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Removed Chapter (258 "Reindeer") (Patreon)

Published:
2025-09-15 10:56:12
Imported:
2026-06
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Downloads

  • Super Supportive 258.epub

Missing 1 file.

Content

This chapter has been redacted. Much of its content may reappear in upcoming chapters that I'm currently working on. Definitely absolutely for sure don't read it before you go here and read the New 258! (Go there now.)

But if you're curious about the original version after you're done with everything else, and you aren't worried about it spoiling your future reading experience, you can find it in the epub below.

Comments

Itsowkur

Yeeey

DL

Yaaay!!!! Tftc Sleyca! You are the best

세희

Yay!!!

Von Harley

It's here!!!!

YeetimusMaximus

Hey Sleyca/anyone else reading this, what voice do you imagine when reading Lexi's dialogue? I know its not correct, but the voice in my head for him is always Heavy from tf2 and i know that it should be different lol

Jakc

Horaaaaaaay!

JJ Hunter

*wriggles with delighted anticipation*

Nathan

Thanks Sleyca!

ImNotHere

just in time for my reading time (work? what is that strange word that you are using?)

Alexander Dupree

Thank you for the chapter. Does being relaxed actually happen to people? I am sort of joking but for real.

Elo2Coon

Great chapter ^^ “Does Stuart think I’m the spiky patient creature? Or the life that it protects? He didn’t want to be either.” Yeah… Cause you want to be both Alden Thorn.

Loser Me

Really fun how divorced Alden is from regular school life in comparison to his dormmates.

Eva

Worth. The. Wait. 😊😊😊😊

Pete Magnuson
>>187252627

Well it *had* been a generic snippy dork who aims for consise effective communication but comes off a little rude. Now it's Heavy

Amber Gregory

Putting in my request for some southern hemisphere Christmas traditions too, after all, Anesidora is south of the equator. Jeffy would love it - there's a lot of bbq! Also we have these cakes that are meant to be smashed, called pavlova...

BelligerentGnu

This one felt pretty filler-y, I'm afraid.

Anthony Lutz

Alden definately needs to try to convince Stu to add a string of lights to the wevvi cart next time he's over... its a human tradition.

Satya Prateek

Lovely chapter. The line It’s so breathtaking! The beauty…the beauty is gonna become a meme lol

Von Harley

I need a Halloween costume of Alden as a reindeer now

WannaBeATree

Uhhh, he's still not saying where he WANTS to be, but now he's saying where he does NOT want to be. :) Nice. Free time to think will do him good.

PatienceHoney

@Sleyca I'm glad you weren't possessed by a ghost or turned into a werewolf like @pupp0cam, @Lystic and I imagined while waiting for soup to drop. But, I am a little sorry that the delay wasn't due to a perfectly timed power outage that made space for you to enjoy an unplugged evening. Thanks for the chapter! Sleep well.

BeautifulBusinessBoi

I knew Francis and the Beat List would be keeping track of Alden’s progress!! And Rahul’s warning and Ess-holes acting up makes me think Alden will need to lean on them for support in the coming semester

Hallow

Thank you for the chapter. It was nice. It was a calm chapter, there were no disasters, just quiet introspection. I really enjoyed it.

Pete

Not reaching the req probably just results in them arriving pretty much where they were before. What would make me sceptical is that it is hastily thrown together

JJ Hunter

Glad to see Alden transitioning down without crashing down from his intense semester; Lexi continues to be a great roommate and straight man contrast, heh. I wonder if the Elites program is having more success poaching first year than second year students? Garsy et al could use Rahul's wisdom, but they're unlikely to heed it. I hope Alden see more of Rahul next semester given he's taking that language seminar on campus. Fun to see more of the campus culture unfurling; I wish I could go to that extraterrestrial pollinator lecture and the superhero snowball fight!

ImNotHere

Only in the first part of the first day and he has already advanced This break is gonna be good for Alden

JJ Hunter
>>187255079

Alden acts as a bit of an extraterrestrial pollinator himself at times- facilitating cross-pollination between Anesidora Earth and Rapports Artona, among other places.

PatienceHoney
>>187253671

I have been focused on finding (re-finding) that feeling of ebb and flow to life instead of the go-go-go mindset that I have been in for years. I am happy to say that I have made significant progress! And have even experienced a day of relaxed fun recently. Don't give up! The dream can be yours too!

