to see you."
Reed seemed to glare a little at Skadi who only cocked her head in curiosity.
"You don't know?"
Reed sighed before crossing her arms and closed her eyes. "We, in fact, do not."
"Then we'll find out," Skadi deadpanned. She looked to Evan, and eyed him up and down for a bit. A few squinted looks as gears turned slowly in her head before she finally admitted out of the blue, "Congratulations on the date."
"God damn it…"
Kal'tsit sat at her desk, going over and examining everything before her. Behind her was a corkboard of various pieces of evidence. Photos and reports of the situation, and all the red lines wrapped around the pins led to Chernobog, except one.
Behind Kal'tsit, a black mist seeped out from the ventilation and fell as a curtain, until a figure materialized in it.
"You're late," Kal'tsit chided. "How did the mission go?"
"The former assets have been mobilized. I'm taking responsibility for them."
"Understood," Kal'tsit affirmed. "With them we can dig deeper. We can finally connect Ursus to all the movement in and around Chernobog. Mobilizing Babel assets though…"
"I'll send Scout to talk to her, after all, he taught her much of what she knows. Whether she wants to believe it or not, he thinks of her as his protege."
"What of her mental state?"
"She's already irreparably damaged, she may already have accepted her looming madness."
"Can she be controlled?"
"Yes, her madness shows a clear objective. She's still hunting down Theresis and his associates, which has only allowed her to master her A-symmetrical warfare capabilities."
"She could be a double agent then."
"Ask the Doctor then, he's good at reading people."
Kal'tsit crumpled a few of the clean printed copies as her grip tightened.
Ascalon sighed openly before saying, "You need to let go, Kal."
Kal'tsit bit her lip, drawing blood as her fang pierced her lower lip.
"Maybe your upcoming date with him will finally be a chance to say goodbye to each other properly."
Suddenly, Kal'tsit began to stop trembling and her posture relaxed.
"What do you mean?"
"I know you're not stupid. Neither is he."
A small glitter of light flitted in Kal'tsit's eyes. Her lip began to quiver as a tear dropped into a few drops of blood on the table.
"Look, maybe it'll be poetic to end it as it began."
"What do you mean?" Kal'tsit asked, her voice unsteady.
"You know what I mean. That night after the big victory before the decline started. Both of you got good and drunk."
"Stop…"
"I never drink, not even back then. That night was an exception though, but I could still see that spark light in your eyes."
"Stop…"
"Tell me to stop all you want, you can't change the past."
"I said stop it!" Kal'tsit yelled before throwing the bloody, tear soaked paper behind her.
Mon3ter's crystal had materialized and was now quivering.
"Nothing can change the past."
Kal'tsit bit her lip again.
"I guess what he said in the end was true," Ascalon muttered to herself and Kal'tsit. "You still blame everything on yourself. You still think that you can change the future alone, even if you know deep down it's impossible."
"Mon3ter!" Kal'tsit yelled. Mist was blown away, but it continued to spill from the vent above, and Ascalon's form briefly dissipated with it. Once the shockwave wore off, however, the mist consolidated and pooled onto the ground until a little bit of it reformed into Ascalon's form once more.
"I know you, Kal'tsit. You know me, what will this accomplish?"
Kal'tist took a deep breath and stood up straight again, wet streaks still visible on her face.
"I'm not your enemy, otherwise I would've tried to kill you and the Doctor long ago," Ascalon continued without showing a hint of emotion on her face.
"How can you still trust him after everything he's done?" Kal'tsit barely whispered, venom seeping from her voice.
Ascalon just sighed briefly and said, "Listen, I don't know what's really going on between you two, but I saw what he went through together with Amiya with my own eyes. Yes, he had a moment of weakness, and it cost us dearly. Even still…seeing what I have of him over the past few years and before, I trust Theresa's judgement of him."
"But Theresa is gone," Kal'tsit interjected, her eyebrows narrowing as her pupils burned with all the emotions her grief carried. Despair at seeing Theresa and her dream crumble, denial from the lack of closure the event gave, and rage at both those responsible and her own powerlessness.
"Her dream isn't, and it's her dream I'll support," Ascalon stated before stepping back into the shadowy miasma. Then, the mist fled back up, against the flow of entropy. Before it all left, the voice of Ascalon echoed one last time, "Even if it means I am one day, no longer needed."
