RhaegarRRL
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Chapter 825 Gods
🕑 Added 2022-01-29 12:20:00 +0000 UTCJust one today lads, apologies.
Quick mental health / schedule update at the end of the month and for February/March. Missed a few releases in January but fewer than I expected tbh. Felt good to have put out the statements but this week's been a bit rough again, hence only the one chapter eh. For February expect more of the same short notice skips and note that from the 25th of February onward, I'll be taking two weeks off if Elden Ring releases on time and without major performance issues.
I did want to address a few things in relation to the announcements.
I want you to understand that my struggles with mental health over the past few months have not caused the decision to end the story. This has been a decision I came to over a year ago.
A large chunk of the issues and pressure I feel are instead caused by that very decision itself.
It's been stressful because I want the ending to be a banger. A meaningful culmination of everything I've built up. It takes more brain and time to write this section with all the stuff that is around.
It's been stressful because of some of the feedback. This is not meant as blame. I understand the situation and that it's a bit of a dilemma. I just hate causing negative emotions in other people and I understand that to some it may feel like something they like is being taken away from them. Emotional reactions to that are expected, but obviously it hits me too when people imply that I'm rushing things/don't give a shit/or am ruining everything. Hence my own emotional reaction/inability to write as consistently. Which then in turn causes more stress and so on.
It's been stressful because I don't want to let it go either, because I loved reading for a sense of escape, of wonder, and adventure, and I've found meaning providing that for others. I've invested so much into this story, regardless of quality and outside assessment, it means a lot to me.
Ending it hurts. But I know it's the right thing to do. Please have some faith in me. I've written 9000 pages of this stuff, I probably know one or two things about how to do that by now. You're still here after all ;). Just might take me a bit longer to get there.
I'm not shooting your cool aunt because she annoys me. I'm setting her on the path to Valhalla that she deserves, instead of seeing her die of old age. And trust me, it hurts me too. I made all of this, you know?
As I said, I understand your frustrations. They're valid. But so are mine. I do give a shit. And to be honest it's impacting me more than I thought.
When you put something up online that you made, I think most people come up with some sort of coping mechanism to protect themselves from some of the feedback. Mine was to take the piss out of my work and the success I've had with it. But ye, I suppose now it's biting me in the ass a little because obviously I love what I made and the prospect of this chapter of my life coming to an end is... something to process.
Thank you for reading it all, thanks for being here and of course for the insane levels of support from everyone over such a long time. It's what allowed me to get here, and how I'll be able to hurt you with Ilea slipping and getting eaten by Audur.
More when it's done.
PDF/EPUB: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32241245
Chapter 825 Gods
Any sign of the forest was gone, dunes and outcrops of rocks visible all around. Strong winds blew, flying sand limiting visibility, even the mountain ranges to the north gone from Ilea’s vision. The temperatures were rather cool, sand and clouds above obscuring the moonlight, though she could see nonetheless. She flapped her wings one last time when she saw Octavia slow down at the crest of a high reaching dune. Ilea could see silhouettes behind, the angles suggesting some kind of structures.
“Did we arrive?” she asked when she came up on the fur covered and floating woman. She grinned when she reached the top, seeing the stone structures reach out of the sands. Towers, domes, some structures reminding her of cathedrals, others with angles and shapes that made no sense to her. High reaching angled bits with not roofs, feathers made of stone, tens of meters high and delicately crafted. There were stone spheres the size of entire houses, all of it scattered throughout the dunes but somehow connected and set up in a way that seemed planned to her. “Is this… an art installation?”
Ilea couldn’t see the entire thing, but the number of structures could easily be the same as that of a small town. Her dominion suggested the stone reached far under the sands.
“The Druned have a flair for… aesthetics. What they build for the Mava is not as practically inclined as the cities of humanity. Both are far beyond covering any basic needs,” Octavia explained.
“I did hear the Mava and Druned have some kind of relationship. Is this it? The Druned build for them?” Ilea asked.
“I suppose you could summarize it like that but their connection is far deeper, far older. Maybe your suggestion of an art installation comes closer,” Octavia sent and touched her chin in a thoughtful manner.
“There’s nobody here though, or they’re really good at hiding,” Ilea said.
“No. I don’t think there’s anybody here.”
“What do you mean? Is this just a ruin then?”