Saaski

‘Twas very satisfying soup

PatienceHoney
>>187254173

@BelligwrentGnu I think I can sort of see that. But, I think the chapter was a mirror of what Alden was experiencing, a chapter where nothing had to happen and a slice of life that was just relaxed and enjoyable.

Jim

Very awkward sentence here : While he stared up at the leaves, noting that they weren’t much like the long blade-shaped ones he saw every time he visited Rapport I ~or~ opened his spell book to the page he’d marked, his interface translated someone passing by on the walkway. She’d just had a crushing experience in a political science exam.

BeautifulBusinessBoi

During the Superhero Snowball Fight, I think Big Snake will call Alden down from the stands to catch other people’s snowballs and throw them back at them

Jack Slash

Both very relaxing to read after the previous chapter, and feels like a slow but smooth transition into the next stage. I love seeing Alden’s progress shown so clearly and peacefully like this. Also loved getting to see more of Anesidora too, Alden taking time off is a great opportunity to show us all the stuff we’re missing just off screen! Thank you for the chapter!

Cal

Haoyu with the finals broke you comment. I laughed so mucn

Ers20
>>187255073

Not necessarily, the catch is that Li Jean allocating more resources to Elites means that it's taking those resources from its "normal" hero program.

Lystic

I'm loving the Christmas vibes but also saddened to realize wevvi probably replaced/ruined eggnog. RIP sweet prince of the holidays T_T

Robert Mullins

Poor Alden doesn't realize fate has already spoken for him. Nobody with the last name thorn gets to be anything but spiky.

Clint

Too little soup. I want more! Looks like this vacation time is going to be really good for Alden. He needs to put some time into thinking about his future and making some decisions. (Aka using his choosing season to actually make choices.) Can’t wait to see how a summoning spell interacts with his skill. Can he preserve an object while he’s “holding” it with the summoning spell? Can he summon an object that he can’t see, but that has been entrusted to him? And if he’s going to publicly use the summoning spell, he’ll have to add a level-up to his fake stat sheet. (It’s about time!)

Tyranasaurusfay

With it being Tuesday on the 18th of December that puts the year at either 2018 or 2029 Unless the Artonans declared that Earth had to change what day of the week it was when they arrived, which I could see them doing if it was to get closer to a party filled weekend

Sesharan

How “delightful” to finally meet Garsy. I’m glad he’s going somewhere else. It is really concerning to think that the majority of people heading into Elites might have a similar mindset. Creating an echo chamber for that kind of outlook seems… unwise. If I wanted to create an accidental villain academy, this is pretty much exactly how I’d go about doing it.

Stuart Brown

Alden's going to make a compelling target in the Superhero snowball fight. Here's hoping he finds himself in the zone and, like with his tennis ball exercise, starts his superhuman catch and return display for the crowd to enjoy.

Msharlo1

Alden would make a great reindeer in the context of sleigh-pulling. That said, would the reddish memes would turn to carrot ones?

Isak Mark
>>187257403

I think it's 18 December 2040 the series occur in the future.

Stuart Brown

(I'm really curious about what Sleyca was wrestling with and couldn't get in the chapter to her satisfaction).

Rodmin

I'm a bit sad that we didn't get to see how Alden showed Stu the duel but otherwise it was a nice relaxing chapter.

Stuart Brown

"Klein had told him he had no future as a superhero because one skill wasn’t enough" Didn't Alden laugh when he said this? I always thought Klein had the best chance of working out Alden had an infinite skill and knew it because of this clue.

Gaffer

Well, now we know the first thing the Primary said to Stu-art’h on his call, the thing Stu is keeping close and contemplating: “Garsy”

PeasOfCrab

Now introducing… the Garsy Carseat. When you need your baby to fall asleep like a UN delegate.

zdm

I was having profound thoughts about the seeds of childhood dreams that emerge later in adult life, even after all its pain, struggle, and oftentimes worse than that. And then I had this realization. Alden's entire trajectory to this point can be summed up with following very literal sentence: Alden Thorn saves people, come Hell or high water.