Author's Note (WARNING: Long one this time lol)
Yes, Bagpipe did just ask Evan out on a date and yes, Evan didn't realize this until everyone else was pointing it out to him. Now, this doesn't mean these two are in a relationship. Well, not yet at least, but even so...if that does come to pass, just be prepared because I don't plan for Evan's first love to be his last if I can help it. Not to say the Bagpipe route is shut off, but if you've paid attention to the Arknights story between the Reunion Arc and What the Firelight Casts, I'll just say all the potential info on the future is there for when and why.
This is really just my way of saying, before you get upset and a naval battle starts developing over ships, suspend your disbelief. We'll have plenty of drama to milk with Kal'tsit and Doctor soon.
Before I do the reviews, I want to say I LOVE some of these recent reviews. I love them because some of them are actual constructive criticism, which I believe every writer needs. In case you're confused, the main difference between CONstructive and DEstructive criticism is in the intent. Constructive often gets conflated with praise, but in reality it's the intent. The constructive means you want to improve or better construct what you're criticizing while destructive is criticism with the intent to tear down or destroy. Basically advice vs trolling. The fact that this story has 360 reviews as of now and only 1 is actually destructive is honestly impressive. Keep this in mind if you plan to review.
Second, I want to say is this: I don't expect the reader to agree with Evan completely. I don't want everyone reading to feel as though he is a perfect boi. Some of you have pointed out obvious flaws in his character and interactions. While I do take full responsibility for those that are clearly the result of writing flukes and mistakes, please understand that I don't want him to be universally 'good'. Evan is based off myself and my own experiences, beliefs, and knowledge. If you don't like those, fine. Also, I had/have ADHD, and this leads to a few things. One thing is that I am unnaturally calm in a crisis and have a scary good leash on my emotions. This is apparent if you ever see me at a funeral for someone I do genuinely care about. I often feel a disconnect at those because everyone's sad and upset and I'm...barely upset. This also made me question my humanity when I LITERALLY watched my mom die. A normally traumatic and emotional event which then led to me having some cognitive disconnect with my dad because I was stupid calm somehow. I am also not squeamish at all which often leads to awkward moments eating with people where I literally have to be told to change the topic because it made them lose their appetite. So, my actual IRL response to traumatic events is kind of similar to Mao Mao from Apothecary Diaries: It's not a reason to get emotional and lose sight of logic, but I am capable of showing emotions if I feel they are needed to get a message across.
Third, I want to admit something. Some of you have pointed out a lack of proper...choreography and other writing issues during chapter 30. I admit, chapter 30 is far from a great chapter. When I released it, I was both hyped and ready to get it over with, and this clearly clouded my writing. I also want to say that Wolumonde isn't supposed to be a good arc, it's an experimental one. It's me testing playing with an actual canon story. I don't want the story to be changed so much that it's unrecognizable, but I don't entirely want it to be a carbon copy. I'm still finding that balance, so bear with me. I'm still learning.
Fourth, I want to say that I do have a handicap when it comes to visual writing. I have a minor sub-clinical condition known as Aphantasia. For a brief illustration of Aphantasia is: If you asked me to imagine a beach, and elevator, whatever while closing my eyes I am incapable of actually 'seeing' anything but inky blackness or red depending on the light. It's not that I can't do visual tasks, but rather that those of us with this condition do visual tasks with our error/analysis sections instead of the visual sections of our brain. So, it's easy for me to categorize things with generic descriptions rather than commit a picture to memory. It also is why my writing has terrible white-room syndrome, and I can expect my readers to fill in the blanks because at times I literally cannot without great effort that would only make a mountain out of a mole hill for writer's block.
Ok...now onto the review Q&A
Otonashi Ren: Just as an FYI, I chose your review because I am capable of moderating guest reviews. This was a lot, and sometimes hard to accept/read, but I still see the value in what you have to say. First off, thanks for reading and supporting the story.
Now, some of your answers can easily be explained in the four points above the Q&A. Since you don't have an account I can't PM you a proper response. I do love some of the ideas you have thrown out on how to improve, and I'll take those to heart going forward.
WHOstEist: Again, some questions and observations can be answered in the four points above. Actually, most of them can lol, I don't have much to say here.
Bastion: You're welcome and thanks for the continued support and interest as always.
I might do some reading on a book I've been putting off forever, and next time we'll finally head down to the power plant.