“The Mava do not settle in one place, Lilith. They move. And when they rest, the Druned will build. It is their way. This is as much ruin as it is a shelter,” Octavia said and looked up to the clouds. “How good are your eyes?”
“I don’t really have anything to measure them against. I can see pretty far,” Ilea answered.
“Can you pierce the sands and clouds?”
“No. Not yet,” Ilea sent back.
“Then we should find shelter here. Day will break in less than three hours. Enough time for me to prepare a few spells. Maybe I can find the direction of their current settlement,” Octavia said and started floating towards one of the more rectangular buildings.
Ilea followed, landing on the near twenty meter high structure. She found it was solid. Just a block of stone. Sitting in the sand. “Funny,” she murmured, sitting down on the edge with Octavia floating cross legged at the center of the plateau. She cocked her head back to look at the woman.
“You look curious. Ask your questions,” Octavia said.
Ilea smiled, turning back to look over the edge. Powerful gusts of wind carried sand to brush against the stone farther down. She could see the wear through her dominion and wondered how long this slab would remain here. A hundred years? Perhaps a thousand? How long has it been here already?
“I don’t have a question. I just thought you looked funny, floating cross legged,” Ilea said.
“How so?”
“Even if identify wasn’t a thing, I could probably guess at the kind of magic you wield.”
“Physiological training helps with focus. The control of one’s own body is a key skill taught to all Mava. I learned from them. Coupled with breathing exercises and the observation of mana within one’s body, and soul,” Octavia explained.
“Sounds like meditation,” Ilea said.
“Yes. I suppose the skill is similar in results, though using a skill does not mean one truly understands what is happening. These practices are meant to study magic, and oneself. Through that, understanding can be reached, and thus advancements in magic. Though that is more consequence than purpose.”
“Consequence?” Ilea asked.
“Yes. You will find the Mava do not much care for competition or their personal power, though they remain in this territory, after all this time. Consequence,” she said.
“What do they do all day?” Ilea asked.
“Hunt. Magic. Eat and sleep. They lounge, laze, and play,” Octavia said and looked to the nearby structures for a moment.
“So you’re telling me that I’m a Mava,” Ilea said as she smiled. And I guess they’re not too different from Elves either. Wait… maybe the Monarch was right.
“You are here on request of the Accords. I do not believe that is a type of behavior they would associate with.”
Ilea could see flickers of magic as Octavia moved her fingers through the air. No changes to the fabric, but she could see magic manifest. “How does it work? Your magic I mean. Divination.”
“Asking a mage for their secrets. You certainly are unconventional,” she answered.
“It’s been a while since someone told me off for asking a question like that. I feel like we’re beyond that,” Ilea said.
“I suppose that is true. My magic is broad, difficult to pinpoint and use. Compared to the magic of my second Class, many of the skills are less defined. It provides me with simple divination passive abilities like a feeling for dangerous beings nearby, for how beings near me feel. More active components allow me to intrude and gauge certain things. More specific if I have certain questions in mind, and if I know the being well. Much of it can be done instantly, though rituals with runeworks and extended casting allows me to extend the range and duration,” Octavia explained.
“Can you find people as well? I know a divination mage who can paint people she knows, no matter where they are,” Ilea said.
“I can find clues and I can get a general sense, though for it to be even remotely reliable, I’d need to be in the vicinity. The same city perhaps. But generally speaking, the more time I put in and the more specific the goal, the better the results,” she sent and paused. “And it helps with training others.”
“I see. So you could help with finding Ascended facilities or Ker Velor himself,” Ilea said.
“I will try. My magic is how I navigated the first facilities I have found. And how I learned of Kohr,” Octavia said. “May I ask you a question in return?”
“Sure.”
“You seem familiar with the Mind Weavers of Kohr. How so?”
Ilea looked up, the sky clearing a little to reveal one of the moons, sand brushing against stone below her. “I followed your father, back when he ripped open a tear to the Great Salt. Went through with a friend. We fought a lot of demons. One of them I spoke to. It wasn’t a pleasant experience but we finally convinced him to reconsider his behavior. Weavy. He’s a friend now, lives near Riverwatch.”
Octavia looked at her with wide eyes. “Near Riverwatch, how? Has he not been discovered?”