PatienceHoney
>>187257922

I am imagining, 🎶 Alden the radish-nose reindeer 🎶 had a very hoppy run 🎶 and if you ever saw him you would even say it bounced 🎶

PatienceHoney
>>187258620

I think it was an almost laugh, like he laughed in his head and maybe "only" smiled in response to Klein's comment.

PatienceHoney
>>187258835

Absolutely! If world leaders were to feint and babies say his name... surely The Primary would also be as effected.

Kairo of Sweden

I hope for some juicy enchantment snatching. Stealing invisibility, from his balls, to his balls, for a very merry christmas 😊

GWJ

Quick shoutout to the subtle and clever “Anthropodrome”. I guess Hazel’s not the only one who thinks Brutes and Horses are interchangeable.

Vitor Bosshard

The pending talk with Esh-Erdi was finally acknowledged! It feels like it has been 100 chapters coming. There's a not-so-subtle hint that Esh already knows Alden's secret. It's why he's so interested in him.

Babtain

I thought after the previous chapter it would've been a good time for Earth's contract to contact Alden to inform him that he leveled again. I doubt he would've been in a better mood and he's way past due for another level. Since his last bit of leveling, he learned how to catch balls from Big Snake, the whole night of Anesidora drowning happened, learned a few spells and practiced every single day both his skill and his free authority. A lot more happened since his last level than when he got back from Thegund and leveled, especially when we consider that he didn't use his skill and authority for three weeks after he came back from the moon due to his affixation.

Casey

That was a pleasant little chapter! I love it. I feel like Alden has already made his choice for his choosing season multiple times in action. And we all know he is gonna choose to be a patient creature. But he also is wise enough to enjoy what little time left as butterfly-jellyfish-thing he has. Taking some time to calm down after the moon incident was necessary. I figure the trick to life is to savor the ups and downs and in-betweens. But Alden's not gonna stop growing. He'll get more training. He is only a B rank, so he might not choose 99.9% percent intensity from jump if fate allows. But give him a friend for the road and he probably would enjoy beginner rapids.

Vitor Bosshard
>>187262318

The thing is also, Stu is still very young. He probably has a somewhat rigid idea of what his knight oaths mean, and it's why Alden can't fully trust him. But Esh, being much older (how old exactly? how long do Artonans live anyways?) probably has a more nuanced perspective that lets him handle the situation delicately, without breaking his oaths. Because it's for the best of everyone to ease into the new reality of human wizards.

Anthony Lutz
>>187262364

If Earth pulls level annoucements everytime Alden has a good day, hes going to actively avoid having a good day. Add to that he does not "want" levels, since accepting a level up mean affixation happens. as Alden said "I say don’t call me, I’ll call you."

VP

Yes! We have finally arrived at the Garsy arc, the one thing us true fans have been waiting for all along

abowden
>>187256943

It's good to keep in mind that when he has access to his magic, he should always have about 'a level' of free authority in the bank, which is about what he had when he got out of post affixation funk, and about what he has now. By the time his next affixation comes around, that 'level' is going to be much bigger. So as long as he is in any shape to cast ot use his skill he should always have access to the spell, if he has the free authority to learn it now.

PeasOfCrab
>>187262607

I'm actually not entirely certain. His mindset currently is that he doesn't really want to be either "just" a knight or "just" a protected little Rabbit. So, I think there's still some uncertainty/decision-making to be done. I think he tells Stu without a doubt at some point during this choosing season, but whether he chooses to be a patient creature at that point or after more discussion with hn'tyon remains to be seen.

PeasOfCrab

I think this chapter is a good foil/counterpart to Ch. 199: Happy Avowed Days. Here truly are some Happy Avowed Days and he's just... taking it easy, soaking it all in. Not in a mad rush and just doing what he wants to do. Taking the time to consider his present, his future, and how he's oriented to navigate those positions.

Matt V

Alden is... relaxing? And nothing is looming over him? I don't mean to be an alarmist, but it's clear Sleyca has been body-snatched.

Elle
>>187253679

Thorn is in the name! A thorn is a spike.

Matt V
>>187257751

Oh he's definitely getting chosen to participate. I can't wait.