“There’s a somewhat hidden necromancer group hidden within Karth. I convinced them to take him in. I believe he summons fish for them, and he teaches one of the boys mind magic. He’s… decent, and learning some human behavior. Much better than the rest I’ve met,” she said. “I know another one too, but not as well. He’s in Hallowfort now.”
“If he manages to summon fish, he is quite a capable mage. They are difficult to grasp, though perhaps from this realm it’s easier. I’m glad you have found and saved one of them. Life in Kohr… is not easy. It often took weeks and months to convince even single Mind Weavers to join me. Without divination magic, it’s impressive you managed to get through to two of them, though I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, having seen all those beings in the North.”
“I’ve not been too fond of humanity for a long while,” Ilea said.
Octavia smiled, her fangs showing. “I understand.”
“Are you a vampire by the way?” Ilea asked.
Octavia cocked her head slightly, confusion apparent. “I’m not. I suppose you ask because of the fangs?”
“Yeah,” Ilea said.
“My body changed slightly after one of my evolutions in these wastes,” she sent and gestured to the dunes. “When you’re around other species for extended periods of time, I suppose those options appear. But you’ve probably seen plenty of those.”
“Some,” Ilea said with a slight smile. “Have you met any vampires?”
“From beyond the Frozen Wasteland? No, though I had considered going north.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I had reached the marshes, but my magic warned me of danger within the bog, far beyond my capabilities,” she said. “Going through the mountains proved too dangerous as well, too close to the domains.”
“Interesting. Think you could go there now? The marsh I mean.”
“I inquires afterwards, and even the Mava do not tread into the cursed marsh,” Octavia said.
Ilea grinned. “Now I’m intrigued. Any clue what’s in there?”
“Mava stories tell of ancient elven beings. Forgotten by their kind. Forgotten by the world. One of the stories… if I remember correctly, told of Oracles. Are you familiar with the term?”
“What do you know of them?” Ilea asked.
“Mothers. Female elves, more powerful than the men and more attuned to magic. To a point where some words in the stories I’ve heard suggested some of the Mava considered them gods.”
“What do you think?”
“Nobody I’ve met has seen or talked to an Oracle. The few stories I’ve heard that mention them could just be exaggerated legends, but there are many powerful beings out there in the realms. What have you learned of them? You ask as if you knew more.”
“I’ve met one of them,” she said. “You know, the Meadow has been considered a god before. If that’s the baseline, then I can imagine beings considering Oracles the same. I haven’t fought one before, but maybe going to those marshes is worth a trip.”
“You have met an elven Oracle… that is hard to believe, but with everything I’ve seen, I will have to accept it as truth. What was it like?” Octavia asked.
“Pretty overwhelming, but the same could be said about many of the beings I’ve met. It’s difficult to describe,” Ilea said.
“Do you remember it well?”
“Yeah, it was somewhat recent,” Ilea answered.
“If you focus on it, and I do too, I may divine an impression from you. If that would be acceptable,” Octavia said.
Or you could find whatever else you want to know, Ilea thought. Then again what would I want to hide from her? She didn’t consider Octavia incredibly trustworthy, but she didn’t fear her either. Ilea believed her stories about growing up in Ravenhall, about finding purpose in Kohr. She could empathize with her desire to help the Navuun, and she was here now, trying to prevent the plans of the Architect. Even if she could be wrong about everything, Ilea didn’t doubt her conviction. And there was something else.
“Do what you like with your magic. I’ll even turn off my resistance, so you can help me level it,” she said with a smile.
“I could do more than just help your resistance. Many have I guided before. If you would be open to such a thing.”
“What exactly do you mean by guidance. Telling my fortune? Divining my future?” Ilea asked.
Octavia smiled. “No such thing. I do not believe in fate or destiny. I believe we make our own, however there are insights to be learned. Knowledge we may already have, solutions right in front of us yet we are blind to see them.”
“Sure, as long as my resistance benefits.”
“You are easy to please. First however, the Oracle,” Octavia sent.
“Sure, go for it,” Ilea said as she thought of her encounter. The floating being, ice so cold it froze even her. Magic so powerful even the Primordial Shift moved aside in part. A true being a magic, a creator of the elves. The power of a god.
A pulse of magic emanated from Octavia, her eyes closed for a moment before she twitched and recoiled, her eyes wide. “Th… that… how did you… how.”
Ilea smiled, seeing the change in the woman’s eyes. And that’s why I like monsters more. They don’t judge me for being one of them myself.
“My disguise is good enough to fool even a three mark divination mage,” Ilea said with a grin. She didn’t care in the slightest how Octavia perceived her.
The woman remained quiet for a few seconds, then a minute. The look in her eyes remained cautious but it softened a little over time.
“I’m sorry,” Octavia sent finally.
“For what?” Ilea said.
“For not seeing you,” she said.
“What do you mean by that?”
“I knew you were powerful, I knew you were connected. But you are so much more. To stand in the face of what others see as gods, some would argue it makes you the same. Though you are so very human, and your mannerisms, and words, seem contradictory,” Octavia explained.
Ilea grinned. “You’ve not met a lot of four mark creatures, have you?”
“No. Who would claim that they have?”
“Fair,” Ilea mused, thinking of the Trakorov and Violence. Though most four marks she met were monsters, incapable of thought, or unable to convey anything to another being. “Go ahead then, I don’t want to waste time.”
“Very well… I will tell you what I learn of you, and what insight I may bring,” Octavia said as she closed her eyes, glowing blue runes appearing in floating circles around her. Pulses started moving out, slow, fast, weak, and powerful.
“You seek danger. You indulge in it. The abyss entices you, like nothing else in the world. It looks back at you but you jump down to face it. You have fought… a dragon… you have hunted the great Devourers in Kohr… have… killed them. No longer do they prove a challenge. Though there are things you fear. Not the monsters of this world… to lose what you have built, to see those you love, taken from you. You fear the dark, the dread, the loneliness.
“Paths you have taken, resources you have allocated, to ensure the safety of those you hold dear, to ensure your own freedom. There are… many ways forward… though one that you avoid. One place you fear, and one place that you must go. One frontier you have yet to conquer.” Octavia opened her eyes, the look on her face terrified. She shivered slightly. “To rise once more, you have to delve into the deep. To seek those who have seen. Those who remain.”
‘ding’ ‘Divination Magic Resistance reaches 2nd lvl 16’
The magic ceased, Octavia slumping down slightly as she gasped for air. She looked exhausted, glancing at Ilea while biting her lower lip. She opened her mouth and closed it again.
Ilea watched her. The words had hardly troubled her, though it was impressive how much the woman could gauge with such a short use of her magic. Then again Ilea supposed she wasn’t the most complex being in existence. The deep. To seek those who have seen. She sighed. Had known the day would come, and it was true, she had avoided it. There were other paths to power, other creatures she could hunt. But there were monsters right in front of her. She just had to go and face them.
“What did you see?” she asked, extending her reconstruction to heal the mind of Octavia.
She sobbed once, collecting herself as her lips quivered. “Eyes… watching…”
“That doesn’t quite narrow things down,” Ilea said, though she knew where the deep was, knew what she had to do according to the divination mage. Dammit. And I know she’s right. She cracked her neck. Well if it’s for the return of the Architect, I should risk it.
“They are different. Otherworldly. One large eye in the deep. Hundreds of eyes, connected to roots. And light… light that calls to you.”
Ilea smiled, wondering if Octavia had understood that she had just seen a glimpse of the Meadow. The other two were likely not quite as conversational.
“Thank you. I think I’ll follow your lead,” Ilea said.
“Your magic… it’s helping, thank you,” Octavia said, visibly relaxing a little.
“Up to delve in again?” Ilea asked.
The divination mage looked at her and shook her head ever so slightly. “I… no. I don’t think so.”
Now that does make me feel a little smug. Well on my way to become an eldritch horror myself. Just trapped within a human form. As it should be.
Octavia soon started focusing on her runes again, setting up intricate patterns in the air around her, Ilea eating a meal in the meantime. Sunlight soon rose on the horizon, painting the dark sands in a golden hue.
The runes around Octavia set before they all lit up simultaneously, a pulse of magic flowing out before the runes faded once more. She floated up and opened her eyes.
“Got anything?” Ilea asked.
“A vague direction. Enough perhaps to find one of their skal,” Octavia sent.
“Skal?”
“A tribe, group, settlement, whatever you wish to call it, it is the name they have chosen,” the divination mage said.