Tori, Writher #1 Fan

I feel like Esh-erdi would have really enjoyed the Lighting of the Waffle Cart. What a wonderful tradition. I liked the contrast between uncharismatic but well-meaning Lexi, who is checking in on Alden in a rude but genuine way, and his former friend Garsy who is framing his complete essholery as being helpful wisdom and advice to his "lesser" peers. Garsy is around 15 years old so it's normal for him to be a little cringe with how much he wants to sound cool to his peers, but it doesn't seem like Anesidora's culture (or superhero culture, globally) provides many opportunities to learn to grow out of it. It seems like it's up to the more level-headed members of the new generation to provide perspective and show their peers a better way to be. For this reason, and not out of any desire for revenge or bias toward Alden's best roommate, I hope Writher beats Garsy at one of these foreshadowed inter-school events.

Skull Leader

I wonder who will have their first official faint sooner... Gary...ah I mean Garsy. An S rank Hero amongst other S ranks. OR Alden Thorn - The Wizard Rabbit. First Human Wizard and only Human Knight. Time will tell. We just have to wait ∞ number of chapters to get there!

Sean Shivers

Hopefully he makes the jump from wanting things to be different to recognizing his agency to MAKE them different. So many people claim to want change and then give up before even trying to create it. Or give up after putting a tiny bit of energy for a moment when they don't see immediate results.

Elle
>>187259132

Winston sand bag delivery service. His rabbit friend gives them to him for free, so he has plenty to sell.

MWF
>>187276240

I think it's more that he recognizes better than most teenagers that part of the challenge is finding his place in a universe he doesn't really understand yet. To borrow part of a quote from CS Lewis "...most people are obviously far more anxious to express their approval or disapproval of things than to describe them." Alden is very good about reserving judgement while he learns more.

sempersciurus

> So what? Don’t you want to be in the place that’s trying for it instead of the one that’s not?  This really solidifies the elites as some gt feeder program to me. Its such a familiar sentiment from high-school. I'd love to see someone pushed into the elites by parental pressure rather than because they want to for themselves.

PatienceHoney
>>187271334

Yikes! You may be right! Or maybe she is trying to lull us into a false sense of security before ... she already stranded him, drowned him, made him a victim of attempted mugging, and tortur... I mean affixed him, ummm... maybe he can get shot at? Or kidnapped?

Little Dragon

I'm waiting for Esh-Erdi to smuggle Stuart to Earth ;)

ImNotHere
>>187261689

And Winston, after his breakdown, will quit CNH and get his fame back by winning the U-18 A-class tournament

Daedalus

I wonder if the summoning spell will wind up having interesting synergy with BoAB. Alden learning that his Skill might be able to contribute in some neat way to the casting of the spell (if he could use entrustment as a substitute for some part of the overall casting), or just generally find out that his skill is more than able to fold itself in ways that the spell requires for casting thanks to the “bearing” overlap. Or maybe it could help him figure out telekinesis. Either way, this is the first spell he’s looking at that *truly* seems synergistic with his Skill, and I look forward to seeing the true power of a Junior Knight.

Anon-Anon
>>187274107

Wow I never saw the... juxtoposition? irony? CONTRAST—is that the word? Insomnia brain wins again—of Lexi and Garsy. Very opposing which is so cool. If sleyca does this intentionally, it's so masterful.

Fabian

Oh god, Alden will totally be invited to the Elites school. This gives us the chance to see inside.

Tim Gonsalves

Alden making a "having a three day weekend would fix me" joke is perfect.

Kooikerhondjelover
>>187292109

He then could summon the snow balls, preserve them and fire them back. I hope Big Snake takes him as target.

Itsowkur

We know that all the knight skills have had previous “users” I wish Alden would try to get some info on Bearer from the library or even mother, wouldn’t that make it easier for him to learn about his skill ?

Itsowkur
>>187306525

It would be nice to read also about previous bearers and how they developed their skill

TheLunaticCo

I'm sad we didn't get to see stu and Alden watching the gym replay.

KB
>>187301829

Is it a joke? Or does he believe it? My first read was that he believes it. But after your comment, I think it might be that he's joking. Maybe I'm projecting onto Alden; I always fully believe that the weekend is going to cure me.