“Skal it is. Fly off then, I’ll follow,” Ilea said, her wings spreading wide, casting shadows onto the sands below. The air was dry, the temperature cool but not cold despite winter. Let’s see what these foxes are like.
Comments
Samuel Gatto
AH is better than porn
Joey McGowan
Rip one of my fav. Online novels.
Joey McGowan
Ah shit you're ending it? That sucks.
Fortunis
Every good story has to end. Just please, for the love of God, don't Game of Thrones it.
Chad Hagner
I'm glad you're giving us a thought out meaningful ending. This story has been amazing and needs to end strong. I fully believe this amazing world has so much more story to tell and a new story with new MCs would be fun and just as enjoyable. I don't mind the end of AH I just hope it's not an end to Elos. :)
TwistedToaster
Thank you for the chapter!
Pincho69
Amazing chapter
typo: within the bog,
Just keep doing you. Bringing such a long webnovel to a satisfying conclusion is really difficult so take your time.
Narf
Guess I'll chime in a bit, too. While I am of course sad that we are nearing the end of AH, I'd be much more annoyed if it went the way that way too many novels, series and mangas went - getting milked to death 200 chapters/episodes past where the chapter should have ended, going out in a whimper and leaving a sour taste. That, and being axed when still a lot of story was left to be told, are both much more infuriating and saddening than any other conclusion of a story can ever be. I fully trust Harthane that they can bring this story to a satisfying end. And after 825 amazing chapters so far, I think they more than deserve that must trust from every reader. Just one thing I insist on: Audur needs a good slapping before this ends. Either that, or Ilea makes it her tame pet dragon and blows a certain pseudo-dragon elf's mind.
Paul Seiler
I know you have your own ending in mind and i think its gonna be great ! I personaly qould love a more open end, like she is still out there and getting stronger doing what she loves... never the less i still love your story and i wish you a good day !
Primex
All I really care about the ending is how BOMBASTICALLY amazing Ilea's next/final evolutions will be. If they get botched then I'll create a subreddit dedicated to complaining about Azarinth Healer's ruined legacy similar to how everyone cries about Game Of Thrones' botched ending. :D
lol
Jonathan Timm
I love this story because you've written in a way that grips me and gives me an escape from my daily life but all things need and end and I'd rather u end the story where u want to than drag it out and loose that spark I so love about it.
Zarik0
I dont think much is about people saying it being rushed, its more they afraid that it be rushed and so whinned a bit about this point after his declaration of a end and beginning of a new arc just after (last arc?), they want that he close all (or most of all) all the sub-plot line of the story and finish with a bang, they where just pointing thing they will not like to see or are afraid of it and told him overall this: slow down author, take your time, dont miss thing, dont rush, do it right, do it with the same quality you done all time, its more a reaction to his annoucement and new (last?) arc beginning and being frantic a bit about it and told him everything (like when you go travel and a people you know is frantic and keep pestering you about thing, like you dont have forgotten about this? or that? or take this and that? blabla) :P
Thomas Christie
Absolutely, there are webnovels I read and love that are a bit long in the tooth. I still enjoy them but think, ‘Isn’t it time you’re put out to pasture, or taken out back and *bang*?’. It’s much better for a story to end gracefully, in it’s prime, with a satisfying ending. The alternative is to watch it shamble on as a zombie, well past it’s due date, unnaturally alive. I for one think you are doing the right thing. You hit the big time with AH, you’ve written over 9000 pages *scouter breaks* that collectively we’ve enjoyed. You’ve grown as an author over that time, and in a way this story constrains you because you aren’t the same person you were when you started it. To continue to shoehorn yourself into this story is folly. Let it go out with a bang that your faithful readers can enjoy, and go on to new and better things that continue to let you grow as an author, such as Infrared Berserker or anything else ricocheting around in your brain. I can’t really respect anyone who actually gives you any crap for ending this story, you’ve given it everything you have. It’s available on RR for free and any Patreons who feel that strongly can cancel. Realistically I think you might see a bit of a dip in figures finishing AH and moving on to other stories. But honestly I think the majority of us are happy to follow you onto your new stories, there’s a reason we’re here after all and clearly we like your work. You’re more than just a one hit wonder, more than just Azarinth Healer. I look forward to watching your writing career with great interest!