Alex Anderson
>>187301315

Haven’t the invites already gone out? I thought it was also only for S ranks. Alden hasn’t seen anything, though I suppose it could be in an email that will get revealed soonish. I don’t think Alden would go anyway, even were he to be invited. If we do see Li Jean, it would have to be during some kind of inter school event mentioned in this chapter

KB

Thank you for the chapter! I wish for a holiday-themed waffle cart. :)

Skull Leader

The Elites are pure grade S Winston. Check. What will be worst than them is the all their fans. The general public that going to go "Oh you are an S Hero but not an ELITE? Well you can't be that great than, not like my hero Garsy!" Seriously the fans will be just the worst cause they will have all of the elitism inherited by the normal rank system plus the 'prestige' of being in the Elite program. How long will it take for the fans to term the Elite graduate heroes as S+ cause they are so better than the rest of the S ranks (sarcasm)?

David J.

I hope the conversation with Esh-erdi happens soon. Interested to hear how he explains Alden’s commendation and providing equipment to his school. I think Alden will be surprised about the significance of the commendation. It also seems that Alden has already made his decision during his choosing season. He sees the difference in what knights do and how the avowed see themselves. He doesn’t want to be a Garsy. I think he will tell Stu about his magic and become a knight. As Mother told him, you have the pain but not the benefits of being a knight. Looking forward to the next chapters.

Eva

With some of the comments in mind, I reread to see how this chapter reads as an opening of a book. Totally works.

Jazehiah

I hope Garsy was exaggerating, but the way Winston talks and remembering Neha's commentary on people who apply to hero programs... I think he was serious, which is rather terrifying. Eh, he's in high school. There is time for his dreams to be crushed.

Jazehiah
>>187314392

I bet it's already happened. Fanfiction writers have already started shipping select members with their rabbit maids (and each other).

Tim LaCombe

"Maybe one day he’d be the third year, or the college student, confusing newbies by acting like the waffle cart with its dinky strand of lights was the essence of the holiday. I could be. That door hasn’t closed." ... yet.

wakeuptheresbacon

> “Aren’t you worried about getting dropped from the program after you join?” a boy on the floor asked. “Even a little? I’m not saying I think either of you will, but the leveling requirement is too much. Like the faculty said when they called us all in to talk, it’s—” > “Don’t bring that up after they’ve made up their minds,” another guy said. “Just congratulate them.” Just realized the parallel between Elites and knights

Kemlion

Our son…. Their dorm has a son, a nine edged one 🙂‍↕️

J Reynolds
>>187329367

"I've been in this program for a year!" Garsey wailed. "I'm about to level again! I know it! Let me stay! Please!" "No can do, kid," said the director of the Elites program, clearly bored by this kid's all-too-predictable flameout. "Pack your stuff. And when you leave the office here, send the next person in." "Oh this is the worst day of my life!" "No, kid. This is the worst day of your life. So far." ____ [with a tip of the hat to The Simpsons, from which I stole the joke.]

Jazehiah
>>187256811

On the other hand, eggnog is vegan in Alden's world. Actually, now that I think about it, has Alden (in his head or otherwise) ever described wevvi as being like eggnog, or did he describe it as a spiced drinkable custard?

PhoenixPax

It's really interesting that the first years didn't discuss the differing educational formats at the two schools. CNH has activities that vary a lot like the rescue practice. Le Jean sounds like they just fight, fight, fight nonstop.

Stuart Brown

Alden needs to invite Esh-erdi to the snowball fight. He was sad to miss Matadero's Rice Wars.

Trey

i’m always floored by how contemplative and thoughtful your writings are. Someone saying they’ve decided to take it slow for a few days and do what they want to do doesn’t sound like it’ll be an amazing premise, but the way Alden comes to that realization and lets so many different thoughts wash over him, it just all comes together so well that I feel nostalgic and thoughtful while reading about a dura-brute talking about how he wouldn’t hit his reindeer roommate. tftc!

Jason Harpster

.....I've seen people get far more excited for far less than a waffle cart putting up a single strand of lights. I know people that get embarrassingly excited over buceess fudge.

Glitter Rabbit (C)

I am wondering, is it a coincidence that Alden is contemplating the patient ones in this chapter a little when the chapter published on RR had Stuart reflect on what his father told him about the necessity of the path of the highest onus? Could be, it's certainly been the theme for many chapters, but it was definitely a nice experience reading that chapter a second time

ShaunB

Do you guys think the Sentient Mailbox and the Waffle Cart date?

A Free Skeleton

One of my favorite recurring SupSup bits is the one where a girl shoots her shot with Alden and it flies a thousand miles over his head. Sorry waffle cart girl, maybe someday you can bond over this moment with Jel'nor.

Loser Me

This one felt pretty like content written to fill the gap between major arcs-y, I'm afraid.

Jeremy Goldberg

“Does Stuart think I’m the spiky patient creature? Or the life that it protects? He didn’t want to be either. He wanted the river to stop forcing questions like that on people.” I think this is the closest Alden’s come to expressing a long term, external goal since telling Neha he wanted to become more disaster resistant back in Intake. The rest of this chapter made me think that Alden feels like he accomplished his disaster resistance goal. Or maybe he’s outgrown it. Either way, this chapter feels like a little denouement to me.

Dapper

Alden has few weeks with nothing scheduled? Sounds like a good time for Earth to send him some of that vegan hot chocolate.

Francis
>>187386013

Me too. Maybe he figures out he just wants to support Stu's dream

Francis
>>187332682

It kind of felt like Alden was fooling himself here. It maybe hasn't closed technically, but emotionally he has already walked too far on another road..

Francis

Is it just me, or does something feel really disturbing about the hero students' attitudes? I get that they are teenagers, but they are also on an isolated island full of superheroes where alternative viewpoints are hard to come by. My gut feel says that it is unsustainable, that this whole social structure of Anesidora is going to collapse one day. Also, remember that the island isn't even that old. The first gen were all globies, the second gen maybe also mostly. This could be the first generation where the high-ranked Avowed are almost all Anesidorans who grew up in this toxic culture. It could easily go unnoticed and suddenly blow up in some massive incidents.

J Reynolds
>>187417770

It hasn't been stated when the Artonans made the Anesidoran islands, but it would have been 1964 at the earliest. This is 76 years ago in the Soupverse. Powerful S-Ranks like Aulia and the Informant are still alive and healthy, but they are a tiny minority. Avowed of their generation are in their late 80s - early 90s. And we can presume they are as active politically as octogenarians / nonagenarians are in our world. Which is to say: have opinions, but aren't in charge any more.

Tifer

The minor villainy of the Elite program defectors was great. Hopefully we see where that kind of thinking can lead. On the other hand, people have pointed out how much this chapter reads like the opening chapter of a new arc, and with shameful honesty I have to say I hope it's not an arc of "three weeks of Alden relaxing and having fun." I love him but I love him more when he is being harried. Time will tell.

Traytray

It feels like a plot shift is happening and I like it. I just finished a reread and there were too many variations of “the next gym class with a twist”. Now all the gyms are starting to blur together. Alden needs to get out of the gym simulator. To showcase the development of his talent and friend interactions elsewhere for a long, long time instead of at gym class 6, 7 or 8 starring his rope shield version C against Team Max/Jeffy/Klein. The gym needs a break. Can they go on a field trip instead? Can they intern somewhere? Anywhere but the gym is fine.

J Reynolds
>>187473886

The first few times the gym appeared, it was brand-new to Alden. It helped him learn about his powers - what they were, and how they stacked up against other people's. You'll notice that gym classes are now mostly skipped over. Instead of multi-chapter arcs, they're done in one or two chapters. Trust Sleyca. She knows what she's doing.

J Reynolds

I haven't seen anybody asking the REAL question from this chapter: Is Olive a reindeer? Or is Olive the other reindeer?

Lyssur

I'm a little surprised that the Elites program is taking second years. If the goal is to produce graduates with twelve levels in three years, they are starting from behind if they haven't already gotten four levels in a year- or more, now that the fall term is ending. It probably won't look great to have the first graduates finish with less than the twelve levels. So are Garsy and his friend given extra time? Or are they ignorant that even if they finish the Elites program, the odds of them having twelve levels is very low, and outsiders won't really consider them successes? The first class to finish with the twelve or more levels (if the program doesn't go under by then) will be considered the real Elites. The ones who start late and finish with less than twelve levels, if they are allowed to, will be considered lab rats of the program. And if they are going into the program with the required number of levels, if anything, it proves that the Elites program isn't really adding any positives, other than luxurious living conditions, and creating a place where S ranks will gain more toxic attitudes. Also, not really relevant, but very amusing that Garsy dismisses endorsement deals, when they are literally Winston's dream.