Tarodan
You know, I always find it genuinely impressive when a Webnovel author ends a long series. It feels like everywhere I look it's either stories that have gone on so long that the author has lost any kind of story or direction. Upon which they either drastically change to try and keep some kind of momentum, or just end up in an eternal hiatus and neither of them leave the fans happy or satisfied. So please, just do what you think is the best. Several of my favourite stories have ended because some combination of internal or external factors put them into a mental state where they couldn't continue on. The Many Lives of Cadence Lee and Magic-Smithing (though it looks like Kosnik's started posting again after a 7 month hiatus!) just to name a couple.
Tarodan
Is this satire? Did you read the several paragraph authors note at the start?
Joshua Little
Thanks for the chapter. Take a break and chill out. Hope everything works out.
Endoria
Stop being an entitled crybaby. We have been in the final arc for the past 80 chapters. Illeas powerlevel has increased to the point where mortals consider her a god. What did you expect? Another 1500 chapters of the same stuff in different worlds with escalating levels like some trash cultivation novel?
McVerisimilitude
What the frick! Your going to lose a long time fan with this shit. I understand needing a break but this is beyond that. You have turned a break into what ever you want without explanation. If you need a long-term break take a month off and let us all know but this b******* is wrong!
McVerisimilitude
Hello!!!!
McVerisimilitude
Just one chapter this week. None Tuesday nothing Thursday one Saturday. I think you owe your patrons a better explanation as to what the hell is going on I'm getting ready to drop you as much as I love your story!
Nyye
Yeah would rather have this have a end that is good. Dont want this to end like Everybody Loves Large Chests, that was painful to read.
hill44
While Im sad to see Ileas story coming to an end I definitely fall into the camp of those who would rather see a good and well planned end, rather than a writer wrapping a story up after losing motivation to continue the story. The good thing, as stated by others, is that Elos has been built up enough while telling AH that its a nice open setting for further stories not focused on Ilea. There has also been enough hints at mysteries in the world to fuel a whole series of shorter stories, such as the portal nexus below Ravenhall or the remnants and ruins found under Karth. How did Ileas hammer end up down there with a bunch of corpses, or whats the history of that shadow being Ilea woke up who just wanted to be left alone? The Sentinels, Shadows, Academy, scavengers and other groups weve been introduced to provide a ready supply of people to take the lead on those tales.
Doodlyboy15
Ooooh and it would be such a deep hurt if that was how it ended haha. Thanks for all you do
Dylan
No matter what you write* (speech to text sucks)
Dylan
I’m looking forward to seeing how you end it. But no pressure, I’d be fine if she just walks into the sunset :D a story with an ending is way better than one that continues forever. Maybe take some solid time off after. Also no matter what you’re right they were going to be people who approve people who disapprove. Take the valid criticism to improve yourself. Otherwise take the freedom to do what you want. I think you need to judge your quality for yourself and have confidence in your work.
sorry for my english. First, dont stress yourself, its your creation, not ours. I dont like your idea to end this, but its your idea, and your novel. I really love to see Ilea in another continent (i love it since the mega fae) and for her to return earth, like someone said, she returned and get to put some order, yes she is op but only 1 person. Now she is op, you can get to make it more slice of life, and explore. But like i said, it all in you, you are the author, we are only readers, and we can said a lot, but nothing matters,
BlackRazaras
Thanks for the chapter
Hoopsterben
You know what they say, “godliness is in the eye of the beholder”. Also I don’t comment much, but have been following this story for a very long time, and love every update.
Josh Turple
I hope you don't kill her off but I love the story it'll be interesting to see how you end it.
fbt
Whatever you do is fine, it's your creation.
Bacon Macleod
Idk what people are saying about it being rushed. I could smell the end coming since she found Iz, and could see it once the teleport gates came up. If you made this decision a year ago, you have been writing towards it for a year. That is the opposite of rushed. And, at least for me, it’s been pretty obvious too if you read between the lines. All good things must end in time, and honestly it seems like you’ve made the right executive decision in ending it gracefully. Did I want to learn more about Elos, especially the races we have t seen much of? Sure. But the beauty of world building is that you can always keep writing in Elos with characters and a time period completely seperate from this story. (at some point, you must be hungering for something fresh after 9k words). Illeas chapter is coming to an end, and that’s okay. I’ll still be sticking around to see what you do next. As an aside this chapter was fantastic.