J Reynolds
>>187507092

I'd guess that if you're 2nd year and you've gained at least three levels already, they'd ask you if you want to come. If a possible student hasn't gained that much, then Elites isn't for them.

Gaffer
>>187493771

If so, she’ll be interviewed by Astrid as a wildlife encounter

Super Super Supportive Supporter
>>187356175

I think it’s not a coincidence that Alden is contemplating the patient ones while we waited sooooooooooo longggggggggggggggggggggggg when is the next chapter coming out?

Terrestrial_Biped

Personally, I really wanna go to that lecture on extraterrestrial pollinators. I wanna learn what kinda batshit crazy animals are snogging flowers on other planets. Here on earth, we've got eusocial insects, the only clade of flying mammals, frickin' hummingbirds... can you imagine how crazy hummingbirds would sound if you'd never seen one before? We've got yucca moths, which are so specialized that they can't live without the yucca plant and vice versa. We've got butterflies. Imagine all the wild variations another planet could come up with.

Terrestrial_Biped
>>187254802

They're being introduced to the wider population of their yearmates next quarter in gym. I'm sure that'll be interesting.

puppy0cam

Chapter title predictions!

puppy0cam
>>187589074

Pleasant Loop-de-loop You'd end up in a cell Flying License Lazy Sunday on a weekday Celebrity Endorsement Pop goes the weasel Bird photography You'd be shocked An ordinary day in Chicago News anchor Teeth and Claws

Terrestrial_Biped
>>187328520

There are an awful lot of options that are neither "knight" nor "Garsy". Elementary school teacher, for instance.

Partha Peddi

Lets talk about authority. Is it like energy or matter? Accumulating authority increases its size - raising the max value. If it is like energy: You still have the container of the energy defining the max size to which it can reach, and adding more authority adds size to the container. Adding authority increases the container size (which does not go away after spending authority). If you expend authority, part of the authority container goes to a lower state, and accumulating it raises it to a higher state. Spent authority does not affect its container size. So, if you are considered a B rank, spending your authority does not change your capability down to C rank, since the container still has the B rank defined capacity, but is partially empty. You can use your skills at B-rank tier until the container becomes empty. If it is like matter: Say a balloon, accumulating authority inflates the balloon with authority. Adding extra will stretch out the balloon to increase max size. Spending the authority just deflates it. So, if you are considered a B rank, spending your authority lowers your rank to the capability of C rank? As you expend authority, your capability to use your skill lowers in rank? I cant decide between both theories at this time.

puppy0cam

I was rereading the mother/home chapters and I noticed that all of Alden's options for going to earth involved requesting something (either from her or from the art'h household). So then I thought about what if he didn't request anything at all and chose to rough it out in the rapport wilderness until someone stumbles upon the feral human and asks Mother wtf is up with it and get baffled by her teasing them like "oh, I always wanted to have a pet human for my ecosystem."

Anthony Lutz

I hope Earth doesn't give Alden a progress update because he doesn't need to develop a fear response to feeling happy. However, from his first post affix skill use on the icecream to hot chocolate delivery was 39 days, and it has again been 39 days since. It would be an interesting metric to find out just how fast Alden is leveling compared to the average human of 2-4 levels a year. Solely based on the hot chocolate update he was at a rate of 18 per year (9 bound, 9 free), but the 13% makes a 300day deadline, which lines up with Mothers estimate. Alden had some high-quality (read: traumatic) skill usage and growth during the submergence incident so it would be nice (for us) to get a progress update.

Jazehiah
>>187596065

1. It's magic. Don't think too hard. 2. It could be like light, which is both and neither.

puppy0cam

Chapter 186 (Worlds): > “The chaotic effect of the demon damages reality, but that damage isn’t always beneficial for it. And it doesn’t make reality unable to impact the demon. The creature probably requires air. It probably still runs on the ground. I suppose it wouldn’t be impossible for a demon that once existed as a bokabv to fly, but it’s very unlikely. And many of the things that would kill a bokabv may still kill the demon, as long as they make it through the chaos that accompanies it. > “Do you understand what I mean?” > Alden did. Flood Trap—a nonmagical way to kill demons that can’t survive in an Earth ocean. Chapter 183 (The Weight): > “What’s ilket?” The word didn’t sound completely unfamiliar, but Alden wasn’t sure where he’d heard it. > “A technologically advanced species who wizards interacted with in the past. It’s likely their society has collapsed, and their people are scattered now if they’ve survived at all, so finding motivation in spiting them is even more shameful than it would otherwise be.” > Alden immediately thought of Gorgon, but technologically advanced didn’t fit with what he’d said about his own people being “primitive in almost every way” from a human point of view. > “They’re close to extinction because of the chaos where they live?” > “Probably,” said Stuart. “They seemed to be incapable of making honest agreements with anyone who wasn’t ilket. Artonans couldn’t form lasting contracts with them, and they either hated magic or hated not understanding it. So our species were << mutually offended >>, and even negotiations for a possible evacuation ended badly. They were left there.” Why does Stu seem confident that the ilket would be close to extinction? It's established that demons can be killed by non-magical means. The ilket are portrayed as a competent (if xenophobic) species. Why *couldn't* they thrive in an environment where demons occasionally show up. Tangent! What if artonans evolved to be magical exactly because demons would occasionally show up Their reality kept getting damaged by demons spawning but the wildlife was so hostile that demons would always be picked off before they could reach critical mass. The sick feeling of being near a demon would be a pretty big sign to everything near it that "hey there's something tasty here to kill" or "another predator is trying to worm its way into MY territory, not on my watch." The creatures that couldn't survive a bit of chaos died off, and natural selection pushed creatures on Artona I to become more magically capable.

Aspiring Moth
>>187603264

demons can be killed, but can chaos be overwritten by stable authorities without magic? can chaos even be reliably detected before it turns 99%+ of the population into mutated messes, destroying the civilisation that relied on them? the only survivors will be high authority individuals, and if they're anything like earth, most would still die if the chaos was above Thegund levels

Lystic

Thinking early chapter thoughts, trying to manifest it.

Dr.Pixle

I wonder how abstract the knights in Artonan society have become. How many layers of tradition does it take before the rituals themselves start to eat away and rot at the original intent. Does alden being knight-adjacent earn him rights and privileges, or will Artonan society move the goal posts? How does earth and it's contract come into play? I would personally love to see an earth that demands more understanding and education surrounding their contract. It would be cool if alden proving the possibility of human authority sense means earth can be liberated from an interdimensional colonial empire. In all this I wonder what compromises alden, stu, and boe must make to remain friends. Loving the story so far, and looking forward to the shenanigans relaxed alden gets into, lol.

PhoenixPax
>>187596440

I've thought about how Alden could affix if he doesn't tell anybody. Mother previously offered him a teleport that wasn't initiated by a wizard when he was in the rapport after Thegund. Theoretically, she could teleport him and several weeks worth of food (and a tent) to the Rapport forest, and he could affix and then wander around until he could stand the thought of using his affixation again. (He would have to wait the two 2 weeks somewhere, because he can't hang out on Anesidora without an excuse for why he can't do gym.)

Jaxon Rogers

I’m still wondering, we know that Avowed can very rarely rank up. It was mentioned early on this mostly happened to special avowed who have unique skills, and Alden kind of fits that category with him being a wizard and the bearer of all burdens. I’m wondering if he’ll ever rank up himself, and if he does whether the Contract will hide it with his fake profile.

Shotcamelot
>>187678292

Alden is guaranteed to rank up. His affixation and his free authority are arm-wrestling and growing both rapidly. The rate at which those will go compared to his avowed peers has mot been made clear yet in-story, but the fact he will outpace other humans has. We don’t know how he compares to other wizards/knights rate of growth, and I expect that will be more relevant eventually.

MO

I am sitting in the morning at the diner on the corner; I am waiting at the counter for the soup to be uploaded

Super Super Supportive Supporter

My candle burns at both ends It will not last the night But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends We read what Sleyca writes

jg
>>187682563

I am sitting in the waning of day on the couch Trusting the regulars smells

Stuart Brown
>>187687106

For all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: 'I refreshed again'"

MWF
>>187586991

I mean the existence of extraterrestrial pollinators implies that flowers are common on other worlds in the first place which is nice in it's own right. IIRC angiosperms are only 100millionish years old on earth so that's definitely not a given. Then again maybe the plants being pollinated aren't flowers at all but something else. I concur, I want to go to this lecture.