Eric
I have 4 words for you. Your world, your rules. You have written an amazing story and, as sad as it is, all stories end. Personally I am thankful that I was able to support your efforts and appreciate your writing.
Andrei
Who?
SpaceGoddess76
(This is not meant to pressure you or put you down. Your the Author and you do what you want! Ignore us all if you want these are just some thoughts/ideas I’ve thought of or I’ve seen some authors do). You know while I’d be fine with you just ending this book. If you like the characters so much there’s a lot of things you can do that allows you to start a new book/series while keeping the same character(s). Most of these ideas could easily be extended to include other characters too so she is not alone or so you could keep the characters you like! 1) Have her start traveling to new realms and exploring them. (This could easily be turned into a more slice of life with not as much drama & allow you have her travel back to see friends from time to time). 2) Have her be teleported to a new Universe, where she has take start from scratch with a new system & she has lost all her previous classes & skills. (A new system doesn’t have to be very much different. And she would still have the knowledge & how to sort of use them, she’d just have to gain & level them again). 3) Have her travel to Earth, but when she arrives she starts a System Apocalypse. This resets her level back to 1. She has to start over and earn nee classes and skills (or her old ones back). While also exploring more of Earth with the new system, finding her old friends & family, and perhaps helping build a new city for them. (There are a lot of different ways this could go & the system could even change slightly with the introduction to a new realm, this could even be why she is reset). 4) She some how to traveled back in time do when she first arrives or after she gets her first class. Then we could see how she goes about her Journey and what she does differently. (I mean she could try to keep her story similar which would cause problems eventually because she’d know what’s about to happen and she’d already have memories of people that wouldn’t have memories of her). 5) Have her die & be reincarnated. I mean there are plenty of directions with this. You could also have her someone be tied by [Fate Magic] to others and have multiple people die together and then be reincarnated near each other. Then have them explore and do other things. Or you could have Claire along and she starts Kingdom Building with Ilea helping out with funds again. Or about a hundred different things. 6) There are probably plenty of other ways if you put more thought into it. Or you could always start with a new character and series! It’s all up to you and what you want!!!
You did say you'd take 3-9 months to wrap up, and then immediately jumped into the end arc. It felt very abrupt and rushed, like you wanted it over with. With say 6 months estimate...we expected something more subtle or gradual I guess. It's a bummer either way. Only Patreon subscription I've kept constant for 2 years?
Jonathan Walker
I for one completely agree about your decision to end the story. It's been an amazing and exciting story but every story has it's proper ending. For yours it seems like it is near and I can't wait to read it to that point. There is another writer I read who is trying to drag his story forward and I think he is slowly killing it. He finished a huge arc and then all of a sudden made up more reason to keep going and they don't even sound good anymore just dumb and petty. So I'm looking forward to your stories ending because you seem set on doing it right. Thank you for such an amazing story and time to read it has gotten me through some rough times.
Rainer
Space... the final front..... wait... thats not right....
Augustus
I agree with your decision, if the story goes on too long it will lose what made it great and wither on the vine so to speak, and I have already felt the story turn dull a few time recently. Better to have an amazing ending than no ending at all and slowly turn to sh*t, ago for it make an amazing final to Ilea's story and then turn your talents to new avenues to wordsmith.
homunculus
"I'm setting her on the path to Valhalla that she deserves, instead of seeing her die of old age." The Kurgan agrees with you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve6gGiI7Jqs&t=288s
Vega
That’s one major disadvantage of serial stories, ending them is difficult. Ending them is hard, when you get a book you expect a beginning a middle and an end. That you can read immediately. With a web serial story you get a crushing string of cliffhangers with no set end in sight. I look forward to how you end this story!
Cody
Slip and get eaten?!?!?
BeepBoop
What does the fox say? "Cake cake cake!"
Nodlehs
Thanks for the chapter :) Do your thing your way, we pay because of what you wrote not what we dictate.
Andreas H.
I really enjoyed the past few chapters. There's a sense of wonder and now I'm invested in finding out how our cool aunts story ends. Take some time and finish the story how you like it, you're doing a great job so far :) ,,Shooting the aunt" I chuckled there ;)
Dominic Falcon
We, as humans, have a big weakness when it comes to feedback. We give more weight to a single mildly negative comment than we do 100 of effusive praise. If it’s too hard to remember that, find a filter to review your comments on your behalf. Let them forward the praise and the useful critiques, and shield you from the grumps. Your mental health is worth more than giving them your attention.
Inslayer
To be honest, endings have always been a bit iffy in my books. But yeah, I would sooner trust you than a casual reader. We've all invested a lot of time into this, but I doubt that compares to your investment. Like you said, better to go out with a bang than slowly wither to nothing.
Stephen B.
Take care of yourself, friend! Wishing you all the best!
Tijay Arnie
I wonder what Clara's resistances are like
Nicole Widrig
Thanks for writing, take your time. Wishing you health and a calm mind!
Thereader
you have done a great job so far and its wonderful. take your time to do what you need we don't mind a little delay to your stories. what's important is that you are okay.
Nate
Hmm. I don't really have anything to add, but I like what you're doing.
Shin
The powerscale of monsoon is much higher than AH I love Ilea but Daniel would crush her without breaking a sweat
Sean
I don't know if it would help but it sounds like you'd feel a lot better if you focused on writing something else, and only put out one chapter at a time for AH. If working is a way to ignore the feedback and this work is what you're struggling with maybe spending more time on another series will let the writing for AH come easier. Thanks for the chapter as always, we don't always get bragging chapters so when they happen it's fun. Also I'm glad we finally might get to see Ilea face her fears of water.
Philipp Schmalz
Thank you for the chapter! It's understandable if you need to take a break or just more time for a proper ending. Don't stress yourself too much. This story is really great!
Trevor
Thanks for the amazing chapter! I wonder if you've ever considered doing a crossover episode with Monsoon117, the author of The New World. Might be interesting to see two very different approaches to remaining human with inhuman powers.
Eyes wide
Thank u for all the wonderful chapters it has been a bright spot in my life during these trying times and I thank I for the wonder and escapism u have given me in this very low point in my life . I'm sad that it has to end bit all things end but the memories I've gain while reading will stay with me forever I've laughed I've cried and cheered along this being and world u conjured as if from no where and I'm in awed by your imagination. Thank you and I hope the stress and painful moments in this journey only serve to make u love your work more end it how ever u feel comfortable with she's your character and I dare say u deserve the end u want after the spectacle u have allowed me to be a part of Thank u
Alexander Dupree
Thanks for the chapter. I hope that you find the peace to end the story as you need.
Elliot
I’ve been reading your work for I think years now. She’s have been some of my favorite chapters. Sorry the work takes its toll, but if it’s any consolation the extra thought and attention is noticeable in the quality of each chapter. Thanks for working so hard on this, I truly love every moment!
Thanks G for giving us the backstage stories about writing. When I read I always have only the finished product, the sculpture to admire, but being given the glimpse behind, about how everything is made, where emotion is transformed in image, makes this a lot more entertaining
I can't wait for the most liberated ending in the wild west, great chap btw
leviathan, meadow and "seen" primordial thing
lmao
Solarnis
All good stories come to an end. While I was hoping for a few more arcs, your consistency and quality throughout these years give me confidence you'll give this a satisfying ending. I'm not too fussed about the breaks and missed chapters. I would rather you take longer to get this arc right than to rush it because there wasn't enough time, even if that means we'll only get 2-3 chapters/week. I hope you enjoy the break! It really helps to disconnect from things for a while and do other things you enjoy, especially in a long project like this.
Jonathan
I'm wondering how many tails these 'Foxes' have. And it's time to level Fear Resistance, Harmony of the Drowned, and whatever being 'SEEN' triggers ... in Kohr once more. And don't worry about ending it so much on my part. I agree that it was time to give direction and a destination to our beloved wanderer. The journey has been sweet, but all journeys end at some point.
vanar
Is she thinking of the leviathan or the primordial divination thingy? Either will be spooky and interesting.
Disclancer
I dont care how you end it! But I must know the other tiers of Harmony of the Drowned!! I've waited literal years!
Vegetables
Tftc! Take it easy. Good things come to those who wait?
David Brims
Oh, so that's how she'll kill Audur: from the inside out ;-)
Gian
Thanks! Stay well
